Ancient Rituals in Modern Beauty
In collaboration with Apis Apotheca and the Acorn Oakmeal Initiative in Greece
When I imagine life in ancient Greece, I imagine a sensational feast for the senses. The air is saturated with scents of the mountains, the ocean, and the livestock dotting the landscape. The land is ripe with dangling fruit and their colors bursting open with the morning sun. The holy temples are dressed in bright Mediterranean light, illuminating the marble columns that stand erect with the promise of healing. Inside these sacred spaces, prayers are whispered by priests and priestesses to invoke the spirits of mythological gods and goddesses. Beseeching pilgrims, who traveled far and wide for divine intervention, are comforted by these mysterious rituals, which translate the forces of nature - sights and slights of plant, animal, and mineral - into mystical prophecies.
While much remains eternally unknown about ancient Greek temple rituals, we know that the ancient Greeks viewed that which was out of human control with resounding sacredness: the sudden clap of thunder and bright flash of lightening during a thunderstorm; the sway of branches in a dense grove igniting a flock of birds to take flight; the majestic force of the sea as it smoothly recedes from the sand. When we look closely enough in our own landscapes, we can witness the acts of nature that spark our own curiosities and begin to imagine how the ancient Greek civilization honored these enchanting moments with their own rituals.
How does modern beauty relate to ancient rituals?
Beauty today generally includes a variety of skincare products, self-care habits, and mindfulness techniques. It is not a one-size-fits-all regimen nor only about women’s facial cosmetics. Our daily habits become our personal rituals, structuring our days into meaningful and productive moments. These habits can be infused with more meaning when we incorporate and learn about plants considered sacred for thousands of years.
Rosehips, the fruit of the rose plant, was sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty
To start, there were many plants associated with each of the divine gods and goddesses of the Greek mythic world. For example, Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, was associated with rose, oregano, and myrtle. These plants played a role in weddings where they were woven into crowns to symbolize eternal love. Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, was commonly known to have sprouted the very first olive tree on the Acropolis in Athens. The tree would become the prime representation of her strength and also used in celebrations and for healing.
Most notably, Zeus, the king of the gods, was associated with the mighty oak tree, whose enduring qualities of strength and honor still remain today. Let’s explore his mighty oak and the role it played in ancient rituals.
Throughout the ancient Greek world, the valonia oak (Quercus ilex, Quercus ithaburensis macrolepis, Quercus aegilops) symbolized sacredness, unrivaled strength, and fierce grace. Zeus and his mighty oak tree were heavily worshipped at Dodona, a sanctuary located in northwestern Greece. This sanctuary originally consisted of only a sacred grove of oak trees and a nearby spring, where visitors would come to place their offerings and hope for answers to their pressing questions. As the site gained popularity as a place of healing, temples and other buildings were built, transforming the holy place as a thriving city in the region.
The remains of the sanctuary at Dodona in northwestern Greece
At Dodona, the sacred oak tree was a physical representation of Zeus and was consulted in various ways to communicate his prophecies. The temple priests and priestesses would listen to the sounds of the grove and interpret them in ways we will never quite understand. These mystical sounds included the rustling of oak leaves in a breeze, acorns dropping from their branches and pinging against bronze cauldrons, copper vessels decorating the trees that clanged in the wind, and the nesting and cooing of doves in the trees.
The fruit of the tree, the often-ignored acorn, both embodied sacred characteristics and were a source of nourishment, especially for rural dwellers. Acorn flour, which can be found today as an ingredient in both body care and culinary products, is high in protein, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B6, and is naturally gluten-free.
When we honor sacred traditions, we can benefit not only from the nourishment of nature herself, but from the strength and grace bestowed upon us by mortals and immortals thousands of years ago.
The Ancient Oak Forest Mask by Apis Apotheca is made with acorn flour from the ancient oak forest on the island of Kea, Greece
For a nourishing experience with acorn flour in beauty care, indulge in the Ancient Oak Forest Mask by Apis Apotheca, an organic medicinal herb farm that makes whole plant skin care.
The Ancient Oak Forest Mask is made with acorn flour from the Greek island of Kea by the Oakmeal Acorn Initiative, led by Marcie Mayer. The acorns are gathered every autumn and have been providing sustenance to the community, as well as resource regeneration, food sovereignty, community cohesion, and agroecology. Since 2009, the project has led to a shift in thinking that empowers farm families to save a natural resource and create sustainable income, especially at a particularly difficult time in Greece.
Your purchase supports independent, nature-loving, and women-owned businesses. The Ancient Oak Forest Mask comes in a compostable sachet. Upon arrival, transfer to a clean jar and compost the pouch for a zero waste beauty product. Then delight in the ancient powers of the sacred oak tree!