Flax

Flax is an herbaceous, annual flower with blue, 5-petaled flowers and distinct seed capsules. Several wild relatives grow in Greece, but it is the cultivated species Linum usitatissimum that has been used since antiquity for its fiber and seeds. As the most common plant used by the ancient Greeks in fiber arts, the Flax has a special relationship with weaving, spinning, and visual storytelling. Many Greek myths include spinning and weaving in relation to women’s cunning: Athena, Arachne, Penelope, Circe, Ariadne, Philomela, and, of course, the Moirai. Used by women in the ancient world to pass on the patterns, colors, and traditions of their culture, as well as to tell the often untold stories of their gender, Flax is a vehicle for personal power and cultural narrative. The Flax is still used today for the crafting of garments, linens, and even paper products, and its seed and oil are both used as food and medicine. Keep reading below to learn more about the Flax in ancient Greek myth and culture, and how to invite the Flax into your own ceremonies and traditions.