The Peloponnese is the southernmost peninsula of mainland Greece, a mountainous region linked to the rest of the country only by a narrow strip of land. It is one of the most important regions for lovers of ancient Greece, home to the sacred and cultural sites of Epidaurus, Corinth, Olympia, Mycenae, Sparta, and more. Beyond its classical heritage, there are also many exquisite Byzantine centers to explore, such as Monemvasia and Mystras, not to mention its outstanding natural beauty and awe-inspiring horizons.

The Poplar is a fast-growing, deciduous tree in the Willow family found near freshwater rivers and streams. Sacred to Hades, as well as to Herakles and his father, Zeus, in relation to the hero’s success in an Underworld trial, the Poplar is said to grow at the entrance to the Realm of the Dead. Not only tied to death, the Poplar is also connected to many stories of metamorphosis and freshwater, particularly the nymph Leuke and the grieving Heliades. With ghostly bark — whether white or black or both — this liminal tree indicates the location of life-giving waters, while also appearing burnt or parched. Able to survive both flood and drought, the Poplar reminds us to seek the Source: to reach deep to the flow of groundwater that nourishes the root of being.

For the ancient Greeks, the Olive was a sacred symbol of divine blessing and wisdom associated particularly with the goddess Athena, as well as with Zeus and the patron of human culture, Aristaeus. In this podcast episode, we discuss the ancient uses of the Olive, as well as discuss the Olive as a teacher of perspective and a reminder of the ancestral gifts of awe, gratitude and humility.