The Sacred Bees: Honeybees in Mystic Traditions
Written by Jon Willow
From ancient Egypt to contemporary Sufism, our tiny Sisters have inspired profound spiritual insights and acted as powerful metaphors for transformation, unity, and the pursuit of divine connection. Honeybees remind us of the intricate interconnectedness of all life and the potential for spiritual growth and enlightenment. Their buzzing wings and golden nectar continue to invite us to explore the mystical dimensions of existence and strive for a deeper understanding of the sacred.
There is much to learn about the many ways bees have shaped cultural and religious traditions. Consider this merely a brief introduction to the spiritual power of the bees.
Ancient Egypt: Bees and the Soul
In ancient Egypt, honeybees were associated with royalty and divine symbolism and with the soul and the afterlife. The bee hieroglyph represented the title of the king or queen, highlighting their divine connection and power.
Honey was considered a divine substance, often referred to as the "Food of the Gods." It was used in religious rituals, temple offerings, and as a symbol of rejuvenation and immortality. The beeswax, used in the production of honeycombs, was believed to be the material from which the souls of the deceased were created. The Egyptians saw the bee's ability to transform nectar into honey as a metaphor for the soul's journey towards spiritual elevation.
Neith, the ancient Egyptian goddess of creation and war, was often depicted as a bee. She represented motherhood, creation, and fertility, embodying the industrious nature of bees.
As in many cultures, bees were also seen as messengers between the human world and the divine realms. Their diligent work ethic and harmonious society served as an example of divine order and cooperation.
The British Isles: Celtic Lore
In Celtic mythology, magical bees were believed to reside in the Otherworld – Tír na nÓg – a realm beyond the physical world, and considered messengers between the human and divine realms. Honey itself holds symbolic importance in Celtic traditions. It is regarded as a sacred substance, embodying the essence of life and vitality. Its sweet taste and golden color are often seen as representations of divine blessings, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment.
Though its origins are murky, one ancient Celtic tradition survives to this day – telling the bees. Owlcation shares that, “In Wales, if there was a death in the family, it was important that someone in the family told the bees before the funeral, as well as tying a black ribbon to a piece of wood and putting it in the hole at the top of the hive.
This would protect against further deaths in the family. In Cornwall, a family member would relate the death to the bees with “Brownie, brownie, brownie, your master is dead,” and in Buckinghamshire with the slightly smaller “Little brownies, your master is dead.” The bees would then hum if they chose to stay with the family. Irish folk tales tell that the hives were to be decorated with black cloth and were to be given their share of the funeral food.
Greek Mysticism: The Divine Messenger
In Greek mythology, honeybees were connected to the gods and were seen as messengers between humans and the divine. Bees were associated with the god Apollo, the patron of arts, music, and healing. Apollo was often depicted with a laurel wreath entwined with bees, representing the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The Greeks revered honey as a sacred substance with transformative and healing properties.
Greek myths surrounding bees reflected the ancient cultures' beliefs about fertility, abundance, and the cycle of life and death. They believed that honey was a divine gift from the gods, and it played a significant role in their religious rituals.
According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting Minoan culture, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name. She was one of the nymph nurses of Zeus, sister to Amaltheia, but rather than feeding the baby Zeus milk, Melissa fed him honey. Because of her, Melissa became the name of all the nymphs who cared for the patriarch god as a baby.
Many ancient Greek temple priestesses were known as Melissae (which translates to “bees”), including in those dedicated to Demeter, Diana, Artemis, Aphrodite, Persephone, Apollo’s oracle at Delphi, Cybele, Diana, and Rhea. The Goddess as the Great Mother was sometimes titled Melissa, literally, 'the Queen Bee.'
Greek mythology has its more practical legends as well. Aristaeus, the son of Apollo and Cyrene, was considered the patron god of beekeeping and honey production. According to one myth, Aristaeus was the one who taught humans the art of beekeeping. He discovered that when his bees died, his livestock and crops also perished. Distressed, Aristaeus sought the wisdom of the nymphs, who taught him the rituals to appease the gods and regain his prosperity.
Hinduism: The Chatterers of the Divine
The Planet Bee Foundation shares this wonderful history of bees in Hindu tradition. It’s paraphrased below, but it’s worth visiting for the whole story.
“India's oldest sacred book, the Rig-Veda, contains many mentions to bees and honey. This book was probably compiled between 2000 and 3000 BCE and was written in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit word for honey is madhu, which is etymologically identical to the Greek methu and the Anglo-Saxon medu, or mead.
The gods Vishnu, Krishnu, and Indra were called Madhava, the nectar-born ones, and their symbol is the bee. Vishnu is represented as a blue bee upon a lotus flower, the symbol of life, resurrection, and nature. The bee is blue because blue is the color of the sky from which the gods come. Where Vishnu steps, a spring of mead appears. Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is often depicted with a blue bee on his forehead. Another god, Siva, the Destroyer, has another form, called Madheri, or the suave one. In this form his symbol is an inverted triangle with a bee resting upon it.
The Hindu Bee Goddess, Bhrarami … resided in the heart chakra and emitted the buzzing sound of bees. This buzzing, humming noise was often imitated in Vedic chants, and represented the essential sound of the universe all across India.
Then there is Kama, the god of love, who carries a bow with a string made of bees. And that is not the only bee-related weapon: the twin horsemen, the Asvins, lords of light, have a whip dripping with honey known as Madhukasa. These horsemen ride in a chariot known as Madhuvahana, or "honey-bearing". By sprinkling honey from their whip, the Asvins were said to prolong the peoples' lives. There is even a hymn written specifically about the honey whip in the Atharva-Veda!
"When the honey-lash comes bestowing gifts, there life's breath, and there immortality has settled down.
As the bees carry honey upon honey, thus in my person, O Asvins, luster shall be sustained.
O Asvins, lords of Brightness, anoint me with the honey of the bee, that I may speak forceful speech among men."
This last verse refers to the belief, common in many countries besides India, that eating honey would make one's speech more eloquent and one's songs more sweet.”
Sufism: The Honey of Union
In Sufi mysticism, honey and bees are rich with symbolism, representing the longing for union with the divine beloved. Honey is considered a metaphorical elixir, embodying the sweetness and intoxication experienced in the state of spiritual ecstasy.
The hive and its inhabitants mirror the Sufi concept of a mystical community, where individuals work together harmoniously for a higher purpose. Sufi poets often use honey and bees as symbols in their mystical poetry to describe the journey of the soul towards divine union.
Norse Mythology: The Queen Bee
Bees also hold significance in Norse mythology, as they are mentioned in various texts and have symbolic associations within the Norse pantheon. In Norse mythology, bees were often connected to the goddess Freyja, who was associated with fertility, beauty, and love.
Freyja is sometimes referred to as the "Queen Bee" or "The Bee Lady," emphasizing her connection to these buzzing creatures. It is said that she possessed a cloak made of falcon feathers that allowed her to transform into a bird and fly like a bee, further establishing her association with these winged insects.
The connection between Freyja and bees is highlighted in the Old Norse poem known as "The Lay of Hyndla" (Hyndluljóð), where Freyja is described as the "bee's delight" and is praised for her association with honey and mead. Honey and mead were considered sacred in Norse culture and were associated with wisdom, inspiration, and poetic eloquence.
Additionally, in Norse cosmology, there exists a mythical tree called Yggdrasil, which serves as the center of the Norse universe. It is said that bees dwell within the branches of Yggdrasil, collecting the sacred nectar that falls from the tree and creating honey from it. This honey is said to possess transformative and healing properties.
The bees' presence within Yggdrasil symbolizes their role as intermediaries between different realms, connecting the earthly and divine realms in Norse mythology. Their connection to the sacred tree and the production of honey further emphasizes their association with fertility, abundance, and spiritual nourishment.
Overall, bees in Norse mythology, particularly in relation to Freyja and Yggdrasil, represent themes of fertility, transformation, and the mystical connections between the natural and supernatural realms.
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