magic apples

“Vase with Apples and Foliage” by Henri Fantin-Latour

This little paradise was a happy place. Odin and the other gods often visited, marveling at Iduna’s kindness and delighting in her humor and her wit. Yet there was another reason that they came; Iduna possessed a special treasure — a golden chest of magic apples that kept all those who ate them ever young. Truly it was the precious fruit that kept the gods immortal. Odin knew the value of these apples. He never ventured on a journey without a few to take along.
~ Marianna Mayer
(Iduna & The Magic Apples)

18 thoughts on “magic apples”

    1. I recently watched a documentary, “The Botany of Desire,” and learned some amazing things about the history and sweetness of apples. (And our desires for tulips, cannabis and potatoes…)

    1. I thought so, too, Laurie. I had never considered taking a cutting from an apple tree and putting the foliage and apples into a vase…

    1. I’m so happy to know you find apples as enchanting as I do! What would autumn, or even life, be without enjoying the benefits of their magic?

  1. I thought the same as Jeff, they do say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. I think I’ll just go and enjoy an apple now. You never know, it might just be true, if you believe in magic! 🙂

    1. Isn’t it magical that we can enjoy an apple a day, especially if we have a root cellar or a golden chest? I read that if we wrap individual apples in newspaper they will keep longer. But eating apples fresh from the tree is still my favorite part of autumn. I hope your apple was scrumptious!

    1. Very interesting the similarity found in the stories originating in different cultures, many of them seem to spring from a collective consciousness. Things are pretty hectic around here – I’ll be happy when the election is finally over!

  2. I love the composition – the very end of the branch travels in a lovely diagonal to the group of apples on the table. A very subtle voyage!

    1. Thank you for pointing the subtle voyage out, Aubrey! I remember learning something about the different ways artists use lines in their work and how amazed I was when I started looking for them in paintings…

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