Note 23 — Chapter XI · Tree-, Herb-, and Stone-lore

As Far Eastern beliefs associated with curative plants and curative stones (like jade) have filtered westward, so did Western beliefs filter eastward. Dr. Rendel Harris has shown that myths and beliefs connected with the ivy and mugwort, which were so prevalent in Ancient Greece, can be traced across Siberia to Kamschatka. The Ainus of Japan regard the mistletoe as an “All-heal”, as did the ancient Europeans. “The discovery of the primitive sanctity of ivy, mugwort, and mistletoe”, says Dr. Harris, “makes a strong link between the early Greeks and other early peoples both East and West, and it is probable that we shall find many more contacts between peoples that, as far as geography and culture go, are altogether remote.”23