{A} Jacob's Ladder
{B} A purple or white flower that toweringly grows around 2 feet tall. It has ladder-like leaflets on the branches off its main stem.
{C} After Jacob, the Old Testament Patriarch, from his vision.
Jacob's Ladder... This plant towers at over two feet tall.. it is often found with lavender blossoms, but I have a white variety. This recalls Jacob, who lying down took a stone for a pillow, and then saw this vision in his sleep, of a ladder standing upon the earth, with the top touching heaven, and angels ascending and descending upon it, and the Lord leaning upon it, who spoke to him. [c.f. Genesis 28:10]
I shall have to investigate this plant's possible medicinal uses. I am not at all experienced in using herbs for medicine so the planting of this garden and reading old and new references on herbal uses is interestingly new light for me. Fresh herbs are normally the best so I will no doubt find some helpful ones.
When I think of this ladder of Jacob I also think of St. John Climacus who wrote the Scala Paradisi, 'Ladder of Paradise' or Ladder of Divine Ascent.
'The holy virtues are like Jacob’s ladder, and the unholy vices are like the chains that fell from the chief Apostle Peter. For the virtues, leading from one to another, bear him who chooses them up to Heaven; but the vices by their nature beget and stifle one another.'
St. John Climacus
I have the seeds for this flower and planted a few from the packet today in a tray.
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