What European Beekeeping Traditions and Bulletproof Vision Boards Have in Common
Plus: New Chat Thread Drops Tomorrow & Sharing the Vision Board Template I Can't Stop Raving About
“It is an old European tradition”, she said.
“For beekeepers and their families to inform their hives of significant life events by gently knocking on the hive and speaking softly to the bees.”
When I first learned of this tradition from a friend whose family keeps bees in southern New Hampshire, I was fascinated.
“Things worth communicating to the bees",” she continued, “include changes in the bee’s primary keeper, any travel plans (departure/return dates), births and deaths in the family, and other important life milestones and intentions [like her going off to college, and when a sibling decided to pursue a new career path].”
Upon reading more about this tradition (and the ways it has adapted in our contemporary context), I learned that this ritual stemmed from the belief that whispering to the bees about these changes would initiate a spiritual connection, and bring good fortune to those impacted.
The ritual was also a deep sign of respect as the bees were an integral part of the family.
Woah.
Learning these facts also made me curious about other similar practices throughout history and cultures (though, I’ve had little success in finding direct parallels).
