Manic Panic (adult content)

Everyone has panicked at one time or another; "Oh no! I think I left my homework in my room!" or "I forgot the files for that presentation!" But panic attacks are an entirely different thing. They can come on without warning and without an obvious reason. I've been to the hospital for what was determined to be a panic attack. Thankfully, I have been able to use EFT (emotional freedom technique) to relieve panic when it does happen and to preempt them entirely. I like EFT, it's one size fits all acupressure and it's a good focus. If nothing else, you're directing healing energy to yourself and being positive.

Is there an Italian remedy for panic? Italians don't have panic disorders. That's why it was such a big deal on The Sopranos lol kidding. Anyone can have a panic disorder, doesn't matter what your cultural background it. Herbs help: Chamomile, lavender, wine, garlic. But when faced with Panic, it's not a bad idea to have a relationship established with the God of fear itself, Pan. The word panic comes from his name. The word "pan" might mean "all" now, but at some point, the word meant something more like "rustic."

Who's your daddy?

Pan's father is none other than Hermes. The identity of Pan's mother changes with the folklore. A Dryad? a Naiad? Is this a metaphor? Hermes + woodland = rustic ram deity? Does Pan = Hermes? Is Pan the "pagan" version of Him? Pan is a deity of the fertility of the flocks and herds and of the woods. We've talked here before about Mercury, Hermes, et al as fertility deities (and it is said He is also a deity of herds and herders). Pan and Dionysus are pals, according to the mythology. In the same body of lore, Hermes carries Dionysus to hide him from Hera.

I find it fascinating that Pan is also associated with Priapus, who we have talked about before, specifically as the sexual side of Mercury. 

We like to go back and forth here on the blog between Italic, Roman, and Greek deities and lore, so let's add to the fun (or confusion, whichever you'd like to call it) and talk about the Italian and Roman syncretic versions of Pan: There is Inuus and Faunus and Silvanus. Faunus is most often associated directly with Pan. Inuus might very well be an epithet of Faunus:

...named from his habit of intercourse with animals, based on the etymology of ineundum, "a going in, penetration," from inire, "to enter" in the sexual sense...

 There's actually a pretty nifty article on wiki about how Inuus is the inspiration for Lupercalia!

Faunus is said to be one of the indigenous deities of Italy, as is his counterpart Fauna. She is also said to be Bona Dea. He is thought to have once been a mortal who was consulted as an oracle after he passed. For his continued service, he was apotheosized. Funny, Pan is thought to be a deity of Prophecy too.

I'm going to leave off here as it's getting late. There is more to come! I haven't even gotten to the part about actual panic! Pantastic!

Garlic

I have no idea why I'm posting about garlic tonight. I was moved. A voice whispered in my ear that I need to learn more about this, but I don't quite understand yet... In my house, garlic was important. Sure, it's important in every Italian home, but for us it was IMPORTANT.

Garlic is antibacterial, and your body doesn't get used to it they way it does to chemical antibiotics. It helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, is an anti-oxidant, fights cancer tumors, protects the heart,

Fanfuckingtastic! But they didn't know this stuff 100 years ago. They didn't even know all of it (as per scientific research) 30 years ago. So why did my family love and use this stuff like it was Ambrosia? (another dish they liked to make!)

My grandfather would drink garlic water (an infusion of garlic and water, shaken daily for a while, and kept in the fridge once it was ready), at certain times of the year. He said it helped his blood pressure. Nice to lie to an 8 year old, huh? Arrite, he didn't lie, it's great for blood pressure, but I didn't learn what it was about until years later. I'm not going to tell you, I'll just point you in the direction: Garlic kills ergot, the psychedelic fungi found on grain (thought to be part of the Eleusinian mysteries). Ergot also grows on sorghum. Sorghum was used by Malandanti while Benandanti used fennel, another staple of my home life.

In their battles, the Malandanti had the psychedelic fungus growing plant on their side, while the Benandanti had the purifying, courage and strength building, counter-magick/protection from evil sorcery herb on their side. And garlic gave them an advantage. If ergot was the Malandanti ride to the match, the Benandanti could stop them from ever showing up and win the battle over the harvest by forfeit.  


It not only repels someone talking to you from stink breath, it's also thought to repel negativity, untoward spirits, and the evil eye, or jettatura. It was found in King Tut's tomb. Looks like it was there to help him in the afterlife. What could garlic do that a Shabti couldn't?

Garlic is offered to Hekate at crossroads and during the Nemoralia.
Odysseus uses garlic to escape Circe's pig curse.
Greek Athletes ate it before competition Soldiers ate it before battle and Roman soldiers planted it in conquered lands.
According to Pliny, garlic and onions were invoked as deities by the Egyptians at the taking of oaths.
Greek midwives would hang garlic cloves in the house with a birthing mother to keep the evil spirits away.
Dreaming that there is "garlic in the house" is supposedly lucky; to dream about eating garlic means you will discover hidden secrets.

I'm off to bed now, hopefully to dream about eating garlic ;)

If you're not into the smell, perhaps some sympathetic magic with a garlic amulet?