Books - Bees in Religion

In this authoritative ethnography and spiritual memoir, Simon Buxton, an elder of the Path of Pollen, reveals for the first time the richness of this tradition: its subtle intelligence; its sights, sounds, and smells; and its unique ceremonies, which until now have been known only to initiates.

No creature has provided man with so much wholesome food as the honey bee.  Equally impressive is the number of beliefs and superstitions the industrious insect has inspired.  Its honey, which was known to the ancient Greeks as the "Food of the Gods," played an important role in early religious rites and was also mentioned in the folklore of many peoples.  Hild Ransome's well-documented and copiously illustrated study focuses on this valuable by-product of nature and its creator - the "sacred" bee.