(Apis mellifera linnaeus) Photo: Leticia Aristi
The information regarding the quantity of species is not accurate. Some sources speak of 1,000 and others of about 20,000 species worldwide. Whenever there is vegetation with many flowers, bees appear all over the world, its feeding is exclusively vegetarian and it is made up of nectar and pollen. Bumblebees, euglossine bees, as well as the useful domestic bees belong to the bee genus. They are about 0.3 to 2.7 cm and produce honey and wax and whilst they pollinate the majority of the plants. The bees have a gatherer device in the hind legs, composed of long fringed hairs that they use to get the pollen and nectar from the flowers. They are responsible for the pollination of many fruit trees and vegetables. Without their laborious work, the crops would be much smaller and the prices of food would be invaluable.
Bee in Mythology:
In Greek mythology, Aristaeus, son of Apollo, had a beehive. He wanted to seduce Eurydice, Orpheus' wife, but she rejected him and died due to a snake bite. To get revenge, Orpheus destroyed Aristaeus´ hive. As a result of this wrong behavior, the gods were angry. Orpheus tried to reassure them and offered them four bulls and four barrels: from its bowels came out flying swarms, with which Aristeo could rebuild its hive and teach human beings the art of beekeeping.
The bee represented the goddess Demeter, the goddess of the earth and harvest and of the human souls lost in the underworld.
Egyptians said that the bees appeared as a result of the tears of the Sun God, Ra. When they fell to Earth, they turned into bees and built hives and produced honey.
In Asia and also for some indigenous people, bees are the symbol of the soul that leaves the body. As a symbol of resurrection, they can be considered as a signal of life after death.
The three winter months, in which it appears that the bees have disappeared, represent the three days during which Jesus lay dead and invisible in his tomb. Considering the honey and its sting, Christianity takes it as a comparison to Jesus, on the one hand the tenderness and compassion and, on the other hand, the rigorous trial through him, being the judge of the world.
For the Germans and the Celts, who were mead (honey wine) consumers, the bee represented wisdom and immortality of the soul.
In Hinduism, the bee is resting on Krishna´s forehead and Shiva is symbolized as a bee and a rectangle. The bee also represents the bow of the Hindu god of love, Kama and the sweet pain of a loving relationship. Honey represents the food of the gods and it is also considered an aphrodisiac.
In the Middle Ages, they were related to royalty because the worker bees develop a prosperous state under the order of the queen. For example, 300 bees made of gold were found in the tomb of Clovis I (481 BC) Napoleon I also added bees on his things, such as in his cloak and his carpets.
The bee in the interpretation of dreams: It represents activity, productivity and social life. It refers to the joy of living.
Bee Essence:
It represents the joy of living and it can also help balance the level of sugar in the body activating the self-healing forces.
On the body level: The essence gives us the sensation of feeling good inwardly and so we are less exposed to the need of incorporating sugar from the outside. It can provide support on the energy level to the assimilation of sugar and help balance the sugar level on the body.
On the emotional level: The essence gives us inner joy and happiness. It shows us the way back to the light, towards the joy of the soul. We can open our heart and enjoy the sweet life.
On the spiritual level: The bees teach us to be oriented towards the light. In the same way as the plants with their flowers produce the sweet nectar with the aid of sunlight, the essence shows us how we can, in connection with the soul, transform the matter in healer nectar for the common good. We learn to overcome our ego and to put it to the service of the community.
