Bees and I have always had a special relationship. My dad raised honeybees. When I put my hand near their hive, they would crawl on my fingers. It was a peaceful, precious connection. They still land on me on or nearby me.
In the Middle Ages, honey had many uses. Wine was safer to drink than water, so honey was fermented with water to create mead, a popular honey wine.
Honey has high acidity and low moisture content. Because bacterial and microorganisms cannot survive in it, it was applied to cuts and burns to prevent infection. It was mixed with thyme, licorice root, horehound, sage, and/or poppy for coughing or respiratory illnesses.
Many people believe bees to represent alchemy and transformation. Bees and honey are often used as a metaphor for blessings, love, and wisdom.
Bees are one of the most important pollinators on our planet today. They fertilize approximately one-third of the food we eat.