Symbols for the Cycle Pendant: Mistletoe

source: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/winter_solstice.shtml

most people only think of mistletoe at Christmas, but in anchient times it was considered a plant that was very sacred. It bears fruit on the winter solstice, and it grows without touching the ground-between earth and sky. The most famous legend of mistletoe is the tale of the death of Baldur, the god of light and truth:

"Balder was a popular and righteous God, but in a dream he foresaw his own death. After discussing this with the other Gods in Valhalla, the Goddess Frigga offered to make all things living on the earth, or growing in the earth, promise not to harm him.

This was done, and resulted in a new sport for the Gods - 'slaying' Balder with whatever weapons they could find. They knew he would always survive.

During one of these sessions the evil God Loki offered to help Hodur, a blind God, who was Balder's brother, join in.

Knowing that mistletoe, which did not grow 'in' the earth, was not covered by the promise Loki gave Hodur an arrow of mistletoe wood and directed his throw.

Balder was killed by the blow, thus fulfilling his dream. A period of significant mourning followed, during which Hel was visited in an effort to resurrect Balder, and mistletoe was designated a plant of peace."

source: http://www.mistletoe.org.uk/home/mtoetraditions4.htm

as an epilouge, it was Frigga who designated the mistletoe as a plant of peace, to remind people of Baldur's goodness. Baldur will only return at Ragnarok, the end of the world, and he will be the only god to survive, leading the people of earth into a new age.

Mistletoe's role as a plant of hope is a good match for the "Winter" panel for my cycle pendant because that part is about rebirth. It is also about the state between life and death, and because it grows between the earth (land of mortals) and "heaven".