When you take a close look at this month's plant medicine card, you'll notice a lot of motion. Rabbits and deer are running, a bird is in flight and a woman in her most natural state is racing ahead--all heading in the same direction under a glowing sun. This emphasizes that the herb featured here, St. John's Wort, is all about energy and vitality. These qualities are highlighted with the key word you can see under the herb's name: Radiance.
The medicine in this plant is found in its upper parts, and mostly in the flowers rather than the roots. The flowers are a bright yellow color, another indicator of their
uplifting and illuminating potential. Although this plant is not included in the Bach Flower Essence energy healing system, founder Dr. Edward Bach was drawn to other yellow blossoms such as Gentian, Mustard and Gorse. He used them to make essences meant to restore a positive emotional outlook when one is discouraged, depressed or despondent.
The element that dominates St. John's Wort is fire, meaning it's related to the masculine qualities of vitality, power and passion. In the oracle guidebook, Ayales describes this herb's potential when she writes that "For many centuries, Saint-John's Wort has been used as a remedy against depression, anxiety, viruses, wound healing, pain relief, spiritual protection and more." It's also said to be one of the plants that Hippocrates used to treat insanity.
The quality of protection dates back to pre-Christian beliefs that St. John's Wort or Hypericum perforatum had the power to ward off evil spirits. Like many herbs with a similar reputation, parts of this plant were hung over doorways, burned in hearth fires, and worn on the body as a safeguard against negative influences. It also blooms around the Summer Solstice in it's European habitat, and it's protective ability is said to be at the most potent during this time of year.
Modern uses of this herb focus on its ability to treat mild depression when taken internally, especially when the issue is connected to seasonal affective disorder. Topically, an oil or salve made from this plant is recommended to heal skin conditions related to the nervous system such as post shingles pain and neuropathy. I've used it many times as a homeopathic remedy to soothe tooth discomfort when an irritated nerve is suspected.
Interestingly enough, because St. John's Wort attracts and radiates sunlight, one of the cautions attached to this herb is that it may cause photo-sensitivity in certain people who may need to avoid too much of a good thing! For those individuals, or anyone for that matter, this herb’s sunny personality can still brighten a dark day and uplift the spirit when used in the less intense, flower essence form.
I decided to experiment with the essence of Hypericum to assist in connecting to the spirit of this plant. I made it a practice to ingest the drops while stating my intention for three days before doing a meditative journey. This felt like an appropriate way to initiate a relationship with the plant.Â
When beginning this visualization, the path to meeting the plant spirit was brighter than the ones I’m used to, and it led to a sunlit meadow.
It was easy to spot the brilliant yellow flowers, and I jumped into a large one that seemed especially inviting. It felt quite warm, and the many projecting stamens characteristic of this flower appeared like tiny eyes. They swayed rapidly, introducing an animated and knowing presence.
I asked for what advice or wisdom this spirit had to offer, and the response was to focus on movement. I was told that we do not move enough physically and mentally, and this leads to stagnation on both levels. I wondered about people whose movements are restricted, and he said they’re more likely to concentrate on the fertile activity of their thoughts to increase their creativity.
When I thought about this afterward, it seemed to me like good advice to cultivate a mind that is busy in creative ways in order to prevent a devitalized mental state, one that might lead to reduced physical energy as well. Hypericum in whatever form you prefer offers help with this.
As Ayales reminds us, this solar herb "represents feelings of protection, optimism, fulfillment, prosperity, success, and the dawn that follows the darkest of nights." With the shorter and sometimes gloomy days of winter coming in many parts of the world, we could all benefit from St. John’s ability to boost our levels of resilience and well- being. I invite you to join me in welcoming its transformative light and protective presence!
As always, thanks for letting me share my thoughts and journey with you. I welcome your input, so if you want to submit a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you are interested in booking a personal session, you can do this here:
You can also contact me via email at: my.plant.allies@gmail.com
For now, here's wishing you wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!
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