Wortcunning Herbs of Midsummer
As May continues to shower us with green and vibrant blessings, I wanted to share something with you about three plants that are so near and dear to my heart- each of them rooted and fruited in the ancient lore of our herbwise ancestors.
In the traditions of the Old Ways, we call May Þrīmilċe. This sounds something like Three Milch-eh, and means ‘three milkings’- the time of year when the cows are so full of milk from all the vegetation that they can be milked, with love and respect, three times per day!
May’s vibrant energy eases us toward Liða which pivots around Midsomer, the Summer Solstice. In the modern western calendar, we tend to think of the Summer Solstice as the beginning of Summer- but in the Old Ways it marks the mid-point of the growing season. Liða means ‘the calm’ and speaks to both a repose we can take from all the hard work of gardening and growing now that the crops are well established and the calm we usually see in water and wind.
This time of year, from Þrīmilċe through Liða (when our Wortcunning group honors the Sun Goddess Sunne and our Àrgoði, Ing-Freyr) toward Æfterra Liða when we near the seasons of first harvest, is really the perfect time to connect with the plants that share spaces with us. They are all full, awake, and vibrant- showing off their colors and forms for easier identification.
So, let’s meet three plants now through their shared wisdom in the ancient Wortcunning texts and traditions.
SPEEDWELL
Veronica officinalis
OE: Hleomoc, Lemoce
Growing lush along sidewalks, gutters, and streets all throughout my neighborhood is a weedy ally that I absolutely adore. Speedwell, whom we call Hleomoc in the Wortcunning traditions, thrives in disturbed areas with lots of motion, traffic, trampling, and noise. They are one of the first plants to pop up where I live, alongside Cleavers and Henbit.
Before you get too excited about running out and harvesting some of this abundant plant, let me give you fair warming: the herbwise traditions advise strongly against picking this herb! It is explicitly stated that plucking Speedwell will bring bad luck, especially in regards to our forward movement and travels. So, what are we to do? Speedwell, as their folk name tells us, is an ally of good travel- speed well! So, this plant’s medicine is shared best when we take notice of them as we walk, cycle, and drive on our everyday adventures. Rather than pick, we can simply gaze or gently touch this observant plant who is so very forgiving of we loud human folk and ask for their blessings.
YARROW
Achillea millefolium
OE: Gearwe
Who doesn’t love the iconic and legendary Yarrow? Their fillagree leaves, umbrella-like bundled of blossoms, and distinct aroma make them a favorite amongst all plant lovers. While we think of Yarrow for their ability to staunch bleeding, preserve essence, support cold and flu relief through opening the pores, and the healing of wounds, there is so much more to this profound plant ally.
In the old texts, Gearwe (Pronounced Yeh-ar-weh) is extolled for their blessings of protection and boundary. The Herbarium Apuleii suggestes an amulet of Yarrow to protect one against poisonous creatures- snake, spider, and human alike! Carrying Gearwe surrounds us in their protective might and helps us to affirm personal boundaries and repel those who might bring us venom, poison, or toxicity.
A lovely amulet of Gearwe can be made by adding dried materia from all parts of the plant into a small red flannel bag which can be worn around the neck, over the heart center, or tucked into the right pocket.
COMFREY
Symphytum officinale
OE: Galluc
With folk names like bruisewort, all-heal, and knitback, it should be no surprise that we cherish this amazing plant or their ability to help heal wounds, mend bones, and knit tissues. For almost all cases of contusion, break, strain, sprain, pull, bruise, and tear, this is an herb I would not want to be without! I work almost exclusively with Comfrey leaves because they are so abundant where I live and can be harvested throughout the whole growing cycle. I prefer to work with Galluc as a compress or poultice- applying directly to or over the area needing medicine as long as the external skin isn’t broken.
For broken bones, the roots can be worked as an amulet in a cast, or even used as a supportive splint. The application of Comfrey Leaf for breaks and tears in my Wortcunning practice always comes with the support of the Second Merseburg Charm which is one of my absolute favorites… ant not just because it invokes our wise medicine keeper, Wōden!
Here’s a modern rendering of this charm which can be spoken over a broken bone while applying herbal remedy:
Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods,
and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained
So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it;
and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it;
and Wodan conjured it, as well he could:
Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain,
so joint-sprain:
Bone to bone, blood to blood,
joints to joints, so may they be!
"Wodan Heals Balder's Horse" (1905) by Emil Doepler
Wishing you a Midsummer of Plenty and Peace…
Josh
