Yarrow
by Amethyst
Botanical: Achillea millefolium |
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Lore
The genus name, Achillea derives from Greek mythology.
Achilles, hero of Homer's "Iliad," had been a student of Chiron, the
centaur renowned for his knowledge of medicinal herbs. Yarrow
plants were highly regarded at the time for their medicinal
properties. Yarrow plants were widely used prior to modern
times to staunch blood. The species name, mille folium (thus
the common name, "milfoil") means thousand-leafed and derives from
yarrow plants' deeply toothed, fern-like foliage. The English
name Yarrow comes from the Saxon and Dutch words 'Gearwe' and 'Yerw'
respectively. Yarrow was once known as "nosebleed", its
feathery leaves making an ideal astringent swab to encourage
clotting. It is a well-known and versatile herb that is still
effective for its historical use of staunching bleeding and
disinfecting wounds, but its uses extend far beyond that. It
was called by the Ancients, the Herba Militaris, and the military
herb. Mythology, over time, becomes an ever-complex weave of
different layers of religious and cultural fabric which it would take
several lifetimes to understand.
It was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, in earlier days,
being sometimes known as Devil’s Nettle, Devil’s
Plaything, Bad Man’s Plaything, and was used for divination
in spells. Yarrow, in the eastern counties, is termed
Yarroway, and there is a curious mode of divination with its serrated
leaf, with which the inside of the nose is tickled while the following
lines are spoken. If the operation causes the nose to bleed,
it is a certain omen of success:
Yarroway, Yarroway, bear a white blow,
If my love loves me, my nose will bleed
now.
An ounce of Yarrow sewed up in a flannel and placed under the pillow
before going to bed, having repeated the following words, brought a
vision of the future husband or wife:
Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree
Thy true name it is Yarrow;
Now who by bosom friend must be,
Pray tell thou me tomorrow.
Usage
In the Orkney Islands yarrow is widely used for dispelling
melancholy. Yarrow is an important herbe when healing someone
burdened by troubled emotions, helping cleanse them of an unhealthy
sorrow or depression, which has lasted too long. Albertus
Magnus uses yarrow in combination with nettles to treat fear and
self-negation.
Yarrow’s associations with divination extend far beyond folk
spells. In China yarrow stalks are gathered, the straightest
collected for scattering when reading the I Ching. According
to The Master Book of Herbalism, it is said the “the most
prized yarrow is that which grows upon the burial site of
Confucius.”
Modern lore recommends waiting for the first yarrow bloom and using it
to make a wish, which should manifest prior to the harvest.
The flowers are often included in rituals of union are considered
sacred to the Horned God. Any herbe under the influence of
Venus makes for a potent love herbe for spells and rituals, and Yarrow
is no exception.
Large patches of yarrow growing in a field indicate a very grounded
energy spot. Sit there to centre and relax. Yarrow
is used to exorcise evil and negativity from a person, place or thing.
In the past, yarrow was used as a protectant. It was strewn across the
threshold to keep out evil and worn to protect against hexes. It was
tied to an infant's cradle to protect it from those who might try to
steal its soul. The Saxons wore yarrow amulets to protect against
blindness, robbers, and dogs, among other things. Carrying
Yarrow in the hand is believed to ward off fear. Try carrying
in a silk or velvet bag when going to a job interview or making a
speech to reduce anxiety. Carried in a pocket or purse,
Yarrow reverses negativity and protects from hexes. Add to
the bath to protect from evil or harm.
It is particularly useful in spells and rituals done aloud –
so that the words can be carried on the air. When drunk as a
tea, Yarrow is said to increase psychic powers and powers of
perception. When the flowers or leaves are burned, if the
smoke goes up, it’s a good omen, but if it goes down,
it’s a bad omen.
