VERVAIN
Relief from the oppression of the gods (melancholy, epilepsy, exhaustion)
A wand of blessings – light-bringer
Smoothing communications between systems, understanding, acceptance, transmission, reducing ‘noise’.
Charm against headaches, snakes, venomous bites (worn around head).
The lifting of oppressive states.
Driving away maleficent energy.
The descent of grace (blessings of the gods)
Clear sight.
What is weighing you down?
There are things that need to be dealt with, to be well-handled, before you are able to feel at ease.
Something to be done.
Things will soon improve if you pay attention to what needs to be done.
Heavy clouds dispersed by a freshening breeze; cobwebs cleared.
A return of vitality, energy and optimism. Tidy up, clean up, smarten up, wake up – new day.
Skill: Dexterity
Failing: Oppression
Lesson: Burdens
Vervain: Essential in the rites of purification for Greeks, Celts and German peoples, vervain (Verbena officinalis) is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It.is a slender delicate perennial with spikes of tiny pale lilac flowers. Used in garlands of the celebrated and holy; known as a great healer. Aids wherever there is spasm, exhaustion, anxiety, depression and poor response to infection; very compatible with St. John’s Wort. Called wizard’s herb (llysiau’r hudol ), ‘fer faen’ to drive away a stone, herba veneris – Herb of Grace. A plant of peace, love and negotiations. General immune enhancement; antispasmodic, nervine (broadly restorative, for epilepsy (the touch of the gods), galactagogue, emmenogogue, diuretic, tonic, hepatic, bitter, relaxing and stimulating (but as a tisane (tea) is relaxing nerve tonic); melancholia, debility and depressive states. Nervousness, ‘stress’, migraine, insomnia, headaches, neuralgia, dysmenorrhoea, stimulates birth contractions and helps to tail off contraction pains, early stages of fever, convalescence, kidney stones. Effective at very small doses though takes several days to act. Said to heal holes in the aura. A truly sacred plant, psychoactive but not recognised as a psychotropic.