Marshmallow

What this is

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis). The soft mallow of the marsh, its Greek name from althein, to heal. Its mucilage soothes whatever it touches, and that softening is the heart of its magic, the herb that calms a troubled house and coaxes the helpful unseen near.

What it governs

Marshmallow answers to Venus and the element of Water, with a second hand from Moon. Its seat in the zodiac is Libra and Cancer, and its day is Friday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the waxing moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Cold-steep root overnight — the demulcent supreme for dry throats and inflamed linings.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning marshmallow is cool and moist, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the root; leaf; flower. Its working colour follows Venus, green and rose; its metal is copper, its stones are emerald, rose quartz, its number 7, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Netzach. It is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

Softening repeats across skins: the Egyptians and Greeks fed mallow to the sick and the grieving; folk craft burns it to draw in kindly spirits and settle a fretful home; the herbalist steeps it to soothe a raw place. Soothe, settle, draw near, one emollient gesture for the throat, the heart and the house.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Marshmallow on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, Moon's Companion, Today's Gathering, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its office: Cold-steep root overnight — the demulcent supreme for dry throats and inflamed linings. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Anael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with Venus's love and gentle harmony. As the Moon's Companion it walks with the night, marking a dream, a tide of feeling, or a thing best done by moonlight. As Today's Gathering it marks a plant to take up now, while waxing moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Marshmallow softens. Where a thing is raw, inflamed or bristling, it cools and quiets and makes the place safe to enter. It asks you to lower your guard enough to be helped, and to let comfort do what force cannot.

Correspondences

planet

Venus

element

Water

zodiac

Libra, Cancer

number

7

sephirah

Netzach

day

Friday

colour

green, rose

metal

copper

stone

emerald, rose quartz

tarot

The Empress