Rosemary

What this is

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). The dew of the sea, the dark fragrant shrub whose name in every tongue carries one meaning, remembrance. Burned to cleanse, worn at weddings for fidelity and cast into the grave for memory, it was said that where it thrives, the household keeps faith.

What it governs

Rosemary answers to Sun and the element of Fire, with a second hand from Mars. Its seat in the zodiac is Leo and Aries, and its day is Sunday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with waxing moon and the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: For remembrance — at a wedding, at a wake, before a trial. The universal Solar herb.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning rosemary is hot and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the aerial. Its working colour follows Sun, gold and solar yellow; its metal is gold, its stones are sunstone, topaz, its number 6, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Tiphareth. It is a herb of scent, working through the nose as much as the hand, it carries well on the body, kept in a pocket or a small sachet and it is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

One keeping of faith in many hands: the Greeks wore rosemary garlands while they studied, to fix their learning; English brides carried it for faithfulness and mourners cast it into the grave; the playwright gave it the line, rosemary for remembrance. Lecture-hall, wedding and graveside scent one word, for to remember is to keep faith.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Rosemary on Today's Herb, Scent of the Hour, Angelic Herb, Today's Gathering, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its office: For remembrance — at a wedding, at a wake, before a trial. The universal Solar herb. As the Scent of the Hour its message arrives through the nose, so let its smoke or its smell set the temper of the hour. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Michael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with the Sun's vitality and clear light. As Today's Gathering it marks a plant to take up now, while waxing and full moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Rosemary remembers. It teaches that clarity and fidelity are the same steadiness seen from two sides, and that to hold a thing in mind is to keep faith with it. It asks you to remember what matters and to let go of what only holds you back.

Correspondences

planet

Sun

element

Fire

zodiac

Leo, Aries

number

6

sephirah

Tiphareth

day

Sunday

colour

gold, solar yellow

metal

gold

stone

sunstone, topaz

tarot

The Sun