Rue

What this is

Rue (Ruta graveolens). The blue-green bitter herb of grace, sprinkled with holy water to bless and to banish, hung at the door against the evil eye. Its name was tied to repentance, yet its older office is the opposite, the lifting of what oppresses. Toxic in quantity, it is grace with an edge.

What it governs

Rue answers to Mars and the element of Fire, with a second hand from Sun. Its seat in the zodiac is Scorpio, and its day is Tuesday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the waning moon. In the old practice its office is plain: A sprig in a little bag against the evil eye — the Mediterranean's strongest ward.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning rue 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 Mars, scarlet red; its metal is iron, its stones are emerald, ruby, its number 5, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Geburah. It carries well on the body, kept in a pocket or a small sachet and it is not gentle, a herb of real potency to be handled with care and never taken lightly.

Where else it appears

One clearing of the air in many hands: the Romans set rue against the evil eye and ate it to sharpen the sight; the Catholic church dipped it as the herb of grace; the curanderos still brush it over a person to sweep away the mal de ojo. Roman charm, Christian blessing and folk-healer's sweep clear the same invisible weight.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Rue on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, Today's Gathering, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its office: A sprig in a little bag against the evil eye — the Mediterranean's strongest ward. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Samael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with martial heat and decisive force. As Today's Gathering it marks a plant to take up now, while waning moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Rue clears the air of what should not be in it, the evil eye, the spell, the regret that clouds the sight. It asks you to let the heaviness be swept off so you can see, and to take your grace in the measure that heals rather than burns.

Correspondences

planet

Mars

element

Fire

zodiac

Scorpio

number

5

sephirah

Geburah

day

Tuesday

colour

scarlet red

metal

iron

stone

emerald, ruby

tarot

The Tower