St John's Wort

What this is

St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). The herb of midsummer, blazing yellow at the year's height, gathered on St John's Eve. Hold a leaf to the light and it is pricked with tiny translucent dots, the sun shining through it; sunlight made green, the great banisher of gloom. Its sun-sap makes the skin tender to light, so it is taken in measure.

What it governs

St John's Wort answers to Sun and the element of Fire. Its seat in the zodiac is Leo, and its day is Sunday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Hung over the door at midsummer — the Sun's victory over the spirits of night.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning st john's wort is warm and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the flower. 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 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 light against the dark in many hands: the church set it on St John the Baptist, who came to bear witness to the light; the older folk hung it for the solstice itself, fuga daemonum, the flight of demons; the leaping of the midsummer fires is the same gesture in flame. Saint's day and solstice are one feast, the victory of the light at the turning of the year.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet St John's Wort on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, Today's Gathering, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its office: Hung over the door at midsummer — the Sun's victory over the spirits of night. 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 full moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

St John's Wort drives back gloom with the sun. It teaches that the dark is not fought but outshone, by carrying the light. It asks you to bring the sun to bear on what has dimmed, and to take that light in measure so it warms without scorching.

Correspondences

planet

Sun

element

Fire

zodiac

Leo

number

6

sephirah

Tiphareth

day

Sunday

colour

gold, solar yellow

metal

gold

stone

sunstone, topaz

tarot

The Sun