Valerian

What this is

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). The pale froth of flower over an earthy musk-rooted herb, one of the oldest sedatives known, a scent cats adore. The Greeks called it phu for its strength, the medievals all-heal; kept in the home to settle strife, calm the sleepless and draw love by sheer quiet.

What it governs

Valerian answers to Mercury and the element of Earth, with a second hand from Saturn. Its seat in the zodiac is Virgo, and its day is Wednesday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the waning moon. In the old practice its office is plain: A capsule before sleep for the restless mind. Cats love it — be warned.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning valerian is warm and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the root. Its working colour follows Mercury, orange and shot-silk mixed hues; its metal is quicksilver, its stones are blue lace agate, agate, its number 8, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Hod. It is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

One deep settling in many hands: the Greeks used phu to quiet the nerves; medieval Europe named it all-heal and set it against the falling-sickness and against strife; the same musky root that calms the cat calms the frightened heart. Physician, herbalist and country wife reach for the one root to bring a racing body and a quarrelling house down into stillness.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Valerian 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: A capsule before sleep for the restless mind. Cats love it — be warned. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Raphael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with Mercury's quickness of mind and word. 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 waning moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Valerian settles strife and draws love through calm. It teaches that reconciliation begins with stillness, that a quarrel cannot mend while the body races. It asks you to come down into calm so rest and peace can work, while keeping the calm warm rather than numb.

Correspondences

planet

Mercury

element

Earth

zodiac

Virgo

number

8

sephirah

Hod

day

Wednesday

colour

orange, shot-silk mixed hues

metal

quicksilver

stone

blue lace agate, agate

tarot

The Moon