Vervain

What this is

Vervain (Verbena officinalis). The Druids' holy herb, gathered with honey at the dark of the moon, and the Roman herba sacra laid on every altar. Used in nearly every sacred work, it became the all-purpose holy plant of the West, the slender, almost plain herb reached for whenever the work itself was meant to be holy.

What it governs

Vervain answers to Venus and the element of Air, with a second hand from Mercury. Its seat in the zodiac is Libra and Gemini, and its day is Friday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: The Druidic sacred herb. On the altar at consecrations; in the posy of protection.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning vervain is cool and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the aerial. 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 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 sacred all-heal in many hands: the Druids gathered vervain at the dark moon with honey-offerings as their holy plant; the Romans laid the herba sacra on the altars of every god and on the brows of their peace-envoys; Christian legend set it on Calvary to staunch the wounds of Christ. Each needed one plant to stand for the sacred itself, and each found it here.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Vervain 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: The Druidic sacred herb. On the altar at consecrations; in the posy of protection. 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 Anael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with Venus's love and gentle harmony. As Today's Gathering it marks a plant to take up now, while full moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Vervain blesses and protects the sacred work. It teaches that the sacred is not far off and elaborate but near and plain, waiting in the most ordinary-looking plant for the one who approaches it rightly. It asks you to treat sacred work as sacred, and to keep your reverence even for the all-heal you reach for most.

Correspondences

planet

Venus

element

Air

zodiac

Libra, Gemini

number

7

sephirah

Netzach

day

Friday

colour

green, rose

metal

copper

stone

emerald, rose quartz

tarot

The High Priestess