Yarrow

What this is

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The thousand-leaf, named for Achilles who staunched his soldiers' wounds with it at Troy. Its dried stalks were the very stalks cast to read the I Ching; sewn into a charm it brought seven years' love, held to the eyes it granted the sight. Courage in love and the binding of lasting bonds.

What it governs

Yarrow answers to Venus and the element of Air, with a second hand from Mars. Its seat in the zodiac is Libra and Aries, and its day is Friday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Staunches a cut; under the pillow brings dreams of love. The I Ching's own herb.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning yarrow is warm 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 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 binding in many hands: Homer's Achilles staunched his men's wounds with it, and the Greeks named it the soldier's woundwort; the diviners of ancient China counted out its dried stalks to read the Book of Changes; the English maiden slept with yarrow under her pillow to dream of her true love. Battlefield, oracle and love-charm meet in the one herb, for yarrow binds.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Yarrow 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: Staunches a cut; under the pillow brings dreams of love. The I Ching's own herb. 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 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 full moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Yarrow heals the wound and binds the bond, whether a wound, a fate to its reading, or two lovers. It teaches that healing, divining and loving are one act of drawing the separated edges back together and holding them. It asks you to have the courage to bind what matters, and to bind it so it can still breathe.

Correspondences

planet

Venus

element

Air

zodiac

Libra, Aries

number

7

sephirah

Netzach

day

Friday

colour

green, rose

metal

copper

stone

emerald, rose quartz

tarot

The Lovers