Herbs of Artemis

Herbs of Artemis - Part I

"Goddess of the loud chase, a maiden revered, the slayer of stags, the archer. She travels the shadowy hills and the windy headlands rejoicing in the chase. Then tremble the crests of the lofty mountains, and terribly the dark woodland rings with din of beasts, and the earth shudders..." - Homer

These are powerful words describing an even more powerful goddess - Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Patron of Childbirth and Death, Virgin Goddess. We have rekindled the ancient fires and with the aid of the goddess, remember the old wise arts we call magick. The knowledge of herbs is one of these arts.

To invoke the attributes of Artemis is to reach daringly deep within ourselves. And from this core of creation realize that each of us has the power to hunt, give birth and know death, remain true to our own inner vision and be brave, reason and act, and to love while still retaining our own self-identity. These are the ways of Artemis.

When Hera, Zeus' wife, learned that Leto was pregnant with Zeus' child, she banished Leto to give birth in a lonely place. Leto went to the island, Delos, and gave birth to Artemis painlessly. Artemis then assisted her mother in the birth of her twin brother, Apollo.

Painless childbirth and midwifery are new to some. However, those of us who have participated in these rituals know the power of the goddess and of herbs. Bethroot, black haw, raspberry and squawvine are again being used for female ailments and during pregnancy and painless childbirth.

Twas only to hear the yorling sing,
and pu' the crawflower round the spring,
The scarlet hep and the hindberrie*,
And the nut that hand frae the hazel tree." - Gerard

When Zeus asked the child Artemis what she wanted, she replied, "Eternal virginity and a silver bow and arrows." The silver bow represents the crescent of the new moon, symbol of the virgin. Virgin here meaning - inner focus, intuitive wisdom, always true to one's self and remaining true to one's own vision - familiar tenets of Wicca. Once carried to preserve virginity, lavender is used as a sacrifice to the gods in Midsummer fires.

As archetypes of Artemis, the Virgin Goddess, there are herbs we can use for strengthening our mental powers, reasoning and intuition.

Basil which can be sniffed to remove melancholy and in matters of love use in incense and as a culinary herb. Basil is also a good purification bath and sachet herb.

When in need of magical protection, use a wand made of hazel wood to draw a circle around you. Hang in your home to insure against lightening strikes. East the nuts to enhance your powers of reason and carry them for luck. Forked branches of hazel wood are used as divining rods and are traditionally gathered on Samhain.

Mugwort, also known as Artemis Herb, Witch Herb and Artemisia, allays fatigue on long journeys by placing a sprig in your shoe. Carried on the person, it wards against wild beasts and poison. Picked on the Full Moon, mugwort is used for scrying, clairvoyance, anointing magic mirrors and crystal balls and especially for inducing dreams. Mugwort is an obvious herb of Artemis traveling the wilds. (To be continued.)

*hindbeer was the Saxon word for raspberry.
Herbs of Artemis - Part II