The nature of Hypericum

This herb is ubiquitous in South East Australia, (and probably in other parts of the country). It is generally considered a weed. But, if we are on the same page, you would know that nothing is by chance. There is a good a reason why it is so widespread, a reason why we’d do well to use it.

I recently found a little patch of Hypericum, common name St. John’s Wort. It was just over the barrier at a lookout in Leura, in the Blue Mountains. I was so excited to finally chance upon this herb in the wild. I gathered some with the intention to infuse it oil. Unfortunately, I could not confirm whether that had not grown in glyphosate-contaminated soil. This is a very toxic and very commonly used herbicide. Cities and towns, and their surrounds are soaked in it. I had to throw it out.

So, as nothing is by chance, I have followed up with my herbal encounter by looking into it’s energetic properties. I already know a fair bit about it’s “physical” properties. These brief excerps that follow describe the nature of this plant.

Enjoy!

Hypericum

Government and virtues.] It is under the celestial sign Leo, and the dominion of the Sun. It may be, if you meet a Papist, he will tell you, especially if he be a lawyer, that St. John made it over to him by a letter of attorney. It is a singular wound herb; boiled in wine and drank, it heals inward hurts or bruises; made into an ointment, it open obstructions, dissolves swellings, and closes up the lips of wounds. The decoction of the herb and flowers, especially of the seed, being drank in wine, with the juice of knot-grass, helps all manner of vomiting and spitting of blood, is good for those that are bitten or stung by any venomous creature, and for those that cannot make water. Two drams of the seed of St. John’s Wort made into powder, and drank in a little broth, doth gently expel choler or congealed blood in the stomach. The decoction of the leaves and seeds drank somewhat warm before the fits of agues, whether they be tertains or quartans, alters the fits, and, by often using, doth take them quite away. The seed is much commended, being drank for forty days together, to help the sciatica, the falling-sickness, and the palsy.

Nicholas Culpeper’s The Complete Herbal (1653)

The Astrology of Herbs: Herbs of the Sun

Their “hot” and “dry” energy helps dispel cold, damp and phlegm from the lungs and respiratory tract. These herbs resist poison and aid in the recuperation of the vital forces. They are anodyne herbs that relieve pain with their relaxing warmth. Solar herbs provide us with the creativity needed to visualize our Selves within this Universe. With the aid of these herbs, we are better able to recognize our life’s highest purpose… Herbs of the Sun also help us find a flow that suits our own authentic rhythm. They endow us with the courage to fearlessly seek our true visions, plus the means to manifest them. This naturally leads to tapping into universal abundance.

Anima Mundi Herbals (2022)

Feeding Your Inner Sun with St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

We see a signatures of the Sun as it prefers to grow in wide open spaces, on southern facing slopes [northern facing slopes in Australia), and in direct sunlight – for St. John’s Wort, the hotter and dryer, the better. The plant itself also displays strong solar signatures in the bright yellow coloration of the flower, which appears to be shining out light rays from its stamens. I always think it looks like light rays- like when you are walking through the forest and see the sun shining through the trees and see the distinct rays of light. The physical actions and properties of St. John’s Wort (both physical and spiritual) also bear strong correspondences to the Sun. First, we see that it is predominantly a warming remedy with its volatile, balsamic flavor and warming energetics. It makes sense that it would be our primary remedy for melancholy and depression, for these types of imbalances could be seen as a deficiency of the solar force. As Matthew Becker states, “it brings a lot of the energy and warmth of the sun into your own body… it actually can warm your psyche” which truly summarizes how this plant works. St.John’s Wort initiates us into the sphere of the infuence of the Sun, which represents the core of who we are, our gravitational center. The Sun is all abut coming in to direct contact with our essential self, being strong in that, and learning to shine our truth out into the world in a way that is of service and benefit to the whole.

Evolutionary Herbalism (2023)

For Those Who’ve Lost Touch

This remedy would help those who have lost touch with that essential part of the self, where darkness has crept into their psyche, and they have lost their confidence, their path, their purpose- they feel alone, isolated, and disconnected from Life. A certain heaviness weighs on them and they feel “down.”

St. John’s Wort functions to help to strengthen the inner Sun, to bring the light back into someone’s life. It feeds that inner light, fans and brightens the flame of consciousness, and where that light shines, the darkness dissipates. Rather than focusing on what’s wrong, what’s not working, and what is holding one back, this remedy teaches our minds to find the positive in every situation, to take our challenges and struggles and transform them into our teachings, our strength, and our power. In this way it is “above the apparition” (the meaning of the Greek word hypericon), and helps us to face our inner demons and conquer them.

I see the healing process of St. John’s Wort in a way that starts at the core of who we are, it finds the light of our consciousness and starts to feed it, to strengthen it. As that light brightens within the self, it begins to push the subconscious fears and traumas up and out so we can face them and deal with them. Progressively over time our inner light (which is simply our truth, purpose, and power) shines out from within and re-establishes the structural integrity of the astral body, healing any “punctures” to our etheric field so that we are no longer leaking our vital force out, nor are we susceptible to the malefic influences of others. We are not protected from the outside in, but rather from the inside out – we are filled with the truth of who we are so that there isn’t any more room for other people’s projections to enter.

Eventually this inner Sun radiates out into the world. We have faced our demons, overcome our traumas, healed our wounds, and transformed them into our teachings, strength, and personal power. We now have the will to act in accordance with our truth and to live our lives from the heart, to walk our true path and live out our life purpose.

Evolutionary Herbalism (2023)