One of my favorite things about my spiritual practice is working with plant allies. Sometimes we look at our beautiful green lawn and are annoyed with the dandelions coming up among the grass. But our friend the dandelion is more than a pesky weed! I hope that reading about the following three plant allies, you will be inspired to meet and work with them, and maybe learn more about some of the weeds that grow up in your yard!
All these plants will be flowering around the Summer Solstice. This is a great time to get outside and meet some plant allies. The plant energy is quite vibrant during these longer days.
DISCLAIMER: Before ingesting any plants, be sure you have referred to a respected guidebook to positively identify edible plants. Never assume you have the correct plant and never ingest or apply anything you are not 100% sure about.
3 Wildflowers for the Summer Solstice:
MULLEIN: One of my favorite summer herbs to wild craft is Mullein. It grows in the most surprising places. You can find it sprouting up on the side of the road, in gravel, near beaches, in the meadows, along the hedgerows. It literally grows everywhere!
SEASON: Blooms June through September.
IDENTIFY: Look for broad velvet type leaves with a tall stalk that blooms with clusters of yellow flowers. After the flowers die off, the stalk will remain standing tall and brown, lending itself to yet another purpose. Again, please refer to a respected guidebook to confirm the identity of the plant before using.
USES: The dried stalks of mullein are commonly called “The Hags’ Candle” and would often be used as torches during the fall as the days became shorter. The mullein plant is said to offer protection from evil spirits when burned, so these stalks were used to help guide travelers safely through the night and would have also been used during the season of All Hallows Eve to protect the home from evil spirits that may be out roaming the night. I love using these dried stalks during my fall ceremonies. As they burn, they have a pleasant odor of all the good things about cooler nights and autumn days.
The leaves and flowers are primarily used for medicinal use. You can steep the leaves as a tea or use the flowers to create a macerated oil. The oil will turn bright yellow from the color of the flowers. You can use the mullein oil to help ease vertigo by swabbing it just inside your ears. Also, if your dog or cat gets mites in their ears, you can swab the oil gently on the inside of their ears to kill off the mites and deter them from returning.
DEADNETTLE:
SEASON: Deadnettle blooms in the late spring through the month of August.
IDENTIFY: You can find lots of these adorable little flowers in meadows, swamps, and along the hedgerows. You want to look for a low growing flower with triangular shaped leaves that grow symmetrically on the stalk. The flowers are usually very small and are a bright pink or purple color. The flowers often have spots. Again, please refer to a respected guidebook to confirm the identity of the plant before using.
USES: This is an edible plant that you can add to flavor your soups and meats. It is a member of the mint family. While the plant itself is more bitter than minty, it is rich in antioxidants and can be used for a variety of reasons.
Add the leaves and flowers into a poultice to reduce bruising and other skin blemishes. You can create a salve that can be used to reduce the signs of aging.
In many parts of Europe this plant is also referred to as Purple Archangel because it blooms during the Feast of Apparition. Use this plant as a decoration on your altar when asking for guidance from the angels. Deadnettle is often associated with cheerfulness. Bring them into your space when you need a little pick-me-up!
FLEABANE:
This plant is a member of the daisy family, and it is another hardy wildflower. You can find it growing nearby it’s friend mullein. You can find it in gravel, sand, meadows, and near fresh and brackish water.
SEASON: Blooms June through September.
IDENTIFY: To identify this plant, remember that it will look like a daisy, except the petals are more like fringe. You will find the colors of these flowers range from white to light pink to yellow. The leaves are long and serrated. Again, please refer to a respected guidebook to confirm the identity of the plant before using.
USES: Fleabane is an edible plant. The leaves and flowers can be consumed cooked and raw. Fleabane also has great anti-inflammatory properties and can be taken in a capsule form or as a tea.
There is some folklore about fleabane being associated with retaining chastity. It can easily be woven into a daisy chain flower crown in the summer. You can also make a wreath with these flowers to protect your home from anyone coming to your door with ill-intentions.
KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER:
If you plan to go out and wild craft your own herbs, that’s great but be prepared! Be sure to get yourself a book to help you identify the plants accurately. Never ingest anything you are not 100% sure about!
When you are planning to go out and wild craft herbs, even if it’s your own yard, be sure that you are wearing some good bug repellant, wear long sleeves and pants, along with shoes and socks—and have nice sharp scissors to take cuttings.
As part of honoring the plant world, never take ALL the plants from an area. Many wildflowers attract pollinators, and it’s important to be mindful that these plants are growing for other reasons than our own consumption. Only take what you need and be sure to say a little prayer of gratitude. Remember that you are harvesting a living being to create your medicines and magick, and all life is important.
When I was little, I always wanted to know “who” the plants were. I hope that you will take the time to greet these plants, introduce yourself and spend some time with them.
