It was said long, long ago that the devil hated this plant so much for its power to heal that he viciously stabbed it with a needle, repeatedly. And to this day, when the flower is held to the light, you can still see the tiny pinpricks made from the devil’s strikes. The plant he despised was Hypericum perforatum, St. John’s Wort, or Wort of St. John.
St. John’s Wort bloo
ms on or around the 24th of June, which is celebrated by Christians as St. John’s Day, a day honoring the birth of John the Baptist. In medieval times, this was a time to celebrate the height of the sun and the heat of summer. They would go out and pick plants and special herbs, particularly for protection against evil spirits, and light bonfires at night. One of those plants was St. John’s Wort, which was believed to embody the sun itself.
To look at the flower, you cannot help but feel optimism, like going for a stroll on a sunny day. Five bright yellow petals that spread out like the rays of the sun. Then, coming out of the rays are what appear to be sunbursts caused by the stamens with clusters of pollen on the ends. It is easy to see how they thought of the sun. And the sun means God, truth, life, and protection. Which would explain why the devil hated it so much and wanted to destroy it.
They would hang St. John’s Wort from the windows, above doors, and around religious icons. Anywhere they felt was vulnerable to evil spirits. This was all significant for this time of year because after the sun reaches its peak on the solstice, it would begin its descent. St. John’s Wort was a plant given for the dark time coming.
In the Christian tradition, its significance is that the most celebrated thing about John the Baptist is that his birth heralds the birth of Christ, six months later. We can see the relation with the plant. Six months later, the Winter Solstice arrives and thus the ascent of the sun. So, this plant was valued for its hope-giving quality. It was a reminder that the sun is always there, even if it is shaded and barely seen.
St. John’s Wort was one of the first plants in my garden. I was eager to grow my own and make tinctures and oils. I knew the power of this plant from years ago when I was struggling with panic attacks and anxiety that would sometimes cause depression and insomnia. I also found a lot of help from this plant when I was getting off SSRIs. I will mention here that I am in no way giving medical advice. Always consult your doctor before using this herb, especially if you are on any medications.
The first thing I tried was making a tincture. What I wasn’t expecting was just how red it does turn. ‘Red like blood’ is not an exaggeration, and Christians associated this with the blood of St. John. And unlike other herbs soaking in the alcohol or oil need to be in a dark and dry place, St. John’s Wort gets STRONGER in the sunlight. This plant cannot get enough of it!
The sunlight brings even more of the goodness from the plant, infusing it into the liquid. The longer it sits, the redder it gets. Then comes the winter, with its short days and cold winds. The body craves warmth and sunlight, and you miss your garden and the flowers shining bright in the heat of the sun.
If only you could bottle up the sunshine and store it away just for days like these. Well, you can! St. John’s Wort embodies the sun itself. It is the very power of hope and optimism, vitality and strength, that it soaks up and holds for the darker times that come.
Nature always provides for our future struggles. During the summer, we are active and going outside. We easily get our vitamin D while we are grilling, swimming, and going for walks. I envision all the laughter and activity in my garden being absorbed by the plants, and then later, when it’s not so sunny and the mood just needs a lift, I can pour a little sunshine into my tea or moisturize my skin with the happy memories of the summer.