Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
A perennial plant with feathery dark green leaves and heads of white or occasionally pink flowers during summer and early autumn, it can be found on roadsides and in meadows.
Achilles used yarrow as a field dressing for the wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan war, he obviously didn’t have enough left to use on his heel…
The herb was often referred to as the Devil’s plaything and indeed during the 17th Century a woman was tried as a witch for using yarrow in her spells, but let’s not get into the ‘there is no devil in witchcraft’ thing!
Yarrow was used by the Druids for weather prediction and young ladies would use it to show a vision of who their true love might be. Dried yarrow heads were originally used in the divination method of I-Ching.
Carry yarrow with you to allay fears and bring you personal courage.
Keep yarrow under your pillow to enhance prophetic dreams.
Drink yarrow tea or burn as incense to increase your psychic powers.
Bring yarrow into your home or burn as an incense blend to invite love, happiness and peace.
Scatter yarrow around your property or wear in an amulet to keep you protected.
Yarrow Magical Properties:
Psychic powers, love, courage, exorcism, dreams, peace, happiness, divination, protection.
Ruling planet – Venus
Element – Water
Gender – Feminine
Taken from A Kitchen Witch's World of Magical Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson
