We have all been gripped by the beauty of our natural world. It is a distinctly powerful feeling, that cannot be elicited by manicured lawns, nor by finely mulched gardens. Instead it is wild places — peacefully left untouched from man’s meddling hands — that have the capacity to stir something deep within our soul. In many ways the wildness in nature reminds us of the wildness within ourselves. Like twins, we long for each other, our souls thirsting to remember our place in this divine and mysterious web. It is the wild plants that call to us, those growing effortlessly in untamed meadows and ancient forests. These wild plants radiate a vibrancy and an essence that is unmatched by their cultivated counterparts.
When standing among wild plants, I feel as though I can hear their quiet, gentle, and ageless whispers nudging me to remember, calling me back to a time of healing and magic. There are references to these magical plants scattered like seeds throughout our folklore and earliest mythologies. Many wild plants were held with the highest respect and admiration, and were honored and revered for their healing properties and their connection to the divine.

My two favorite among these are Yarrow (Achilliea Millefolium) and Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris). Both have a long history of folkloric magic, mystery, and healing.

Yarrow pollen dating back over sixty thousand years was discovered on fossils in Neanderthal caves. The genus Achillea is thought to have come from the legendary Greek hero Achilles, who used yarrow to stop bleeding and to disinfect wounds during the Trojan war. Its efficacy to treat battle wounds continued, leading to it’s common name: Soldier’s Woundwort. Yarrow is also well known for its connection to the spirit world. The first record of its spiritual use dates back over 3,000 years, to China, where yarrow stalks were used as the original divination tools in the I Ching or Book of Changes. Native People of the Americas understood yarrow to have mystical powers and would drink its tea to increase psychic awareness and to assist in spiritual guidance. Yarrow is one of the herbs used in dream pillows, along with mugwort, to bring on clairvoyant dreams.

Mugwort is a member of the Artemesia family, and is specifically associated with Artemis, one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities, goddess of the hunt and all things wild. She is often portrayed in a forest, carrying a bow and arrows and accompanied by deer. Associated to the moon, Artemis is also the guardian of women, childbirth, and fertility. Mugwort connects us to the feminine world of receptivity, inner strength, knowing, and intuition.

It is a blessing for me to meet yarrow and mugwort growing today, wild, in fields and meadows. The medicinal properties of these plants has been carefully researched and documented. We should ensure that they have ample habitat to grow and thrive. Equally important, if not more so, are their emotional and spiritual gifts. And during these shifting and transformative times, we would do well to listen closely and allow these magnificent plants to help us awaken to our deep knowing and connection with nature and all things wild.

Source: Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia, 1984, p.121.