This post is the second in a series of posts exploring and celebrating witch archetypes at the eight seasonal festivals.
The March equinox is an astronomical event that occurs when the Earth’s celestial equator passes through the Sun’s center. This occurs around March 20 every year and is celebrated as the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. On Earth, this event means that the days and nights are of equal length, hence the name “equinox” (equi- meaning equal, -nox meaning night).
In some Pagan communities, this event is celebrated as the holiday Ostara, named for the Germanic goddess Eostre, a goddess of fertility and springtime. Little is known about this deity as few of her myths have survived to modern day.
A similar festival is Lady Day, which occurs on March 25. Lady Day is the historic name of the Feast of the Annuniciation in some English-speaking countries. This day honors the archangel Gabriel’s annunciation to the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus Christ. In Traditional Witchcraft communities this is, perhaps somewhat perversely, the most popular name of this seasonal festival. The name Ostara, though rooted in history and the writing of the Venerable Bede, was only reapplied to this festival after centuries of obscurity by modern Wiccans. It is a broken tradition. While Lady Day is even more obscure than Ostara in the popular imagination, the Feast of the Annunciation has never gone away and it is, therefore, an unbroken tradition.
The goddess Ostara is a goddess of fertility and her festival is the first day of spring. Similarly, the Virgin Mary agrees to Christ’s birth on Lady Day, close to the beginning of spring. She is a virginal maiden who, despite all odds, becomes pregnant. This is reminiscent of the warming earth, frozen and impenetrable after the long winter, which will eventually become fertile in the spring. Fertility is the common thread with all of these events.
For this reason, I find it appropriatr to discuss the witch as herbalist. The spring equinox marks the beginning of the planting season. Of course, this does depend on your location and the weather. Even if there is snow on the ground on the first day of spring, warmer weather is most definitely on its way.
I will not attempt to explain how or why witches practice herbalism. There are hundreds of books written on this subject, far more complete than anything that could be written in this space. I encourage interested parties to seek them out. Instead, I will discuss herbalism’s connection to the spring equinox and how we can explore the archetype of the herbalist witch at this time of year.
The spring equinox is a time of planting and fertility. This can be acknowledged by gardening or planting. In a warm climate, an herbalist witch could plant a garden. In a colder climate, one could start growing seeds indoors or plan a new garden bed for later in the year. This idea could also be acknowledged figuratively. Many witches have considered this festival (and the proceeding festival, Candlemas) as ideal times to begin new projects - planting metaphorical seeds. Though popularized by Wicca, this is not a New Age idea. Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, Lady Day was seen as the beginning of the new year in England. Lady Day is the old New Year’s Day and is a great time to begin New Year’s resolutions.
Because the spring equinox is a time of equal light and darkness, it is a time to address the duality that dwells inside oneself. For the herbalist witch, the means addressing the classic duality of the witch as both healer and poisoner.
The archetype of the witch as both healer and poisoner is truly ancient. Far outdating the Malleus Maleficarum and texts of that ilk, this archetype dates back to our long past, to myths of the witch Medea, and perhaps myths more ancient still.
The skilled herbalist witch knows how to both heal and to poison. The two are not separate realms - they are inextricably linked. Part of becoming a master herbalist (or even a decent amateur) is to acknowledge that all plant substances have the power to harm in large quantities. Even the over-consumption of simple household spices, such as nutmeg, can lead to hallucinations. A witch should know how much of a substance can heal and how much can poison.
For example, the old witches of England prescribed foxglove tea for heart arrhythmia. Foxglove is, of course, a poisonous plant, but in proper dosages it can indeed be beneficial for the heart. No longer does the modern witch need to brew foxglove potions. The active ingredients have been synthesized into the medication Digitalis - named after the Latin name for the foxglove family.
The herbalist witch can concoct an ointment from poisonous plants. We often discuss the entheogenic properties of the Solanaceae family, but too rarely do we discuss their pain-relieving abilities. The same ointments that may give someone hallucinogenic experiences may also provide pain relief.
The herbalist witch knows how to use these plants safely. Which plants should be used topically and which can be ingested? Which can be smoked? The herbalist witch knows.
There is the archetype of the witch as a pure poisoner. I would certainly never encourage someone to commit murder. I also think poisoning someone must be artless as far as herbalism goes. Do imagine, however, putting your life in the hands of someone who has this ability. If the witch sitting across the table from you does not like you, she would certainly know how to prevent you from coming back.
Doctors and pharmacists act much the same in today’s world. If your prescribing physician does not check your list of allergies, if they are not aware of potential medication interactions or contraindications, if they prescribe too high a dose, or the pharmacist gives you the wrong medication, you could find yourself dead in an hour.
So let us on this Lady Day remember and respect the witch as herbalist. Today’s modern herbalists are building on thousands of years of study and research (some of it hands-on). Let us not forget that many contributers to this field were women. Let us not forget the power of the herbalist, she who has the power to heal and kill - she who drifts in that twilight between life and death, darkness and light. Let us seek out the knowledge that will heal us and let us care for and respect it.
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