Fireweed. Willowherb. Healer. Herald.

Fireweed. Willowherb. Healer. Herald.

• Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Fire. Morning/Midday. Midsummer. Masc/Fem. Mars/Venus. Warrior.  Healer.  Sky-reacher.  Herald of summer..  A pink syrup.  A violet dye.  A brownish/beige tea.  A calm after a fire.  A rage of color after a stormy season.  Standing tall, and blooming in an upward spiral towards father sky.  A clock for summer and the witches who trace their paths by the change in the land as the sun and moon do their dance.

Fireweed/Willowherb syrup. (true color).  

I have come to regard fireweed highly. She is the herald of Midsummer in my region; growing tall, proud and plentiful wherever she likes. For the last few years I've taken up making candied flowers, syrups, teas and tinctures of her.  But syrup, especially mixed with a little honey and served on plain vanilla ice cream, is a favorite.  I harvest her from my own rain garden where she constantly tries to overshadow my Ficus and rush-- she longs to touch the Venus at the center of the Venusian rain garden. She is passionate and belongs where loving and clawing things grow.

In my work, her element is fire, her tide is morning and Midsummer, her moon is whenever, her nature is Venusian and Martian, and she follows strife with hope; balances grief with remembrance, and brings a wild healing to her every touch.  She is famine food in the PNW and is known to bring the fire of life to the dying. She ever reaches to the sky. Flame and Wind. She is respected here. 

Does willowherb play a part in your work come summer?

The syrup recipe is same as my spring sweet violet recipe; lemon, water, sugar, a handful of fresh flower -- balanced right? Four elements.  In other ways as well: earth grows the herb, which is boiled in water, over a fire and requires a good deal of time in the cooling air to achieve color harmony.

Give her 13 (witching) hours still in a warm dark place (like an unused oven) and bottle her up.  Keep in the fridge about 3 weeks.  Some folks have a sensitive stomach to the plant so be weary if you're knew to her. Especially if making tea from the leaf.