Today’s Full Moon has many names: Snow Moon, Quickening Moon, Storm Moon, Moon of Ice…you get the gist. February is not considered the ‘cuddliest’ of months! And yet, it is one of the most important months in my Wheel of the Year. I allow myself to hibernate during February (and often March if I’m honest.) I get to read books, bake things, knit, and sleep. I sleep a lot this month! We so often forget to live in cycle with the seasons. I invite you to take a page from Mother Nature’s handbook this full moon - be still, rest, prepare for the busy season ahead.
Today’s herb highlight is one that has recently become an obsession of mine: Mullein (Verbascum thapsus.) While I’ve always had a healthy respect for Mullein in the past this season has secured its rock-star reputation in my Apothecary. One of Mullein’s claims to fame is its amazing affinity for the respiratory system. It is one of the first herbs I reach for to relax and strengthen the lungs. Now it’s important to remember that not all ‘lung crud’ is created equal. The herb you choose depends on the type of crud one is dealing with. Mullein reigns supreme for dry, irritated, spastic cough. The kind of cough that is often triggered by wildfire smoke and dry Winter conditions. The kind of cough that has plagued my house this season! It is considered specific to hard cough with soreness, having a well-deserved reputation for aiding bronchitis and asthma.
All parts of the plant are medicinal. Energetically the leaves and flowers are cooling and moistening while the root is warming and drying. The entire plant is also considered lymphatic. I promise not to bore you (again) with my love of the lymphatic system but let’s just say we all could do with giving more love to our lymph! The flowers can be made into an oil to treat ear infection. The root is used for joint pain, rheumatism, and bladder control.
Mullein can be a bit hard to distinguish in the garden from Lamb’s Ear the first year. It is a biennial and doesn’t bloom until the second year. Once in bloom though it is hard to miss - the tall stalks of lovely yellow flowers will be covered with pollinators and song birds. Be careful where you harvest Mullein though as it is fantastic at pulling heavy metals from the soil. While not appropriate for medicine in this situation, Mullein is amazing at soil remediation.
Magically Mullein is strongly associated with protection. It was believed that when carried while hiking it would keep you safe from wild animals and when worn in the shoe it would keep one from catching a cold. It has been used to banish demons and negativity from the home and is considered a substitute for graveyard dust in spell work.
I hope you all enjoy tonight’s Full Moon. Take advantage of the season to rest and recover. Xoxo
Comments