by Lyssa Delgado
Welcome to my new weekly article, The Heretic's Herbiary! In this weekly article, I will be discussing different herbs and plants and their connections to witchcraft through different cultural histories. I will be taking requests for herbs to cover, and this week will be my friend Naomh's choice!
Thyme has been used for thousands of years in order to treat wounds, prevent sickness and to keep nightmares at bay. It is strongly antiseptic and was used by the Ancient Egyptians as part of their embalming process. The magickal properties of thyme include purification, love, abundance and courage among others.
Thyme, the most common of which is called Thymus vulgaris, is a member of the Lamiaceae family which also contains mint, lavender and sage among others. There are more than 350 different species of thyme, most of which grow no taller than 40cm. Thyme is native to temperate regions in Europe, Asia and North Africa.
The use of thyme goes back thousands of years. The first written mention of it dates back to the famous Sumerian cuneiform tablets from around 2400BC. These tablets are thought to be the earliest written medical texts and contain a recipe for a poultice made with dried thyme, pear, fig and water.
The Ancient Egyptians used thyme as part of their embalming process as it is strongly antiseptic. The Ancient Greeks used to bath with it and also burned it in their temples as they believed that it would bring them courage and purify them. They also flavoured cheese and liqueurs with it. It’s mentioned by the poet Horace (65 – 8BC) who said that it was grown extensively by beekeepers.
Thyme was actually spread all through Europe by the Romans. They believed it was an important herb and took it with them whenever they invaded another part of Europe. They would plant it where they camped and in this way, it was spread relatively quickly.
The Romans loved to eat thyme before or after every meal as they believed that it would protect whoever ate it from poison. They believed that taking a bath with thyme would negate the effects of inadvertently consumed poison. This made it a particular favourite with the upper classes and the Emporers. I guess they believed in the magickal properties of thyme too!
Roman soldiers would exchange thyme springs as a sign of respect for each other. They believed that it would increase their strength and bravery during battle while also giving them a boost of courage. Both the Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in these properties and would burn thyme as a way of invoking the spirit of courage.
During the Middle Ages, thyme was used to ward off nightmares, bring sweet dreams and aid with sleep. Women also gave knights or warriors they were interested in charms made of thyme to give them courage while they fought. These charms were often carried in a pocket during battle although there are some records of soldiers pinning these charms to their clothing as a badge of honour.
Carrying thyme during battle also served a different purpose. It was used during funerals as people believe it assured the departed an easy passage into the next life. This meant that warriors wearing thyme were given both courage, and an easy journey if they happened to fall during battle.
In the late 1340s, when the Plaque hit, many people turned to thyme in the hopes of an antidote. It was worn in herbal posies around the neck to prevent the wearer from catching the plague. It was also used in poultices which were applied directly to the skin of those suffering in the hopes of giving some relief. While there isn’t actually any evidence that this would have helped, thyme does contain a compound known as thymol which is a very powerful antiseptic.
During Victoria times, people believed that patches of wild thyme growing in the forest were evidence that the Fae had recently danced there. Curious people would camp in these spots overnight in the hopes of seeing these revelries for themselves. While they believed in the more mythical aspects of thyme, they were also quite clever and used to bath bandages in thyme water in order to sterilise them. The interesting thing here is that in the 1800s, the way infection worked wasn’t fully understood, so using an antiseptic herb to prevent it spreading is actually very clever.
While thyme was used medicinally for centuries, it was also often used in cooking throughout history. This is a very clever use of this herb as it’s antiseptic qualities meant that food spoiled less quickly and meat stayed fresh longer.
Thyme arrived in the Americas with the first European colonists, and was used there primarily for medicinal purposes and as a food preservative.
Today, thyme is a common plant to find in kitchen gardens and as a dried herb in many spice cabinets throughout the world. Thymol, the compound found in thyme, is still commonly used in mouthwash, acne medication and hand sanitizer.
Burn dried thyme to purify your home and keep everyone inside healthy while filling your home with loving and peaceful vibrations. Wear an amulet filled with thyme to attract love to you or place it under your pillow to help you sleep peacefully. Sleeping with thyme near you will also help you to decode your dreams.
If you enjoy ritual baths, add thyme to your bathwater to help you let go of past problems and baggage. This will also fill you with love and peace while strengthening your willpower and resolve. Bathing with thyme is also a great way to increasing your courage if you have difficult problems to face.
If you are starting a new venture, the magickal properties of thyme are perfect for you. Thyme will increase the flow of money coming to you in a healthy and sustainable way. To harness this, plant thyme in your garden or keep a small pot in the office.
If you are going to an important meeting, prepare a few days before by making a thyme tea, and then adding the strained tea to the washing machine with the outfit you plan on wearing to the meeting. This will imbue you with calming energy while also giving you courage. It will also help to ensure that you get what you want and need from the meeting.
If you have experienced a heavy loss, such as a loved one passing, the magickal properties of thyme can help you heal. Once your deepest grief has passed, hang bundles of fresh thyme into the windows and doors of your home and open as many of them as you can. Burn a dried thyme bundle and walk through the house, allowing the thyme to cleanse your home of the heaviest grief and allow peace back in. Let the smoke from the thyme escape out of the windows and doors. Take the hanging thyme bundles and bury them close to your favourite tree to honour the person who has passed.
Some people believe that wearing thyme allows you to see the Fae. If you want their help finding something that you’ve lost, make them an offering of thyme. Take fresh thyme and honey outside under a full moon and leave it as a gift for them. Ask them for help in finding the thing you have lost. Once you’ve found what you were looking for, leave them another gift of fresh thyme to say thanks.
That's it for this week's Heretic's Herbiary! Remember to comment with an herd or plant you'd like to see in the article next time! Have a magical day!
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