Sunday, February 5, 2017

I am enamoured of Cronewort 10/4/2016

I am enamoured of Cronewort, who you may also know as Mugwort. The fabulous herbalist Susun Weed tells the tale of 'Mugwort; speaking up 'ahem, I'm no mug!'. Artemisia vulgaris and also Artemisia argyi (Chinese) both are called by these names. Both have whiskers and silver hair. Artemisia vulgaris has a reddish stem and prefers cooler climates, whilst Artemisia argyi does just fine in the subtropics as one of my thickly populated garden beds now attests.



                                              Artemisia vulgaris, note the colouring in her stem.....

                                                    
                                                          
                                                                        Artemisia argyi...


 This plant opens a lense of green wisdom for me that can clarify and make sense of some pretty bemusing situations. She's like the shawled Wisewoman who pulls you in close and whispers, "Dearie you's needs be take some time to be quiet' or ' Sweet you's need some raucous belly laughter with your beloved' or 'Dear one go immerse yourself in the nearest body of water'.
I also understand her as a 'gateway' plant. One who can deepen our connections and relationship with other green folk by opening a lense or veil to the fascination there.
I tend to eat a leaf or two fresh from the garden when in need...

I find Chinese Cronewort just as magical as her sister plant, renouned for her support of lucid dreamstates, hedgeriding and trance journeying, perhaps a little more in the way of the Dao. She opens perception of that which is, containing beauty and wisdom. Hence her gift as a gateway plant. Be aware though, this Crone is not to be trifled with, eat a leaf before entering a shopping mall or busy town centre and you will find your senses assaulted and sanity thinning. She, like her sister, is natures familiar not a consumerist high. Mayhaps there is a difference in how these plants act in my system at least, only being able to speak from my own experience, but Chinese Cronewort is a fine journeying companion. This is how Ive come to know this plant.

I bought both as the same from a nursery and its simply through word of mouth from fellow plant lovers, indeed another lovely Artemisia ally, that Ive learned to tell them apart as two species. Mostly by how well argyi has grown here and the size she reaches, I must admit.


No comments:

Post a Comment