Also called Hypericum perforatum, fuga daemonum, herb John, devil's scourge, witch's herb, Midsummer herb
The yellow-flowered herb gathered on St John's Eve (23 June) and hung over doors, stalls and icons to drive off evil spirits, storms and sickness. Its old Latin name fuga daemonum means roughly demon-flight. The plant is also a real medicine with serious drug interactions.
Tonight's moon is read when the page loads.
Take care: Never ingest St John's wort as part of this charm. As a supplement it interacts with many medications, including birth control pills, antidepressants, warfarin, statins, seizure, heart, HIV, cancer and transplant drugs, and can cause serotonin syndrome; talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking it in any form. It is toxic to grazing animals and can make skin sun-sensitive, so wear gloves and keep bundles away from pets. In parts of North America and Australia it is a regulated invasive weed.
The genus name Hypericum may come from Greek words meaning above an image, from the custom of hanging the plant over religious icons in the home to ward off evil. The same protective logic carried into Christian households.
In some regions bundles of St John's wort and other magical herbs were thrown into the St John's Eve bonfire to protect the crops. Frazer collected many such Midsummer fire customs across Europe, including people leaping the flames and driving cattle through the smoke.
Flowers steeped in olive oil in the sun turn the oil deep red, and this oil was used on wounds, burns and bruises. Local names like balm of the warrior's wound record that use. It belongs to herbal medicine more than to the doorway charm.
St John's wort takes its English name from the Feast of St John the Baptist on 24 June, which absorbed many older Midsummer customs. Gathering the plant on that eve was believed to make it most potent, and it was hung on house and stable doors against evil spirits and harm to people and livestock. Its folk names include fuga daemonum, devil's scourge and witch's herb, and medieval Kent called it herbe Ion.
The plant is also a genuine medicine. In parts of Europe it is approved for mild to moderate depression, but it speeds up liver enzymes that break down many drugs. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns that it can weaken birth control pills, some antidepressants, warfarin, HIV and cancer drugs, transplant drugs and heart medicines, and can cause dangerous serotonin effects with certain antidepressants. That is why this charm stays on the doorframe.
Hanging or carrying garlic to keep harm away, one of the most widespread protective customs in the world, from Homer's magic herb moly to the Balkan vampire lore that gave us Dracula's garlic.
Two rowan twigs bound into an equal-armed cross with red thread and placed over doors, byres and cradles to keep witches and fairies out.
On midsummer night, unmarried young women weave flower wreaths, often with a candle, and set them on a river. How the wreath floats tells of love and marriage in the year ahead.
Tell us what you need and we will craft a custom spell, charm or reading for it. Or call to book a reading or a road blessing in person.
