Yarrow and Healing
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow is a common wildflower found along hiking trails, roadsides, and in empty lots, but it is also popular in perennial gardens. The leaves are fernlike, soft, and feathery. The flower heads, composed of many tiny flowers, are white, off-white, or pink in the wild. More brilliant reds and pinks are now available for gardeners.
Yarrow has a long history and strong resonance with healing. The plant is astringent and antiseptic, so it can help stop the flow of blood and reduce infection. This made it a popular herb on battlefields though the ages. Some of its common names include soldier’s woundwort and knight’s milfoil. Achillea, the first part of the plant’s Latin name, is often attributed to Achilles, who is said to have used yarrow to heal his troops during the Trojan War 3,000 years ago.
The correspondence for yarrow is healing. This includes any type of healing. On a personal level, it is emotional and physical recovery. In a bigger arena, it includes community and planetary healing.
Healing can only begin when we stop the damage. Yarrow has the ability to stop the flow of blood, allowing the first restorative steps to be taken. This is a process, not an instantaneous event. There is always a turning point with healing. When we are healing from a wound, grief, or injustice, we may not recognize that turning point until we are past it. It can be challenging to be patient as we recuperate.
When tuning in to healing or the need for healing, be mindful that bodies and systems are more fragile as they begin the recuperative process. Intentionally support this process in yourself and others by being aware of this fragility.
Healing is a response to woundedness. As you consider this energy, first focus on the woundedness itself. However, it is important to not get stuck there; trace the transition back to healing.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with yarrow and healing?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe healing?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of healing in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of healing resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting yarrow or healing back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about yarrow and healing?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience yarrow or healing today?
• How did I embrace healing today?
• What wisdom does yarrow’s correspondence of healing bring to my life?