Chickweed: Wisdom Keeper
I first came across Chickweed during Christmas of 2023. Returning from Singapore to my homeland of New Zealand for the holidays, I felt far from fizzy with festivities. I felt raw, almost as if turned inside out. Everything seemed too loud, too bright, too much.
I had just nursed my children through two weeks of intense flu. My reserves were depleted. My husband had been away. I honestly felt like the lighthouse in a darkened sea to which my young family clung. This, combined with the stress of long-distance travel, glaring summer sun and the switch in time zones, had manifested through my inflamed, sensitive skin. My largest organ, the most literal boundary to the world around me, was clearly trying to tell me something.
On a visit to one of my favourite places, The Wellington Apothecary, I spotted a small batch, wild-crafted salve called “Stellaria”. Immediately drawn, I brought it home and tenderly applied. Made with Chickweed and aloe, this cooling gel soothed my irritation – in body, mind and spirit. Bringing a sense of calm and creating a balanced spaciousness, supporting my skin to do the healing it naturally wanted. In a few days, the rash had gone. In a few weeks, the magic in this little pot had evened out my complexion and bequeathed a glow which appeared lit from within. I felt restored, nourished and reunited.
To say I was completely star-struck with Stellaria was an understatement. Utterly enchanted by our first meeting, I was intrigued to get to know this little star better. So, as one often does with new friends, I invited her to tea. I started drinking in her wisdom by the cupful, blessing myself with her tinctures and creating time for topical communions. I am not a herbalist, nor is this information shared any kind of gospel. What l offer here is my personal experience in my relationship with Chickweed - who taught me so much about the nature of relationships themselves.
Chickweed. Stellaria Media. Like a carpet of little stars blessing a mantle of green, this plant embodies Wholeness in Harmony. Each flower, a pearl in Indra’s web, radiates her individual luminosity while adding to the divine beauty of the whole. As if an earthly reflection of our cosmic constellations, Chickweed’s flowers shine sovereign while also being part of a larger story. She may come across as delicate and ethereal, twinkling fairies with brushstroke wings, but Stellaria Media holds powerful magic for our time. When we shine as ourselves and receive what we truly need, we ADD nourishment to the collective web.
In the spirit of Grandmother Spider, Stellaria weaves receptive webs across the land. Growing close to the ground, her humble roots are fertile fascia, helping to nourish the soil and prevent erosion. Stellaria is discerning, favouring PH balanced soil. She reminds us that we also need to be aware of the soil in which we plant ourselves to grow. She draws our awareness to our true needs and the structures required to support them.
With suitable conditions, curious Chickweed can travel almost anywhere and most certainly does. Originating from Europe, she is found in many countries around the world. Abundant, generous, adaptable and perseverant. Some would call her invasive or a nuisance. Like so many plants with the energy of ancient divine feminine, Stellaria has even been discarded as a “weed”. However, those with eyes to see and ears to hear, perceive her deep nourishment and grace illuminate.
Chickweed is self-pollinating and produces an astounding number of seeds. Pulsing with the energy of the Muse, she has great ability to inspire. Ripe with the fresh power of green growing things, there is succulent vitality here. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, Chickweed bestows generously. Sailors would work with her to keep scurvy at bay on long oceanic voyages. I can’t help but think of similarly named Stella Maris, Mother Mary or the “star of the sea”, who carries a similar life-giving essence and is prayed to when feeling “lost at sea”.
Preferring moist, well hydrated soil, Chickweed falls under the influence of the moon. Just as brilliant mama moon sways our tides, Chickweed can help move the waters within us. Whether this is physical or emotional, she guides gentle flow. There is a deeply soothing calm within her which can quell fiery anger, inflammation and irritation. Often these feelings can arise when we are not expressing or having our needs acknowledged or met - even by ourselves. Chickweed's tender stems help us embrace the most tender parts of ourselves, softening us into acceptance and then transformation.
In traditional folk-lore Chickweed was often worked with in Love and fidelity spells. Her nourishing stems believed to attract lovers or keep the one you have loyal. I wonder if this is because of her ability to help us create healthy connections through this expanded self-acceptance. Chickweed takes up the space she needs with a humble majesty. She emits a quiet power that doesn’t grasp, force or push but is deeply present. Just as all her heart-shaped flowers hold hands with unity, Chickweed helps us to gracefully embody the sovereignty of self-love. Seeding this Love to blossom within us and pollinate all our relations. How liberating to love and be loved in such an unconditional way.
Chickweed sings with the vibration of this freedom and in resonance with Oneness Consciousness. Her roots are veined networks, weaving each flower to the Whole. She reminds us that our healing is connected to the world’s healing too. Our blossoming, is a flowering for All. The little hairs lining her green stems, like the ones on our arms, sense her boundaries to help support this healing. Helping her know when to close in enough or open in reception. Connected but not co-dependent. Chickweed teaches how trust in our own needs being valid and worthy. That when we nourish and create healing within ourselves we are greatly contributing to creating a more balanced collective. As our healthiest self, we make a more healthier Whole.
Beautiful Chickweed. Green Queen. Thank you for your blessing of knowing that as I receive, I am giving and as I am giving, I receive.
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