Parting the Mists

Despite the group name, these herbs can be helpful and even life saving – but we must take care of how they are used. Look for something entering in your life that provides relief; make sure, however, that it’s simply not a distraction from your problems.

Blessings!

THE BANES – WOLFSBANE, HEMLOCK, & HENBANE

KEYWORDS: Power, unexpected aid, and relief (or ill will, betrayal, and difficulty)

MEANING: Life can sometimes seem almost unbearable. If you have chosen this card, it may mean that you are surrounded by pressures and difficulties. But life is fundamentally mysterious, and out of the blue something can happen that acts as a catalyst for change. We are so used to the high drama and “big stories” of movies and television that we forget the immense power of the smallest things. Just one remark of a friend or stranger, one line in a book, or a dawning realization of your own can trigger a new direction in your life or a turning point in your affairs. Such a gift may come to you from a completely unexpected direction, bringing a relief to your situation that you would never have imagined. Consumerism has trained us to look for the biggest when really we should be looking for the best.

On the flip side, each of the Banes can be used to deadly effect, and it may mean that you need to be aware of the harmful consequences of your words or actions. It is possible that you have betrayed someone or a value that in your heart of hearts you hold dear. Rather than openly confronting or challenging the person or the problem, you may instead have worked in the darkness of unexplained motives – with feelings of hurt and a desire for revenge that you never dared express. Rather than now feeling despair, it is important to realize that your actions have created a difficulty that you can become a challenge for you: to show the strength of character to resolve the issue, make amends or move on in your life with wisdom and compassion. The soul creates learning experieces for us.

The Druid Plant Oracle by authors Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and artist Will Worthington