SOLSTICE HERBS
THE SUMMER SOLSTICE IS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED THE BEST TIME TO COLLECT MEDICINAL HERBS. THE EARTH’S AND SUN’S POWERS ARE AT THEIR HEIGHT AND BRING WILD HERBS TO THEIR PEAK
THE SOLSTICE IS JUST BEFORE THE FEAST OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE SAINT WHO DWELT IN THE WILDERNESS AND PROCLAIMED THE SAVIOUR TO COME
THE SOLSTICE COLLECTION OF HERBS is carried out before HIS FEAST DAY on THE 23RD JUNE. TRADITIONALLY IN LIGURIA A BUNCH OF wild MEDICINAL HERBS IS COLLECTED AND AND THEN HUNG-UP TO DRY UNDER THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOME AND KEPT there TO BRING GOOD ENERGY (and fragrance!) THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
THE HERBS THAT ARE COLLECTED IN LIGURIA INCLUDE: HYPERICUM (ST JOHN’S HERB), ARTEMISIA, MINT, ROSEMARY, SAGE, LAVENDER, RUE AND BAY
SOLSTICE BONFIRE IN LIGURIA BY ANTONIO DISCOVOLO’
THE OLD HERBS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR ARE BURNED on a bonfire ON ST JOHN’S EVE, GETTING RID OF ANY ACCUMULATED NEGATIVE ENERGY AND MAKING SPACE FOR THE NEW