A Primer of Stellar Wortcunning @kitchentoad

A Primer of Stellar Wortcunning: Seeing Through the Gorgon’s Tears

“Hellebore juice with an equal amount of wormwood placed under a diamond, etc., brings hatred and |courage, preserves the members of the body, and grants vengeance over anyone you wish.”

Hellebore is a plant steeped in lore; its oldest mention denotes that it was often prescribed for insanity and mania by the famed Greek physician Hippocrates. The plant’s name indicates its poisonous nature, composed of the Greek heilein (to injure), and bora (to eat). Even so, its sinister reputation seems counterintuitive when contemplating the creamy, delicate rose-like petals of its February blooms. As a member of the Buttercup family however, its sap burns the mouth when eaten, and its caustic juice does an excellent job of guarding the plant during a time when its aerial parts float lonely above the Spring snow. This of course did not stop our forbearers from utilizing the plant in medicine, but especially in magic. Hellebore was traditionally prescribed for mania, insanity, paralysis, gout, as well as seizures. Its effect is soporific to the point of cardiac arrest, but in small doses its near-coma inducing properties could be used to forcibly sedate an agitated patient, allowing their body to rest after many days of frenzy.

In magic, Hellebore is attributed to Saturn, Mars, and elemental Water. It is used in rites of exorcism, burned as a fumigation for talismans falling under its rulership, carried as a protective talisman, or even unearthed for rites of fertility. It is easy to see how Hellebore came to be associated with these celestial bodies; as a soporific poison it falls under the rule of Saturn, especially by its tuberous roots from which the most potent poison may be obtained. As a violent killer that bears musk-scented blooms in the season of Aries, it is Martial. Evocative of the decapitated head of Medusa, it both protects and harms, and does so viciously. Hellebore may be used in all matters of cursing and blighting, especially those binding in some aspect. It is traditionally a plant of retribution, used in poisoning the cup of Alexander the Great or yet again the waters of the ancient Thessalian city of Kirrha. It is a bloodthirsty spirit, yet it is the fiercest protector in a witch’s arsenal. Planted in the garden it will protect against malefice, and ward the home against danger of all kind. Similarly, it may act as a familiar spirit to bring vengeance onto an enemy, tossed in the fields of one whose crops and livelihood we may wish to see wither and pester. Yet again, Parkinson writes in 1641: ‘a piece of the root being drawne through a hole made in the eare of a beast troubled with cough or having taken any poisonous thing cureth it, if it be taken out the next day at the same houre,’ hinting to its dual powers of blight and healing.

Interestingly enough, Hellebore also finds use within Asclepian mysteries and the shamanic practice of Iatromanteia, a form of magic focusing on the healing arts. Dioscorides writing in the first century AD says: ‘Those who dig it up (root of the Hellebore) pray to Apollo and Asclepius by observing the eagle’s flight. They say that the bird’s flight is dangerous, for it would bring death if it saw Hellebore being dug up.’ As medicine, Hellebore was sacred to these gods, and it is appropriate then that Hellebore be used in the conquest of Kirrha, a city built upon the plain of Apollo. It is said that, after the war, Kirrha was destroyed, and the plains dedicated once more to Apollo, Artemis, and their mother Leto. Hellebore’s association with Apollo as a god of healing and blight alike is an interesting parallel to its prior connection to Medusa’s dual-natured head.

Within English lore, Hellebore’s ability to pull one’s spirit into the depths of the underworld was utilized in the concoction of flying ointments, within which its aqueous attributes truly shine. Perhaps easing of pain was not the only purpose for which Black Hellebore was used by those practicing Iatromanteia. Such practitioners offered their services at Asclepeion. These temples, of which more than 300 have been uncovered, were home to priests of Asclepius who aimed to cure their many patients through spiritual cleanliness, divine intervention, ritual, rest, medicine and relaxed entertainment. A large part of these treatments was spent lying on the temple floor, sleeping before an icon of the mythical healer to which they were dedicated; the patient was to rest until Asclepios himself visited their dreams, bringing with him the answer 17

Black Hellebore is given to the fixed star Algol, whose malefic influence resonates perfectly with Hellebore’s Saturnian nature. Agrippa recommends crafting a ring by setting Hellebore and Wormwood beneath a Diamond under the auspice of Algol to create a strongly protective talisman whose reputation endures to this day. Just like the head of Medusa, this talisman brings incredible protection and healing to the wearer, but also brings destruction, vengeance and blight to their enemies. Algol is known as the Demon Star and is the second brightest of the Perseus constellation. It is a blinking star, eclipsing itself from our sky every two days for the span of 10 hours. This has earned it the title of ‘The Gorgon’s Blinking Eye’, fitting the description given by Alexandrian scholar Ptolemy. In his 2nd-century text Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy describes Algol as the Gorgon of Perseus and associates it with death by decapitation; fitting given the story of Medusa’s death at the hand of Perseus and the star’s location within the constellation bearing his name. Today, this is often re-interpreted as dementia in old age, or death related to mental health. It is also associated with insanity, the figurative losing of one’s head. Although this star carries a sinister connotation, those born beneath it are also blessed with the gift of a forked tongue; Algol natives are natural poets, singers, prophets and magicians, they are gifted in the field of magic and are granted the star’s favor should they know to wield it.

Unsurprisingly, Algol’s power is tremendously protective, taking an aggressive approach to defense; its powerful influence is alleged to have a tangible effect on the body as well as affecting nearby electric devices. Interestingly, the blinking star’s incredible protective power is exemplified in Hellebore’s fastinduced stupor, which mimics the effects of the Gorgons’ ability to turn their enemies to stone by their stare. Similarly, Algol’s aggressive nature is evocative of the wrathful union of Phorcys and Ceto, whose monstrous births gave life to the Gorgon sisters. In fact, the star often takes on a not-quite-motherly nature in its protective aspect, being incredibly selective with those it accepts to work with, but keeping them closely guarded forevermore.

Ptolemy’s mention of Algol as the star of insanity and madness draws an interesting parallel, which begs further exploration. As a remedy against insanity, Hellebore’s association with Algol represents the dual nature of its pact; it is the antidote to its own poison, its duality highlighted once more. However, Hellebore’s use against insanity, gout, mania, paralysis and other such ailments insinuates an antagonistic relationship with Dionysus, the god of madness, wine, and frenzy. Followed by his retinue of maenads, satyrs, and kathartai, the god spread madness by a touch and was often blamed for hysteria, frenzy, and overconsumption of alcohol. In fact, the god’s influence often makes an appearance in the myths of ancient Greece.

Black Hellebore famously features in the tale of Midas, or Proetus. Touched by the mad god’s follower, the king’s daughters were found screaming naked in the streets, in a frenzy from which they could not be brought back. With quick wit, Melampus of Pylos employed Hellebore to undo the maenad’s spell. It is similarily said that Melampus of Argos, rather, cured king Proetus’ daughter by the use of Hellebore, baths, and charms. This man was likely a practitioner of iatromanteia who was able to apply the Asclepian mysteries of Hellebore discussed earlier. Fascinatingly, Melampode was one of the names used to refer to Black Hellebore, and this may be the source of the name Melampus, who in both tales is described as a s eer-physician.

The Christians called Hellebore Christmas Rose, or Lenten Rose due to its winter blooms. Madelon, on her way to witness the birth of Jesus, took sight of three priests bearing gifts for the child; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Noticing that even shepherds had fruit to give, Madelon stopped in her tracks wishing she had at the very least a flower to offer the child. As she turned away and began to weep, an angel noticed her plea and pointed at her feet; there, the snow began to melt, revealing a small, white flower formed from Madelon’s very tears. Rejoiced, the shepherdess offered her gift to the newborn king, her very own Christmas Rose. This Old Testament story was naturally adopted from Judaism, within which a young girl’s tears melt the snow beneath her feet and there sprouts a small, pink-tipped flower. 18

Algol is indeed a blinking star, and it is difficult not to notice the connection between Madelon’s tale and the name of the Gorgon’s Blinking Eye. As Madelon cries the flower into existence, perhaps Hellebore sprouts from whence Algol’s bloody tears land, offering poison and antidote to those who show respect and care. Madelon’s tale is the outlier within the otherwise grim lore concerning Hellebore, but it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of genuinity when it comes to working with this star. After all, Hellebore as the gift of Algol is a plant used to punish those who betray us. Honesty and tact are valued by Algol; they are met with protection and blessing, but affront is met with retribution and destruction. The Gorgon’s Head is not a force your work with on a whim. She calls to those she knows, granting them favor and protection, and strikes down the arrogant, those wishing to harness her power for the wrong ends, and those who would abuse the weak.

Mahigan

2021.05.11

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