St. John's Wort is a light-bringer. Especially when times are dark and there is little light to be found, St. John's Wort helps us to tune into and amplify our inner light. 
 
While the plant is harvested at the peak of summer, around the summer solstice, its medicinal potential is best revealed in the contrast of winter: when sunlight is less available and the seasonal matrix invites us to slow down and turn within to find the light we yearn for. 
 
St. John's Wort can help us in moments when life initiates us to "see in the dark," when the waters of consciousness we find ourselves in are murky and stagnant, and we must draw upon our inner strength to face the shapeshifting shadows that keep us feeling stuck, despairing, or hidden. Sometimes referred to as "sunshine in a bottle," St. John's Wort has a solar resonance that helps to gently purify and strengthen our fields by increasing our inherent, unique light-force. In this way, working with St. John's wort can help us embody more of our authentic essence and allow it to radiate naturally in the ways it's meant to.
 
It has a long history of use in traditional European folk medicine for protection against hexes, dark magic, and negative entities, where it is associated with the guardianship of angels. Within Christianity, St. John's Wort oil has been used as a sacred anointment and was sometimes referred to as the "Blood of Christ." This moniker stems from a legend that this plant grew at the foot of the cross, catching the beloved blood of Christ as it fell, so that its resonance could be preserved throughout time. 
 
When used topically for body oiling, St. John's Wort provides soothing, slightly warming comfort that can help us to unwind after a long day, transition into sleep, and most importantly, re-member our strength, resilience and resolve in the face of life's challenges. It is my preferred choice for a general herbal body oiling practice and what I turn to when I feel I'm being called upon to discover my strength in new ways. 
 
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Traditional uses:
✦ body or massage oil
✦ (sun)burn aftercare 
✦ scrapes, bruises, itchiness, irritation, or any other day-to-day occurences that warrant a little extra skin-loving
✦ as a facial oil, or part of your own facial oil blend 
✦ scar healing 
✦ nerve- or joint-related issues such as tendonitis, tennis elbow, and sciatica
✦ to help keep inflammation under control
 
Topical products are best absorbed with massage; if you have the time, massaging your product into your skin will increase its absorption and efficacy. This mindful, embodied moment is the perfect opportunity to pair an intention, prayer, or moment of gratitude with your practice. These little moments create portals, helping us to birth new realities for ourselves and our bodies over time.
 
Even just a little bit of conscious attention can go a long way. ✩‧₊˚