St John's Wort Cut, 1 oz (Hypericum perforatum)

St John's Wort is the sun-herb of Midsummer, gathered at the height of the year to drive off everything that creeps in the dark. Its bright golden flowers bleed a blood-red oil when crushed, and folk magic read that as a sign of its power: hung over the door, worn, or burned in the solstice fire, it puts evil spirits, the devil, storms, and the evil eye to flight. The old herbals even called it fuga daemonum, the flight of demons. A Sun and Fire herb of protection, banishing, and courage, it is one of the strongest guardians in the European cupboard.

Reach for St John's Wort when a working needs a bright, solar guard against harm, ill-wishing, or oppressive spirits.

Key Features of St John's Wort

The demon-banishing sun herb. Hypericum perforatum is the classic Midsummer protector, named fuga daemonum, the flight of demons, for its old reputation of driving off evil spirits, the devil, and the evil eye when hung, worn, or burned.

Protection, banishing, and strength. A solar, fiery herb, it guards the home against storms and ill intent, banishes oppressive and gloomy spirits, and was carried for courage and strength, even into battle.

A Midsummer divination herb. Gathered on St John's Eve, it also carries an old love-divination charm: placed under the pillow on Midsummer night to dream of a future love.

Product Details

• Botanical: Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort)
• Folk names: fuga daemonum (flight of demons), chase-devil, blood of St John, sol terrestris
• Form: cut and sifted dried herb
• Weight: 1 oz
• Sold for ritual and spiritual use only; not packaged or sold as a supplement, and not intended to be ingested
• Important safety note: St John's Wort is a well-known medicinal herb with significant, documented interactions with many medications, including hormonal birth control, antidepressants, blood thinners, and others, and it can increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Do not take it internally without first consulting a qualified healthcare provider.
• Storage: keep in a sealed container in a cool, dry place away from light

The Spiritual Significance

St John's Wort is bound to the sun and to Midsummer. It blooms around the summer solstice, and across Europe it was gathered on St John's Eve, the night of June 23, to be hung over doors and windows, worn, and thrown into the solstice bonfires. Its protective fame is ancient: the genus name Hypericum comes from the Greek for over an apparition, because the herb was set above icons and doorways to drive off ghosts and evil spirits. The medieval herbals knew it as fuga daemonum, the flight of demons, and trusted it to turn away the devil, the evil eye, storms, lightning, and fire.

In Scott Cunningham's correspondences, St John's Wort is a masculine herb of the Sun and the element Fire, with the powers of protection, strength, health, love, divination, and happiness. Soldiers once wore it for courage; the gloomy hung it to drive off oppressive, melancholic spirits and call back the sun's brightness; and on Midsummer night a sprig under the pillow was said to bring a dream of one's future love. Where the light is wanted and the dark turned back, this is the herb.

How To Use St John's Wort

1. For home protection, hang a small bundle over a door or window, in the old Midsummer fashion, to turn away harm and ill intent.
2. For banishing, burn a pinch over charcoal as a protective, demon-routing incense, or add it to a banishing sachet.
3. For courage and strength, carry a little in a charm bag before facing a hard confrontation or trial.
4. For Midsummer divination, place a sprig under your pillow on the solstice to dream of a future love.
5. Return the herb to a sealed container between workings to keep it dry and potent.

Pairs Well With

• Black Obsidian Hematite Protection Set: the warding stones to anchor St John's Wort's solar guard.
• Rosemary Leaf Whole, 1 oz: a fellow Sun-and-Fire protector; pair the two for a bright, warding incense or sachet.
• Mullein Leaf Cut, 1 oz: a protection and banishing herb to pair in spirit-routing work.
• Swift Lite Charcoal (80 Tablets): light a disc to burn St John's Wort as protective, demon-routing incense.
• St John's Wort Cut, 1 Lb: step up to the bulk size for regular protection and banishing work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is St John's Wort used for in magic?

It is a solar protection and banishing herb, hung over doors at Midsummer, worn, or burned to drive off evil spirits, the devil, the evil eye, storms, and ill intent. It is also carried for strength and courage and used in a Midsummer love-divination charm.

Why is it called the flight of demons?

Fuga daemonum, the flight of demons, is its old herbal name, earned from its reputation for putting evil spirits to flight. The genus name Hypericum comes from the Greek for over an apparition, because it was hung above icons and doorways to turn ghosts and spirits away.

Why is it tied to Midsummer?

It blooms at the summer solstice and was traditionally gathered on St John's Eve, June 23, then hung in the home and burned in solstice bonfires for protection through the coming year. Its golden flowers and sun-bright energy make it a true solstice herb.

What are its correspondences?

Cunningham places St John's Wort under the Sun and the element Fire, a masculine herb of protection, strength, health, love, divination, and happiness. Its bright, solar, fiery nature is the source of its banishing power.

Is St John's Wort safe?

For ritual use, such as hanging, carrying, or burning, yes. But it is a potent medicinal herb that interacts with many medications, including hormonal birth control, antidepressants, and blood thinners, and it can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. We sell it for ritual use only, not as a supplement; do not take it internally without first talking to a qualified healthcare provider.

How should I store it?

Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place away from light. The cut herb holds its protective potency for a year or more when kept dry.