Liquid Sunshine: Hypericum as a Portal into Connection
by Sophie Spiral Schultze-Allen
My deep dive into herbalism came with Hypericum – also known as St. John’s Wort. A bright yellow flower with spotted green leaves blooming in high summer. It was June 2020, emerging from the first Covid lockdown in Berlin and grieving the ending of a six-year partnership when Hypericum became a portal into my sense of multi-species belonging.
During Covid, I wrote a Master’s thesis in dance studies on the disconnection between humans and so-called ‘nature’ so I was curious about how to bridge my own sense of alienation from more-than-human species. I have been curious for a long time about how artistic practices can support us to come into deeper connection with Earth. In their book, Towards a Transindividual Self (2022), Ana Vujanovic and Bojana Cvejic share how the alienation from the self as connected to other species has left “individuals incapable of imagining and building their own common future of possibilities”(p 249). Thus, I wonder how my artistic explorations and connection with Hypericum allowed me to become aware of such co-emergence and its necessity towards imagining a future of multi-species collectivity.
Connecting with Hypericum became a portal for me to reach past the human-centric bubble and realize that there is love and support from our flora friends. I didn’t expect Hypericum to find me so immediately! For the summer solstice, I co-organized a retreat for a small group of women and non-binary folks as part of a collective of herbal/mycelium enthusiasts called, Psychedelic Agora, that I joined and co-founded in Berlin in 2017. We’d been dreaming about it for years and perhaps the intensity of the pandemic motivated us to make it happen. We were all starving for community and connection – and indeed it’s what we manifested together in what was a beautifully transformative weekend. On the way back to Berlin from the countryside – I mentioned my recent interest in herbalism and my desire to make medicine to support me out of depression and heartbreak. One friend who is also an herbalist suggested that I look for Hypericum and make a tincture. How do I find Hypericum, I asked? She said to look for the bright yellow flowers that turn dark red when squished between your fingers. This is a sign of the deep medicinal quality of the plant – the flowers preserve the energy of the sun and it can be made into a tonic against winter depression. This is why I call my St. John’s Wort tincture “liquid sunshine” because in the dark gray winters of Berlin, it’s just what I need to feel alive again. I reflect that in comparison to other years, 2020 had particularly a lot of Hypericum growing wildly throughout Berlin. Since that summer, it has not been as plentiful – it’s like Earth knew that we especially needed it that year.
I found hypericum just two weeks after moving into a new yellow-painted room. Quite empty still, the yellow color filled the open wound of the loss of partnership. I had lost myself in the relationship and needed to find myself again. Hypericum filled my center with warmth, love, and creative energy. I sat and drew the flower in my sketchbook, searching for the right yellow-colored pencils. As I learn more about herbalism, I notice that a huge part of the work is learning how to become open to receiving the support from the plants. Most societal environments these days demand us to desensitize ourselves to protect from overstimulation. I have had to create strategies to protect my own sensitivity by refraining from watching certain media or only checking the news sparingly. My emotional wellbeing and nervous system are easily tipped off center and instead I create opportunities via creative practices to refill my cup of positivity to support myself and others. Hypericum has been my ally in this work, and I noticed that by going on the herbalism journey of harvesting the plant myself and making the medicine, as well as being in relationship with it via my dancing, drawing, and printmaking practices – these processes allow me to open to the plant’s gifts of warmth and support. Perhaps it’s the difference between eating in a chain restaurant and preparing a home-cooked meal. The love infuses a different kind of nourishment – try it for yourself!
Liquid Sunshine Recipe
Look up pictures and information about Hypericum and envision yourself finding a big patch around the summer solstice. Ask herbalists you know in person or online for support in identifying the plant. Take scissors, a basket (and perhaps a friend) on your journey - once you find the plant, only harvest max. one third of what you see. Best to take just a couple flowers and some leaves from each plant. Leave plenty for the bees, insects, and other humans that also need the medicine. Lay the flowers out on cardboard or a plate for a few hours to ensure that all the bugs can run away. Chop up the plant material into small pieces with scissors and fill a glass jar half-way. Try to find a jar that matches the amount of plant material you have found.
Fill the jar completely with alcohol or vinegar. Alcohol of min. 40% (80 proof) will have the longest shelf life, but if you prefer not to use alcohol then vinegar is also an option. The jar should be filled to the brim so that minimal air is in the jar because this can lead to molding plant material. Make sure to label your jar with the date and herb and leave the jar in a cool dark place (on any shelf will really do) for 4-6 weeks. Cast a spell while you make it and shake some love into your potion every few days. Once the time has gone by, separate the plant material from the liquid with a fine mesh strainer or perhaps a tea or coffee filter squeezing the last potent drips from the plant. Discard the plant material into the compost bin and begin using your tincture! Share a small bottle with a friend ☺ Add a few drops to water or warm (not too hot) tea 2 times per day. If you really need a good boost, then I like to put some in a water bottle and take it throughout the day for a short period of time. In general, taking herbs is best on a regular schedule. Let the light shine through you in any creative way, it will heighten the power of the medicine.
© Sophie Spiral Schultze-Allen. Find out more about Sophie’s work at www.sophiespiral.com.