The Hidden Story... 'For Protection'
Flying venoms, angered tree spirits, hag-ridden horses and dragging the sick through bramble patches have all contributed in inspiring this composition that offers ultimate holistic protection.
Introduction
This series of blogs explores the deeper meanings of the paintings created for ‘Gather’, rooted in herbalism, folklore, ritual and superstitions. You can explore the published articles for the following paintings;
For Protection - You are here 📌
You can visit these paintings in person from 30 May - 21 August 2025 at The Bowery, Leeds.
A Retelling
The arrangements are intended as ‘visual potions’, enabling the canvas to become both cauldron and almanac. The format of these articles will follow a similar structure to help you connect with the meaning of each. Herbalist and folkloric knowledge has historically relied on the gathering and retelling of wisdom, which is then added to, forgotten, transformed and passed on. My interpretation and retelling relies on the collective knowledge of countless generations of healers, wise folk and elders for whom I’m eternally thankful. In particular I’m thankful to the generosity and patience of Jo Dunbar who spent many hours sharing her knowledge with me to inform these compositions.
May you feel compelled to wander in the wild places with a renewed sense of wonder.
For Protection
Featuring
Bramble / Echinacea / Elder / Horseradish / Rowan
Keywords
Protection / Guardian / Vitality / Abundance / Timely arrival / Immunity / Strength / Longevity
An Incantation
Just in time… Flying venoms, gather pace… Elf shot and ill intentions… Shield from that which harms, guard with slippery abundance… I am made of smoke, and mirrors… You can’t catch me
Inspiration
My conversations with Jo were a beautiful reminder to be inquisitive and curious in my relationship with nature. This arrangement is a particularly good example of how tuning your eye and noticing the seasonal changes can support your health and wellbeing. Just at the moment the dampness of autumn brings coughs, cold and flu season, the hedgerows overflow with an abundance of immune-system-boosting berries and roots. We now know we’re dealing with bacteria and viruses, but historically these invisible threats were attributed to the fair folk (fey or fairies) and elves being upset by clumsy, ignorant humans and retaliating by attacking with flying venoms and elfshot. Who’s to say whether we can truly discount perturbed fairies as the source of our ailments, so it would be wise to protect oneself with this arrangement.
Bramble
The blackberries that appear at the forgotten edges of hedges are a fantastic, free medicine cabinet essential. Highly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and rich in vitamin C, these glossy berries should be stored in every freezer in the country until needed. However, the timing of picking is important - Folklore dictates you should collect your berries before Michaelmas Day (29th September) because after that day Satan spoils the fruit by stamping, spitting or pissing on them (depending on which region you ask). Apparently he’s bitter about being cast from heaven on that day and landing on a bramble bush. Perhaps there’s something analogous with the protective thorns shredding the skin of a novice forager and the idea of wrapping yourself in a defensive, barbed layer to keep unwanted bugs at bay. Traditionally the sick were passed through a bramble arch to promote healing, ‘In bramble, out cough, here I leave the whooping cough’.
Echinacea
Depending on the parts of the plant that’s used, Echinacea can act as an immune-stimulant or immune-modulant - Helping to raise or calm the immune system. However, this calming effect also expands out to include our brain where it can also help reduce anxiety. If you can get your hands on fresh plant material, the antiviral qualities of the preparation will be 10 times higher than dried. The flowers are simple to grow from seed (although we’ve never quite manged to get them to thrive on our plot hence no photo), and make for beautiful dark pink, jolly heads bobbing about in your borders.
Elder
Said to house the spirit of Elda Mor, Hylde-Moer or Elder Mother - this powerful tree is to be approached with respect and caution. Many superstitions highlight the perils of taking the wood without asking permission; deaths in the family, your baby being pinched or stolen whilst in a crib made of this wood or the devil turning up in your house. Cutting the tree down was an absolute ‘no-no’ for fear of retaliation from the tree spirit. However, the polite amongst you will find this tree a generous addition to the medicine cabinet throughout the year. The flowers appear at the height of hayfever season, and can be used as an anti-inflammatory remedy to soothe the sinuses - but take only what you need, because the berries are also to be treasured. Appearing in time for cold and flu season, the dark, glossy jewels have antiviral qualities and are rich in vitamin C. Simple syrups made with them will help reduce the severity of these illnesses. The smell from the leaves is said to be a repellant for flies, with people placing crushed bundles of them in their barns to protect livestock. If divination is more your thing, the wood has been used to help identify witches in your neighbourhood (although the techniques for doing so sound suspiciously witchy in themselves).
Horseradish
If you’ve ever overdone the wasabi (which is mostly just horseradish and green food colouring) on your sushi, you’ll already have experienced the sinus-clearing qualities of this plant. The mustard oils irritate the sinuses causing the classic watery eyes or runny nose, however this quality can be used by a herbalist to disperse a chesty cough and shift sticky phlegm. Carefully grating the root and mixing it with vinegar makes a concoction that can be diluted, mixed with honey and turned into a tea. Combining the vinegar with the aforementioned elderberry syrup will make ‘dragon’s blood’, an effective all rounder to move on unwanted winter bugs.
Rowan
Associated with magic, protection and the otherworldly, the twigs, leaves and glowing orange berries of the Rowan have been used for a whole host of purposes. Hoops or crosses made of branches were bound with red thread (a particularly effective colour against ‘evil’) and hung above stables to protect horses and cattle from being bewitched or hag-ridden. Necklaces made of berries or twigs carried in pockets can protect humans fearing the ‘evil eye’ - bad luck created by the jealousy of others. The berries are also a protector against ‘flying venoms’ as they’re very high in vitamin C and antioxidants. Rowan berry syrup can help soothe sore throats and a jelly made with the fruit can be used to keep bugs at bay. However, if you’re keen to consume them, be sure to sieve the seeds out which are toxic.
Others
Rosehips could have been included in this arrangement, but the rose already features in both ‘For Lovers’ and ‘For Hope’. During wartime, children were paid to collect these red, vitamin C-rich fruits which were turned into a syrup and sent to the frontline. They make a useful addition to the pot if making a syrup for wintertime.
Selected Bibliography
A range of sources have been used to research the compositions. Below are a selection of my most frequently used references.
Baker, M (1969) Discovering the Folklore of Plants
Dunbar, J (2022) Secrets from a Herbalist’s Garden
Dunbar, J (2016) The Spirit of the Hedgerow
De Baïracli Levy, J (1974) The Illustrated Herbal Handbook
Oakley Harrington, C (2020) The Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic
Getty Publications (2004) Nature and Its Symbols
Podlech, D (2016) Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe
Carr-Gomm, P & Carr-Gomm, S (2007) The Druid Plant Oracle
Lawrence, S (2023) Witch’s Forest
Lawrence, S (2020) Witch’s Garden
Richards, G (2021) Weeds
A note on medical advice
Just to say that although I have conducted research on the use of plants in the treatment of health conditions, I am not a trained medical herbalist. The contents of this Substack publication or individual arrangements does not equate to medical advice. If you’re curious about the use of plants, you should seek the expert guidance of a qualified medical herbalist. I’d recommend one of Jo’s books as a wonderful place to start.