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Materia Poetica
The story of Thyme is so ancient and old.
Sumerians used clay tablets for stories they told,
of medicinal powers in 3000 BC,
Then Egyptians told theirs in 1550 BCE.
Thyme was used to pay homage to Gods high above.
High borne ladies gifted knights for protection and love.
Thymus vulgaris is pungent, and its smell is so strong,
used to make herbal mouthwash, gums cannot go wrong.
It makes such yummy mocktails, did you see ours below?
You should try it, then share it. You’ll all say, “Oh, Whoa!”
It’s not just for soups, stews, and roasted beef and chicken.
You can now store it at bars and not just the kitchen.
It is home to so many butterflies, birds, and bees,
and a snack to small critters and the deer, if you please.
Such a commonplace herb that is grown all around,
in containers, window boxes, in pots, and in ground.
These unassuming plants are for you to adore,
so love them and cherish them for centuries more.
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme
Common thyme, garden thyme, or just thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is well known as a culinary herb, but this unassuming, low growing plant is also a powerful medicinal and magical herb. It has been used for centuries, with some of the earliest known documentation recorded in the papyrus scrolls in ancient Egypt around 1550 BCE and even earlier, on Sumerian clay tablets of medical literature dating back around 3000 BCE describing odoriferous plants, including thyme.
Thyme is native to Southwestern Europe and southeastern Italy, but is now cultivated all over the globe. In its early native state, it was not a cold tolerant plant, but northern Italians cultivated it into the cold hardy plant we know and love today.Â
Thyme flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects and the plant itself is a food source for deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and rodents. If you don’t want deer and other critters eating all your thyme, then consider planting it in pots where you can keep them away from animals, or companion plant them with lavender and/or rosemary, two beautiful Mediterranean aromatic plants and natural deer deterrents.Â
FUN FACTS
- The International Herb Association had designated Thymus vulgaris as the Herb of the Year in 1997.
- King Merodach-Baladan II (721-710 BC) of Babylonia grew thyme as one of the plants in his royal garden as an homage to Enki or Ea, the Babylonian medical god of the moon.
- Charlemagne (AD 742-814), the King of France and Emperor of the West instructed farmers to plant an abundance of culinary herbs, including thyme.
- In order to gain strength, knights in the Middle Ages bound thyme to their armor. Often, ladies would give thyme herb bunches, or scarves with the plant embroidered into it, to knights and other warriors as they left for battle.
- Thyme was seen as an important herb for managing outbreaks of illness and was burned as a fumigator, even continuing in hospital wards in World War I.
- Before refrigeration and food safety laws, many would include thyme in their recipes to offer some protection against spoiled meat and food-borne illness.
- Roman emperors ate thyme before meals to avoid poison attempts against their lives. In fact, many elite did the same.
Preserving
Harvesting and Drying
To use the fresh plant for tea or culinary uses, it’s the aerial parts of the plant you’ll be after. Don’t forget to make any stem offering back to Mother Nature (my offering spot is the outdoor, in-ground compost). If you have just planted your thyme, give it a year before harvesting so the roots can get settled into its new home, but once established, it likes the new spring growth to be trimmed often so as not to get too leggy.Â
Trim the branches, but be sure to leave enough so it can recuperate and photosynthesize. Also, wait until any early morning dew has evaporated off the leaves.Â
When drying, thyme prefers gentle drying methods, but because it is an aromatic plant with precious volatile organic compounds, too much time (no pun intended) can be the enemy. If your space is very dry, you can lay them out on a drying rack or make small bundles (< 10 stems per bunch), rubber band them together, then hang them up to dry. Note: if you have pets that shed a lot, you may want to do the dehydrator/oven method.Â
If your space is not dry (or pet hair is going to be an issue), you can dry them in a dehydrator or use your oven. If your dehydrator does not have temperature control, use your oven. Too much heat will kill all the precious aroma (aka flavor). You want the temperature to be no more than 140° F. If you will be using an oven, you’ll want to line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (NOT wax paper) and turn them as you go to ensure they evenly dry.Â
Keep an eye on them. When they are crunchy if you pinch a stem, then you are good. Leave any moisture in them and they may mold, especially when you store them. Dry them too long and you loose all the precious aroma. It’s a balancing game that means you’ll just need to keep checking them as you go.Â
Because it is ultimately the aerial parts you are after, harvest during a waxing moon, just before the full moon for full energetic potency. The best time to harvest is early summer before the plant blooms.
Herbal Actions & Medicinal Uses
Parts Most Frequently Used: Aerial Parts
Flavors: Pungent
Properties: Warming, Dry
Used Most Often As: Infusion, culinary, mouth rinse, nasal steam, salve
With any herbs and supplements, always consult with a licensed health professional before use.
Herbal Actions
Don’t let this dainty looking herb fool you – she is powerful. Primarily taken as a culinary ingredient, it makes a strong cough syrup and infusion to support your body during cold and flu season. Put some sprigs in a boiling pot, then breathe in the steam for sinus and lung support.
If struggling with nightmares, brew yourself a cup of thyme tea before bed.Â
Below are definitions of the herbal actions. These are some of the herbal actions associated with Thyme:
- Antimicrobial – Supports a reduction in inflammation and/or swelling.
- Antispasmodic – Supports a reduction in muscle spasms.
- Carminative – Relieves gas and cramping from stomach pains, indigestion, and lack of appetite.
- Diaphoretic – Promotes or produces sweating by increasing circulation in the periphery of the body.
- Expectorant – Expels mucus from lungs and throat.
- Vermifuge – Expels intestinal worms.
â ď¸ A contraindication for this herb would be to avoid using medicinal amounts if you are pregnant or nursing.â ď¸
Recipe: Home Version
Blueberry Lemon Thyme Spritzer (Mocktail)
The Surgeon General just made the announcement of the link between alcohol consumption and increased risk of cancer [read the press release here]. As I am writing this, it is also January – dubbed “Dry January.” So what better time (again, no pun intended) than now to get your crazy mocktail on!Â
INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES
- 1 handful of fresh blueberries (organic is best, if you can)
- 1 small lemon or ½ of a large one (you’ll need 1 oz of juice from it)
- 1 fresh sprig of thyme – reserve a pinch of herb off to the side
- 1 can of seltzer, aka club soda (unflavored)
- 1 mesh strainer & spoon
- 1 clear glass (because this drink is beautiful)
- Ice cubes (you can get fancy here if you want – let your imagination go wild!
DIRECTIONS
Set your glass on the counter. Add the handful of blueberries to the strainer and mash them with your spoon to squeeze the juice into the glass. Make sure the blueberry pulp stays out of the glass.Â
Squeeze (or pour) the lemon juice on top of the blueberry juice. Add your ice.
Pour your seltzer on top and add the thyme sprigs to the drink. Take your reserve thyme and rub it between your fingers to release the herb’s oils, then drop it into your beverage. You can also drop a few whole blueberries in there for effect.Â
Add a slice of lemon as an additional garnish and enjoy!
Watch Sheri prepare the beverage below.
Horticultural Information
If you are going to grow anything, thyme is one of those herbs that I feel should be at the top of the list of plant options. It is easy to grow in pots or in your yard and doesn’t require a lot of attention.Â
In the ground, common thyme is a low growing herb, growing about 6 to12 inches tall and 6 to16 inches wide.Â
Remember that thyme is naturally a Mediterranean herb and therefore prefers dry, sandy soils. It even does well amongst rocks and rock walls. This is because it hates “soggy feet” and will do well in soil with good drainage.Â
Thyme prefers 6-8 hours of full sun, ideally 10 hours, but I have also successfully grown it in areas where it had limited partial shade. It just won’t flower as well without the full sun.
You’ll want to make sure the soil is in the neutral to alkaline pH levels, between pH 6.0 to 8.0.
To keep it healthy and reduce the chances of excessive woody growth, cut it back in the early spring and summer. Be sure to always leave at least 5 inches of stem to ensure the plant is kept healthy.
If you wish to expand your thyme from what you’ve grown, division is your best option, as germinating seeds is difficult. Divide the plant in the early spring for best results, then give it some time to re-acclimate to its new location.
When it’s time to harvest, trim the stems when the oils in the leaves are at their peak, before it blooms.
Watch the video below for a description of plant identification.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for “Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts” a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. Â
New USDA Hardiness Zone(s), as of 2023: 5-9
Materia Magicka
Thyme is probably best known for its ability to attract the fae and protect one from nightmares. But did you know it was also used in enhancing clairvoyance? It is also used to stimulate energy work and worked into the following.
- healing spells
- protection spells
- beauty spells
Below is some of the symbolism associated with Thyme.
| Planets: | Constellations: |
| â Venus |  â Aries, âď¸ Taurus, âď¸ Capricorn |
| Element: | Chakra: |
| Â đ Water, đ Air | Â â Heart Chakra |
| Energy: | Crystals/Stones: |
|  ⯠Yin |  Citrine, Bloodstone, Amethyst |
| Day(s) of the Week: | Celebrations: |
| Â Friday, Saturday | Â Walpurgis, Spring Equinox |
| Deities: | Tarot: |
|  Norse: Freyja  Roman: Venus  Greek: Aphrodite, Ares  Egyptian: Hathor |
 Major Arcana: The Hermit   |
Thyme To Clean House
These are a few simple rituals you can do to clean your space from negative energies that might be lurking or lingering around.
*Please note that all spells you read (including this one) should be considered a guide, as your intuition and intention are the power behind them.Â
What You’ll Need:
- A pinch of dried thyme
- Grocery store bought thyme is fine when that is what you have access to. If you have some you’ve grown, that works too.
- An incense burner or heat safe bowlÂ
- Please make sure it is fireproof
- A bunch of fresh or dried thyme
- Grocery store bought or garden grown thyme
- A tea kettle & tea strainer
- A pint-sized canning jar (heat safe)
- A spray bottle
Preparations:Â
- AS ABOVE:
- Sage isn’t the only clarifying herb. Put your pinch of dried herb into your incense burner and light it to clear the energy in the room. It is also great to use in this way if you need a boost of courage.
- SO BELOW:
- Boil water in your tea kettle, enough to fill your canning jar
- Fill your tea strainer with the loose or fresh thyme and put the strainer in the canning jar
- When the water comes to a boil, turn off the water and fill the pint canning jar, pouring it over the thyme
- Cover the jar and let it steep overnight
- The next day, pour it into a spray bottle and use it as a floor wash. You can draw a protection sigil as you spray the floor if you need a bit of added security.
Now your space can be cleansed from top to bottom. Keep the infusion in the refrigerator for up to a week to reapply if needed. You can also infuse white vinegar and thyme for an excellent window and mirror cleaner.Â
Incantation:Â
While burning your incense, you can use the following chant:
Air-filled spirits up above
my heart’s brave and filled with love
I fear not what other’s see
for my heart’s true and I am free.
I Am Safe.
As you wash your floor, you can use the following chant:
Water spirits down below
hear my call – protect me so
I fear not what other’s say
for all their words I push away.
I Am Safe.
â¨đ ⨠Blessed Be. â¨đ â¨
References
The following sources were used to research the above information.Â
- Herbs in History, Legend and Lore. (n.d.). ANR Blogs. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=56024
- Grzelewski, D. (2016, November 29). Thyme | New Zealand Geographic. New Zealand Geographic. https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/thyme/
- McCormick Science Institute. (n.d.). History of Spices | McCormick Science Institute. https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/resources/history-of-spices
- All We Have is Thyme. (n.d.). Yard and Garden. https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/1997/4-4-1997/thyme.html
- Chs, J. B. N. M. C. (2023, February 18). Herb of the month: thyme. WholeFoods Magazine. https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/3280-herb-of-the-month-thyme%E2%80%8B
- Huanaco, F. (2023, January 18). Thyme: strength & wealth. Spells8. https://spells8.com/lessons/thyme-magical-uses/#memberful_overlay
- Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme, Garden Thyme, German Thyme, Thyme) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thymus-vulgaris/
- Herb pH levels – GTG Hydroponics. (n.d.). 2004,GTG Hydroponics. https://www.gtghydroponics.com/faq/herbph.aspx
- Iannotti, M. (2024, August 5). How to grow and care for thyme. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-thyme-1402630
- Rankel, K. (2024, September 30). Whatâs eating your common thyme?. Greg App. https://greg.app/what-eats-common-thyme/
- Everything you need to know about thyme. (n.d.). [Video]. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/video/Overview-thyme/-192221
- P.R. Venskutonis, Effect of drying on the volatile constituents of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.), Food Chemistry, Volume 59, Issue 2, 1997, Pages 219-227, ISSN 0308-8146, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(96)00242-7. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814696002427)
- Blankespoor, J. (2022). The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Thyme Herbal Remedies. (n.d.). HerbalRemediesAdvice.org. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/thyme-herbal-remedies.html
- Tierra, M., L.Ac., O.M.D. (1998). The Way of Herbs (4th ed., pp. 199-200). Pocket Books.
- Thyme. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/thyme/grow-your-own
- Kynes, S. (2023). The Witchesâ Encyclopedia of Magical Plants: History, Folklore, Correspondences, and Spells.
- Kynes, S. (2013). Llewellynâs complete book of correspondences: A Comprehensive & Cross- Referenced Resource for Pagans & Wiccans. Llewellynâs Complete Book.
- Pollux, A. (2023, August 22). The courageous magickal properties of thyme. Discover Witchcraft: Spells, Rituals, and Magical Insights | WiccaNow. https://wiccanow.com/magickal-properties-of-thyme/#Magickal_Correspondences_of_Thyme
- Cunningham, S. (1985). Cunninghamâs Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Worldwide.
- Harrison, K. (2020). The Herbal Alchemistâs Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them. Weiser Books.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). (n.d.). Worts & Cunning Apothecary. https://wortsandcunning.teachable.com/courses/the-plant-ally-library/lectures/41931076
