The Lacnunga describes the nine herbs sacred to the Anglo-Saxons, but what is not as well known is that the Deitsch have their own sacred nine, Neine Heiliche Gegreider.
Three come from wood (Dogwood, Elder, Wintergreen). Three come from the fields (Fimffingergraut or Cinquefoil, Catnip, Ground Ivy), and three from the garden (Horehound, Sage, and Thyme). In Urglaawe, these herbs are gathered after 15. Wonnet (May 15).
Those that come from wood can include many parts of the plant.
Wood
Dogwood (Deitsch: Hundsholz): Cornus florida
Elder (Deitsch: Hollerbeer): Sambucus nigra but also Sambucus canadensis
Wintergreen (Deitsch: Bruschttee): Gaultheria procumbens but also the distantly related Chimaphila umbellata (Pipsissewa; Deitsch: Gehlwassergraut)
Field
Cinquefoil (Deitsch: Fimffingergraut): Potentilla reptans or Potentilla canadensis
Catnip: (Deitsch: Katzegraut): Nepeta cataria
Ground Ivy (Deitsch: Grundelreewe): Glechoma hederacea
Garden
Horehound (Deitsch: Edann): Marrubium vulgare; other species
Sage (Deitsch: Groddebalsem; Salwetee): Salvia officinalis and many other varieties
Thyme (Deitsch: Gwendel): Many varieties, but especially Thymus pulegioides ("Pennsylvania Dutch Tea"; Deitsch: Deitscher Tee)
The Fimffingergraut is already taking off rapidly in the garden, and the Ground Ivy and Catnip are beginning to raise their leaves above the ground. Some of my sage and thyme never went away.
One thing that is interesting to note is that Mugwort (Aldi Fraa; Artemisia vulgaris and other species) is mentioned in The Lacnunga but is omitted from the Deitsch sacred herbs list... yet in Braucherei and Urglaawe, Mugwort is probably the most commonly used sacred herb. It has a standing of its own. Holle is represented in the Nine Sacred Herbs by Elder.
Fimffingergraut was featured in an article here in April of 2013. The other herbs will be featured in upcoming Blanzeheilkunscht articles.
See also the article Nine Sacred Herbs by Susan Hess on page 10 in Hollerbeier Haven 5 (May 2008).
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