Neolithic Shamanism: Spirit Work in the Norse Tradition - Raven Kaldera 2012
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
The Green World: Plants
Raven: Outside my door is a stand of nettles. Most people come and go without even noticing them, but once in a while new visitors will suddenly be stung, even if they didn’t seem to lean all that close. Friends tell me that I should get rid of them, but they don’t know that the Nettle plant is one of my friends and allies, and that stand of Nettles is my door guard. Father Nettle attacks only those who bring some kind of ill intent across my threshold or who want to use my resources and give back as little as possible; when a new visitor gets stung, I watch that person closely and hurry him or her out as soon as I can courteously do so. I’ve learned from experience that Father Nettle has a better nose for this kind of thing than I do.
Galina: This spirit is very no-nonsense, the epitome of lack of sentimentality and softness. I don’t work with Nettle overmuch, but I respect this family of spirits immensely. I have called upon Father Nettle for protective work, particularly in wardings that need to have an active, watchful component to them. Like Raven, I have found that this plant is an incredibly good judge of a person’s character, and I would heed its words (or actions) when it came to evaluating visitors. I like Father Nettle’s protectiveness and the fact that he strikes first and asks questions later. There’s sometimes a place for that type of forward-thinking initiative in this type of work. I like to keep a little Nettle handy when I see clients. One never knows when clients might grow belligerent or hostile, particularly if the answers to their questions aren’t what they wish to hear. If I am going into a gathering or situation where I know I will be met with hostility, I also call upon Father Nettle to guard my back and handle any malignancy tossed my way. Nettle is a most apt fighter in such battles.
Stinging nettle is native to all of Europe; nettle fiber has been found in Danish Bronze Age graves. Its smaller cousin, the lesser nettle (Urtica urens), is more common in Eastern Europe, and its southern cousin, Roman nettle (Urtica pilulifera), grows in the Mediterranean area. Nettles were used in Britain by the Roman legions, who would rub their joints with the leaves to keep their blood flowing in the cold, damp weather. All have similar value and uses, but Urtica dioica grows the tallest.
Nettle is a Fire plant, associated with the World of Fire and much loved by its lords. This is the herb of Muspelheim, the burning land, and its power is aggressive defense. Nettle sends curses back to their owner. Sprinkled around the house, it keeps evil away; thrown onto a fire, it averts danger; held in the hand, it wards off ghosts. Nettle is considered a “carnivorous” herb, meaning that it likes small offerings of meat and blood, and is used in purification baths and burned for exorcisms. The rune Thurisaz and Nettle get along immensely well, and it also pairs up quite nicely in warrior work with Alder, which is also an herb of Muspelheim and Fire.
Nettle is an aggressive defender, in the sense that it will not only absorb any harmful magic that is thrown at you or the space, but strike back if you let it. Due to its difficult nature, it’s nearly impossible to handle fresh in ritual, but dried or cooked nettle will lose its sting—physically, anyway. Nettle keeps its rabid-guard-dog energy when burned or sprinkled dry around an area. You can drink it in tea in preparation for any kind of guardian duty. Sometimes Father Nettle’s aggressive defensiveness will slip over into offensiveness, so it’s not a bad herb to use before any duty in which you will be armed and going into danger.
Because of its association with the World of Fire, Nettle likes being burned, but throwing it into a fire may make the fire burn longer and hotter—perhaps dangerously so. Take care that you have plenty of water around before infusing your little campfire with the power of the Fire World. On the other hand, it can be a symbolic substitute for fire in a place where you aren’t allowed to actually light a flame.
Father Nettle is exactly what you’d expect—fiery, prickly, and eager to attack and defend. He is a warrior plant and likes to have something to attack. Father Nettle is tireless, faithful, and enthusiastic, but if you do not give him a job, he will run amuck and overdo things. Make sure you set good boundaries with this one; he respects a good commanding officer, but will run roughshod over anyone who is weak or indecisive. Alder makes an excellent commanding officer for Nettle, and Nettle an excellent blade in Alder’s metaphorical hands.
Exercise: Guardian Nettle
Shamanic work can be dangerous, especially when you give of yourself to help others. Some people will try to take advantage of you or will become angry when you can’t fix them. Some spirits of the less-than-savory sort will be drawn to you in order to attempt to feed on you. You can be vulnerable while in a trance, especially if you do it in an outside area on land that is not yours. It can be useful to have a guard-dog spirit to watch your back.
Go find a nettle patch, and sit down a safe and respectful distance away. Hail the Nettle spirit as a warrior, and salute him. Ask him to help guard your back from attack. If he agrees, ask him what his payment might be, and be sure that you pay it. After this, you can plant nettles around your home if you own your own land, or carry a small pouch of dried nettles with you during situations in which you need protection. You can also ask him for strength of body, as nettles taken as a tonic eliminate waste and toxins from the body. It should be noted that this herb is a powerful diuretic. Father Nettle helps warriors get in shape. Nettles can easily be drunk in tea, or if you can get the new spring green tops, they are famous as a stir-fry green and a health tonic. Once thoroughly cooked, their sting is neutralized, and they are full of nutritious minerals. This is a good way to get the body of the plant into you in order to commune with the spirit.