Also called Airmid.
Their story
Airmed was the daughter of Dian Cécht and sister of Miach. After her father killed Miach, three hundred and sixty-five herbs grew from his grave, one for every joint and sinew of the body. Airmed spread her cloak and sorted them according to their virtues, but Dian Cécht jumbled them together, so that no one would know their right uses. She also chanted with her family over the well of Sláine during the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.
Best times to give to them
- Bealtaine
- midsummer herb gathering
- Lughnasadh
What they like being given
- fresh water
- a small posy of wild herbs
- honey
- time spent learning a plant properly
How to honour them
- Keep a herb notebook in her honour and write down what you learn from reliable books.
- Gather only what you need from wild plants and leave most of any patch untouched.
- Remember a lost loved one while tending a garden or window box.
How they can help you
- learning herbal lore safely
- grief and remembrance
- patient, careful study
Symbols
- her cloak
- herbs
- the healing well
Her story is brief in the sources; much modern devotion to her as a herbal goddess builds on this one episode.
Sources
- Cath Maige Tuired