Meadow Crane's-Bill

Meadow Crane’s-Bill is one of those sprawling, wild geraniums one sees growing in woodland. It is a flower whose beauty is found in its simplicity. It was once called Odin’s Grace, referring to the old Norse and Germanic god whose protection warriors sought in battle. It is thought that the blue cloaks worn by his priests were dyed in the Crane’s-Bill’s petals. In Old English, he was called Woden, and he lends his name to Wednesday (‘Wōdnesdæg’), which was the day on which he may have been especially worshipped.

Bill Griffiths translates an old poem about him, the Nine Herbs Charm:

A serpent came crawling (but) it destroyed no one

when Woden took nine twigs of glory,

(and) then struck the adder so that it flew into nine (pieces).

There archived apple and poison

that it never would re-enter the house.

In a dim memory of the Edenic promise of deliverance from the serpent, Odin is portrayed battling it, as northern European deities were wont to do. Odin was not an especially gracious god; none of the old pagan crew were. They were just rough and tough warriors, like the chaps who gave them devotion. No, it was not physical might which would disarm the great dragon, but humiliating self-sacrifice, such as no pagan god could ever contemplate. Christ Jesus defeated the serpent by His blood-stained cross. He graciously confers His saving act on all who call on Him, whatever their place, whatever their era.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season (Rev. 20).

This blue flower speaks not of Odin’s violent skirmishes, but our Great High Priest’s gracious ministry and blood-bought victory.