Mugwort Meaning, Healing, and Magical Uses
Welcome to the Masters’ Grimoire of Magical Herbs page for Mugwort. Here you will learn everything you've ever wanted to know about this herb including Mugwort's magical uses, Mugwort physical healing, and emotional healing properties, plus its use in meditation, Mugwort lore and legends, and much more!
Introduction to Mugwort
Mugwort has a rich history as being a popular healing herb in folk medicine. For thousands of years, this herb has been utilized for its digestive and anti-inflammatory healing properties. Mugwort has been mentioned in Chinese poems dating as far back as 3 B.C. Also, the Ancient Romans used it consistently, even going as far to plant Mugwort along roadsides so that soldiers and travelers could put it in their sandals to relieve aching feet. Native to Europe and Asia, this healing herb also has an extensive history of spiritual uses dating back to the Anglo Saxons, who revered Mugwort as a sacred healing charm. When foraging for Mugwort, you can still find it along roadsides or trails, in continuity with the Roman tradition.
Mugwort comes from a flowering species of plant known as Artemisia, giving it the scientific name Artemisia vulgaris. The leaves of Mugwort are slightly bitter, but very aromatic. They can be eaten raw or cooked. The shoots of the plant can also be cooked and all parts of the plant (the flowers, leaves, and root) are often used in Mugwort tea. Often, especially in folk medicine, mugwort is dried and burned. Some roll it and ingest it through smoking, although you should always consult a doctor before trying these folk practices.
The Sacred Number for Mugwort is 47.
Mugwort Magical Uses and Purposes
Key Uses: Mugwort is an herb for maintaining optimism, keeping the faith in dark times, and conserving your strength. This is an herb that encourages you to focus on what you can control, allowing yourself to let go of what you can't change. Conserve your energy for more productive things that will help you work towards your goals.
Mugwort is a Venus-ruled herb, supporting female health in numerous ways including as a uterine stimulant to bring on a delayed menstrual cycle or to aid in cramping. Because it resounds so strongly with feminine energies, it is often used in spells, rituals, and meditations to aid both men and women to connect with the divine feminine within.
Mugwort helps to release the wild, untamed self- helping to open the third-eye chakra to our deepest and most intuitive visions and dreams.
Healing with Mugwort
Mugwort Physical Health Benefits
Mugwort can help soothe and treat joint pain.
With its powerful nervine qualities, mugwort might be very good for treating anxiety, depression, and chronic stress levels. This might help relieve stress on your nervous and metabolic system and may improve your quality of life if anxiety is something you experience on a daily basis. You can use it as a tea for this purpose or even place the leaves under your pillow at night to help you relax. (1)
Mugwort is a good aid for digestion. The bitter compounds in the leaves give it choleretic properties, which means that it aids liver function and bile secretion. When your body produces enough bile, you digest better- particularly fats- and can also absorb more nutrients from food.
Mugwort has also been used to stimulate a poor appetite and for constipation, indigestion, and travel sickness.
Mugwort may stimulate menstruation. A traditional use for mugwort is as an emmenagogue. Emmenagogues are substances that stimulate or increase menstrual flow. They are most frequently used in herbalism for those with a delayed or absent menstrual cycle.
One of the most fascinating uses for mugwort is to stimulate lucid dreams- the type that feel very real and you remember clearly when you wake up. It has been used for this purpose for centuries (and probably longer), even being considered a "visionary herb."
A few small studies have shown that there may be benefits of mugwort for pain relief, specifically from arthritis.
In some studies, it was used in an ancient Chinese technique known as moxibustion (more on that later). In another one, it was used as an extract in a formulation given to participants with hip and knee osteoarthritis. The results so far in both cases have been positive: reduction of pain and better mobility. (2)(3)
Spiritual Healing with Mugwort
In modern witchcraft, Mugwort is used primarily as a visionary herb.
Mugwort amplifies psychic vision and may induce prophetic dreams.
An herb of the Goddess as Crone, Mugwort encourages wisdom and observation.
Mugwort is a Venus-ruled herb, encouraging energies of the divine feminine within all who use it for magical purposes.
When paired with a divinatory method of your choice, Mugwort is an excellent helper for confronting difficult truths.
Mugwort appears in recipes for flying ointments, psychic teas, and divinatory incenses.
Mugwort physically helps to aid with feminine menstrual cycles making it an excellent aid in spell work involving blood magic, lunar magic, and any work pertaining to earthly cycles as well.
Different people report vastly different experiences with using Mugwort. Thanks to internet drug culture, Mugwort became known as a “legal high,” prompting the state of Louisiana to ban possession and sale in 2005.
Mugwort is not really a hallucinogen, but a way to stimulate lucid dreaming, astral travel, and visualization. The effects of Mugwort are more pronounced during sleep or trance states. But Mugwort does have real psychoactive effects.
Mugwort has a hay-like, herbal smell reminiscent of dried Sage and Chrysanthemum. When smoked, it has a tolerable aroma, but Mugwort tea is quite bitter to most people.
Besides the fact that Mugwort is ruled by the feminine energies of Venus, it is also a member of the genus, Artemisia, a group of plants named for the Greek Goddess of the moon. This makes Mugwort an excellent herb to use in lunar magic. Mugwort also excels in the Lunar realm of divination and dreams.
This plain-looking, low-growing plant corresponds to the element of Earth.
Hang a bundle near the front door to prevent evil from entering. Hung near the bed, Mugwort is said to aid in astral projection.
Sleeping on a pillow or sachet stuffed with Mugwort (with Jasmine, Rose, and/or Lavender) brings clear and memorable dreams.
Burn Mugwort over charcoal as a divinatory and purifying incense. Mugwort is sometimes tied into bundles to make smudges. (It repels insects, too!)
Mugwort may be prepared as an herb tea to aid in divination and scrying. A teaspoon of the dried leaves is steeped in one cup of hot water. Add honey and lemon, or combine with other herbs, if desired.
From Scott Cunningham: “The infusion is also used to wash crystal balls and magic mirrors, and mugwort leaves are placed around the base of the ball (or beneath it) to aid in psychic workings.”
Kindle magical fires with Mugwort branches and stems.
Mugwort may be incorporated into protective spells and charms. Gather Mugwort sprigs on St. John’s Eve (June 23) for protection throughout the year.
Carry a piece of the dried herb on you at all times to increase your natural clairvoyant abilities.
Emotional Healing with Mugwort
Mugwort radiates with feminine energy. It is a protector of women and aids those of any gender or identity to connect with their intuition, sensitivity, and compassion. Mugwort can open your heart and mind to be more empathetic and patient.
Mugwort can help to release stress and anxiety. It is also a go-to herb to relieve emotional pain caused by grief, heartbreak, and loss.
 |
Notes from the Masters
Mugwort was always an herb I thought was made up for witch stories. It was interesting to learn that it is widely used in folk medicine and makes sense how it ended up in the stereotypical lore of my head of witch potions.
|
 |
Mugwort for Chakra Healing
Mugwort is prescribed for treating imbalances of the Third Eye, Heart, and Solar Plexus Chakras. The Third Eye Chakra is the center of perception and command. It directs our sight and everyday awareness of the world. Our consciousness is located here. This is the chakra that controls how we see ourselves and the external world. When the Third Eye Chakra is in balance, we can see clearly and understand what we see. This is our 'intuition center' so to speak. We are able to interpret visual cues and our awareness level is high.
Color Energy of Mugwort
The color ray for Mugwort is Yellow. The yellow color ray brings in vibrations of happiness, clarity, enlightenment, energy, and optimism. It is also wonderful for getting things organized around you and in your mind. Yellow crystals can help you communicate better with others while becoming more alert and aware.
The yellow color ray gives you the power to solidify new interests and new relationships. It helps you to see things in new ways and to become enlightened. This ray adds clarity to your life. It helps you wake things up and add zest, optimism, and meaning to your life and relationships.
The yellow color ray resonates with vibrations used for new efforts, new beginnings, and new projects. The yellow color ray gives you the power of heightened awareness that lets you focus on the needs of the person or group you are getting to know. It allows you to use your energy to be aware of your surroundings and the subtle nuances coming from others.
Psychic Visions Dream Sachet
Ingredients
- 1 tsp blue vervain for cleansing stagnantenergy, opening psychic channels, and protection againstevil or manipulative attacks
- 1 tbsp rosemary for focus, improving memory, purification of a space, and spell acceleration
- 1 tbsp lavender buds enhances divination and psychic dreaming
- 2 tsp mugwort aids psychic visions and dreams, also used for purification and cleansing
- 1/2 tsp amethyst chips stone of transformation, calms restless thoughts and enhances psychic abilities
- 1 blue sachet bag
- 1 needle
- purple thread
Instructions
- Place the amethyst in your bag while focusing on its intentions.
- Add in your herbs.
- Recite their energies while adding them. For example, "Blue Vervain-cleansing, opening channels, protection...Rosemary-focus, protection, cleansing...etc."
- Close your bag, and sew it closed with the needle and thread to ensure nothing escapes as you sleep or rest.
- Sleep with your sachet under your pillow or at your bedside table.
Notes
Angels Associated with Mugwort
Mugwort is associated with Lelahiah, the Protector and Ruler of the dates October 29- November 2nd and the astrological sign of Scorpio. It is also associated with Semeliel, the Ruler of the Sun. Consider using Mugwort in conjunction with these angels or during these dates to help enhance intuition and dispel feelings of anxiety and fear.
Mugwort and the Goddess
Mugwort is sacred to Artemis, Venus, Hecate, and all Crone Goddesses.
Artemis is the Greek Goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth. She was also the goddess of poets and artists. Artemis is often considered the Greek counterpart to the Roman goddess, Diana. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister to Apollo.
Venus, the Roman goddess of love, sexuality, beauty, and fertility. She is often compared as the Roman counterpart to the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite. Along with the associations of love, Venus was also identified as the goddess of the fields, vegetation, and victory. Like Aphrodite, she was born from the severed genitals of Uranus, appearing as a grown woman from the sea foam. She is the governess of military victory, sexual success, good fortune, and prosperity.
Hecate is the Greek chief goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, the moon, ghosts, necromancy, and spells. She is the daughter of the Titan, Perses, and the nymph, Asteria. Hecate was believed to have power over heaven, earth, and sea, therefore, bestowing wealth and prosperity to those who pray to her. She is also the goddess of crossroads and doorways, a guardian against evil spirits. In earlier texts, she is depicted as a single female figure wearing a long-clad robe, holding burning torches in each hand. Later depictions show her in her most popularized form, that of the triple-formed goddess, which consisted of three goddesses standing back to back, most likely so she could watch all directions of the crossroads that she guarded so diligently. Hecate, in her triple-form, was also accompanied by barking dogs, her familiars.
Crone Goddesses are representative of wisdom, repose, death, and endings. They are often associated with the waning moon, which governs life and death, fertility, and transformation. Several Crone goddesses include, but are not limited to, Kali (Hinduism), Baba Yaga (Slavic), and Sheela-Na-Gigs, figurines of goddesses identified in Ireland, Great Britain, Spain, and France. They are considered to be pagan homages to the mother goddess.
Mugwort Birth Herb
Mugwort is one of the birth herbs for those born on April 30, June 11, October 10, November 24, and November 29. Those with birthdays on these dates will find they have special attraction to mugwort and the magickal energies of mugwort may be dominate in their personality traits.
Mugwort I Ching Hexagram
Mugwort is governed by Hexagram 47, Dealing with Weariness. Key energies are: “Exhaustion, oppression, fatigue, brain fog, burnout, debilitation, collapse, heaviness, overwork, droopiness. ” (4).
This association reveals a powerful use of Mugwort. It can really help in dealing with overwork, brain fog, and just plain weariness.
Using Mugwort in a tea might just be the ticket for those times when you are just in a fog and too tired even to sleep.
Mugwort Astrological Sign
Mugwort is associated with the zodiac signs of Libra and Taurus (5). In Moon Astrology it is associated with 14th Mansion of the Moon, the Mansion of the Mountains and the 18th Mansion, the Mansion of the of the Stream.
From its relationship with the Mansion of the Mountain, Mugwort is a herb of itspiritual strength, but the earth energy strength of solid physical support to the needs of the Spirit. The spirit of giving requires real time and treasure to be expended. The spirit of love requires the same. The nearness to heaven of the physical mountain top reminds us that we must seek heaven here on earth in the physical world, not just aspire to it in a disconnect spiritual way.
The relationship of Mugwort to the Mansion of the Stream gives us the knowledge that Mugwort can help us with efforts to draw the strength to persevere in the face of whatever difficulties appear to be in your way to the life you seek. Mugwort can help us Find ways to go around them, flow over them, or wear them down with your unstoppable will. Think like the stream.
Uses of Mugwort in Feng Shui
Mugwort brings Wood, Metal, and Earth energies from its components, and some user report it has strong water energy due to its feminime nature.
The stalks and stems of Mugwort bring us Wood Energy. Wood element energy is the creative energy of motivation, personal growth, and renewal. Like the time of the new moon and the Winter solstice - wood energy is new beginnings, hope, and rebirth Use the stems of Mugwort when you need the energy of motivation and hope.
The leaves of Mugwort bring us metal energy. With unyielding persistence, the leaves of plants seek the sunlight with determination that is absolute. These attributes of persistence, determination and strength of desire and total focus are the energy of the metal element. Use ( fill in the herb name )’s metal energy when you need strength, a total focus, to strengthen desire, to stretch towards your goals and to maintain a clear path to what you seek.
The roots often used for Mugwort tea, bring us Earth Energy. Earth energy is the energy of stability, patience, honesty, balance, and resourcefulness. It is our home energy, the energy of the ground upon which we live. It is the energy of the mountains, the plains, the shore, and the the valleys. It is our center, our holdfast, our home in the black cold universe.
The Water energy of its feminine nature brings the energy of life, new beginnings, and growth to the herb.
.Water energy is Yin, flowing, life giving, adaptable, nurturing and sacred. Use the fruit of the (herb) for feminine power, adaptability, overcoming obstacles, tolerance, keep the flow of life and money growing, and all efforts to nurture others and yourself.
Uses of Mugwort in Talismans and Amulets
Mugwort is used to make talismans and amulet for needs including: Dealing with Animosity, Assertiveness, Dealing with Bigotry, Commitment, Competition, Dealing with Corruption, Dealing with Crisis, Dealing with Cynicism, Dealing with Distress, Fidelity, Fortitude, Honesty, Imagination, Removing Inhibitions, Dealing with legal Matters, Banishing Lethargy, Mature Love, Mellowness, Morality, Motivation, Obligations, Letting Go of the Past, Dealing with Problems, Dealing with Rigidity, Subtlety, Willpower, Determination, Persistence, Traveling Safely, Drive, Action, Physical Prowess, Throat Chakra, Agreeability, Bliss, Closeness, Destiny, Dignity, Dealing with Disorientation, Excellence, Foresight, Goal Setting, Immortality, Dealing with Feelings of Inferiority, Dealing with Feelings of Mediocrity, Mindfulness, Mystical, Openness, Paradise, Peace of Mind, Presence, Prestige, Purpose, Rapture, Recovery, Reverance, Seld- Discipline and Control, Self-Knowledge, Strength of Character, Univeral Love, Virtue, Wisdom, and Devotion.
Using Mugwort in Divination
Use Mugwort in Divinations for maintaining optimism, finding balance, holding your tongue, and focusing on what you can control.
Meditation with Mugwort
“With gentle compassion, I can be brave. With economy, I can be liberal. Not presuming to claim precedence in the world, I can make myself a vessel fit for the most distinguished service.” (6)
Lore and Legends of Mugwort
According to tradition, mugwort was known as the witch’s herb and aptly renamed by some as cronewort. Historically, it was placed by the door of the local witch, healer, and midwife. It was also used as a symbol that would be hung on the door or planted outside.
Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals to keep their feet from getting tired.
In Holland and Germany, the plant was said to have been passed from the pagan goddess, Artemis to Christian saint, John the Baptist, who held this herb sacred. considered sacred to John the Baptist who presumably wore a girdle of Mugwort into the wilderness with him to ward off evil. Mugwort plants are gathered on St John’s Eve, made into a crown and worn to protect from possession, disease and general misfortune.(7)
Poultry and grazing animals enjoy this plant, and it may be the same Artemisia of Pontos lauded by the ancients as excellent for fattening livestock.
In Wales, Mugwort was tied to the left thigh of a woman having difficult labor. But it was believed that if the mugwort was not immediately removed after the birth, she might hemorrhage.
Expanding upon Mugwort's extraordinary use in treating female reproductive disorders and for regulating menstrual cycles, it was often called the 'mother of herbs.' (8)
In shamanistic cultures, it was used to facilitate communication with ancestors and the spirit world; people drank it as a tea or tonic at bedtime or placed bundles of the herb under pillows to induce lucid dreams. Some Miwok people also wore mugwort leaves to keep away ghosts and evil dreams. (8)
Nicole Farmer
Nicole is a Certified Crystal Master, Crystal Herb Master, and Master of the Tarot. She has been working with crystals, herbs, and the tarot for over 10 years. She is the co-author and teacher of the Crystal Master Herbalist Course offered by the Crystal Guild. Nicole is a Florida native and has been with Crystal Vaults for over 7 years.
Share this page:
Always stay up to date on crystals, sales, get the latest guides, and more by joining our email list!
We're proudly spam-free and will only send you the best crystal info and sales.
References
1. https://file.scirp.org/pdf/CM20110200001_38765903.pdf
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28539175/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27806033/
4 Mark McElroy. I Ching for Beginners: A Modern Interpretation of the Ancient Oracle (For Beginners (Llewellyn's)) (Kindle Locations 914-916). Kindle Edition.
5 https://plentifulearth.com/magical-properties-of-mugwort-mugwort-materia-magicka/
6. https://www.cafeausoul.com/oracles/iching/chin-progress
7. https://witchipedia.com/book-of-shadows/herblore/mugwort/
8.https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/mugwort/
Sacred numbers of herbs are revealed in the “Ritual of the Sacred Number” ceremony performed monthly by Crystal Master Herbalist when the Moon is transiting the Mansion of the Herbalist.
(Please note: Information on this website is no substitute for consulting a health care professional. All information contained on this website, including information relating to medical and health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. Please see your doctor or health care professional before starting any alternative treatments, diets, supplements, or exercise programs.)