Mugwort-My Kitchen Herb of the Week

Mugwort is the traditional witches' divination herb. Divination tools should 

be washed in mugwort tea, smudged with mugwort smoke, rubbed with mugwort, 

etc. Mix the dried herb in dream pillows for prophetic dreams. 

The tea can be 

drunk to induce clairvoyance, but be careful when consuming or burning this 

herb, as it is related to sage, etc. and overuse can cause problems.One more 

herbal ingredient: 

*****

Herb InformationName: Mugwort 

Biological Name: CompositaeArtemisia vulgaris 

Other Names: Mugwort, common mugwort, sailor's tobacco, felon herb 

Parts Used: Leaves or root 

ActiveCompounds: o Volatile oil, containing linlool, l,8-cineole, b-thujone, borneol, a- and b- pinene, nerol, neryl acetate, linalul acetate, myrcene, vulgarole, a-, b- and g-cadinol, cadinenol, muurolol, spathulenol and others.

o Vulgarin, a sesquiterpene lactone 

o Flavonoids; quercitin -3-rhamnoglucoside and 5,3-dihydroxy-3,7,4- trimethoxyflavone 

o Coumarin derivatives; 7,8-methylendioxy-9-methoxycoumarin 

o Triterpenes such as 3 b-hydroxurs-l2-en 27,28-dionic acid, b-amyrin, b-sitosterol. 

History: 

Remedies For: Bitter tonic, stimulant, nervine tonic, emmenagogue, laxative, diaphoretic

Mugwort can be used wherever a digestive stimulant is called for. It will aid the digestion through the bitter stimulation of the juices whilst also providing a carminative oil. It has a mildly nervine action in aiding depression and easing tension, which appears to be due to the volatile oil, so it is essential that this is not lost in preparation. Mugwort may also be used as an emmenagogue in the aiding of normal menstrual flow.

Combinations : May be used widely where a bitter action is needed. 

Description: 

Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes in a covered container. This should be drunk three times a day. Mugwort is used as a flavoring in a number of aperitif drinks.

Tincture: take l-4ml of the tincture three times a day. 

----------------

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): Venus, Air Put into the shoe while traveling, for protection from sunstroke, wild beasts and evil spirits and to prevent fatigue on long journeys. Mugwort tea will induce clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on magick mirrors and crystal balls to strengthen divinitory powers. Add to scrying, clairvoyance and divination incenses. In the Middle Ages it was considered one of the strongest protective plants. Hanging it in the house is reputed to protect against lightning, while putting it under the doorstep is supposed to ensure that no unwelcome person will enter. A pillow filled with mugwort will induce vivid dreams. The name, Artemisia, refers to the goddess Artemis (known in Rome as Diana), who was a protector of herbal practitioners.

---------

Mugwort 

Mugwort

(Artemesia vulgaris)

Part Used : fresh leaves

Planet : Venus

Element : Earth

Magical Influences : Psychic awareness, Psychic dreams, Astral 

projection

This beautiful herb has long been associated with the shadowy world 

of the seer as well as with the Moon. Its scent stills the conscious 

mind and awakens the deep consciousness.

To promote psychic awareness, inhale the odor of the fresh, crushed 

leaves with visualization. For psychic dreams, inhale directly prior 

to falling asleep.

To utilize its legendary ability to effect astral projection (the 

separation of the consciousness from the body, allowing it to travel 

at will unbounded by distance or time), sniff before making the 

attempt while visualizing perfect control over this ability.

Warning : The essential oil is considered to be hazardous and is not 

recommended for use!

Magical Aromatherapy

Scott Cunningham

With the exception of Wormwood, it seems easiest to have the most to say about Mugwort. A subtle, humble plant, overlooked because it seems lacking in ornamental beauty by our the modern horticultural standards with which most us seem to have been literally indoctrinated, Mugwort is an awesome beauty in mystery and purpose. Herbalists since time immemorial have regarded it with great resect and affection. It is this same affection, applied to balm the barren spaces in our actual knowledge about the uses of the plant, that is like a magic key unlocking a great treasure... rather poetic, since Mugwort has the reputation in magick of helping to open locks and locate buried treasure. 

One other intriguing sentiment about Mugwort is that it can aid in the magick of criminal detection. 

Already familiar as a Moxa, an agent made into a cone of incense sometimes used in Traditional Chinese medicine, for example placed on accupuncture needles, a "superstition" exists that in Japan, placing such a cone of Moxa in the footprint of a theif would cause the theif to get a "hot foot", that is he would feel a burning sensation as if the cone were on his foot. 

Besides the wealth of scientific information that attempts to justify such action-at-a distance that is characterisic of magick, no matter how much science may conversely, deny such possibilities, even without resorting to elaborate schemes of physics and quantum mechanics, this makes a reasonable amount of sense... it is comfortably consistent with the magnetic reputation that surrounds the plant... 

Mugwort is used in magick to activate instruments of divination- crystal balls and magic mirror- although it is sometimes phrased that the role of Mugwort is to "cleanse" the instrument. While it likely has such properties, much as cleansing the blockages in the body’s accupuncture meridians, this tends to overshadow and understate its potential magnetic role, but there are texts where other, far more clearly magnetic materials have been used in exactly the same way in conjuntion with such instruments. So too is there a great magickal wealth of herbs and techniques for action at a distance, that also suggest the role of magnetism. 

Mugwort’s most striking claim to fame being magnetic in character, however, is that it is often known as "compass plant", owing to the fact that it’s leaves tend to aling themselves with the North-South lines of the earth’s magnetic feild. It has enjoyed a reputation for aiding, or at least trying to, lost travellers, which supports some of the rationalizations that this plant has had such a conceivably long relationship with Artemis, the patron of children, the patron of the wood, and extrapolating very little, children of all ages lost in the woods. 

So while the magical writing style of Orientals can be at times like anyone elses, some basic truth being almost buried beneath a gloss of exaggeration, there are still a number of uses of mugwort that pertain indeed to those victims of theifs even were the "hotfoot-at-a-distance" a complete distortion... not the least of which is giving the artisan the stamina to lose a little sleep in order to create a replacement for the stolen object. 

In all fairness, Mugwort’s reputation for enabling divination could easily allow it to accomplish much more in this department... but this alone may have made Mugwort and Thieves nearly synonymous in many cultures since quite a long time ago. As we look at ancient literature referring to theives, can we spot any nuances that suggest they are alluding to this property of Mugwort? 

Of Mugwort’s reputation for opening locks, it is particularly interesting to note that this seems to follow correspondences. In their native Pacific Northwest, other plants which also have the character of downy or white undersides, such as Adenocaulon, recieve common names like "Pathfinder" because if you wander through a patch of it, you can find your way back by looking at the white undersides exposed by distrubing the plants and turning them up so they are visible. 

The related temptation to employ any such plants, and especially Mugwort, as a trail marker, superior to the "Hansel and Grettle Error" of leaving anything that might be easten by animals as a trail marker, gives it a connotation of people turning the leaves over, like someone turning a key in a lock. 

So too might it have inspired the preistesses of Artemis to wear clothing that resembled it, having one side green and one side white; wearing such a reversible tunic, they could turn it white- side-out to be visible in the forest, for staying together and avoiding hunting accidents, or turn it green-side-out for camoflauge to blend into the green of the forest to hide from danger. Within the Doctorine of Signatures, that it has such a power of suggesting "mundane" invisibility, it might certainly warrant a reputation for aiding in magickal invisibility, and if one searches enough, they are quite likely to find some actual existing record of its reputation for this purpose. 

We might normally assign the Astrology of Mugwort to Virgo or Sagittarius, since Artemis seems to be predominantly a composite of these, or to Scorpio due to the magnetic effects and some of the other properties (note how all of these are conveniently proximal). However, Culpeper assigns Mugwort to Aries, in view of the plant's connection with iron. It is yet another expression of the recurring theme of iron and magnetism, that he notes that part of what has illustrated to him this connection with Aries, is the tendency for the plant to grow around the places of blacksmiths. Here one also assumes there is an abundance of iron, discarded from the various proceedings of blacksmiths. 

It need not be limited to that, however, for the Doctrine of Signatures provides, of course, that a plant will appear where it is of service; thus, we can assume that mugwort aids any problematic conditions to be found there. Such a citation, for example, of the Artemisias as agents which expedite breathing or lower body temperature, might be immediately assumed by the blacksmith facing the conditions of smoke and heat, and will serve to introduce these properties were there not the great likelihood that this is merely yet another corroboration of these, much as those whom Artemisias aided in the story of the Exodos faced the heat and poor airs of the desert.

We might also infer this from the very same Signature that could alert us to the use of mugwort as a smudge, incense, smoke or fumigant, for the plant, if no sooner than as it withers in fall, has in its leaves the appearance of flames in addition to it's dark, "sooty" color. This is physical resemblance to fire is especially noticable when the leaves begin to twist and curl, and brown.

Indeed, mugwort is known to serve as substitute for tobacco, bearing the folk name, "Sailor's Tobacco". Presumably, like a number of plants which have been traditionally smoked by asthmatics and other suffers of respiratory problems, it's ability to aid such problems offsets its potential to worsen such problems. Likewise, it has been considered as a substitute for cannabis, in the sense that it has very mild relaxing, rather than inebriating properties, and the ability to offset symptoms of withdrawals from various substances of abuse. It is often cited as a herbal treatment for opium addiction. Additionally, it tends to have aromatic properties when burned that are reminiscent of cannabis when burned, therefore adding to its potential as a cannabis substitute, but also serving as a Signature of this ability as well. Some of its potential economic values may also resemble those of cannabis, and it may likewise have some of the medicinal values of cannabis in improving various aspects of vision, which is also discussed in greater detail in the sections here devoted to Wormwood.

Mugwort’s reputation for causing prophetic dreams should serve as corroboration to its reputation for aiding divination with instruments, and should help point to underlying common denominators why this is so. To speculate myself, I may favor a notion that it acts upon the pineal gland, increasing certain sensitivities to electromagnetic feilds or radiation, which may also have some bearing on how it may affect the endocrine system that it should have a reputation for promoting not only regular menstruation where it is lacking, but promote menstruation after menopause. 

This latter feature is one that may also corroborate some of the "mythology" that surrounds the Artemisias and links them to the subject of longevity or immortality, such as the identification of Ganymede with the Holy Grail and with the Tansy... something that has had strong influence on my suggestion on my Holy Grail page that the Holy Grail itself may have originally referred to a specie of Artemisia, since Wormwood and the Tansy are very similar chemically, although the latter may be much stronger and should be be approached even more carefully for the particular dangers associated with Wormwood, just as Mugwort may have any of the negative properties also, almost as if its powers were on the verge of transcending an origin in their differing chemistries... we many not yet be finished seeking least common denominators to truly identify the principles responsible. 

And yet, there has been precious little discussion, if any,, whether this particular action on one of the signs of aging is but one of perhaps many that might be possessed by plants in such a category. 

So, too, has there been precious little discussion, if any, whether the role of the Artemisias in this capacity might be fufilled through "magnetic action" on the appropriate endocrines, and whether this involves the possibility of exotic matter molecules, which may perhaps contribute to powerful promoters of human Growth Factor (hGF) in some way that may be closely related to the known propensity of some of the Artemisias for forming "molecular" peroxides- peroxides involving larger molecules than the familiar hydrogen peroxide, whose breakdown products may not be appreciably different in many of their significant actions. 

Had our predecessors considered the turning of a leaf of Mugwort to be a signature for the "turning over of a new leaf"- in other words, as a Signature of renewal or rejuvenation?

Of course, many of mugwort's known or suspected properties are in harmony with this simple "turn-key" Signature, for the feature make a fitting symbolic gesture of moving from the world of waking to sleep, or vice versa , of tossing or turning in one's sleep or even therefore sleepwalking, of shifting of conciousness to the astral or "out-of-body", or any of the physical (or metaphysical) transitions for which it is assigned to the medicinal category of "alteratives", things which cause a change in existing conditions.

Likewise, this can serve as a fitting Signature for various transitions from one phase of existance to the next, and again, accordingly, the reputation of mugwort in the occult for various functions relating to the spiritual realm is a rich legacy. We cannot expect, however, that the use of mugwort will automatically cause such things to happen against our knowledge or will… in fact, there is much surrounding mugwort to suggest quite the contrary, that it is at many levels an agent which expedites choice, restores the sense of having a choice in any matter, and facilitates the knowledge of options and the role of free will. This, too, can be remembered in connection with the"black or white" Signature that occurs in the dark leaf surface and the white undersides, although too, it is likely to aid us with the creativity to see a rainbow of options where seeing choices only as "black or white" has become problematic, or an obstacle or bondage.

It would not be surprising to find that this "black or white" Signature, appropriately, also extends to issues of race, and might not only help offset prejudice at the level of its underlying biology, but so too spiritually help a person burdened with prejudice to see things from the other way, to gain sympathy through empathy.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/6581/goddessgarden3.html

MUGWORT 

Eileen Holland 

http://www.open-sesame.com 

Artemisia vulgaris 

NAMES: Mugwort - Common Mugwort - Herb of St. John - St. JohnísPlant 

Branching, spreading, aromatic perennial herb of the northern 

temperate zones that grows to 5 feet. Its fragrant, incised leaves 

are dark green and have pale, downy undersides. The root is long, 

hard and fibrous. Mugwort blooms from June to September with erect 

spikes of woolly yellow or reddish pink flowers. Propagate by 

cuttings or root division in the spring. It grows wild on wasteland 

and beside roads. 

Collect the whole plant during the summer. Harvest the flowers before 

they open. 

MYTH: 

Sacred to Artemis/Diana, as are all herbs of the Artemisia family. 

John the Baptist is said to have worn a girdle of mugwort when he 

went into the wilderness. 

MAGIC: 

Planet: Venus 

Culpepper says, ìThis is an herb of Venus, therefore maintains the 

parts of the body she rules, remedies the diseases of the parts that 

are under her signs Taurus and Libra.î 

Element: Earth 

Direction: North 

Language of Flowers: Happiness 

Energy: female/yin 

For: healing - protection - psychic strength 

Mugwort has clairvoyant properties, can be used for all kinds of 

psychic work: visualization and dreams; prophetic dreams astral 

projection wash crystal balls in mugwort water to renew or increase 

their powers drink mugwort tea as the moon waxes for increased 

clairvoyance grow it indoors to aid psychic gifts: precognition, 

empathy, telepathy, etc. 

Wear or carry mugwort as a charm against: fatigue - disease - evil 

spirits 

WHEEL OF THE YEAR: 

Mugwort has magical powers when gathered on Midsummer Eve. A garland 

of mugwort woven on that day, worn as a crown or used for viewing the 

bonfire through, was a charm to ensure that you would have no 

headaches or eye pain that year. Mugwort was sometimes thrown on the 

Midsummer bonfire. The French wove garlands of it at Midsummer for 

protection against ghosts, magic, bad luck and disease for that year. 

MEDICINE: *Caution: contraindicated in pregnancy - dangerous to the 

eyes, used internally or externally 

Antispasmodic - urinary decongestant - aids digestion - restores 

menstruation - hastens labor and expels afterbirth - expels parasitic 

worms from the intestines 

For: menopause - diabetes - overindulgence in food and drink - 

difficult or irregular menstruation 

Juice or fresh plant for opium overdose 

Infusion for: fever - nerves - hysteria - rheumatism - upset stomach 

The Secretum Secretorum advises: take seeds of smallage and fennel 

plus roots of mugwort and achem and steep them in white wine for any 

superfluities or ill humors of the testicles. Avoid overeating and 

take this every evening with a little water and honey. 

Culpepper says that mugwort breaks up stones and opens urinary 

passages. He recommends: powdered leaves in wine for sciatica - 

ointment of mugwort and field daisies for neck pain 

Tincture at 1st to 3rd potencies, sometimes given in water to improve 

its action, for: epilepsy - convulsive childhood diseases 

MODES: infusion - tincture - ointment - juice - essence - powder - 

distilled water - fluid extract 

ANIMAL KINGDOM: 

Taints the milk of cows that eat it

************************

Mugwort

http://www.magickworks.com/herbal/mugwort.htm

Experience the power of the Witch's Herb ... Mugwort ... the 

Prophetess who helps us in our dreams! A pillow stuffed with Mugwort 

and slept upon is one of the quickest ways to experience the powers 

of this herb. Take the dried herb and fill a cloth bag. Sleep on it 

or have close enough so the aroma is filling your breath. You will 

have a more intense dream. If you wish to have a predictive dream 

focus on your question as you fall asleep. Prepare ahead by placing a 

pen and paper near your sleeping place so you can write of your 

dreamtime adventures. 

Explore the power of your dreamtime with the magickal Witch's Herb! 

Mugwort has long been used to enhance the dreamscape and assist in 

foretelling the future. Closely associated with the Moon, Sister 

Mugwort is the herb of the dreamer, the Witch, the explorer of 

Magickal realms! Take her with you on your magickal journeys, whether 

seeking an answer through divination or traveling through other 

planes of reality. 

Use this pillow anytime you want!! Magick Works Dream Pillow - 12" 

long by 3" thick is filled solely with MugWort!! Easily opened to 

replenish! 

Scientific Name: Artemisia vulgaris

An artemisia she is and named after Artemis, Goddess of Nature and 

the Moon. And thus she is a most favored herb of Diana. Use the herb 

on your altar when seeking the powers and guidance of these Goddess'. 

She will help instill in you protection and psychic powers.

More Magick:

Mugwort is an herb of the Midsummer's Eve festival in the Northern 

crafts. The herb gathered on that day and woven into wreaths and swag 

bundles has twice the magickal power. Sometimes the wreaths or 

garlands were thrown in the bonfires. The words of power spoken 

were "So depart all mine ill-fortune and be burnt up with this herb". 

The garlands were also worn by the celebrants for protection and 

seeing the future. 

Use the whole Mugwort herb for powers of protection, clairvoyance and 

divination, picking before sunrise during the waxing moon, from a 

plant leaning North. For stronger powers pick during a full moon.

Rub your magick mirrors or crystal ball with MugWort to strengthen 

them. 

An incense for Scrying: 

Wormwood 

Mugwort 

Charcoal 

Take equal parts of dried MugWort and Wormwood and mix together. 

Light a charcoal and place this near your scrying mirror, crystal 

ball or other divination aid. Sprinkle your herbal mix upon the hot 

coal. As you breath in the aroma of the Moon allow your trance to 

unfold. 

Take your MugWort and make a few wreaths to hang in your home, you 

can dry in an area such as an attic or if temperatures and humidity 

allow, dry where you intend to hang it. Place a wreath in your 

bedroom to intensify your dreams. Hang one over your entrance door 

for protection. Have wreaths or sprigs of MugWort throughout your 

home for protection and a more magickal presence.

To dry MugWort, gather in late August to October, before the first 

frost. Dry in small bundles of approximately six stems in temperature 

of around 70 degrees. Once the MugWort is dry, seal in bags or boxes, 

keeping moisture out until you are ready to work with it.

Place some dried MugWort under your doormat to keep away annoying 

persons. Try hanging a sprig near the phone to stop the annoying 

calls!

MugWort leaves in a sachet will help a headache, or simply place a 

fresh leaf up your nose. Also make a small sachet with equal parts of 

MugWort, Lavender, Peppermint, Clove, Marjoram and Orange peel. Tie 

the sachet onto a cord and wear around neck to prevent headaches. 

Sniffing any of these herbs is to help with headaches.

Here is an honored recipe for clairvoyance. Place 1/2 oz. of MugWort, 

Thyme, Rosemary, and Yarrow flavored with Orange and Clover into your 

teacup. Add 1 cup of boiling water. Drink this prior and during any 

psychic sessions. It is also soothing to sip during your ritual bath.

And another clairvoyant recipe. Add some crumbled Bay leaves, MugWort 

and Cinquefoil into your cauldron of boiling water. Now peer in and 

gain the knowledge!

An herbal mix for purification rituals is a mix of equal parts of 

MugWort, Bay, Basil, Yarrow, Rosemary, St. Johns Wort, Angelica root 

and Juniper Berries.

Carry MugWort in a cloth bag (traditional amulet) close to your body 

for increasing lust and fertility. When on long walks a MugWort 

amulet will help prevent weariness, backache and help to gain 

strength.

Enjoy this Magickal Plant's powers of dreams, protection, 

clairvoyance and more!