A Love Letter to Mugwort
Two clumps of mugwort on a purple ocean background
To say that I fuck with mugwort is a huge understatement.
It is a mainstay in my psychic life. It is my go-to replacement for white sage. It’s foragable in my growing zone and it is super abundant, as well as being beautiful and silvery.
I stan mugwort, as I hope all of you do too, and if you don’t then it is absolutely high time that you get all the way into mugwort because she is that girl.
Most of my hoodoo friends don’t use mugwort as much as I do, which makes sense because many of them do not live in the northern Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. One thing that I love about hoodoo is the fact that the principles and values carried throughout the states, but the ingredients and ways to work them are (aspirationaly) based on where you find yourself on the continent.
Hoodoo is a testament to how far flung black genius is–available even under genocidal conditions and in their immediate aftermath. For this reason, and many more, I continue to stan my ancestors and yours too, if you are a hoodoo practitioner.
What follows is both a praise song to mugwort, who has made my life better, more connected, and less filled with ghosts, and an exhortation to all who read this to use more mugwort!
History
Mugwort is a plant with a long history throughout much of the world. Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Herbs reports that in Europe a crown of mugwort was worn on St. John’s Eve, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist (aka Jesus’ best cousin) to ward off possession. It’s evil spirit repelling properties are remarked upon throughout tales of its pre-modern and modern usages.
Its Latin name, Artemisia vulgaris, references Artemis, a Greek goddess of the moon, hunting, fertility, chastity, and being a huge lesbian.
Others say that it was named after someone named Artemisia, who was the wife of a king (but for some reason isn’t listed as…a queen) who also, I believe...invented mausoleums? Honestly, when I put it that way both kind of scan. More about that in a second though.
Mugwort has been used for prophecy, agility (pick it before dawn and put it in your shoes and you wont get tired when you run), to keep out elves and such, and to make people horny and fertile (back to Artemis again, I see).
Working & Working With Mugwort
Ok, so here’s why I think that every worker and witch should keep some mugwort around.
So you know how you acquire a magical item, let’s say a candlestick or a new tray for freestanding candles, or an oil lamp, and even though you want the item you’re like who the fuck has touched this and what kind of energetic shit is on my brand new witch thang?!? Right, we all do. So you Florida water that jawn or ammonia if you got it off the street, and you carry on–until mugwort!
A strong tea of mugwort is AMAZING for consecrating magical items, especially that beautiful tray of unknown origins you saw in an antique shop once. I don’t have to tell you all how important it is to make sure your items aren’t completely and totally haunted before you put them in your altar space, but here I am, reminding you, reminding myself as always that mugwort is your friend if you are a crafty witch who loves thrifty shit.
It’s also really excellent for scrying mirrors and crystal balls–crystals in general really. It ups their potency and removes any lingering negativity.
I run new tarot and playing cards through the smoke of loose mugwort incense on a charcoal (sometimes with star anise, lavender, and lemongrass to release them from any energetic imprints that aren’t my own and to increase their power as a psychic tool.
Mugwort incense is a great way to focus when you’re doing psychic readings, particularly ones that involve ancestral visitations. I cleanse and center myself before and after reading clients to help me go into a mild trance state and to make sure I don’t pick up or pass on any negative energy or spirits. I do many other things to ensure the safety of myself, my clients, and my home, but mugwort really helps!
Finally, I include mugwort in steams for prophetic dreams. I add it to boiling water with other dream herbs and steam my face with it just before bed.
Please keep in mind that taking mugwort internally can bring on menstruation, and may cause pregnancy loss. It may also interact with medicines you’re taking. Consult a doctor before taking herbs internally.
And that’s only some of what mugwort can do! I could honestly write a whole ‘nother article just about mugwort, but instead I wanna hear from you! Have you ever used mugwort? What do you like to use it for? Let me know in the comments!
Further Thoughts
hey, i'm cyree jarelle. I run Collective Cartomancy. I help queers, feminists, and leftists connect with their intuition using tarot and cartomancy. More on me.