Magickal Properties of Mugwort

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is an herb with many healing properties and magical uses
Mugwort is a member of the powerful Artemis family of herbs and is used widely both in western and eastern herbal traditions. It was used in medieval times to flavor beer and keep the user safe from evil possession.
it has a Connection to the Greek Goddess Artemis/ Diana ( Roman name )
Mugwort is  included in the nine sacred herbs of the summer solstice, and plays an important role in as an incense for the blessing of shamans before entering the flight of the soul.

Dreams/ Astral Traveling  
also commonly called wormwood, is a perennial herb known for its slumber and dream assist properties. It dispels nightmares, calms sleeplessness tendencies, and is sometimes used to enhance shamanic astral travel during sleep. A mugwort bundle (leaves and flower tied together) is placed under a bed pillow before retiring for the night. Dried bundles of mugwort can also be used as smudging tools to cleanse areas that need energetic clearing. Magically speaking, mugwort is most famous for its dream-inducing properties as well as supporting psychic development. It is known to enhance dreaming, both in sleep and in meditation. Medicinally, it's a fantastic nervine, which makes it perfect for dreaming, as well as treating insomnia and nervousness. While mugwort is used to promote lucid dreaming, it may cause nightmares or restless dreams. In addition to its use with dreams, mugwort is associated with psychic powers in general, and is often burned before crystal ball gazing and other forms of divination, and used for astral projection. Some people rub the plant over their ritual tools in consecration or to increase their powers, particularly divination tools.

Insect Repellent
  being helpful in repelling moths. Used to repel insects, it can either be by hanging the plant around the home, or by applying the tea to your skin. Place sachets of its leaves in closets or bureau drawers to keeps moths away from your clothes.


Tea
Brew a cup of Tea with mugwort and add some honey and lemon to clear the body of impurities  and cleans the body of toxins 


Dream Pillows
make a Dream pillow and put some  Mugwort  and Lavender And other herbs into it for a good night sleep


Smudge
Mugwort is fantastic at cleansing unwanted energy , negative energy  or spirits 
simply make a smudge stick or  burn some  to and smudge the house to rid it of negative vibes and energy

Drying:for smudging   

Can be dried for either medicinal, metaphysical, culinary or ornamental purposes.

Take bundles of stems with leaves and remove the lower leaves for about 3 – 4".
Do not wash in water; if they are wet they are likely to get moldy.
Check over the plants for obvious dirt and insects. and remove those leaves.
Take several bundles (not too many or there will not be enough air circulation), tie with string or a rubber band and hang upside down in a cool room out of direct light. Normal room temperature is fine; just no hot dry rooms or damp rooms. It will take several days to a week or so to dry completely. You may leave them there longer, as they are very attractive but not so long that they become dirty with dust or become too dry.

Take the bundles down, when dry, and pull off the leaves and place in a large bowl. "Scrunch" the leaves up to crumble them some and then place in air tight glass jars.
Store in a room or cupboard out of direct light in a dry room.

You can take the leafless stems and bundle them up and tie them with strings and use them as kindling for wood stoves; I like to use them for building Sacred Fires. (Just be sure you want her attributes included in your Ritual)

You can also roll leaves and stems into Smudge sticks (see my article on making your own Smudge sticks).


Try gathering the dew in the early morning and store it in jars with 1/3 to ½ 80 to 100 proof alcohol or drink immediately. The effects would be similar to the Flower Essence. Water can also be used in the making of Magical elixirs.

Lotions
mix mugwort oil and leaves into a cream to help with scars and dry skin and skin disorders

Soap
mix mugwort into soap  making to make a delicious enchanted  soap to cleans the body 
also works great as a shampoo

Candle
Mugwort  Candles can be expensive so why not make some yourself
add Mugwort oil  and leaves into  a candle when you are making them to enchant a candle with mugwort properties.   ( if you want to know how to make a candle I do have a blog on it  I will post that later )

Beer
One of the first herbs to be used to brew beers. Dried leaves only. Apparently fresh leaves  make a horrible tasting beer.  

Health  
Kills parasitic worms internally when drunk as a Tea or tincture 


Fertility / Menstrual
Been used since Ancient times for help with fertility and Menstrual problems    
a cup a day was thought to heal the womb to product healthy strong babies


Incense
In Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham describes mugwort as being feminine, under the influence of Venus, the element of Earth and sacred to Artemis and Diana. Wylundt’s Book of Incense mostly agrees, but gives mugwort to the element of Air, although this may be because Wylundt is talking about using mugwort incense.

Mugwort is also used for protection. An incense including mugwort can be burned to protect the home. An amulet or mojo bag stuffed with mugwort is said to protect the traveller from misfortune.

In Shamanic practice, mugwort is used for consecration and purification. Burned in a manner similar to smudging or as incense, mugwort is used to clear the messy energies of the day and the outside world. Paul Beyerl also lists mugwort as being traditional for consecration of all silver tools.

Mugwort is quite a commonly used plant, and an essential component of any Witches herb cabinet.

Sources:

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham,