Samhain Herbs: Mugwort, Wormwood & Rosemary

BY NICOLE LAU

The Power of Samhain Herbs

Herbs have been central to Samhain celebrations for thousands of years, used for protection, divination, honoring the dead, and enhancing spiritual connection. Each plant carries specific energetic properties that align with Samhain's themes of transformation, ancestor work, and navigating the thinned veil. Working with herbs engages all senses—sight, smell, touch, and sometimes taste—creating a full-body experience of the season's magic.

This guide focuses on the three primary Samhain herbs—mugwort, wormwood, and rosemary—along with supporting botanicals that enhance protection, divination, and ancestor honoring. Whether burning as incense, brewing as tea, creating sachets, or placing on altars, these plants deepen your connection to Samhain's ancient wisdom.

The Sacred Three: Mugwort, Wormwood & Rosemary

Mugwort: The Dreamer's Herb

Botanical name: Artemisia vulgaris

Appearance: Tall perennial with deeply lobed leaves, dark green on top and silvery-white underneath. Grows wild in many regions and has a distinctive aromatic scent.

Magical properties:

• Enhances psychic abilities and intuition
• Facilitates prophetic dreams and astral travel
• Protects during spiritual work
• Opens third eye and enhances visions
• Strengthens connection to the spirit world
• Aids divination and scrying
• Cleanses and purifies sacred space

Samhain uses:

• Dream work: Place under pillow to invite ancestor messages in dreams
• Divination enhancement: Burn as incense before tarot, scrying, or other divination
• Scrying: Brew strong tea and use as scrying liquid in black bowl
• Protection: Hang above doorways to protect against negative spirits
• Ritual baths: Add to bath water for psychic opening
• Smudging: Burn to cleanse space and enhance spiritual receptivity

How to work with mugwort:

Mugwort dream pillow:

1. Fill small cloth bag with dried mugwort
2. Add lavender for peaceful sleep
3. Optional: add amethyst chip
4. Place under regular pillow on Samhain night
5. Set intention for prophetic dreams before sleep
6. Keep dream journal nearby to record messages

Mugwort incense for divination:

1. Burn dried mugwort on charcoal disc
2. Let smoke fill divination space
3. Breathe in the scent (not too deeply—it's strong)
4. Feel third eye opening and intuition sharpening
5. Proceed with tarot, scrying, or other divination

Mugwort tea (use cautiously):

1. Steep 1 teaspoon dried mugwort in hot water for 5-10 minutes
2. Strain well
3. Drink before meditation or divination
4. Enhances psychic receptivity
5. Note: Mugwort tea is bitter and strong—not for everyone

Safety considerations:

• Avoid during pregnancy (can stimulate uterus)
• Can cause allergic reactions in those sensitive to Asteraceae family
• May interact with certain medications
• Use in moderation—powerful herb
• Some people find mugwort dreams too intense—start with small amounts
• Consult healthcare provider before internal use

Harvesting and storing:

• Harvest before flowering for strongest properties
• Cut stems and hang upside down to dry in dark, ventilated space
• Store dried mugwort in airtight container away from light
• Retains potency for about one year

Wormwood: The Spirit Communicator

Botanical name: Artemisia absinthium

Appearance: Silvery-gray perennial with deeply divided, feathery leaves. Intensely aromatic with bitter scent. Related to mugwort but more potent.

Magical properties:

• Facilitates communication with spirits and the dead
• Powerful protection against negative entities
• Enhances psychic abilities
• Aids in calling spirits during rituals
• Banishes negative energy
• Strengthens divination
• Opens portals between worlds

Samhain uses:

• Ancestor communication: Burn during rituals to call benevolent spirits
• Protection: Create protective sachets or hang in home
• Scrying: Burn as incense to enhance visions
• Banishing: Use in rituals to remove unwanted spiritual presences
• Divination: Enhances all forms of fortune-telling
• Graveyard work: Carry when visiting graves for protection

How to work with wormwood:

Wormwood spirit-calling incense:

1. Mix dried wormwood with frankincense and myrrh
2. Burn on charcoal during ancestor rituals
3. The smoke creates a bridge between worlds
4. State clearly you call only benevolent spirits
5. Use in well-ventilated space

Wormwood protection sachet:

1. Combine dried wormwood, salt, and black tourmaline in small bag
2. Add protective symbols or sigils
3. Tie with red thread (traditional protection color)
4. Hang above doorway or carry during spiritual work
5. Protects against negative spirits during Samhain

Wormwood banishing ritual:

1. Burn wormwood in fireproof container
2. Walk through space counterclockwise (banishing direction)
3. State firmly: "All unwanted spirits depart. Only light remains."
4. Pay special attention to corners and thresholds
5. Follow with cleansing using rosemary or sage

Safety considerations:

• NEVER ingest wormwood: Contains thujone, which is toxic in large amounts
• Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Can cause seizures in high doses
• Use only as incense or in sachets—not for teas or tinctures unless under expert guidance
• Keep away from children and pets
• Burn in well-ventilated areas
• Some people find wormwood's energy too intense—trust your response

Why wormwood is powerful but requires respect: Wormwood is one of the most potent spirit-work herbs. It genuinely opens portals and facilitates communication with the dead. This makes it invaluable for Samhain but also means it must be used with clear intention, strong protection, and proper closing of rituals. Not recommended for beginners without guidance.

Rosemary: The Remembrance Herb

Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis (recently reclassified as Salvia rosmarinus)

Appearance: Evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and distinctive pine-like aroma. Produces small blue, purple, or white flowers.

Magical properties:

• Remembrance and memory
• Purification and cleansing
• Protection against negative energy
• Mental clarity and focus
• Fidelity and loyalty
• Healing and health
• Love and friendship

Samhain uses:

• Honoring the dead: "Rosemary for remembrance"—place on ancestor altars
• Cleansing: Burn to purify space before and after rituals
• Protection: Hang above doorways or carry for safety
• Memory work: Use when recalling and honoring deceased loved ones
• Ritual baths: Add to water for purification
• Offerings: Leave at gravesites or on altars

How to work with rosemary:

Rosemary remembrance ritual:

1. Hold fresh or dried rosemary sprig
2. Close eyes and bring to nose, inhaling deeply
3. Let the scent trigger memories of your loved one
4. Speak their name and share a memory
5. Place rosemary on altar or at their gravesite
6. Say: "Rosemary for remembrance. You are not forgotten."

Rosemary cleansing smoke:

1. Burn dried rosemary (alone or with sage)
2. Walk through space clockwise
3. Waft smoke into corners, doorways, windows
4. Visualize negative energy burning away
5. Perfect before setting up Samhain altar or after intense spiritual work

Rosemary protection bath:

1. Add handful of fresh or dried rosemary to hot bath
2. Include sea salt and lavender
3. Soak for at least 20 minutes
4. Visualize purification and protection
5. Perfect before Samhain rituals or after difficult spiritual encounters

Rosemary infused oil:

1. Fill jar with fresh rosemary
2. Cover completely with olive oil
3. Seal and place in sunny window for 2-4 weeks
4. Strain and bottle
5. Use to anoint candles, tools, or yourself for protection and clarity

Safety considerations:

• Generally very safe for most people
• Avoid large medicinal doses during pregnancy
• Can interact with blood thinners and some medications
• Culinary use is safe for most people
• Essential oil should be diluted before skin application

Why rosemary is perfect for beginners: Unlike mugwort's intensity or wormwood's potency, rosemary is gentle, accessible, and safe. It's likely already in your kitchen. Its association with remembrance makes it ideal for honoring ancestors without requiring advanced spiritual skills. Start here if you're new to herbal work.

Supporting Samhain Herbs

Sage (Salvia officinalis): The Purifier

Properties: Cleansing, wisdom, protection, purification, longevity

Samhain uses:

• Smoke cleanse space before and after rituals
• Clear negative energy from tools and crystals
• Purify yourself before spiritual work
• Create protective barriers
• Burn with rosemary for powerful cleansing

Note: Use garden sage (Salvia officinalis) or other ethically sourced sage. White sage (Salvia apiana) is overharvested and sacred to Indigenous peoples—use respectfully or choose alternatives.

Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis): The Wisdom Keeper

Properties: Wisdom, protection, prophetic dreams, purification, success

Samhain uses:

• Write wishes or questions on bay leaves and burn
• Place under pillow for prophetic dreams
• Add to protection sachets
• Burn for purification and wisdom
• Use in divination rituals

Bay leaf divination:

1. Write yes/no question on bay leaf
2. Burn in fireproof dish
3. If it burns quickly and completely: yes
4. If it smolders or goes out: no
5. Crackling sounds indicate strong energy around the question

Marigold (Calendula officinalis): The Death Flower

Properties: Honoring the dead, psychic abilities, prophetic dreams, protection, legal matters

Samhain uses:

• Place on ancestor altars (traditional Day of the Dead flower)
• Create garlands to honor the dead
• Add to dream pillows
• Scatter petals around ritual space
• Offer at gravesites

Cultural note: Marigolds (especially Tagetes species) are central to Día de los Muertos celebrations. Their bright color and strong scent are believed to guide spirits home.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): The Courage Giver

Properties: Courage, psychic abilities, love divination, protection, banishing fear

Samhain uses:

• Carry for courage during shadow work
• Use in divination (especially love divination)
• Add to protection sachets
• Burn to banish fear of death or the unknown
• Hang above bed for prophetic dreams

Angelica (Angelica archangelica): The Guardian

Properties: Powerful protection, exorcism, healing, visions

Samhain uses:

• Carry root for protection during spiritual work
• Burn for powerful purification
• Add to protection sachets and spells
• Use in exorcism or banishing rituals
• Grow near home for ongoing protection

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): The Psychic Enhancer

Properties: Psychic development, courage, purification, healing, sleep

Samhain uses:

• Burn to enhance psychic abilities
• Add to ritual baths for purification
• Place under pillow for peaceful sleep free of nightmares
• Use in courage spells for shadow work
• Burn after rituals to clear space

Apple (Malus domestica): The Otherworld Fruit

Properties: Connection to the dead, love, healing, immortality, knowledge

Samhain uses:

• Offer to ancestors on altar
• Cut crosswise to reveal pentacle star for magic
• Use in divination (apple peel thrown over shoulder)
• Bury in earth as offering to the dead
• Eat mindfully to connect with Otherworld

Apple symbolism: In Celtic mythology, Avalon (the Otherworld) means "apple land." Apples represent the threshold between life and death, making them perfect for Samhain.

Pomegranate: The Death and Rebirth Fruit

Properties: Death and rebirth, transformation, abundance, fertility, underworld connection

Samhain uses:

• Offer seeds to ancestors
• Eat to honor Persephone and the cycle of death/rebirth
• Use juice in ritual libations
• Place whole fruit on altar
• Meditate on seeds as symbols of potential emerging from darkness

Creating Samhain Herbal Blends

Samhain Incense Blend

Ingredients:

• 2 parts mugwort (psychic opening)
• 1 part wormwood (spirit communication)
• 2 parts rosemary (remembrance)
• 1 part frankincense resin (spiritual elevation)
• 1 part myrrh resin (death rites, protection)
• ½ part cinnamon (raising vibration)

Instructions:

1. Grind herbs and resins with mortar and pestle
2. Mix thoroughly while setting intention
3. Store in airtight jar
4. Burn on charcoal disc during Samhain rituals

Ancestor Altar Herb Mix

Ingredients:

• Dried rosemary (remembrance)
• Dried marigold petals (honoring the dead)
• Bay leaves (wisdom)
• Dried apple slices (Otherworld connection)
• Pomegranate seeds (transformation)

Use: Scatter around ancestor photos and offerings on altar

Protection Sachet Blend

Ingredients:

• Dried rosemary (protection)
• Dried wormwood (banishing)
• Bay leaf (protection)
• Salt (purification)
• Black tourmaline chip (grounding protection)

Instructions:

1. Combine in small black or white cloth bag
2. Tie with red thread
3. Carry or place in home for protection during Samhain season

Dream Pillow Blend

Ingredients:

• 2 parts mugwort (prophetic dreams)
• 2 parts lavender (peaceful sleep)
• 1 part bay leaf (wisdom)
• 1 part yarrow (psychic dreams)
• Amethyst chip (spiritual dreams)

Instructions:

1. Mix herbs in small cloth bag
2. Add crystal
3. Tie securely
4. Place under pillow on Samhain night
5. Set intention for ancestor messages before sleep

Herbal Rituals for Samhain

Rosemary Remembrance Ceremony

What you'll need:

• Fresh rosemary sprigs (one per ancestor you're honoring)
• White candle
• Fireproof bowl

Process:

1. Light white candle
2. Hold first rosemary sprig
3. Speak name of ancestor and share a memory
4. Say: "Rosemary for remembrance. [Name], you are not forgotten."
5. Place rosemary in bowl or on altar
6. Repeat for each ancestor
7. Let candle burn while you sit with memories
8. Leave rosemary on altar for three days, then return to earth

Mugwort Vision Quest

What you'll need:

• Dried mugwort
• Charcoal disc
• Comfortable meditation space
• Journal

Process:

1. Burn mugwort on charcoal
2. Sit comfortably and breathe in the smoke (not too deeply)
3. Close eyes and enter meditative state
4. Ask for visions or messages from ancestors
5. Stay open and receptive for 15-20 minutes
6. Journal immediately after
7. Pay attention to dreams that night

Three-Herb Protection Ritual

What you'll need:

• Rosemary (purification)
• Wormwood (banishing)
• Sage (cleansing)
• Fireproof bowl

Process:

1. Burn rosemary first: "I purify this space"
2. Burn wormwood second: "I banish all negativity"
3. Burn sage third: "I cleanse and seal this space"
4. Walk through entire space with each herb
5. Visualize protective barrier forming
6. State: "This space is protected. Only light remains."

Harvesting, Drying, and Storing Samhain Herbs

Ethical Harvesting

• Never take more than 1/3 of any plant
• Ask permission before harvesting
• Leave offerings (water, tobacco, or gratitude)
• Harvest sustainably from abundant populations
• Avoid endangered or protected species
• Consider growing your own herbs

Drying Herbs

1. Harvest on dry day after morning dew has evaporated
2. Tie small bundles with string
3. Hang upside down in dark, well-ventilated space
4. Avoid direct sunlight (degrades properties)
5. Dry for 1-2 weeks until crispy
6. Store in airtight containers away from light

Storage

• Use glass jars with tight lids
• Label with herb name and harvest date
• Store in cool, dark place
• Most dried herbs retain potency for 1 year
• Refresh annually, returning old herbs to earth with gratitude

Safety and Respect

General Safety Guidelines

• Research any herb before internal use
• Consult healthcare provider if pregnant, nursing, or on medications
• Start with small amounts to test for allergies
• Keep herbs away from children and pets
• Use only food-grade herbs for teas or cooking
• Burn herbs in well-ventilated spaces
• Never leave burning herbs unattended

Respecting Plant Spirits

• Approach herbs as allies, not just tools
• Thank plants before and after use
• Work with intention and respect
• Build relationships with plants over time
• Listen to how each herb wants to work with you
• Honor the wisdom plants carry

Final Thoughts: Green Allies for the Threshold

Herbs are some of our oldest magical allies, used by countless generations to mark sacred times and navigate spiritual thresholds. Mugwort opens the inner eye, wormwood bridges worlds, and rosemary ensures we never forget those who came before. Together, they create a botanical toolkit for honoring Samhain's profound mysteries.

Start simply—perhaps with rosemary from your kitchen or mugwort gathered from a nearby field. As you work with these plants, you'll develop relationships and preferences. Some people resonate deeply with mugwort's visionary properties; others prefer rosemary's gentle remembrance. Trust your connection to each plant.

These herbs carry ancient wisdom in their leaves, stems, and roots. When you burn rosemary at Samhain, you join countless ancestors who did the same. When mugwort opens your dreams, you access the same visions sought by Celtic druids. The plants remember, even when we forget. Let them teach you.

The veil is thin. The herbs are ready. Let them guide you home. 🌿✨🍂