Mugwort Spiritual Meaning and Uses: Dreams, Psychic Abilities, and Astral Travel

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

Mugwort is one of the most powerful herbs for dreamwork, psychic development, and spiritual journeying. This mystical silvery-green herb has been used for centuries by witches, shamans, and spiritual seekers to enhance dreams, open the third eye, facilitate astral travel, and strengthen psychic abilities. Known as the "dream herb" and "traveler's herb," mugwort is your ally for exploring the unseen realms.

This complete guide explores mugwort's spiritual meaning, magical properties, and how to use this sacred herb safely and effectively for dreams, visions, and psychic work.

Mugwort Spiritual Meaning

Sacred Symbolism

• Dreams and visions: Prophetic dreams, lucid dreaming
• Psychic abilities: Clairvoyance, intuition, third eye opening
• Astral travel: Out-of-body experiences, spirit journeys
• Protection: Spiritual shielding, especially for travelers
• Divination: Scrying, oracle work, seeing beyond
• Feminine power: Moon magic, goddess energy
• Transition: Crossing thresholds, liminal spaces

Historical Significance

• Ancient China: Moxibustion in Traditional Chinese Medicine
• European folklore: Protection for travelers, St. John's Eve rituals
• Celtic traditions: Midsummer celebrations, divination
• Native American: Smudging, dreamwork, women's medicine
• Witchcraft: Flying ointments, psychic development, moon magic
• Named after: Artemis (Greek goddess) or "mug" (drink vessel)

Energetic Properties

• Element: Earth, Air
• Planet: Moon, Venus
• Zodiac: Cancer, Pisces
• Chakra: Third eye, crown
• Gender: Feminine
• Deities: Artemis, Diana, Hecate

Spiritual Properties of Mugwort

Dream Enhancement

• Induces vivid, memorable dreams
• Promotes lucid dreaming
• Facilitates prophetic dreams
• Helps remember dreams
• Deepens dream experiences
• Most powerful dream herb

Psychic Development

• Opens third eye powerfully
• Enhances clairvoyance
• Strengthens intuition
• Develops psychic abilities
• Increases sensitivity to energy
• Facilitates visions

Astral Travel

• Facilitates out-of-body experiences
• Supports astral projection
• Aids shamanic journeying
• Helps navigate other realms
• Protects during spirit travel
• Traditional "flying" herb

Protection

• Protects travelers (physical and astral)
• Wards off negative entities
• Guards during psychic work
• Shields vulnerable states
• Protective for women especially

Divination

• Enhances scrying abilities
• Supports oracle and tarot work
• Opens channels for messages
• Facilitates communication with spirits
• Strengthens psychic vision

How to Use Mugwort

Mugwort Dream Pillow

Most popular use for dreams:

1. Small cloth bag or pillowcase
2. Fill with dried mugwort
3. Optional: add lavender, chamomile
4. Sew or tie closed
5. Place under or inside pillow
6. Sleep on it for vivid dreams
7. Start with small amount (can be intense!)

Mugwort Tea for Dreams

Drink before bed:

1. 1 tsp dried mugwort
2. Steep in hot water 5-10 minutes
3. Strain well
4. Add honey if desired
5. Drink 30-60 minutes before sleep
6. Set intention for dreams
7. Warning: Start with small amount, very potent

Mugwort Smoke for Psychic Work

1. Burn dried mugwort as incense
2. Or make smudge bundle
3. Light and let smolder
4. Waft smoke around third eye
5. Breathe in gently (not too much)
6. Opens psychic channels
7. Use before divination, meditation, ritual

Mugwort Bath for Psychic Opening

1. Draw warm bath
2. Add handful of dried mugwort in muslin bag
3. Or 5-7 drops mugwort essential oil
4. Soak for 20+ minutes
5. Visualize third eye opening
6. Emerge with heightened sensitivity

Mugwort Oil for Third Eye

1. Infuse carrier oil with dried mugwort
2. Let sit 2-4 weeks
3. Strain
4. Anoint third eye before meditation
5. Opens psychic vision
6. Enhances intuition

Mugwort for Dreamwork

Inducing Vivid Dreams

• Use dream pillow nightly
• Or drink mugwort tea before bed
• Set intention for vivid dreams
• Keep dream journal nearby
• Write dreams immediately upon waking
• Dreams will be more intense and memorable

Lucid Dreaming

1. Use mugwort for several nights
2. Set intention: "I will know I'm dreaming"
3. Practice reality checks during day
4. Mugwort increases dream awareness
5. Easier to become lucid
6. Can control and direct dreams

Prophetic Dreams

1. Use mugwort on new or full moon
2. Set intention for guidance
3. Ask specific question before sleep
4. Mugwort opens channel for messages
5. Pay attention to symbols and messages
6. Record and interpret upon waking

Dream Recall

• Mugwort dramatically improves memory
• Dreams that would be forgotten are remembered
• Keep journal and pen by bed
• Write immediately upon waking
• Even middle of night

Mugwort for Psychic Development

Opening Third Eye

1. Burn mugwort incense
2. Or anoint third eye with mugwort oil
3. Meditate on third eye chakra
4. Visualize indigo light
5. Mugwort facilitates opening
6. Psychic vision activates

Enhancing Clairvoyance

1. Drink mugwort tea (small amount)
2. Or burn as incense
3. Practice scrying or visualization
4. Notice increased clarity of visions
5. Images come more easily
6. Psychic sight strengthens

Divination Work

1. Before tarot, oracle, or scrying
2. Burn mugwort incense
3. Or drink small amount of tea
4. Opens psychic channels
5. Messages come more clearly
6. Intuition is sharper

Mugwort for Astral Travel

Facilitating Astral Projection

1. Drink mugwort tea before bed
2. Or use dream pillow
3. Lie down in comfortable position
4. Relax deeply
5. Set intention to astral travel
6. Mugwort helps consciousness separate from body
7. Easier to achieve out-of-body state

Protection During Travel

• Mugwort protects during astral journeys
• Carry dried mugwort
• Or anoint body with mugwort oil
• Creates protective shield
• Helps find way back to body
• Traditional traveler's herb

Mugwort Rituals and Practices

Full Moon Dream Ritual

1. On full moon night
2. Make mugwort tea
3. Sit under moonlight if possible
4. Drink tea slowly
5. Set intention for prophetic dreams
6. Sleep with mugwort pillow
7. Record dreams in morning

Third Eye Opening Ritual

1. New moon (for new beginnings)
2. Burn mugwort incense
3. Anoint third eye with mugwort oil
4. Place amethyst on third eye
5. Meditate for 20-30 minutes
6. Visualize third eye opening
7. Repeat for several nights

Psychic Development Practice

1. Weekly practice
2. Burn mugwort before session
3. Practice chosen psychic skill
4. Scrying, tarot, mediumship, etc.
5. Mugwort enhances abilities
6. Track progress in journal

Mugwort and Moon Magic

Lunar Connection

• Mugwort is deeply connected to moon
• Feminine, intuitive, psychic energy
• Most powerful during full moon
• Use in moon rituals
• Harvest under full moon for extra potency

Moon Phase Work

• New Moon: New psychic beginnings, setting intentions
• Waxing Moon: Growing psychic abilities
• Full Moon: Peak power, prophetic dreams, divination
• Waning Moon: Releasing blocks to psychic development

Growing and Harvesting Mugwort

Growing Mugwort

• Very easy to grow
• Full sun to partial shade
• Any soil (very hardy)
• Perennial, comes back yearly
• Can be invasive - contain it
• Drought-tolerant

Harvesting

• Harvest before flowering (most potent)
• Or during flowering
• Morning after dew dries
• Full moon harvest for dream work
• Thank plant before cutting
• Hang upside down to dry
• Store in airtight container

Mugwort Correspondences

Magical Intentions

• Dreams and dreamwork
• Psychic development
• Astral travel and journeying
• Divination
• Protection (especially travelers)
• Feminine power and moon magic
• Visions and prophecy
• Third eye opening

Pairs Well With

• Herbs: Lavender (calming dreams), wormwood (visions), damiana (astral travel)
• Crystals: Amethyst, labradorite, moonstone, azurite
• Practices: Meditation, dreamwork, divination, moon rituals

Mugwort Affirmations

• "My dreams are vivid and meaningful"
• "My third eye is open and clear"
• "I am a powerful psychic"
• "I travel safely between worlds"
• "My intuition guides me"
• "I receive messages in my dreams"
• "Mugwort opens my psychic vision"
• "I remember my dreams clearly"

IMPORTANT Safety Information

Who Should NOT Use Mugwort

• Pregnant women: Can stimulate uterus, cause miscarriage
• Breastfeeding: Passes to baby
• Trying to conceive: May interfere
• Allergic to ragweed: Related plant, may cause reaction
• On blood thinners: May interact
• Before surgery: Stop 2 weeks prior

General Precautions

• Start with SMALL amounts
• Very potent - a little goes a long way
• Can cause intense dreams (overwhelming for some)
• May cause vivid nightmares if too much
• Don't use daily - give breaks
• Not for children
• Consult healthcare provider if on medications

Dream Intensity Warning

• Mugwort dreams can be VERY intense
• Start with tiny amount in pillow
• Some people find it too much
• Can cause sleep disruption if overused
• Take breaks if dreams become overwhelming
• Not everyone enjoys intense dream experiences

Final Thoughts

Mugwort is a powerful ally for those called to explore the unseen realms—the world of dreams, visions, and psychic perception. This mystical herb opens doors that are usually closed, reveals what is usually hidden, and facilitates journeys to places we can't normally access.

But mugwort demands respect. This is not a casual herb for everyday use. It's potent, intense, and not for everyone. Approach it with reverence, start slowly, and listen to your body and intuition.

When used wisely, mugwort can transform your dream life, awaken your psychic abilities, and open your third eye to realms of wonder and wisdom. In mugwort's silvery leaves, you'll find the key to the dream world and the gateway to your own psychic power.

Have you worked with mugwort? What dreams and visions has it brought you? Share your experiences below!