Building a Witch's Apothecary - Herbs, Resins and Ingredients I always keep nearby - Part One

As a Herbalist, I do have quite the collection of herbs, resins, and general spiritual ingredients. Many of those herbs I personally see as working allies; the relationship to others is a bit deeper.

Many witches and spiritually working people love and adore the classics like rosemary, sage (please no white sage), or lavender. But there are so many more herbs, resins, and plant allies that are beautiful to work with.

Herbs and resins in general can be used not only for smoke cleansing , by far not. Many herbs can be used in rituals, in spiritual workings, in spellcraft, and in the creation of spell and ritual oils.

Your creativity has no end.

In this series, i will take you on a journey deep into legends and Folklore, hold within the beautiful world of herbalism and spiritual working.

Mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris)

Mugwort is a beautiful herb, classically used in dream work, psychic protection, astral projection, and journeying. In many traditions, it is known for crossing spiritual boundaries and strengthening intuitive abilities. Known as the “Mother of Herbs”, it is considered one of the most powerful herbs, not only in herbalism but also in spiritual practice itself. The old traditional name for Mugwort in German is “Mugwurz” or “Machtwurz”, literally meaning “power root” or “might root”. Mugwort is one of the nine herbs used in the “Nigon Wyrta Galdor”, the Nine Herbs Charm from the 10th‑century Lacnunga manuscript. There, Mugwort is invoked as the first of the nine sacred plants. In Norse‑Germanic traditions, Mugwort has a deep connection to Odin or Wotan. Odin/Wotan is known as the god of ecstasy, runic magic, and the hedge‑riding arts. I personally use Mugwort in my absolute favorite spell oil, used for astral projection and dream remembrance. Burned as incense during tarot readings, rune casting, or scrying, this ally can support you in heightening your intuition and banishing the infamous mental fog. During my trance work, I love to burn Mugwort to slip more easily into trance.

Also known as the dream herb, it is used to enhance lucid dreaming and prophetic visions. One way to use Mugwort is to drink it — but please always check with a doctor if it is safe for you to consume, especially when you take medication. Besides consuming Mugwort as an infusion, you can also use it in all kinds of spell work.

Another known tradition involving Mugwort surrounds the summer solstice. Long belts made of fresh Mugwort were worn by people dancing around the bonfire on that very day. At the end of the shortest night, the Mugwort belt was thrown into the sacred fire as an offering to the gods. This act also symbolized burning away all worries, illnesses, and bad luck from the months before. The ashes from this bonfire were not discarded either — they were collected and kept to protect the home, the residents, and livestock from blows of fate and malevolent entities.

Another Germanic belief is that Mugwort protects travelers of the worlds by physically dispelling exhaustion and weakening enemies. It is said that travelers and warriors bound the herb around their calves or placed it inside their footwear. The modern German name “Beifuß” translates literally to “by foot”.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Meadowsweet is a herb deeply rooted in folklore and magic. It is tied to mead brewing, sacred hospitality, and the protective and gentle power of goddesses. Meadowsweet is the herb where practical everyday life meets the spirits. Nowadays, Meadowsweet is known for its medicinal properties against light fever and headaches, often called “The Aspirin of Nature”. But it was not used only for its medicinal aid. Meadowsweet is deeply rooted in beekeeping and mead brewing.

In beekeeping, it is still used to this day to calm freshly caught bee colonies and help them accept their new home, the beehive.

The reason for this is that the scent of Meadowsweet is similar to the scent of the queen bee. The German name “Mädesüß” gives us more insight into its use in mead brewing. “Mädesüß” derives directly from the historical term “Met‑Süße”, the sweetener of mead. Meadowsweet gives mead a beautiful sweetness and a taste reminiscent of almond and vanilla, infusing the brew with an euphoric, heart‑opening feeling.

Meadowsweet is also known as the “Meadow‑Queen”; its flower is sacred to feminine deities associated with love, fertility, and the home. The frothy, cloud‑like white blossoms are the embodiment of summer and the magic that comes with this time of year.

I personally love to use Meadowsweet as incense to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere in my home. Meadowsweet is also used in dream work, by placing a small bag of Meadowsweet under the pillow for prophetic dreams and protection against nightmares.

In the next entry of this series, i will show you the magical world of Resins, the old use of them and how you can use them in your spiritual practice.

Thank you so much for reading this entry and until next time.

May your inner spark glows bright.

Liz