Last month we talked about shining our light into the dark. This month we come at the same theme from the other side: what is it like to accept the dark, and to be at home in it? In this episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we sit with Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), the Cronewort and Dream Sage, a plant who begins in the dark soil, much like a seed. We open with the poem “Into the Dark,” then explore how Mugwort helps us stop treating our own darkness as an emergency and step into the possibility waiting there.
As the veils begin to lift this autumn, we walk through Mugwort’s gifts for the body, dreams, and spirit: their bitter and pungent energetics, affinity for the womb and nervous system, and long history from moxibustion to the Charm of Nine Worts to Artemis. We also share a few ways to honor the ancestors with her as Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Día de los Muertos approach.
Note: Mugwort is not safe during pregnancy and isn’t recommended for long-term use, so please refer to safety notes in the podcast.
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📩 Want to share a poem?
I’d love to include voices from the community! If you have a nature-inspired or herbal poem you’d like to share in a future episode, send it my way at: kim@joyfulroots.com. For more information and a list of plants, click here.
🌀 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or licensed health professional, and nothing shared here is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider about any potential herb-drug interactions or health concerns. If you experience an allergic reaction to any herb, discontinue use and consult a professional. You are the steward of your own body—listen with curiosity, and honor your intuition.
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🌿 Sources & Further Reading
Mugwort monographs and herbal perspectives
- Grieves, Maude. A Modern Herbal. Mugwort. https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mugwor61.html
- Popham, Sajah. School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Materia Medica #37: Mugwort. 2019.
- The Herbarium. Herbal Academy, Mugwort monograph. https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monographs/#/monograph/1026
- “Mugwort Monograph.” HerbRally. www.herbrally.com/monographs/mugwort
- Herbal Reality. Mugwort Monograph. https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/mugwort/
Mugwort as dreamweaver and ritual plant
- Foley, Micaela. “Mugwort: Wise Dreamweaver.” The Alchemist’s Kitchen, 22 May 2020. https://wisdom.thealchemistskitchen.com/mugwort-wise-dreamweaver/
- Heidi. “The Deep Magic of Mugwort.” Wildflowerwalker, 9 June 2021. https://wildflowerwalker.com/2021/06/09/the-deep-magic-of-mugwort/ (Heidi Wedd, on unraveling and reweaving and the inner seer.)
History and folklore
- “Mugwort: A Brief History of the Mother of Herbs.” Knob Creek Apothecary. https://www.knobcreekapothecary.com/blog/mugwort-a-brief-history-of-the-mother-of-herbs
- “The Magic of Mugwort, the Mother of Herbs.” The Outdoor Apothecary, 3 May 2022. https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/mugwort/
- Margaret Baker, Discovering the Folklore of Plants
- Charm of Nine Worts, Anglo-Saxon manuscript (the “eldest wyrta” reference)
Chumash dreaming and healing
- Adams JD, Garcia C. “The Advantages of Traditional Chumash Healing.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005;2(1):19-23. doi:10.1093/ecam/neh072
Qingtuan and Tomb Sweeping Day
- Judy. “Qingtuan (青团): Mugwort Mochi.” The Woks of Life, 29 Apr. 2021. https://thewoksoflife.com/qingtuan-mugwort-mochi/
- “Pure Brightness: Taste the Sweetness of Spring with a Bite of Qingtuan.” CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414e3541444f33457a6333566d54/index.html
Thujone
- “Thujone.” Wikipedia, 1 July 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thujone
