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Episode 187: Magical Properties of Plants pt. 8
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Welcome back, Witches! This week, we’re continuing our Magical Properties of Plants series with Rowan and Mullein—plants steeped in protection, spirit work, and old-world magic. So get in, Loser, because we’re unraveling the lore and energy of two of the plant world’s most mystical guardians.
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Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio- The Witch
Resources
- Beyer, Rebecca. Mountain Magic. (2023). Quatro Publishing
- Beyer, Rebecca. The Complete Folk Herbal. (2025) Simon Element.
- Nock, Judy Ann. The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs. (2013). Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
- Bundy, Shelby and Kate Belew. Wild Medicine. (2023). Tamed Wild
- Wigington, Patti. The Magic of Mullein. (2021) Outside the Lines. https://www.pattiwigington.com/the-magic-of-mullein/
- Mellein: Unveiling the Folklore and Magical Properties of a Sacred Herb. (2024). Art of the Root. https://artoftheroot.com/blogs/spells-and-rituals/mullein-unveiling-the-folklore-and-magical-properties-of-a-sacred-herb?srsltid=AfmBOorNEes9ZMUPzX2ejTiW6y5zvHLnMpkXDGodWHU05YWPJlhuClX3
- Schmidt, O. (2015): Zur ökologischen Bedeutung der Salweide. LWF aktuell 106, S. 41 – 43. https://www.waldwissen.net/en/forest-ecology/forest-plants/deciduous/valuable-pioneer-trees
- Celtic Mythology (2024). Rowan Tree Symbolism and Meaning in Celtic Mythology. Celtic Mythology. https://celticmythology.com/culture/tree-lore/rowan-tree-symbolism/
- Trees for Life (n.d.). Rowan Mythology and Folklore. Trees for Life. https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/rowan/rowan-mythology-and-folklore/
- The Goddess Tree (n.d.). Rowan. The Goddess Tree. http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Rowan.htm
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Witchcraft and the Occult
00:00:01
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult, but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey.
00:00:13
Speaker
Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the craft.
Magical Properties of Plants: Rowan and Mullein
00:00:17
Speaker
So get in, witches, for part eight of our Magical Properties of Plants This time we're learning about Rowan and Mullen.
00:00:51
Speaker
So I went out last night to, well, afternoon, um with some girls that I know from Okinawa and And we went axe throwing for the first time. I'd never done They'd all done it before. It was fun. i was like, I went into that being like, I'm either going to love it or I'm going to hate it. Like there's probably no in between.
00:01:15
Speaker
and I almost canceled because I was like, i don't know if i really want to go But I was like, you know what? No, I said I was going. i'm going to go And turns out I'm like really, really good at it so I loved it. We used to do that with Nate and Roxy. There was a place – was it in Meskouda or Lebanon?
00:01:37
Speaker
I can't remember. But it randomly opened one year and so we started going there. And it was so funny, I feel like. We laughed so hard. like Because you would try really hard to throw like this perfect throw and then it would like hit backwards and bounce backwards.
00:01:51
Speaker
Right. Yeah. Which is also slightly terrifying, but. Yeah. It was really fun. I was like, man, this is like a lot of fun. And i love how fast paced it is because like, usually i don't have the paint like i don't have the patience for pool. I don't have the patience for bowling. Like when the fuck is it going to be my turn again? And with axe throwing, it's like the perfect, like that is my attention span.
00:02:17
Speaker
It is now my turn again. Like, you know what mean? So. You're also very competitive, so. I am, yeah. And so I was the only one who had never tried it before. And so we there was like four of us all together. And they're one of the girls I'd never met. But I was like trying to keep my cool, like, okay, like, it's okay if I'm bad at it. Well, inside I'm like, I better be fucking good at it immediately. And so the first round or not round, I guess like the first game that we did Yeah. i got second place and I was like, okay. And then the last one we did, i won. I blew them out of the water. I was like, oh my God.
00:02:59
Speaker
So basically I'm really fucking good at axe throwing. Basically the world's best axe that were. I know. Yeah. I'm just like, okay, I could do this. And so I'm just like, Mike, we're going.
00:03:14
Speaker
We're going on a date night. But the area that we went, like I need to go down and explore it more because... like And also, any listeners, if you are listening from the Tacoma area, I know that we've had um a couple of listeners reach out whenever I said that we were moving to Washington. But downtown Tacoma seems so fucking cool. like The nightlife seems so amazing. And after we did the axe throwing, we went right across the street to this little...
00:03:44
Speaker
It's like a bar, but they do serve food. um And I can't remember what it's called, but the whole inside looked like a fucking ship, but like a cool ship, like Pirates of the Caribbean with like the lighting. And like, it was the coolest place.
00:03:59
Speaker
That sounds really interesting. Yeah. And I'm just like, this place is so cool. And apparently there's a lot of like really awesome little spots like that in downtown Tacoma and like a lot of things to do. And I'm just like, I need to explore it.
00:04:12
Speaker
But if anyone has any other recommendations, I am here for it.
Deep Dive into Rowan
00:04:18
Speaker
by But we're not talking about axe throwing or techoa today. No, we're not. What are we talking about?
00:04:26
Speaker
We're talking about some plants. ah Plants. Plants. I was going to say, you guys are lucky that I love you because am still mad about this. And I hate that. We had a little technological meltdown. We did. And there were tears.
00:04:44
Speaker
So i my notes on the row entry, which is what I'm covering, um I had the notes finished. Everything was good to go. spent hours and hours and hours on these notes.
00:04:58
Speaker
And I was like really proud of them. And then I go the other day to murder notes and mine are completely gone. They're completely on. They've disappeared. Not there at all. And I went through, because i'm just like, how? Like, I'm searching, like, in our Google Docs. Like, I can't find it. And then I end up looking through my history. And I'm, like, looking online, too. Like, has this happened anybody on Reddit? And apparently, this happened to, like, quite a few people. So I'm not sure what's going on with that. Yeah. But so I'm just like, we need to make sure we're backing up our notes on Word before we just put it in Google Docs. But, um...
00:05:34
Speaker
Yeah, my whole all of my notes were gone. I could see them in my history, but whenever I click on the link, it was just like, this has been deleted. And I'm like, what? And so anyway, um I had to completely redo my notes and they're not as good as the original ones, which really sucks.
00:05:52
Speaker
But I was so disappointed and I was so upset. But yeah, so I guess we'll just kick it off. I'm going to talk to you guys ah about the Rowan tree.
00:06:03
Speaker
so The Rowan Tree, also known as Sorbus Occuparia, and also known as the Lady of the Mountain, Mountain Ash, Delight of the Eye, Quickbane, Ran Tree, Roan Tree, Sorb Apple, Thor's Helper, Witty, Wiccan Tree, Witch Wigan Tree, Wild Ash, Witchbane, Witchwood, Kern, and Cairn. Yeah.
00:06:33
Speaker
and and the That is so many So many. So many. oh my God. I also love how it was like, Rodinquicken, Rodinquicken, Royan.
00:06:50
Speaker
Oh, my God. There's so many other known. There's the artist formerly known as Rowan Tree. Yeah. In the ancient Ogham script, the Rowan was known by its old Gaelic name of Luis.
00:07:05
Speaker
And this name may have influenced a few places such as Ard-Louis on Lachlomund. And it's also more commonly used. Scott's Gaelic name is Karun, which appears throughout the highlands in names such as Bina Karun in Inverness Shire and Laca Karun in Easter Ross.
00:07:29
Speaker
And here's the thing, I could have pronounced all that totally wrong, but we're trying. she She did her best. that was yeah These were a lot of mouthfuls. I'm looking at these notes. Yeah, it really was.
00:07:41
Speaker
Additionally, the Rowan also served as the clan badge for both the Malcolms and the McLaughlins. Rowan is a dissidious tree native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, especially in northern Europe.
00:07:54
Speaker
It's commonly found at higher altitudes, rocky hillsides, woodland edges, and moorland. Rowan can live around 120 to 200 years, and it can grow up to about 15 meters tall, which is roughly about 49 feet tall for all of my American friends.
00:08:11
Speaker
um Because at first when I saw 15 meters, i was like, oh, that's probably pretty short. And then I looked and I was like, oh, actually, no, it's not. It's pretty tall. It's pretty tall. It's known for its white flowers in spring, vibrant red berries in autumn, and its serrated leaves.
00:08:28
Speaker
Rowan is considered a pioneer species in forest ecology, which means it's one of the first trees used to establish areas that have seen clear cutting, burning, or a natural disaster.
00:08:40
Speaker
Other pioneer species consist of the goat willow, aspen, and silver birch, and they're known as a pioneer species because they can produce a prolific number of seeds. They grow rapidly as young trees, they regenerate easily, and they're relatively undemanding in terms of tending and trimming and other care requirements.
00:08:59
Speaker
And they have mechanisms in place to distribute seeds widely. Additionally, Rowan is great because it adapts well to poor soils and exposed sites, which makes it a key tree used in biodiversity in upland forests and mountainous environments.
00:09:14
Speaker
So going into some of the folklore associated with the Rowan tree. There is a lot. There's a ton of folklore related to the Rowan Tree, depending on what area of the world you live in. I'm basically going to be focused on like Celtic and Norse lore surrounding the Rowan Tree, but there is so much more out there as well.
00:09:35
Speaker
Across Celtic and British folklore, the Rowan tree has a long tradition of protection against witchcraft, enchantment, and harmful spirits. People often would plant Rowan near their homes and in churchyards for this purpose. Its bright red berries were seen to be especially potent for warding off evil, and part of this was due to the color red itself, as red was thought to repel evil forces. The Rowan berries also carry a natural five-pointed star or pentagram on their blossom scars, which as we know is an ancient symbol of protection and spiritual safeguarding.
00:10:09
Speaker
In Celtic culture, Rowan represents life, survival, femininity, motherhood, fragility, and resilience. Its ability to grow in harsh conditions and environments where a few other trees thrive added to its sacred status and spiritual significance.
00:10:26
Speaker
In some traditions, Rowan symbolized the threshold between this world and the other world, making it spiritually potent at boundaries such as doorways and crossings. In Norse lore, the Rowan appears as the tree that saved Thor from drowning. The legend goes that Thor was able to grab onto a Rowan branch to pull himself onto dry land.
00:10:46
Speaker
And historically, Druids were also said to use Rowan wood to carve runes that were used in divination and during ceremonial contexts. And there are some superstitions when it comes to the Rowan tree. Across the British Isles, it was considered taboo to cut down a Rowan tree, and doing so was said to bring you bad luck or misfortune.
00:11:06
Speaker
People also carried pieces of the Rowan tree, wove Rowan crossbound with red thread, or hung trees of Rowan from their doors and even on their livestock to protect against witches, evil spirits, or changelings. And sprigs of Rowan were also used over doorways on May Eve, and Rowan wood was used to stir butter and milk to keep the milk from curdling. I'm not sure if there was like if that was just like a superstition thing to like stir the milk to keep it from curdling, Or if there was like actually something in the bark of the wood that helps milk from curdling. I'm not sure. It wasn't clear whenever I was researching it.
00:11:45
Speaker
Both times I was researching it. So, you know. I think you should be well-versed in ruin now. Right. can tell you all about it. um so ah yeah.
00:11:56
Speaker
And as far as herbalism go, there are medicinal qualities to Rowan. So the Rowan berries contain vitamin C and were traditionally used as a tonic against colds and scurvy once cooked.
00:12:08
Speaker
Raw berries, though, contain parasorbic acid and can be very irritating to the stomach. And folk herbalists used the bark and the berries for digestive issues, sore throats. um Maybe that would help me right now, actually. Diarrhea, kidney infections as well. However, these uses aren't verified by modern science for these specific issues. So please, as with everything, do your own research.
00:12:35
Speaker
And an infusion or decoction of rowan berries could also act as a mild laxative. And in some traditions, rowan berries were turned into jelly, jams, wines, or cordial after some sweetening and of obviously cooking them.
00:12:51
Speaker
Now there are some cautions, like as I mentioned, rowan berries raw, can be very irritating to the stomach, and they can also be mildly toxic if eaten raw in large amounts. So make sure you adequately prepare rowan berries before you consume them. And the most commonly used part of the rowan outside of the berries includes the bark, which can be used for an astringent, and the wood can be used for tools.
00:13:17
Speaker
So looking at some of the witchcraft and magical uses of rowan, its correspondences are the planet's the sun and mercury, the element of fire.
00:13:29
Speaker
As far as symbolism, it would be protection and inspiration. the stone, the gemstone associated with Rowan is the tourmaline. The birds associated with the tree are the duck and the quail.
00:13:41
Speaker
The colors would be green and red. The deities would be Brigantia, Brigid, the Virgin Mary, and Thor. And then Sabbaths associated with The Rowan tree are both Imbolc and Candlemas.
00:13:55
Speaker
And as far as core magical properties, Rowan is revered as a powerful protective and spiritual tree across many magical traditions. It protects against the evil eye, enchantment, and curses. And as I mentioned earlier, it was traditionally planted by homes, barns, churchyards, and carried as talismans. Rowan wood is commonly used in wands, rune staves, and divining rods because it's believed to sharpen intuition and spiritual sensitivity. Carrying Rowan when you travel is also thought to guard against getting lost or encountering harm.
00:14:31
Speaker
And Rowan is also thought to open thresholds to otherworldly realms. So how can you use Rowan in your magical practice? You can use it in talismans and charms. You can carry the berries, the wood, or crosses of Rowan for protection. Or you can hang Rowan sprigs over your doorways or windows to keep out negative energy.
00:14:52
Speaker
You can use it in your tools. So whether this be... um wands or rods you can carve your own rod wand or staff from harvested rowan for any of your ritual uses and then in spell work you can use rowan berries and leaves in your protective workings in protective bags in spell jars or an incense to give strength and safeguard against harm or hexes you can also use rowan in your travel protection rituals if you are going into liminal spaces like a walk through a forest a graveyard, or an astral projection work.
00:15:28
Speaker
So looking at harvesting Rowan, it's important in the conversation of Rowan to talk about how to actually approach the tree and harvest it. Traditionally, Rowan isn't harvested casually because it's treated like a guardian ally and a resource not to be taken without consent. In many folk traditions, the first step when wanting to harvest Rowan is to ask permission. This can be done out loud, in prayer, or by placing your hand on the tree and sitting with its energy, or all three. If the answer feels like a no then listen and respect that boundary.
00:16:02
Speaker
Offerings are another key part of the ethical harvesting of Rowan. For offerings, this can include water poured out its roots, bread, coins, milk, or a length of red thread placed at the base of the tree in exchange for what you're given.
00:16:16
Speaker
Whenever possible, partitioners favored the fallen branches of the Rowan tree to cutting the living wood. And in a lot of research on Rowan, it's noted that because Rowan is so protected in folklore, cutting any branches off unnecessarily was said to bring bad luck. So if wood is taken, it's taken sparingly and with purpose. And lastly, let's look at some timing here. It's also said to be very important in harvesting Rowan to make sure you get the timing right. So Rowan is often harvested during liminal moments on May Eve, Samhain, dawn, dusk, or threshold days where the boundary between the worlds is the thinnest.
00:16:57
Speaker
So that is Rowan. Yay. Precious little Rowan. I know. So sweet. Now we're going to talk about mullein. I love this little herb. I use it quite frequently, so i will try not to go on and on. and on I am, spoiler, already cracking up at one of these.
00:17:20
Speaker
ah The names? Mullen has a lot of names, not as many as Rowan, but it's also known The Witch's Candle, Candlewick, Beggar's Blanket, Cowboy Toilet Paper, Hag's Taper, Mary's Candle, Velvet Dock, Aaron's Rod, and Shepherd's Club.
00:17:41
Speaker
Erin's Rod, oh my god. When I was typing that, I was like, oh no, we're going to be like children. mullein is native to Asia, North Africa, and Europe, though it's since been widely cultivated all over the world.
00:17:58
Speaker
It's believed that early colonists brought mullein with them to the United States, carrying it across the ocean as part of their medicinal toolkit while moving into new and unfamiliar lands.
00:18:10
Speaker
It's a biannual herb that can grow extremely tall, so it grows up to 8 feet or 2.4 meters. Mullein is pretty easy to spot thanks to its large, woolly textured leaves that grow in a spiral pattern. These leaves are really soft, broad, and toothless, so they're like smooth along the edges rather than jagged. And you can harvest mullein In its first year of growth, but I wouldn't and wouldn't harvest the whole thing. i would probably just take a few leaves for like a tea or something. You really want to wait until its second year. So in the second year, the plant sends up this tall stalk with alternating leaves running down the stem.
00:18:49
Speaker
And it's topped with small five-petaled yellow flowers that typically bloom in late summer. During its first year of growth, mullein stays really low to the ground, forming a rosa of leaves. And it isn't until the second year that those tall like flower stalks appear, like I said. um And that's where it produces a really dense cluster of yellow blooms.
00:19:11
Speaker
The plant has an almost velvet-like feel to it. But it's important to note that there are a few plants out there that look and feel very similar to mullein while like lacking the same medicinal or magical properties.
00:19:25
Speaker
And with that, like I really can't stress enough how important it is to be able to 100% identify a plant before you ingest it, especially if you're wild
Exploring Mullein's Historical and Modern Uses
00:19:36
Speaker
foraging. The best is to grow it yourself or to source it from a reputable person. or like a business. It's always just the safer route if you're not like 100% sure.
00:19:46
Speaker
Another important note when it comes to wild foraging mullein. So mullein will often grow in what is considered like, quote unquote, waste places like roadsides. or like recently tilled soil. It's one of those plants that many people consider a weed outside of its native habitat.
00:20:06
Speaker
Because mullein can absorb toxins from its environment, it's especially important not to harvest it from the roadsides or other like potentially polluted areas.
00:20:17
Speaker
Historically, Mullen has been referenced by Dioscorides as early as the 1st century CE, and it was also included in the National Formulary, which was one of two compendia that made up the United States Pharmacopoeia, and this was published annually until about 1936. The 18th century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper noted that during the 17th century,
00:20:44
Speaker
Mullein was decocted into wine to help treat convulsions, cramps, hernias, and long-standing coughs. The flowers were infused into oil and applied to piles, while the leaves were used in poultices with vinegar to help treat old ulcers and infected wounds. In folklore, in ancient Greece, Mullen was deeply revered and it was often seen as a gift from the gods.
00:21:12
Speaker
Its lore states that the messenger god Mercury gave Ulysses Mullen to protect him from Circe's magic, and thanks to the plant's strong association with divine protection and its use as a ward against evil.
00:21:27
Speaker
For the Greeks, mullein functioned as a kind of guardian plant, protecting against malevolent forces, and this theme shows up again and again as we move throughout history.
00:21:38
Speaker
We see this belief continue in medieval Europe, where mullein's protective qualities are mentioned in the text by Greaves, called a modern herbal. It was thought to drive away evil spirits and was commonly hung on doorways or burned as an incense to help keep home safe from negative energies.
00:21:58
Speaker
In ancient Rome, mullein took on a more literal role as a source of light. The plant's long stalks, often called the mullein spikes, were dipped into tallow and then lit, allowing them to burn much like a candle.
00:22:13
Speaker
These spikes were used as ceremonial torches that could be carried from place to place. Mullen was also an important part of funeral rites in both ancient Rome and medieval Europe.
00:22:25
Speaker
In this context, it symbolized light, guidance, and safe passage for the deceased as they moved into the afterlife. Because of its protective nature, monasteries even grew mullen specifically for its spiritual and safeguarding properties.
00:22:40
Speaker
the practice of using mullein as torches didn't disappear with antiquity either. During the California gold rush, mullein torches were used to line mine shafts, lining the space where prospectors worked underground.
00:22:54
Speaker
In American folkloric tradition, mullein took on a more romantic role through love divination. So it was used in rituals meant to reveal the identity of future lovers and as a tool for ensuring fidelity within relationships.
00:23:10
Speaker
There's also a longstanding belief that Mullen held power over witches, sorcerers, and demons. It was said to be capable of driving away evil spirits and acting as a powerful safeguard against harmful magic.
00:23:23
Speaker
And in some traditions, it was even believed that Mullen could help retrieve a child who had been taken by the Fae. It's wild that we both picked Mullen.
00:23:34
Speaker
plants that were used in protection against witchcraft. Yeah. we you know If you've been a longtime listener of the podcast, you know that we do this every time. When we cover topics where we each take a different piece like deities or like plants or whatever, we typically somehow pick something that's connected in some way.
00:23:56
Speaker
Yeah. In herbalism, botanically speaking, mullein is known as verbascum thapsis, and it belongs to the scroflureaceae family.
00:24:11
Speaker
The parts most commonly used are the leaves, the flowers, and the roots. The leaves are typically gathered in late summer through autumn and then dried and used throughout the winter months.
00:24:23
Speaker
In terms of properties and energetics, mullein is soothing, moistening, and cooling. It also has a bitter quality and is generally considered neutral to mild in taste.
00:24:36
Speaker
Traditionally, mullein tea was brewed and sweetened with honey to help soothe coughs and sore throats, but there were also some non-traditional uses that I actually really loved learning about when I was reading this.
00:24:48
Speaker
So, for example, mullein leaves could be rubbed directly onto a sore back to help ease pain. And I don't mean like the leaf itself. So, you would um create like a salve or an oil with the mullein and then use that.
00:25:02
Speaker
And it's supposed to help relieve pain. And I was like, okay, i need to try that. I was just picturing the leaf. The leaf. I mean, maybe. Let me just ah rub this here. They're really soft, so.
00:25:13
Speaker
but yeah Drinking a cup of mullein tea was believed to help loosen phlegm in the throat. And when combined with cherry bark and rabbit tobacco, mullein could be made into a really effective cough syrup.
00:25:26
Speaker
Mullein has been used in folk healing practices for centuries, and it has been documented as a ah remedy for cramps, coughs, gout, and even warts. um Rebecca Beyer writes about Mullein and her books Mountain Magic and the Complete Folk Herbal. And if you've been a longtime listener of the podcast, you'll know that I reference her work often, including Wild Witchcraft, because her books are beautifully put together and packed with information that And if you're caught up on season four, you'll know that we also had Rebecca on the podcast where we got to talk about all things planned.
00:26:01
Speaker
all things plants and herbs. So if you're not caught up, go back and and listen to it because it was amazing. But she notes that while mullein isn't native to Appalachia, which is where she lives and where she typically writes about, it's still considered a foundational herb in Appalachian folk medicine as well. Herbalists commonly turn to mullein as a reliable respiratory remedy and a general lung herb. often used to support conditions like bronchitis, asthma, and other lung-related issues.
00:26:34
Speaker
One fact that was new to me is that mullein can be used to help fight off ear infections. So for this purpose, the flowers were infused into an oil, And to strengthen the remedy, that oil can be combined with garlic-infused oil, which is considered antimicrobial.
00:26:52
Speaker
And just as an important like safety note, you should never put anything in your ear if there's any suspicion that the eardrum may be perforated. So if you don't know, like don't put don't put an oil in your ear, okay?
00:27:05
Speaker
Okay. We don't want you damaging your ears. And don't come back and say, we told you to do it. No. And if you didn't listen past the, you could do this.
00:27:16
Speaker
yeah Listen to the whole thing before you start doing like putting things in your ears, you know? So this same oil has also been recommended for infected piercings.
00:27:28
Speaker
um Apply to areas where a splinter has been removed and for other minor skin infections. When it comes to modes of use, mullein shows up in herbalism in a lot of different forms. Teas, which I use often, tinctures, poultices, infusions, and even incense.
00:27:47
Speaker
Historically, mullein was also smoked as a treatment for asthma, which seems backwards to me. Counterintuitive. Yeah. Yeah. That's a little bit wild.
00:27:59
Speaker
So, and then like... Most cases it was like, okay, roll this up and smoke it In some cases they would smoke it like an incense and then sit in the smoked room. And I was like, that makes more sense. It makes more sense, but either way, i don't know if I would do that. Yeah, I don't know.
00:28:16
Speaker
That said, after singing mullein's praises for its strong affinity with the lungs and throat, it is important to mention one of its biggest cautions.
00:28:27
Speaker
So like I said, the mullein leaf is very, very soft and velvety. Well, those fine hairs on the mullein leaves actually can be irritating to the throat if they aren't properly filtered out before ingestion. As someone who uses mullein pretty regularly, I just strain it out of my tea with like a – I put it in a tea ball and then I put the tea ball in a tea bag. Like I buy the bigger – like spice bags or whatever that you can use. And that tends to help um keep all the little tiny fibers out of your teeth.
00:29:00
Speaker
um Can you see them or is it pretty kind of microscopic? They're pretty small, but like with a light, you can see them. Yeah. Okay. Well, that's know. I just use my phone light to make sure that there's not – like a few little hairs in there are not going to do anything. If it's like a lot. Yeah. Like if you get like a really fuzzy like shedding leaf, then it's going be an issue.
00:29:23
Speaker
So – But yeah. and finally, mullein root has its own unique use. It can be decocted and used for urinary tract infections.
00:29:34
Speaker
And this application is often strengthened when combined with juniper. So if you don't know what a decoction is, it's a long, it's basically tea, but it's a long infusion.
00:29:49
Speaker
When we look at mullein through the lens of witchcraft, within magical practice, mullein has long been used for courage, peace, and reconciliation, especially in situations where something needs to be set right or a rift needs mending.
00:30:04
Speaker
It's often paired in magical workings with rose quartz and copper coins like a penny to support those intentions. Molen corresponds to Saturn, its zodiac is Capricorn, its element is fire, and the chakra it aligns with is the crown chakra.
00:30:22
Speaker
Mullein is also widely recognized as a protective herb. It's been sewn into dream pillows to help ward off bad dreams and hung in doorways to protect against negative energy.
00:30:33
Speaker
Because of its strong association with protection from evil spirits, mullein frequently shows up in magical workings involving spirits, the dead, or even in necromancy.
00:30:46
Speaker
In Mountain Magic, Rebecca notes that mullein is one of the plants used in what are known as um bending charms. So specifically for determining whether a love interest returns your affection, the practice works like this.
00:31:03
Speaker
So first you need to know the direction of the person's home. In the evening, you bend a mullein stalk toward their direction. The following morning, you check the stalk. If it has righted itself,
00:31:16
Speaker
It's said to mean that the person returns your feelings because they're basically like pushing it back up. If the stock dies, then it indicates that those feelings are not shared, which – I was like, wow, that that took a turn. And then powdered mullein has also been noted as an alternative to graveyard dirt or even just regular dirt in any magical workings that require it.
00:31:41
Speaker
Though it's worth mentioning that not all practices or traditions consider it as a suitable substitute. Mullen also carries an association with Hecate, who is often depicted holding torches. The plant's properties align closely with her domains.
00:31:58
Speaker
Mullen quite literally gives light in dark places, both physically and metaphorically, which reflects Hecate's role as a guide through the shadows.
00:32:09
Speaker
Its strong protective qualities make mullein particularly fitting herb for workings connected to Hecate, and it's believed to serve as a symbolic link to her illuminating and protective energies. And incorporating mullein into spell work tied to Hecate can help enhance the overall effectiveness of those workings.
00:32:30
Speaker
And then lastly, i found this little working to create mullein torches, and I thought it was so cute. That is cute.
00:32:42
Speaker
So for this, you're going to need dried mullein stalks with flowers um for a torch-style candle and or dried mullein leaves, like whole leaves. For taper style candles, um you'll need wax or tallow, a heat safe container for melting the wax or tallow, wax paper, um and that just makes it easy to like dry them and not make a mess.
00:33:08
Speaker
So once you get everything together, you're basically going to melt down your wax or your tallow. and depending on you know which style of candle you're making.
00:33:19
Speaker
So the first option is the more traditional torch style candle. And for this, you'll take the long mullein stocks with the flower still attached and dip them into the melted wax or tallow.
00:33:30
Speaker
After dipping, allow them to dry completely. And you may want to repeat the dipping process a few times to ensure that they're well coated. In this method, the stock itself um at the top acts as the wick. So you just light it from the top and now you have a ah giant torch.
00:33:48
Speaker
In the second option, you're going to use the dried mullein leaves to create a taper style candle. So you'll grab like a handful of the leaves and roll them into individual tapers and dip them into the wax or tallow.
00:34:02
Speaker
Let them dry before between each dip. And then lay them out on a sheet of wax paper to dry fully at the end. um This just helps keep it a little less messy.
00:34:13
Speaker
And be sure to leave a small portion at the top of the leaf exposed so that it it can be lit. And this acts as your wick. So once you're finished, the mullein taper will burn much like a standard taper candle.
00:34:26
Speaker
And this is just a beautiful and intentional way to incorporate mullein into magical workings focused on peace, restoring relationships and protection or as a connection for those of you that might work with Hecate. So.
00:34:42
Speaker
Yeah. That is beautiful. I love that. I know. I thought it was so cute because I was like, if you're not somebody that wants to use mullein in herbalism, but you want to use it in your workings, what a great way to like incorporate it.
00:34:58
Speaker
Yeah, so I think it's amazing. little candle, use it in your spells or whatever you're doing. It's perfect.
Conclusion and Further Resources
00:35:18
Speaker
That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did. If you loved this episode, we'd be eternally grateful if you left us a five-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
00:35:30
Speaker
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00:35:49
Speaker
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00:36:03
Speaker
Join us next week for another long-awaited deity episode. This time, we're going to focus on Celtic deities. Until then, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be witches.