By: Tumpale Mwakasisi | October 27, 2025
As the nights grow longer and the air takes on a chill, Halloween reminds us of its ancient origins in Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. During this time, it was believed that the veil between the living and the spirit world grew thin, allowing unseen forces to cross between realms. Communities gathered to honor their ancestors, light fires for protection, and use herbs and plants in rituals meant to cleanse, shield, and transform.
That same folklore continues to inspire herbalists and spiritual practitioners today. With insight from our in-house herb and tea expert, Lisa, this seasonal selection features witchy herbs known for their protective, purifying, and transformative properties. Each one carries centuries of myth, magic, and traditional use, making them perfect for your next ritual or seasonal tea blend.
Hawthorn: The Heart’s Guardian
Known as The Queen of May, Hawthorn has long been revered in European folklore as a symbol of fertility, protection, and connection to the faery realm. Many believed that Hawthorn trees marked the threshold between worlds and that cutting one down could invite misfortune. Its flowers, sometimes carrying the scent of decay, were said to represent the fine line between life and death.
In herbal tradition, Hawthorn supports both the physical and emotional heart, offering comfort and resilience during times of stress. Brewed as tea, it provides a gentle, earthy taste that soothes and strengthens.
Use it in your rituals to protect your space and open the heart to healing.
Elder Flower: The Enchanted Tree
Few plants have inspired as many myths as Elder. European folklore tells of the Elder Mother, a guardian spirit who resided in the tree and punished those who harmed it. Burning elder wood or cutting the tree without permission was said to invite her wrath.
With its creamy white blossoms and deep purple berries, Elder bridges the worlds of life and death. In herbalism, Elder Flowers are used to support immunity and relaxation, especially in soothing teas and syrups.
Include Elder in your Samhain or Halloween rituals to cleanse energy, honor ancestors, and protect the home.
Fennel and Hyssop: The Purifiers
Throughout history, fragrant herbs like fennel and hyssop were hung over doorways or burned in homes to ward off illness and negative energy. Their strong, uplifting aromas were thought to repel spirits while purifying both air and mind.
Fennel offers a sweet, anise-like flavor and is prized for its digestive benefits. It was once placed in keyholes to keep wandering ghosts from entering the home. Hyssop, often referred to as a “holy herb,” has been used for centuries to cleanse sacred spaces. It appears in ancient texts as a symbol of purification and renewal.
Steep them together in a cleansing tea or use them in a simmer pot to invite protection and clarity.
Shop Fennel Now → and Shop Hyssop Now →
Wormwood: The Visionary Herb
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) has been called one of the most powerful herbs in the witch’s grimoire. Associated with Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wild and the moon, Wormwood was historically used in rituals for protection, spirit communication, and psychic awakening.
It gained its reputation as the key ingredient in Absinthe, the famed “Green Fairy” liqueur that inspired 19th-century artists and writers. Beyond its mystical lore, Wormwood is known for its bitter compounds that support digestion and stimulate the senses.
In magical practice, Wormwood is burned to enhance intuition and open boundaries between worlds.
Mugwort: The Dreamer’s Herb
Closely related to Wormwood, Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has long been cherished as a herb of protection, prophecy, and the divine feminine. Named for Artemis, Mugwort is said to enhance dreams and connect the practitioner to lunar and intuitive energies.
In folklore, it was worn for protection during travel and burned to ward off evil spirits. Today, Mugwort is often used to promote restful sleep, vivid dreams, and spiritual insight.
Brew a tea before bed to encourage lucid dreaming or use dried Mugwort in rituals to enhance meditation and intuition.
The Magic of Halloween Herbs
Each of these Halloween herbs connects us to centuries of herbal folklore, ritual, and healing. From the protective energy of Hawthorn to the dream-enhancing properties of Mugwort, these plants invite us to explore the transformative magic of the season.
Incorporate them into your tea blends, incense, or altar offerings to celebrate the turning of the year and the power of nature’s wisdom.
Shop the full herb collection at Smallflower.com and bring a touch of herbal magic into your next ritual.
