Mullein is the witch's torch and the witch's wall. Its tall flower stalk was once dipped in tallow and burned as a lamp wick, which earned it the old name hag's taper, and its soft grey leaf has guarded sleepers, travelers, and thresholds for as long as people have feared the dark. In folk magic it is first a protection herb: hung over the door against evil spirits, tucked into a dream pillow against nightmares, carried for courage when the road runs through wild country. Powdered, it is the most common stand-in for graveyard dust in spell work. Reach for mullein when a working needs a guardian, the quiet grey leaf that wards the door, settles the dreaming, and steadies the nerve. Key Features of Mullein Leaf A protection and exorcism herb. Mullein's oldest job is guarding: hung over doors and windows against evil spirits, carried in a sachet to repel magic worked against you, and burned in exorcism incense to clear a space of what does not belong. The graveyard dust substitute. Powdered mullein leaf is the most widely used stand-in for graveyard dirt in folk and Hoodoo spell work, the respectable cabinet version of an ingredient many recipes call for. Dream guardian and courage charm. Tucked into a pillow or dream sachet, mullein is the classic guard against nightmares; carried in a pouch, it is the old charm for courage when facing fear, conflict, or wild country. Product Details Botanical: Verbascum thapsus (great mullein) Folk names: hag's taper, candlewick plant, Aaron's rod, graveyard dust, velvet plant Form: cut and sifted dried leaf Weight: 1 oz For ritual and spiritual use; not packaged or sold as a food product Storage: keep in a sealed container away from light, heat, and moisture The Spiritual Significance In Scott Cunningham's correspondences, mullein is a feminine herb of Saturn and the element Fire, with the powers of courage, protection, health, love-divination, and exorcism. Its protective reputation is ancient and wide: Greek myth has Ulysses carry mullein against Circe's magic, European travelers stuffed it in their shoes against wild animals, and in India it was hung over doors and windows as one of the most potent safeguards against evil spirits and sorcery. Where mullein stands, the old lore says, malice struggles to enter. Two workings keep mullein on the shelf today. The first is the dream pillow, a little cushion of the soft leaf kept under the pillow to guard against nightmares, gentle enough for a child's bed. The second is its role as the cabinet's graveyard dust: powdered mullein leaf stands in for graveyard dirt in spells that call for it, including spirit work and the raising and laying of the dead. Carried in a pouch, mullein also lends courage, and an old Ozark love divination bent a growing stalk toward a sweetheart's house to read whether the love was returned. How To Use Mullein Leaf For protection, hang a small sachet of mullein over a door or window, or carry one on you to repel ill intent and magic worked against you. For nightmare protection, stuff a little dream pillow with mullein leaf and keep it under or near your pillow; refresh it when the scent fades. As graveyard dust, crush or powder the dried leaf and use it in place of graveyard dirt in spells that call for it. For exorcism and clearing, burn a pinch of the leaf over charcoal as you move through a space naming what you send out. For courage, carry a few leaves in a charm bag when you face fear, conflict, or a hard road ahead. Pairs Well With Black Obsidian Hematite Protection Set: the warding stones to anchor the threshold and dream protection mullein begins. Swift Lite Charcoal (80 Tablets): light a disc to burn powdered mullein in exorcism and space-clearing incense. Four Thieves Vinegar, 4oz: the conjure classic for the same banishing and protective work mullein serves. Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham: the tradition behind this page's correspondences, straight from the source. Mullein Leaf Cut, 1 Lb: step up to the bulk size for ongoing protection work, dream pillows by the batch, or graveyard dust in quantity. Frequently Asked Questions What is mullein used for in magic? Mullein is primarily a protection and exorcism herb: hung over doors against evil spirits, carried for courage, and tucked into dream pillows against nightmares. Powdered, it is the most common substitute for graveyard dust in spell work. How is mullein used as graveyard dust? Crush or powder the dried leaf and use it in place of graveyard dirt in any spell that calls for it. It is the cabinet's respectable stand-in, widely used in folk and Hoodoo practice for spirit work and protection. How do I make a mullein dream pillow? Sew a small cloth pouch, fill it with dried mullein leaf alone or blended with lavender, and keep it under or near your pillow. It is the classic guard against nightmares and gentle enough for a child's bed. What are mullein's correspondences? Cunningham places mullein under Saturn and the element Fire, a feminine herb of courage, protection, health, love-divination, and exorcism. Its Saturnian, protective character is what makes it a guardian and spirit-work herb. Why is it called hag's taper? The tall dried flower stalk was once dipped in tallow and burned as a lamp wick or torch, which gave mullein the folk names hag's taper, candlewick plant, and torches. The same plant that lit the old roads now guards them. How should I store it? Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place away from light. The cut leaf holds for a year or more; refresh a dream pillow when the soft scent fades from the work.
