As a teenager, I picked up a part time job working for a store in Greenwich Village, where I carved candles and read tarot cards for people.  While, I would not consider myself “psychic” in the traditional sense, I was pretty good at it and my customers liked me.

More an apprenticeship than a job, I studied under a powerful and very influential woman on the New York “scene” named Lady Rhea.  Rhea taught me everything about cards, candles, incense making and the like.  She began my herbal education.

Over the years, my study of plant medicine has taken a“medicinal” approach/application, but the foundation that Rhea gave me has helped me better understand and connect to the natural world around me.  Well, I do not read tarot cards or carve candles anymore (I have not for many, many years), I still use some of Rhea’s herbal recipes.

My friend Rubes recently discovered the herb Mugwort.  So I have posted this tea in her honor:

Artemisia Vulgaris aka Mugwort is a shrubby perennial plant that grows to about three feet and is found in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere – including Europe and North America.  It is closely related to Wormwood (Artemisia cina), Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) and Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum). The ancient Greeks used mugwort as an aid in childbearing, as did the ancient Welsh.  Herbalists commonly use it as a medicinal herb in aiding digestion (soothes an upset stomache), increasing one’s appetite and inducing dreams — perhaps it is most notorious purpose.

Mugwort has astringent and microbial properies. It is a common ingredient in traditional "bitters" recipes, which were used throughout Europe to settle one's stomache.

Associated with moon/mother energy and named after the goddess Artemis, this herb helps you become closer to your subconscious through dreams.  In brings upon vivid, lucid (some say prophetic) dreams. 

Mugwort is one of the main ingredients in Lady Rhea’s Dream Tea:

2 parts rose petals
1 part mugwort
1 part peppermint
1 part jasmine flowers
½ part cinnamon


While Mugwort on its own can have a bitter taste, the flavor of this tea is quite lovely.  I drink it with a spoonful of honey before bed when I want to experience vivid dreams.

(Please note that I am not the first to publish this recipe, many others have published it before me. I am not giving away any great secret – rather, I am sharing a wonderful bedtime tea recipe with you that you may or may not have found on your own).