Magickal Herbs: Wormwood

In a world full of complexities, sometimes the most potent power lies in getting back to the basics. One herb that has stood the test of time, deeply rooted in both folk magic and black magic, is wormwood. This bitter, powerful plant has served sorcerers, necromancers, and black magicians for centuries—and yet, its significance can sometimes be overlooked.

In this post, I’m going to share a witchcraft style banishing/protection spell. Then for the occultist and black magicians, I’m also going to share a daemonic ritual using wormwood and give you some tips on which of our demons you can invoke for guidance, power, or to banish obstacles.

All herbs have various applications, and so it shows you that everything has a light side and a dark side, and both of the sides have reasons and importance, so it is up to the magical practitioner as to how to extract these properties for their spellcasting purposes.

Wormwood can be effective in spells aimed at:

• Protection: Creating a spiritual barrier against negative energies.
• Banishing: Cutting ties with unwanted people, habits, or influences.
• Divination: Enhancing psychic abilities, especially for scrying or connecting with the spirit world.
• Cleansing: Purifying spaces, tools, or auras​
• Necromancy: EG connecting to the dead, for guidance or power
• Offerings: to various spirits and Demons, who require wormwood as an offering

The takeaway is….. Wormwood is THE essential and yet super affordable herb every needs in their tool kit.

YOUR FEEDBACK PLEASE: Just in case you don’t read this article until the very end, I would love to hear back from you on how you use wormwood in your own rituals and spellcasting. If you would like me to add your own spell or Ritual using wormwood to this post, either email me or drop it in the comment section below.

Historical Significance in Witchcraft

Historically, wormwood’s use can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where it was employed for purification and protective magic.

In ancient Greece and Rome, wormwood was used to cleanse spaces of malevolent spirits, while the Egyptians incorporated it into protective rituals, particularly for the afterlife.

During the Middle Ages, wormwood was burned to ward off evil spirits and pests.

In folklore, it was believed to break curses and hexes, severing ties to negative influences​. Most of you would use of wormwood in modern witchcraft, and folk magic practices.

AND….Did You Know…..Wormwood is the key ingredient in a drink called Absinthe. Wormwood gives absinthe its most notorious quality: thujone, a compound that was historically thought to have psychoactive properties, causing hallucinations or a heightened sense of euphoria.  Some rituals used absinthe for spiritual purification or to help facilitate communication with spirits, invoking visions or altered states of mind.

If you’ve tried it before you know you’re going to get mega wasted on a shot! Personally, if I’m drinking abstinent, I am unable to perform any ritual!

Darker Side Magic Uses

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) has been historically tied to black magic and necromantic practices due to its potent associations with the spirit world.

In necromancy, wormwood is commonly used for rituals involving communication with the dead, divination, and invoking spirits.

The plant’s psychoactive properties, primarily from the compound thujone, make it useful for inducing altered states of consciousness, which are critical in rituals where practitioners seek to open the veil between the physical and spiritual realms.

When burned as incense or mixed with other ingredients like sandalwood, wormwood facilitates spirit invocation and enhances psychic perception during séances or divination sessions.

Traditionally, burning wormwood in graveyards is believed to summon the dead or reveal hidden truths from beyond the veil. In this context, wormwood acts as a “step” herb, meaning it helps guide or summon spirits while also being used to banish them when the ritual concludes​.

In black magic, wormwood’s bitterness and toxicity are symbolically linked to banishment, protection, and cursing spells. Its ability to cleanse “bitterness” and self-imposed guilt also makes it valuable in rituals aimed at removing psychological blocks or hexes. However, practitioners exercise caution due to the herb’s potency, which, if misused, can lead to confusion or malevolent spiritual interaction.

In modern witchcraft, wormwood continues to be a staple for necromantic work, enhancing clairvoyance, and purifying spaces to create sacred environments conducive to contacting the dead. So if you are into the Darkside of witchcraft, this would need to be one of your top herbs in your witchy toolbox.

Wormwood and Cemeteries in Historical and Spiritual Practices

Wormwood has long been associated with death, the afterlife, and spiritual practices, including those performed in cemeteries. Its connection to these areas is rooted in its symbolic and historical uses, especially in witchcraft and necromancy.

1. Symbolism of Wormwood: In many cultures, wormwood is linked to the underworld, death, and purification. Its bitter taste and its use in cleansing rituals suggest a connection to banishment, protection, and the crossing of thresholds. In necromancy, wormwood is sometimes used as an offering to spirits of the dead, or in rituals meant to open communication with the deceased. This association with death made it a fitting herb to be used in cemetery-based rituals, where spirits are often invoked or honored.
2. Protection and Purification: In some folk traditions, wormwood was used in cemetery rituals to cleanse the area of malevolent spirits, or to protect the living from hauntings. It was believed that wormwood could ward off evil and negative energy, making it a powerful tool for those seeking to commune with spirits in a cemetery setting.
3. Rituals in Cemeteries: Wormwood has been employed in specific rituals aimed at connecting with the dead, whether for divination, ancestral veneration, or even to seek guidance from spirits. In some necromantic traditions, placing wormwood on the graves of ancestors or during spirit work in cemeteries was believed to aid in the process of summoning or communication.
4. Cemetery Offerings: In some occult practices, worms or herbs like wormwood were placed on grave markers or in burial sites as a form of offering to the spirits of the deceased. These offerings were intended to appease the spirits or guide them, reflecting wormwood’s dual role in both protecting the living and honoring the dead.

Daemonic Invocation Spell Using Wormwood

Now let’s go a little bit darker for those of you who like to walk on the darker spiritual side……..

In crafting a daemonic spell using wormwood, it’s essential to acknowledge wormwood’s historical ties to necromancy, spirit communication, and banishment.

This ritual is designed to invoke daemonic energies for insight, power, or protection, while using wormwood as a catalyst to bridge the physical and spiritual realms. Read through the spell before you begin, and if you need some inspiration for Demons to contact beforehand, I will list these demons at the end of the article.

Purpose: To invoke a daemon for guidance, power, or to banish obstacles.

Ingredients:

1. Dried wormwood
2. Black or red candle (symbolizing power and invocation)
3. Incense (dragon’s blood or myrrh for enhancing spirit contact)
4. A sigil of the daemon you wish to invoke
5. A fire-safe bowl or cauldron
6. A piece of parchment and black ink
7. A drop of your own blood or a substitute (like red wine)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Space:
   Cleanse the ritual area with incense smoke and ensure you won’t be disturbed. Dim the lights or perform the ritual at night for deeper focus.
2. Create the Circle:
   Draw a circle of protection around you with the wormwood. Visualize this circle glowing with dark energy, keeping you safe while allowing daemonic energies to enter.
3. Set Your Intention:
   Write the purpose of your invocation on the parchment. Be clear about what you seek—whether guidance, power, or the removal of obstacles.
4. Place the Sigil:
   Place the sigil of the daemon in front of you. Focus on the sigil and visualize the daemon’s presence growing stronger.
5. Light the Candle and Incense:
   As you light the black or red candle, say:
   “By flame and smoke, I call upon the ancient power that dwells beyond the veil.”
6. Burn the Wormwood:
   Light the dried wormwood in the fire-safe bowl or cauldron. Let the smoke rise and waft over the sigil. As the smoke rises, chant:“Wormwood smoke, veil of night,
   Open the path, grant me sight.
   Daemon [Name], hear my plea,
   Step forth now and speak to me.”
7. Offer Your Blood or Substitute:
   Place a drop of blood (or red wine) onto the sigil as an offering, saying:“This is my bond, my offering true,
   Daemon of power, I call upon you.”
8. Meditate and Listen:
   Close your eyes and enter a meditative state. Listen for whispers, feel changes in energy, or see visions. The daemon may communicate symbolically, through emotions, or subtle thoughts.
9. Seal the Ritual:
   Once you feel the invocation is complete, thank the daemon:“I honor you, [Daemon Name], for your presence and guidance. Depart in peace.”Extinguish the candle and let the wormwood burn out safely.
10. Close the Circle:
    Scatter salt or visualize the circle dissolving, ensuring any lingering energy is safely dispelled.

After:

• Ground Yourself: Eat or drink something to return to normal consciousness. GROUNDING is magic 101 however these days we just love to get on with it and miss some of the basics. You need to DISCONNECT from the energy of the spell and grounding is how you do so. Otherwise do you protection style rituals or witchcraft style protection circles before you begin to help disconnect and not get yourself into any trouble.
• Journal: Write down any insights, messages, or feelings received during the ritual.
• Dispose of Ashes: Bury the ashes of the wormwood and parchment to complete the spell.

“Hey Savannah….Nothing Happened?”

Sometimes spells don’t yield the expected results due to a variety of factors, and it’s important to remain open to different outcomes and timelines.

Energy, intention, and focus during the ritual play a critical role; doubt, distraction, or fear can disrupt the process. Additionally, external influences, such as protective energies or the timing of the spell, may affect its success.

Reviewing the accuracy of the ritual—such as ingredients, tools, and environment—can help identify areas for improvement.

Patience is often key, as magic can be cumulative and may require repetition or reinforcement with additional work. In consultations with my clients over the years, when I ask for daemonic feedback for the specific client on why the Demon didn’t connect with a client, sometimes the Demon will suggest the person has not been consistent with their medical practices.

AMAZING – I truly am so honoured to receive such feedback, for either myself, or a client, as this proves the Demons are active and walking amongst us, so to speak. If you get such feedback from the spirit of any kind, don’t be disappointed. You are getting feedback from a spirit who may actually be interested in you and what you’re wanting to achieve. So take this as a very positive sign and do what they say! They are giving you a pathway towards your success!

Remember that spellwork is a partnership between you and the forces you invoke, and sometimes personal growth or changes in the physical world are necessary for the magic to fully manifest.

Ultimately, while magic is a powerful tool, there are no guarantees, and maintaining flexibility, reflection, and persistence is essential.

Demons who explicitly require wormwood as an offering

Need a God or Goddess? I have more deity associated with wormwood listed toward the end of this article.

In demonology and occult practices, wormwood is often associated with spirits and entities connected to banishment, poison, divination, and shadowy wisdom. Although specific demons who explicitly require wormwood as an offering are rare in traditional grimoires, there are strong symbolic connections between wormwood and certain demons:

1. Astaroth

• Association: Astaroth is a demon of knowledge, secrets, and forbidden truths. Wormwood’s properties of enhancing visions, divination, and accessing hidden realms align with Astaroth’s attributes.
• Symbolism: Wormwood’s bitter nature mirrors the sometimes uncomfortable truths and deep wisdom Astaroth provides. As a demon who reveals mysteries and grants insight into the unknown, wormwood can be used as an offering or burnt as incense to facilitate contact.

2. Abaddon/Apollyon

• Association: Known as the “Angel of the Abyss” and linked to destruction, Abaddon is sometimes associated with the biblical Wormwood mentioned in Revelation 8:11. In this context, wormwood symbolizes bitterness, judgment, and transformative destruction.
• Symbolism: Offering wormwood to Abaddon symbolizes acceptance of destruction as a path to transformation, removing obstacles, or seeking to purge harmful influences.

3. Belial

• Association: Belial is a demon known for independence, rebellion, and corruption. Wormwood’s historical use for banishing and breaking hexes can tie into rituals seeking Belial’s influence to break oppressive conditions or free oneself from constraints.
• Symbolism: The bitterness of wormwood resonates with Belial’s association with breaking societal norms and embracing one’s darker, independent nature.

4. Lilith

• Association: Lilith, a goddess or demon associated with liberation, sexuality, and the night, resonates with wormwood’s properties of enhancing psychic powers and banishing negativity.
• Symbolism: Offering wormwood to Lilith can symbolize clearing away patriarchal restrictions or seeking clarity and liberation in shadow work.

How to Use Wormwood in Offerings to These Demons

1. Burning Wormwood: Use wormwood as incense during invocations to create a bridge between worlds.
2. Herbal Sachets or Bowls: Place dried wormwood near the demon’s sigil or altar space as an offering.
3. Infusions: Create a ritual wash or infusion using wormwood to cleanse the space before summoning.

• Mugwort is often used to enhance psychic abilities, protect travelers, and induce prophetic dreams.
• Wormwood is typically used in banishing rituals, protection spells, and necromancy due to its association with the underworld.

Witches across cultures and centuries have used wormwood in various ways, often incorporating it into spells, rituals, and charms.

Here’s a detailed look at how witches use wormwood:

1. Protection and Banishing Spells

Wormwood is known for its potent banishing and protective qualities. It is often used to ward off negative energies, spirits, and curses.

• Usage: Burn wormwood as incense or place it in a sachet to dispel malevolent forces. Sprinkle dried wormwood around the perimeter of a home or sacred space for protection.
• Example Ritual: Burn wormwood alongside other protective herbs like sage or rosemary to cleanse a space.

2. Divination and Psychic Enhancement

Wormwood is believed to enhance psychic abilities and facilitate communication with spirits, making it valuable for divination and scrying.

• Usage: Brew a mild tea or infusion (be cautious with dosage due to toxicity) or add wormwood to incense blends to sharpen intuition.
• Example Ritual: Burn wormwood while meditating or performing tarot, crystal ball reading, or other divinatory practices.

3. Dreamwork and Astral Travel

Wormwood is said to aid in lucid dreaming, astral projection, and visionary experiences.

• Usage: Place a sachet of wormwood under your pillow or use it in a dream pillow blend.
• Caution: Due to its psychoactive properties, ingesting wormwood should be done carefully, if at all.

4. Love and Binding Spells

While less common, wormwood can be used in spells to bind or influence others, particularly in situations involving complex or difficult relationships.

• Usage: Combine wormwood with herbs like myrrh and vervain for spells aimed at uncovering truth or resolving deceit in relationships.

5. Ritual Baths

Wormwood can be added to ritual baths to cleanse negative energies or prepare for magical work.

• Usage: Add a handful of dried wormwood to a warm bath and soak while focusing on purification and protection.

6. Magical Oils and Potions

Witches sometimes infuse wormwood in oils or tinctures for anointing purposes, especially for protection or spirit work.

• Usage: Create a wormwood-infused oil to anoint candles, tools, or oneself during rituals.