Chlorophyll Corner: Mugwort and the Moon's Honest Light
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Photo by Eden Blooms [/caption]
A monthly ethnobotany column by Eden Blooms
As summer exhales its final breath and fog banks roll in to calm the fire-smoke skies, Cascadia enters its most dramatic seasonal shift. The air thickens with moisture, and the musky whispers of fungi creep up from the Earth to remind us that fall is right around the corner. Under this week’s full corn moon, with a blood red lunar eclipse, I find myself drawn to moon plants, especially the coastal mugwort Artemisia suksdorfii, a silvery sentinel growing along our coastal bluffs.
“Mugwort asks: Are we living in alignment with our truth? Are we speaking with clarity and kindness? Are we willing to examine the stories we tell ourselves and others?”
Native to the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California, coastal mugwort thrives in rocky, windswept habitats. Mugwort of all species is deeply loved, its leaves shimmering with a moon-grey underside, which is how it came to be named after the Greek goddess of the moon - Artemis. Mugwort’s name and nature are steeped in lunar lore, and its gifts are as mysterious as moonlight itself.
Mugwort has a strong musky, sage-like scent that produces a unique flavor. Medicinally, mugwort is revered for its bitter, pungent flavor and affinity for digestion, calming the nervous system, and assisting in reproductive health. People who use this herbal medicine find it to be cooling, antispasmodic, and deeply grounding. I often brew it into tea when my belly feels unsettled or burn it during full moons to invite clarity into my dreams. Mugwort doesn’t just soothe the body - it stirs the subconscious, nudging us toward healing and honesty.
Traditionally used to support menstruation and hormonal balance, mugwort’s bitter compounds stimulate blood flow, relax tense muscles, and help the liver metabolize complex hormones. It’s a quiet ally for those navigating PMS, amenorrhea, or hyperandrogenism. But its magic isn’t limited to physiology; it’s a plant of thresholds, guiding us between sleep and wakefulness, summer and fall, illusion and truth.
This month, mugwort reminds us that honesty is a moonlit path. True honesty isn’t brutal - it’s clear, compassionate, and courageous. When people find themselves struggling with dishonesty, they are standing at the threshold of sleep and wakefulness, trauma and healing. Like the moon, this plant helps reveal what’s hidden, repels confusion and our inner monsters, and invites integrity into our relationships. Mugwort asks: Are we living in alignment with our truth? Are we speaking with clarity and kindness? Are we willing to examine the stories we tell ourselves and others?
A pink sun-kissed beach reminds us that it’s almost the time of year for deep internal reflection. As Cascadia shifts into its introspective season, let mugwort be your guide. Burn it, sip it, dream with it. Let it help you walk the fine line between the dream world and waking life with humility, idealism, and clarity. Because in a world thick with fog, plants like mugwort shine with lunar honesty.
