It’s Halloween night and
It’s a fright
The full moon is up and its
Really bright
Ghosts and goblins, skeletons roam
Witches on broom
Black cats by their side
It’s Halloween night and it’s a fright.

— Matt Dillon

 

Can you feel the chill in the air that accompanies the first day of October? Not one associated with the temperature per say, but the one that gives us a tingle to our bones, and prickles the skin?

While October is the month that holds the much beloved spooky day of Halloween, there is something about the entirety of this month that just feels otherworldly.

Perhaps this is because for many cultures around the world, this time of year was seen as a time of liminal spaces – where the boundaries that separated this world from the next were a little more blurry and less defined. This allowed for a merging of energies – where it seemed like our mundane reality took on an air of mystery, where we could more easily commune with spirits now longer inhabiting our plane, and they very well could once again wander this realm. And for cultures of old, this phenomenon was not necessarily bound to a single evening, but was more of a threshold, opening like old rusty gates and building energy until the culmination point of October 31st, and lingering until the gates officially close once again in mid-November.

While this has become a night of ghostly fun often associated with silly faces carved into pumpkins, pop culture costumes reflecting key themes of the year, and sugar overloads after a night of trick-or-treating, this was not always the case historically.

This was once perceived as a night held an interesting duality – a night that incited fear, while also being held as deeply sacred. This was a night where we could more easily connect with and welcome back the spirits of loved ones that we have lost and mourned, but also a night where creatures of the shadows also engaged in mischief and trickery. It was believed that if one wasn’t careful, they could be claimed by dark beings and swept away to the Otherside, unable to return again.

We are all too familiar with the folklore, enchanted by stories of cryptids, ghosts, and monsters that accompany this night. Be it stories told around a campfire that send a shiver down our spine or a bump in the night that gives us a fright, we may feel like taking a little caution on this eve may be in order. And thus, we present you with an herbalist’s guide to keeping the spooks at bay (as inspired by herbal folklore!).

 

First Things First – Warding the Home

In the stories of old, extra measures were taken during All Hallow’s Eve to ramp up the protection of the household. After all, our homes are our safe haven, and therefore we want to keep spooks and spirits outside, not welcome them in to wreak havoc and run amok through our living room! And often, that meant turning to the plants! Some things that can be done to help ward off spirits include:

• Placing Rowan Branches over the Doorway: the Rowan tree is one that is deeply rooted in folklore, particularly across Europe. For cultures in the British Isles, Scotland, and Wales, Rowan was seen as a plant to ward off witches and protect against demons (even planted in churchyards for this purpose!). In Norse mythology, Rowan was supposedly a tree that saved the god Thor’s life and prevented him from being swept away by the river of the Underworld. Rowan is also largely associated with magic and divination, holding great power. Traditionally, it is believed that placing these branches over the threshold of the home can help keep the otherworldly creepy crawlies at bay.
• Herbal Cleansing of the Home: It is believed that otherworldly beings prefer to operate in environments that are low energy, uninviting, and that lack spiritual hygiene. Therefore, we can make our home a place that does not allow them to linger. Traditional plants such as Rosemary, Juniper, and Sage are great plants to help energetically cleanse the home (be sure to open windows as you do so and demand that any negative beings leave the space!). Another option are herbal floor washes, in which protective herbs are steeped in warm water before being used to “cleanse” the floors and help shift the energy of the home. Opt for plants like Marigolds, Thyme, Lavender, and Rue!
• Planting Protective Plants: To help as a sort of line of first defense, you can also plant protective plants outside of the home that mischievous spirits have an aversion to. Some common ones include Calendula, Bay, Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, and Mugwort!

Do you need to be out and about on the night that the veil is thin? Fret not, for you can also keep protective plants in your pocket or in a locket around your neck for some ghost-be-gone on the go!

Protection Against Evil Spirits and Negative Energy

While we will get more specific into some traditional Halloween monsters and how to prevent a run in with them, it is helpful to know some standard just-keep-the-bad-juju-to-a-minimum type herbs that are good sort of catch-alls and commonly associated with helping to help us steer clear of negative energy.

• St. John’s Wort: This plant is often associated with helping us remain in a good mood, helping stave off feelings of melancholy and anxiety, so it only makes sense that it would also help protect us from negativity. Traditionally St. John’s Wort was hung around bedposts or carried in pockets for good luck.
• Yarrow: This beautiful and common herb was believed to enhance psychic powers and bring good fortune, but also was revered for its ability to stave off negative energy. It was even entrusted to be hung over cribs of youngsters to help keep any baby-snatching entities away.
• Mugwort: An herb with an affinity for the moon, it’s no wonder this plant serves as a sort of guardian of the night! Its scientific name artemisia is derived from the goddess Artemis, who was associated with the hunt, and is also traditionally associated with preventing accidents and misfortune.

 

Stay Weary of Werewolves!

A staple creature of Halloween, it is important to note that werewolf folklore is not only rooted in Europe, but there are stories of the half human-half wolf monster that stretch as far as even South America! There are stories of the luison, a creature of “horrendous appearance” and associated with the God of Death derived from Guarani mythology in Paraguay.

To help tame any beings that howl at the moon, and have gnashing teeth and claws, turn to the following herbs:

• Mistletoe: While this plant is known for helping steal kisses during the yuletide season, it is also effective at warding off shapeshifting lycanthropes, and for overall good luck.
• Wolfsbane: A bit on the nose, sure, (though this plant also has other names such as Aconite or Monkshood), but this plant has a long-standing history of staving off werewolves! However, be sure to heed care with this plant as it is poisonous to humans as well!

Vampire Repellent Anyone?

It is simply not Halloween without a little Nosferatu lurking in the shadows! The lore of blood-sucking undead coming back to feed on the unsuspecting living in the night as we sleep is relatively ancient, and like werewolves, is rooted in stories around the world. This is an area where you may be a step ahead, for we all know that garlic is a go-to vampire repellent, but does it actually work, or is this just speculation for garlic’s ability to help prevent disease and bacteria?

Some other herbs that may prove effective in your vampire-slaying activities include: 

• Vervain: A deeply sacred ritual herb of the Druids, and known in ancient Greece as the “Enchanter’s Herb,” this is also an herb that has been turned to for keeping vampires away, particularly when consumed internally as a deterrent to getting, you know, your blood drank.
• Oak: Oak is known for its properties of being strong and resilient, able to grow in just about any environment, thus making it accessible and handy for whittling stakes in case you get up and personal with the whole vampire-slaying thing.

It is likely easier to slay a vampire by addressing them in their grave before they arise (we’re suspecting anyway). Therefore many of the plants utilized as vampire repellent were used at gravesites to help bind a vampire to their place of eternal slumber:

• Hawthorn: An herb of protection and one that helps keep one’s heart beating strong and healthy (which of course is not the case for an undead vampire), Hawthorn has been traditionally used to help prevent vampires from rising again by being driven into graves of any suspected vampires.
• Roses: It is thought that vampires could not stand the fragrance of roses, but also that their thorny vines would help keep vampires entombed in their caskets.

 

And Last, but Not Least – Witches

Sanderson sisters got you down?

While we herbalists may have a soft spot for witches – we get it, not all witches are necessarily ones we want to hang out with (note – see fables like Hansel and Gretel for examples), and some may not have the best of intentions, especially on Halloween night. Again, we can turn to folklore and herbs to help hold strong boundaries against any spellcasting foes of the night!

• Angelica: An herb associated with holiness and even the Archangel Michael, this plant was believed to be protective against effects of witchcraft and spells, especially when drunk as a remedy or worn on the body.
• Dill: A delicious culinary herb that is not only effective for making homemade pickles, but also apparently repels witches when hung as a wreath on the door!
• Black Peppercorns: Sprinkle in front of the doorway as a remedy to keep witches from entering, for they will be forced to stop and count the grains before being able to come inside. This should keep them busy enough to make it through the night!

And there you have it, our little ghosts and ghouls! May this be a useful guide to help support you in navigating potential hauntings associated with this spooky time. And we hope you keep a little time in your schedule for some fun and mischief of your own on this special night, and may your trick or treat bags be abundant!

 

Sources: 

1. Boye, Kristen. “9 Halloween Herbs for Protection, Rituals,  & Good Fortune.” Gaia Herbs.  31 October 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.gaiaherbs.com/blogs/seeds-of-knowledge/halloween-herbs-protection?srsltid=AfmBOopWMiwWgjLkvv99t2cJTHeMIXPG7mlDkMB3KRY6S9IKg6ZXoRoI
2. Moonlight. “Nature Against Vampires.” Vampires.com. 2024. Retrieved from:https://www.vampires.com/nature-against-vampires/
3. Shade, Pam. “The Supernatural Side of Plants.” Cornell Botanic Gardens. 28 October 2022. Retrieved from: https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/the-supernatural-side-of-plants-2/
4. Tanvir. “Werewolf Legends from Around the World.” Historic Mysteries. 31 October 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.historicmysteries.com/myths-legends/werewolf-legends/835/
5. Trees for Life. “Rowan mythology and Folklore.” treesforlife.org.uk. 2024. Retrieved from: https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/rowan/rowan-mythology-and-folklore/
6. Trestle, Beth. “Ward off Witches, Vampires, and Werewolves – Herbal Lore.” One Writer’s Way. 17 October2016. Retrieved from: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/ward-off-witches-vampires-and-werewolves-herbal-lore/