Motherwort Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Lion's Tail, Leonurus, Lion's Ear
A heart-guarding herb for courage, calm and protecting the people you love.
- Intentions
- Protection, Peace, Confidence, Healing
- Element
- Water
- Planet
- Venus
- Zodiac
- Leo
- Day
- Friday
- Chakra
- Heart
- Parts used
- Leaves, flowering tops
How to use it
- Heart shield
Carry a pinch of dried motherwort in a small pouch over your heart on days you expect to feel stretched thin. Touch it and breathe slowly to remind yourself you can stay soft and still be strong.
- Hearth protection
Hang a small bundle of motherwort near your kitchen or the heart of your home, asking it to watch over everyone who lives there, especially parents and children.
- Courage candle
Sprinkle a ring of dried motherwort around the base of a red or pink candle before a hard conversation. As it burns, name the brave, kind thing you intend to say.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
Motherwort's Latin name, Leonurus cardiaca, means lion-hearted, and both names point to its old reputation as a herb of the heart. The herbalist Nicholas Culpeper placed it under Venus in the sign of Leo and wrote that it made the mind cheerful. In European folklore it was planted near homes to protect mothers and families, and some said those who kept it would live a long and happy life. Witches still reach for it when they need courage that stays gentle.
A heart-guarding herb for courage, calm and protecting the people you love.
- Intentions: Protection, Peace, Confidence, Healing
- Element: Water
- Planet: Venus
- Zodiac: Leo
- Day: Friday
- Chakra: Heart
- Parts used: Leaves, flowering tops
Safety: Avoid during pregnancy, as it is traditionally said to stimulate the womb, and while breastfeeding. Do not swallow it if you take heart or blood-thinning medicine. The spiny flower clusters can scratch, and handling the plant may irritate sensitive skin or make it more sun-sensitive. Keep away from pets.
How to use it
- Heart shield. Carry a pinch of dried motherwort in a small pouch over your heart on days you expect to feel stretched thin. Touch it and breathe slowly to remind yourself you can stay soft and still be strong.
- Hearth protection. Hang a small bundle of motherwort near your kitchen or the heart of your home, asking it to watch over everyone who lives there, especially parents and children.
- Courage candle. Sprinkle a ring of dried motherwort around the base of a red or pink candle before a hard conversation. As it burns, name the brave, kind thing you intend to say.
Works well with: Pink Candle, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Friday, Leo
Folklore
Motherwort's Latin name, Leonurus cardiaca, means lion-hearted, and both names point to its old reputation as a herb of the heart. The herbalist Nicholas Culpeper placed it under Venus in the sign of Leo and wrote that it made the mind cheerful. In European folklore it was planted near homes to protect mothers and families, and some said those who kept it would live a long and happy life. Witches still reach for it when they need courage that stays gentle.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.