No other herb is so prevalent yet so overlooked in our culture than mint. There are various kinds of mints in the mint family including spearmint and peppermint. In this post, we open the witches’ cabinet on the mint family overall and identify mint magical properties and its many powerful witchy uses. We will also include its folklore, mythology, medicinal properties and health benefits.

First, What is Mint?

Mint, also called Mentha, is a type of plant in the Lamiaceae family. There may be as many as twenty five species of mint. If you head to your local nursery or home and garden store, you might notice mint varieties like chocolate mint, peppermint, spearmint, ginger mint, or pineapple mint. Interestingly, pennyroyal is also in the mint family but comes with its own separate cautions and properties (article on this plant to come in the future).

When grown in the garden, mint needs rich, moist and well drained soil. Which means it does best in Zones 5 to 9 (though folks say it’s hardy enough to grow in colder climates too) and will grow so easily that it might take over your entire yard. Its best to contain mint in its own pot or container and harvest the leaves often. In medicine and magick, the leaves and flowers are the parts most used. When found in the wild, it grows in damp fields, meadows, and at the edges of forests.

In the mundane world, mint is often overlooked because it’s used in so many everyday things. For instance, many toothpastes use mint as a flavor, and truly mint is what freshens your breath. There’s mint chewing gum, mint sprays, and also mint disinfecting sprays. Go to nearly any store and there will be a mint flavored something or another. Interestingly, chewing mint leaves to freshen one’s breath dates back to ancient times.

Mint Magical Properties and Associations

I’ve used mint in my magical practice for many years. It is potent in nearly every spell and ritual and has a wide variety of magical properties. Without further adieu, here are the mint magical properties and associations:

• Name: Mentha spp
• Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
• Uses: Magical, Medicinal, Edible
• Folk Names: Garden mint, Our Lady’s Mint, Sage of Bethlehem, Brandy mint
• Planet: Mercury
• Gender: Masculine
• Element: Air
• Deities: Hecate, Pluto
• Mint Magical Properties: Money, lust, healing, travel, protection, exorcism, purification, clarity of mind, mental powers
• Symbolic Meaning: In the language of flowers, mint represents virtue. Peppermint, specifically, means burning love, warm feelings, and warm sentiment.
• Safety Concerns: None Known (but obviously if you’re allergic, don’t use it)

The Folklore and Mythology of Mint

Apparently mint has been used as a medicinal and culinary herb since ancient times. In fact, the plant acquired its name from Greek mythology. Mentha was a nymph who apparently had quite the affair going with the god of the Underworld Hades, so that when Hades brought Persephone to the Underworld, Mentha was extremely jealous. She voiced that jealousy, and Persephone’s mother was so taken aback with the behavior that she trampled on her and turned her into dust. From that dust sprang forth Minthe, or the mint plant. Now, depending on what source you read, some say that Persephone actually trampled Mentha. Either way, this is the mythical origin story of one of our favorite herbs.

Mint in the Bible, Ancient Legends, and More

“Also keep a sprig of mint in your hand till the herb grows moist and warm, then take hold of the hand of the woman you love, and she will follow you as long as the two hands close over the herb. No invocation is necessary; but silence must be kept between this two parties for ten minutes, to give the charm time to work with due efficacy.” ~ Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland by Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde, 1887

Mint is one of the garden herbs of which the Pharisees paid tithes, according to Easton’s Bible Dictionary by MG Easton. The use of mint as a breath freshener dates to ancient times and was used throughout the ancient world as a remedy for many things. According to S. Theresa Dietz in her book The Complete Language of Flowers, mint was rubbed onto banquet tables in ancient Rome to symbolize hospitality. It was also worn in crowns to stimulate clarity of mind and memory. Interestingly, its connection to clarity of mind and mental fortitude might also link to the idea of it being used to treat headaches.

11 Witchy Ways to Use Mint Magical Properties

There are virtually a hundred witchy ways to use mint in your practice and daily life. As we’ve said before, it’s not just magical, it’s also used to flavor foods and beverages AND as a folk remedy for many ailments. Let’s dive into a few witchy uses for mint:

1. Floral and mint crowns

When woven into floral crowns at Midsummer, mint ensures clarity of mind and memory, even if you’re attending any wild parties. The practice of weaving mint into floral crowns is an ancient one, and also brings love to the wearer. Not to mention, it just smells divine!

2. Brewing Mint Tea

Whatever your intention, if it aligns with Mint’s properties, a simple mint infusion or hot tea will do the trick. Mint draws love, lust, money, and prosperity into your life. And, if you’re a student, might be a brilliant idea to drink a cup of mint tea before a big test to ensure mental faculties are at their best.

3. Mint in your purse or wallet

One of the easiest and most effective ways to use mint is putting 3 leaves into your purse or wallet. This is best if they’re fresh, so they don’t crumble once you shut your purse/wallet. This small charm will draw money to you. I’ve done this for years, and it truly does work! (Side note, basil leaves also do the trick!)

4. Chew on mint leaves

Have an interview coming up and want your breath AND your mind to be fresh? Chew on a couple fresh mint leaves. This is when it’s super beneficial to grow your own mint. You don’t need an entire garden, you just need a pot and some sun. Trust me.

5. Stuff into a poppet or dream pillow

A fun and sort of primal way of making magick is crafting a poppet (doll). There’s something about it that’s very motherly but also pulls you back to ancient times when people made toys for their children. These poppets, or dolls, were also used as a means of sympathetic magick. They would make dolls to represent themselves or others, then use them to heal or harm. Stuff mint into a poppet to bring lust, money, and healing to the targeted person. You can also stuff mint into a dream pillow BUT it won’t cause for peaceful sleep but for vivid dreams and lucid dreaming.

6. Mint oil to boost energy

A discreet way of making magick every day is to diffuse essential oils. Whether that’s in your home or office, most people don’t think of it as magick but as aromatherapy. If you find your energy and motivation are low, diffuse mint oil and watch your energy levels get a boost.

7. Magical Mint Mojitos

Magick can be made in the kitchen in more ways than one. Mint is great when used in desserts and shakes, but it’s also powerful in beverages. Both alcoholic and non. Consider making a batch of mint mojitos and mixing your intentions into it. While muddling the mint in your mortar and pestle, visualize and chant your desires. Then drink the power into yourself.

8. Cleansing infusion

Once a month, I like to make an infusion of mint and use it to purify my space. It’s particularly potent in cleansing my office space of negative vibes. The purifying powers remove stagnant energy to make way for abundance and positivity. You can even use a little bit to wipe down your computer and other money-associated tools. In addition, adding it to your mop water will work in the same way, cleansing from the floor up.

9. Bath ritual

Harness mint magical properties by adding a few leaves to your ritual bath OR by brewing a bath tea and adding that to your bath for maximum effect. Want to draw something into your life? Perform this bath ritual with mint on a New or Waxing Moon. Want to remove negative energy and feel fresh and anew? Add to the bath on a Waning Moon.

10. Mint chocolate chip cookies

You know how we all love the taste of mint? Mint ice cream, peppermint gum, etc. etc. etc. Have you ever made chocolate chip cookies with mint? This is a real treat. Not only is it delicious, but it’s magical, and the kids can get involved. Mint chocolate chip cookies will elevate the mood in a home and bring your family together with smiles. Here’s a recipe from Betty Crocker.

11. Mint to Purify One’s Space

According to Scott Cunningham, mint essential oil is used to “rouse the conscious mind and halt negative thoughts”. It purifies the space it occupies. The oil can be diffused anywhere to raise the vibrations. In addition, harvesting sprigs of mint and placing them in vases around the home clears negative energy and ensures love in a household.

The Amazing Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses of Mint

According to Scott Cunningham, mint has been used for centuries to relieve various ailments including headache, bee stings, burns, and toothaches. It has a few nutrients that are healthy to the human body including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Mint’s medicine is also known to relieve digestive issues like gas and nausea. I’ve used it to calm my stomach on many occassions and it always works.

In Jon G. Hughes intriguing book The Healing Practices of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller, he claims mint has been used throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa for many medicinal reasons. It’s used to treat wounds in the mouth such as ulcers, made into poultices along with sage to soothe rashes and chafing. For headaches, of course, when rubbed between the eyes. One fascinating remedy states to “pound the mint into a paste with sea salt and wine, strain, then place over a wound along with a fresh grey dove feather for healing”. I don’t particularly recommend using bird feathers on wounds, as there could be unseen microbes that cause further infection. But the remedy is interesting, nevertheless.

Also in Hughes’ book, Hospitallers once recommended using mint to cure spleen problems. The remedy was to take the patient to a garden where mint grows, have him or her chew on the leaves whilst asking the mint for healing. If the patient does this every dawn for three days, he or she will be healed. Again, this is a folk remedy and isn’t backed by medical research!

Check out our blog post on Lemon Balm, part of the mint family, by clicking here.

Sources Used:

• Magical Aromatherapy by Scott Cunningham
• The Healing Practices of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller by Jon G. Hughes
• Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
• The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz
• Sacred-texts.com