1 part Bay

1 part Tobacco

1 part Damiana

1 part Mormon Tea

1 part Broom

Use according to the other Cerridwen Brew.

Acorns*

Barley

Honey

Ivy*

Hellebore*

Bay

Boil water in a cauldron over an open fire. Place all ingredients into the cauldron. Sit before it and entrance yourself by watching the flames. Smell its mystic scent and receive wisdom.

(Do not drink. Why? It’s poisonous, that’s why!)

5 parts Rose petals

1 part Clove

1 part Nutmeg

1 part Lavender

1 part Ginger

Make in the usual way, preferably in an earthen pot. Add this mixture to tea, or serve alone to increase the passions.

1 pinch Rosemary

2 pinches Thyme

2 tsp. Black Tea

1 pinch Coriander

3 fresh Mint leaves (or 1/2 tsp. dried)

5 fresh Rosebud petals (or 1 tsp. dried)

5 fresh Lemon tree leaves (or 1 tsp. dried Lemon peel)

3 pinches Nutmeg

3 pieces Orange peel

Place all ingredients into teapot. Boil three cups or so of water and add to the pot. Sweeten with honey, if desired. Serve hot.

The Heating

Fire, gas flame or stove coils will do for the heat source, I suppose you could prepare a brew in a microwave oven, but this isn’t the best idea. If nothing else, it reduces some of the magick of the process.

If you’re the old-fashioned kind, try making a few in a fire place or outdoors over a blaze.

The Vessels

It’s best if the water and herbs don’t come into direct contact with metal while brewing. There are few exceptions to this in herbalism. One is cauldron brewing, which is little-practiced today. Herbal products prepared with double boilers may also require metal pots. But in general, avoid metal.

Clear glass jars work well for Solar infusions. Simply place the water and herbs into the jar and set this in direct sunlight, preferably outdoors. Leave it there for most of the day. Some brews are made with glass jars of various colors.

The Brew

Use specific instruction that are given with each of the recipes in this section.

For a basic brew: Gather, grind and mix the herbs. For brews to be drunk, used a separate culinary mortar and pestle for grinding not the one used for heavy-duty magickal herbs.

Empower the herbs with your magickal goal.

Heat about two cups water to boiling. Place about one handful of mixed, empowered herbs in a teapot or some other heat-proof, non-metallic container. Pour the water over the herbs. Cover with an equally non-metallic, steam-tight lid. Let the herbs brew for about 13 minutes. Strain through cheesecloth or a bamboo strainer, and use as directed.

Brews should be used as quickly as possible. If necessary, they can be stored in the refrigerator for three or four days. After this time return them to the Earth and create a new brew.

A note regarding “love” potions. There are no drinks that will emotionally enslaved another person to you, no brews that will cause love. However, some brews have long been celebrated for relaxing inhibitions and mellowing the emotions. Also, a few have been used to smooth over difficulties during long-term relationships and marriages.

The type of water used in brewing is of some importance. Well, spring and distilled waters are preferred over that which pours from the tap. You can buy these bottled or collect them from the source, so long as it’s unpolluted and free running. Rain water is ideal for use — except when gathered in smoggy areas. Tap water can be used as a last resort, but consider purchasing the bottled variety in the future.

Distilled water is used for medicinal preparations, which is fine but not for magickal operations, for it is inert. If you’re going to drink the brew (or even if you’re not), distilled water is definitely better than chlorinated, fluoridated, bacteria-filled tap water. If it’s all you have, use it.

Sea water and mineral water aren’t recommended due to their high mineral content.