Category: Recipes

A Yule Drink and Litha Cake – Combined Them for Brunch or a Snack for a Solstice Feast – Flashback to 2012

I know I have been doing separate posts for Yule and Litha things but when I came across these two recipes, in Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2012, one for each season of the year the two hemispheres are going into, they sounded yummy to me to have together. I apologize in advance for not calculating from American measurements to other parts of Mother Earth. I just found this website https://www.europeancuisines.com/ while it says European Cuisines it covers other countries measuring styles as well.

SIDE NOTE if you do not have a Sun shaped disc to pour the batter in use cookie cutters for whatever shapes remind you of the Sun or use a knife to cut out a shape. Even a young child could use cookie cutters with the child’s caregivers supervising. Then either eat the scraps from the cut outs or put them outside for the wildlife in your area to celebrate the Solstice with your family. This is a good day to have breakfast for dinner/supper/tea or use for part of your feast after your families Solstice ritual

Sun God Supreme

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 Tablespoons of melted butter or oil

1 egg

3/4 cup yogurt

Garnish with 3 cups cubed fruit, all colors

Sift dry ingredients together. Then separately whisk wet ingredients together. Combined wet and dry ingredients, mixing for no more then 20 strokes, one for each day in June (or December) until the Solstice. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes     while you prepare the fruit, set the table, and heat the frying pan lightly coated with oil or butter on a medium heat.

(SIDE NOTE Depending on the ages of the people attending your celebration feast designated cutting the fruit, setting and clearing the table, and doing dishes along with wiping the table and kitchen surfaces. If you allow a child of 3 to cut up their pancake with a plastic knife this can also be used to slice bananas or other soft fruit. This is a family celebration so let the family help with the work and as you are your homes’ Priestess or Priest you can relax and enjoy the feast and time together with a lot less stress) 

Pour batter into sun-shaped discs (or pour batter from a measuring cup with a lip to get lovely round pancakes.) cook until bubbles that have formed in the batter burst and make little dry craters. Flip one and briefly cook the other side. Serve on brighly colored plates surrounded by fruit of all colors, which represent the abundant growth and glory of the Earth Goddess. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup and enjoy.

Pancakes combine the traditional foods of Litha — butter, milk, cakes, and honey — represent the Sun God at the height of his reign.

Copyright Dallas Jennifer Cobb page 77

Magical Mulled Cider

(SIDE NOTE This cider contains no alcohol so the whole family can enjoy it. If you want to spike it for the adults I have used dark rum measured to taste of the person drinking it. It is also good cooled to room temperature but I did not like the taste after being chilled in the refrigerator)

1 quart (or 1 liter) apple cider

6 orange, sliced to look like the sun

12 whole cloves

1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 cinnamon sticks

Honey to taste

Toast the return of the Sun God, and the holy rebirth, with this warming drink when you gather with friends and family on the longest night of the year, Best made over an open fire, but easily concocted on a stove indoors will warm the hearth, heart, and home. Sip this and know anything is possible.

In a large pot combine apple cider which represents the Sun God, cloves, nutmeg, and ground cinnamon. Simmer for at least half an hour to make your house smell wonderfully festive, or longer for a stronger mulled taste. This simmering symbolically brings the God and Goddess together. and adds a little “spice” to the mix. Pour into a mug, carefully an orange slice into each cup. Add cinnamon stick and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Copyright by Dallas Jennifer Cobb page 129

11 Popular Natural Remedies for the Common Cold

Disclaimer: No herb should be used for medicinal purpose until you have checked with your health care professional to ask if it is safe for you to use it for any reason. The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any staff member of WitchesofTheCraft.com and/or Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any type of negative reaction when using this herb for any reason.

The research on using alternative home remedies for colds is mixed. Still, some people swear by natural treatments for cold symptoms like runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes, headache, fatigue, and body aches.

Some of the most popular natural cold remedies include:

Zinc

Vitamin D

Astragalus

Garlic

Vitamin C

Honey

Echinacea

Ginseng

Ginger

Elderberry

Eucalyptus

If you’re interested in giving them a try, be sure you are aware of potential side effects, interactions, and contraindications before you do.

This article goes over what research has found about the safety and effectiveness of each of these, as well as what you need to know before using these remedies. Click here to read this rest of this article

Spell For Saturday – Smokeless Smudging Mist: An alternative to Sage Cleansing

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY)

Smokeless Smudging Mist: An alternative to Sage Cleansing

This mist spray is a great smoke-free alternative to incense burning as in Sage, Palo Santo or other herb-based cleansing and purifying practices. Ideal for those with allergies, living in dormitories, or with over-sensitive smoke alarms!

Why this Spell Works

The Essential oils listed here each have their own magical properties which, combined with your intention, will aid in cleansing and protecting from negative energies

Crystal-infused Moon-water is believed to raise the energy to a higher vibration which attributes to becoming more beneficial and healing.

Use this Smokeless Smudging Mist to Cleanse yourself, your home and your tools.

INGREDIENTS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle

1 Small Clear Quartz Crystal. (Used to infuse your moon-water/spring water ahead of time.)

Crystal-infused Moon-Water (Or Spring Water)

Essential Oils (and their relevant qualities)

25 Drops Sage – Healing, Protecting, Empowering, Cleansing and Removing Negativity

15 Drops Cedarwood – Cleansing, Healing, Purifying and Protecting. Guards against all Negative Influences and Dark Energy/Thoughts

10 Drops Lavender – Cleansing, Empowering, Prevents Negative Energy

DIRECTIONS

Add all the oils to your glass bottle.

Fill the rest of the bottle up with your Crystal-infused water.

Shake to mix all ingredients together.

Shake well prior to each use. Store in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight.

Cleansing Yourself

Have an intention. Set it clearly in your mind. Believe it.

Lightly spray the mist on you and around you. Avoid eyes.

Cleansing Your Home

Spritz the mist as you walk around the room slowly. Focus on cleansing and clearing all negative energy. Make sure you spray in corners, behind doors and closets. Please use caution around pets.

You may also find it helpful to speak an incantation, a thought or chant during cleansing (but this is not necessary for it to work). An example for this would be:
“ Cleanse and bless this home and hearth.
Drive away all harm and fear,
So that only good may dwell in here.”

Avocado and Artichoke Pasta Salad

Avocado & Artichoke Pasta Salad

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Yield 10 servings

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked gemelli or spiral pasta

1 can (14 ounces) water-packed artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cubed

1/4 cup grated Romano cheese

DRESSING:

1/4 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

    1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water.
    2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, avocado and cheese. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. Pour over pasta mixture; toss gently to combine. Refrigerate, covered, until serving.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 188 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 248mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.

Wassail – A Yummy Winter Drink

Wassail – It smells heavenly simmering on the stove.

Yields: 4 quarts.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

There’s just nothing better than the scent apple cider, fresh oranges, and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove. Part of England’s Christmas tradition for centuries, wassail is a scrumptious spiced cider practically begging to be sipped fireside. Early versions of this Christmas punch included warmed wine, mead, or ale combined with roasted apples, sugar, and spice. This recipe holds fast to tradition with whole bobbing apples and a multitude of warming spices, plus a festive twist using apple cider and cranberry juice in place of the alcohol. Of course, for the grown-up version, a splash of bourbon or brandy adds a kick!

What is wassail?

This non-alcoholic Christmas drink is essentially apple cider infused with fresh orange, lemon, roasted apples, and lots of spice. Think: cozy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and star anise. It’s important here to use both ground and whole spices, so don’t skip either. The ground spices flavor the roasted apples through their core and have a stronger aroma than the whole spices while the whole cinnamon sticks and star anise pods couldn’t be prettier floating in this drink! The final step before serving is adding in those sweet, tender roasted apples and cranberry juice cocktail. Not only does the cranberry juice add a bright, tart note, it gives the drink a gorgeous rosy hue in your punch bowl.

What is the tradition of wassailing?

The term “wassail” has multiple meanings. First appearing in the English poem Beowulf in the 8th century, the word has been used as a salutation or toast to good health. In England, it also describes a 12th night of Christmas gathering in fruit orchards where dancing, drinking, and singing encourage spirits to provide a good harvest in the coming year. Wassailing can also simply mean Christmas caroling door to door. But today, wassail refers to the cozy, hot holiday beverage that you’ll find here, too. It’s the most delicious way to warm up after a cold night of caroling!

What’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Apple cider is the raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized juice from apples. Apple juice is the juice from apples that has been filtered, pasteurized, and oftentimes sweetened. The difference between apple cider and apple juice may seem subtle, but which one you pick does make a difference! Use apple cider for this recipe. If you can’t find it, apple juice can be used but you’ll be left with a sweeter drink.

Can you make wassail in a slow cooker?

Yes! You’ll want to bake the apples separately, but you can add all of the other ingredients to a slow cooker and heat on high for two hours or low for four hours. Add the baked apples and cranberry juice before serving.

Ingredients

6 small honeycrisp apples

6 Tbsp. dark brown sugar, plus more to taste

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1 gal. apple cider, divided

1 navel orange

10 whole cloves

2 lemons

2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving

3 star anise pods

1 c. cranberry juice cocktail

Bourbon or brandy, for serving (optional)

Fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed, for serving (optional)

See Nutritional Information

Directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    2. Using a paring knife, cut out the core and stem of each apple, leaving about the bottom 1/2 inch of each apple intact. Using a small spoon or grapefruit spoon, scoop out any remaining core and seeds to form a cavity in each apple. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Divide the brown sugar mixture among each apple cavity, firmly packing it as necessary.
    3. In the bottom of a pie plate or baking pan, pour 1 cup of the apple cider. Place the prepared apples in the pan. Bake until the apples are very tender and collapsing, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
    4. Meanwhile, cut the orange in half crosswise and stick the whole cloves in the peel. Cut one lemon in half and thinly slice the second lemon.
    5. In a large pot, add the prepared orange, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and the remaining apple cider. Squeeze the halved lemon into the pot and add the sliced lemon. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until aromatic, 1 hour.
    6. Add the cranberry juice and the cooked apples with any of their juices to the pot and stir to combine. Taste for sweetness and add more brown sugar, if you like. Serve hot or warm, with alcohol of choice, cranberries, and a cinnamon stick, if you like.

Yule Log – It’s a Cake That Doubles as a Stunning Centerpiece

Chocolate Yule Log Recipe

Yields: 12 serving(s)
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours

The yule log is a classic Christmas dessert that not only looks pretty, it’s darn delicious, too. I remember seeing this traditional treat in the pages of cooking magazine for years, but it took years for me to try it myself. It turns out, it’s really not hard to make. If you doubt your ability to make one, just give it a shot. I promise you can do it. Just bake a cake, fill it with a sweet filling, roll it up, frost it, and ta da! It looks like a gorgeous woodland log straight out of a fairy tale.

What’s the tradition behind a yule log cake?

Over the history of Christmas, yule logs date back to the 1600s when families would burn the real log on Christmas Eve to symbolize the coming of the new year and good luck. Then, they were popularized in French bakeries during the 19th century where they get their other common name, Bûche de Noël. Many of these lovely cakes are garnished with elaborate meringue mushrooms or other edible woodland creatures, but you’ll love the simplicity of this one.

What’s the difference between a Swiss roll and a yule log?

While both desserts feature a thin layer of cake and fluffy filling rolled into a log, the difference between a yule log and a Swiss roll is how the two are decorated. Swiss rolls are typically kept plain while yule logs are cut, frosted, and adorned to look like, well, logs! Some versions are artfully topped with meringue mushrooms and other intricate things, but simple garnishes like pomegranate seeds and fresh rosemary work perfectly.

How do you roll a yule log without it breaking?

The key is to roll the cake, unfilled, fresh out of the oven. Cake is much more pliable when it’s hot, which means you can easily roll it up and shape it into a log without fear of it cracking and breaking. Once the cake has completely cooled, you’ll carefully unroll it, fill it, and roll it up again! If you do end up with any cracks, don’t worry—the frosting will cover them!

How do you decorate a yule log?

This is the fun part: Once you get the log in place, slather the whole thing in the chocolate frosting. Then run the tines of a fork over the frosting to create a bark-like appearance. Stick a few sprigs of rosemary around the log and top with pomegranate seeds. If you don’t want to use pomegranates, sugared cranberries look pretty! A sprinkle of powdered sugar is great, too.

How do you store a yule log?

Wrap it tightly in plastic and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Wait to add the pomegranate seeds and rosemary until just before serving.

Ingredients

Cake

4 Tbsp. salted butter, melted, plus more for the pan

6 large eggs, separated

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 c. granulated sugar

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/4 c. strong brewed coffee, at room temperature

1/4 c. powdered sugar

Filling

4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted

1 c. heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting

12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

3/4 c. heavy cream

1 Tbsp. light corn syrup

Rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds, for garnish

See Nutritional Information

Directions

    1. To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Butter the parchment.
    2. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until frothy. Add 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes.
    3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. In a separate large bowl, combine the egg yolks, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and the vanilla. Beat on high speed until thick and creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the melted butter and coffee until combined.
    4. Add the flour mixture to the yolk mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. Fold a spoonful of the beaten egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until combined.
    5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, gently nudging the batter so it fills the corners. Give the pan a little shimmy to even it out. Bake until the top just starts to spring back when gently pressed, 10 to 12 minutes (the top might still feel a little tacky). Do not over-bake or the cake will crack.
    6. Place a clean dish towel on a large wire rack. Dust the cake with 2 tablespoons of the powdered sugar. While the cake is still hot, loosen the edges from the pan, then turn out the cake onto the towel; carefully remove the parchment. Dust the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
    7. Starting at one of the long sides, use the towel to tightly roll up the cake with the towel inside. Position the cake seam-side down and let cool about 1 hour.
    8. To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on low speed until just smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in the heavy cream 1/4 cup at a time, making sure the mixture is smooth before adding more cream. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat for a few more seconds, just to combine.
    9. Carefully unroll the cooled cake and spread evenly with the filling, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch border on all sides. Re-roll the cake, using the towel to help you. Cover the cake roll with parchment paper and then tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
    10. Meanwhile, for the frosting: To a medium bowl, add the chocolate. In a saucepan, bring the heavy cream and corn syrup to a simmer, then pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let thicken at room temperature until spreadable, about 2 hours.
    11. Unwrap the cake on a cutting board. Cut off one-fourth of the cake on a sharp diagonal for the branch. Position the branch against the remaining cake roll on a platter. Cover the cake with the frosting using an offset spatula, then drag a fork through the frosting to create a bark-like texture. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds.

Pine Needle Syrup Reciepe

This just sounds yummy to me. I just hope I can fine fresh pine needles top make it from. Let me know if you try it and how it turns out.

Pine Needle Syrup Source: thekitchenwitchblog.com

It’s a Scandinavian thing, really it is! Drive down the road in Denmark during pine needle picking season and you’ll see Danes pulled off to the side of the road foraging pine needles.  Seem strange? No stranger than juniper berries or rosemary! I got turned on to this delight several years ago when I attended my first Nordic Culinary conference in Seattle. I loved it and immediately my brain went to work on what I could do with it.

My first thought went to cocktails (of course it did)…it is a simple syrup, and my mind danced with baked good ideas (still working on that one), I even did a pork belly glazed with it (which was freaking good, but then again, it was pork belly).

This is a very seasonal offering, you only pick the bright green freshly grown new pine needles.  I like to pick mine at the cabin, it makes for easy foraging (yep, I am that lazy).  There are side effects, when you pick the new growth you stunt the tree’s growth.  I am careful to not pick all off of one tree or all on one side.  We happen to have some young trees that are too close to our cabin, they need to be cut down for fire safety, in the mean time I happily stunt their growth.

After that it’s just a matter of making a simple syrup and steeping the pine needles for 12 to 24 hours.  I like to add crushed juniper berry or rosemary (sometime both) to mine for a more complex savory flavor.

Pine Needle Syrup

Yields 2

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup organic granulated sugar
  2. 2 cups water
  3. 2 to 4 cups foraged pine needles, rinsed
  4. 1/4 cup crushed juniper berries (optional)
  5. 1 ounce rosemary sprigs (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add pine needles, juniper and/or rosemary if using. Turn off heat and let simmer 12 to 24 hours.
  2. Strain well in clean jars. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 months.

Herb and Essential Oils Magickal and Medicinal Uses – Potatoes

Disclaimer: No herb should be used for medicinal purpose until you have checked with your health care professional to ask if it is safe for you to use it for any reason. The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any staff member of WitchesofTheCraft.com and/or Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any type of negative reaction when using this herb for any reason.

Source: plentifulearth.com

Call stability and protection into your life with the humble potato.

Part of the nightshade family, potatoes have a powerful energy that’s very useful in all spells, including kitchen magick.

In this guide:

Magickal Correspondences of Potatoes | A Materia Magicka

Latin Name

Folk Names

Gender

Elements

Planets

Signs

Deities

Chakras

Magical Properties Of Potato

Because this tuber is deeply connected to Earth, it can be used as a poppet for sympathetic magick!

Here’s how to use it in kitchen witchcraft and spells…

Spell for Sunday – To Use on Decaffeinated or Herbal Beverages – Coffee or Tea to Still Wake You Up Without the Caffeine Jitters

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY)

Here in the Northern Hemisphere the days are getting shorter as we look forward to Mabon, Samhain, Yule, and Imbloc. This is the time of year many of us switch from a cold beverage in the morning to a hot one. I have been 95% caffeine free for almost 15 years but on days that I had to go to work on little to no sleep I would have caffeinated coffee and wind up at the worse with a migraine or at least feel jittery. So, I had to figure out how my decaf coffee or tea or herbal tea could give me the boost that caffeinated beverages did. Standing in the kitchen one morning, while it was still dark out, waiting for my morning wake up sip I came up with a spell to put natural universal energy into my decaf coffee so I wouldn’t fall asleep walking to work. To my surprise, keep in mind I am still more asleep than awake, the spell work fantastically. This spell does work and is much better for the human body than caffeine and/or energy drinks.

Print off this spell if you want to and hang it in your kitchen somewhere close to where to fix your cup of coffee, tea, herbal tea in the morning.

Even if you drink your coffee or tea or herbal black you can use this spell to energize your beverage.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Your Favorite Hot Beverage Cup/Mug

A Regular Teaspoon

Cup of Decaffeinated Coffee or Your Favorite Tea (this spell does work on herbal teas and beverages like regular Gatorade, or even plain water also)

Milk, Cream, Half and Half, Powdered Cream or whatever you use to make your beverage have a whitish color to it

Sugar, Artificial Sweetener, Honey, Or Whatever you use to sweeten your beverage

PREPERATION TO DO THE SPELL:

Brew your decaf coffee or steep your tea

Fill your Cup or Mug (Your beverage will be HOT. Be careful and watch as you pour so you do not over pour and get burned by your beverage)

Fix it how ever you like it – Do not stir it yet

SPELL:

Put the teaspoon into your cup/mug stir counterclockwise wise three times while saying:

I stir all out all tiredness from my mind and body

Make sure the liquid comes to a stop before stirring it clockwise three times while say:

I stir wake up energy into my (coffee, tea, herbal tea)

You can do this once and keep adding the spells more times, making sure the liquid come to a full stop before reversing your direction of stirring, until you know what is right for you. When you have stirred it both ways for as long as you want finish the spell as you would any other spell that you do.

If you have any questions about this post, please ask in the comments or email LCB at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Copyright by Lady Carla Beltane 2015 All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged or copy and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for commercial purpose without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. It may be printed out for personal use only.

Printable Witchcraft Book for Charms, Spells and Herbs

Charms, Spells, and Herbs PDF from witchcraftsecretmanual.com

I found a few interesting things I want to try in this Witchcraft book that is free to save and/or print. I think it will be a nice addition to my Grimoire.

Herb and Essential Oils Magickal and Medicinal Uses of a Cucumber

Disclaimer: No herb should be used for medicinal purpose until you have checked with your health care professional to ask if it is safe for you to use it for any reason. The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any staff member of WitchesofTheCraft.com and/or Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any type of negative reaction when using this herb for any reason.

Cooling, refreshing, and magical, the delicious cucumber has more than just a place in your kitchen!

In the mundane, we’ve seen these pepo cross boundaries from summer salads to sensual spas!

For these reasons, we can feel a direct tie to Venus, the Moon, and beauty!

So, next time you’re slicing or dicing this green gourd, yes gourd, be sure to empower your mundane with lovely, crisp magic!

Magickal Properties of Cucumber | Materia Magicka

Latin Name

  • Cucumis sativus

Folk Names

  • Cowcumber
  • Cuke

Gender

  • Feminine

Elements

  • Water

Planets

  • Venus
  • Moon

Signs

  • Cancer
  • Libra
  • Taurus

Deities

  • Aphrodite
  • Hera
  • The Kappa
  • Uttu

Chakras

  • Sacral

Magical Properties of Cucumber

  • Beauty (inner and outer): Empower this green fruit for beauty and use it as a face mask, eye compress, or in beauty spells. You can also use its juice as part of a beauty potion! Because this fruit is so hydrating, it’s great for beauty spells that work from the inside out, as well!
  • Fertility: Carry a cucumber with you when trying to conceive to help balance your feminine energies with masculine energies. You can also use this in sympathetic magic.
  • Healing: In ancient times, these were used to heal swelling, exhaustion, hangovers, scorpion bites, and much more! Place this fruit on your altar during healing spells or eat when you are feeling ill. Pickles also work well for healing.
  • Youth: Similar to beauty work, use this as part of your beauty regimen or in beauty and youth spells.

Source plentifulearth.com

Flower Meaning, Symbolize, and Spiritual Meaning

From uniguide.com

Red Flower Meanings: What Do They Symbolize?

If you could envision the quintessential flower, it might be hard to decide on what kind it might be, but most likely it would be red. Indeed, no other flower says, “I love you,” quite like a red one. Yes, red flower symbolism includes true love. But it also includes so much more.

Here is a quick list of red flower meanings:

Romantic love

Passion

Excitement

Confidence

Wealth

Good luck

Security

Types of Red Flowers and Their Meanings

Red flower symbolism can have slight variations depending on the type of flower. Here are some examples:

Red roses mean romantic love and passion.

Poppy flowers symbolize honor and remembrance.

Hibiscus flowers symbolize hospitality and friendship.

Red tulips represent fresh starts and renewal.

Geraniums that are red symbolize good health and happiness.

Red orchids symbolize a happy marriage and prosperity.

Lilies that are red symbolize everlasting love.

Zinnias that are red represent romantic love and money.

Red cosmos symbolize soulmates.

Red Flower Symbolism Sends a Strong Message

Red flowers are suitable for many occasions. However, the strongest message they convey is romantic love. So, if given to the wrong person, they might send an unwelcome message! But when given to the right person – they speak volumes.

The color red is also associated with primal energy and your first chakra, or the root chakra. Your first chakra rules your security and stability. So, red flowers in the garden or as potted plants can provide positive energy for a home or business.

In summary, red flowers are classics. Green leaves provide the perfect contrast to scarlet, crimson, and fire-colored blooms. And few people can argue with their show-stopping beauty!

Fairy Cakes with Cream Icing

Actual fairy cakes are about the size of raspberries [All L. B. side notes appear in [ ]. My granddaughter and I collected larger sized acorn tops (these are used a dishes by Fae Folk) and then bake about 8 fairy size cakes in those. Baking time varies so check them after about 5-7 minutes to see if they are done]. Since it is hard to find baking pans that small, you can bake them in a muffin tin.

INGREDIENTS

500 mL flour 2 cups

10mL Baking Powder 2 teaspoons

5mL Salt 1 teaspoon

175 mL [stick] Butter 3/4 cup

375mL White Sugar 1 1/2 cups

3 Eggs 3

5mL Vanilla 1 teaspoon

325 ml Milk 1/13 cup [L.B. Side Note: I found Whole Milk works the best but 2% or Skim will work also]

  1. Grease the muffin tin with a bit of butter [. B. Side Note: You can use muffin liners also]
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the effs and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy.
  4. Add a few spoonfuls of dry ingredients then some milk to the cream mixture. Keep alternating ingredients until well mixed.
  5. Fill the muffin cups [and acorn tops if using them] three-quarters full. Bake at 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) for 20-25 minutes. [May take longer depending on your oven]
  6. Let cool before frosting with your favorite icing. [For me it was a light cream cheese frosting made with almond extract instead of vallia]

Copyright 1999 Penelope Larkspur The Secret Life of Fairies

Some of the Witchcraft/Magickal Correspondence for Love

Image result for love flower line divder

Love Magic: The Best Tools & Correspondence for Love Spells

Roses are red, violets are blue, I radiate love, through and through. A simple little love spell perhaps? Well, it’s February and love magic is in the air!

So, not everyone is a huge fan of Valentine’s Day but I say bring it on! I like to consider February love month. It’s a perfect time to focus on fostering positivity and love in your life, and to indulge in some extra self love and care. We can take this time to create new healthy habits, enhance our most special relationships, and discover new ways to focus on nurturing our own wants and needs.

This time of year is just perfect to indulge in the magic that is love. Commercially, the month tends to focus on couples but everyone can benefit from celebrating love once in a while. We can all choose to thrive this month while fostering love and positive relationships with friends, family, pets, and of course with ourselves.

Love Magic: They Love Me, They Love Me Not

Love magic is probably one of the most popular things people want to learn about when they begin their journey into magic. This is a magic that should be beautiful, gentle, warm, and soothing. We all need that feeling of love in our lives in order to feel emotionally strong and vibrant.

What it isn’t however, or shouldn’t be, is an opportunity to bend or manipulate the will of others. The wonderful energy that can blossom from this type of magic should indeed be used to bring more love and fulfillment into your life but not at the expense of others.

Use this magic with wisdom and care. Direct the magic inwards to gather more love for yourself, to draw more love to you, or to grow nourish, and strengthen relationships. Allow the magic to come from a caring and well intentioned place.

So, what elements may we include in these types of spells and rituals? Very happy you asked! Scroll down and keep on reading

Love Magic Correspondence

Best Day of the Week – Friday
Best Moon Phase – Waxing or New
Energy Centre – Heart
Herbs & Plants – anise, basil, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, dill, fennel, ginger, hibiscus, lavender, lemon balm, parsley, patchouli, rosemary, thyme, vanilla, valerian, yarrow

Flowers – aster, bleeding heart, carnation, cherry blossom, geranium, hyacinth, jasmine, lilac, orchid, rose, tulip

Crystals – amber, amethyst, garnet, lapis lazuli, moonstone, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rose quartz, ruby, pink topaz

Essential Oils – anise, birch, cardamom, clove, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper berry, lemongrass, lime, marjoram, myrrh, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosemary, spearmint, vanilla, vetiver

Colours – pink, red, white

Foods – avocado, banana, Brazil nuts, beets, cherry, chocolate, lemon, lime, orange, passion fruit, peas, pistachio, rhubarb, rye bread, sugar, sweet potato, strawberry, tomato, white wine

Ways to Incorporate Love Magic into your Day, Month, & Year

Click here to read the rest of this article from thewholesomewitch.com

Simple Fudge – Printable

This recipe comes from my life mate Big Dawg. It is so good and easy to make any time of year.

Simple Fudge

Ingredients:

1 – 14 ounce can of sweeten condensed milk

3 cups of Chocolate chips (or any flavor baking chip you would like to use)

Baking Pan (the size is your choice depending on how thick you want your fudge pieces)

Wax Paper

How to make it:

Pour sweeten condensed milk and chips into a microwave safe bowl. Stir well. Put in your microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, make sure all the chips are melted. Work fast for the rest of this recipe. Stir until well blended. Line baking pan with wax paper, make sure it comes up a little on the sides and/or the edges of the pan. Quickly pour and spread fudge in the baking pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours. (Important Side Note – The fudge is hard to cut after it is chilled, so I take it out about 1 1/2 hours and cut it if you want neat squares. But I found just breaking it into pieces works fine also.)

A Spell for Today – Love Apple Cocktail

 

Love Apple Cocktail

This cocktail is meant to arouse desire. Stir together in a saucepan 2 cups of tomato juice, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of basil, and a dash each of dill and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer the mixture for three minutes, then chill it in the refrigerator. Strain the beverage before serving. Dill is powerful enough to bring on proposals of marriage, so if you’re not interested in marriage, you substitute with celery salt!

 

Love Drink

3 cl (~ 0.34 fl oz) of liquor*
The thin peel an juice from 1⁄2 lemon
1 dl (~ 3.4 fl oz) of liquid honey
1 dl (~ 3.4 fl oz) of sugar
1 cinnamon stick
5 tbsp of coriander
5 fennel seeds
a pinch of dried sage
A pinch of dried rosemary
A larger pinch of dried basil
A couple of chopped almonds
A few lavender flowers
A bit of saffron for love and color

Let it soak for at least 1 month, taste, strain and let it rest for 6 months. Bring it up on a cold night an pour it carefully into the glass, so that none of the sediment gets in. Offer your partener a glass and enjoy the effect!!

Source

How To Make Potions & Spells That Really Work: The Beginners Guide To Real Witchcraft
Crafty Witch

 

*Liquor is optional

Printable Healing Potion

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Simple Sleep Spell | Kitchen Witchcraft and Potions

I was pleasantly surprised when I start this video and heard a male voice. It is so nice to see male witches get more involved with sharing their magickal path with the world.

5 Ways Chamomile Tea Benefits Your Health

(This article is not meant to replace anything you have been prescribed by your primary health care provider. Always check with them before starting to use any herbs for medicinal purposes. Chamomile id from the Daisy Family. So it is possible to be allergic to it if you are allergic to any species of Daisy)

From Healthline.com

Chamomile tea is a popular beverage that also offers a variety of health benefits.

Chamomile is an herb that comes from the daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. It has been consumed for centuries as a natural remedy for several health conditions.

To make chamomile tea, the flowers are dried and then infused into hot water.

Many people enjoy chamomile tea as a caffeine-free alternative to black or green tea and for its earthy, somewhat sweet taste.

Furthermore, chamomile tea is loaded with antioxidants that may play a role in lowering your risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

Chamomile has properties that may aid sleep and digestion, as well.

This article will discuss 5 potential health benefits of drinking chamomile tea.

1. May Improve Sleep Quality…

Golden Opportunity: How to Make Your Own Safe Food Coloring at Home

I was amazed when I read this article about what manufactured food coloring can do to a person. Than I was excited to read how it explains how to make your own out of vegetables and other things.

Information on how and why to make your own food coloring

It’s hard to imagine birthday cakes without colorful writing, vibrant flowers, or other exciting designs. But the colors in our cakes, candies, and other popular foods may not be as innocuous as their pretty exteriors would lead us to believe.

Research suggests that synthetic food coloring may harm human health in a variety of ways. But in spite of the risk factors, these colorants are cropping up in more foods than ever before. Although they provide no nutritional value, they’re added to a wide range of foods to intensify color or give those foods the color people expect to see.1 (For example, boxed cake batters may be dyed yellow in to look like they’re made from real eggs.)

With a little effort, you can avoid synthetic food coloring. Here’s why