Steep a teaspoon of basil in a cup of boiling water, and strain out the herb. Add it to you bath water for a protective and cleansing influence. It is particularly useful to clean off the feelings left by contact with those who are negative or controlling.
This bath will aid in sinus relief and cold symptoms, increase metabolism and ease muscular pain. It is a very rejuvenating bath. 1/2 cup each of yarrow flowers, elder flowers, mint leaves and rose petals. Place in a cheesecloth or nylon bundle and let seep in the bath for a few minutes and enjoy. The bundle can be used to gently scrub the body as well. Also, prepare a hot infusion of Chamomile, yarrow flowers, elder flowers and mint leaves to drink while in the bath.
Bring equal parts of chamomile flowers, lemon rind and mint leaves to boil in water for 3-5 minutes (depending on the strength).
Drink one cup before bedtime. It works wonders!
Add one-quarter teaspoon of valerian root, one-quarter teaspoon of skullcap, and one-quarter teaspoon of lady’s slipper to one cup of boiling water. (Never boil valerian root.) Add some honey or sugar to sweeten the tea and allow it to cool before drinking.
Do not drink more than one cup per day. Other herbs valued for over coming insomnia are teas of basil, catnip, chamomile, hops, lemon verbena, passionflower and violet leaves.
To cure insomnia, stuff a pillow with catnip, passion-flower, and hops just before bed time.
Lie down with the back of your head touching the pillow and recite the following chant three times aloud:
Catnip, Passionflowers, Hopes in this pillow beneath my head
Bring peaceful rest to me, an stop the restfulness that plagues my bed!
Close your eyes and think of something pleasant. Soon you will sleep and dream.
We all have days we wish we could just hibernate and hide from everyone. This is when you need to have a special care package ready to go to relax you physically and mentally and recenter yourself spiritually.
I have a small kit made up in advance for when I take this me time. Mine includes a long incense sticks or cones of either sandalwood or jasmine (lavender is also very good for relaxing with), my favorite Celtic music bookmarked on my computer to find it easier, a big handful of my favorite Epsom salts in a Ziploc type bag or other holder, a smudge stick, a bar of scents soap, a black taper and a white taper candle, my favorite lotion, and a robe (type depends on the temperature in my home). I also shut off my cell/mobile phone and anything else that someone could call me on like Skype.
Allow a minimum of 2 hours for yourself to get the benefits you deserve.
I do a smudging in my den and bathroom and also myself. Then get into my usually hot bath with the salts. I soak for a while until I feel my muscles completely relax m(draining cooled water and adding more hot if I feel the need to) than I use one of my scented soaps to wash with (my hair is tied up because I wash it in the sink before getting into my bath or just leave dry, no one says you have to wash your hair just because you take a bath). After getting out of the bath and drying off I rub lotion on every part of my body I can comfortably reach just to feel the wonder of what the deities choose to make us into thousands of years ago.
Then if I feel like it put on my robe and go into my den or bedroom. Depending on my mood whether I stay in the robe or lay down skyclad.
Once in my den or bedroom, I have a small table next to the daybed in my den so the black candle is set on the southwest corner and the white in the northeast. I light the black candle first asking Hades and Persephone to take away all the negative energy, anger, resentment, envy, etc I may still be harboring inside myself. Next, I light the white candle asking Ra and Mother Earth to fill me with love, positive energy and to be grounded. I then light the incense I choose while enjoying the scent of the incense and listening to the music I do a relaxation technique (which I will describe below) and then I let my mind to float free not focusing on any one thought especially if it is a negative one. I usually wind up falling asleep and many times have had messages and/or vision brought to me by my ancestors, guides, some deities. These dreams I write down what I can remember of them when I awaken. The dreaming does not happen every time.
The two most important things to take away from this experience is one does not feel guilty for taking the time to pamper and nurture yourself because we all need to. The other thing is to take a is relaxed, centered mind, body, and spirit from reconnecting them all.
RELATION TECHNIQUE: Starting with your toes and working up the body tighten each muscle as you take as deep a breath as you can then allow the muscle to completely relax as you slowly exhale all the air you took in. This should take you at least 15 to 20 minutes to get all your muscles relaxed and your mind to slow down.
A great place you can get your incense, soap, candles and smudge sticks is Magickal Necessities. Below are the links for the items available:
You will need:
4 TBS Rosemary
3 Bay leaves
1 TBS Basil
1 TBS Sage
1 TBS Fennel seeds
1 tsp. dill seeds
1 tsp. Juniper Berries
A pinch of dried garlic (optional)
Mix in a small bowl with your hands while visualizing your home as a protected place. Charge the herbs with your protective energies. Add to simmering water. Simmer potpourri on the stove top in a pan (preferably non-metallic) in 2 cups of water.
A simmering potpourri pot can also be used. Simmer over low heat for 1/2 hour. If you wish to simmer longer, add more water as needed.
This is a type of love bath, but it is not the only bath that you can use for this. It is not as potent as satchels, but it will help you to attract more positive potential significant others. It allows you to clear your own energies as well as to attract another person to you.
Ingredients:
1. 4-5 Drops Jasmine Essential Oil
2. ½ Cup Lavender Flowers, Dried
3. ¼ Cup Sea Salt
4. 3 Tablespoons Chamomile Flowers
Directions:
1. Use the herbs as you normally would to make an herbal bath, and add the jasmine essential oil right before you get in. make sure to stir the water three times.
2. Repeat this mantra three times when you get in the bath and three times before you get out. “I will attract someone to love. I will be attractive to someone who will love me. Love is in my grasp.”
3. Soak for the desired amount of time but for no less than twenty minutes. It’s important that you are not using artificial light during this bath.
Wicca Herbal Magic: The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Wiccan Herbal Magic
(with Magical Oils, Baths, Teas and Spells)
Sophia Silvervine
“Blessings are the things we take for granted.
Each holiday we notice what we see.
Most know the Earth is utterly enchanted
Yet walk through life and love mechanically.
Valuing one’s gifts takes resolution
After days and nights of fantasy.
Love brings the sweet relief of absolution,
Enveloping our hesitance in need.
No touch inspires so swift a revolution,
Transforming all the hieroglyphs we read.
In your love is the charity of spring,
Nor self-obsessed nor blinded by some creed,
Embracing the grey dawns that blessings bring.”
– Cornelius Lyons
Winter Ritual Bath
During the Winter Solstice/Christmas Season we often place too much emphasis on celebrating and sharing this joyous holiday. It is often helpful amongst all the stress to atune to a quiet, internal spirituality. To begin to do so, prepare a ritual bath with oils of rosemary, pine and orange. Add a touch of patchouli for grounding. Light gold and green candles and immerse yourself in the watery solitude to refresh your weary holiday spirit. Meditate on the Winter Goddess and her lesson of stillness. Find the cool and clean space she offers, free of clutter and activity. It is the season for centering and grounding and for defining who we really are. After the bath, take your journal and write down your goals by candlelight. Contemplate the coming re-birth and identify which direction you wish to channel your energies and focus your intentions.
-This bath was adapted by one written by Karri Allrich
Lavender Bath TreatmentLavender essential oil is reassuring, soporific, and is often their first choice of aromatherapists for treating emotional or mental stress. It also reduces muscular pain, whether from illness or physical exertion, and soothes the skin. I can’t think of a more perfect herb for a relaxing bath.
Ingredients for a lavender bath treatment:
4 cups epsom salts
2 cups Sea salt
1 cup non fat powdered milk
2 cups oatmeal ground to a very fine powder in a food processor or
coffee grinder-use the old fashioned kind
40 drops of lavender essential oil
Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, sieve if you wish, then add the lavender 10 drops at a time, thoroughly mix it through. Do this 4 times, so that the lavender essential oil is distributed.
I then put the mix in glass jars and put a pretty sticker on the jar with all the ingredients and the date when I made it.
Materials You Will Need:
1 container of your favorite peel-off mask
Two nights after the Full Moon, take the container to a window. Then, holding it in cupped hands with palms turned up, beseech the Waning Moon by saying something like:
Waning Moon of fading light
Please work Your magic of the night
Upon this substance for my face
So blemishes it shall erase
So imperfections fade with You
And facial flaws leave quickly, too
So all that there is left to see
Is pure radiance.
So mote it be.
Leave the container on the windowsill overnight, then use the mask every Monday.
Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living
Dorothy Morrison
This is lovely to wear during a Waning Moon ritual. Take a base of wire and add leaves, flowers and twigs. Use dark coloured ribbon, such as dark purples, blues and black, to decorate it. As you make the circlet add in the intent of your dreams and wishes that you wish to fulfil.
Pagan Portals – Moon Magic
Rachel Patterson
Witches Of The Craft® 
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