Celebrating Litha In The Kitchen - Kitchen Witchcraft Recipes For Litha / Summer Solstice

Wooden Spoon Kitchen Blessing

The kitchen is the center of the home for many of us, and it’s a place where we can make all kinds of magic. From family dinner recipes to spell work, your kitchen often becomes the spot where people come for comfort, warmth, and sustenance.

Do this simple blessing spell in your kitchen to add a bit of mojo into your meal prep.

Materials:

Green ribbon

Fresh basil

A wooden spoon

Use the ribbon to tie the basil to the wooden spoon, and walk in a clockwise direction around your kitchen, beginning at the north wall.

As you move, open each cabinet, the refrigerator, and the pantry, waving the spoon like a wand

Pointed into each cabinet and at your stove and oven, saying:

Bless this kitchen, hearth and home.

Bless this kitchen and the meals prepared.

Bless this kitchen and the magic made.

After you’ve circled the entire kitchen, hang the spoon near your oven or inside the pantry as a reminder that magic is present.

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Found in Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch by Patti Wigington

A simple spell to release stress

When we hold on to excess stress, it creates a blockage in our personal energy system. Imagine that your is body filled with tiny, invisible wires that carry energy from one point to the next. When you hold on to stress in a certain area, you tie a knot in the wires that keeps energy from flowing smoothly to the rest of your body. This can manifest as fatigue, lack of motivation, overwhelm, or other mental and physical symptoms. This spell is designed to untie those knots and let the energy flow freely.

This spell is very loosely adapted from the book Light Magic for Dark Times by Lisa Marie Basile, which I highly recommend for anyone looking to bring witchcraft into their self care practice or vice versa.

What you will need:

A piece of white paper

A pen or pencil

A bowl or cup of clean, fresh water (water from the tap is fine!)

(Optional) a few drops of lavender essential oil

Performing the spell:

Set aside some time when you can be alone and won’t be disturbed. If you like, set the mood by lighting candles, burning incense, or playing music. If you chose to include lavender oil, add it to the water now.

On the paper, write a detailed description of the situation that is causing you stress, and of how it makes you feel. Be as specific as possible. What emotions do you feel? Are there physical sensations associated with these emotions? Where in your body do you feel them? (If you are more comfortable drawing than writing, draw a picture that represents your situation and how it makes you feel.)

Keep writing/drawing until you run out of things to say. Get a second piece of paper if you need to. Don’t worry about making it pretty or even legible. What matters is that you get the emotions out and onto the page.

Fold the paper in half, folding it away from yourself; rotate it to the left and fold it again; rotate to the left again and fold one more time for a total of three folds. With each fold, repeat out loud or in your head, “I acknowledge these feelings and I let them go. I release.”

Submerge the folded paper in the bowl of water. Make sure it is completely covered. Watch it soak through, and watch the ink bleed from the paper.

Say, “Spirits of water, keepers of emotion and the subconscious, spirits of healing, help me to cleanse and release. Help me restore my energy.”

Allow the envelope to soak in the water for at least an hour before disposing of it.

Welcome to Witchcraft - A Post for Beginners

Witchcraft is a practice or a skill. It is not, in and of itself, a religion. It is not a faith (although some people may practice witchcraft in a religious sense). Anyone, of any religion, can be a witch. A witch does not have to be a Wiccan or even a Pagan. Though many Wiccans and Pagans are part of the witchcraft community, there are also many Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, and more.

A person’s personal craft is any collection of practices that they utilize to change their fate, see the future, get revenge, speak to the dead, heal the sick, and/or any number of other things that can be done through witchcraft. Witchcraft can (but doesn’t necessarily need to) include divination, herbalism/wortcunning, blessing, banishing, kitchen witchery, spirit work, cursing, gardening, spell work, ritual, worship, astral travel, trance, and much more.

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How Do You Become a Witch?

There is only one way to become a witch. Luckily, it’s very simple.

Step One: Take an interest in witchcraft.

Step Two: Start practicing witchcraft.

Step Three: Call yourself a witch.

Please Note: Steps two and three are interchangeable.

The great thing about witchcraft is that there are no rules. There is no big, white-robed Council to tell you what you can and cannot do. There are no punishments (beyond the legal consequences of outrageous things like human sacrifice; which is obviously not a good idea). Since witchcraft is not a religion there are no religious codes to tell you right from wrong. You don’t have to work with gods (though, you can if you want to).

Witchcraft is a practice. Therefore, the only laws and codes you have to abide by are the laws set down by your government, your individual religion (if any), and your personal code of ethics and morals.

Lots of things bring people to witchcraft. Sometimes it’s a book, a movie, or a television show. Sometimes it’s a childhood dream that they decide to go after. Sometimes it’s music. Sometimes it’s family members or a friend. I, myself, was introduced to witchcraft by my family. My grandparents on my mother’s side of the family (and some of their children) practiced witchcraft. My father, who had been a friend of the family since grade school, was also introduced to the occult through my grandparents.

In the witchcraft community, I have encountered people who were drawn to witchcraft through popular movies and books. I’ve met people who came to witchcraft because they dated a witch. I’ve even come into contact with a few people who accidentally discovered witchcraft while doing research for their own fiction novels.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how or when you started practicing witchcraft. What matters is that you did.

A Note About Communities

During your journey through the wonderful world of witchcraft, you will probably stumble into a community (if you haven’t already). Communities can be a great way to meet other people of a similar mindset, give and receive support, and bounce ideas around to help your craft keep moving and growing. And there are lots of ways to find community. There are websites specific to witchcraft and the communities that embrace it. There are corners of large blog sites where witches have made their online homes. There are forums, online groups, in-person groups, and countless other ways to meet other witches who may be experienced practitioners or just starting out. If you’re feeling a little insecure, a little uncertain, or a little alone, a peek into a witch-filled community is a good way to connect and perk up—but be careful.

With the sweet comes the sour. While witchcraft communities may be full of wonderful, experienced witches who can help and support you in your path, you may also happen upon the occasional Big Bad Wolf. Every community has its predators, and witchcraft communities are certainly no exception to that rule. I’ve been a member of witchy communities (both in person and online) for almost as long as I’ve been practicing; and I’ve come into contact with more predators and prey than anyone would ever imagine were lurking in the aisles between the spellbooks and Tarot cards. The types of predatory behavior can range from moderately manipulative to sexually sinister; so always be aware of the possible dangers involved in putting yourself out there.

How to Stay Safe In a Community

If you’re new to witchcraft or new to the idea of the community, I’m sure you’re feeling a little nervous now—but I don’t want you to feel that way! In fact, I wanted to put this note early in this post so that you, the reader, would be armed from day one with the some common sense ways to stay safe in a community setting. Here are just a few starting points:

Be skeptical. Skepticism is healthy in a setting that is based on the extraordinary. You don’t have to believe everything a person tells you. There’s nothing wrong with double-checking or doing your own research if you feel that something is just not right.

Beware of manipulative witches. Be careful around people who will use things like alleged past lives, divination, or grand claims to get what they want from you, or to get you to stick around.

Again, watch out for mentions of fate or destiny. As nice as it is to think that everything is planned for us, there are people who will use this against you.

Always think for yourself. In communities, we tend to desire a certain level of peace and harmony. All too often, this results in the community asking the individual to change their way of thinking to a non-confrontational, passive thought pattern. While that may not sound so bad, this leads to a think called group think or hive mind. Not only does this result in a lack of individual creativity, it also opens the door for Bigger and Badder Wolves (like shared delusions and cult mind).

Don’t let anyone force you into anything. It doesn’t matter how much more experienced they are. Again, always think for yourself. Make your own choices. Don’t let anyone pressure you into anything you don’t want. 

There are bullies, monsters, and predators in the world, but arming yourself with your individual thought and a strong resolve will help to protect you against them. 

💰Abundance Pesto💰

Here is a recipe that is dear to my heart. I’ve been doing it for years and it has always attracted me the liitle extra that I would need in difficult times!

✨Ingredients

75g basil leaves (that’s a lot, be prepared to buy accordingly)

50g pine nuts

2 garlic cloves

50g fresh grated parmesan

100mL extra virgin olive oil

1.5 tsp salt

Pepper to taste

✨Prep time: 10 minutes

✨Equipment

A mixer robot

✨Spell Setting

Usually when I do kitchen witchcraft I like to keep it casual, but this time I feel like I should go the extra mile. Disclaimer, this is the way I do it. If there is things you want to add: prayers to you deities, meditations, crystals, anything that makes sense to you, please do! Magical practices are really personal, and I strongly encourage you to make it this spell setting your own by adapting it tou your needs!

First I burn some incense to purify the space. Then I setup some nice music that makes me feel good and entered. I love to listening to soft happy piano jazz or bossa nova. Here is a youtube channel that I like to listen when I cook. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhjE7wbdYAae1G25m0tHAA

Before I start prepping the food, I like to setup an altar on my windowsill. I am going to bless the food and ask for abundance. To do so I light 2 or 3 tea lights, I nicely arrange all the ingredients around them. If you want to work with tarot cards you can place the cards around too, same for crystals, charms, deities representation. As for myself I like to work with The Queen of Pentacles because I strongly identify with her and she represent abundance in the home.

I like to sit in front of my window and take a few deep breath, thanking the food for all the good things it will bring to me. I’ll also take this time to visualize what I want as precisely as I can, usually I want financial abundance, but it can work for other things as well!

✨Magical intents

Basil: Protection and Money

Pine nuts: Money

Garlic: Protection

Olive Oil: Protection and Luxury. To me, olive oil represent the abundance, the luxury you want to attract in your life. So I implore you to buy extra virgin olive oil (or the best that you can afford). You will thank me for the the taste and you’ll step up your vinaigrette game!

✨Recipe

Grate the parmesan

Roast the pine nuts in a dry pan (no need to add oil). Be careful they burn quickly

Roughly cut the garlic cloves

In the robot, add the basil leaves with garlic and pine nuts. Blitz for a few seconds until chopped.

Add the parmesan and blitz again

Add the oil and blitz again

Store in the fridge in an air tight container for 2 weeks

✨Tips:

Don’t use dry basil for this recipe

You can use the sauce with pasta, but it’s also good with an omelette, or as a spread on a toast or a focaccia.

Happy witching!

Cleaning and tidying is never a fun activity, but with the use of some domestic magick it can become an enchanting and Cleansing experience!

Here are some tips to make your next housework day magickal!

💧add some peppermint or lavender essential oil into your cleaning wash for peace and extra Cleansing

💧wipe down the walls and surfaces with moon water with added peppermint oil. Your space will smell amazing

💧put on some witchy music or music that corresponds with your intent you want in your space

💧burn some incense or oil in a diffuser to cleanse the air

💧 Sage your living areas

💧when you’re sweeping with a broom, imagine that you’re sweeping negative energy out!

💧put on clean bedding and spray your sheets with a sweet Sleep Mist (recipe is on my blog)

💧sweep your windowsills and place crystals that love the sun on them

💧clean your altar space and redo it

💧find vegetable cuttings and biodegradable leftovers you can mix into compost to nourish your plants

💧when cleaning the floor, pour your cleaning liquid in the shape of a sigil. Wipe and scrub to charge and fire!

💧 draw sigils on your dishes with dishwashing liquid before you wash them

💧wash old jam jars and recycle them to hold moon water or spells

💧visualize negativity leaving your space when you take out the trash

💧If you can put chalk on your floors, draw sigils or write messages under your carpets

💧create or renew any wards you have put up

💧Enchant your mirrors to show your inner beauty

Happy Cleaning!

🦋💧Aphroditiful💧🦋

🎄Yule Mulled Wine🎄

This time of year is the perfect excuse to inject a little magick into the dark evenings and some steaming Mulled Wine is a delicious addition to a cosy night-in of Yule preparations :)

This recipe is scaled so it works for one 750ml bottle of red wine.

YOU WILL  NEED:

1 teaspoon crushed cinnamon sticks (warmth and protection)

1 teaspoon nutmeg (love, luck and warmth)

1 teaspoon slightly crushed allspice (fire and healing)

½ teaspoon cloves (fire, love and purification)

½ teaspoon ginger (fire, energy and passion)

1 ½ teaspoon orange peel (uplifting, the sun)

1 ½ teaspoon lemon peel (purification, the moon)

Orange & Lemon slices

5 teaspoons honey (sweetness, stability and good health)

A clean pair of old tights that you no longer need

Take the dry ingredients and the peel, combine them all and give them a little mix to start releasing those flavours! 

Take the tights and chop the feet off them - we’ll be using these as our bag to keep all the ingredients in. Cut them long enough so that you can tie the top off easily to stop everything falling out.

Add all the mixed ingredients into our newly chopped bag and give it a little squeeze.

Grab a saucepan and decant your bottle of wine into it, also adding your orange and lemon slices and your honey.

Keep on a low heat for 25-40 minutes (do not let it boil).

For that extra witchy goodness, be sure to stir some strong intent into the mixture. While I made it last night I focused on the joy, love and togetherness of this sabbat and tried injecting all those feelings into the wine ❤ 

Voila! Festive goodness for everyone :)

Enjoy, my pagan witchy babes xxxx

Skills For Kitchen Witches

1) Basic Cooking : This is probably pretty obvious and most people interested in kitchen witchcraft know at least the basics. But if you don’t - learn. You can do kitchen magic without even turning on a stove (sandwiches, salads, etc) 

2 ) Cooking From Scratch : Start with basics and get more complicated. Basic things can include - Soups, Sauces, Marinated or Seasoned Meat, Potato Dishes. 

3 ) Baking and Baking From Scratch : Baking from a box is perfectly valid. you can add things like fruit or nuts, you can make frostings or fillings, you can decorate. But baking from scratch is also a good skill. Pies, Pastries, Cakes, Etc. Also remember savory baking (like bread, meat pies, etc)

4 ) “Drink Potions” : Any drink really. Coffee, Tea, Juice, Milkshakes, Etc 

5 ) Canning, Pickling, Preserving : I have limited experience in this, but there are lots of recipes for “Freezer Jam” or “Refrigerator Pickles” and im going to start with them. 

6 ) Cheese Making, Yogurt Making : Another thing i have no experience in, but you can buy kits online for a decent price. 

When someone blogs about a spell, consecration, ritual or any personal magical or witchcraft work, they usually leave something out intentionally or unintentionally, said or unsaid. My first witchcraft teacher taught me to always add something to my spell work and especially if a spell had an even number of components to make it odd by addition. As a witch you need to make a spell your own, something that you and your spirits add to the mix. While most anybody can use a well made spell without edit to reasonable success, a witch tends to seal theirs with some personal flair. I have not heard this specific advice repeated by any of my subsequent craft teachers; however, it rings so true and perhaps sensible that I have always held it. Of course my subsequent teachers have emphasized making your own spells. So the emphasis on personalized witchcraft holds.

A tarot spread commissioned by @beetlepool​ during @technocoven​, for helping them find the source of their stress and how to achieve inner calm.

They asked:

“How can you achieve calm and stability only comparable to the biggest fish in the ocean?” 

And as a Marine Biologist, I was super hyped by the request and had a lot of fun with this spread! Thanks again, and welcome to your witch-y journey!

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