Protection Bottles and Sachet

I recently refreshed the protection on our home and made a protection sachet for my husband to take to work as, after being off work for ten months (due to the Covid Pandemic), he’s recently gone back to works as a train driver.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

I made a spell bottle to tie onto the inside handle of each of the three external doors to our home, so I found some which were really thick walled, so if they somehow slipped off, they wouldn’t smash as easily on the floor.  For the sachet for my husband, I used a red Chinese silk bag, which has a drawstring tie closure.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Inside each of the three bottles and the sachet we put the following:

• Black Salt – Black salt is a powerful protective charm that absorbs negative energies and curses into itself and will rid you or your home of their harmful influence.

• Cascarilla – This is made from crushed eggshells, and can be used for protection, due to it’s natural property of protecting a chick embryo as it develops. The protective quality is therefore embodied within the shells when they are used for protective magick. The protective nature of cascarilla also stems from its banishing qualities, as negative energy can’t exist in the presence of cascarilla and it is said that harmful spirits find it repulsive. Therefore, the cascarilla acts as a barrier against harmful spirits and negative or destructive energies.

user uploaded image

• Dried Basil – Basil brings happiness, love and peace to a home and can be used to protect the home and family. Haitians also use Basil to keep away thieves. In addition to this, and for the sachet for my husband, it can also be used to bring luck in physical journeys.

• Heather – Keeping heather around the house will attract friendly spirits and bring peace to the household. For the sachet, carrying heather with you will attract positive energies, general good luck and protect against assaults or attacks, making it useful for traveling sachets.

user uploaded image

• Cinnamon – Cinnamon can purify any negative energy within a home, protect your home and family from harmful energy and bad intentions of any outsiders.

• Bay leaves – Bay leaves can be used to protect against negative energies and misfortune.

• Obsidian – Obsidian is a protective stone that can be used to guard against all forms of negativity and in spells to remove negativity from an area.

• Red Jasper – Many of the magickal attributes of Red Jasper focus on its protective energies and ability to keep its user safe. It can also be used to combat the Evil Eye and makes an excellent talisman.

• Amethyst – Amethyst is a powerful protective stone, which can guard against psychic attack, by transmuting the negative or harmful energies into loving energy. It can also protect from all types of harm, including electromagnetic stress and ill wishes from others.

• Dragons Blood Incense – Dragons blood incense was used to cleanse the inside of the bottles and contents, as it is good for cleansing a space of negative entities, or influences, and to increase the potency of spells for protection.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

The final thing I did was securely tie up the sachet, so that none of the contents could escape, and drip black candle wax (black for protection and repelling negativity) over the rubber stoppers in the bottles, to seal everything inside.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

user uploaded image

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

As it’s the last night of the first full moon this year, I have put the bottles and sachet in the garden to charge in the moonlight, making their power and effectiveness as strong as possible, before I securely tie the bottles onto the door handles with ribbon and put the sachet into my husband’s work bag.

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Simmer Pot for Prosperity, Luck and Wealth

I decided to do a simmer pot for prosperity, luck and wealth. I threw everything I could in there and stirred deosil, furiously chanting and alternatively beseeching Hecate!

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Here’s what I used, along with their magickal correspondences.

• Heather – for peace, attracting positive energies and good luck.

• Red rose petals – for peace, happiness and attracting good luck.
• Orange – for fortune, good luck, money, peace and wealth.
• Cinnamon sticks – for prosperity and luck.
• Acorns – for money, abundance and luck.
• Juniper berries – for prosperity and manifestation.
• Pomegranate – for luck, prosperity, protection, wealth and wishes.
• Blessed thistle – for spiritual healing and breaking hexes (just in case….).
• Clary sage Essential Oil – for prosperity.
• Bergamot Essential Oil – for prosperity, used to attract money and success and to lift spirits.
• Cinnamon Essential Oil – for luck and prosperity.
• Thyme – to attract prosperity.
• Fresh Basil leaves – for good luck and attracting money.
• Dried Bay leaves – for blessings, wishes, comfort, guidance, luck, defence, endurance, resilience, victory, success and wealth.
• A selection of green crystals (adventurine, green jade, moss agate) – for prosperity, luck and wealth.

I poured the remainder (just under a litre) of my Blue Moon Water, left over from Samhain, into a pan and added each item individually, telling each one what it was for and it’s purpose. I wrote ‘luck’, ‘prosperity’ and ‘wealth’ on the bay leaves last and added them to the top of the pan and set it to heat up to just boiling. It’s now simmering and when most of the water has evaporated (I left the kitchen window open for the steam and intentions to go out into the Universe) and cooled down, I’ll take it into the garden and scatter it under the ash tree I’ve grown from sapling.

Kitchen Witchery

You don’t always need elaborate rituals or spells to work your craft. You can put magick and your intent in everyday things too. Kitchen witches do this all the time by using corresponding herbs, spices, fruits or vegetables, along with their love and energy, into creating in the kitchen.

I made pizza tonight. Pretty mundane you think? It can be, or…..it can be magickal (and full of health benefits)!

As well as the usual suspects (tomato and mascarpone base and four cheeses), I added the following (which aren’t really the most unusual of pizza toppings), with reasons why:

Fresh Basil – My husband hasn’t been feeling well today (he has stomach issues and had his gallbladder removed last year), so I added some basil as it is great for stomach and intestinal problems, stomach cramps, nausea, indigestion, gas and bloating.

Pineapple – A symbol of devotion and love, to my husband and stepson. Pineapple also has a multitude of health benefits and contain a lot of vitamin C. They also contain manganese, which can help with bone health and is especially important for me, as I have psoriatic arthritis and it can get quite annoying (not to mention painful) moving towards the colder months.

Pine Nuts – For prosperity, but also packed full of Vitamin A and magnesium (crucial for the health of my old lady bones!!).

Capers – Good for gas and bloating, again for my husband and his iffy tummy.

So next time you make a salad, bake a cake or brew a simple cup of tea, do a bit of research and see what you can add to make it even better!

Coastal Foraging Part Two

I’ve was lucky enough to have another great day out on site last October on the North West Coast of England (9.75 miles walked that day!!).

Not only did I get time to just sit on the beach early in the morning, with barely a soul about, so I could do some soul cleansing and grounding in nature, but I got some awesome witchy foraging done again! This time from sand dunes, saltmarsh habitat and wide open sandy beach.

Here’s some uses for what I found and brought home (from the top, going clockwise around the cheese).

I also found some pumpkin spiced Wensleydale (crumbly, creamy English cheese) in a local supermarket, wrapped in cute pumpkin wax protection too.

1. Laver Rhodophyta (Porphyra umbilicalis) – Good for happiness, good energies, love and peace. This seaweed is also a traditional food in Wales, where it’s made into small flat cakes, and fried until crisp in bacon fat, or heated with butter, lemon juice, and pepper. It is also eaten in salads, made into biscuits and as an accompaniment to roasted meat.

2. Rock Oyster (Crassostea gigas) shell

3. Mussel (Mytilus edulis) shell

4. Razor Clam (Ensis magnus) shell

5. Egg Wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) – Can be eaten pickled in apple cider vinegar, with fennel and black peppercorns.

6. Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) – Sometimes known as wild samphire, glasswort can be lightly steamed (or eaten raw when picked fresh) and is often served as a side fish with fish.

7. European searocket (Cakile maritima) – A fleshier, slightly saltier, version of rocket (or arugula if you’re not English!). Can be used in salads or eaten as a side vegetable (I tried some raw straight from the plant and it was delicious!). Magical properties include clairvoyancy, helping with processing events or feelings, energy, warding off negativity, fertility and sexuality. 

New Moon in Capricorn Tarot Spread

I did a tarot spread this evening, for the New Moon in Capricorn. I decided to do a spread for self reflection, shadow work and home truths.

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

Here’s the questions I asked my cards:

1. What are my strengths?

2. How can my strengths help me overcome any challenges?

3. How can I ground myself?

4. What truths do I need to see?

5. What intentions should I set at this New Moon?

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

After cleansing my cards with incense smoke and giving them a good mix up and shuffle, I dealt out five cards, one for each question, and laid them out as shown below.

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

user uploaded image

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

The cards I pulled were:

1. King of Wands (reversed)

2. Nine of Pentacles (reversed)

3. Two of Chalices

4. The Hierophant (reversed)

5. The Emperor (reversed)

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

user uploaded image

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

Here are my interpretations of the cards.

1. King of Wands (reversed) – This card is telling me some of my strengths include high expectations, whether that be of myself or others, and I can often be ruthless. These aren’t necessarily good strengths to have though, as with these traits I can often be impulsive, aggressive in my pursuit of goals and even occasionally overbearing, sometimes without actually realising I’m behaving this way. I also see this card as a warning against setting too high expectations for myself (and others). I need to stay true and focussed, and not try to do too much too quickly, or expect others just to jump when I click my fingers.

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

2. Nine of Pentacles (reversed) – The reversed Nine of Pentacles is all about self worth and reflecting on your personal value. I should try and find a way of using my strengths to undertake some serious introspection, in order to learn that I don’t have to act in such ways to still have self worth.

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

3. Two of Chalices – This card depicts the flow of love between two people. A deep connection and partnership, which is based on unconditional love, shared values and compassion. I am lucky in that I have all of this with my husband, so I take this card to mean all I need to ground myself is the love, companionship and mutual respect of my husband.

user uploaded image

Our Wedding Day. Jack only turned 5 six days earlier and was his Daddy’s Best Man.

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

4. The Hierophant (reversed) – Seeing the Hierophant card in reverse may mean that I feel restricted and constrained (who doesn’t with the amount of lockdowns we’ve had in the UK!) and, as a result, I have lost quite a lot of control, as well as flexibility, in my life.  It also tells me that I am strong willed, stubborn and a bit of a control freak. This is very true. I like order, tidiness and do like to be in control over every aspect of my life (I’m an awful backseat driver!!). This is something I do need to work on. They do say the thing you need to hear the most is always the thing you don’t want to hear!

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

5. The Emperor (reversed) – With regards to setting intentions for this New Moon in Capricorn, the reversed Emperor card tells me that although I have a fear of losing control, this can be seen as an opportunity to loosen the reigns and realise that not being in control of everything isn’t the end of the world and being so stringent and overbearing will only ultimately harm myself the long run. I need to remember to go with with the flow and accept that sometimes situations are out of my control and that’s OK. Therefore my intentions should be to loosen up, accept, chill out and stop being so anal about everything!

° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °° ∆ ——– ••• ——- ∆ °

Coastal Foraging Haul

In October 2020 I was out on site all day with various clients and colleagues along the North West Coast of England (I’ve walked 7.75 miles!!). Even though I was doing my day job, I can still do some witchy foraging on the side!!

The first site was a Dockside adjacent to an estuary, with lovely mudflats and salt marsh. It was absolutely FREEZING and rained all morning, but I cheered myself up by collecting some rosehips, marsh marigold, red clover and rowan berries.

The second site was a huge expanse of sandy beach, with defences along the back and some lovely sand dunes to the south. It had thankfully brightened up and stopped raining, but was VERY windy. Bonus though, I got a free face exfoliation from all the sand whipping about! I didn’t find any nice shells unfortunately, but I found some bladderwrack and, my favourite, a couple of smooth pebbles!

Here’s some uses for what I found and brought home (from left to right).

1. Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) – Protection, sea and water spells, wish spells and money magic.

2. Rosehips (from Dog Rose (Rosa canina) – Can be used as a charm to attract health and wealth, are a symbol of prosperity and fertility and if you place them beneath your pillow, they can protect you against nightmares and nasty spirits that want to disturb your sleep.

3. Marsh marigold (Calendula officinalis) – Can be used for consecration, inner vision, love, peace and truthfulness. 

4. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) – Can be used for exorcism, fidelity, love, money, protection and success. 

5. Rowan Berry (Sorbus aucuparia) – Can be used for protection, inspiration and to help open the gateway for spirit communication.

Grounding

I’m a proper magpie for pretty stones (and shells). Their look, the rounded or angular feel, the coldness or warmth, the textures, from rough and grainy, to smooth and glass like. They all resonate with me and I pick them up from everywhere!

These are some of my favourites (I have just cleansed them) and I keep them in a funky glass bowl that looks like it melted onto a piece of driftwood.

They help me ground myself and be calm, perfect for rebalancing my energy levels and releasing any excess energy left over.

Plants for Psoriasis

**Please note, these plants will not cure your psoriasis and advice from your doctor or primary care specialist will always be the best advice. These are just a few ideas of plants you could try to incorporate into a recipe, which might help.**

Seeing as though a lot of people suffer from psoriasis, including me (it’s hereditary in my mum’s side of the family and mine randomly started at 18…just when I thought I’d escaped the curse!), it stands to reason we may have some sufferers that are reading this.

Mine is really bad on my elbows, forearms and knees, with a tiny patch on either side of the bridge of my nose, where my glasses sit. I am slowly covering both arms with tattoos (mostly flowers, dot work Mandalas and insects!) to try and hide them as much as I can. I also have psoriatic arthritis.

I did a bit of research, as I wanted to see if there were any more natural solutions I could look into and thought I’d share my findings with you lovely people!


Oregon grape (barberry) (Mahonia aquifolium)

Oregon grape is a plant native to North America.

It is thought that extracts of this plant actually slow down the production of Lipoxygenase, which is an enzyme involved in psoriatic skin cell production. The plant itself also has anti-inflammatory properties.


Indigo naturalis

This plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of psoriasis and is derived from the plant that produces the dyes that make our jeans blue!

Aloe vera

Everyone knows the multitude of benefits Aloe Vera has. It’s widely known to be soothing and cooling, and is often used in aftersun products.

I suggest you do your own research, like I’ll be doing, to find out how the best way to prepare them is, whether in an ointment, or cream or rub.

Foraging Haul

Late last summer my husband, stepson and I went for a little (4.5 miles though!) walk in and around the countryside near our house. We are truly blessed to have this on our doorstep and I’m forever grateful.

It was around 13°C and beautifully sunny. We took plenty of water, some homemade biscuits and some apple spiced Bourbon (purely to keep out the cold, honestly!!).

We saw lots of birds, rabbits and squirrels and hardly any other people, just how we like it!!

The local farmer is also getting his pumpkin crop ready to sell!!

We managed to forage some awesome things! Here’s what we found and brought home (from left to right).

1. Pine cones (fresh and fallen) – Signifies health and prosperity, healing, protection, fertility, money/prosperity.

2. Yellow crab apple – Can be used for divination and in love spells/charms.

3. Conkers (Buck eye) – Conkers are useful in luck charms and spells and some people keep them in their pockets or purses to attract luck and bring them money. Other things they are good for are arthritis relief, migraine relief, male virility (in terms of fertility and things of a sexual nature) as a cold/flu remedy. **Not to be eaten in any form though, as they are toxic**.

4. Acorns (fresh and fallen) – The magickal properties of acorns include protection, abundance, fertility, strength, courage, abundance, longevity and healing.

5. Fuschia flower – Assists with accepting long repressed emotions and dealing with grief.

6. Elderberry – Good for exorcism, prosperity, banishment and healing. The berries are used for protection and in breaking spells that were cast against you or to undo spells of evil intent. Growing an elder in your garden will protect your property from misfortune and harm. In Europe, they planted elder in cemeteries to keep away the evil spirits.

7. Yarrow – Psychic powers, love, courage, exorcism, dreams, peace, happiness, divination and protection.

8. Ivy leaves – Protection and healing.

9. Holly leaves – Holly can be used in spells for material gain, physical revenge, beauty, protection (especially against lightening!), luck and dream magic.

10. Datura – Astral travel, concealment and invisibility, divination and enchantment.

11. Alder flowers (catkins) – Flowers are on catkins and, as the Alder is monoecious, which means that both male and female flowers are found on the same tree, there are two types. The long pendulous ones are male and the round ones are female. Alder helps you face up to things you’ve been avoiding, allows access to the fae and their realm and is thought to reduce nervousness and anxiety. It can be used in spells to aid success in business and academic matters.

12. Horsetail – Horsetail strengthens resolve and defines boundaries, can be used to make affirmations and commitments firm, to protect your psychic space against unwanted intrusions and it can help cleanse unwanted emotional leftovers from the system.

Blessed Basil

Basil Is Known Far And Wide As A Culinary Herb, But It Also Contains Some Interesting Magical And Medicinal Properties. In Some Countries, However, Basil Is Considered Something That Real Men Don’t Eat — Why? Because It’s Associated With Teas That Are Used To Provide Relief From Painful Menstrual Periods.

It’s Also Used As An Anti-inflammatory. Try Some Of These Methods To Incorporate Basil Into Your Healing Magick.

Chewing On The Freshly Harvested Leaves Has A Couple Of Different Benefits – It Can Help Relieve Symptoms Of Coughs And Colds, And Even Better, It Can Leave Your Breath Smelling Healthy And Refreshed!

Use A Bit Of The Oil Or Extract On Insect Bites To Relieve Pain And Itching.

Boil The Leaves In Water To Make An Infusion, And Take A Small Amount Every Few Hours To Help Reduce Fever, As Well As Provide Headache Relief. Gargling With Basil Water Can Make A Sore Throat Feel Better.

Basil Is A Wonderful, Robust Herb, Which Is Attributed To A Variety Of Magical Uses Such As Consecration, Divination, Exorcism, Fertility, Fidelity, Luck, Happiness, Harmony And Love. Basil Is Bound To The Planet Mars And The Element Fire.

Marvellous Mint

Mint Is For Symbolic Of Success, Motivation, Money, Healing. It Is A Cure-all, Relaxes The Nerves And Stimulates The Brain.

Medicinal Use: Mint In Tea Form Aids Upset Stomachs, Flu, And Can Be Used To Ease Hiccups. Inhalations Of The Leaves In Boiling Water Is Recommended For Head Colds And Asthma.

Mint Tea Used Instead Of Aspirin Is Great For Headaches, Particularly Premenstrual Headaches. Aids The Respiratory And Circulatory Systems. An Anti-inflammatory And An Antiseptic. Ideal For Treating Indigestion, Flatulence, Varicose Veins, Headaches, Migraine, Skin Irritations, Rheumatism, Toothache, And General Fatigue.

Magical Use: Used For Healing, Strength, To Augment Power, Luck, Travel..

Everyday Elder

I have a huge affinity for the elder tree, as my parents used to make elderberry wine and I have many a great memory of going out as a family, picking bunches and bunches of berries, then forking them off the stalks into a bucket and squelching them down with my (obviously clean!) feet. Then there’d be weeks of listening to the soft bubbling and sighs coming from demijohns stashed in all the warm places in the house throughout autumn, until the wine was ready to be drank and celebrated at Christmastime.

Medicinal properties

Traditionally all parts of Elder are useful medicinally. The berries and the leaves are both rich in vitamin C and the leaves can be made into ear drops to treat pain and inflammation.

The flowers make a tea that is good for treating coughs and irritable throats, as well as being made into a skin cleanser and lotion. The bark of the new small twigs can be made into a laxative. The bark, roots, berries and leaves can all be used as a dye.  And the berries are good for making jam, wine, vinegar, and syrups.

Magickal properties

Exorcism, Prosperity, Banishment and Healing. The leaves and berries are used for protection and in breaking spells that were cast against you or to undo spells of evil intent. Growing an elder in your garden will protect your property from misfortune and harm. In Europe, they planted elder in cemeteries to keep away the evil spirits.

Moon in Cancer – Family Happiness Wish/Spell

I foraged some branches of hawthorn, apple, hazel, pine and whatever else I could find in my local environment (all thoughtfully and thankfully taken, with offerings of nuts left, to give thanks).

The reason I collected these things was to make a Moon in Cancer Family Happiness Wish/Spell.

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

For this wish/spell you will need 3 lengths of 60cm (2 feet) blue twine or ribbon, plus a smaller piece of the same ribbon or twine to hang it. If you don’t have blue, just use what you have! We Witches can adapt and substitute with what our intuition tells us is OK, so if you have neon pink ribbon and you think that’ll work, then that WILL work.

Then you’ll need to find a selection of twigs, or short branches, from apple or fruit trees, hawthorn, hazel, oak, cedar, pine, holly….whatever you can find in your garden, local park or local countryside (even from your neighbours trees if they’re hanging over your side of the fence!)

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

Knot the ends of the three long lengths of ribbon/twine together, then plait the three strands til you get to the other end and knot this again.

Form the plaited length into a circle and use the shorter length of ribbon/twine to tie the ends together and make a loop to hang it with.

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

Repeat this charm:

With this family garland true,

The lunar time will see anew,

For homely warmth, so loved this place.

With all our spirits filled with grace.

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

Then you should gather all your twigs and small branches and thread them through and around the plaited ribbon or twine, to make a garland that is full and as bushy as you can manage (no one will blame you for needing a wee bit of help from some wire or cable ties to keep things in place!).  I also put the oven dried cinnamon sticks and orange slices left over from making Christmas mulled wine on there too. Waste not want not, it always pays to be a Thrifty Witch!

Then simply hang the garland on the back of your main entrance door for harmonious living. For us, I’ll hang ours on the back of our front door, as that is the one we mainly use to enter and exit our house.

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

user uploaded image
user uploaded image

Burning Bay Leaves to Manifest Wealth and Abundance

I did a quick ritual out in the back garden (not recommended for indoors, as it really smells!!) to manifest/attract wealth and abundance.

••●◉◎◈◎◉●••

I wrote onto 6 bay leaves (I won’t say exactly what, but it represented my intentions) and spoke to the Universe whilst burning the bay leaves in my mini cauldron.

user uploaded image
user uploaded image
user uploaded image

••●◉◎◈◎◉●••

Once it’s all cooled down, I’ll scatter the ashes to the wind and say:

‘The Moon has Awoken, with the sleep of the Sun,

The ashes are are scattered, the spell has begun.

The powerful Conjunction, of Jupiter and Saturn,

Will trigger my spell, for an affluence pattern.

With blessed relief from stress and from debts,

So our lives will be free of worries and frets.

My Magick has spoken, so mote it be.’

••●◉◎◈◎◉●••