herbs – Melusina The Green Witch

Antioxidant Tea

I am suffering with a nasty chest infection, my second in 12 months, and I’m feeling really ill with it. I’ve been to the doctors and have been prescribed antibiotics, steroids and an inhaler, but I want to boost my immune system as much as I can at home too.

Therefore I’ve developed this tea today and am brewing up a large batch (enough for about 4 cups worth) to last me throughout the rest of the day and evening.

**Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.**

INGREDIENTS

Fresh peppermint (a few sprigs roughly chopped) – The antioxidants found in mint can fight inflammation in your body and also include compounds, such as terpinene, quercetin, and tocopherols, which have immune-boosting and neuroprotective (the ability for a therapy to prevent neuronal cell death by intervening in and inhibiting the pathogenetic cascade that results in cell dysfunction and eventual death) effects.

Dried elderberries (heaped tablespoon) – The berries (and flowers) of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could also help tame inflammation, lessen stress and help protect your heart, too. Some experts also recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Dried goji berries (heaped tablespoon) – These cheerful red berries contain a number of healthy antioxidants which are known for their immune-boosting qualities and their ability to fight harmful free radicals and inflammation. They also contain large amounts of vitamins A and C, similar to other berries.

Dried echinacea (tablespoon) – Studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and have antiviral and antioxidant effects.

Dried nettle (tablespoon) – The nettle plant contains several immune-boosting compounds, including flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamins A and C. These antioxidants help protect immune cells against damage that can weaken immune function. Research also shows nettle extract strengthens the immune response, encouraging immune cell activity.

Dried rosehips (about 15 halved) – Due to its high levels of antioxidants, rosehip tea may also help to boost your immune system. Please be careful with the seeds, they’re hard as diamonds!!

Cinnamon bark (a couple of pieces broken up) – Studies show that this spice and its antioxidants have potent anti-inflammatory properties and helps your body fight infections and repair tissue damage.

Sliced whole tangerine – The Vitamin C found in tangerines (and other citrus fruits) is a powerful antioxidant. Additionally, tangerines provide potassium and B complex vitamins, namely B1, B6, and B9, or thiamine, pyridoxine, and folate, respectively.

METHOD

Put all the ingredients into a pan, cover with about 5 cups of boiling water and gently simmer for ten minutes. Strain through a sieve and/or a clean towel/muslin and decant to a cup. Sweeten to taste with honey, brown sugar, agave syrup or your sweetener of choice. Drink and enjoy.

Sources
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mint-benefits#:~:text=Its%20antioxidants%20have%20been%20shown,9%20%2C%2010%20%2C%2011%20).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/neuroprotection#:~:text=Neuroprotection%20is%20defined%20as%20the,cell%20dysfunction%20and%20eventual%20death.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322693#:~:text=Goji%20berries%20contain%20healthy%20antioxidants,berries%2C%20including%20blueberries%20and%20raspberries.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/elderberry-health-benefits#:~:text=The%20berries%20and%20flowers%20of,ease%20cold%20and%20flu%20symptoms.
https://www.thehealthy.com/home-remedies/nettle-tea-benefits/#:~:text=The%20nettle%20plant%20contains%20several,response%2C%20encouraging%20immune%20cell%20activity
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/echinacea#:~:text=Several%20laboratory%20and%20animal%20studies,%2C%20antiviral%2C%20and%20antioxidant%20effects.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rose-hips#:~:text=Due%20to%20its%20high%20levels,disease%20and%20type%202%20diabetes.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tangerine-benefits#1.-Packed-with-nutrients
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4

Plant Apothecary

I don’t have much luck with outside plants, due to the crap British weather and the local wildlife that gets into our garden. Therefore, I’ve decided that this year I’ll grow lots of things in the conservatory on the back of the house (which is where our dogs Wade and Wilson and have their beds and bowls, as they sleep there at night and eat their meals in there too).

I found some great potted herbs at Costco and some others in Aldi, so here I have three types of thyme, flat leaved parsley, basil, rosemary, sage and oregano.

Today I’ve planted up into compost slices of cherry tomatoes (as the seeds in the tomatoes will germinate once the slice rots down) and some nasturtiums (trailing orange flowers who’s flowers and leaves you can eat). Nasturtiums are also great companion plants (which is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects etc) for tomatoes.

I’ve also bought the following seeds from Amazon, so I can plant up peppers (Capsicum), chilies, peas, purple basil, coriander, marjoram, dill, chamomile, cress, lemon balm and chives.

All these plants and herbs will be invaluable to me as a Green (and Kitchen) Witch and I can’t wait to tend to and care for them when they start growing!

Energy Reviving Tea

I’ve not been sleeping properly, due to one of my chronic conditions flaring, causing me pain and discomfort. However, we have appointments this weekend and plans to go out for the day tomorrow, so I needed a bit of an energy boost!

I had a look what I’ve got in my mini apothecary for energy and revitalisation and decided to make a tea, which can either be drunk hot, or iced, and sweetened with honey (or agave syrup for our vegan friends).

INGREDIENTS

DANDELION – The leaves and root of this plant are known to be used in the herbal medicine of many Cultures, such as Korean, Native American and Arabic, where it is used for energy improvement and general health. Clinical trials have also shown that dandelion may reduce fatigue and promote immune health and different research has suggested that dandelion has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Additionally, dandelion is considered to be a good substitute for caffeine and can help alleviate the fatigue that is brought on by the physical pain caused by certain chronic conditions.

ELDERFLOWER – This flower is good for heightening your energy levels and relieving stress. It also acts as a natural detoxification aid and can enhance liver function, by making your body sweat out toxins and eliminate waste. This natural process is very important for helping your body feel renewed and relaxed.

Elderflower also contains Vitamin B6, which helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue and contributes to a healthily functioning metabolism.

PEPPERMINT – Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). Just inhaling the minty fresh aroma of fresh peppermint leaves, or even peppermint essential oil, can help to boost your energy, mood, alertness and even athletic performance.

Several studies have shown that peppermint can reduce fatigue, boost alertness, improve memory and provide additional energy. One study even found that exposure to the aroma of peppermint essential oil could increase alertness and improve memory.

SOURCES:
http://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a20472817/healing-herbs-to-use-in-a-bath/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/herbs-for-energy#5.-
https://www.herbfacts.co.uk/elderflower/

Wild Garlic and Wild Garlic Soup Recipe

It’s that time of year when you’ll start seeing (and smelling!) wild garlic popping up in shady and damp woodlands, fields and hedgerows throughout Britain, Ireland and Europe.

If you don’t know what it looks like, it has tiny white flowers and bright green leaves, but it can be quite scarce.

It is commonplace in ancient woods, where it creates a carpet of star shaped white blossoms, instead of the blue flooring of bluebells.

MAGICKAL PROPERTIES

In Witchcraft, wild garlic can be used just like regular garlic and is primarily used for protection, banishing and warding.

It can offer protection from break-ins when kept around the house or utilised in wards. It can also ward against nightmares, if used in sleep charms, and is useful for banishing negativity and unwelcome spirits. By this token, you could probably also use wild garlic to get rid of unwanted mindsets, habits, emotions, etc. Finally, it can protect the user from gossip and psychic attacks, and it can be used in wards of almost any purpose.

Garlic has strong associations with Hecate and the ancient Greeks would place garlic at cross roads as an offering to her.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Wild garlic is useful in treating bronchitis, allergies and asthma, by helping to open the lungs and ease breathing. It is also a healthy antioxidant and has antimicrobial properties. Additionally, it can aid in preventing clots by thinning blood and therefore should be used in moderation, due to these properties.

It can also help to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and it’s juice can be applied directly, or in a poultice, to burns.

Please take care, when picking wild garlic, to only remove the leaves. Don’t pull too hard, or you can pull the bulb straight out too, which has the potential to spoil next years crop and contribute to it’s scarcity. As with all foraging, take only what you need and treat the site with care, so you can enjoy it again next year!

Also, don’t pick anything from the side of the road, as there is too much pollution there from cars, or where people regularly walk their dogs, as no one wants pee or poop in their food!!

WILD GARLIC SOUP RECIPE

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 40 g butter (or veggie/vegan alternative);

• 1 medium onion (chopped);

• 3 medium potatoes (peeled and diced);

• 1.5 ltr vegetable stock;

• 300 g wild garlic leaves (washed and patted dry);

• 100 ml double cream (or veggie/vegan alternative); and

• Salt and pepper.

Method:

Melt the butter over a medium heat, add the onions and saute until soft.

Add the vegetable stock and potatoes to the pan and simmer gently until the potatoes are fully cooked.

Add the wild garlic to the pan and allow to wilt for a couple of minutes.

Use a jug or hand blender (please be careful, as it’ll be boiling hot!) to blend the soup until you have a smooth and silky consistency.

Stir through the cream, season to taste and serve.

Serve with crusty bread.

Recipe Source: “wild garlic soup – Lost in Food” https://lostinfood.co.uk/wild-garlic-soup-a-mini-mid-week-adventure/

Etsy Shop – Now Open

I’ve set up my Etsy shop again and will be selling the following items:

• Crystals;
• Spell jar earrings;
• Spell jar pendants;
• Mugwort;
• Handmade mugwort, lemonbalm and chamomile teabags (more blends will be added);
• Anti-anxiety/sleep spray;
• Face serum;
• Spell sachets; and
• Spell jars.

Here’s the link:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ConceivingaDream

Gorgeous Gorse

Gorse bushes, or Furze, are often seen around Ostara and is another of Mother Nature’s bright and beautiful announcements that Spring is here.

It is a perennial evergreen shrub belonging to the pea family, which forms multi-branched, stunted shrubs, usually no taller than six feet high, but it is still considered to be a tree.

The flowers are deep yellow in colour and have a beautifully aromatic coconut scent and, although the main flowering period is from March to August, flowers can be found on the furze throughout the year.

It’s wickedly sharp thorns and its dense habit make it an excellent hedging plant, which can also be used as a barrier to protect young tree seedlings in coppices from grazing.

Due to it’s thorny nature, it is often viewed as having protective powers. In Wales, gorse bushes are even said to guard against Witches and can protect the home against The Fae, who cannot pass through the hedge.

The bark and flowers of the gorse can be used to produce a yellow dye. In Ireland, the flowers were also used to flavour and add colour to whiskey and they’ve been known to be used to make beer in Denmark. The flowers can also be used to make wine and tea.

Medicinal properties

There was a Bach Flower Remedy (Edward Bach was an English homeopath in the 1930s) called “Greenman Essence of Gorse”, which was said to help to ease frustration, restlessness and anxiety, and also helped to promote emotional security and feelings of joy.

Gorse flowers are high in proteins and can be eaten raw in salads or made into tea, cordial or syrup. They can also add extra flavour and colour to beer, wine or spirits and even ice cream!

The buds can also be pickled in vinegar and eaten like capers.

**CAUTION: Do not ingest to excess, as the plant contains slightly toxic alkaloids, which can have a cumulative impact.**

There are surprisingly few medicinal uses for gorse, although its flowers have historically been used in the treatment of jaundice, scarlet fever, diarrhoea and kidney stones.

Magickal properties

Gorse is known as the ‘herb of love’ and is associated with love, romance and weddings. It is also known to protect against evil, negativity and dark magick.

It can help to restore faith, hope and optimism and enable you to gather your strength. It also attracts gold, so it is very useful in money, wealth and abundance spells.

Gorse Spell

Carve the word “Gorse” into a gold or yellow candle, then face east and light the candle. Then meditate on the light, whilst asking for for protection, money, love or whatever it has to offer that you desire.

Full Moon in Virgo Career Spell

Back on February 27th 2021 the full moon was in Virgo. At that time this reminded us that we must learn to organise our lives, accept that not everyone is perfect and to compromise.

Suitable activities that could have been undertaken during that full moon included:

• Editing, completing or finalising a project;
• Organising your kitchen, workplace, home or bedroom;
• Cleaning up the loose ends of a relationship matter;
• Making a plan for long term success; or
• Delivering an important message.

With regards to long term career success, I have big plans for my job this year. I have submitted my application to become a Chartered Environmentalist and am awaiting an interview. If successful, my work will hopefully promote me to Associate Director. I also did the same ritual for my husband at the same time, to help with his long term career goals.

Therefore, I decided to do a ritual on the might of that full moon, to ask the Universe to assist me with obtaining my career goals.

Here are the items I used (I needed two of everything, apart from the pen, as the spell was for two people).

• Two pieces of green paper;

• A gold pen;

• Six fresh mint leaves;

• Two teaspoons of dried sage;

• Two gold candles;

• Jasmine incense – for success, luck in general and good fortune. Jasmine also opens up the natural force of attraction and consequently helps us attract prosperity and success, in addition to helping live a life of beauty, through which our life circumstances naturally follow suit;

• Citrine – This crystal is commonly referred to as the abundance stone and it has powerful properties that attract career benefits, financial success and prosperity. Citrine is also useful for encouraging new opportunities and possibilities for the improvement of your career. The stone also helps promote joy and inner peace, blocking out negative energy and keeps you confident and positive. Citrine can also provide an extra boost of confidence to take with you on promotional reviews or job interviews. It also keeps you emotionally balanced in order to overcome any work challenges, whilst bringing good luck to any task or project you’re working on;

• Sodalite – This crystal enables you to harness your self-esteem, in order for you to take your career to the next level and also helps you to follow your instincts and have self-confidence. It is also known for its capability to inspire the confidence to make your dreams come true. It is also associated with the throat chakra, so provides great benefits for giving important presentations or speaking in public; and

• Selenite – This is one of the best crystals for career success, as it can penetrate any stagnant, stale or negative energy and completely remove it. Selenite can also help with connecting with your intuitions, to listen to your inner voice and push you to follow its guidance towards career success. Also, the crystal works wonders if you are sensitive, providing you with balance for your professional life and workspace.

Here are the steps for the spell. I will be doing this process twice, once for each of us.

• Light the jasmine incense.

• Draw a large pentacle in the centre of the green piece of paper with the gold pen. In the centre of the pentacle write the word JOB, making sure the star is pointing upwards not downwards.

• Around the word JOB, write the specific job each of us is pursuing.

• Tear up the three mint leaves and put these, along with the dried sage, onto the pentacle (keeping the herbs within the outer circle).

• Draw (or carve, if you’re using a pillar candle) with a Sharpie the bindrune ‘Provide energy for success’ onto the side of the candle. I actually couldn’t find gold candles, so I used yellow jasmine scented ones and scattered some gold heart shaped glitter on the top of the wax.

• Place the candle on top of the herbs and light it.

• Place the citrine, sodalite and selenite on the paper around the candle.

• Chant the following words three times (for each spell). I will do mine and my husband will do his:

Universe wide, hear my plea,
Send me the job, that’s just for me,
Grant me the job, that I will love,
I send this message, to you above.

• Allow the candle to burn down completely, then carefully take the paper with the herbs on it to the nearest window, open the window and blow the contents from the paper into the air.

• Then we just patiently wait to hear that we’ve been successful.

Juniper Berry and Peppermint Tea

My husband struggles with his stomach and from pretty savage heartburn, so I’ve been trying to devise a way to create something that will settle his stomach, but that won’t irritate his throat or trigger his heartburn.

I researched some of the herbs and spices I already had and found that juniper berries (Juniperus communis) can be used for digestion problems, including an upset stomach, intestinal gas (flatulence), heartburn, bloating and loss of appetite. They are also said to have antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties, in addition to being helpful for coughs, congestion and may have antidiabetic properties.

In addition to this, I have fresh peppermint growing (with a ton of other plants and herbs!) on my kitchen windowsill. Peppermint is also known to relieve digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating and indigestion. It is also thought to fight bacterial infections.

**Please note, juniper berries can have a diuretic effect (need to pee more often) and should be avoided during pregnancy, lactation and by persons suffering with kidney stones or other kidney disorders. Please also ensure that neither juniper berries, nor peppermint, present any contradictions with any medication you may be currently taking, or that you are allergic to either of them**.

Juniper Berry and Peppermint Tea Ingredients

✧ 1/2 tsp of dried juniper berries (Juniperus communis)
✧ 8-10 good sized peppermint leaves
✧ 2 cups of boiling water
✧ Honey to taste

Method

Place the juniper berries, peppermint leaves and water in a pan of boiling water and simmer for around 10 minutes. Carefully strain through a fine sieve, pour into a cup and sweeten with honey to taste.

Natural Aphid Spray

I grow a number of herbs in little pots that stick to the inside of my kitchen windows, as I like to have fresh herbs when I need them, they look really nice and the plants always get plenty of sunlight.

A few weeks ago I discovered (whilst talking to and tending to my herbs, as you do….), that my beloved Basil plant, which I’ve been growing for MONTHS, had dreaded aphids on him!

I whipped up a quick batch of natural aphid spray to gently encourage them to vacate (some may be sadly killed in the process and, for that, I am very sorry).

I used the following:

• Clean spray bottle (I reuse everything I can, so jam and pickle jars become herb containers or jar spells, old candle containers get new candles made inside them from soy wax, colourant wax and essential oils, and spray bottles, which have contained liquids that aren’t too toxic (fabulousa or febreeze spray bottles are ideal for this, but avoid anything that contained bleach or other harmful chemicals), get thoroughly washed out and reused, as more natural cleaning product bottles);

• 400ml fresh filtered water (we have hard water so everything we drink, cook with or give to the dogs gets filtered);

• 10-12 drops Rosemary essential oil;

• 10-12 drops Peppermint essential oil; and

• 10-12 drops Lemon essential oil.

I popped all the ingredients into the spray bottle, gave it a little shake and took my plant outside (to give them a chance to escape and bother someone else’s plants!) to spray the heck out of it!

I checked back the next day and they were all gone! I then gave my Basil a good spray with moonwater, as a little treat to help it recover from the vicious aphid onslaught and because I use this Basil in both my craft and my cooking, so I want to remove as much essential oil off the plant as I can.

Mr. Basil is doing very well now and not an interloper in sight!

Herbal Sleep Sachet

**WARNING – Please do not use essential oils if pregnant or breast feeding, as they can be very harmful. Also, please ensure any ingredients do not have any contraindications with medication you are using, or that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Thank you!**

A few months back, I was struggling to sleep, due to some of my medical conditions flaring up and causing me pain. Despite the herbal tea (Sleepy Tea Blog) and bath salts (Bath Salts Blog) I make and use, I needed something a bit more powerful to add to my bedtime arsenal. Therefore, I decided to make a herbal sleep sachet for inside my pillow.

I do a lot of crafts and have drawers full of bits and bobs, including some cute Disney fat quarters (I found these in Aldi a few years ago). I chose a nice pattern and cut it to the size I needed and hand sewed it, inside out, along two sides, with one side left open and a flap to tuck in. Once sewn, I then turned it inside out again, so that it was the right way round and the two sewn sides were now on the inside.

I put the following dried herbs into a bowl:

• 2 chamomile teabags (opened and emptied, but you could use loose, dried chamomile flowers) – for it’s mild tranquillising effect and sleep inducing properties;
• 1 piece of star anise – to repel nightmares (use sparingly);
• 2 teaspoons of catnip – for increasing restful sleep;
• 2 teaspoons of lemon balm – for it’s ability to reduce anxiety and insomnia, in addition to relieving stress;
• 2 teaspoons of jasmine flowers – to reduce stress and anxiety, help with symptoms of depression and to help get a good night’s sleep;
• 2 teaspoons of mugwort – for pleasant dreams and to help fall back to sleep if awoken (I do this a lot, so need something to help me fall back to sleep again);
• 2 teaspoons of rose petals (mine were pinky red, but you could use any colour) – for loving and peaceful thoughts and dreams; and
• 2 teaspoons of Lavender – for it’s anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) properties and as a sedative, to increase relaxation and calm, and help for bringing about sleep.

I then put 8-10 drops of each of the following essential oils into the dried herbs and stirred deosil (clockwise), imbuing the mixture with my intent for peaceful, relaxing and restorative sleep.

• Frankincense – for it’s aromatherapeutic benefits, which help relieve stress and promote relaxation;
• Clary sage – for it’s natural sedative properties, which can provide a calming effect to help fall and stay asleep. It is also known to reduce the levels of hormones associated with stress, such as cortisol, which helps your body prepare for a good night’s rest; and
• Bergamot – for it’s calming effect and ability to induce physiological changes that precede sleep, such as lowering heart rate and blood pressure.

I also wanted to include some crystals in my sachet that are associated with sleep, so I looked into the properties and correspondences of various crystals and chose the following.

• Amethyst – this crystal helps with sleep by blocking stress and negative energies. It is especially helpful when insomnia is caused by stress and over thinking. It also protects against nightmares;
• Rose quartz – this crystal is helpful as it is the stone of unconditional love and peace. It can remove negative energy and replace it with positive vibes and can provide restorative healing and self love;
• Moonstone – this crystal has been used for centuries as a sleep stone and can also increase sleep quality. It is also fantastic for calming and stabilising the emotions and promoting a restful sleep; and
• Clear quartz – this is the most powerful healing crystal, in addition to being a great energy amplifier and can be used to enhance the energies of other crystals. Therefore, I added it to my sleep sachet to increase and amplify the energies of the amethyst, rose quartz and moonstone.

Once everything is thoroughly mixed, I carefully spooned the mixture into the open end of the sachet, until all the mixture was inside. I then folded in the edges, along with the flap, and sewed it shut.

It’s been in my pillow ever since and if it needs refreshing, I just sprinkle a few drops of each of the essential oils I used onto the material of the sachet. I’ve honestly been sleeping so much better!

My Witchcraft Journey

I have been fascinated by witchcraft, forteana, the paranormal and cryptozoology (I had a subscription to the Fortean Times from about 11/12 years old onwards) for as long as I can remember (I am 44 now). There’s a bit of paranormal history in my family too, with both my mum and my grandma on my dad’s side having had encounters with Spirits on a couple of occasions. My mum was also once told by a psychic medium that she had latent psychic abilities that she should develop, but she never did as far as I’m aware. I was also one of those kids that had an imaginary friend. Mine was a pony called Poppet and he was with me for years!

Looking back, I think my journey into witchcraft started when I was about 12 or 13. I found some dream books and books on herbs in the loft at my parents house that were my mum’s. I started foraging for the herbs in the books, or finding them in our garden, and made teas, tinctures, soups and condiments, anything I could really. I once made my dad nettle soup, which was truly awful, but, bless him, he ate every drop and pretended to love it! I also persuaded my mum to buy me more herb and natural remedy books from the garden centre too.

I also had what I now realise as being an altar of sorts, from about 13/14 onwards (without actually realising what it was), which was a big shelf above my radiator, over which I painted a big Mandala on the wall with a Yin Yang symbol in the middle.

On this shelf I kept interesting stones, fossils and minerals I’d found, shells and feathers, bits of plants and dried flowers. I also burned incense, had candles and drank herbal teas, sometimes with added herbs from the garden or spices from my mums spice rack. Here I’d make wishes on candles to do well in a test, or to get that boy I liked to notice me, which were in essence my first spells. I’d also write things down on paper and burn them, which I now know is a way of manifesting your desires.

I used shufflemancy with my CDs, and my own version of bibliomancy with my books, to make decisions, long before I found out these were forms of divination. I would also have little fires at the bottom of the garden and just sit out there, watching the moon and stars whilst drinking my tea.

We didn’t have the internet at home when I was younger and the local librarian was loathed to lend me Stephen King books, let alone anything to do with witchcraft or the occult, so I had no choice but to make things up as I went along. Even at university there was limited access to the internet! It’s so much easier nowadays for people to do research, watch videos and join online groups and communities to learn about witchcraft. I wish there’d have been something like that when I was younger.

It’s only really been since my mid 30’s that I realised the things I’ve been intuitively doing since I was a young teen could be classed as witchcraft. I just didn’t realise, because these things just came naturally to me. As I’ve got older, the pull towards properly learning and researching has become stronger and our house has become more cluttered with stones, feathers, shells and dried flowers I’ve found, in addition to crystals.

Over the years I’ve read so much more into it and got so invested in the idea and history of witchcraft, that to NOT develop it was becoming impossible to resist!! So here I am! I’ve only recently started to refer to myself as a Witch, or even been comfortable in telling people about it.

However, I found a few communities for Witchcraft online and became an active member, writing blogs and articles on things I’d researched, or spells/rituals I’d developed/undertaken and hosted/co-hosted chats on crystals, nature, kitchen witchery and candle magick etc. I also found out, through helping and advising the younger or more inexperienced members of these communities, that I knew a lot more about witchcraft than I realised.

For me, the next logical step was setting up this website, and associated social media, as a way of recording what I know and have done and to help others starting out in their journeys into witchcraft

Sleep and De-Stressing Bath Salts

One of my favourite bath salt blends to make is this one, for helping to relax, unwind, de-stress and sleep. I always have some made up on hand at all times, stored in a recycled gherkin jar (washed out, obviously!), so it’s there ready if I need to use it. I also try and make it well enough in advance to give the ingredients time to meld together and infuse.

These sleepy salts really help me to relax and unwind and, combined with some sleepy tea that I make (Sleepy Tea Recipe), along with playing rainstorm or crashing wave sounds through Alexa in our bedroom, or guided meditation through my headphones, I am guaranteed a full nights sleep.

Here’s the ingredients I used:

• Himalayan pink salt for cleansing, centering and grounding;

• Dried jasmine flowers for their sedative effects and use for reducing anxiety and depression;

• 6-8 drops of ylang ylang essential oil to boost my mood, alleviate anxiety and reduce depression;

• 6-8 drops of rose essential oil for also relieving anxiety and stress; and

• 6-8 drops of patchouli essential oil to relieve depression, provide feelings of relaxation and helping to ease stress or anxiety.

I first put the salt into the jar. I then added each essential oils, 2-3 drops at a time, putting the lid on and shaking to mix well in between each addition. Each time I shook it I thought of my intention for this to help me destress, not be as anxious and to try and relax more, whilst soaking in a bath containing a handful.

The last thing I added was the dried jasmine and gave it a final shake.

It smells divine and the other thing about it that soothes me, is that it smells of my mum’s favourite perfume. I lost my mum very suddenly and quite traumatically in 2016. It took me a long time to get over that. This smell reminds me of her, and how wonderful and loving she was, and makes me feel connected to her. The label at the bottom of the jar has her initials as I’ve dedicated this blend to her.

Altar Space

Despite being a secular Witch, I still have an Altar.

Mine is not dedicated to various Deities from different Pantheons, but to nature. This is represented by shells, pebbles, feathers, a mink skull, crystals, candles, lots of cute drawers containing herbs, dried flowers, nuts, berries and seaweed I’ve foraged, my singing bowl, driftwood and pots of seasalt and fossilized sharks teeth.

It also contains items that remind me of my parents and photos of the day my husband and I got engaged and the day we got married. It’s a very special place to me.

I also have some little shelves on the wall above it, where I store more of my crystals, drawer of supplies and some of my many Witchcraft books.

Magickal Milk Roasted Chicken

I made this a couple of months ago and it went down very well! It’s actually a Jamie Oliver Recipe, but if you look into the properties and benefits of the ingredients used, and cook with specific intent, you can make a much more magickal meal!

INGREDIENTS

• Whole chicken
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 10 cloves garlic, skins left on
• 2 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 handful of fresh sage, leaves picked — around 15 to 20 leaves
• 2 lemons

Health Benefits and Magickal Properties

• Sea salt – Salt is great for using both as a magickal tool and ingredient in cooking. Used as a tool, it is often used by witches to cast their circles, as it creates a powerful barrier that can shield and protect you whilst you work. As an ingredient, salt is used for banishing, binding, cleansing, grounding, healing, purification and protection, in addition to blessings and consecrations.

• Black pepper – Black pepper can be used for banishing, binding, home cleansing and protection, repelling, separation and warding.

• Cinnamon – Cinnamon can be used for attention, attraction, business acumen and success, creativity, financial gain, intellectual stimulation and concentration, libido, lust, knowledge, money, power, prosperity, sexual love, success and winning.

• Garlic – Garlic can be used for accident prevention, reversing bad luck, banishing, good luck, illness, jealousy, male fertility, negativity, physical and psychic protection, sleep and virility.

• Sage – Sage is good for balance, honesty, grounding, longevity, mental clarity, truthfulness and wisdom.

• Lemon – Lemons are perfect for purification, happiness, friendship, longevity, purification, refreshment, unity, uplifting, rejuvenation, awareness, love and fidelity.

METHOD

Heat your oven to 190°C (375°F) degrees. Season the chicken with the sea salt and pepper, thinking of the specific intentions that you want to imbue into this meal. I made it for my husband and stepson (with enough leftovers for our two rescue dogs), so my intentions were binding us as a family, grounding us all and protecting us from the current troubles in the world.

Then place a hob/oven proof pot (I used a deep, cast iron, casserole dish, with double handles), that can fit the chicken snugly within it, over a medium-high heat on the hob/stove. Add to this pot the butter and olive oil. When the butter has melted and is starting to foam, add the chicken to the pot and fry it, turning every few minutes, until it has browned all over. I made sure to turn the chicken deosil (clockwise), to promote my positive intentions.

Turn the heat down to low, remove the chicken from the pot and place it onto a plate, then drain off all but a few tablespoons of the fat from the pot.

Then add the cinnamon stick and garlic to the pot and allow them to sizzle in the oil for a minute or two. Return the chicken to the pot, along with the milk and sage leaves. Use a vegetable peeler, or sharp knife (please be careful!) to cut wide strips of skin off both lemons and add them to the pot as well.

Put the pot into the oven and bake for approximately 1.5 hours, basting the chicken occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and tender and the sauce has reduced into a thick, curdled sauce. (If the sauce is reducing too quickly, cover the pot with a lid)

The chicken will be so tender you can just tear portions off and divide between everyone’s plates, making sure to spoon a generous amount of sauce over each serving. We had ours with mini roast potatoes and cauliflower & broccoli cheese, but it goes well with sautéed greens, pasta, rice, potatoes or bread. The leftovers are delicious on sandwiches too!!

I don’t have an photos of the finished product, as it was demolished!!

Yarrow and Salad Burnett

At the front of our house, I keep a ‘wild patch’, purely for the bees and insects. I let it mainly do what it wants, but every year I scatter bee friendly, locally sourced, flower and plant species, to help it along. It doesn’t always look ‘pretty’, some people may think they’re just ‘weeds’, but to me, because of what it’s for, it’s the most beautiful little patch!

Here’s some bees enjoying it over a few years of summers.

Some of the species in there are quite surprising and I have found both Yarrow and Salad Burnet!

Here’s their properties:

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

This plant is often referred to as the ‘Witches Herb’, and has historically been widely used in spells (for psychic powers, love, courage, exorcism, dreams, peace, happiness and protection), for divination and to divert evil spells.

Yarrow was also used by the Druids for weather prediction and young people would use it to show a vision of who their true love might be.

It is said that if you carry yarrow with you, it can allay your fears and bring you personal courage. Also, keeping yarrow under your pillow is supposed to enhance prophetic dreams.

Yarrow can be drunk in a tea or burned as incense, to increase your psychic powers. Burning as an incense blend is also done to invite love, happiness and peace.

Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba Officinalis)

Salad Burnet is one of the few wild species which supplies edible greenery for most of the year. It is used as an ingredient in both salads and dressings, having a flavor described as ‘light cucumber’ and can be swapped with mint leaves in some recipes. Typically, the youngest leaves are used, as they tend to become bitter as they age.

Salad Burnet is listed as an ingredient in some French and Italian recipes, and is often available in markets there in bunches with other herbs and salad greens.

The Latin portion of it’s scientific name, Sanguisorba, translates as ‘drink up blood’ and refers to its astringent qualities, and it has been used to prevent hemorrhages and internal bleeding. Knowing this, soldiers of old would drink tea made from the herb before going into battle, in the hope that any wounds they received would be less severe. It was also used as an anti-Plague (the Black Plague, not COVID-19 unfortunately) tonic and one of 21 herbs combined and dissolved in wine.

In magickal terms, salad burnet can be used for protection, consecration of ritual tools, and counter magick. It also used to magickally treat depression and despondency (but advice from a medical professional should always be sought first).

It just goes to show, Witchcraft doesn’t have to be expensive. Take (respectfully and with thanks) what you have around you. There are plenty of plant identification apps, or use Google Lens, if you’re unsure of what plant it is.

Research it’s properties for magickal uses and health benefits. You may find that one ingredient you’ve been trying to source for a spell or ritual has been growing in your garden, or school grounds or on your walk to work all along!! Take notice of what Mother Nature has provided for you and always be thankful for her bounty.

All information on the herbs sourced from the following, but rewritten in my own words.
https://rowanandsage.com
https://coven.thethriftywitch.com

Sea Witchery: Magickal Properties and Correspondences

I’ve always, right from being a toddler, been fascinated by the sea and my absolute most favourite place on Earth to be is on a beach or in the ocean. I love the sea so much, that I have got two coastal/marine related degrees/qualifications and have worked for the past 21 years protecting and enhancing the environment of multiple areas along the UK’s coast.

Kelp beds at Cullercoats Bay, North Shields, England, taken whilst on marine biology field work with Newcastle University

If you’re lucky enough to live by the ocean, or can travel to one without much difficulty, there’s a plethora of items and treasures you can forage to use within your craft.

One of my coastal defence schemes at St. Annes, England

Whenever I do go foraging on the coast, I usually take an empty rubbish bag with me to pick up and take home any rubbish I find, as my way of giving thanks for the items I’ve taken.

Gorgeous clean beaches at Bentota, Sri Lanka

Here’s a run down of the various types of treasures you could pick up from a day at the seaside, in addition to their magickal and metaphysical properties.

TYPES OF WATER

• Seawater: Used for health, magickal power and manifestation of goals. An old Welsh belief states that a spoonful of seawater a day will ensure a long and healthy life.

• Beach Water (e.g. from rockpools or beach ponds): Used for rituals, spells, fascinations and meditations.

Beach pond at one of my coastal defence sites in Bispham, Blackpool, UK

• Harbor water: Used to promote abundance and prosperity, in addition to also serving as an aid in banishing things.

SEA GLASS

Sea glass is thought to be a symbol of renewal, relaxation and have healing properties.

Spiritually, our relationship to sea glass shows us that, like sea glass, as it’s been eroded, tumbled and smoothed, we too often have to lose some of our ‘selves’, when we overcome pressures and work through our adversities. We lose our sharp and jagged edges, wash away some of our impurities and our labels peel away. Just like sea glass, we are also often lead on a trajectory or down a road we do not plan, even after we tried our best to stay on course. Often we are thrown away, only to be reshaped by our environment, in order that we may come back more beautiful than ever.

It all depends on how we learn to adjust, cope and adapt, to make the best of the situation we’ve been thrust into and also how we learn to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves to us.

• Clear sea glass – Can be used for healing, peace, spirituality, purity and sincerity.

• Green sea glass – Useful for abundance, prosperity, hope, growth, emotional stability, helping to navigate through loss/grief and increasing love and compassion. Good for working with panic attacks and addiction.

• Blue sea glass – Can be used in spells and rituals relating to creativity, intuition, inspiration, peace, joy, tranquility, faith in yourself, trusting others and easing loneliness.

• Foggy sea glass – Can be used in curses to interfere with the target’s ability to think clearly.

BEACH STONES AND PEBBLES

Beach stones can be any class of stone that has been touched my the water of oceans, seas or the waves along the coast. They have all been moved around, nurtured, tumbled and tossed by the waves and currents. I don’t know about you guys, but I have a huge affinity for smooth pebbles and have loads dotted all over the house. They make me feel grounded and the tactile nature of them instantly calms me.

A small selection of stones and pebbles I’ve collected over the years

PIECES OF CORAL

Corals are developed through an ancient and unique partnership known as symbiosis. This is a collaboration that benefits both animal and plant alike. Corals are classified as animals, as they do not make their own food, like plants do.

Corals themselves have tiny, tentacle-like, ‘arms’ that they use to capture their food from the water, then they use these arms to sweep the food into their mouths. Most structures that we call “coral” are, in fact, made up of hundreds, to thousands upon thousands, of tiny coral creatures called polyps. Each soft-bodied polyp secretes a hard exoskeleton of limestone (calcium carbonate) that attaches to either rocks in the sea, or the dead skeletons of other polyp colonies.

Corals under UV light at The Deep Aquarium, Hull, England during an evening conference dinner

In the case of stony or hard corals, which you find most often washed up on the shore, these polyp conglomerates grow, die and endlessly repeat this cycle over time, often hundreds, to hundreds of thousands, of years (the Great Barrier Reef is thought to be approximately 500,000 years old!!), slowly laying the limestone foundation for coral reefs and giving shape to the familiar corals that reside there. Because of this cycle of growth, death, and regeneration among individual polyps, many coral colonies can live for a very long time. Corals, as a species, have been around for 500 Million years!

Although coral is not a crystal, it has been used for centuries for its healing properties. Also, since ancient times, coral has been used as a divination tool for casting (similar to runes or bone throwing) and the stone is thought to tap into your intuitive nature to help with psychic and energy work.

SHELLS

Seashells are natural vessels. which can be used for cleansing and make a great carrier for incense. They can be placed on your altar, as a reminder of fun times on holiday or at your local beach, or as a tribute to nature and all her powers.

Limpet shell, carrying barnacles and periwinkles

They can also represent the element of water when casting a circle. As they protect the soft bodied invertebrates they contain, such as molluscs or hermit crabs, they can be used in protection and shielding rituals and spells.

Selection of shells on a wall underwater at Porth Dafarch beach, Anglesey, Wales

SEA SALT

Salt is one of the easiest and most effective remedies on the earth! Sea salt, which is a salt obtained by evaporating seawater, is used for cleansing negative energy and life’s impurities. It can be used to cleanse (salt safe) crystals and be used in a multitude of spells and rituals due to it’s metaphysical properties of and for abundance, manifestation, anchoring and grounding, devotion, spiritual development, hospitality, domestic harmony, purification, spiritual protection, balancing emotions, well being, vitality, and longevity.

FOSSILIZED SHARKS TEETH

As fossilized shark teeth are the remains of predatory animals, they can be used to cause harm through curses and hexes, as they’re seen as an aggressive tool in magick.

Fossilized shark teeth found on beaches in Florida, USA

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.

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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.

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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.

• 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.

• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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.

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.