Yule/Midwinter/Winter Equinox

Blót

A friend of mine that is not heathen was having trouble explaining blót to his girlfriend, who is also not heathen.  I liked my answer enough that I wanted to share.

Blót is an Old Norse word that refers to a ritual of sacrifice.   It is the origin of the English words blood and blessing.

A central idea to Norse thought is that a gift demands a gift.  Blót is a ritual in which we give gifts to the gods in thanks for what they have given us.   In pre-Christian times this was done through animal sacrifice, though sacrifice of weapons, armor, or other significant items like jewelry is known to have occurred.

The essence of blot, for me, is that I am giving back to the gods a gift of what they have given me after it has been shaped by my own efforts into something new.  For instance, I will give jewelry I have made, or food I have cooked.

Blót is a ritual of developing  with the gods.   Friendship are formed by giving of yourself to another.   This ritual is about creating and sustaining friendship with the gods. 

✨ Sleep sachet ✨

i have chronic sleep deprivation from insomnia and i tend to have a lot of nightmares and since my last spells have worked, i gave this my energy next

ingredients:

bay leaf - protection, physic powers, wish fullfillment

lemonbalm - divination, promote sleep, relieve stress and anxiety

mugwort - promote sleep and physic powers

nettle - grounding, banishing negativity, cleansing

snail shells - peace, protection, meditation

smokey and clear quarts - increase spell potential, awarness, subconsious, dreamwork

sigil for sleeping well

the piece of quartz i had was actually collected by me and has both clear and smokey parts in it, we have a lot of quarts next to my grandparents' cottage and there's wariety of clear, rose, smokey and milk/white quartz ✨

☀️ Yule Energy Sun Spell ☀️

Recently I’ve been feeling burnt out, and I was struggling to find a spell to do on Yule, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone!

feel free to alter this spell as needed

ingredients

☀️ a gold/yellow candle

☀️ orange, lemon, and grapefruit* slices, preferably dried

☀️ one full orange

☀️ a cup or chalice

steps:

☀️ lay your fruit slices in a circle around you and your altar and say: “with each slice that i place, i make this circle my sacred space.”

☀️ light your candle

☀️ grab your full orange and wave it through the smoke, visualise the energy of the sun transferring into the orange

☀️ once you’ve decided you’ve waved in the smoke for long enough, take your orange and squeeze its juice into the chalice/cup

☀️ when you have enough juice to drink, stop squeezing and drink all the juice

☀️ once finished, thank the sun for lending you his energy and blow out your candle

…and there you have it! Merry Yule!

* you can substitute these with any citrus fruit, lemon, orange, and grapefruit are just my preferred fruits for this spell

rawest fucking florence and the machine lyrics in no particular order:

no more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone

want me to love you in moderation, do i look moderate to you?

this will be my last confession, ‘i love you’ never felt like any blessing, whisper it like it’s a secret only to condemn the one who hears it

because i am done with my graceless heart, so tonight i’m gonna cut it out and then restart

tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks and the kindest of kisses breaks the hardest of hearts

you don’t have to be a ghost here among the living, you are flesh and blood, and you deserve to be loved and you deserve what you are given, and oh how much

but the loneliness never left me, i always took it with me, but i can put it down in the pleasure of your company

at seventeen i started to starve myself, i thought that love was a kind of emptiness, but at least i understood then the hunger i felt, and i didn’t have to call it loneliness 

the fabric of your flesh, pure as a wedding dress

it’s an evensong, it’s a melody, it’s a battle cry, it’s a symphony 

but i know it’ll have to drown me, before i can breathe easy

to the crowd i was crying out, and in your place there were a thousand other faces

and it’s over and i’m going under, but i’m not giving up i’m just giving in

in a moment of joy and fury i threw myself from the balcony like my grandmother, so many years before me

and it’s peaceful in the deep, cathedral where you cannot breathe

i know i seem shaky, these hands aren’t fit for holding

i’m not beat up by this yet, you can’t tell me to regret, been in the dark since the day we met, fire help me to forget

it seems that i have been held in this dreaming state, a tourist in the waking world, never quite awake

shower your affection, let it rain on me, pull down this mountain, drag your cities to the sea

and i did cartwheels in your honor, dancing on tiptoes, my own secret ceremonials

a year like this passes so strangely, somewhere between sorrow and bliss

in the spring, i shed my skin and it blows away with the changing winds

i swallow the sound and it swallows me whole until there’s nothing left inside my soul

And how does it feel now you’ve scratched that itch? And pulled out all your stitches? Hubris is a bitch

and i want you so badly, but you could be anyone 

drink too much coffee and think of you often in a city where reality has long been forgotten, and are you afraid, because I’m terrified, but you remind me that it’s such a wonderful thing to love

i was in the darkness, so darkness i became

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.

*************************************************

Found in Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch by Patti Wigington

*Lucky Chai Tea Latte*

I originally found this post from @starlight-witches. This is specifically for one of the lattes on the long list, called The Lucky Chai. I thought I would try it out and it’s absolutely delicious! It’s perfect for those cold, winter days where all you want to do is cuddle up with your pets and watch Netflix!

Recipe: from @sidewalk-crystal  

｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆   ｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆   ｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

This recipe makes one serving. I tripled this and made three servings!

What you’ll need: ✧ Milk or milk alternative ✧ Filtered water ✧ Tea that goes well with milk (not green tea or fruit flavored teas) ✧ Cinnamon or cinnamon sticks for clairvoyance and prosperity ✧ Cardamom for luck and love ✧ Sugar or honey to taste Optional: ✧ whipped cream ✧ chocolate chips ✧ ground cinnamon for topping

｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆   ｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆   ｡･:*:･ﾟ★, ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Steps: ✧ fill your mug ¾ of the way with milk ✧ fill the rest (¼ of your mug) with water ✧ By this point, your mug should be filled all the way. So more than half of your mug should be milk and the rest water. ✧ Pour the mixture into a medium sized pot with your sugar or honey and wait until your mixture boils.  ✼ Tip: Make sure you stir it well as you boil it and leave it on medium-low heat or it will boil over! ✧ As it’s heating up, put in your cinnamon and cardamom. I used only one cinnamon stick per serving, but feel free to add more ground cinnamon at the end. And I only used a pinch of cardamom! ✧ When it’s done boiling, it will get frothy and foamy. At this point, take it off the heat and add in your tea. Steeping it would take way too long so just cut open the tea bag and pour it right in! You can strain this if you want to, but I found no need for this unless you’re cooking with big tea leaves. ✧ Serve hot, and depending on your preferences, serve with whipped cream, chocolate chips, and ground cinnamon for topping!

It came out even more beautiful than I ever imagined! Thank you for this recipe! 

｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼ ☆ ｡

I hope this brings you luck and warmth this season!

Lemon, Lavender, and Thyme Madeleines. A Midsummer treat!

Litha is here! It’s the Summer solstice, the longest day and the shortest night. The night is lit with huge bonfires and people are dancing until the dusk, can you hear the drums already? Solstices are a time for celebrations of what we have achieved so far and a reflection of the mistakes we have made and what we have learned.

I don’t know if you are still in lockdown, but here in Scotland we can move around a bit. I don’t know what you have planned for this special day, but I think I’ll just enjoy the sun outside in a park and take a long stroll in my city. There is nothing much I can do in these weird time anyway. I am a huge foodie, so my way of celebrating is more on the kitchen side. I have created the perfect recipe for you! These Madeleines are a treat! They are perfumed with Thyme, lemon and lavender, those herbs correspond to Litha, plus they have strong magical purification properties. Eating those on Litha and you will be cleanse of bad stagnant energies and ready for the second part of the year!

Ingredients

A handful of fresh thyme (plus some for decoration)

1 to 2 tsp dried Lavender (to your taste)

zest of 1 Lemon

3 eggs

120g unrefined cane sugar

125g room temperature butter

150g self-raising flour

Preparation

Prep the Thyme. Wash and dry you thyme. Leave out hard stems and pick the leaves. Mince them in small bits

Prep the Lavender. Grind Lavender in a robot or using a pestle and mortar.

Prep the dough. Beat 3 eggs with the sugar with a whisk until light and foamy

Add the butter then the flour. Mix quickly.

Add the rest of the ingredients: thyme, lavender and the lemon zest.

Mix quickly again. Leave it in the fridge to rest for an hour

Pre-heat the oven 180°C / 360°F

Rub the madeleine molds with butter. If you don’t have madeleine molds, any cupcakes or muffins molds will do too.

Pour the dough in the moulds.

Bake in warm oven 8 to 10 min 180°C / 360°F. They are ready when slightly brown on the edges.

Tips

They are the best eaten straight away from the oven. You can keep them a couple of days in an air tight container.

If you don’t have any cane sugar, regular sugar is fine.

They pairs really well with an Earl Grey tea.

A Hearth Witch's Security System - Boundaries and Entrances

A Disclaimer: I am one person and my opinions (which I have in abundance) may not reflect the opinions of other witches, in general, or other people who call themselves hearth witches. In fact, they probably won’t, because I’m an asshole. I have a bizarre sense of humor that doesn’t convey well in text and I rant about shit I don’t like. A lot. If you don’t think you can handle that, maybe don’t read anything I write. Ever.

Protecting the Home, Protecting the Family 

Let me preface this post by saying, I am exhausted, so probably nothing I write here is going to make sense to anyone but me. Also, that has just been my luck lately, but we’ll see how it goes anyway. 

If you read my blog, you’ll know that I do a lot of stuff to protect my railroad cottage. Not just because I live here, but because I literally use my house as a symbol of my household and family. So, in a witchcraft sense, protecting my home is protecting my family. And, because that’s the witchcraft I write about most on my blog, that’s what I get a lot of questions about (spirit work aside, because that’s what I get the most questions about). 

So, this post is going to be about various ways to protect your home and (hopefully) prevent nasties from creeping inside. 

Rule Number One: Keep a Clean House

I know that sounds really boring. I know you’re like, “Emma, that is not witchcraft. Those are chores and I hate you. Did my mom put you up to this?” But, actually, there are two good reasons that’s Rule No. 1: 

It’s not easy to cleanse a house that isn’t clean. Part of protecting your home is being prepared to go into battle for it. Now, witchcraft is known to make a house a little cluttered. If you’ve got ribbons falling out of your sewing box and stockpiles of tea on your counter. Don’t worry. You’re normal. But it’s possible for a house to be both cluttered and clean.

Cleaning a house regularly is a fantastic way to magically take ownership of the property—which I’ve discussed here. 

Obviously, I’m not saying you’re house has to look like something from Good Housekeeping. My own cottage has four rooms and is home to more than four people. It’ll never be as neat as we want it to be. But’s it’s clean. And that’s what matters. 

Rule Number Two: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors 

I’m not talking about real fences—but those too. I’m talking more about magical boundaries. Like a witch fence. This can be set up in or outside of ritual, using a real fence, other objects, or using visualization. 

So, let’s talk about putting up this fence, huh? The method I use  is, of course, the “Gross Method”—and, by gross, I mean no one wants to do it or talk to me they’ve found out I’ve done it. It uses a pre-existing fence to create the boundary, which means that what you’re actually doing with this method is enchanting or reinforcing your standing fence. It’s supa supa easy. Like really, children could do if you let them. Only probably don’t let them because it’s probably a health hazard. 

For this method, you will need 1) a fence, 2) something to mark your stake-points with, 3) some bodily fluids—i.e. menstrual blood, piss, spit, sexual fluids, etc., 4) your bad ol’ self

Step One: Walk around your property and decide where you want your stake-points to be. I refer to them as stake-points because what you’re actually doing is kind of like putting up a magical tent rather than a fence. These are the strength points of your enchanted fence. You’ll want at least one in every corner of the existing fence. Mark these places. You can do this by scratching or painting on the fence, tying something to the fence, or sticking something in the ground there. In my case, I used the support posts for my pre-existing fence as my stake points, so I didn’t have to mark them because I knew where they were. 

Step Two: Collect fluids. (Unless you’re using spit, which you have.) You can water any of these fluids down if you need to—except probably spit. 

Step Three: Using a paintbrush, herbs, your hands, a spray bottle, or whatever, apply the fluid to the INSIDE of your fence where your neighbors won’t be touching. As you do, visualize the stake-points linking together as they’re placed. I tend to visualize something like a barbed-wire fence going up between my stake-points, but white light works too if you’re into that. **If you’re going to forget, mark where you started.

Step Four: When you’ve completed the fence and connected your last stake-point to your starting point, visualize the tent going up. In my visualization this is something like a deer-skin version of a Circus tent, but I am a legit freak of nature, so your probably wont be. 

Now, you can be done here, or you can write something to say to tweak the spell to your style. If you have Property Spirits that you work with, you may also want to ask them to guard the fence at this point. 

Rule Number Three: Gardening = Ammo 

While we’re still outdoors, let’s talk about ‘defensive gardening’. One of my favorite things to do with my garden is to reinforce my boundaries by planting protective herbs. Not only does it add punch to your enchanted fence, but it provides ammunition should you need to banish something later. 

This can be done directly in the ground, in hanging planters at/on your stake-points, in windowboxes, in planters by the door, etc. 

Some good protective herbs to start are:

Aloe

Rosemary 

Roses (thorny for offensive magic, rosehips for defensive magic)

Mint

Lavender

You may also want to include banishing plants

Garlic 

Sage 

Sweeatgrass

Thyme

As well as flowers, trees, and shrubs to the same effect (like holly, cedar, etc). 

Rule Number Four: Wards/Wardings Aren’t As Hard As They Sound

Come with me to the porch and let’s talk about wards! *runs to the porch, points at wards* Wards are awesome! There are so many different kinds and they can range anywhere from decorative to practical to invisible! 

When you’re warding your doorway, like a lot of witchcraft, intent is super important. Really, it doesn’t matter what kind of ward you use as long as you have the intent. And, with the bucket load of types of warding, you should be able to find one to fit your needs.

My favorite way to ward a door or window is with a decorative ward, which was something we did in my family for years and then I finally saw it outside of our house in an Ellen Dugan book (which I bought JUST for that reason). This one isn’t mine, but it’s a good example of one:

These hang above doors and windows to ward off evil, ill will, etc. and can be made out of dried flowers and herbs (like above), fabric (such as a warding banner), carved into the wood above a door, or any other way you prefer. 

I usually go with the pictured method. Typically I

Start with a base. For year-round wards I like to use wheat and dried grass (which you can find at a craft store—but not Hobby Lobby, because they areevil). 

I face half of my base one way and half the opposite way—so that the cut ends are together and you have the awesome wheat/grass/evergreen ends facing out. Over lap the two halves a few inches and tie them together. (I usually use twine for that, but you can use whatever you like.

Next, go you your second layer, which is the actual warding part. For this, my favorite things to use are lavender (which grows wild in the neighborhood I work in), and rosemary. But there are plenty of other possibilities, too—sunflowers, rose, baby’s breath, holly, pine, mint, etc. These can be tucked into the tie you’ve already made, glued on, or tied on separately. 

To finish mine off, I usually add a bell, to symbolize a signal, which sort of makes the ward into an alarm. Sometimes, when trouble is around, I’ll hear a bell even though it’s not ringing. Sometimes it actually rings. 

The ward can go above your door, window, fireplace, or anywhere else you feel you want to hang it. 

Of course, there are a lot of other ways to ward your doors and windows. 

With energy and visualization. 

With water or oil (drawing protective symbols on them with the water/oil) 

Warding Wreaths

Other hangings (like photographs of deities or saints, Brigid’s crosses, horseshoes, strings or bells)

Salt lines and brickdust (I tend to mix these together)

Hanging herbs by or above the door (I typically dry my herbs next to the door so I never have a shortage of door-based protection)

Whatever

The most important thing is that you make your intent clear. Whether you want to ward off evil spirits or unwelcome mortal visitors, make your intent clear. If you need to do this by putting your warding into a big ritual, do so. If you need to activate your wards out loud, go ahead. 

Rule Number Five: Everything You Need to Strengthen Your Protection is On/In You

Spit

Urine

Menstrual Blood

Sexual Fluids 

Sweat 

and so on

These are all totally useful supplies for witchcraft in general and for protection in specific. A touch of one of these on a window, door, doorknob, etc is fantastic for strengthening a boundary and clearly marking your territory to anyone who might wander inside. Surface cleaning with remove germs, but not the intent or the warning.

Rule Number Six: Never Let an Outsider Make Your Forget Whose House This Is

The conviction of ownership is pretty important to home protection. Don’t let an intruder scare you into believing that they own your home. They don’t. It’s yours. The people inside it are yours. 

Beauty Tips for The Sexy Witch

• eat citrus fruits or drink fruit water as an alternative to mints. Fruit, especially sour fruit, promotes salivation, which helps to fight off bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. adding some strawberry, lemon, and kiwi slices to a bottle of water is a great way to keep your breath sweet.

• Next time you make guacamole, save the pit of the avocado, dry it, and keep it in your purse or on your person. Avocado pits are deeply symbolic of sex, lust, love, and beauty, and can help to attract romance. This symbolism dates back to the ancient aztecs, who named the avocado, “ahacatl,” or “green testicle.”

• Dilute a few drops of pomegranate and rose oil in a teaspoon of coconut oil, and massage this into your neck, chest, and behind your ears as a perfume. The scent is light, seductive, and easy on your partner’s taste buds when they go in to leave a few hickies. Plus, the coconut oil will leave your skin silky smooth and soft.

• Make some DIY jewelry out of wire and river pearl beads. Strings of river pearls can be found at most craft stores; they’re quite cheap, but just as natural and magical as expensive round pearls. Pearls are associated with beauty and sensuality, as well as corresponding to the moon and Venus. They carry a soft energy that promotes both romantic and sexual activity. Red jasper, rose quartz, and rhodochrosite are also good.

• Rosewater. I know so many witches AND non-witches rave over rosewater, but the hype is for good reason. Using rosewater as an astringent facial mist is a refreshing and sensual finishing touch to your date night beauty routine. Rose energy enhances your beauty, and the barely noticeable scent will entice your partner to come a little closer.

• strawberries are a natural aphrodisiac. A stick or container of strawberry lip balm can easily be enchanted to make your lips look naturally ravishing with some rose quartz, red jasper, and a pink candle. Bonus points if it’s pink or red tinted.

• Body glitter!! I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but as someone who doesn’t often wear makeup, I like to find new and exciting ways to glamourize my look without it. Moisturizing body bars and sprays can be found at stores like lush, (the shimmy shimmy bar is my fave,) or online. You can also make your own with some coconut oil, beeswax, essential and fragrance oils, and skin safe seaweed based glitter. I use body glitter as an extra kick to beauty glamours, and a physical reminder of how magically delicious I look.

That’s all I have for now, but if you have any of your own tips please feel free to add on! Much love and good luck to you all 💕

It’s a cold, rainy day here and I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I thought I would share my “get well draught”. It’s warming and comforting and the most reliable thing I have found to make me feel better when I have a cold (except for sudafed).

I use; - A small handful of fresh mint - A teaspoon of fresh ginger or half a teaspoon powdered - Quarter of a teaspoon of chilli powder - Quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon - The juice of half a lemon Stir clockwise and strain before drinking.

The best thing about this “tea” is that you can make it to your own tastes. Today I’ve added lemongrass and if I have it and feel like it I add honey. This tea is great if you have a sore throat or blocked sinuses. You can double or tripple the ingredients and brew in a pot on the stove and put your face in the steam for added benefits.

Extra points for drinking it from a cool mug that makes you feel badass!