Crafty Kitchen Witch

Iron has a long tradition in the mythology and folklore of the world. Our blood smells of the iron which its cells contain, and blood in many traditions is equated with the life-force, so iron has been equated with the blood or life-force of the Earth. This relationship is charted in depth in literature on geomancy, ley lines and songlines. In Plutarch's mystical writings, for instance, iron (and lodestone) is referred to as the "bone" or "core" of the gods. Symbolically, iron is the bone, the foundation or the mineral core of both blood and red ochre. Iron, particularly "cold iron", was employed as a protective substance or charm against faeries. In various folk lore, supernatural creatures are held to hold an aversion to iron or even be harmed by the touch of iron. Conversely, amongst Asian traditions, there are tales of iron-working fairies. "Cold iron" is sometimes asserted to repel, contain, or harm ghosts, fair

Herbs are very healing and help keep us healthy if we give them time, I will take herbs over doctors medicines anyday as they don't attack our livers and kidneys do among other side effects of man meds. By Jackie Leavitt Staring at a grocery store's wall of teas can be intimidating. There are so many options to scan before picking the one you will eventually ring through at the register. And every one has a different purpose, from soothing your throat to helping you lose weight to just tasting pretty darn good. Having recently been sick with a combination of allergies (due to the move cross country - there are so many new plants out here!) and what I assume is the common cold, instead of going out to buy a few teas for all my ailments, I concocted my own (ginger, garlic, rosemary, tumeric, oregano, plus a little local honey). Making your own tea is surprisingly simple - it’s like making a soup, really. You just take a whole bunch of ingredients, chop them up, throw it all

Essential Oil Quick Reference Page A quick reference of essential oils and their various uses in mainly aromatherapy.  This list is far from complete but will give you a good basic knowledge essential oils. Benzion* For bronchitis, coughs, sore throats, and stress laryngitis. Bergamont* For abscesses, acne and breakouts, asthma, and boils. Black Pepper* Used for arthritis, cramps, and chilblains. Caraway* Good for flatulence. Chamomile* Arthritis, heartburn, asthma, boils, chicken pox, colic, and cystitis. Cinnamon* Is good for colds, and sniffles. Clary Sage* Use for anxiety, depression, insomnia or when stress threatens. Clove* For nausea, and cases of vomiting. Cypress*Good for arthritis, fever, gout, hemorrhoids, and the urinary tract. Eucalyptus* This great oil is good for a host of things including bronchitis, chicken pox, colds, cold sores, coughs, diarrhoea, fever, hay fever, the flu, shingles, and sinusitis. Fennel* For colic, diarrhoea, gas, and fluid retention

Who doesn't Need to Organize? I know I do   Whether you work at home or just have a small office area at home, it is wise to periodically clear your home work-space and organize. Clutter jumbles the mind and spirit, as well the physical space we inhabit. Weed through old mail, catalogs, and papers, and toss what you no longer need into a bag for recycling. Search your space with a keen eye, and remove anything that doesn't have a purpose. Dust and clean with intention.   Choose three items that nurture your tri-part self: body, mind, and spirit. Perhaps a Goddess statue (of Athena or another figure), some peppermint aromatherapy oil (for mental clarity), and a relaxing music CD.   Afterward, say: I invite peace and calm into my space and into my life. )0(

I recommend doing this often as you can, you should make the time.   Most of us would like to live in a more spiritually-conscious way, but the task can seem so daunting. Where to begin? The great teacher, author, and philosopher Rudolph Steiner had a wonderful idea: he identified one gentle spiritual task for each day of the week. After all, seven is a magical number (think of the seven chakras), and having seven days of the week as a container makes deep soul-sense.   You can use these simple, meaningful exercises as a basis for meditation, or simply as touchstones to keep in mind throughout the day. Step by step, we can gently bring ourselves into greater clarity and awareness. Breaking the process down into daily tasks makes it so do-able, and the end result will be greater soul-strength and consciousness.   SATURDAY: Right Thinking Be aware of your thoughts. Gradually learn to separate in your thoughts the essential from the nonesse

I can relate to this, and I try to make sure that I do connect with Nature on a regular basis, and you should try it too. It has helped me when I have felt ill, when I have health problems that are doubling up on my body, when I am a slight bit depressed, all I find I need to do is go outside, smell the air, close my eyes and listen to Nature(drown out the city noise) and touch a flower, hug a tree,(yes I am a tree hugger  and I start to feel amazing again, also balancing chakras along with Taking in Nature will help. In the Open Air by Madisyn Taylor Because we instinctively know that nature is good for us on many levels, it’s not unusual to feel powerfully drawn to it. In this modern age, we spend so much time indoors, focused on the busyness of our lives and disconnected from the earth. But much of what we truly need can only be found under the naked sky, alongside tall trees, on open plains, or in the sound of running water. Spending time in nature allows us to comm

  Ocean Jasper is produced from only one mine near Marovato, Madagascar. The deposit, being located at the edge of the ocean, can only be seen and collected at low tide. This remote area has no roads so the material must be transported to civilization by boat. Technically considered "Orbicular Jasper" in reference to its colorful orbs, some have adopted the name "Moon Jewel Jasper." But "Ocean Jasper" seems most fitting, as it was found right along the shore. Orbicular jasper's distinctive patterns are made up of round or spherical inclusions of contrasting colors floating in solid jasper. The orbs can range in diameter from a millimeter to a centimeter, and frequently show a particularly dramatic concentric banding. How orbicular jasper forms is still a scientific mystery. This stone helps one to accept responsibilities, develop patience and help with circular breathing during meditation. Orbicular Jasper allows for nutritional

After simplifying my herbal uses, I then noticed that the same was true for my essential oils . These are the ones that I use on a weekly basis. Melaleuca (tea tree): As an anti-fungal and additive to cleaners. Peppermint: For headaches, or mixed with coconut oil and raw honey for a delicious thyroid-boosting treat. Lavender: Also for headaches and to promote restful sleep. Wild Orange: Added to my laundry detergent for great smell. Also a fantastic addition to cake batter. Lemon: Used for de-greasing in our mop bucket and cleaners. Mood lifting. Eucalyptus: Used to clean our floors. Add a small amount to coconut oil for a decongestant chest rub Frankincense: Use on bug bites and minor wounds. Supplies for Your Herbal Medicine Cabinet When you're determining which herbs and their uses you'll most need and begin to stock your medicine cabinet accordingly, you'll also want to consider some supplies. Carrier oils: Olive,

Goutweed Other Names: Achweed, Aegopodium podagraria, Angelica Menor, Ashweed, Bishop's Elder, Bishop's Goutweed, Bishopsweed, Bishopswort, Égopode Podagraire, Egopodio, Eltroot, English Goatweed, Gout Herb, Goutwort, Ground Elder, Herb Gerard, Herbe de Saint-Gérard, Herbes-aux-Goutteux, Jack-Jump-About, Masterwort, Petite Angélique, Pigweed, Pied d’Aigle, Pied de Chèvre, Podagraire, Weyl Ash, White Ash. Gout Weed has a long history of medicinal use besides being cultivated for food. It was the main gout treatment. One theory is the clergy got a lot of gout because they ate better than most but reports about St. Gerard say he lived poorly, giving half of what he ever made to his mother and the other half to those more poor than he. All parts of the plant are diuretic. It has been used to also treat rheumatism, arthritis and bladder disorders. Some credit consumption of the plant, others external use in the area of the gout, such as crushing the root and holding

27 Foods that Contain Natural Aspirin When most people experience headaches, joint pain, or other aches in their body, they turn to aspirin or another anti-inflammatory drug. Aspirin was originally derived from the herbs meadowsweet and willow bark and later synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry to create a patentable product, which they do to increase profits. When natural compounds are synthesized in a laboratory and then marketed as drugs, they typically cause side-effects that the food and herb sources do not usually cause. Unfortunately the list of side-effects on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs) is lengthy and not worth the risk for most people.  It ranges from gastrointestinal irritation to death.  Fortunately, there are many foods that contain salicylates or salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in aspirin. Before you pop that pill, consider the many fruits, vegetables, and herbs that contain natural aspiri

Tinctures Sedative Tincture Place 1 and a half ounces of chamomile and 1 and a half teaspoons of powdered peppermint into a half quart of vodka. Allow to steep for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and bottle. Use as a sedative for adults Dosage is half a dropperful under the tongue, as needed. Valerian Root Tincture Although this tincture is a great sedative, it is also use to clean sores, clod sores, poison ivy rash, and a host of other skin ailments. It is wonderful for certain tension headaches and for sinus headaches. It is truly a great relaxant. Since it is a great muscle relaxant, it would be helpful to take orally for sore muscles or when suffering from back injury. Dosage for adults would be half a dropperful every 4 hours or so for muscle spasms due to back pain. The smell is awful, so I place the liquid in #00 capsules and give the dosage that way. Skullcap is a good substitute if valerian is not available. Both have a sedative effect. Just add 4 ounces of va

Here is my list of Herbal Salves, I make these to put into my Gift Baskets which I sell Natural Herbal Salves are so healing and good for you, of course be careful incase you are allergic to any of the ingredients. But You know this I hope by now )O( Salve for Itching and Rashes Put 1 ounce of dried chickweed and 1 ounce of dried comfrey into 1 pint of olive oil and follow the instructions for the "Basic Salve Recipe." This salve is handy to have for treating diaper rash or for the itching caused by poison oak or poison ivy. Pain Reliever Salve Mix together 1 ounce of chickweed (reduces inflammation and aids in healing), 1 ounce of wormwood (a great pain reliever), and 1 ounce of yarrow (an anti-bacterial agent that also helps to relieve pain). Add the mixed herbs to 2 pints of olive oil and simmer 3 hours. Strain and add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 teaspoon of tincture of Benzoin. Test for consistency before pouring into wide mouth containers. Aloe Vera Salve

It's very important to take good care of Your skin, lips, hair, and health. So I am all about natural So I search and I test, and I use herbal products. I have a large collections of recipes, some tried and some I haven't yet. So here are a lot of recipes for Lip Balms and Gloss I hope you will try some Lip and Skin Butter 20 ounces Almond Oil 1/2 pound Anhydrous Lanolin 8 ounces Glycerin 3 3/4 ounces Beeswax 5-10 drops of Essential Oil Over low heat, dissolve the lanolin in the almond oil, add the glycerin and stir until all three are dispersed. Add the finely- chopped beeswax, stirring until just melted, add the essential oil, and pour the salve into containers. Stir the pot frequently and pour as quickly as reasonable. If you take too long the lanolin and glycerin may begin to separate. Yummy Coconut Balm What you need:Coconut Oil, beeswax and coconut flavoring(the same stuff used for flavoring cakes and cookies in the baking section of your grocery

I have been making salves for years now, all kinds, salves for Boo Boos, arthritis, dry skin, rashes, scratches and witchy flying salves. I like making Salves, ointments, potions and lotions. I have even made these to sell and put in gift baskets which I sell So now I am sharing a few recipes with you, the ingredients can get pricey to gather for making homemade herbal crafting but it is worth it, or you can just order a gift basket from ME ;) Email me, I also make spell Kits This recipe is for a headache salve, because some people either can't take pills or really don't want to and as long as you or your family aren't allergic, (always check with doctor if you don't know, Of course doctors usually tell you not to use or use these such products which I have learned to not listen to what doctors always say) You will need… -15-20 drops of peppermint oil -10 drops of lavender oil -2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil -1/4 cup Shea nut oil -1 tablespoon grapeseed oil -2 table

Drawing Down The Moon the witches' anthology | the celebration of pagan practice | wicca 101 | esbats | drawing down the moon Drawing Down the Moon In ancient times, when moon-worship was prevalent, wymyn gathered together in the secret places of The Feminine, by pounding seas, in arid deserts, on blustery mountain tops, in stone temples and leafy forests to invoke their Goddesses by 'drawing down the moon.' Back then, the moon was worshipped and revered by peoples worldwide. For example, Upper Egypt used to be called Khemennu, 'Land of the Moon.' As many pre-historic peoples did, the Babylonians considered the moon more important than the sun. This same theme can be found in central Asia, in Polynesia and Peru, in Scandinavia and in even folded in the pages of Gnostic belief. We know that the moon reflects the major stages of womynhood and even today, it is honored in ceremonies that 'draw down the moon.' While it remains true that wymyn a

Drawing Down The Moon, or Calling Down the Moon, is a core Wiccan spiritual practice. By drawing down the light of the Full Moon, you fill yourself with Divine Light, or the Essence of the Goddess. In Gardnerian Wicca, this is done only by the High Priestess before a ritual. She thus becomes the Goddess on Earth. But this is too great a spiritual practice to be so limited. And nowadays, when all of us are becoming the Divine on Earth - and are needed to - everyone can do this practice. Not just before ritual, but anytime. Every time I see the Moon, I invoke Her light, even if only with a thought and a breath. In Wicca Spirituality, every woman (and man) can invoke the Goddess Within. Benefits of Drawing Down The Moon As An Ongoing Practice Since this Divine Light is the source of Life, Drawing Down the Moon is a practice that can help with many issues . . . Empowerment, Healing from illness or injury and improving well-being Letting go of fear and accepting