Crafty Kitchen Witch

Emerald (May Birthstone) Scientific: The name Emerald is of ancient origin. The Latin or Greek name "Smaragdus" means green stone and appears to have referred to all green stones in ancient times. Emeralds are now considered as a distinct species all of their own. Emerald is a green form of beryl. It is the most precious stone in the beryl family. Other stones in the beryl family include aquamarine (bluish-green), bixbite (red), heliodore (yellow), and morganite (pink). Not all gem quality green beryls are called emeralds only those stones that are green due to the presence of chromium. Green beryl colored by vanadium and not chromium is not emerald but are simply green beryl. Emerald crystallizes in the structure of prismatic crystals, sometimes vertically striated and terminated by small pyramid-like faces, as well as hexagonal, and hexagonal prisms. Emeralds can be light or dark green, bright green or leaf green or slightly yellowish green. Color distribution i...

I know it's spring now here but we will soon be melting and these will come in handy>>> iStockphoto/Thinkstock Beat the heat: Peppermint tea mist Brew a pot of peppermint tea, then stick it in the fridge. Once it's nice and cold, Wonderhowto.com suggests pouring some into a spray bottle and misting yourself with it. Better than water, the menthol in the tea will give your skin a tingly, cool feeling. iStockphoto/Thinkstock 2 / 11 Beat the heat: Chrysanthemum tea Whether it's hot or cold, chrysanthemum tea is served to lower body temperature, according to China Daily . It's also been said to soothe heat rash, experts told Natural Health . Beat the heat: Breathe like a yogi Next time you feel overheated, do a few minutes of yogic breathing, recommends Art of Living . Curl your tongue by pulling both sides upward toward the middle, then breathe in through your mouth. Hold your breath, and slowly exhale t...

Reading and Ceremony for Charging a Tarot Deck a reposting by Joy Vernon Clearing and Charging a Tarot Deck To clear a deck or any other magical tool is to remove or neutralize the energy that exists in it. To charge a magical tool is to imbue it or fill it with your own energy and with a special purpose or intention. Although you can successfully read with a deck that has not been cleared or charged, if you take the time to do these things you will find that the tool has become much more personalized and powerful since it is sharing your energy. It’s like the difference between a toy you had when you were a kid that just sat on a shelf ignored and one you dragged with you everywhere you went. You want your cards to have the energy of your favorite toy (but maybe not the greasy kid finger residue). Clearing The first step in the charging process is to clear or neutralize the existing energy in the deck. If the deck was purchased used, this is a step you will ...

Well they are planted and Growing and I'm a happy Woman I love herbs, growing them, smelling them, cooking with them, drying them and making things with them. So I've loaded up on all the one's that I love and could find locally this year, plus one of my wonderful son in laws, got me 6 so he made Points once again, he does that well..;) They are so pretty, don't you agree? Yes So fresh and oh you should smell them When growing herbs you need to remember....water fresh water almost daily, unless it rains, then save your water for a day or until it stops raining. Make sure they have good drainage and get a good amount of sun. Touch them, look for any pests, the good thing is most herbs don't get too many pests, in fact they even repel some pests. Here are tips on growing herbs Grow Fragrant, Flavorful and Healing Plants Where would humans be without herbs? Considering how many centuries we have used plants for their culinary or healing propertie...

Humankind made the discovery of fire somewhere between 250,000 and 500,000 years ago. We learned and evolved into a species determined to harness the energy and power of the flame. Through the ages, it was the Witches and Mages that studied the properties of fire and wax. The candle dates back to some unrecorded time before the Greek City States. Candles were lit and their light used to illuminate the altars of the Gods and Goddesses of the Old World. Today candles are used in modern ritual work, but are so often given a passive role. Few practitioners know the true powers of the candle and many only use it as a light source. The power of the candle can greatly enhance your magical workings. When you use candle magic, you are initiating change in the Universe, being either constructive or destructive in nature. The universal energies are themselves neutral, and are therefore neither good nor bad. How you use your magic will shape the type of energy that is rendered in the end. Alw...