Crafty Kitchen Witch

#newmoon #wintersolstice, #decembernewmoon #yulenewmoon #newmoonindecember Stars are among the most ancient of all spiritual and magical symbols, and they are revered by most major religions. They serve as symbols of hope, trust, beauty and fame. In December, stars take on special significance since they’re linked to religious holidays and are a sign of the season. And naturally stars serve as our link to the heavens, as well as our loftiest ambitions. This New Moon begins as the year is about to end. Not only does combining New Moon energy with the star power create awesome possibilities, the stars will also illuminate our path as we enter a new year. For this spell, go all out when you decorate your altar. Cover the altar with a white or silver cloth. Use as many white and silver candles as you wish, and a few small mirrors. At the center of the altar place a clear bowl filled with plain spring water, and your wand or athame. This spell isn’t meant for a specific wish; instead you sh...

  Traditionally Yule lasts 12 days starting on the Winter Solstice where they would begin to burn the Yule tree during the darkest day of the year. December 21 marks the beginning of winter and the longest night. It is also the turning point where the days slowly start to get longer, so we embrace and celebrate the return of the Sun. The cold winter nights are a perfect time to rest and appreciate what we have. Let go of the past years energy to make room for next years blessings and new beginnings. December 20th is Mother’s Night, the official beginning of the celebration of Yule. Yule is a twelve-day festival that was celebrated in ancient times. Many people, like my family, still celebrate it today. In case you aren’t familiar with it, I’d like to share some information about it, in hopes that you might add it to your holiday celebrations. This is the day known as Mōdraniht in Old English, and “Mother’s Night” in modern. It is one of my favorite days of the year. Today we honor ...

  Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen. A mantle of snow shone brightly that night As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight. The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees, Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze. The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows, Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows. When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake, Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break. The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet Then raced to the river where they usually meet. “What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed, As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed. “What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?” They all spoke at once as they stood by the river. Then what to their wondering eyes should appear But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere. It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye, Then it f...

  You need: *A candle in your favorite color *5 red rose petals *A picture of you as a child looking happy Sit cross-legged on the floor and make sure you are comfortable light the candle and spread the rose petals out around it. Put your picture in front of you and look deep into the flame of the candle. Relax for a few seconds and breathe deeply forgetting everything that is depressing you. Push all your unhappiness into the rose petal closest to you. Talk the rose petal and crush it in your hand and throw it away. Breathe deeply again and look into the picture of you as a happy child and chant: "By the power within me, let happiness be. Dig up from the corners of my mind, the happiness and carefree of a child. Push away heavy thoughts, let happiness flow free. So Mote It Be." Chant this about 3 times, more if you like but no less. Close your eyes imagine being young and carefree. Then blow out the candle stand up and spin around counter clockwise in a circle 3...

  Paganism: Pagan comes from the Latin word meaning "country dweller". Today, Pagan means several things and is often used as an umbrella term for those of natural like religions - including Wicca". Pagans are known for celebrating Nature and the cycle of the earth while seeing the divine within every object, that the Goddesses and Gods live within each object, including ourselves! Paganism is in essence the "old religion or ways" - and it is seen as a spiritual heritage of sorts - holding onto the beliefs and traditions of one's ancestors. Paganism is dual in the fact that it holds both the female and male aspects as powerful, contrary to the more "common" religions of today (i.e. Christianity, Catholicism, Jewish-ism etc). In Paganism, several aspects are seen within the three faceted beliefs - the Goddess is known to form the Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone). There are three three faces of the moon and so on. This is similar to t...

The Befana is a simultaneously good and stern old woman who visits homes where children live on the night between January 5 and 6. To get from one house to another, she flies on a broom, which tradition has turned around with twigs on the front (thus in contrast to the way medieval “witches” carry it). This traveling old lady has a big nose and a protruding chin; she is more generous than beautiful. Her clothes are threadbare and her shoes old; on her head, she wears a rag to shelter her gray hair from the cold. While the children are sleeping, La Befana stuffs their socks with sweets and small toys, if the children during the year have been good, while she puts bits of coal or ashes in them if they have been too fussy. Children prepare to receive the Befana by leaving her a glass with a latte in the kitchen, along with the socks to be filled. May your Christmas be happy and blessed ✻✿ ✻*LIKE ✻✿ ✻* SHARE✻✿ ✻* Please don't forget to LIKE our posts and SHARE our page to keep us in yo...

  Let me take a moment to say that today People don't seem to make time for traditions. With all the rushing of the holidays especially people get to caught up in things to be able to slow down and enjoy the holidays, take time for traditions and remember the family time, time for rest and relaxation more than any other time of year. We all need to take time to breath, think back, investigate their heritage and family life  more. "The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this is a period of descent and rest, of going within our homes, within ourselves and taking in all that we have been through, all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close... like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is so necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds. Our modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, comfort food and consumer...

  Peppermint:    Looking for a natural way to ease some common discomforts? Consider peppermint. The plant’s dried, crushed leaves or extracted oil offer more than a pleasing aroma and flavor, they have medicinal applications as well. Peppermint can be used:   As a chest rub to ease breathing with the common cold   For relief of indigestion and nausea, also helps when you have that full stomach feeling from eating too much   As a treatment for gastrointestinal ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease   Topical treatment for sore or tight muscles including tension headaches   Be aware that while largely beneficial for the digestive tract, peppermint tea can worsen the heartburn experienced with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may also promote the flow of bile from the gallbladder and complicate gallstones – consult your doctor if you have these conditions and stop using peppermint product...