Crafty Kitchen Witch

The Witches' Herbs In certain ways, herbs constitute our closest physical link with antiquity. The herbs used by the witches and herbalists of old are still in use by pharmacologists and conjurers today. The most famous of the witches' herbs, mandrake, henbane, monkshood, hemlock, thorn apple, and deadly nightshade, all led curiously double lives. Often deadly poison in larger doses, they turn up in smaller quantities in love philters. And they are also often used in flying ointments. Each of the witches' herbs acquired a variety of aliases as it journeyed through the ages, and each trails legends like tattered bridal veils. Hemlock, of course, is associated with Socrates, who supposedly died of a mixture of hemlock juice, laudanum, and wine-- the numbing "pleasant" death reserved for the better class of criminals. The worst offenders were made to take aconitine, the poison found in monkshood--which procured a far more violent and painful death. Hen...

Veracruz Home ofrenda (altar) with banana leaf tamales, pan de muerto in shapes of little spirits & hot chocolate - Veracruz, Mexico It's based on the Mexican celebration that honors & remembers the dead in a joyous way on November 1 & 2. It's a holiday steeped in traditions that are rigidly prescribed, that unfold in order with pageantry, color, abundance and love. The holiday is celebrated over the course of three days with many activities occurring: preparing special foods; buying exorbitant amounts of wild marigolds, chocolate, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, incense, candles, mole, fruit, sweets & liquor at the open air markets; reuniting with friends & family - many who travel great distances at considerable expense to return home for the visits from their loved ones. Fathers teach their children how to build the ofrendas in the house that are creatively decorated with items to delight the visiting spirits. Women gather to ma...

I found this site from a link someone emailed me and I was so impressed with their creative mind that I have to share it with you, I want to make some, I love working with clay check out their website  creativekismet.com You need a bit of white polymer clay, a pencil (with broken tip), a large sewing needle, black paint and a very fine paint brush.   The pencil is the most important tool – make special note of broken tip shape.   1. Take a pinch of clay.  2. Roll into a ball.  3. Pinch end to made pear shape.   4-7.  Take handy-dandy broken pencil and press into clay making a big indention for the each eye and a smaller one for the nose. 8-10.   Use the tip of the pencil to create a teethy smile. 11.  Using  a needle, carefully poke hole into head (note evil laugh – a must for making skulls).   12. When all faces are smiling up at you, bake ‘em at 275 degrees for 5 minutes (I trie...

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep Do not stand at my grave ...and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. by Mary Elizabeth Frye – 1932 a Baltimore housewife and florist, best known as the author of the poem "Do not stand at my grave and weep," written in 1932. She was born Mary Elizabeth Clark, and was orphaned at the age of three. In 1927 she married Claud Frye. The identity of the author of the poem was unknown until the late 1990s, when Frye revealed that she had written it. Her claim was later proven by Abigail Van Buren. Her poem was also used in one of the Norwegian protocols to express condolences ...

To a Declining Sun: A Solitary Witch Honours the Season of the Falling Leaf Written by: Patricia Olson Now is the time of 'light in August,' The days drip with liquid gold, The flame-red God's prowess slowly weakens, And the caress of the gloaming enfolds... ...Like the touch of a dark, soft blanket, Ready to gather the Old King in its arms, That He may retire anon more early, And so enjoy the night time's charms. By day he still breathes a furious fire, Ripening grain and fruit and seed, So that with the coming of the autumn, The good, brown earth will have all She needs. Soon the Rowan will catch fire, And the leaves turn to russet and gold, There will be fowl suppers and fall fairs, And harvest tables with all they can hold. On an afternoon of amber and sapphire, The nutty scent of Mabon in the air, Through the ankle-deep leaves I will saunter, My dog-child and I an inseparable pair. Soon the season of dark w...

By Marygrace Stergakos, Green Options Tofu. For those of us who have learned to master this culinary chameleon, its sort of miraculous. Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever its seasoned or marinated with, while its texture can vary depending on the mode of preparation. I always keep a couple of blocks of the stuff on-hand for quick stir-fries or sandwiches, but really, that's just the beginning of what tofu can do. There are two main different types of tofu: Silken and firm. The silken variety is Japanese in origin, and is soft, delicate, and creamy. It doesn't hold it's shape too well, so is best used in its pureed form for smoothies, eggless/dairyless pies, dips, or soups. Firm, or Chinese-style tofu, is (as its name implies) much firmer, and holds its shape when sliced for marinating and baking, cubing, or crumbling. If you're seeking to expand your tofu repertoire, look no further than this list: Marinate firm tofu in a mix of tamari, apple cider vineg...

Tuning in to any energy is the ability to quiet the mind, allowing your inner self, or intuition, to perceive truth. By practicing this art, we develop a sensitivity toward inner information and the ability to condition our mind to listen on a much more subtle level. This developing can allow us the ability to sense energy and actually perceive on an even more subconscious plane. Techniques are vast and varied and include personal energy work, meditation, yoga, qi gong, visualization, physical exercise, prayer or your own personal techniques, all of which can be used in calming and clearing the mind and achieving clearer perception. Greater self control and self balance, awareness, inner peace and connective energy to the source of truth are all important in the path to attunement. As our minds are conditioned to listen in silence, responses come quicker and clearer to us. Crystals Associated with Intuition The power behind Earth's minerals can be felt the minute you put...