Kitchen Witchery Cures: Remedy Recipes

Many remedies can be made from what you have in the kitchen, from spices as well as herbs and plants. Here are a few simple tried-and-tested recipes handed down through generations of wise women:

    * Nutmeg Milk: Grated nutmeg soothes heartburn, nausea, and upset tummies. Use a grater to grate a         small amount (about 1⁄8 teaspoon) to 1 mug of warmed milk (cow, soy, rice, or oat milk). It is                     comforting and curing.

    * Cayenne Infusion: Use this pepper as a remedy for colds, coughs, sore throats, heartburn,                         hemorrhoids, and varicose veins, or as a digestive stimulant and to improve circulation. Make an                 infusion by adding 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne powder to 1 cup (240ml) boiled water. Add 2 cups (480ml) of      hot water to make a more pleasant and palatable infusion. Add lemon and honey to taste.

    * Catnip by the Cup: This herb is not just for kitties! We humans can also benefit from it as a remedy         for upset tummies as well as a way to diminish worry, anxiety, and nervous tension. Take a palmful of         dried catnip leaves and steep in a cup (240ml) of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain as you would any     loose tea. Honey helps even more and a cup or two of catnip tea per day will have you in fine fettle,             relaxed and ready.

    * Cranberry Cure: How many times did your mom tell you to drink your cranberry juice? Turns out she     was right to insist. Unsweetened cranberry juice is very good for bladder health and also benefits men         as it’s great for prostate health, too. Two half cups (two lots of 120ml) a day, mom’s orders!

    

    * Echinacea Root: Every herb store or organic grocer will have dried echinacea root for fighting colds         and negating respiratory infections. It is an amazing immune booster! Just mince a teaspoonful and             steep in a cup (240ml) of boiling water. Sweeten to taste and drink at least a couple of cups a day.

Happy Ever After Housewarming

When you have settled into your new home, invite your friends and family over to bless the rooms and ensure that you are surrounded with good energy.

Timing: The optimal time for a housewarming is during the new moon.

Take a bowl or cup of water and add a sprinkle of salt. Stand in the front room, near the front door. Dip your fingers in the water and sprinkle droplets on the threshold. Now turn to the east and say:

    Powers of the East,

    Source of the sun rising,

    Bring hope and inspiration.

Sprinkle some water in the east, then turn to the south and say:

    Powers of the South,

    Source of summer’s warmth and light,

    Bring joy and bounty.

Sprinkle some water in the south, then turn to the west and say:

    Powers of the West,

    Source of oceans and rivers,

    Bring the power of the waves.

Sprinkle some water in the west, then turn to the north and say:

    Powers of the North,

    Source of the winter, place of the mountains, and the polestar,

    Bring security and sight.

Now bring out the wine, mead, and sparkling cider and celebrate because you have now blessed this house!

Goddess Visualization: Group Guided Meditation

I have led many groups in this guided meditation. Everyone should gather in a circle and make themselves very comfortable, sitting on the ground, standing, or even lying down. All you need to bring is an open mind and a pen and paper to record the special message Mother Goddess has for you.

Blessed beings, you are about to enter the Mother, our great earth Goddess, Gaia. In your mind, you are standing with bare feet on the ground. You can feel the grass with your toes, the solid earth underneath your feet. Feel the solidity and power of the earth as it fills your body with strength; we are all made of clay. We come from her, and we are made of earth. Feel your connection to the Mother. We are made of stardust and clay and the waters of the ocean. Feel the blood in your veins. The water of life. Know that you are alive. Feel her winds, the breath of life. Breathe deeply ten times, completely filling your lungs and completely emptying your lungs. Breathe and feel your chest rising and falling with each breath.

Now feel your backbone connecting to the earth; you feel a cord connecting you and your life to the earth. Concentrate on the cord until you can feel it running all the way through you and deep into the earth. Tug on “the cord; feel it give. Now, take the cord in your hands and follow it down, down deep into the earth. It is dark as you go down and down, but do not be frightened. Trust in the universe and keep descending into the bosom of the Mother. Down we go, not falling but moving purposefully, gracefully, following the cord of the earth. Now you see light. Keep moving toward the light and keep holding the cord as it leads you to the shining distance.

The light grows nearer, and you see that it is an opening, a cave, a safe place in which to shelter. Enter the cave. It is filled with light, firelight reflected off a thousand crystal points. An old woman sits at the fire, warming her bones in her cozy dry cave. It is beautiful, more beautiful than the palace of any king or the castle of any queen. It is the crystal cave of the Goddess, and you are with her. Show your respect to the Goddess and light the incense at her altar at the side of the cave, piled up with many shimmering stones and priceless gems, the bounty and beauty of our generous benefactor.

Sit quietly and heed the special message she has for you. You are her child, and she has dreamed a dream for you. Now we listen and breathe. Blessed be.

Now open the circle and sit in silence for a moment, so that everyone present can record her impressions and visions in a journal. In years to come, if you and your circle of women decide to observe this rite annually, as I recommend, you can share and compare notes from prior years. This is a wonderful way to process the passages of your lives

The Crown of Cronehood: A Ritual of Honoring

Women should feel good about aging. They should celebrate long, full lives, and be respected and honored for the wisdom they bring to the community. Croning rituals, such as this one, are the signal to the group that a woman has ascended into a new role of service and leadership to the family, the tribe, the village, and the sisterhood. Elders say this coming of age occurs at the woman’s second Saturn return, which is at age 58 to 60, but modern women now often decide for themselves.

While this ritual can last as long as is needed, the actual crowning lasts for 5 very magical minutes.

Gather together

    * a flowering branch

    * a crown or tiara (you can easily obtain one at any costume shop), placed on the altar table

    * enough candles to represent every year of the crone’s life

Upon the arrival of the soon-to-be-crowned crone, the eldest woman present should take a flowering branch, dip it in water, and sprinkle it on the crone’s head, just a few drops, and speak this blessing:

    I bless you in the name of the Goddess.

    I bless you in the name of Mother Earth.

    I bless you in the name of every woman.

    Sister, do you accept the role of teacher and leader as crone?

The crone responds. If she accepts the title, then the eldest woman says:

    She is crowned.

The eldest woman places the Crown of Cronehood upon the new crone’s head. Now everyone should speak together:

    We gather together to celebrate that [new crone’s name] is entering the Wise Age.

Now the eldest woman and the youngest woman present light the candles. After everyone has spoken her tribute to the crone, she can speak her thanks. When the newly crowned crone has spoken from her heart, she ends with “Blessed be to all.” Food is then served, and it should be a birthday party to remember for a lifetime.

An Enchanted Engagement

When two people in love decide to get married, it is a wonderful event for the entire community of friends and family. It is good to toast the happy couple and acknowledge this momentous occasion. Invite them over and anyone else who may want to share in this blessing.

Gather together

    * yellow roses and yellow candles to symbolize joy

    * champagne and sparkling cider and flutes for serving

    * sweet cakes and cookies, round in shape to symbolize rings

Once everyone has arrived, light the candles and hand one rose to each of the betrothed. Speak this blessing:

    Today we share our love with both of you
    We share in your joy for the future.
    You have given your hearts to each other
    We give our hearts to you.
    We celebrate this bright beginning
    And all the happiness it will bring.
    Blessed be, dear ___ and ___ [speak the names of the couple]
    You will give and live in total joy.
    Blessed be to thee. So mote it be!

Now pop the champagne and pass the bottle and the sweets around and share in this loving toast.

Predictions for the New Year: Divination Conjuration

Gather a group of women together around a large table you can use as the altar. Ask them to bring feast books to share and offerings of fruit, flowers, or vegetables as altar offerings to the Goddess.

Gather together

    * 13 candles

    * a black bowl filled with water

Timing: January 1.

Place the offerings and the 13 candles on the altar around the bowl filled with water, which is to be used as a scrying mirror (to foretell the future). Light the candles and turn down the lights and say aloud:

    Fruit, flower, and Goddess’s herb,

    Perform for me enchantment superb.

    You give us grain and bread.

    Foretell for me the year ahead.

After placing the offerings on the altar, one at a time, each woman should kneel over the mirror and look upon the water. Some people may see images, but oftentimes the information comes as an impression, a thought, or meditative reflection. People should only share their visions if they feel the need to do so.

After each woman has had a turn, everyone should chant and sing together:

    Daughters under this sun

    Sisters under this moon

    Tonight we receive your blessings

    Goddess great and good—

    We thank you for the year to come.