Invoking Your Inner Goddess: Divine Essence Oil

This relaxation remedy is an excellent way to create personal space after a hectic week.

Gather together

    * 2 drops cedar essential oil

    * 2 drops sandalwood essential oil

    * 2 drops amber essential oil

    * 2 drops lavender essential oil

    * 4 drops carrier (or base) oil, such as sesame or jojoba

    * a small bowl or vial, preferably heart-hued red

Timing: This tincture is most potent on goddess Freya’s Day, Friday evening.

Mix together the essential oils with the carrier (or base) oil in the bowl or vial.

Touch one drop of the Divine Essence Oil on each pulse point: on both wrists, behind your ear lobes, on the base of your neck, and behind your knees. Wait a few moments and let the power of the goddess fill your senses as your mind, body, and spirit are renewed. Close your eyes and recite:

Freya, eternal and wise, give your strength to me now.

As I breathe, you are alive in me for this night.

Make sure to thank the goddess for all the blessings in your life.

Invoke Your Inner Goddess

At the next full moon, make a vow, alone or with your partner, to bring forth all your inner erotic powers. Begin with a blissful bath in oil-scented water; this essential oil must be the one that makes you feel sexiest. For me, it is an equal mix of vanilla and amber; my vamber has never failed me. When I wear this unguent, I feel as if a cloud of sensuality surrounds me.

Sit in a darkened room, encircled by flickering jasmine, musk, or “vamber” candles. Raise a cup of jasmine tea or a glass of wine from a vintage that represents a lucky year for you, and speak this spell aloud:

    Now I awaken the goddess in me.

    I surrender to love’s power.

    Tonight, I will heat the night with my fire.

    As I drink this cup, my juices flower.

    I am alive! I am love! And so it is.

You will radiate passion and be intensely drawn to your lover.

Ageless Skin Spa Facial

You will notice that many an herbalist appears ageless. There is a good reason for this; we manifest a lot of joy in our lives, including creating potions to take excellent care of our skin for goddess-like youthfulness.

Combine these oils in a sealable dark blue bottle

• 2 ounces sweet almond as base oil
• 2 drops chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Shake very thoroughly and your potion is now ready to use.

Clean your skin with warm water, then gently daub your face with the mixture. You can also make a salve or balm using my recipe if you want to turn the clock backwards. Prepare to be asked for your beauty secrets a lot.

Gardener’s Choice Goddess Greens

This dish should be the gardener’s choice with a big bunch of gorgeous greens:

• Kale or chard (with a suggested side of nettle)
• 2 small garlic cloves
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• Red pepper flakes
• Garlic salt
• Olive oil

Wash the greens thoroughly, chop, and set aside. Peel and mash the garlic cloves. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and fry up the garlic and the pepper flakes. Add in the chopped greens and stir well. Cover the pan and lower the heat, giving it a stir every few minutes. When the greens have softened to your liking, add in a tablespoon of the apple cider vinegar and a big dash of the garlic salt. Stir vigorously three times counterclockwise and pray to the great kitchen goddess who provides us with everything we have. Remove from the heat. Lift the lid and add a half teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Serve this goddess-blessed dish of greens to people who claim to not like veggies or greens and you will delight and surprise quite a few. Be prepared to be asked for the recipe repeatedly. Every time you share the dish (or the recipe) you’ll be sharing the gifts of the goddess directly.

Autumnal Equinox Ritual: Macon, September 21

Establish one room in your house as the temple. Ideally, it is the room in which you normally keep an altar or sacred shrine. In any case, you should create an altar in the center of the space. Place four small tables in the four corners of the directions and place four evenly spaced candlesticks between the tables. Place a loaf of freshly baked bread (bread you have made with your own hands is best) in the east, a bowl of apples in the south, a bottle of wine in the west, and a sheaf of wheat or a bundle of dried corn in the north. Upon the main altar, place a candle, a plate of sweet cakes and a goblet. Light incense and place it in front of the cakes. Before your ritual, take some time for contemplation. Think about what you have achieved during this busy year:

What have you done?

What do you need?

What remains to be done?

What are your aspirations?

Write down your thoughts and feelings and the answers to those questions.

Read what you have written and ponder it. Look for continuing ideas or themes and make notes of these on a piece of paper. Light the candle on the altar and use this candle to light all the other candles in the temple.

Now go around your temple space in reverse order and extinguish all candles. Then declare your temple closed. The common wisdom is that you should place the apples, bread and wine in your garden as an offering the next day, as a blessing to all of nature.