Wicked By Nature

don’t fill up the pot the whole way, leave about an inch of rim so you can actually water

but don’t plant way too deep either, this could lead to air flow issues which can lead to rot

don’t use really big pots for small plants. it makes it very hard to know when to water.

only go up an inch or so in diameter every time you repot. if you get a new plant and find it has almost no roots you can sometimes even go down a size. I’ve found many common houseplants like Philodendrons especially like this.

remove plants from plastic pots by gently squeezing, not always by pulling on the plant

remove plants from terracotta or ceramic/glazed pots by being gentleeee and maybe by running a knife or other utensil around the diameter of the pot if it’s really stuck and also by praying

loosen the roots by squeezing or gently untangling the root ball

it’s ok if you break some roots i promise

sometimes you’ll want to remove as much of the old soil as you can, other times just remove enough to leave some loose roots

throw small amount dirt in bottom of pot first, then place plant in. the base of the plant should ideally be level with where you want it when fully planted. if not, lift up and add more dirt and repeat

some plants you can plant deeper than they originally were, others you can’t

add dirt around the plant, packing gently. don’t pack it super duper tight but don’t just toss it in there loosely either

add one handful at a time. rotating the pot is easiest

rotate and gently pack, rotate and gently pack until dirt level is where you want it

water your plant in when finished. water deeply until the water runs out of the bottom. this is important to prevent air pockets (roots can’t grow in air). with succulents you may want to wait a few days to water in to prevent rot but most times they’ll be ok.

if you did have air pockets, your dirt might settle a bit. add some more and water again.

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

Hard same 🥀🌿🌷

You want beetroot?

Waterfall Within Forest, Oregon. 2018

Green or Hedge witch

An eclectic witch

Deal with herbalism

Do cannabis witchin’ or apply it in spells

Interested in tarot

Or Astrology

Do kitchen witchcraft