#fall solstice

Weekly Leilana sketch- Fall Apple Picking

As the frost settles on windowpanes and the nights stretch long, witches of winter turn to their hearths. The spice pot—sometimes called a simmer pot or cauldron of comfort—is more than a fragrant brew. It is a ritual of warmth, a vessel of memory, and a spell for resilience. In the quiet of winter, when the world feels hushed and crystalline, a spice pot becomes both practical and mystical: cleansing the air, soothing the spirit, and weaving intention into every rising curl of steam.

🌿 The Symbolism of the Spice Pot

Fire & Water: The pot marries opposites—water’s fluidity with fire’s transformative power. Together, they embody balance in the season of extremes.

Spices as Storytellers: Each spice carries centuries of myth and meaning. Cinnamon whispers of abundance, cloves guard against ill will, star anise opens pathways of insight.

Seasonal Anchoring: In winter, when nature sleeps, the spice pot reminds us that life continues in hidden roots and seeds. Its fragrance is a promise of renewal.

🍊 Ingredients & Their Magic

A winter witch’s spice pot is never just about scent—it is about intention. Here are some common inclusions and their layered meanings:

Cinnamon sticks — Prosperity, protection, passion

Cloves — Banishing negativity, strengthening resolve

Star anise — Psychic clarity, opening intuition

Orange peel — Joy, solar energy in dark months

Bay leaves — Wisdom, manifestation, written wishes

Juniper berries — Purification, warding off illness

Rosemary sprigs — Memory, ancestral connection

Enchant Your Hearth: Product Picks for Your Spice Pot Ritual

Larder & Vine Enameled Cast Iron Simmer Pot – A 2.2-quart non-toxic pot with drip-locking lid and dual pour spouts.

SIMMERGREAT Heat Diffuser – Cast iron flame guard for gentle simmering without scorching.

These items not only support your ritual practice but also infuse your space with seasonal beauty and mystical intention.

Whether you're simmering intention or steeping seasonal magic, these items bring warmth and charm to your winter kitchen:

🔮 Ritual Practice

Preparation: Gather your chosen spices with intention. Whisper your purpose into each—whether it is peace, protection, or joy.

Simmering: Place them in a pot of water and let the steam rise. As the fragrance fills your home, visualize it carrying your spell outward.

Mindful Presence: Sit with the pot as it simmers. Journal, meditate, or simply breathe. The act of tending becomes the spell itself.

Release: When finished, pour the cooled water outdoors as an offering to the earth, returning the magic to the cycle.

🕯️ The Spice Pot as Seasonal Companion

For Families: Invite children to add their own “wish leaf” or spice, teaching them the joy of ritual.

For Solitude: Use the pot as a meditative anchor, a reminder that even in isolation, you are held by tradition and nature.

For Community: Share spice blends with friends, creating a collective ritual of warmth and resilience.

Closing Reflection

Thought and Memory... 

spooky/autumn clock #2 🍂

IG: autumnwoods.studios

Walk the dogs as a nature walk

Have a bath with salts

Bake an apple pie

Burn a candle as a guiding light for my patron deities

Have cider and cookies