The Tea Shop Witch

i’ve been researching how to magically protect and help my plants grow, and this is what i’ve found works for me. 

i found three healthy acorns from the tree in my yard (i have a relationship with that tree so i think it’ll work better, but any willing tree should work) ask the tree for its protection and thank it once you’ve found the fallen acorns. take a needle and some thread (i used a pale, earthy green thread) and string it through the acorns. tie the thread tightly so that it makes a small circle, maybe the size of a tiny bracelet. hang the acorns somewhere in your house, i hang it over my sprouting plants but i’m sure above your alter or near your door would work too. 

Want to bring other witches into your life? Sprinkle this powder around your home, on your shoes before you go out or dust some onto a burning candle.

Basil: The Witches’ Herb

Orange: Attraction & Drawing

Si- As in SIT

G- As in JUG

UL- As in SEAGULL. 

It’s not weird at all! Honoring someone who has passed is good for both your soul and theirs, in my opinion.

Honestly, I don’t have much in this area.

But I would suggest an alter, maybe, dedicated to their memory. It’s not exactly a spell, but it could be more of a long time reminder of your friendship and what they meant to you.

I’m very sorry to hear about your loss.

A spell to ease grief

Also, I know it’s already passed, by Samhain is a good time to honor the dead as well.

A long overdue post with simple ways to stain your bones. Most bones after soaking and being cleaned in a peroxide bath will have whitened a bit… some people strive for the pristine aesthetic of white bones, i on the other hand like slight natural colors and hues… so i after cleaning and processing bone, i add another step of staining them.    All you will need is  - a container that will properly fit your bones and liquids  - bones - any herb/tea/spice/flower or coffee bean you wish to stain with.    This is incredibly versatile, you can use anything to stain! - patience - a towel - hot water

STEP 1 

- place bones into your container ( you can use glass bowls, mason jars etc)  STEP 2 - choose your stain and throw some in, the measurements are all up to you… the more you put in= the more potent the hue.  I use old tea bags ( usually 2-3) , old coffee grounds etc…. it is important to make note to use dried herbs… if you use flower petals or even old coffee grounds, you will want to air dry them first ( in my experience it gives more potency and color)

STEP 3   - Fill the container up with hot water, making sure to submerge all of your bones ( if some float, just keep poking them down)  STEP 4 - Allow the bones to sit within the stain anywhere from 3 hours- overnight. Make sure not to let them sit for more than a night or two, they can start to mold if you are neglectful.  - You can keep repeating the soaking process until the bones are your desired color. If you do plan on more soaks, make sure you have air dried your bones before soaking again, if the bones are wet and waterlogged, they wont absorb much more color. 

Below is a photo of three common stains i use  - tea ( any tea bags i could find)  - old coffee grounds  - and lavender. 

This photo was taken after about 3 hours soaking.

Soaking some misc jaws in a tiny jar of tea 

A collection of bones straight out of coffee grounds, you can see that each bone takes the stain different depending in how porous, how old, how young and how much of the elements they have had to battle.  This batch was soaked for about 9 hours.

Mabon Incense 2 parts Frankincense 1 part Sandalwood 1 part Cypress 1 part Juniper 1 part Pine ½ part Oakmoss (or a few drops Oakmoss bouquet) 1 pinch pulverized Oak leaf

Mabon Oil 4 drops Rosemary 4 drops Frankincense oil, 2 drops apple oil, 1 drop chamomile oil. Use almond oil as a base here Mix well and bottle. Use in Mabon rituals

Autumn Equinox Ritual Potpourri Recipe by Gerina Dunwich

45 drops Honeysuckle Oil 1 cup Oak Moss 6 small Acorns 2 cups dried Oak Leaves 2 cups dried Honeysuckle 1 cup dried Passionflower 1 cup dried Rosebuds and Petals ½ cup dried Pine Needles 1 tablespoon Sage Mix the honeysuckle oil with the oak moss and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.

(The above recipe for “Autumn Equinox Ritual Potpourri” is quoted directly from Gerina Dunwich’s book “The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch’s Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and Recipes”, page 162, A Citadel Press Book, Carol Publishing Group, 1994/1995)

Mabon Soap 1 cup grated unscented soap ¼ cup hot water 1 tbsp. apricot oil 1 tbsp. rose petals ½ tbsp. hibiscus 6 drops myrrh oil 3 drops sandalwood oil

Place grated soap in a heat-proof non-metallic container and add the hot water and apricot oil. Leave until it is cool enough to handle, and then mix together with your hands. If the soap is floating on the water, add more soap. Leave to sit for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally, until the soap is soft and mushy. Once the soap, water, and oil are blended completely, add the dry ingredients. Once the mixture is cool, then add the essential oils (essential oils evaporate quickly in heat). Enough essential oils should be added to overcome the original scent of the soap. Blend thoroughly and then divide the soap mixture into four to six pieces. Squeeze the soaps, removing as much excess water as possible into the shape you desire, and tie in a cheesecloth. Hang in a warm, dry place until the soap is completely hard and dry.

Often used to relax before bedtime.

1 part chamomile flowers

3 parts lemon balm

3 parts lemon grass

1 part lavender flowers

1 part rose hips

1 part hop flowers (optional)

1 part sugar

Mix the ingredients and cover with brandy.  Leave in a cool, dark place (not a refrigerator) for 3 months.  Strain and rebottle.  

A page out of my little witchy notebook that I’m keeping while abroad.

A good recipe for yourself or if you’re looking after some friends. Simply add to your pasta!

hallowsandhexes’ Protection Pasta Sauce

Ingredients and Uses:

Tomato: health, protection, relationships

Onion: protection, healing, cleansing

Garlic: protection, healing, cleansing

Rosemary: protection, purification, healing

Thyme: health, healing, purification

Basil: protection

Salt: purification and protection

Pepper: protection

Olive oil: healing, protection, happiness

Instructions:

1. Start by drawing a sigil in olive oil on the bottom of your sauce pan, focusing on your intent.

2. Add minced garlic and diced onion to your pan along with additional oil. Cook until soft (about 5 minutes).

3. Add herbs (whole or chopped, depending on your preference) and cook until fragrant.

4. Add diced tomatoes (and tomato sauce if needed). Bring to a simmer until the tomato cooks down.

5. Finish off with salt and pepper to taste.

While mixing everything in your pan, be sure to stir clockwise to bring about good energy and put things into action.

This is a bread recipe I have grown so familiar with that it’s taken up root in my bones. If you’ve got a good relationship with the bread and can hear when it’s springy and when it needs to be kneaded, you can forego the measuring cups too. This will make a honeyed brown bread, perfect for Mabon (as it incorporates wheat, honey, and the hearth), or it can be formed into circular loaves with the Solar Cross cut into them for other witchy occasions.

1 packet yeast

4 cups half white, half whole wheat flour

Several tablespoons honey

1 bottle dark beer (like a porter) - must be room temperature. Trust me on this one.

1 egg, beaten

Herbs of your choice

Put yeast and honey in a bowl and add the beer. Stir gently and allow to rest til foamy (about 5 to 10 minutes, longer if needed). Add pinch of salt and beaten egg. Mix in flour gradually, using a wooden spoon if you can, until the dough forms one cohesive mass.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it! Use short, rapid strokes in cross directions, folding the dough over in half every other time or so. Work your intent deep into the dough at this time, and incorporate any herbs you wish to add (for Mabon: Use rosemary, crumbled walnuts, and rhubarb). Fully cover the dough in plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let rise for at least an hour. Return, and punch down the dough, re-wrapping it and letting it rise another hour or two. Form the dough into two equal loaves (you can form a pan shape out of oven-safe tinfoil if you need), cut a design into the top to allow for splitting, lightly dust with flour, and bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Let cool for at least another 15 minutes before cutting to serve! I’ve had nothing but excellent results with this bread, and even when it looks like the crust has been burnt to all hell, it has usually done no such thing and the springy and fluffy insides make all the time worth it. Plus, the herbs can be substituted seasonally for each feast day and celebration!

Blessed Be,