La Sorcière

How the gentle wind beckons through the leaves, as autumn colors fall.

Artemis

wild huntress, shrouded in mist, the stillness within the storm

"Hear me, Daughter of Leto, Celebrated, Noble, Bacchian Queen, rejoicing in Your silver arrows. Torch-bearing Goddess Dictunna, who presides over births and relieves the pain of labor, Divine Maiden, who glories in the Sylvan hunt, Swift and fierce, no one is Your equal with the bow. Wandering by night, reveling in the flowering meadows, Brave and beautiful Nurturer of mortals, Eternal and Earthly, Bane of fell monsters, Dweller in the hills whom the woods and dogs delight. You hunt the stag and give the Earth a store of bounteous fruit to bear. Oh Universal Queen, You flourish in endless youth, Wield the Cydonian Power, Dread Guardian Goddess, With benevolence come to these mystic rites, Send us gentle Peace and Health, and drive disease and care far from us."

So, Ostara is coming up on March 20th this year so you all know what that means!!! And if you don’t let me explain…

One of my favorite Ostara traditions is to plant a little indoor herb garden (indoors because its March and its still very cold and snowy where I live). So I have chosen my herbs and flowers for this year, and here they are. 

First is rosemary. Rosemary is very well known in the witchcraft community for being used in healing poppets, love spells, and even in purification or cleansing rituals. It can be made into bundles and burned to smudge a room or space due to its purification properties. Also, rosemary is a great cooking herb so if you’re a kitchen witch or someone who just enjoys cooking, rosemary is great for that too. 

Second is lavender. Lavender is known to be used in protection, love, sleep, healing, and purification spells. Lavandula the name of the genus, comes from the Latin word lavare, translated ‘to wash’ which hints towards its purification or cleansing properties. Lavender is also a great flower for attracting bees and other pollenating insects and also smells amazing. 

Third is lemon balm. Lemon balm is known to be used in love, success, and healing spells. Lemon balm is another plant that is known to attract bees and just like lavender also smells amazing. This is also a great herb to use in teas! 

Fourth is basil. Basil is mainly used for love, wealth, and protection spells. It was once thought that basil was actually the antidote for the venom of the beast known as the basilisk. Basil is another amazing herb to use in cooking if you’re a kitchen witch or if you just like a little flavor in your dishes. 

Fifth is thyme. In witchcraft thyme is generally used for loyalty, courage, or affection spells since it was historically used by the ancient Greeks and people in the Middle Ages to supply themselves or others with courage. Thyme can also be used for smudging, or it is another herb commonly used in cooking for you kitchen witches or chefs! 

Finally we have sage (plain garden sage, not white sage). Sage is most commonly used in witchcraft for purification (since it is a self-cleansing herb) and for aiding in dealing with loss or grief. It is very important to remember that if you are not a POC, you should not use white sage for smudging since it is an endangered plant that POC have been using for smudging for hundreds of years. The sage I use is just garden variety sage which I use to smudge rooms due to sages cleansing and purification properties. 

You will need:

A glass of water.

Alternatively, a plastic bottle of mineral water.

Timing:

Any health or healing purpose, any place.

The spell:

Hold a glass of water between your hands. Because water is pure, you can use it as a magical space and imprint it with whatever you need.

For a specific health or healing purpose, say what you most need. For example, say: “My headache is lifting and I am full of energy.”

Empower the water for health, vitality, and strength for the days or hours ahead.

Keep your hands cupped around the glass for about two minutes and then slowly sip the water, thinking about the empowerment.

If you always feel tired in the morning, fill a glass of water before you sleep, endowing it with energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead. Drink the water as soon as you wake, saying: “I fill myself with the enthusiasm and joy for the day ahead.”

Following the moon phases and adapting my magic to their power and correspondences has been crucial to my practice. If you’re interested in connecting to the lunar cycle, here are the links to my previous posts on each moon phase. 

🌑 New Moon Magic 

🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon Magic

🌓 First Quarter Moon Magic

🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon Magic

🌕 Full Moon Magic

🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon Magic 

🌗 Last Quarter Moon Magic

Essential oils are a wonderful tool for any witch, no matter the path. There are hundreds of oils and combination oils that it can overwhelming. Here is a list of some more common, beneficial oils.

Allspice: Reduces stress, calms, relaxes tight muscles, up lifts mood, improves digestion, naturally disinfects

Basil: Calms, relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity, purifies the body

Cardamon: Relieves pain, up lifts mood, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Catnip: Anti diarrheal, relieves indigestion, relieves anxiety, up lifts mood

Chamomile: Reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep and relaxation, relieves pain

Cinnamon: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, naturally disinfects, improves digestion, increases appetite

Clove: Relieves pain, up lifts mood, improves mental clarity, improves digestion, naturally disinfects

Coriander: Relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Eucalyptus: Breaks up congestion, relieves pain, naturally disinfects, vapors help with breathing

Frankincense: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, improves digestion, expectorant, sedative

Geranium: Relieves pain and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin

Ginger: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, increases appetite

Juniper Berries: Relieves pain, energize, improve mental clarity and memory, anti-inflammatory, repels insects, soothes insect bites

Lavender: Relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, balances mood swings, vapors help breathing, improves digestion, naturally disinfects, breaks up congestion 

Lemon: Balances the nervous system, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity and memory, naturally disinfects

Lemon Balm: Relieves anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep

Lemongrass: Calms, balances nervous system, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, naturally disinfects, repels insects

Lime: Relieves fatigue, uplifts mood, naturally disinfects, improves mental clarity and memory

Mandarin: Reduces stress and tension, calms, uplifts mood

Myrrh: helpful in meditation, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Neroli/Orange Blossom: Remove nervous tension, promotes restful sleep

Nutmeg: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, improves digestion

Palmarosa: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, helps regenerate skin, anti-inflammatory

Peppermint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, increases appetite, soothes itchy skin, improves mental clarity and memory

Petitgrain: Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity and memory

Pine: Lessens pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, naturally disinfects, improves mental clarity and memory

Rose: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Rosemary: Relieves pain, stimulates nerves, relieves fatigue, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory, naturally disinfects, repels insects

Spearmint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves appetite, soothes itchy skin

Tea Tree: Relieves pain, naturally disinfects, aids in healing skin, vapors help with breathing (Witch Tip: Great when diluted for acne prone skin)

Thyme: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, increases appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, naturally disinfects

Ylang-ylang: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, naturally disinfects

**  It is extremely important to DILUTE essential oils or else they can burn the skin. Using a carrier oil or water can help dilute the oils safely. Examples of carrier oils are olive oil, coconut oil and almond oil. 

** Remember to store your essential oils in dark, cool places to keep them from spoiling. 

You will need:

A glass of water.

Alternatively, a plastic bottle of mineral water.

Timing:

Any health or healing purpose, any place.

The spell:

Hold a glass of water between your hands. Because water is pure, you can use it as a magical space and imprint it with whatever you need.

For a specific health or healing purpose, say what you most need. For example, say: “My headache is lifting and I am full of energy.”

Empower the water for health, vitality, and strength for the days or hours ahead.

Keep your hands cupped around the glass for about two minutes and then slowly sip the water, thinking about the empowerment.

If you always feel tired in the morning, fill a glass of water before you sleep, endowing it with energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead. Drink the water as soon as you wake, saying: “I fill myself with the enthusiasm and joy for the day ahead.”