HearthBeats Notes from a Kitchen Witch
Hearthkeeper October, 2008
Bewitchin’ your Kitchen
It does not take a lot of work, time, or money to transform an ordinary kitchen into a magical workplace. To begin with a sunny kitchen windowsill filled with pots of magical plants not only looks good, but releases magical energies into the room.
Even common culinary herbs that are found in the cabinets or nearly every kitchen possess strong magical properties. For instance, basil is traditionally used for exorcism, love, protection, and purification. Parsley is used for fertility, passion, and protection. Sage is used for healing, protection, and prosperity; and thyme is used for clairvoyance, courage, and love.
Hang a “kitchen Witch” doll for good luck, and add magic to your cooking by drawing an invisible pentagram inside your pots and pans with a wand or athame. (A wooden spoon, fork, or knife can also be used.) , other simple, yet effective, charms (such as a rope of garlic, a sun-catcher, or pentagram symbols) that can be placed in the kitchen for protection.
A well-stocked Witch’s kitchen has all it needs in it, from pots as cauldrons, wooden spoons for wands, and cleavers for athames/bolines.
Smudge your kitchen with a sage bundle if you sense negativity.
Anoint utensils and appliances with cooking oils saturated with herbs to bless and charge them with powerful vibrations.
Note: never use essential oils on things which will touch food.
Always stir food in a clockwise direction, and be sure to invite the Goddess and God into your new magical workplace.
A WITCH’S KITCHEN BLESSING
Blessed be this Kitchen of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
Be warmed by the sacred light of Deity (God/dess).
May all that is created here by means both magical and mundane,
Bring nourishment, healing, and sustenance, and cause harm to none.
So mote it be!
Tools of A Kitchen Witch
BLENDER: Mingling with others, stirring up energy
COOKBOOK: Book of Shadows, Excellence, Virtue
FORK: Piercing, Penetrating, Perception
FUNNEL: Flow, Unhindered order, coaxing energy along
KNIFE: Cutting away, Sharpness of mind, Separation
MEASURING CUP: Evaluation, Allotment, Caution
PITCHER: Abundance, Invigoration, Refreshment
ROLLING PIN: Discipline, Moderation, Control
SIFTER: Sorting out confusion, Organization, Filtering negativity
SPATULA: Sensibility, Recycling, Changing directions
STEAMER: Slow processes, Even temperament
TEA KETTLE:
Divination
WHISK: Excitement, Increasing bounty
borrowed from and modified from “A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook”
MORE KITCHEN TIPS
Take time each morning to reflect on the blessings of the new day before you. Even if it’s only for a few minutes this reflection is a way to draw positive energy around you and send out gratitude.
When you go about your daily household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, weeding the garden, etc., be aware of the ways that these everyday tasks connect you to life and recognize the sacred in these actions.
As a beginning ritual, light a candle or sprinkle some fresh water around the kitchen. Cleaning your workspace, both physically and spiritually, is a good habit. Say a small prayer. Like .. “with my will and my desire and I cleanse this kitchen and make it my own.”
A quartz crystal placed on or near the stove when cooking makes food taste better.
A pot of basil herb grown in your kitchen keeps the area safe from negativity.
Always try to grow your herbs yourself and concentrate on their magickal purpose while tending to them. This will increase their energy – and add a lovely smell to your kitchen!
A witch’s kitchen should be aware of the lunar cycle and have on hand a lunar calendar or chart showing the phases of the moon .
Negativity should be kept away from the kitchen when cooking or preparing magickal recipes, It is absorbed into it and then served to others.
An aloe Vera plant should be kept in the kitchen, as its juices are an instant cure for minor kitchen burns. Be careful as some may be allergic.. test small area before using on your skin.
Candles keep their shape better and burn longer when chilled thoroughly in the refrigerator.
Homemade incense always should be stored in tightly capped or corked jars.
Keep your life full of the freshest ingredients and at least once a week explore something completely new: A new recipe…a new book…an unfamiliar song…a new quote for your journal…dance outdoors…take a walk somewhere you have never been before…kiss a baby…write to someone you admire and include a favorite recipe
. Before casting spells or preparing potions, always keep in mind the Wiccan Rede!
Here is an idea, a Kitchen Altar. Not always workable in every Kitchen.. but A great Idea.. and something to plan for.
A Kitchen Altar
Kitchen magick has simple tools. If you think of it in terms of your
Normal altar you’ll see that they all have about the same role. All
that’s needed are some bowls, spoons, a mortar and pestle, and a tea
Kettle or cooking pot. The first step is to choose which cupboard
you will dedicate as your altar. Just don’t choose the one above as the
Refrigerator as it makes getting to your altar hard to do..
Now on the back of the cupboard, you could place a picture of your
Deity, a pentacle, or what ever reminds you of Divine Energy. Charge
the object in whatever way feels best for you. Next your altar Cloth,
You can use any type of cloth here but be sure that its
washable. This is where you will keep your tools.
Once you have chosen your altar spot and dedicated it its time to
dedicate which tools you use most in your kitchen magicks. Now you
can purchase new tools, or just cleanse and consecrate some that you
already have. Below are a few kitchen tools and what correspondences
they resemble on a regular altar.
Wooden Spoon = Wand.
Remember that most wooden spoons are made of balsa wood or pine.
Bowl = Cauldron, Cup, or Bowl.
Glass is easy to clean, and it won’t absorb any of the oils, water,
Or whatever you are working with. Glass also comes in many different
Colors. If you don’t want glass, there are also several inexpensive
Ceramic / porcelain mixing bowls.
Tea Kettle = Cauldron.
While copper kettles are the best you can also use I have read that
Porcelain coated steel. Copper kettles can get expensive and are a
High maintenance item.
Mortar and Pestle:
They represent the joining of the cup and wand. These come in all
sorts of materials. Choose a set that meets both your physical and
spiritual needs.
Cooking Pot = Cauldron.
The nice thing about this correspondence is that, with a little
Effort, you can find full sets of cast iron cookware.
Cutting board = Altar tile.
If you are skilled enough, or know someone who is, you could have a
Pentacle carved or etched into a wooden board. You could also put
your creativity to work with paint and paint a pentacle on a cutting
Board.
For a broom, you may want to use a small whisk broom, or basting
Brush. If you can wait until Halloween, you will be able to find
Miniature besoms for sale in the craft stores and departments of
Larger stores.
~author unknown
And here I end this. I hope to see you all back here next month.
Blessed Kitchen and Balanced life
