Oak-corns and Apple-thorns
Modred September, 2011
“HBA Is On Aisle One”
Have you ever gone to the local grocery store and cruised the Health & Beauty Aids aisle looking for the ‘natural’ section? I used to, until I realized a few things.
Most of the crud I was buying turned out not to be all that ‘natural’ once I read the labels carefully. I really had to go for the high-end stuff to get products that were completely free of dyes, preservatives, and stabilizers.
The next thing I figured out is that, in terms of environmental impact, ‘natural’ manufacturers aren’t that much different than mainstream ones. They’re all mechanized operations converting resources into cash. No matter what kind of store it is or what kind of manufacturer, there are light bills to pay, machines to run, products to ship cross-country, and factory workers are having to burn gas to commute to work.
Then I saw that making my own HBAs would make me a better witch. It would encourage me to get to know my herbs better, and it would be an act of rebellion against a commercial system that, every minute of every day, is doing damage to my Goddess, Mother Nature. And that’s how the HBA aisle turned out to be my kitchen.
Maybe the easiest thing I’ve learned to make is aftershave. To a small glass bottle add a sprig of Rosemary fresh from the garden and enough Witch Hazel to cover it. Throw in a few whole Allspice. Let it steep until the Allspice sink to the bottom and it’s ready to use. For a daintier smell, try the same thing with chopped rose petals. Other recipes? Try zest of orange peel and a few whole cloves, or if you want to be irresistible, a few drops of vanilla and a cinnamon stick (who doesn’t like french toast?). Experiment!
By all means learn to make your own soaps and oils and lip balms. But if you have to buy these things, get them from local people who live lightly on the planet.
That’s the beauty of witchcraft. Sometimes it’s about spells and Sabbats and initiations, but other times it’s about seeing how the world works and rebelling in small ways.
