HearthBeats: Notes from a Kitchen Witch

Merry Meet and Blessings to you all… It is that time again… time to either be canning up all of our blessed harvest in the northern Hemi or if you live in the Southern Hemi fertilizing and weeding to take care or prepare for your tender shoots.

Jams, jellies, and canned vegetables are canned or frozen for winter use. Or you are looking into the pantry to see what you need to plant for next winter stash. Extra necessities are also stockpiled in case of severe weather. For both Winter or Summer.

Now is a good time in either Hemi to take just a moment to bless your own
kitchen. With a drop of olive oil, trace whatever symbol brings you peace  such as a spiral to represent the Goddess or the Pentacle to represent all of the elements that come together there. Do this on a cupboard or pantry door. You can use the following Blessing that I found and modified to suit my life… I believe the original version was by Gerina Dunwich…but don’t hold me to that

Kitchen Witch’s Blessing

Blessed be this Kitchen of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
May all who enter be warmed by the sacred light of the God/dess.
May all that I create here by means both magical and mundane
bring nourishment, and healing, and cause harm to none.
With love and peace, Hug or feast, be now and always filled.
So mote it be!

You may also wish to create a hearth God/dess . Take a piece of fimo clay(or clay you need to dry in the oven) I used white as it means purity to me. Shape into whatever male or female form you feel presides over YOUR kitchen. I used a sitting pregnant Goddess .. But you NEED to make this however YOU see it.. what FEELS right to you. I left mine to dry on the back of my stove so it would soak up a full weeks worth of my kitchen energy. Then after it was dry I anointed it with oil. Dipped it in some dried powered herbs( ones I use all the time) and let her sit on the shelf above my stove protecting all I cook and serve and tend there.

Spend time focusing on your Kitchen’s energy. Slowly go through it, the cabinets, the fridge , your Kitchen Altar, seeing them with the clear eyes. Think about changes you would like to make to refresh the room and create a better flow of energy.

Find a good sage or lavender incense or create your own. Get it smoking and walk clockwise around the room saying something like this…

Smoke of earth and fire and air,
spin round my kitchen and make it clear.
Drive away all harm and fear,
so only good may dwell in here.
Lady Hestia, Bless my space,
let no one leave without peace.
Be welcome here and always feel right

And those who would harm us  feel thy might
Protect me and mine as we create within,
and keep us safe as we journey about.”

As I will it so mote it be..

Some Witchy Kitchen tips.

1. As a beginning ritual, light a candle and sprinkle some fresh water around the kitchen. Cleaning your workspace, both physically and spiritually, is a good habit.
2. A pot of basil herb grown in your kitchen keeps the area safe from negative spirits.

3. Always use fresh ingredients. Even if you live in an urban area, try to buy food which is in season and from your country. Goods that are out of seasons are grown in greenhouses or shipped long distances and have lost much of their magickal qualities (and taste).
4. Do not cook when you are angry it spoils the taste of the food..
5. An aloe Vera plant should be kept in the kitchen, as its juices are an instant cure for minor kitchen burns.
6. Candles keep their shape better and burn longer when chilled thoroughly in the refrigerator.
7. Before casting spells or preparing potions, always keep in mind to HARM NONE!
8. Anoint utensils and appliances with olive oil to bless and charge them . You can infuse the oil with herbs to strengthen it. Please use only edible herbs…
9. Smudge your kitchen with sage if you feel any negativity.

Remember that even though it does not seem like it the whole house revolves around the Kitchen and what you do in it.. the day starts there with breakfast and your first cuppa coffee ( or tea) and end there with the cleaning up and washing the dishes to your last cuppa tea( or whatever) . It is where you bring your hurt child to mend the owie. And where you get a hug for the yummy snack you snuck in the luchbox. It is where you create everything from the morning toast to the grand holiday dinners. But without YOUR kitchen your home would be in turmoil. So treat it with as much importance as it deserves, and be mindful of what you create there.

Until next time

Blessed Home and Hearth

The Hearthkeeper

PS. If there is anything you would like to see here.. please email me at  [email protected]