HearthBeats: Notes from a Kitchen Witch
A neat and tidy kitchen is not needed for magickal cooking but it certainly helps. Keeping the spiritually as well as the culinary cleaned up is pretty easy.
You can start by using cleaning products that are non-toxic and biodegradable.
As GREEN is the way to go these days it is not very hard to find
Use wash clothes instead of paper towels.
Many things you have in your home right now..
You can clean a grubby pan with uncooked rice or sea salt instead of with a scouring pad and harsh cleaners (Brillo)
You can clean your sink with lemon juice and baking soda. or use this recipe for home made scouring powder
Spring Clean Scouring Powder
1c baking soda
1c sea salt
1/2 c lemongrass
1/2 c lavender flowers
10 drops lemon, lime, or grapefruit essential oil
Combine all ingredients in the blender or food processor and pulse until they become a powder.
Instead of Drano… try using vinegar and baking soda… followed by boiling water… but to keep your drains nice… do not pour your oil and such into it… and get a sink strainer(from Carol Wright for about $4.)
Instead of air freshener… try using herbal teas… they are cheap and you can use them dry(like a potpourri ) or you can boil them and keep them heated(on you stove or a candle/ oil burner. I like some of the celestial seasoning teas… they have some really great seasonal ones… you can add them to your bath water (as a tea) to add some nice scent to your water.
And Green tea… you may not think of using Green tea around your house …but…After you’ve absorbed the health benefits from your cup of green tea, you’ll be amazed at how many more uses there are for those soggy tea-leaves! No need to throw them in the trash or compost: you can use them to feed your garden plants–green tea is high in nitrogen–and they will even ward off pests and insects.
Green tea is especially wonderful as a deodorant that absorbs offensive odors.
How about in the cat litter box, used green tea leaves are wonderful in kitty litter as an extra boost for diffusing odors, and they help deter fleas from both cats and dogs.
Pet beds. Sprinkle dried used green tea leaves on your pet’s favorite pillow or bed. Great in doghouses or anywhere troublesome pet odors occur.
In your refrigerator; place used green tea bags or leaves in a small bowl, uncovered, in your refrigerator to help absorb odors from onions and garlic for about three days.
NO need to throw them out even then, just sprinkles the old leaves around your ferns, rosebushes, or other plants.
Kitchen odors. Preparing fish? Cutting up garlic? Rid your hands of the fish or garlic oils by rubbing them with wet green tea leaves, an instant deodorizer. Also use the leaves to deodorize and clean the pan in which you cook fish or garlic.
These things will not only keep your kitchen clean but they will keep you and Gaia healthy as well.
Here are some herbal correspondences.. many of us do not think of these things .. but a magickal kitchen is only a cupboard away.. and you use many of these things in your everyday cooking..
ANGELICA: Blessings, protection, purification.
BASIL: Love, fidelity, wealth, protection, A nice all-purpose herb with a
luscious summery scent.
CHAMOMILE: Serenity and calm, purification. Smells like a blend of apples
and new-mown hay.
CINNAMON: Happy home, safety, healing, protection, the primal
home-and-hearth spice. Just the scent bring feelings of comfort and home.
CLOVE: Purification, promotes love and spirituality. .
EVERGREEN: Health, purification, vitality. Different types have different
scents, so experiment. If you have pine, cedar, or juniper growing nearby, a
few sprigs placed in boiling water will add green freshness to the brew. You may
also wish to keep some over th door.. then whenever you feel negativity building
up you can use it to sweep it out and away
LAVENDER: Love, friendship, peace, happiness, protection. Such a sweet,
relaxing scent!
LEMON PEEL (fresh or dried):Purification. lemon smells fresh and uplifting.
Cleanses away negativity. You can get Grapefruit essential oil and lemon essential oils and add then to you cleaning
MARJORAM: Love, protection. Some of us sprinkle a
little of this dried herb in the corners of every room in the house (why
stop with the kitchen?) to promote love and safety.
PEPPERMINT: Purification, healing, soothing.
ROSEMARY: Cleansing, protection, clears negativity, encourages clear
thinking. You may find that a rosemary-scented kitchen is one where find clarity and you will have to resort to the recipe box less and less
SAGE: Purification, wisdom. A traditional ingredient of many witches,
a strong sage tea will make your kitchen feel safe and
cleared of negativity. And keep a smudge stick in your kitchen .. for a quick blessing
SEA SALT: Traditional for purification and protection.
Can be used not only in ritual cleansing but in cooking and continues cleansing in your kitchen
VANILLA: Love, happiness.