-
WitchCrafting: Witches’ Gunpowder
Merry meet! When you want to give a spell some extra oomph, power, or speed, Bella Lopez (who posts on TikTok as Sexy_Green_Eyed_Wiccan) has just the thing: Witches’ Gunpowder. Mix together in amounts that will result in a dark powder: salt cayenne pepper paprika black salt coffee grounds clove powder dragons blood She cautions, “Be careful, a little goes a long way. Add too much to a spell and it can prematurely burn out (like a caffeine crash) or just become erratic and not do what it’s intended (like overdosing on caffeine).” I had been meaning…
-
WitchCrafting: Shell Rattle
Merry meet! If you are anything like me, you have an ever-growing collection of shells, rocks, feathers, pine cones, dried herbs, wood, and such. I put some of these items together to make a rattle. A pouch storing shells was getting full, and after months of looking, I found a Y-shaped twig. Working with the elements under a full moon in sacred space, I sorted shells, setting aside those with natural holes. Placing them back-to-back, I strung the shells on waxed floss. I wrapped and tied off each end multiple times to secure it and keep the floss taut. Then I added other elements for beauty and energy – feathers…
-
WitchCrafting: Treasure Chest
Merry meet! Dollar Tree is a magical place for finding magickal supplies. One of my favorite five-quarter finds is a small wooden box with a clasp. I painted this one to make a treasure chest for the dragon on my bus. Every day I’d sit with her I would add another bauble to her collection. I painted another brown and used it to hold offerings I made to the land on which a friend’s house will be built. I will use a third for a banishing spell – I will put the name or likeness of a negative influence, harmful habit, limiting belief, or toxic person I want to eliminate…
-
In the Kitchen with Skarlett – To Your Health!!
With the wear and tear of the Holidays behind us and a long, cold (at least in the northern hemisphere) winter ahead of us. We will be most likely up against the dreaded cold and flu season. Now would be a good time to focus on a bit of rest and self care to get you through to Spring. Do keep in mind that these practices are no replacement for professional medical help. But used in concert with sensible medical care, these should help provide relief and healing. There are several deities you can call on to aid you in healing. The big one being Brighid. Her festival of Imbolc…
-
The Kitchen Witch – Salmon-Topped Dinner Salad
Salmon-Topped Dinner Salad This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite things to eat lately. I love salads anyway – I eat a salad every day, whether it’s a salad for my lunch or a small salad to accompany a larger meal or maybe a fruit salad for a dessert or just a snack! And I maintain that there is no right way to make a salad – the only correct way is the way that is going to make you enjoy eating it. You and whomever you invite to share in this culinary joy. You start with a piece of salmon. I buy the big pack of…
-
WitchCrafting: Pinecone Fire Starters
Merry meet! This time of year pinecones are fairly easy to find, and Yule is celebrated with bonfires and Yule logs. Combine the two by making fire starters from pinecones. It’s an easy, quick craft. Begin by collecting pinecones. They must be completely dry. If they are damp from being on the ground, you can put them on a parchment-lined sheet pan and leave them in a 150-degree oven for an hour, or until any sap has melted and the cones open fully. If you are doing many, you’ll want to melt wax – preferable bees wax because it burns the cleanest – in a metal or ceramic bowl…
-
WitchCrafting (Spells for the Craft): Pagan Patches
Merry meet! This month’s WitchCrafting column is about something I have dreamed of doing for twenty years and I am now facing the fact I never will … so I’m passing along the idea in the hopes that someday someone somewhere will run with it – Pagan patches. When I was a newbie witch, I’d get excited when I’d “master” another skill. I found myself thinking a badge like those I earned in Girl Scouts would be so cool. I envisioned them for things like working with crystals, tarot, the elements, candle magic, and making my first spell jar. I thought about ones for each of the sabbats I celebrated…
-
WitchCrafting: Dandelion Honey
Few flowers look as much like the sun as do dandelions. With Litha being a time to honor sun deities and celebrate the bounty of the earth, these bright flowers can do both and are quite likely growing in your yard or a nearby field. Be sure the ones you pick are not from lawns treated with chemicals and did not absorb exhaust fumes by being close to the road. There are many recipes online. I used one by Megan on Tic Tok. Fill a bowl or basket with dandelion flowers. Pull off just the the petals and discard the bitter green outside. It took me about an hour to…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Shell Wind Chime Merry meet! This issue’s WitchCrafting column is connected to a favorite summer activity: collecting shells at the beach. I have a difficult time not filling my pockets with these marine mollusks. Holding them, I can feel the energy of earth, water, fire, and air. Litha is a special time for capturing the essence of summer, in this case with a wind chime. I used shells that had naturally occurring holes, but instructional videos can be found for drilling them. Thin wire, dental floss, cotton twine, and other fibers can all be used to tie the shells into strips. Arrange them any way that pleases you.…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: Fire Starters Merry meet. Beltane is one of the fire festivals. The word Beltane translates roughly to “bright fire” and in Celtic tradition, the most important ritual was the sacred community bonfire lit at sunset the evening before. (Celtic days went from sundown to sundown.) Festivities focused on casting off winter’s darkness and celebrating the start of summer. It’s also a time of celebrating fertility You can start your fire with items you likely already have on hand. Perhaps the easiest and least expensive fire starters are made by filling cardboard toilet paper tubes with loosely packed dryer lint. Use two or three to start a fire.…
