MAGICK APPLE THREE CHEESE SOUP FOR FALL

I think something people have to realize first in trying to reconstruct historical magical and religious practices is that belief=/=worship. Many traditional witches believe in Christ but don’t worship him because they’re not the same thing. And certain historical pagan religions did believe the gods of their neighbors were… something! But acknowledging something as existing and venerating it are two different things.

☀️🌿Litha Lavender Thyme Chicken🌿☀️

Hello my greenies! I have here a recipe to celebrate Litha! I am recovering from the removal of all four of my wisdom teeth and am unable to feast accordingly. I hope everyone can celebrate and eat for me, so I have here a favorite chicken recipe that I have especially during Litha and many times during the summer.

I will put the corresponding meanings of all the ingredients for the recipe at the end of the post and hope everyone enjoys my recipe. I hope to be posting more soon!

***You can use these ingredients for a whole chicken, but the amount for the coating will need to be adjusted and so will the cooking time. There are many websites that can tell you how to prepare a whole chicken, if that is also what you are looking for.

Ingredients

3 or 4 chicken breasts (I use 3, but I think the recipe would work with four as well.)

1 tbsp of dried lavender

2 tbsp of dried thyme or 4 sprigs of fresh and pulled off the stem.

drizzle of olive oil or coconut oil

1 tbsp of garlic powder

1 and ½ tbsp of onion powder

3 tbsp of honey

1 whole lemon.

dash of salt and pepper

dash of oregano

Directions

If lavender is not crushed, crush until powdery. Then in a small bowl, mix lavender, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder.

In a separate bowl, place the three chicken breasts and add the salt and pepper. Mix well and after drizzle the oil, honey, and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Mix thoroughly.

Place in the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Make sure all parts of the chicken are covered.

Cover the bowl and let the chicken sit for three hours in the refrigerator.

Once complete, stir the chicken in the bowl again and then place the chicken into a roasting pan and sprinkle oregano on the tops.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 45 minutes, make sure you flip after 23 minutes. When done, take the chicken out and let it sit for about 5 minutes before you eat. While it sits begin the chant.

“With the heat of the day and kiss of the night, summer bring love and spirit to me. Let me feel the child-like dance. Let me embrace myself.   I am my own fire.”

While speaking these words allow yourself to hold in the heat inside you. Let it move around through your system and on your skin. Rise that heat up into your neck and float around your head. Then have it come out of you, so now you only feel a slight glow. Have this warmth embrace your house and everything in it until that happiness is surrounding you.

Then enjoy your meal!

*I always find that this meal goes well with some honey garlic potatoes, thyme roasted carrots, Zucchini casserole, and fresh baked flaky biscuits.

If you decide to make this recipe please send me pictures! Although I can’t eat any solids at the moment, I would feel satisfied just by seeing everyone else enjoying their meals. I hope you enjoy this recipe and have a special Litha!

- Kenzie

ingredient correspondences

dried lavender - love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and peace.

dried thyme - wards negativity, purification, healing

garlic powder - healing, protection, purification, guards against negative magic and the envy of others.

onion powder - prosperity, stability, endurance, and protection.

honey - binding properties, love, and used in offering rituals.

lemon - cleansing, spiritual opening, purification, and removal of blockages

oregano - joy, strength, vitality, and added energy

Low Spoon Ways to Celebrate Lammas/Lughnassadh

(Made, in part, for my own benefit on this very tired Lughnassadh)

🌽 Eat some carbs/bread, and leave the rest to your deity/beings of choice if you like.

🌽 Light just one candle, (gold, orange, white, yellow, red, or brown if you can) and just spend five minutes thinking about Lughnassadh and all the things you wish to harvest in the coming months.

🌽 Reconnecting with nature is always a good idea, if you have the spoons for it. See if you can take a walk outside, or maybe meditate with some plants.

🌽 Write down everything you hope to manifest in the coming months. Keep it in a safe place for Yule, where you can bring it out again and burn it to close this chapter on that part of your life.

🌽 Drink some mint tea to draw abundance. Leave some for your deity/beings of choice, if you like.

🌽 Write down all the things you’re grateful for, imbue the gratitude into a piece of paper, and bury it later when you can.

Feel free to add your own ideas!

Blót

A friend of mine that is not heathen was having trouble explaining blót to his girlfriend, who is also not heathen.  I liked my answer enough that I wanted to share.

Blót is an Old Norse word that refers to a ritual of sacrifice.   It is the origin of the English words blood and blessing.

A central idea to Norse thought is that a gift demands a gift.  Blót is a ritual in which we give gifts to the gods in thanks for what they have given us.   In pre-Christian times this was done through animal sacrifice, though sacrifice of weapons, armor, or other significant items like jewelry is known to have occurred.

The essence of blot, for me, is that I am giving back to the gods a gift of what they have given me after it has been shaped by my own efforts into something new.  For instance, I will give jewelry I have made, or food I have cooked.

Blót is a ritual of developing  with the gods.   Friendship are formed by giving of yourself to another.   This ritual is about creating and sustaining friendship with the gods. 

Hey! You!

When was the last time you cleansed your home?

When was the last time you checked your wards?

When was the last time you made sure your space was clear of bad energy, bad spirits, and other nasty things?

When was the last time you did that saltwater-incense-bell ringing thing you do?

When was the last time you did a banishing ritual?

If you feel your space is funky, here’s your reminder. Here’s your great cosmic sign. Fix that shit.

This little bit of a spell occurred to me when I was making breakfast this morning.

My grandmother taught me a little poem for counting crows for divination when I was younger. It goes like this:

1 for sadness 2 for mirth, 3 for marriage 4 for birth 5 for laughing 6 for crying 7 for sickness 8 for dying 9 for silver 10 for gold 11 is a secret that shall never be told

So here’s what you do. What do you need to manifest in your life? Select that number of eggs. I used 5 today. As you crack each egg into your pan or bowl, visualize what you are manifesting coming into your life. Today I used five eggs, and visualized the laughter of my children as we had a happy and positive day. Say out loud or in your head each step as you crack the eggs. One for sadness, two for mirth… etc. When you reach your number, Stir your eggs to charge your spell. Then add: salt for grounding, black pepper for protection from other magic. Visualize the strength of your spell being tightly wound to you as you do this. Cook your eggs and enjoy a good breakfast. As you eat, visualize what you have manifested entering your being.

That’s it! Some easy kitchen magic for you all today :)

Some notes from my little witch kitchen

- Before cooking I always start with a spritz cleanse with a rose water/moon water blend. Light a candle and make myself a cup of tea. 

- Rock salt for grounding, sea salt before a journey or to get rid of feelings of being stuck in place. 

- I love to cook with the seasons. This one may seem obvious but at times it can be tough to do given the endless year round choice we get in super markets. Each set of seasonal foods matches the energy of that season, helping you to get in sync with the natural rhythms and flows of the year. 

- YOU DON’T ALWAYS NEED FRESH SPECIALITY HERBS TO DO KITCHEN MAGIC. I cannot say this enough, a lot of what goes into the food I make for my family are simple spices and herbs that you can buy for like 50p anywhere. I do have quite a large stock of less common dried herbs but these mostly come out when somebody is sick or needs an elixir rather than going in a casserole unless I’m making something a bit special for a festival or something. 

- Stir clockwise to manifest & anti clockwise to rid/banish/ other wise tell something to bugger right off. 

- pssst..I don’t make or bake everything from scratch all the time. I’m busy, I have class, I have a job, I have a dog, I’m supposedly a practising artist. I *do not* have time to laminate pastry every time I wanna make a puff pie on a Sunday. 

- An almanac is your best friend for figuring out whats’ in season & if you want a kitchen garden: when, how and what to plant/harvest etc. (it’s also nice to have it all on paper rather than googling every time). 

- I plan ahead as much as possible, I do a weekly meal plan and buy everything on Saturdays. I know my partners’ schedule and by extension, what this household is likely to need throughout a 5 day period. Huge important PhD presentation coming up on Tuesday? great, we’re having pumpkin risotto with bay, basil, black pepper & thyme on Monday night to set you up for confident delivery. Stressful meeting on Friday? No problem, Cumin infused tarka dal with homemade rosemary flatbreads to ease out of the working week and relax. 

- Kitchen crafting for me is all about manifesting love, care and warmth for my loved ones. Building connections & community through the sharing of thoughtfully, *intentionally* prepared food. As an anthropologist, I cannot over-estimate the importance of food/food making/food sharing to how people feel and experience their worlds.

- Cooking is alchemy, it is a vastly undervalued skill (because misogyny) and the ability to take a bunch of raw materials and turn it into a physically and spiritually nourishing feast is magic. 

(Image: cheesy macaroni casserole with nutmeg & tomato, seeded rolls & rainbow salad)

Saw this just now and thought I’d share here :)

Add Some Oomph to Your Spells with Magical Timing

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

Qabalah Made Easy by David Wells [Note: Qabalah is based on an appropriation of Jewish mysticism, and I am NOT endorsing its practice. However, much of the magical timing associations used in modern witchcraft is shared with Qabalah and other forms of ceremonial magic, which is why it’s referenced here.]

Pagan Pages: Baby Witchery 101

Starting out, witchcraft can seem overwhelming due to the vast amount of information out there. When I first began, I saw all these amazing witches on social media and was shunned by the same ones for asking questions they didn’t want to answer. As a whole, the witch and pagan communities are welcoming and open. However, there are always those few that feel the need to spread hate instead of information for those witches that are just starting out. Witchcraft is just that, a craft. While my craft may not be exactly the same as yours, it does not make either one “better” than the other. For those searching for information, I will list things I believe will help anyone starting out and looking for guidance.

Firstly, decide what kind of practitioner you want to be. I’m not referring to your “title” so much as figuring out which areas appease most to you. For myself, divination practices came naturally due to being a conduit, but the options are endless. Perhaps you love the beach, or cooking, or feel the pull of different dimensions and spirits. Your craft is meant to fit you, so explore the areas that call to you the most.

Secondly, read and read some more. In my opinion, knowledge is power. The better informed you are, the better you can adapt your craft to fit you. I recommend any book by Scott Cunningham or Arin Murphy-Hiscock for beginners. Their books are packed full of easy to comprehend information. They are good books to see what resonates with you.

Most importantly, DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. Just as with any other craft, it can take time to build up all the tools that you need/want. Get what you can, when you can, and the rest will come with time. You are your most important tool. Your intention and state of mind shape your reality, and witchcraft is nothing more than harnessing the abilities that lay dormant within you. Your tools simply amplify your intentions.

Lastly, welcome to the family. You will never be alone again because you are now part of an ancient, tight-knit community. We make mistakes and we learn together. Additionally, La Morte XIII understands how difficult and overwhelming it can be, so reach out anytime on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Tumblr. Let us know if you have a specific question or would like us to do a post pertaining to a topic you are learning.

Blessings to you all, SoloVVitch

Photography by: @solovvitch Pagan Pages by: @solovvitch

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