asickamoretree

[asickamoretree]

Lavender Lemonade

4 tbsps (¼ cup) culinary lavender*

2 cups boiling water

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons)

2 cups cold water

* Culinary lavender is lavender harvested for the purposes of cooking/eating. Please don’t buy the perfumed air-freshening kind because that is going to be utterly gross. Steep the lavender in 2 cups of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the lavender. Place the lavender tea and the sugar in a small saucepan and set over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves (you don’t have to put it over heat, but I do this because I’m impatient and want the sugar to dissolve faster and completely). Remove from heat and let cool to warm. Stir in the lemon juice. Stir in the cold water. Add more to taste. I prefer to keep mine on the concentrated side because I like to mix it with seltzer water when I serve it. Serve over ice. Makes about 6-8 cups depending on how dilute you want it.

[asickamoretree]

Botanical Gin

Every witch or herb grower (of approtiate age) should give a go at making their own gin! A delicious spirit (liquor) infused with Juniper Berries and a personal blend of botanicals. A perfect activity for the three days of the Full Moon phase. Especially since gin is a Moon spirit.

Two must have ingredients are

Neutral spirits (like vodka, or grain alcohol diluted to 40%abv)

Juniper Berries

Crafting your botanical blend:

Here’s where the fun part comes in. There are hundreds of different herbs, flowers, barks, seeds and roots that can be used to add flavor and magic to your gin. While the possibilities are endless the notes you are trying to hit are: Citrus, Green/Earthy, Floral, Spicy, (sometimes Fruity). Consider botanicals with these terpenes: camphor, pinene, b-caryophyllene, limonene, linalool

Most popular Gin Botanicals are: Corriander, Angelica, Orris Root, Cardamom, Licorice, Cinnamon, Citrus Peel (various).

Adding witchery, and what herbs, to your gin depends on your intent.

Making a libation: Add the bontanicals favored by your Deity.

An ode to the Moon: Juniper heavy, Anise, Orris Root, Thistle, Hibiscus, Borage

For a night cap: Lavender, Chamomile, Passionflower, Yarrow, Catnip, Rosemary

“Gin Kit” Blend: Cardamom, Rosemary, Lavender, Rose Hip, Allspice, Fennel Seed, Lemon Peel, Coriander, Black Pepper, Bay

Hub’s Blend: Juniper heavy, Orange Zest, Anise Seed, Black Pepper, Holy Basil

Personally when I drink alcohol I do it to feel good, so my botanical blend incudles “feel good” herbs. My personal blend below:

Garden Gin: Holy Basil, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Fennel, Coriander

And in the honor of our good freinds of Caledonia Spirits we add just a touch of Raw Honey to our gin.

How much or many botanicals you add is an experiment and personal preference. You can use fresh or dried, but dried herbs are more potent and so use less. And remeber gin is defined by its flavor of Junpier so keep that in mind when adding stronger flavors.

Method:

On the first night of the full moon, pour 750 ml of a neutral spirit over 2 Tbs of dried Juniper berries and let sit for a day. (adjust amounts in appropriate ratio for more or less)

During the peak of the full moon add botanical blend and again let sit for a day and out in the moonlight to charge. Let the full moon draw out all of the botanical oils to infuse the gin along with lunar energies.

On the Waining end of the full moon, after your botanicals have macerated for twenty four hours, strain the infused spirit into a clean bottle. Let this spirit charge once more under the full moon before consumption.

Then Enjoy!

**can be done over any 36-72 hour period but done with the moon for extra effect**

Reference: Decoding Gin Botanicals

*inspired by a “diy gin kit” we found at goodwill for $5!

[asickamoretree]

You're so golden.

[asickamoretree]

Detail: The Water Spirit, by Karl Schweninger (1818–1887).

[asickamoretree]

𝔏𝔢𝔫𝔞 𝔉𝔬𝔵 liskin dol

[asickamoretree]

did we all have a goldfish growing up who we liked to call “friend”? polly jones / margaret preston / vittorio reggianini / elizabeth nourse / henri matisse / janet fish

[asickamoretree]

It's almost that time of the year :)

[asickamoretree]

Greenland by MMPFilms

[asickamoretree]

YOU HAVE NOT A NAME FOR WHAT I AM.

[asickamoretree]

Beehive, Honey and Sunlight.

[asickamoretree]

Sleeping Potion

Or as my friends call it; Lizzies cocoa for a good nights sleep!

Ingeredents;

Milk (almond milk tastes best with this one) 

2 tbsp of raw cocoa powder

brown sugar

vanilla sugar 

2 tsp lavender extract

Instructions;

heat up the milk to about 50-60°C. DO NOT BOIL!!!

add your cocoa powder till it fully dissolves

add brown and vanilla sugar until you’ve reached your desired sweetness. Attention!!! Do not add too much sugar, since it may cause nightmares.

add 2 tsp of lavendar extract, add one more if you usually have trouble sleeping

[asickamoretree]

source

[asickamoretree]

[asickamoretree]

How to celebrate Lughnasadh/Lammas 🌾

Hello my witchy friends! I am going to talk about Lughnasadh/Lammas and some ways to celebrate it.

First off a quick summary of Lughnasadh/Lammas, Lughnasadh/Lammas is a Irish festival marking the harvest season, it’s starts on August 1st!

Now some ways to celebrate Lughnasadh/Lammas 🌾

Candles 🕯

You can light a orange, yellow, red, or green candles to celebrate the seasonal energy as the earth heads into the harvest season and you can add it to your altar 🕯

Baking bread 🥖

Baking some bread for Lughnasadh/Lammas is a common ritual, here is a recipe to bake bread for Lughnasadh/Lammas!

Sourdough Braided Bread 🍞

Original recipe (press link)

-Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk warmed to 100-110 degrees F

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flower

• 1/4 teaspoon active dried yeast (optional)

• 2 tablespoons butter(softened)

• 2 1/2 cups bread flour

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 1/4 cup dried calendula petals

• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds(divided)

• 2 tablespoon of raw honey

-Instructions

* In a large bowl or in a stand mixer, add the sourdough starter, whole milk, whole wheat flour, honey. Stir well to combine. If you are not confident your starters ability to "lift" your loaf (perhaps it is still young and hasn't fully developed), sprinkle the yeast over this mixture to hydrate. Let this mixture sit for approximately 20 minutes, after which you should see some bubbles forming.

* Remove 2 tablespoons of sunflowers from the called for amount and set aside. Coarsely chop the remaining seeds.

* Add softened butter, salt, calendula flowers, and sunflower seeds to the starter mixture. Mix and add bread flour in batches until the dough is cohesive and slightly sticky.

* Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding flour, until the dough forms a smooth elastic ball -- about five minutes. The dough should be very soft, but not sticky.

* Place dough in a buttered or oiled bowl and cover with plastic film or a towel. Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in volume.

* Turn dough out onto a floured surface and pat into a 12"x6" rectangle, approximately. Cut dough lengthwise into three logs. Separate the dough logs slightly and select a center point. From the center of the dough logs, braid dough from the center to the end, repeating on on the other side.

* Transfer braided dough loaf, to a parchment lined or buttered baking pan, tucking the ends under, I prefer a ceramic baking dish with sides, just slightly bigger than the dough braid itself to discourage spread in the next steps. Cover with plastic film or a towel and let rise until doubled in size, about an hour.

* Remove plastic film or towel and brush loaf with an egg wash created from one egg beaten with a small bit of water. Sprinkle the top of the loaf with the reserved sunflower seeds. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 25-32 minutes, until the top is evenly golden and the loaf sounds hollow if tapped (I suggest rotating at least once while cooking).

* After baking, remove from oven and cool completely before slicing.

- Xoxo Enjoy luv

Decorate your altar for Lughnasadh/Lammas ✨

Decorate your altar for Lughnasadh/Lammas! You can add flowers that are in season (sunflowers, zinnia, black eyed Susans, snapdragson, cone flowers etc) or add some crystals that support the season like Carnelian, Pyrite, Citrine, Green Aventurine, Tiger’s Eye and of course you can add candles (I talked about it in the beginning ^_^)

Clean up 🧹

To show gratitude for our planet head down to your local park, beach, walking trails, etc. and clean it up. This would show how grateful you are for Mother Nature and your helping the environment :)

Spell Jars 🌙

My favorite thing to do is make spell jars and of course we have to make a spell jar for Lughnasadh/Lammas!

Let’s make a prosperity and abundance spell jar for Lammas

-Ingredients

• Cleanse Jar

• Basil- wealth/good fortune

• Adventurnite- luck/abundance

• Thyme- bringing abundance

• Dried Sunflower- flower that is in season for Lughnasadh/Lammas

• Cloves- attract good luck

• Orange Candle to seal it- if you do not have a orange candle you can use a white candle

You can set this spell jar on your altar for Lughnasadh/Lammas!!

Fun Activities 🌿

Here are some cool fun activities to do for Lughnasadh/Lammas!

- Corn Dolly

You can make a corn dolly and add it your altar, it’s a cute activity and very relaxing to do

- Bonfire

Invite some friends and family members to sit down and enjoy a bonfire, you can reflect and think about bad habits and how you can change them or if you do not want to do a bonfire you can light a candle and reflect on your journal/meditate 🧘

Feast 🍂

Lughnasadh/Lammas is all about giving thanks for the delicious bounty of the first harvest! Here are more recipes for Lughnasadh/Lammas feast!

Barley Mushroom Soup 🥣

The original recipes I got it from (press the link)

• 5 Cups. vegetable broth

• 1 Cups. Barley (uncooked)

• 1/2 lb. mushrooms (use morels or enoki for a woodsy flavor)

• 1/2 C. onion (diced)

• 1/2 C. fresh carrots (chopped)

• 1/2 C. celery (chopped)

• 2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)

• Salt and pepper to taste

- Directions

* Bring the vegetable broth to a low rolling boil on the stove and then reduce heat. Add the mushrooms, onions, carrots and celery, and allow to simmer for ten minutes. Add the barley and garlic, cover and simmer for another hour.

* Add salt and pepper, seasoning to taste. Top with fresh croutons and chives, if you've got them handy. Serve as a side dish at your Lammas celebration, accompanied by a nice soft chunk of buttered bread!

Roasted Garlic Corn 🌽

The original recipes I got it from (press the link)

• Unshucked corn cobs

• A pot of water

• Butter

• Minced garlic

• Salt, pepper, and paprika

- Directions

* Soak the corn cobs in the pot of water—leave the husk on—and let them sit for an hour or two. This will make the corn cobs nice and moist.

* Put the wet corn cobs, still in their husks, on a grill. If you're lucky enough to be using a campfire, drop them into the white coals on the edge of the fire ring. Turn the corn cobs once in a while, and let them cook for about half an hour. You'll know they're done when the husk is dry and slightly burnt.

* Remove the corn cobs from the grill and let them sit for a few minutes to cool a little. Don't let them get cold. Peel the husk all the way back and use it for a handle, or use wooden skewer sticks. Brush the cob with butter, and sprinkle with garlic, salt, pepper and paprika.

If you press the links I put under the recipes you can see even more recipes for the feat!

Have a Happy Lughnasadh/Lammas! 🌾

-Xoxo Angie

[asickamoretree]

Healing Bathwater

A calming bath spell to break up energy blocks, shed whatever is weighing you down and replenish your energy. Great for when you’re in a slump and need to give yourself a good cleanse! 

Ingredients

Storm Water- for power and dynamic energy shifts.

Salt- for cleansing and purification

Baking Soda- for an even deeper clean

Fennel Seed- purification

Lemon Juice- cleansing, breaking up energy blocks, energy. (If the seeds get in while you squeeze the lemon, keep them in for seeds of revitalization!) 

Snake Skin- Naturally shed if at all possible. Shedding what is no longer needed, transformation (any other shed skin should work the same, but snake skin is the easiest to get ahold of if you don’t have a reptile of your own.) To make this recipe vegan or if you don’t have access to the skin, try shucking corn and using the husks. Let me know how it goes! 

Instructions

Boil the storm water if you haven’t already done so. This will help get rid of some of the backteria and shouldn’t affect the storm water for our purposes. (You will still probably want to rinse your body after all this, though. This is meant to clean your energy, not necessarily your skin.)

Take water off the heat and combine all other ingredients. Yes, if you add all the ingredients together and then pour the water over it after, the lemon juice and baking soda WILL react with each other and fizz, and it WILL look cool.  Optional: add a clear quartz crystal for extra potency.

Once everything is combined, put in a vessel and shake thoroughly. 

Never underestimate the power of a shakey-shake. Let rest until ready for use. I let mine sit overnight. 

Once you’re ready, draw your bath.

Add your mixture to the bathwater. I highly recommend pouring it through some kind of filter so that you don’t end up with seeds and reptile skin in your bath water. Learn from my mistakes.

Enjoy your bath as normal, focusing on relaxing, washing the stress and spiritual gunk away, exhaling stagnation and breathing in vigor! 

IF YOU’RE TAKING A SHOWER that’s fine too! The process is the same, just mindfully pour the water over your body and “lather.” It might be cold if it’s been sitting at room temperature, but not unpleasant. 

Be sure to rinse afterwards. Clean bodies are happy bodies. 

[asickamoretree]

Arrietty the Borrower 借りぐらしのアリエッティ 2010 | dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi

[asickamoretree]

Baphomet Embroidered Collar from Fevernest