kitchenmagic-blog1

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Greetings from Stockholm folks. Now off back home to Austria for the Weekend and then Finnland. Businesstrip Season is exhausting and exciting. Can't wait to blog again.

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Back from Mallorca and off to Sweden... puh

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For centuries sage was considered to be a natural cure against sweating at night and thus can also be used for a refreshing foot bath.

Summer is coming closer and the choize of what shoes to wear to work is a tricky one. So in case you're not allowed to display your impressive collection of sandals, here's a little recipe that will bring relief once you're back home:

FOOT BATH WITH SAGE

You need:

1 handfull of sage leaves, 1 liter boiling water

How it works:

Brew the leaves with the water,  wait for it to steep and chill down to a comfortable temperature. Then stain the water through a sieve into the foot bath tub. Sage makes your feet feel refreshed and smell like summer. 

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Peppermint

Peppermint is usually associated with elemental air, because of its strong scent. As an air herb, peppermint can be used for divination and visualization magic.

Corresponds with Friday, Mercury, Venus

Great for neutralizing negativity, encouraging, healing, love, and serenity in the home

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From infusions and tinctures to oils and salves: The basics of herbal healing and the beginnings of any potion.

Decoction: A decoction is needed to extract the deeper essence from harder substances such as barks, roots and stems. Place the raw materials in a pot and fill it with fresh water. Simmer uncovered until the water lever is reduced by 1/3. Strain the resulting liquid to remove particulates then drink or use as needed.

Infusion: Pour freshly boiled water over the desired herb or planar matter, roughly 8 ounces of water per teaspoon of dried plant parts. When using fresh herbs roughly 3 times as much is required.

Oil: Place flowers, herbs or other plant parts in a sealed glass container. Fill the container with an organic oil (ex: Olive, sesame, etc…) until it is an inch above the material being used. Place the bottle somewhere warm for 2 weeks, next to a stove while cooking, on the mantle, a sunny window sill, etc. Upend the container daily to ensure the oil saturates the material.

Ointment: Heat 2 cups of pure lard to frying temperature. Add 4 handfuls of crumbled dry herbs or 6 handfuls of chopped fresh herb to the lard. Stir to to blend and let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat, cover and let sit over night. Reheat until liquid then mix in 4 tablespoons of an organic oil, this will prevent it hardening to much. Squeeze through a cheese clothe to remove solids and store in a crockery or glass container.

Salve: Mix 3 ounces of finely pulped plant parts, 7 ounces of lard and 1 ounce of beeswax. When thoroughly mixed simmer over low heat in active red pot for 1-2 hours. Remove from eat and allow to cool.

Tincture: A tincture uses alcohol to extract the properties of a herb or plant. Loosely fill a glass container with fresh or dried herbs and add some sort of food grade spirit (ex: vodka), vinegar can also be used for certain ingredients. Cork or otherwise seal the container and leave somewhere warm for 2 or more weeks.

*Information from “Healing Teas - How to prepare and use read to maximize your health” by Marie Nadine Antol. **images from google.

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A Monk’s View

Every day, priests minutely examine the Dharma and endlessly chant complicated sutras.

Before doing that, though, they should learn how to read the love letters sent by the wind and rain,the snow and moon.

Ikkyu (1394-1481)

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Magical Properties: Potatoes

A lot of mention has gone to various herbs both common and not but very little attention has been paid to the common potato.

Medical Uses:  Surprisingly, potatoes actually have several medical uses. Potatoes are very alkalizing and their raw juice can be taken internally to soothe peptic ulcers and excessive acidity; However, dosage should be limited to the juice of just one good sized potato per day. Potatoes can also be mashed raw and used as a poultice to soothe burns or they can be applied hot and cooked to soothe joint pain.

The juices from the potatoes also have a natural antiseptic quality and when applied to bruises and infections they draw out the puss and reduce inflammation.

Magical Uses: Found in many witches kitchens it is a great addition to any spell for Protection, Image Magic, Money, Luck, and Healing. It is also an amazing vegetable to use for grounding oneself.

Potatoes are also traditionally used in magic to make poppets.

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon

Element: Earth

God Association: AXOMAMMA

Zodiac Association: Unknown

Magical Recipes including potatoes:

To ground oneself after meditation or casting a spell eat a freshly baked and charged potato; to maximize its effectiveness season the potato with onions, chives, rosemary, parsley, or dill. The potato helps to amplify stored energy within a witch so its a good meal before you plan to cast a spell.

To Ward ones home from witchcraft bury a potato in all four corners of the home with a sigil carved into it or a personal chant. These potatoes will create a barrier to ward off any incoming illness or curse.

Lastly, carve a symbol or the name of a friend or family into a potato to draw out an illness or curse into the potato itself then bury it. The illness or curse will decay with the potato as its new host.

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The big name initiatory traditions are no longer the be all end all of witchcraft. Younger generations of witches are putting less and less importance on lineage and formal initiation choosing personal gnosis, mysticism, direct ecstatic experience, and spirit initiation over the customs of previous generations. Many of them would rather follow a personalized spiritual practice than follow the dogma of a set tradition. Many of them do not agree with the hierarchical structure of witchcraft covens and the many interpersonal problems it can create. Many consider strict traditions to be as divisory to witchcraft and Paganism as the different sects of the Church are to Christianity (i.e. witch wars). Others don’t like the polytheistic restriction or the inexplicable focus of only the ancient Celtic and Greek cultures within traditions. They want more options, more flexibility, and a more involved, hands-on style to their craft.

Sarah Anne Lawless, Breaking Tradition (via through-brighter-eyes)

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Yanweizhou Wetland Park in Jinhua City, China is a theme park built over a 64-acre natural wetland called Yanweizhou, meaning “the sparrow tail” in Chinese. Although the park was under development for several years and is now a popular tourist attraction, architects worked hard to preserve the wetland’s natural ecosystem, and today Yanweizhou Wetland Park remains one of the most environmentally friendly parks in China. 

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cleansing crystals

full moon: on the night of a full moon, leave your crystals outside to soak up the moonlight, the crystals will still receive the energy even if it’s cloudy or raining! (but make sure the crystals can safely be in contact with water!!)

sunlight: leave your crystals out to bathe in the sun for a few hours (Amegreen, Amethyst, Ametrine,  Aquamarine,  Celestite, Citrine, Fluorite,  Kunzite, Opal,Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Spirit Quartz, Super Seven, Topaz, and Turquoise should not be left out in the sun!!)

sage/incense: waft the smoke over the crystals, or hold the crystals in the smoke, let the smoke reach every side of the crystal

water: let your crystals soak in a nice cool water bath, or place them under running water, visualise the water cleaning out any negative energy (Calcite, Desert Rose, Halite, Hematite, Lodestone, Malachite, Satin Spar, and Selenite should not be placed in water!!)

earth: bury your crystals in the soil for a few hours and the earth will soak up negative energies (again, be cautious about rain!)

sound: place your crystals in front of speakers and play your favourite music!! the vibrations from sound waves will pass through the crystals and reset their vibrations to their original state

flower petals: bury your crystals in a bowl of flower petals, choose a flower that has extra healing properties to help your crystals

visualisation: hold your crystal in your hand and envision a white light surrounding it, then see a white beam pass through the crystal, taking the negative energy away

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✨ Witch Tip! ✨

Place amethysts in the corner of a room to act as a spiritual vacuum cleaner

(alternatively use quartz crystal or malachite)

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One of the many plants growing in my garden that were already present by the time we bougt the house, is a small elderbush. This year, it’ll be in bloom for the first time, so I decided to dedicate one post to something my Mom used to make every late May or early June every since I could think:

ELDER FLOWER SYRUP

It certainly cannot compared to the dull and way too sweet syrup you can buy at the grocery stores. There's nothing like home-made, is there?

Ingredients for approximately 5-7 bottles:

30 Elder-flower umbels

3 l Water

80 g Citric Acid

3 Organic Lemons cut into slices

3 kg Sugar

How it is made:

Make sure that your Elder-flower umbels are clean and bug-free. Wash and put them into a big bucket.

Add the citric acid, the water and lemon slices - stir well.

Cover the bucket with a dish cloth and let rest for 3 days. Stir once a day.

Strain the liquid though a linen tissue and add 1 kg sugar per 1 liter of juice.

Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes and fill the (still hot) liquid into clean bottles. Seal the bottles right afterwards.

Store in a cool and dark place so you can enjoy them until ... like forever. Unless you don't drink it right away.

To enjoy the wonderful fresh an lemony flavor of Elder-flower juice like your everyday syrup. Water : Syrup = approximately 7 : 1

Now there's something even better for the grown up wine drinkers among us. A delicious and refreshing thing that came all the way from Italy to find a huge fan-base among the Austrians, even though it got a crazy name:

HUGO

It all started in late Summer 2010 in a former Austrian, now Italian region called Southern Tirol. Soon afterwards, the sparkling drink, that sort of is a daytime-type of Mojito, found its  place in every bar and Biergarten in Austria and Bavaria and step by step dethroned the former favorite wine-cocktail Aperol Spritz.

Of course, just like the reddish Aperol Liquor-White Wine mixture, a Hugo is easily made at home. This is what you'll need:

Ingredients for a Hugo:

150 ml Prosecco

1 shot Elder-Flower Syrup

Limes

Mint or Lemon Balm

100 ml Sparkling Water

It's served with ice cubes and straw in a bulgy Wine glass and makes sure, that everyone who has once tried it, will fall in love with it. Believe me, everyone I know, did!

More Facts? According to Swedish folklore one can see the Elf-King and his entourage when sitting under an elder bush during sunset on Midsummer's day. Hmm, I wonder if the king ever travels all the way southwards to Austria. Oh and the plant also plays an important role as a household remedy since a tea brewed from elder-flowers is used to cure fever and the symptoms of the common cold. Its almost black berries contain even more Vitamin C than the flower umbels, but you'll have to wait a few more months until August or September to be able to collect them. 

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Salts - Magikal Properties

Whether it is black salt, sea salt, pink salt or just plain old. Salt has a long history of use in rituals, purification, blessings and magical protection. Salt is created and thrives in the Ocean  (or the Womb of the Goddess) It is the taste of Earth in the waters of life. salt is a amazing and versatile natural source for cleansing, and  is a must have for anyone.

Regular Sea Salt - sea salt is overall very common, easy to obtain and affordable. It can be bought in either course chunks or fine like sand. White salt is associated with purification, purity, protection and blessings. 

Used in consecration

Placed in water to cleanse it

Purification, cleansing and removal or negative energies,

Can be placed around areas to protect them

Commonly used in circles

Used in Curses

Can be made into salt scrubs 

Celtic Sea Salt- is a “moist” unrefined sea salt that is usually found on the coastal areas of France. It has a gorgeous light grey, almost light purple color; it is harvested from the clay found in salt flats. This salt has similar properties to regular sea salt however because it is a much more natural and pure salt its properties are enhanced especially protective and cleansing. It also tastes amazing and is filled with vital minerals, I also find that since it is moist it clumps together nicely making it easy to work with and shape.

Used in consecration

Purification, cleansing and removal of negative energies,

protective spells 

blessings

curses

soothing

great for cooking 

medicinal 

perfect in bath scrubs 

Black Salt- black salt is as the title says black or very dark in color. It is commonly available at magic shops, and is also very easy to make. Not to be confused with black lava salt or kala namak salts used in fine cuisine.RITUAL BLACK SALT IS NOT FOR CONSUMPTION!!!. This salt is easily the most protective of the four as it is great at Nullifying or returning negative energy.

protective

Banishing

fire energy,

can be used for darker earthly Elementals & Deities,

the Crone or Triple Goddesses

working  with the dark moon

Warding, uncrossings, and binding work

can be spread around doorways & windows to keep out evil

Himalayan Pink Salt- is a pure, hand mined salt that is from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains.  It is harvested from ancient sea salt deposits, it thought to be one of the highest quality and purest salts available. The salt ranges in hues from white to various shades of pink,  and even deep reds; this is the result of the salts high iron and mineralcontent. This salt has the most soothing and loving energizes of the salts and can be used for bringing about love. 

promoting love and friendship

promoting positive energizes 

Healing

cleansing 

spell bags 

baths or scrubs 

If working with salt keep in mind that it is a natural dessicating agent meaning it sucks all the water so if your working with it outside and are sprinkling it on the ground it will kill your grass and destroy the surrounding soil making it inhabitable for plants and such. 

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Storm Witch's Ward Water

You will need: ° storm water °thyme ° rosemary ° sage °sandalwood ° salt Put the solution into a dish and microwave until hot. Take a brush, dip it into the water and brush along the frames of your doors and windows. Once that is done, take the brush, dip it into the water, then flick the water into every corner of the room. Repeat the process with as many rooms that need to be cleansed.