~𝕚’𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕣 𝕟𝕠𝕨~ 𝕒 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝

Lammas - a festival to mark the annual wheat harvest, and is the first harvest festival of the year

It’s a cold, rainy day here and I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I thought I would share my “get well draught”. It’s warming and comforting and the most reliable thing I have found to make me feel better when I have a cold (except for sudafed).

I use; - A small handful of fresh mint - A teaspoon of fresh ginger or half a teaspoon powdered - Quarter of a teaspoon of chilli powder - Quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon - The juice of half a lemon Stir clockwise and strain before drinking.

The best thing about this “tea” is that you can make it to your own tastes. Today I’ve added lemongrass and if I have it and feel like it I add honey. This tea is great if you have a sore throat or blocked sinuses. You can double or tripple the ingredients and brew in a pot on the stove and put your face in the steam for added benefits.

Extra points for drinking it from a cool mug that makes you feel badass!

Des' healing foods: Cinnamon Sugar yellow squash

Normally it’s tea, but sometimes you need a little more than tea to get you going.

Right now, I’m sick. This is a recipe my aunt gave me, it’s not a lot of magic, bit it’s a lot of love.

What you need: • crook neck yellow squash, small • one table spoon cinnamon • 1 ½ table spoons white or brown sugar • two table spoons butter

What to do: ○ cut squash into small rounds, cutting larger rounds into fourths or halves so they cook evenly. ○ place squash into a medium pan with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. ○ cook on medium-high heat to the butter and sugar don’t burn. ○ cook until squash is tender. About 15 minutes.

What my aunt says when she makes this for me: You’re going to feel better, don’t you worry little one.

Kitchen Witch Recipes #2

Book: “Japanese Light: Heart-Friendly, Age-Defying Recipes from the World’s Healthiest Cuisine by Kimiko Barber”

Kyoto Bean Soup

👽1 tablespoon vegetable oil

👽1 red onion, finely chopped

👽4-6 pieces thick-sliced unsmoked bacon, chopped

👽1 carrot, coarsely chopped into chunks

👽4 ounces burdock root, peeled and coarsely chopped, soaked in water

👽4 cups (1 pound) Chinese cabbage, coarsely chopped

👽4 medium rutabagas, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks

👽4 ¾ cups dashi broth (recipe here)

👽4 tablespoons sake

👽3-4 tablespoons light soy sauce

👽1 cup canned cannellini beans, drained

👽2 tablespoons medium-colored miso paste

👽salt to taste

👽2 scallions, finely chopped

👽2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

🌵This is a Japanese interpretation of Tuscan bean soup. Like its Italian counterpart, this soup is wholesome and nourishing. The addition of miso paste gives a hidden depth without changing the character of the soup. I use canned cannellini beans for convenience, but you can substitute any beans of your choice. If you are using dried beans, soak them with three times their volume of water overnight and cook slowly until soft.

🌙Step 1:Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over a moderate heat and saute the onion until softened but not browned. 

🌙Step 2: Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes before adding the carrot, burdock, cabbage,  and rutabagas. Saute until soft. 

🌙Step 3: Pour in the dashi broth and season with sake and soy sauce. Bring to a boil, skimming off any scum that floats to the surface. Reduce the heat to low/moderate and add the beans. Let simmer for 15 minutes. 

🌙Step 4: Stir in the miso paste gently and adjust the seasoning with salt. Ladle into warmed soup bowls. Garnish with the chopped scallions and sesame seeds and serve.

Norse Mythology and Advice

Be steadfast like Sigyn, but don’t take any shit.

Be shining like Freyja, but know to put yourself first above all others. 

Be humble like Iðunn, but know that you hold powers unimaginable that even they don’t see. 

Be careful and shrewd like Frigg, but know when to cherish what you have before it’s gone. 

Be wild and free like Skaði, but know that there is no shame in longing for what is home. 

Be strong in your convictions like Hel, but know when to have your heart turn toward a worthy cause. 

Be enchanting like Gerðr, but know that your radiance is something they can never take from you.

Be a comforting pillar like Sif, but know that it is alright to ask for a helping hand in return. 

Be clever like Loki, but know that not everyone can distinguish between cunning and harmful trickery.

Be righteous like Njörðr, but do not bend others to your will and mind like a tyrant.

Be proud of achievements like Bragi, but do not forget the many hands that go into one great piece of work, and dole out thanks accordingly. 

Be tender and loving like Freyr, but don’t forget how to fight for your survival with tooth and nail. 

Be forever fighting for your loved ones like Týr, but be weary of those who would call you friend and kin only to feed you to the wolves. 

Be full of grace and charm like Baldr, but know that not every battle can be fought with the power of soft speech and courtesy when life is on the line.  

Be a lover of justice like Forseti, but know that not everyone is looking for advice to their ills.

Be ever keen of eye like Heimdallr, but know that not all secrets that your gaze sees should be shared in others company. 

Be blameless like Höðr, but know that even then, all our hands will be stained blood red with some lie or deed eventually.

Be willing to stand tall by your own merits like Ullr, but do not shy from friendly hands that would see you whole and hale to the end.  

Be ferocious and strong like Þórr, but know when to stay hand upon weapon and offer kind word instead. 

Be a searcher of knowledge like Óðinn, but be mindful that while we cannot know everything, that does not mean we should stop seeking. 

Witches type

Source IG: @waterofwhimsy

The Witch at Lammas

This post is the fifth in a series of posts exploring and celebrating witch archetypes at the eight seasonal festivals.

Lammas is a festival celebrated on August 1. It is descended from the festival of Lughnasadh, an ancient Celtic festival of Pagan origin. Still celebrated by many Neo-Pagans, Lughnasadh is one of the four “fire festivals.” It is the celebration of the first fruits of summer and it has long had connections to both the grain and hay harvests. It is named after the ancient Celtic sky god, Lugh. The “-nasadh” of Lughnasadh means something like “an assembly”, so the phrase “Lughnasadh” can be taken to mean “the assembly of Lugh” (sometimes translated as “the games of Lugh”).

Lughnasadh is traditionally associated with summer fairs. In ancient times, the “assembly” would have been a great fair, with food and games and opportunities for trading and other financial exploits. This tradition has never died out. It is still common to see fairs throughout the British Isles and even the United States and Canada during this time. Traditionally, Lughnasadh would have lasted two weeks.

With the Christianization of Europe, Lughnasadh became Lammas, its new name meaning “Loaf Mass”. Lammas celebrates the grain harvest, which is honored by making loaves of bread from the freshly gathered wheat. These loaves of bread were blessed by priests during Lammas services. These blessed loaves could then be used for folk magic. Superstitious farmers would break the loaves into quarters and hide them in the corners of their houses or barns for protection.

One theme that is prevalent throughout these celebrations is that of sacrifice. The tale of Lughnasadh is one of tragic death. According to an old Irish legend, the goddess Tailtiu, the foster mother of Lugh, cleared the great forest of Breg with an axe to make the plains of Ireland. These plains became fertile farmland. She wanted to provide for her people. However, the work proved to be too great and when she finished clearing the forest, she died. In her honor, Lugh established a festival of funeral games, which would become Lughnasadh. The Paleo-Pagans who inhabited what is now Britain and Ireland would have honored this festival by lighting great bonfires and giving sacrifical offerings to the gods.

Lugh is associated with the sky, but he is also a god of sovereignity and battle. It was he who slayed the giant Balor and threw his eye into the heavens to create the Sun. Even in his sky “aspect”, he is still a god of skill and war. Ancient depictions of Lugh typically show him wearing a torc and holding a spear. The torc is a symbol of sovereignty - he is a god of kings and rulers - and he holds the spear - a tool of war. He is a god of skill; his wars are not the foolish all-destructive wars of modernity, but are the skilled battles of old. He is truly a god of warriors.

The grain of Lammas is a symbol of sacrifice. Consider the drinking song “John Barleycorn”, which personifies the grain as a man who is murdered and cut to pieces. The grain and all the other first fruits of the harvest season fall at Lammas. The year is in decline. According to legend, in ancient Ireland, an old or senile king , no longer useful as a ruler, would be sacrificed at Lughnasadh. Whether this is a historical truth is a matter of some debate, but this theme still maintains its power.

The Christianization of the festival links it with Christ’s suffering on the cross and also his associations with bread and grain. According to the Bible, it was he who died to cleanse mankind of its sins. He is often called a sacrifical lamb. It was prophesied that he would be born in Bethlehem - the House of Bread. It was he who made the fishes and loaves multiply. It was he who said to eat his flesh and drink his blood, and what is his flesh but bread transfigured?

Because sacrifice is a predominant theme in the Lughnasadh/Lammas holidays, let us discuss the witch as warrior. Despite some claims that witches cannot and should not do harm to others, the historical records say otherwise. There are multiple, notable accounts of witches using their craft to defend their homes and loved ones.

We could discuss warding, but that topic is oft-discussed I do not see a need to go more in-depth about it here. Let us discuss, instead, three specific historical examples of practitioners using the magical arts to protect themselves and others.

In this short space, it would be impossible to describe all the accomplishments of Welsh mathematician, astrologer, and occultist John Dee. A Renaissance man in every meaning of the word, Dee was the court magician for Queen Elizabeth I. It was Dee who helped plan expeditions to the New World. It was Dee himself who coined the term “British Empire”. So, when Phillip II of Spain attempted to invade England in 1588, it was said that John Dee took action. According to legend, Dee used his occult knowledge to cast a spell on the Spanish Armada. Of course, the Spanish Armada was scattered by great winds and did not invade England.

Less than 400 years later, it is said the witches of England helped to drive away the invading Nazi forces during the Second World War. According to Gerald Gardner, a great gathering of witches occurred in the New Forest on the eve of the Nazi invasion. These witches came from all over Britain to cast a spell on the Third Reich. The witches commanded the Nazi planes to not invade and many died in the process, or so the legend goes. Like the Spanish Armada, the Nazis did not invade Britain. Despite the raids, England never fell to the German forces. One does hope that the current generation of witches will follow their lead and use magic to strike back against tyranny.

In the 1960s, Italian historian Carlo Ginzburg published his work The Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. In this highly influential work, Ginzburg examines reports of the Benandanti, a group of magical practitioners who lived in Northeastern Italy in the 16th and 17th Centuries. The phrase Benandanti means “the good walkers.” By their own reports, the Benandanti rose (“walked”) from their own bodies while they were sleeping and fought off dark forces. These dark forces were witches, called the Maladanti (“the bad walkers”).

According to the Benandanti, who testified before the Inquisition, they fought the witches at night with fennel sticks. They did this on certain Thursdays to protect their crops. The nighttime visions of the Benandanti have been tied to the Sabbat-visions of witches throughout Europe during the same time period. The testimonies of the Benandanti led Ginzburg to conclude that they were members of a sort of “fertility cult”. Ginzburg’s work was considered controversial upon its first publication and continues to spark debate.

This Lammas, let us remember what it is to defend those we love. You does not need to be a solider to fight for the things you care about. You can be a scholar, a dreamer, a mystic - you can be an ordinary person and affect great change. With a bit of magic and a sense of determination, you can fight for what you believe in and win.

Relationships with the Gods

There are a lot of posts on Tumblr along the lines of ‘How do I know if X god accepts me/my offering etc’. And for someone starting out in worship I suppose that desire to have an instant gratification for your effort/actions is understandable.

But in my experience, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t get a divine voice in your ear, or a symbol magically appearing in front of you. (It can happen, (unpopular opinion >>) I just side eye those things because it sounds a lot like self-fulfilment fantasy.)

More commonly, I would liken the experience to planting a seed. 

You prepare the ground for the seed by tilling and caring for the soil. You water the seed, give it light, perhaps even give it plant food, and then you wait.

And you hope that it grows.

You don’t stop giving these things, because if you do, the plant might wither and even die.

You can talk to your plant, but you don’t expect the plant to talk back to you in human language. But the plant sprouts, and grows, and you feel damn good because you helped nurture this plant. It could have grown fine on its own somewhere in the countryside because in the nature of these things, wild versions of plants don’t need us to flourish.

And then, because of all your devotion and hard work to this plant. It gives you flowers, fruit, vegetables, something that benefits you, and the reciprocity relationship feels good. You got something back for all your hard work. Nature benefited you.

And not to simplify the Gods into one plant metaphor, but rather than our BFFs, they are something vastly greater than ourselves that we nurture a relationship with for our benefit, because without it, life is just that little less nice.

Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

I love this artwork, it belongs to @paperwitchco 🎃