Cottage Witchery (11 page)

Crumple up some newspaper and place it in the center of the fire pit. Arrange your small sticks and dry kindling in a teepee shape. Stack a few slightly larger pieces of wood on top of your sticks and kindling—about three or four pieces leaning together ought to do the trick. (Generally you'll want this spell-fire to burn for about a half hour, so keep your stack of sticks and kindling on the small side.) Use a long wooden match or lighter to light the paper on fire. Once you've built a nice small fire and it's crackling away, you can try these following fire spells and charms.

an herbal blessing for love and wisdom

For this fire spell you will need the following herbal ingredients. You may use dried or fresh.

* A handful of lavender buds

* A blossom or two of yarrow

* A few red rose petals

Repeat the charm below, carefully adding each of these herbal ingredients into the fire. Look over the spell before you begin. The directions are within the spell.

Lavender buds bring protection and love,

Goddess, hear my call, answer from above. (Toss in the lavender.)

A cluster of yarrow, the wise woman's herb,

Its all-purpose magick adds strength to my words. (Toss in the yarrow.)

Petals of the red rose for passion and power,

Grant wisdom and love in this magickal hour. (Toss in the rose petals.)

Close the fire spell by saying:

For the good of all, with harm to none,

By fire and herbs, this spell is done.

fiery herbs for healing

For this fire spell's ingredients, check your spice rack—you may have these supplies already. Also, all of these herbal ingredients are associated with the element of fire.

Please be very careful if you are tossing in ground cloves. They are combustible. It makes a great effect, but when I experimented with this spell in my woodstove, my oldest son, Kraig, gave me seven kinds of grief about it.

“Jeez, Mom, what are you doing?” he demanded as I hunkered down before the fire with a teaspoonful of ground cloves in a measuring spoon.

“I'm experimenting,” I answered him distractedly. I watched my little miniature fire, waiting for the flames to peak. “Okay,” I announced, “here goes.” I tossed the cloves into the flames and watched the
whoosh
of the dry herbs hitting the fire. The accompanying rush of flames, sparks, and scented smoke that billowed up the flu of the stove was most satisfying. “Cool,” I announced.

“I can't believe you're sitting there playing with fire.” Kraig frowned at me.

I looked over my shoulder at him with a grin. “Shouldn't you be heading off to class?”

“Will you behave yourself while I'm gone?” he asked me as he grabbed his backpack and began to walk to the door.

“Probably not,” I grinned over at him. “I just wanted to see what would happen with a bit of ground cloves from my spice rack. I can hardly put this in a book if I haven't tried this out myself,” I explained.

“Mom, I really don't want to come home from college this afternoon to find that you have blown yourself up experimenting with spells,” he informed me as he started walking out the door.

“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes at his retreating back.

As much as it pains me to admit it, Kraig does have an excellent point. Be very careful when adding ground cloves into flames. I would recommend having them in a spoon so that you keep the spices off your fingers. I think using a small spoon is easier and safer, as it keeps the spices off your skin and you'll remember to keep your hands farther away from the flames.

For this fire spell you'll need:

* A cinnamon stick (for health and prosperity)

* A sprig of fresh rosemary or a pinch of the dried leaves (for purification and healing)

* A half teaspoon of ground cloves in a metal spoon, or three whole cloves (for protection)

It is interesting to note that when cloves are burned as an incense their scent is thought to drive away negativity and bad vibes. This spell also calls upon the Celtic goddess Brigid, the triple goddess of the hearth flame, family, and healing. Repeat the following charm, carefully adding an herb at the final repetition of each verse:

A fragrant cinnamon stick for health I'll feed into the flames.

Rosemary for protection and healing energy to gain.

Ground cloves do bring a flash and make the flames dance high.

Keep me healthy and strong, may Brigid hear my cry.

Close the spell with:

By the warmth of Brigid's fire, this spell is done.

As I will, so mote it be, and let it harm none.

Guard over your little spell-fire. Stay with it until the flames burn out. Make sure that it is completely extinguished before you leave it. If this is an outdoor fire in a fire pit, pour water on it if necessary to make sure that it is out. If you've built these fire spells in the fireplace, make sure you close up the screen or glass doors when you're finished. Follow your usual fireplace safety and maintenance routine.

The ordinary arts we practice every day at home
are more important to the soul than
their simplicity might suggest.

Thomas Moore

Daily Magick for Hearth and Home

To close up this chapter on hearth magick, here is a daily magickal correspondence chart for your home. What makes this list different? It's geared toward the concerns and specific magickal workings for the home and family.

sunday:
work for success, healing, and blessings

Planetary influence:
the sun

Household symbols: a rooster, a sun, gold jewelry

Colors: yellow and gold

Kitchen spices: cinnamon and orange peels

monday:
cast for matters concerning the home, emotions, and nurturing

Planetary influence:
the moon

Household symbols: silver platters and bowls, moon shapes

Colors: white and silver

Kitchen spices: lemon rind and wintergreen

tuesday:
a good day to work on problem solving, family squabbles, and nosey neighbors

Planetary influence:
Mars

Household symbols: a fire, black wrought-iron candleholders or an
iron cauldron or pot, red candles, dried chili peppers

Colors: red and black

Kitchen spices: allspice and chili pepper

wednesday:
cast for communication matters and to improve good luck

Planetary influence:
Mercury

Household symbols: phones, televisions, computers, letters, silver coins

Colors: orange or purple

Kitchen spices: dill and celery seed

thursday:
increase prosperity on this day; work toward expansion and moving up in the world

Planetary influence:
Jupiter

Household symbols: a dollar bill, coins, a paycheck stub, a picture of your home

Color: green and royal blue

Kitchen spices: sage and nutmeg

friday:
cast for love, luxury, pleasure, and entertainment

Planetary influence:
Venus

Household symbols: a seashell, a fountain, fresh flowers, your wedding ring or wedding photo, red or pink paper hearts, apples and cherries

Colors: pink and aqua green

Kitchen spices: thyme and sugar

saturday:
work for protection, boundaries, and house rules

Planetary influence: Saturn

Household symbols: a gate, a fence, a sprig of ivy from a houseplant

Colors: black or deep purple

Kitchen spices: Traditionally there are not many herbs associated with Saturn that are not poisonous. However, for banishing and the removal of negative situations, try a clove of garlic or dried minced onion.

[contents]

A small house will hold as much
happiness as a big one.

Anonymous

5

Seasonal, Natural Decorations
for the Magickal Home

This chapter has four sections; each seasonal section is brimming with practical, magickal ideas for you to incorporate into your home and life. When you bring fresh, natural material into your home, keep an eye on it. When it starts to dry out or to fade, dispose of it neatly. Add it to a compost pile or put it in a yard-waste receptacle. Leaving dying foliage and flowers around the house doesn't encourage the kind of positive vibrations that you're trying to pull in, so keep your materials fresh and remove them when they fade.

No matter what season it happens to currently be, remember to take a good look at the
natural world that surrounds you. Celebrate nature and bring a bit of its bounty into your home and life. There is always something magickal to be found in the great outdoors.

Many of the phenomena of winter are suggestive
of an inexpressible tenderness and fragile delicacy.
We are accustomed to hear this king described as a rude and boisterous tyrant, but with the gentleness
of a lover he adorns the tresses of summer.

Henry David Thoreau

Winter Witchery

holly

Holly is from the Old English words
holeg
and
holen
. It became popular at midwinter celebrations thanks to many magickal cultures and traditions throughout time. As one of the few plants that stayed luxuriant and green all year long, the holly, along with evergreens and ivy, became important symbols for the winter solstice. Holly was sacred to the god Saturn, a god of time and agriculture. The Romans first decorated with holly wreaths and greenery to celebrate Saturnalia, a seven-day-long feast and the big blowout for the Roman year. Schools were closed during this festival and the soldiers were given leave. Gifts were exchanged, and the mood was rowdy and fun. Holly wreaths and garlands were displayed prominently during this midwinter festival.

The holly also has ties to druidic lore because of it remaining green throughout the bleakest days of the winter months, and it has many ties to the faeries as well. It was thought that the faeries who lived in the holly bush came inside in the winter months to take a break from the cold temperatures and harsh conditions. (The branches and sprigs were thought to make excellent hiding places for the faeries of winter.)

In Arthurian legend, we have the tale of the green knight. The green knight arrived at Arthur's court at midwinter wielding a holly branch. The green knight was beheaded, but survived as a vivid symbol of resurrection. He was supposed to have calmly picked up his head and put it back on, while the court looked on in amazement. The holly he carried is a symbol for rebirth and everlasting life. This story also has ties to the ancient
legend of the Green Man, another symbol of masculine and vegetative regeneration
related to the evergreen holly.

The holly was sacred to the Teutonic goddess Holle, and the red berries represented drops of her blood. The holly bush is thought to guard you from lightning strikes and is generally a protective plant. So this year, place some branches or sprigs of fresh holly inside your home at midwinter and add a little old-fashioned magick. Check with a friend who has a holly shrub and gather a few sprigs to add to your household decorations. Here is a holly charm for you to use while you're busy “decking the halls.” This would be a great natural accessory to add to your altar or hearthstone setup.

a holly berry charm

Place three sprigs of fresh, berried holly around the base of a red pillar candle. Repeat the charm three times.

The holly is a plant full of magickal lore,

It brings protection and charm as in days of yore.

Now protect my home, bring us good cheer and holiday fun,

While we celebrate the return of the newly born sun.

Close the charm up with this:

By all the powers of the bright midwinter sun,

As I will, so mote it be, and let it harm none!

ivy

A pagan symbol for eternal life, ivy was banned from Christian midwinter celebrations as it was believed that when ivy was displayed, unrestrained drinking and feasting might take place. This last concern came from the ivy's links to Dionysus or Bacchus, the god of the vine. According to mythology, the ivy was named after a dancing girl who preformed for Dionysus. She performed so fervently that she died at his feet. The god was so moved by her passion that he placed her spirit into the ivy plant. From that time on, the plant bore her name.

Ivy is the feminine counterpoint to the masculine holly. Due to the embracing and clinging nature of ivy, it was labeled as being feminine (don't fuss at me—I didn't make it up!), while the holly plant, complete with its thorns, was considered masculine. Occasionally you will see this duo referred to as the Holly King and the Ivy Queen.

The evergreen ivy has become one of the more popular evergreens for midwinter celebrations. The ivy also brings protection, fidelity, and fertility into your home. Pick up a trailing ivy houseplant or a decorative ivy topiary and place it in your kitchen to add to your Yuletide festivities. Try repeating this charm as you add the ivy plant into your home:

The evergreen ivy brings protection and love,

Ivy Queen, hear my call and answer from above.

Bless my home with fidelity and joy, come what may,

Grant us happiness and peace during the holidays.

You may close this charm by saying:

By all the powers of green holly,

As I will it, then so shall it be.

the yule log

The word
Yule
comes from the old Norse word
jol
, representing the winter solstice celebration. It also is linked to the Saxon word
hweol
, meaning “wheel,” similar to a German word meaning “the turning of the wheel” or “the rising of the sun wheel.” The Yule log comes to us from the old Norse winter solstice celebrations. The Yule log is a symbol and a reminder of the importance of the power of fire. Its life-giving warmth and light
were and are blessings to us during the darkest and bleakest days of the year. Also,
fireplace magick performed with a Yule log would be doubly powerful. (Hint, hint: go back and look at the fire magick section in the last chapter. Does this give you any ideas?)

There are two kinds of Yule logs. One is a large log that is burned within the fireplace. Usually a small posy or arrangement of Yuletide greenery is tied to that fireplace log with a little decorative bow. The other type of Yule log would be a centerpiece. Typically this is a half log studded with three red candles and adorned with sprigs of fresh holly, pine, and ivy, with maybe a ribbon or a small bow threaded through the greenery.

Even though my family does have a wood-burning stove, we also use a Yule log centerpiece. We selected half of a white birch log from our woodpile and then my husband drilled out three holes for metal candle cups. Each year I switch out the taper candles and put in fresh ones after the candles burn down.

The candles are lit when my group gets together to celebrate the winter solstice in mid-December. (Since everyone has families, we shoot for as close as we can get to the solstice and a time when everyone can attend the celebration.) The taper candles are lit again on the actual night of the solstice, at Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day, while we celebrate with our families. Finally the candles are lit again on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Since the Yule log is on display for so long, I arrange silk holiday greenery around the candles and then add fresh sprigs of holly and evergreen on the day of the solstice. When the greenery dries out in a few days, usually right after December 25, I remove the dried-out pieces and simply leave the decorative silk greenery in its place.

yule log legends and lore

* A Yule log for the fireplace should be kindled with a small piece of last year's log.

* A Yule log centerpiece should be burned for twelve days to encourage good luck.

* Arrange three red taper candles in your Yule log centerpiece to represent the Maiden, Mother, and the Crone or the spirit of the Lord, Lady, and the divine Sun child.

* It is said that those who attend a winter solstice celebration are protected from mishaps and misfortune for the following year.

* The Yule log has the power to protect the home from evil spirits and ghosts, and to ward off bad luck and arguments. (Save a small piece for this purpose.)

* After the Yule log is burned out, its ashes were spread across the fields to promote good crops in the coming year. Want to know why? This is also a handy gardening tip: adding some ash to your garden soil raises the pH level, making it more alkaline and less acidic.

pinecones and evergreens

The evergreen tree is one of our most beloved symbols of the holiday season. Draped in sparkling lights and decorated with a dazzling array of ornaments, that decorated pine tree is near and dear to our hearts. Just as you'd imagine, the green branches and boughs were used to symbolize that life would indeed return to the land. Bringing evergreens into the home during the darkest days of the year was and is an act of sympathetic magick. (Plus it gave those winter faeries a warm place to hang out for a few days.) Draping fresh pine greenery inside your home or around your front door is a clever and subtle way to bring prosperity and healing energies into your home. Plus it's a joyous and natural way to decorate and celebrate the solstice and the magick of the Yuletide season.

Pinecones encourage fertility—those babies are loaded with seeds and they also make good fire starters for the outdoor fire pit, your indoor woodstove, or fireplace. Try gathering fallen pinecones this year and arrange several varieties into a pretty basket. (Gathering tip: if you have folks in your neighborhood with lots of pine or spruce trees, then ask them if you could gather some fallen cones. If not, check with a local park. If you ask first and only take what you need, they probably won't mind. Or pick up a bag of pinecones at the local arts and crafts store.) Enchant the pinecones for fertility and protection and place them on your table or beside your hearth during the winter months. Here is a winter charm to go with them.

a sparkling winter charm for the home

Gather the following supplies:

* A small tube of iridescent glitter

* A basket (your choice on the color and style)

* A square of felt (to line the basket and help keep the glitter in its place)

* A dozen pinecones

Place the felt into the bottom of an attractive basket. Next, gather and arrange your pinecones in the felt-lined basket. Hold your hands over the pinecones and imagine the natural elements of earth, air, fire, and water swirling around you. Now picture this energy being funneled down into your hands and then sprinkle a bit of the iridescent glitter on top of the pinecones as you repeat this charm three times.

Pinecones are a natural symbol for fertility,

I enchant these to bring us good luck and prosperity.

By the winter winds that blow, and the sparkling snow that falls,

I call for joy and abundance to come bless us, one and all.

Place your basket on the hearth or use as a centerpiece this winter. Enjoy!