Moon Spell Cookies Ingredients: • 1 cup of finely grated almonds (optional) • 1 ¼ cups of flour • ¼ cup of confectioner’s sugar • ¼ cup of butter • 1 egg yolk Directions: 1. Combine almonds, flour, and sugar. 2. Work in butter and egg yolk until well blended. 3. Set it in the fridge until chilled. 4. Roll into crescent moon shapes or use a cookie cutter. 5. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes. Spells for: Love - Add a few pinches of rosemary, sweet basil, cinnamon, and honey. Prosperity - Add cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, and grated lemon peel. Protection - Add cloves, rosemary, anise, and cinnamon. Psychic Ability - Add star anise, nutmeg, orange, and thyme.

May we never be our daughter’s first enemy.

Girls with thick thighs and loud laughs are important and deserve love

Aloe Vera

Also known as true aloe, burn plant, and lily of the desert, aloe vera is in fact a member of the lily family, despite resembling and behaving more like a cactus. Aloe vera is native to Africa and flourishes in sunny, dry climates, requiring very little water. It can endure frost so long as the ground does not freeze, but may lose vital nutrients if exposed to temperatures less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Energy ~ Feminine

Element ~ Water

Planet ~ Moon

Zodiac Sign ~ Cancer

Aloe vera is most famous for its applications treating burns. The leaves have an incredibly high water content, and the mucilage or gel can be used to treat burns or cuts, making this plant ideal to keep in a clay pot in the kitchen for first aid. The latex, meanwhile, is highly laxative. Its anti-inflammatory properties also lend themselves to remedy swelling from bruises or sprains.

Sacred to Aphrodite, aloe vera can be used in various beauty spells. As an amulet, it protects against all kinds of accidents and misfortune, especially around the home. It can also be used in all kinds of lunar magick, can be placed on the grave of a loved one to promote peaceful energy, can relieve loneliness and promote success, and can be hung in the home for luck and protection.

In flower language, aloe vera’s bundles of crimson blossoms mean “Grief.”

Aloe

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon

Element: Water

Spiritual Attributes: Protection, Luck, Beauty, Peace. Guards against evil influences and prevents household accidents. Used for success in the world. Prevents feelings of loneliness.

Medical Uses: Helpful in the treatment of wound healing, burn healing, and mild skin infections. The juice of the plant can be used to relieve digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. It is an excellent additive for soaps and creams as a conditioner.

a little warm up sketch

Insomnia-Be-Gone!

A soothing sachet to tuck under your pillow or hang over your bed. Get a good night’s sleep and wake up refreshed!

INGREDIENTS

Pick and choose some of the following herbs. I typically use a mixture of about 4, or whichever I happen to have on hand at the time. I try to avoid too many at once because that results in an overwhelming scent.

Anise - Known to repel nightmares.

Calendula – Brings about a good night’s sleep.

Cedar – Calms the mind and wards off bad dreams.

Chamomile – One of the most powerful sleep herbs on the list.

Jasmine – Gives good dreams, but can cause erotic dreams in women.

Lavender – The ultimate in stress relief herbs.

Lemon Balm – Stress relieving sleep aid.

Mugwort – Helps ward off bad dreams.

Mullein – Can be used to protect against bad dreams or psychic attack.

Rose petals – Brings about dreams of love. Can also cause erotic dreams if used too heavily.

Next, gather the following stones.

Clear Quartz — Who doesn’t love clear quartz? It’s like an energy booster for your other stones.

Amethyst — This gem helps guard against nightmares, but also helps soothe an overactive mind and wipes away the stress of the day (or week).

Rose Quartz — Bring in some of rose quartz’ love and peace. This brings deep, restorative sleep and over time can build self-love and overall happiness.

Lepidolite — Probably my most recommended stone. Lepidolite is like kryptonite to even the most super-est of stresses and depressions. It can stop obsessive thoughts, bring mood swings into line, and will upend dependency and mental anguish that might be keeping you up at night.

DIRECTIONS

Take the stones (little chips are just as good as big chunks) and place them in a bowl. Add any essential oils (many of the floral herbs are more fragrant in their oil form) and use your hands to roll the stones around until coated.  While doing so, focus your intent as soft pink or yellow (or whatever color is soothing to you) light radiating from your hands.

Next, add the remaining herbs. Continue to hand mix the ingredients while focusing your intent. Once thoroughly mixed, hold your hands over the bowl and really expand that “light” into a ball of positive, soothing energy.

If you’d like, say a quick invocation or spell. Something like:

When I lay me down to sleep

I ask of you my dreams to keep.

No more tossing, no more turning.

No more stress and questions burning.

Only rest and gentle sleep,

Until the morning’s dawn shall peep.

You can change the words to fit your needs, or skip it altogether. It doesn’t have to rhyme - that’s just a simple device some people use. Hell, it doesn’t even need to make sense, as long as it is you channelling your will into the mixture.

DO. NOT. RUSH. THIS. PART. Breathe. Let your will do its work.

Once you’ve imbued the mixture with your will, transfer it to a muslin bag or pouch. Hang near your bed or tuck under your pillow. 

…

As a side-note, always feel free to experiment with this and any of my other recipes. This is what works for me. Maybe you find catnip or vervain soothing. Add it!  Maybe tourmaline is your power crystal. Add it!  And if you experiment with the recipe and find something that seems to work really well, let me know! 

Best wishes, 

The Hedge Wytch

Tub Tea and Bath Soaks 

WARNING: These recommendations and recipes are not approved for young children or pregnant and/or nursing mothers. Please also take any allergies you have into consideration!  

When taking a bath, many people think of relaxation - lighting candles to create a soft glow, a glass of wine in hand and perhaps some soothing music playing in the background. However, baths can be so much more than relaxing: they can also be nourishing to your body. 

Using the right combination of ingredients, a bath can reduce inflammation, heal wounds, energize your mind or calm you down. Here are a list of common ‘goals’ for healing baths and the herbs (dry or fresh) you can use to successfully create them: 

Soothing: Calendula petals, lemon balm, eucalyptus leaves, Celtic sea salt

Relaxing: Rose petals, lavender leaves, thyme, beebalm, bay leaf, jasmine, white sage, epsom salt 

Skin softening: Chamomile, linden, rose petals, chickweed, calendula flowers, ground almonds, rolled oats 

Stimulation/Energizing: Mint leaves (peppermint, wintergreen), lemongrass, eucalyptus leaves, rosemary, sea salt 

Anti-inflammatory/Pain-relief: Calendula, lemon balm, plantain, rose petals, yarrow, neem, Epsom salt, sea salt 

Common Combinations 

I highly recommend using a cheesecloth or cloth/paper tea bag for baths involving dried herbs to minimize mess and prevent damage to your drain. 

Basic Salt Bath: 

Milk + Honey Bath: 

Pain-relief Oatmeal Bath: 

–

These notes are from my own personal grimoire and have been translated into English. Always do your research when sourcing plants, dried or fresh, for any endeavor.

Photo under Creative Common License.

Who else loves making spell bottles but can’t find easy items for what I want it to do?

Well y’all are in luck cause I got annoyed and so I made a list of commonly found kitchen items that have properties that are often desired for spell bottles! ~please note that other items that you may have also have these properties but I wanted to make something very generic~

Courage- Thyme

Luck- Clove, Clover, Dill, Hazel, Mint, Orange

Protection- Clove, Clover, Basil, Cinnamon, Cumin, Fennel, Garlic, Grass, Lettuce, Lime, Olive, Onion, Parsley, Pepper, Radish, Rosemary, Sage

Love- Clove, Clover, Orange, Basil, Cinnamon, Ginger, Jasmine, Lemon, Lettuce, Lime, Parsley, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Rosemary, Thyme, Vanilla

Success- Clove, Clover, Cinnamon, Ginger

Money/Riches/Wealth- Dill, Mint, Orange, Ginger, Jasmine, Oats, Onion, Pecan, Pineapple, Basil

Health- Thyme

Wishes- Hazel, Peach, Sage

Healing- Mint, Fennel, Garlic, Lime, Olive, Onion, Rosemary, Thyme

Travel- Mint

Anti-theft- Garlic

Power- Ginger

Longevity- Lemon, Peach, Sage

Friendship- Lemon

Purification- Fennel, Lemon, Parsley, Thyme

Sleep- Lettuce, Rosemary, Thyme

Fertility- Olive

Potency- Olive

Lust-  Olive, Pear, Radish, Rosemary, Vanilla

Employment- Pecan

Youth- Rosemary

Immortality- Sage

Wisdom- Sage

A Practical Guide to Herbology

Lesson Two: Healing with Aromatherapy

Among our senses, one of the most-looked over and powerful is our sense of smell. Aromas can help us recall happy memories - baking cookies with loved ones during the holiday season, the perfume or cologne of a loved one - as well as unpleasant memories. Through psychology, we’ve proven that, when recreating a scene, scents can be our most powerful allies in recalling past events in our lives.

Aromatherapy is the art of using scents to heal the body, mind and soul. We use scents in healing rituals, magic and spirituality frequently - it even manifests in religious practices such as Christianity when a pastor cleanses a space with incense.

Scents and Sensibility

Working with essential oils is really quite easy, but here are some precautions to take.

Dilute

It’s important to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil before using them therapeutically. You should rarely apply an undiluted essential oil to your skin.

By diluting your essential oils in a carrier oil, you get a lot more use out of them and you also prevent skin irritations. Some common types of carrier oils are grapeseed, olive, flaxseed, almond and sesame oil. Use 30mL (2 tbsp) of carrier oil per 5-10 drops of essential oil.

Storage

Essential oils need to be kept away from light and air. It’s best to store them in dark-tinted bottles to prevent light penetration. With proper storage, most essential oils can last 1-2 years. However, citrus oils should not be used after 6-9 months.

Allergies

Before working with essential oils, be sure to do a skin allergy test. Many people have sensitive skin and it’s important to take precautions and avoid allergic reactions to both essential oils and carrier oils.

To test for allergies, simply place a drop of your chosen carrier oil on your skin. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. Place one drop of essential oil in 15 drops of carrier oil and apply to your chest. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. If there is no reaction, then you likely have no allergy to the plant or the oil.

Precautions

Please avoid essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Specifically, avoid: cardamom, coriander, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, neroli, palmarosa, petitgrain, spearmint and ylang-ylang.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, it is best to avoid the following essential oils: black pepper, cinnamon, clove, grapefruit, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, orange, peppermint and spearmint. 

Healing with Essential Oils

When starting out with using essential oils for health purposes, it’s important to address one symptom or issue at a time. Limit your selection to a few different oils until you become more familiar with your tools. Once you get comfortable, start experimenting with making your own blends. As time goes by, you’ll see what works best for your body and you!

Stress

Stress often has the side effects of anxiety, upset stomach, heart palpitations and rapid breathing. One of the most common essential oils used to alleviate stress is peppermint - it relaxes the mind and body. Lavender is another good choice as it relaxes muscles and the vapors help regulate breathing.

Pain and Muscle Tension

Muscle tension and pain are something most of us are familiar with. When using essential oils to address this particular issue, it’s best to create a massage oil to rub the affected area. If you’re trying to relax muscles and ease pain, allspice and geranium are great choices.

Chest Congestion

Flus, colds, respiratory illnesses - we’re no stranger to those during the winter months. To use essential oils to treat this, apply a few drops of diluted oil across the chest and massage into the skin. I tend to use eucalyptus, but thyme is another great choice!

Concentration and Focus

Everyone experiences difficulties with focus and concentration; stress, lack of sleep, anxiety and depression are just a few possible culprits. To use essential oils for this, apply a few drops to the temples, middle of the forehead and the base of the neck. Rosemary and spearmint are great choices for this as they help you relax while improving mental clarity.

Fatigue

At the end of the day, many of us feel exhausted from school, work and just life in general. To help with this, place a few drops of essential oil on your wrists and rub them in. Citrus oils like lemon and lime work really well since they uplift mood, relieve fatigue and provide mental clarity and focus.

Insomnia

Sometimes we just can’t fall asleep. Place a few drops of essential oil on your forehead and at the base of your neck. Lemon balm and ylang-ylang are good choices for this as they promote restful sleep and reduce stress and anxiety.

Anxiety

This issue typically involves both the physical and mental parts of the body. To help alleviate anxiety, place a drop of essential oil on the forehead, base of the neck, wrists and along the collarbone or upper chest. Chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are excellent choices.

Recipes

Anxiety Relief 5 drops chamomile oil 5 drops lemongrass oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Stress Relief 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops lavender oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Muscle-Tension Relief ½ tbsp ground allspice ½ tbsp ground nutmeg 5 drops geranium oil ½ cup carrier oil

Muscle Pain Relief ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp ground turmeric 5 drops rose oil 5 drops tea tree oil ½ cup carrier oil

Chest Congestion Relief 5 drops eucalyptus oil 5 drops pine oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Mucus Killer 2 tbsp nettle leaves 5 drops frankincense oil 2 cups carrier oil

Focus and Concentration ½ tbsp ground myrrh 5 drops rosemary oil 2 cups carrier oil

Mental Strength and Clarity 1 tbsp dried rosemary 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Energizer ½ tbsp dried juniper berries 5 drops thyme oil 2 cups carrier oil

Citrus Energy 5 drops lemon oil 5 drops lime oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Sleep Easy 5 drops lemon balm oil 5 drops ylang-ylang oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Digestion Relief ½ tbsp dried catnip 5 drops ginger oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Common Essential Oils for Health and Wellness

Allspice: Reduces stress, calms, relaxes tight muscles, uplifts mood, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Basil: Calms, relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity, purifies the body

Cardamom: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Catnip: Anti-diarrheal, relieves indigestion, relieves anxiety, uplifts mood

Chamomile: Reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep and relaxation, relieves pain

Cinnamon: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, natural disinfectant, improves digestion, increases appetite

Clove: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Coriander: Relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Eucalyptus: Breaks up congestion, relieves pain, natural disinfectant, vapors help with breathing (asthma)

Frankincense: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, improves digestion, expectorant, sedative

Geranium: Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin

Ginger: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, increases appetite

Juniper berries: Relieves pain, energizes, improves mental clarity and memory, anti-inflammatory, repels insects, soothes insect bites

Lavender: Relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, balances mood swings, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, breaks up congestion

Lemon: Balances the nervous system, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Lemon balm: Relieves anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep

Lemongrass: Calms, balances nervous system, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Lime: Relieves fatigue, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Mandarin: Reduces stress and tension, calms, uplifts mood

Myrrh: Helpful in meditation, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Neroli and Orange blossom: Removes nervous tension, promotes restful sleep

Nutmeg: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, improves digestion

Palmarosa: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, helps regenerate skin, anti-inflammatory

Peppermint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, increases appetite, soothes itchy skin, improves mental clarity and memory

Petitgrain: Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity and memory

Pine: Lessens pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Rose: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Rosemary: Relieves pain, stimulates nerves, relieves fatigue, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Spearmint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, soothes itchy skin

Tea Tree: Relieves pain, natural disinfectant, aids in healing skin, vapors help with breathing

Thyme: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, increases appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Ylang-Ylang: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant —————————————– Images are under the Creative Commons License. Information is from a variety of books, websites and my personal experience working with essential oils.

Updated 7 March 2018 to include more warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series of lessons.

Warnings:  

Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. They are incredibly potent and are likely to cause irritation, burns and permanent scars. You must utilize an appropriate carrier oil for dilution - water is not acceptable.

Essential oils are not edible - DO NOT INGEST THEM. They are not used in tinctures, extracts or anything meant to be taken internally.

Diffusing essential oils can be toxic to your pets. Please do extensive research on which types of oils are not harmful to your pets.

Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.

Finally, aromatherapy is not a  substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR.

Beautiful interiors by Alberta Prairies

Herbs you can grow indoors.

Made this list for my fellow witchies who like their kitchen to be full of the green stuff :

Calm Before the Storm Jar Spell

⚡️A hex to create a growing sense of unease.

You Will Need: 

Suggested: Center and Ground yourself to infuse more energy and intent into the hex. Shield yourself to protect yourself as you work and cast the hex.

⛈Fill your jar with your stormwater and black pepper. Use intuitive amounts of pepper. You may feel a dash is sufficient but feel free to be liberal with the pepper.

⛈Take the paper and write out the name of your target. In a fire safe bowl, burn the paper with the name. Add the ashes to your jar.

⛈Seal the jar with your candle.

⛈Repeat the following:

⛈Give the jar a good shake to activate it. Anytime you’d like to refresh or strengthen the effect, give the jar another good shaking.

🌙 Happy Hexing ~ Heximari 🌿

When to Cast a Spell - By Time of Day

my personal correspondences by time of day, complied form my grimoire.

dawn - breaking curses, beauty and glamour spells. weather and sea spells. magic involving delicate feelings, friendship and forgiveness, budding romance.

morning - fertility, good luck, green/herbal witchcraft. best time to brew potions. intuition and justice. 

noon - wealth and career spells. success and motivation. confidence and courage spells. kitchen magic.

afternoon - the time to gather herbs. communication spells. travel protections. 

evening - psychic protections, peace/balance spells. kitchen spells and pop culture spells

twilight - catalysts, movement and growth. astral travel and divination. love/lust spells. technology witchcraft.

evening -  curses, hexes, banishment, bindings. space and cosmic magic. dream magic. hedgecraft

midnight - creativity, switching between realms. spirit work, liminal spaces, reaching through the veil.

Succulent L🌵O🌵V🌵E 🌵🙏🏻💕