Flavors & Correspondences


Almond(milk): mental clarity + fortitude, luck, abundance, healing + good health
Amaretto: opening the mind, warding against negativity, creativity, luck
Blueberry: aids in memory + mental clarity, calmness, youth + glamour magic, restoration, aura cleansing + strengthening
Caramel: aids in changes + transformations, soothing quality to spells, good in Fae magic, increases tenacity
Chestnut: warding + protection, prosperity, longevity + increase stamina
Chocolate: self love + nurturing energy, ancestral magic, grounding, love + sexual prowess
Cinnamon: spiritual + personal power, healing, success, lust, luck, prosperity, strength
Clove: protection, actualization of desires, banishing negative + hostile forces
Coffee: inspire creativity, clear emotional + spiritual blockages, dispel nightmares, fortitude + increased stamina, encourage diligence
Coconut Milk: confidence + aid in glamour magic, strength, beauty, love
Cow milk: nurturing, fertility + prosperity, protection, abundance, aid in motherhood
Hazelnut: self-love and compassion, inspiration, creativity, wisdom + insight
Honey: happiness, offerings + Fae magic, sweetness, love, prosperity, healing, passion, spirituality
Irish Cream: dreams + intuition enhancer, prosperity, growth, aid in change
Peanut(butter): stability, aid in manifestation + intuition, attraction, energy
Pecan: spiritual purification + protection, abundance + prosperity
Peppermint: healing, purification, psychic powers + transformation, sleep, prosperity, passion
Pumpkin: wishes + dream fulfillment, protection + guarding, prosperity, magic enhancer, love
Oat(milk): tradition + ancestral work, health, stability + fortitude, beauty + youth, comfort, home magic, healing
Raspberry: invoking fertility or love, kindness + compassion, desire fulfilment, creativity, libido + sex magic
Sugar: used to amplify spells, sweetness + love, attraction, comfort, Fae magic
Soy milk: success + strength, growth, healing
Toffee: playful 

Kitchen Herbal Flowers

Most people will have at least the basic kitchen herbs in their cabinet. Remember the term “herb” does not exclude flowers and trees. You may be surprised to know how many different flowers and woods fall into the magickal category.

Roses are traditionally aligned with water. They can be used for psychic powers, love divination, luck, protection, and healing. Use a single rose in a vase on the altar for powerful help in love divinations. A cup of rosewater tea at bed time can help you dream prophetic dreams.

Even a Daisy has power where lust and love is concerned, and is said to bring love when worn. A simple divination that’s been done for years can be done with a daisy. Remember the “He loves me, He loves me not?” That is love divination in its most basic form.

Carnations can offer protection, healing and strength. Place carnations on the altar during healing rituals, and use the petals in amulets and incense.

Oak is good to use for money, protection, potency, fertility, and luck. It is said that carrying any piece of oak will draw good luck. Take 2 twigs from an oak tree and tie them together in an equal armed cross; hang them in your house to guard against evil. Make a small equal armed cross and carry it with you in your wallet or purse for protection during the day.

So much for the garden, on to the kitchen

Kitchen Witch Daily Rituals


Magical Things To Do at the Hearth

A tea kettle whistling on the stove.
The sun pouring through the kitchen window. A pie cooling on the sill. Magic fills the air in a home where a kitchen witch lives. Particularly in the kitchen itself. Many kitchen witches want to know what rituals they can do on a daily basis. How do we fit magick into our everyday mundane lives? Here we provide the Kitchen Witch with daily rituals to incorporate into their witchcraft practice. Use and/or adapt the ones you like.

But First, What is Kitchen Witchery?

There are many different types of witchcraft, one being kitchen witchery also sometimes called hearth or cottage witchcraft. This is a tradition in which the witch is primarily focused on weaving his/her magic into their daily domestic lives. The kitchen becomes the witch’s sanctuary. The counters are the kitchen witch’s altar. Wooden spoons become magical wands. The dutch oven? A cauldron. The stove and oven become the catalyst for spells and workings of all kinds.

Kitchen witches love to cook and bake, and they use these acts as actual spells and rituals. In addition to cooking and baking magically, kitchen witches might also enjoy brewing herbal teas, making candles, and infusing oils at the hearth. They may grow culinary herbs to use in their food and brews. And they might also honor their ancestors, kitchen gods, and household spirits at the hearth. The best thing about being a kitchen witch is that cooking, baking and cleaning, once mundane tasks, become magical rituals and powerful invocations.

Kitchen Witch Daily Rituals With Herbs

1. Daily Herb Studies
Since kitchen witches are all about the herbs and spices, an easy way to study herbalism is to choose one herb/spice a day to focus on. Choose one that’s in your herb cabinet. Pull it out of the cabinet and set it on the counter. Research it’s folklore, medicinal and magical uses. Then try to use it in a meal or herbal concoction, etc.

2. Brew Tea
What kitchen witch doesn’t love a hot cup of tea? Make your tea-brewing process a daily ritual. Put thought into the herbs you’re using, thank the water element while pouring the water, draw symbols over the tea kettle as it heats, etc. A small and simple daily ritual for the kitchen witch. You’ll need a kettle, herbs, a special teacup or mug, and either a tea diffuser OR your own fillable tea bags.

3. Cook With Herbs
This is an obvious but simple one – cook with herbs every day! This becomes a daily ritual in and of itself when the kitchen witch selects an herb or spice from the cabinet or a specific intention. For example, adding garlic to any dish has a purifying, healing effect on those who eat it. My herb cabinet has literally become one of my favorite corners in my house! I feel witchy just walking into it.

4. The Herb Garden in Daily Rituals
You don’t have to be a green witch with a green thumb to have an herb garden. The herb garden becomes part of the kitchen witch’s daily rituals when the witch visits it every day. She greets her plants, tends to her garden, and harvests herbs for magical, culinary, and medicinal purposes. Even if you can’t have a garden, a couple of pots with your favorite herbs will do. I recommend rosemary, basil, sage, thyme, oregano, mint, lavender, and parsley.

5. Tend To Your Kitchen Altar
If you haven’t yet, start a kitchen altar. It doesn’t have to be big and elaborate, it can be as small as a shelf with a candle and a few magical items. Tending the kitchen altar will become part of a kitchen witch’s daily rituals when offerings are given to ancestors, household spirits and kitchen gods.

6. Kitchen Witch Guardians
Every kitchen should have a guardian spirit. The kitchen witch can create a guardian by making a kitchen poppet. Or you can purchase a kitchen witch doll or statue. Once you have your kitchen guardian, you’ll need to infuse the guardian with your magical intentions/energy OR invite an ancestor’s spirit to take residence in the doll/statue. This kitchen witch guardian will then protect your kitchen and family. Caring for the kitchen guardian will become part of your daily rituals. Offerings and care are essential.

7. Candle Flame
One simple daily ritual I do every day in my kitchen is light a candle to honor the hearth-fire of my ancestors. The kitchen witch lights candles in the kitchen as a thankful gesture to the fire element (which gives us the ability to cook), as well as for the household spirits, kitchen guardians, and ancestors.

8. Keep a Kitchen Grimoire
The kitchen grimoire or Book of Shadows is important to a kitchen witch. It’s a book in which we keep our magical recipes, ancestors’ recipes, kitchen rituals and spells, herbal anecdotes, and more. Writing in your kitchen grimoire becomes a daily ritual for the kitchen witch.

9. Cleaning & Cleansing
Every day, the kitchen witch should make sure his or her kitchen is clean. There should be no dishes in the sink when you go to bed else you’ll have nightmares (or so the old wives tale goes). Keeping a clean kitchen is honorable to your household spirits and ancestors. In addition, cleansing the space of negative vibes is also a simple daily ritual. You can use sprays, smudge bundles, etc. The besom is used to sweep away negative energy (a quick cleanser).

10. Offerings as Daily Ritual
Giving offerings to your kitchen gods, spirits and ancestors is a daily ritual that is rewarding and easy. Leave a cup of water, coffee, wine, etc. on your altar for your gods/ancestors. Change it daily. If you’re in a place where you can’t leave offerings out, setting aside a bite or two on your own plate and mentally praying to your spirits is offering enough.

11. Charge Your Meals With Symbols
Another great daily ritual for kitchen witches is to charge your meals and beverages with sacred, magical symbols. This is as simple as drawing a symbol over the meal or drink in the air. OR using condiments, oils, herbs, etc. to draw symbols and sigils directly onto food. Many baking witches even enjoy sneaking magical sigils at the bottom of pie crusts!

12. COOK Like a Kitchen Witch
I think it’s funny that I wrote this blog post years ago, not realizing that I FORGOT to add the most important daily ritual for a kitchen witch – COOKING. LOL! We have to eat every day, don’t we? Which means many of us cook every day. So make your cooking process magical by choosing ingredients based on your intuition and based on their magical and medicinal properties.

When you have more time, get inspired and try cooking something NEW and exciting. Maybe something your ancestors once made or something that utilizes ingredients you’ve never used before. Try making your own homemade pasta. And then make your own pesto using homegrown basil and mix it into your homemade fettuccine!

13. BAKE Magical
Baking is a science in and of itself. It is truly an art form and sometimes takes kitchen witches longer to master than cooking. Case in point, I thought I was the cookie master until this Christmas when I started coming up with burnt and flat cookies! It takes extra effort and thought. So I’ll be going back to the drawing board and trying again! Start small with baking, like making banana bread from scratch. Then work your way up to making homemade bread wreaths, lattice pies, and elaborately decorated layered cakes. Always add your own touch to it with favorite herbs, symbols, edible flowers, etc.

14. Work with Kitchen and Hearth Deities
One of my key practices is spirit work…specifically developing connections with gods and goddesses. And if you happen to be in the kitchen for most of your witch-crafting, why not incorporate kitchen gods and hearth goddesses into your daily routines? Set up a small altar or space for a deity that watches over the hearth i.e. Hestia, Vesta, Bes, Frigg or Loki. Include them in your kitchen workings on a daily basis and watch your blessings flow in.

Traditional Wassail Recipe

You will need:

6 small apples
1 1/2 quarts ale or hard cider
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat your oven to 120 degrees F. Core the apples and then place them on a lightly greased baking tray. The apples will swell slightly as they bake, so space them a couple inches apart from each other. Bake the apples for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, put 1 cup of the ale (or cider) and all of the sugar in a tall pan. Warm this over low heat, stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar.

After the sugar has dissolved, add the grated nutmeg and ginger. Continue to simmer, stirring as you slowly add the remaining ale or cider. After the apples are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 to 12 minutes. Then cut each apple in half and scoop out the baked “flesh” into a bowl. Discard the skins. (Ideally these apple skins should go into your compost!) Using a fork or potato masher, mash the apples until they are smooth.

Slowly add the smooth, mashed apples to the warm ale or cider, mixing them in vigorously with a whisk. Continue to warm the wassail over very low heat for about half an hour. Whisk again just before serving.

Sacred Slaughter

Today, the animals we eat are butchered with no ceremony at all; but for Neo-Pagans, slaughter is sacred. When, in Teutonic Magic, Kveldulf Gundarsson talks about the central act of a blot (the word rhymes with “boat,” literally translates as “blessing” and is what the Asatru call their ritual gatherings) as being “the sacrifice of one or more animals.” He explains that the sacrifice was “performed less for its own sake than as a hallowing of the slaughter, which was a practical necessity.” He suggests, too, that each animal was individually blessed before it was killed. Although whole beasts are still roasted at some gatherings, most of us—of any Neo-Pagan faith—don’t have the opportunity to bless and slaughter our own meat anymore. Gundarsson suggests a Teutonic alternative that can serve us all quite well: “Make animals out of bread (charging them strongly with life energy) and ritually slaughter and eat them, sprinkling mead or ale from the blessing bowl.” He takes this idea from the medieval German custom of exchanging animal shaped loaves of bread, and refers to the modern Swedish tradition of a pig-shaped cake substituting for the Yule boar. Honoring the death of slaughtered animals, whose life force nurtures our own survival through the Winter, is one way to honor the God’s death in the service of our lives. It’s also appropriate to honor the exchange of energy that occurs when one Neo-Pagan religion borrows customs and symbols from another—as when Wiccans might share animal crackers at Samhain, and toast not only the relationship of life to death, not only the concept of rebirth, and not only our kin in the Otherworld, but also our kin in other Neo-Pagan religions.

Anise -Herbs of the Kitchen Witch

Anise – Attributed to protection, youth and purification, Anise is tied to the planet Jupiter and the element of Air. Anise aids in sleeplessness and helps to ward off bad dreams. To strengthen psychic and spiritual development, drink a cup of Anise tea once per day. To create a purifying bath, add bay leaves in a sachet with Star Anise. Burning dried anise seeds aids in protection and meditation rituals

Kitchen Altar

Kitchen witches spend much of their time in the kitchen, combining magic and cooking to create sacred food, spells and herbal remedies.

The kitchen is therefore an ideal place to set up an altar, both for kitchen magic and honoring the goddess of hearth and home.

Making a Kitchen Altar

Depending on the size of the kitchen, an altar can be anything from the corner of a shelf, to a dedicated table.

The ideal spot for a focal point also needs to be practical and safe.

A witch does not want an altar where spillages or accidents can occur, but at the same time needs it to be within easy reach and view.

The altar can either be a space already in existence, such as the shelf of a dresser or a small table, or a newly created shelf, cupboard or shrine.

Many kitchen witches are creative craftspeople, so might wish to carve something to house the altar items themselves.

Alternatively, it is possible to ask a friend to make one or buy one made from sustainable wood.

Even shop-bought shelves can be personalized and made special by decorating them.

The shelf can be painted a suitable color, perhaps one sacred to a particular hearth goddess, and also embellished with rhinestones, shells, ribbons, and other trinkets.

Honoring the Kitchen Goddess

Most kitchen witches will work with several goddesses, but also have a dedicated goddess of hearth and home.

Choosing a kitchen goddess to work with provides a mentor and protector when weaving magic in the kitchen, be it cooking up successful, healthy meals or brewing medicinal potions.

The kitchen altar should recognize the chosen goddess, perhaps with a figurine or picture, or with a selection of items that represent them, such as symbolic charms, certain foods, or candles and ribbons in associated colors. There are many sources offering statues and artwork to buy, but crafty witches might like to make their own representation of the goddess, by sculpting her from salt dough or polymer clay.   Once baked, the clay statue can be painted and embellished accordingly.

Kitchen Witch: Artichoke

(Cynara scolymus)

Planet: Mars

Element: Fire

Energies: Protection

Lore:

Greek legend states that the first artichoke was originally a beautiful woman. Some angry god (frankly, I don’t know which) was so jealous of her beauty that he transformed her into an artichoke.

The artichoke seems to have originated in the Medi-terranean region and in the Canary Islands. This vegetable was enjoyed in ancient Rome as a luxury food. The Romans preserved it in brine or vinegar (much as we pack artichoke “hearts” in oil).

Magical uses:

The artichoke is certainly delicious. Because it is a member of the thistle family, and due to its flower’s sharp points, the artichoke is eaten as
part of protective diets. Flavour with garlic or bay leaves for additional protective energy.

Food Magick: The Oven

The oven is another symbol of the divine. It encloses, performs a transformative process (cooking), and is warm and bright. Humans have used many types of ovens, from the mud-brick ovens of the Middle East to the earthen ovens used in both North America and Polynesia. Some cultures honoured an oven goddess, such as Fornacalia of ancient Rome.  Others, like the Chinese, see a male deity within its sun-like warmth. In Europe, the oven didn’t come into common use until the eighteenth century; the cauldron, a kind of portable oven,was used in its place.

The oven’s purpose is to retain heat from the burning fuel and to provide the even temperature necessary for proper cooking. Gas or electrically heated ovens are fine for magical cooking. Modern microwave ovens work on a completely different principle to heat the food. As food magic is a traditional practice, it’s best to avoid microwaves and utilize the time-honoured, traditional tools of food preparation.

Beltane Recipes,Cheese: Traditional Foods for Celebrating the May Day Festival

Beltane is a traditional Celtic festival that marks the beginning of summer. It is celebrated on May 1st and is known for its joyous and festive atmosphere. One of the key aspects of Beltane is the abundance of fresh, seasonal ingredients that are used in traditional recipes.

Whether you are celebrating Beltane or simply looking for some delicious recipes to enjoy during the summer months, there are plenty of options available. From fresh salads and grilled vegetables to hearty stews and fruity desserts, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Many of these recipes incorporate traditional ingredients such as herbs, berries, and wildflowers, making them a perfect way to connect with nature and celebrate the changing of the seasons.

Cheese

Cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various Beltane recipes. It can be served as a main dish, a side dish, or as a dessert. Here are a few ideas for incorporating cheese into your Beltane celebration:

Cheese Board

A cheese board is a perfect appetizer for any Beltane celebration. It is easy to prepare and can be customized to suit any taste. A cheese board typically consists of a variety of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts. Here are some cheese options to consider:

  • Cheddar
  • Brie
  • Blue cheese
  • Goat cheese
  • Gouda
  • Feta

Serve the cheese board with some fresh fruits like grapes, strawberries, and apples. You can also add some nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashews for some crunch.

Cheese and Herb Scones

Cheese and herb scones are a delicious addition to any Beltane meal. They are easy to make and can be served as a side dish or as a snack. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

  • 225g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 50g butter
  • 50g grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, or chives)
  • 150ml milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
  4. Stir in the grated cheese and chopped herbs.
  5. Gradually add the milk, stirring until a soft dough forms.
  6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently.
  7. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 2cm and cut into rounds using a cookie cutter.
  8. Place the scones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  9. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
  10. Serve warm with butter.

Cheese and Vegetable Tart

A cheese and vegetable tart is a perfect main dish for any Beltane celebration. It is easy to make and can be customized to suit any taste. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

  • 1 sheet of puff pastry
  • 150g grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 150ml double cream
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, sliced
  • 1 courgette, sliced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6.
  2. Roll out the puff pastry and place it in a tart tin.
  3. Prick the base of the pastry with a fork.
  4. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion, red pepper, and courgette until soft.
  5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and double cream.
  6. Add the grated cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Pour the egg mixture into the pastry case.
  8. Arrange the sautéed vegetables on top of the egg mixture.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
  10. Serve hot or cold.

Cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various Beltane recipes. Whether you’re looking for an appetizer, a side dish, or a main dish, cheese is sure to add flavour and richness to your celebration.

Solitary Kitchen Witch: Exploring the Practice of Cooking Magic Alone

Solitary Kitchen Witchcraft is a practice that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It involves using the kitchen as a sacred space for performing rituals and spells. Unlike traditional witchcraft, which often involves working in groups, solitary kitchen witchcraft is a solitary practice that focuses on the individual’s connection with nature and the elements.

Solitary kitchen witchcraft is a modern take on traditional witchcraft practices. It is a way for individuals to connect with their spirituality and the natural world in a way that is personal and meaningful to them. The kitchen is seen as a sacred space where magic can be performed through cooking, brewing, and blending ingredients. The focus is on intention and mindfulness, with practitioners using their intuition and creativity to craft spells and rituals that align with their individual beliefs and values.

Honouring

Honouring is an essential part of the Solitary Kitchen Witch practice. It involves showing respect, gratitude and appreciation to the deities, spirits, ancestors, and other entities that the practitioner works with. Honouring can be done in many ways, such as through offerings, prayers, rituals, and daily practices.

One way to honour the deities is by creating an altar dedicated to them. An altar can be a simple or elaborate setup that includes candles, incense, crystals, and other items that represent the deity. The practitioner can offer food, drink, flowers, or other gifts to the deity on the altar, as a sign of respect and appreciation.

Another way to honour the deities is by performing rituals or ceremonies in their name. These can be done on special occasions or during the practitioner’s daily practice. The rituals can include offerings, prayers, chants, and other forms of devotion.

Honouring the ancestors is also an essential part of the Solitary Kitchen Witch practice. The practitioner can create an ancestor altar, where they can offer food, drink, and other items to their ancestors. The practitioner can also perform rituals, prayers, and other forms of devotion to honour their ancestors.

In addition to honouring the deities and ancestors, the Solitary Kitchen Witch can also honour the spirits of nature, such as the spirits of plants, animals, and the elements. This can be done through daily practices, such as gardening, foraging, and spending time in nature. The practitioner can also offer gifts, such as herbs, flowers, or other items, to the spirits of nature as a sign of respect and appreciation.

Overall, honouring is a crucial aspect of the Solitary Kitchen Witch practice. It helps the practitioner to connect with the divine, the ancestors, and the spirits of nature, and to show respect and gratitude for their guidance and support.

Being Thankful

In Solitary Kitchen Witchcraft, being thankful is an essential part of the practice. It is a way of expressing gratitude for the blessings in life and acknowledging the abundance that surrounds us. Here are some ways to incorporate thankfulness into your practice:

Gratitude journal

Keeping a gratitude journal is a simple but powerful way to cultivate thankfulness. Write down three things you are thankful for each day, no matter how small they may seem. This practice can help shift your focus from what you lack to what you have, and increase your overall sense of well-being.

Blessings before meals

Before eating, take a moment to express gratitude for the food on your plate. You can say a simple blessing or prayer, or silently give thanks for the nourishment the food provides.

Thanking the elements

In Kitchen Witchcraft, the elements – earth, air, fire, and water – are revered as sacred. Take a moment to thank each element for its presence and the gifts it provides. For example, thank the earth for providing the ingredients for your meal, thank the air for the breath in your lungs, thank the fire that cooks your food, and thank the water that quenches your thirst.

Giving back

Expressing gratitude can also involve giving back to others. Consider volunteering your time or donating to a charity. This practice can help you feel more connected to your community and increase your sense of purpose.

In conclusion, being thankful is an essential part of the Solitary Kitchen Witchcraft practice. Incorporating gratitude into your daily life can help cultivate a more positive mindset and increase your overall sense of well-being.

Kitchen Witch: Mabon, September 21st/ 23rd

Mabon marks the second harvest. The bounty of nature is dwindling. Earth begins to pull her fertility from the land. Humans and wild animals alike scramble to gather as much food as possible in preparation for the hard winter ahead.

Grains are appropriate for Mabon—particularly corn. Corn chowder, boiled ears of corn, and creamed corn fit Mabon symbolism well.

Beans, squash, and all other fall vegetables are also perfect for this festival.

Kitchen Witch: Corn

(Zea mays)

Planet: Sun

Element: Fire

Energies: Protection, spirituality

Lore:

Corn has played a central role in North and Central American religion for thousands of years. The Quiche Mayas of Guatemala and the Navajo believed that the first humans were created from corn.

The Mayas, Incans, Aztecs, and nearly every American Indian tribe ate corn and incorporated it into their religious beliefs and rituals. The corn mother was perhaps the most widely worshipped deity in the pre-Columbian Americas.

As a symbol of life, fertility, eternity, and resurrection, corn was a sacred gift of the Mother Goddess. To the Zuni, various colors of corn were related to the four directions:

Yellow corn—north

White corn—east

Red corn—south

Blue corn—west

Blue corn was often considered to be the most sacred form, and so was the most useful for spiritual rituals.

The Hopi offered corn meal during religious rituals of all types in thanks to the corn mother.

Divination with corn was common throughout the Americas and Mexico, and a corn-divination ritual from early Mexico has survived. Originally used to diagnose illness or the extent of sickness, this ritual can also be called upon to answer other types of questions.

Fill a small bowl with exactly thirty dried kernels of corn of any colour. Concentrating on a specific question, take a random number of kernels from the bowl. Place them on the floor (or the table) and divide them into groups of four. If you create an even number of piles with an even number of leftover kernels, the answer is favourable. However, if you form an odd number of piles with an odd number of kernels, the answer is negative. Finally, if you come up with an even number of piles, but an odd number of leftovers, no answer can be given.

Another form of corn divination was apparently practised by the ancient Aztecs. During a preliminary curing session for a severe illness, a priestess would lay a piece of whitebark cloth before an image of the god Quetzalcoatl. A bowl of corn was then placed before the cloth. Inspired by the god, the priestess would take a handful of the corn kernels and scatter them on the cloth. If the corn was evenly scattered, the patient would eventually attain good health. If the corn was separated into two portions, death would eventually result from the illness.

Corn was one of America’s priceless gifts to the world. As it was introduced into other countries, its sacredness was forgotten; but it still feeds millions of persons, especially vegetarians who combine beans with corn to form a complete protein. It is still used in magic. A curious Ozark ritual for curing hiccups consists of naming three kernels of corn for three friends, placing these into a vessel of water, and holding it above the head.

Many still feel that corn is sacred and that wasting it will cause poverty. This belief is similar to the Asian taboo against wasting rice.

Magical uses:

Place ears of blue corn on the altar or hang them in the home to induce spirituality.

Scatter cornmeal around outdoor ritual sites for blessings and heightened spiritual rituals.

Now that blue corn is being offered for retail sale, utilize it in spirituality producing diets. Blue popcorn and blue cornbread are two possibilities.

Place ears of red corn in baskets on the floor to protect the home. Corn is also added to protection diets. To make cornbread for this purpose, run a knife through the top of the unbaked dough in the shape of a pentagram. Bake and eat with visualization.

Maize (from the Haitian or Cuban name for corn) is known as corn only in the United States. In other English-speaking countries, “corn” refers to any grain except maize. Maize is not an Indian term.

What is a Kitchen Witch

A Kitchen Witch is a Witch who focuses his or her magical practice on the home and hearth and uses things commonly found in the kitchen as magickal tools. Kitchen Witchery may be an expression of religious faith; a Kitchen Witch may focus his or her spirituality on ancestor spirits or hearth Gods or Goddesses, or it may simply be a creative outgrowth of a secular Witch’s homemaking activities – or anything in between. A Kitchen Witch may be a member of any religion or no religion at all.

A Kitchen Witch may use ritual in his or her magical working, but Kitchen Witchery often involves the use of environmental energies, such as those from essential oils, herbs, foods and everyday objects. These are then infused with the witch’s own personal energy toward her intent. Kitchen Witches are practical beings and do not tend to be overly strict about ingredients, willing to improvise where needed.

A Kitchen Witch may integrate Witchcraft into all or any aspect of his or her homemaking activities. Many Kitchen Witches are also “crafty” folks, enjoying handicrafts into which they may weave their magick.

Cooking
Kitchen Witches tend to be excellent, or at least passionate cooks who delight in experimenting with new flavors and recipes. A Kitchen Witch may infuse magic into his or her cooking by selecting ingredients based upon their properties, often referring to alchemical correspondences or working strictly by intuition. A Kitchen Witch may also use special chants while cooking, stirring and kneading in order to infuse his or her intention or energy into the final product.

Home Decor
Many Kitchen Witches decorate their homes with magical protective symbols or to be in harmony with the elements or Nature. Colors and design elements may be chosen with their symbolic nature and magical energies in mind. Some Kitchen Witches do this by intuition or instinct, and some turn to Feng Shui for inspiration.

House Cleaning & Laundry
Kitchen Witches may incorporate their magical practice into all aspects of housekeeping, including laundry and general cleaning. This may involve scenting laundry with herbs chosen to draw desired energies to the wearer or to the home. This can be done by adding essential oil to water sprayed onto ironing or tossing a bag of dried herbs into the dryer, among other methods.

The home may be infused with herbal energy by creating cleaning products and washes using herbs with desirable properties. Rituals of purification, often involving besoms, may be performed on a regular basis to do away with unwanted energies

The Kitchen Witch’s Creed

The Kitchen Witch’s Creed
In this pot, I stir to the sun
an’ follow the rule of harming none.
Banishment of bane when goin’ widdershins;
an’ with water and salt negativity is cleansed.
Household duties are more than chores.
Magick abounds when mopping floors.
With this broom, I do sweep
to clean my house and safely keep.
Marigold, Basil, Thyme, and Yarrow
my spell is cast for a better tomorrow.
Lemons for joy and apples for health
the pow’r within brings great wealth.
And, in this kitchen I do pray
To truly walk the Witches’ Way

Kitchen Witch: Spoons and Spatulas

The spoon is a bowl with a handle. As such, it is related to the moon and to the element of water. Spoons have been used for thousands of years. Until quite recently in Japan, the shamoji, or rice-spatula, was considered a magical object. Small spatulas were nailed over the front door of a house to guard it, and in the hope that its inhabitants would never go hungry for lack of rice.

Kitchen Witch: Vegetarianism 1.4

There have always been vegetarians, and there have also always been omnivores (though most earlier cultures ate far less meat than we do today). Neither way is more “correct” or “ancient” or, indeed, spiritual, although many are likely to disagree with this statement.

Those in the West who feel that vegetarianism is necessary for magical and spiritual work are correct—for themselves. If they’ve made this commitment, it’s best that they keep it. No one can make a commitment for another, however, and no one way is satisfying for everyone.

Life feeds on life. Our bodies cannot survive unless something else gives up its existence to sustain us—whether it’s plankton, soybeans, or a chicken. This may seem cruel, but it’s not. It’s the reality of physical existence.

What you decide to eat or not to eat isn’t as important as why you make this decision. If you’re vegetarian because you feel that it’s the only way in which you can achieve any form of spiritual enlightenment, fine. If you’re vegetarian because you’ve decided that you can’t practice magic if you eat meat, again, fine. But others can make alternate decisions. They can decide to be omnivores, achieve spiritual enlightenment, and still successfully practice magic. Neither position, once again, is correct for all.