Magickal Housekeeping for a Green Witch Pt.2

Yesterday I posted about the House cleaning aids of a Kitchen Witch. So to round out the list I'd like to post about the magickal/ mundane tools used when cooking. Enjoy!

Hearth- The floor of a fireplace, usually extending into a room and paved with brick, flagstone, or cement.

What? You don't have one? Don't worry neither do I, only in my witchy fantasies do I possess something this lovely. Or stoves whether they be gas or electric are just as effective and perfect representations of the element of fire. Personally I love a gas stove with the actual flame, but that's just a preference.

Cauldron- A large vessel, such as a kettle or vat, used for boiling.

No Witch's kitchen is complete without one. Don't let the picture fool you, you don't need to have one of these cast iron beauties in order to have a cauldron. Our modern day pots and pans work just fine. 

I do have one of these but it's a micro version that I use primarily for lighting indoor fires. The rest of the time a big sturdy pot takes it's place, and don't forget about our friend the tea kettle, the cauldrons little sister. Heating a cup of tea in the microwave just doesn't have the same effect.

Cooking Utensils- Wooden spoons, whisks, ladels and measuring spoons.

I always think of these as the wand of the kitchen witch. You can make anything you cook a little more magickal by stirring in the shape of a pentacle, deosil, or widdershins depending on your intent. Etsy has these wood burned spoons that I absolutely drool over.

Blade- In most pagan practices there are two well known types of blades Athames and Bolines. Athames are black handled double edged ceremonial blades used to represent masculinity and air in ritual. Bolines are crescent shaped white handled blades used for cutting herbs.

A lot of people who just start out in paganism get themselves into a tizzy trying to buy all of the tools they need for their practice. Stop, just stop, as long as the intent is there any knife will do. Kitchen witches are resourcful, we use what we have. If however you have the finances and choose to aquire some of these lovelies there's nothing wrong with that.

Bowls- A common vessel used to serve food.

Let's not forget preparing and combining as well and what the heck we'll include cups i.e. measuring cups, after all they're essentially the same thing.

Bowls and cups are representatives of the divine feminine and are associated with water. Not only are they handy when mixing a cake batter they make top-notch skrying dishes.

Herbs- An herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, medicinal, or other quantities, other than its food value. Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines and for spiritual purposes.

Herbs are deffinately a kitchen witch's most indispensable aid. Let's face it culinary or magickal when you're a Witch it's all the same. Toss a little Rosemary onto that roast for rememberance, want to spice things up in the bedroom why not a hot choclate nightcap with a cinnamon stick stirrer.

These are just six of the several tools and aids of a kitchen witch. If you'd like to see something added or have something you'd like to add contact me!

Learning About Lemons

Lemons are the perfect summertime fruit with their tart scent and flavor. The bright yellow color and rounded shape liken them to tiny suns caught up in fresh scented glossy leaves. This highly acidic fruit has a mysterious history and a variety of uses making them a witches favorite summertime tool.

History
The exact historical origins of where lemons come from is as far as I've seen unknown (please correct me if you have knowledge otherwise). It would seem however that they most probably come from northwestern India. Like all citrus fruits lemons flourish in warmer climate and when grown in America mostly come from California or Florida.

Nutrition
Lemons are loaded with Vitamin C, Calcium, Potassium, and Vitamin A. They are also low in natural sugars, fat and calories. Lemons help the body absorb iron and contain individual amino acids considered to be the building blocks of protein.

Medicinal Uses

• A combination of lemon juice, honey, and hot water is a wonderful natural remedy for sore throats
• The same mixture as above as well as adding lemon wedges to ice water and tea are all thought to help promote weight loss.
• As a natural laxative when mixed with warm water
• When used on minor cuts and abrasions it can help to stop bleeding and disinfect the wound.
• Can reduce the swelling of bug bites.

Cosmetic Uses

• Gargling a combination of lemon juice and water helps to reduce bad breath
• A powerful astringent the juice can be applied to acne to reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
• Give yourself natural highlights by spritzing your hair with lemon juice before going out in the sun.
• Rinse hair in the shower with lemon juice for a healthy shine.
• Helps reduce cooking odors from your hands.

House Cleaning Uses

• Equal parts of water and lemon juice poured into a spray bottle makes for an effective all purpose cleaner. It can also be used to help deter ants.
• Rub a cut lemon over a cutting board to help remove stains and to deodorize.
• Run lemon wedges through a garbage disposal to deodorize.
• Warm a sliced lemon in the microwave to reduce grease build up from inside the microwave.
• Add a 1/2 cup of lemon juice to a load of whites before drying in the sun to brighten clothing.
• Combine 1 cup of olive oil with 1/2 cup of lemon juice for homemade furniture polish.
• Clean brass or copper with a paste made of baking soda and lemon juice.
• 4 Tbsp of lemon juice blended with a half gallon of water makes for an effective glass cleaner
• Hot lemon juice combined with baking soda can be used as an all natural drain cleaner
• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to dish liquid to help cut grease

Magickal Uses
Lemons are associated with friendship and platonic love. Use lemon peel, seeds, and juice in spells and charms to help preserve friendships and make them last.