Magical Properties of Celestite

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How to Create a Purification and Abundance Simmer Pot for Your Home

As the wheel turns and the days begin to shorten, you may notice your home's energy begins to grow stagnant and even chaotic. The weather here in Georgia is still beastly hot, thus preventing me from opening my windows to allow in fresh air without smothering all of us in the process. I hate the feeling of trapped energy but hate being hot and sweaty even more. So what's a witch to do? Enter the simmer pot!

Simmer pots are essentially boiled potpourri and are an excellent, non-toxic way to remove stagnant energy, uplift vibrations, and bring those autumnal scents everyone loves into the home without needing a candle. Don't get me wrong, I love a good candle as much as the next witch, but burning them too often can result in wax residue on your walls and furniture, reduced air quality, lung damage, and even death of your pets. Simmer pots, on the other hand, not only safely bring comforting fragrances into your space, but may also bring health benefits such as improved digestion, increased immune function, improved mood, and stress reduction! Furthermore, simmer pots containing whole ingredients are generally pet-safe, even those that include citrus. To ensure your and your pet's safety, avoid using essential oils or perfume oils.

This particular simmer pot is a wonderful way to purify your space, attract abundance, and uplift the energies in your home using the power of aromatics and intention. To top it all off, your home will smell of cozy autumn vibes in no time!

What You'll Need

• Pot of water
• 1 lemon slice
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 basil leaves
• 3 apple slices
• 2 orange slices
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  

What to Do

Begin by asking the spirits of your ingredients for their assistance in fulfilling this spell. If for whatever reason they deny your request, find a different plant to work with or a different individual to work with. Once you have secured the assistance of your plant allies, fill your pot three-quarters of the way full and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer. 

Add your ingredients one at a time while saying, "Lemon to clear all negativity and blockages from this space; cloves to protect and purify this home; rosemary to heal this space and clear away all stagnant energy; bay and cinnamon to draw abundance and success while protecting those within;  basil to attract wealth; apple for love and prosperity; oranges to bring joy and happiness to this family; and vanilla for peace, luck, and a home full of love."

Stir the mixture clockwise while visualizing a home full of wealth, health, and good fortune. As you continue to stir clockwise say, "With this scent, I cleanse and renew, abundance flows to me true." Let the mixture simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, adding fresh water as needed. Stir occasionally, repeating your affirmation above.

When finished, you can either strain the mixture (disposing of the whole plant parts outside) and use it to mop your floors or pour the cooled mixture outside, allowing it to return to the earth.

Modifications/Alternatives:

• If you are allergic to any of the above ingredients you can replace them with the following: hyssop (purification, cleansing), mint (wealth, abundance), lavender (protection, peace), calendula (harmony, health), pear (abundance, joy), nutmeg (luck, money), allspice (uplifting, health, strength), or star anise (luck, fortune).
• If you have no pets and would prefer to use an essential oil blend, combine 2 drops of sweet orange essential oil, 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil, 2 drops of clove essential oil, and 1 drop of lavender essential oil.

Why You Did It

Understanding the whys of a spell (or recipe) is just as important as performing it. It helps you understand the process so you can modify the spell or ritual to suit your needs and helps guide you in writing your own. It's my intention that by providing these explanations, you can build a better understanding of how spells are written and executed so you can modify and build your own spells (the goal of my Spellcrafting Series). 

This spell begins with requesting the assistance of your plant allies. I often leave this out of my spells instructions because it should be a given, but knowing that beginner witches are reading my blog, I figure I need to start adding it in or hinting at it to encourage new and old witches alike to remember we are not here to use, but instead to work with ingredients. Everything resonates with spirit and it's those spirits that lend their aid to our magical workings. Asking them for their assistance is vital in ensuring the spell goes according to plan. An unwilling participant can cause the spell to flop or backfire.

Next, the pot was filled with water, not only as a place for the spell to occur but also because water is naturally purifying and detoxing. It helps wash away negativity, sluggishness, unwanted energy, and everything else you can imagine, leaving a clean slate. Simmer the water, which releases water vapor, combines the power of water with that of fire, which is used to burn away the old, allowing the new to grow in its stead.

The plants chosen for this recipe, as mentioned in the chant, as specifically designed to purify, cleanse, protect, and attract different types of abundance into your life and home. The order in which they are placed is important as we start with cleansing and finish by attracting what we want to replace the energy in our now purified space. Lemon, cloves, and rosemary help to clear the space, removing stagnant and unwanted energies from your home. Lemon also helps to remove any blockages that may be preventing the energies from leaving or people from moving on. Cloves, on the other hand, not only purify but also protect against negative, unwanted energies from returning, while rosemary helps heal any wounds. Cinnamon and bay attract monetary abundance and success, all while protecting the home. Basil also attracts monetary wealth, while apple brings love, orange happiness and joy, and vanilla peace and luck. By chanting what it is you ask of each plant, you are telling them exactly what you want from them. All of these plants have multiple correspondences so simply adding them without declaring your intention can result in attracting or banishing the wrong things!

Once the ingredients are all added, the mixture is stirred clockwise to attract or pull things toward you, in this case, abundance, prosperity, wealth, happiness, joy, peace, love, and a cleansed space. You could also start by stirring just the lemon, cloves, and rosemary counterclockwise to banish, then follow up with the remaining ingredients and stir clockwise to attract what you desire to your home. It's completely up to you and I encourage you to modify this spell to suit your specific needs. Stirring occasionally and restating your affirmation while visualizing your desired outcome further empowers the spell as it progresses.

Afterward, you can strain the water and use it to mop your floors or clean surfaces, or you can simply pour it outside to return it to the earth, symbolizing a release of old energy and the welcoming of new abundance. Using this mixture as a floor wash is a great way to wash away the old and bring in the new, ensuring your home is cleansed and open to abundance.

Wish to break this spell? There is no way to break this spell, but it will naturally wane over time. 

Remember to record this recipe in your Book of Shadows or use my Spell/Ritual Worksheet for reference later.

***

We are officially in autumn and what better time to cleanse and recharge a space than at the beginning of a new season? Simmer pots always make me feel so cozy and bring a sense of warmth that other spells simply cannot. May your autumn be full of abundance, love, and joy as we head toward the longest night.

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Harnessing Autumn’s Magic: Herbal Allies for Health and Witchcraft

If I haven't already made it abundantly clear, working with plants is one of the key tenets of my magical practice, just like the hedge witches who came before me. The relationships I have built with the plants in my garden and around my home are precious, allowing me to cast spells, develop rituals, and create healing medicines. As the seasons change, so do the plants I work with. Part of practicing local, animistic witchcraft means shifting with the seasons and relying on what is available. That isn't to say I don't bring in some plants that aren't necessarily prevalent this time of year, but I am definitely more cognizant of my choices each season.

Seasonal plant allies are an excellent source of magic and healing, bringing a potent natural element to your work. But what is a plant ally exactly? 

A plant ally is a plant that you have a close relationship with, much like that of a close friend. Just like real friendships, your plant allies shift and change as you grow. Some will be fair-weather friends, while others will stick with you through the thick of it. They come into our lives to guide us, challenge us, and encourage us to face life's challenges and adventures.

How you connect with your plant allies is entirely personal and a topic for another post, but developing these relationships is critical for those interested in working with plants in their magical or healing practice. We are but one spirit in the cosmos, no greater or smaller than others. Respecting others is paramount to an ethical practice, and I take it quite seriously.

Like many witches, autumn is my favorite time of year. I was born during the autumn months; my legal middle name is Autumn; I love the cooler weather, the misty weather, the changing leaves, and the all-around coziness and sense of community that comes with autumn. Autumn is such a liminal time, allowing us to tap into deep wells of magic otherwise inaccessible to most. The plants I tend to work with during autumn help me do just that, while also ensuring that despite moving indoors and into crowded spaces, I remain relatively happy and healthy.

In today's post, we will journey together to get to know the plants I rely on most during the autumn months for witchcraft and healing. I have grouped the plants based on need and offered alternatives where possible. You'll notice there is overlap with the plants and ailments mentioned in Transitioning for Summer to Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness. After all, why wouldn't there be?

For Tending to the Future

I always associate autumn with wisdom and planning ahead as students return to the classroom and store rooms are checked to ensure a family's survival through the winter. There was nothing worse for a family than failure to thoroughly plan for the months ahead. While many of us are now privileged enough to not have to worry about stocking our pantries prior to winter, we still require the wisdom and forethought that went into such a process.

The herbs on this list are magically and medicinally associated with brain health, memory, strengthening resolve, and replenishing energy.

Milky Oats (Avena sativa): Generally gathered in August after the rye harvest, milky oats are an incredible nerve tonic, supporting the nervous system and adrenals by aiding in stress management. These actions make it especially helpful for those struggling with chronic stress and fatigue as it acts as a stimulant and relaxant. Magically, milky oats are associated with clarity, tempering reactivity, prosperity, and abundance due to their generous nature. Add to spells, rituals, and remedies to clear your mind, give you strength, and ensure a prosperous remainder of the year.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): Like milky oats, rosemary is a powerful nervine stimulant that clears brain fog, improves memory, and soothes depression. While generally harvested in the summer, rosemary dries and keeps incredibly well, making it perfect for use out of 'season.' Magically, rosemary is associated with wisdom, clarity, cleansing, and purification. It can rid you of blockages and aid you in developing a working plan (not just a concept of one). Add rosemary to spells, rituals, and remedies to increase focus, remove brain fog, and bring clarity and wisdom to a situation.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Oh peppermint...while most people associate peppermint with winter (and rightfully so), it's also a potent ally for autumn. Peppermint is incredibly aromatic, acting as a nervine tonic for anxiety, tension, and 'hysteria.' It is known to help clear brain fog, stimulate memory, and awaken the mind so you can see a clear path forward. It's incredibly energizing, giving you that push you need to plan ahead. Magically, peppermint is associated with abundance, increasing psychic powers, and overall health, making it perfect for planning ahead. Add peppermint to spells, rituals, and remedies to combat fatigue, reduce tension, and energize.

Other potential plant allies for planning ahead, wisdom, and overall brain health include sage (Salvia spp.), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and ginkgo (Gingko biloba).

For Battling the Growing Shadow

As summer wanes, the shadow begins to grow over the Earth, leaving us with less and less daylight as the seasons turn to autumn and then winter. Feelings of melancholy are common during this shift and while herbs alone will not cure your depression or anxiety, they can certainly help. However, there is so much more to this darkness this time of year. As the veil begins to thin, unwanted negative entities find their way into our realm, and sometimes into our homes. Dispelling, fortifying, and protecting the home becomes critical this time of year, as darkness begets darkness.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): I adore lemon balm for its protective and uplifting nature. Harvested from June through September, lemon balm is a potent natural antidepressant, its sedative oils helping to relieve depression, anxiety, and tension. It also causes mild vasodilation, allowing blood pressure to lower and therefore reducing stress. Magically, lemon balm is associated with happiness, renewal, and cleansing. Use lemon balm in spells, rituals, and remedies to bring happiness, dispel negativity, and renew the positive energy in you or your home.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia): What a suiting name for an autumnal herb that fights off depression and negativity! Skullcap is a sedative, nervine tonic that helps reduce nervous tension while renewing and revivifying the central nervous system. It is often used to treat depression, especially depression that includes exhaustion and fatigue. It is commonly harvested from August through September, making it perfect for this time of year. Magically, skullcap is associated with peace, calm, devotion, protection, and exorcisms. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove negative energy and bring peace and calm to any situation.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Unearthed in late fall, valerian is a well-known sedative that has not only been used to treat insomnia, but also reduce tension, anxiety, and depression. It combines well with skullcap and lemon balm to create a potent antidepressant. While its most often magically associated with sleep, it's also associated with peace, relaxation, and even protection against lightning and evil. Use valerian in spells, rituals, and remedies to dispel depression, anxiety, and tension and bring peace and relaxation to your life.

Other potential plant allies for combating depression, anxiety, fatigue, and negativity include motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), vervain (Verbena spp.), and St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

For An Ounce of Protection

Cooler weather means more time spent indoors and therefore more opportunities for pathogens to spread. While the cooler weather doesn't weaken our immune system, changes in our environment that increase stress and fatigue certainly do. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure" which is exactly what this recipe is. Preventing illness before it starts is far easier than trying to cure an illness once it starts.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Elderberry is a favorite among herbalists for its wide array of uses, particularly its ability to fight off and prevent colds, fevers, and the flue. The bark and berries are collected from August through September and can be easily dried or made into a syrup that stores easily through the winter months. Magically, elderberry is associated with health (duh!), exorcism, purification, and protection. Include elderberries in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, general health and wellness, and to remove unwanted illnesses, negativity, or other unwanted entities from you and your home.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Commonly used in fire cider, garlic is a powerful healer and protector. Garlic is a natural antiseptic, helping prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even fungi. It is used to treat and prevent colds, flu, coughs, and upper respiratory infections, reduce blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. It being a basic component in many recipes makes it even easier to consume and there are no known downsides to daily consumption. Magically, garlic is associated with protection, exorcism, dispelling negativity, and cleansing. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, health, wellness, and the removal of anything unwanted and unwelcome.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Collected between July and October, nasturtium is a powerful antimicrobial, both topically and internally. It helps fight off and prevent the common cold and the flu as well as fight upper respiratory infections. Magically, it is associated with vitality, longevity, and balance. Use in spells, rituals, and remedies to prevent illness, strengthen your immune system or resolve, and bring balance internally and externally.

Other potential plant allies for an ounce of protection include milky oats (Avena sativa), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

For A Breath of Fresh Air

With cooler weather comes drier, harsher air and respiratory infections. On top of the weather, we also see an increase in allergy symptoms as an entirely different set of plants is blooming this time of year. Supporting respiratory health becomes paramount this time of year, as does speaking our truth. Just because the sun is waning and there is a chill in the air, does not mean that our voices should be silenced. As such, these plants will not only help you breathe easy, but also find that voice of yours.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Harvested in late fall, licorice root is an expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic, meaning it's perfect for treating bronchial problems such as bronchitis, coughs, and other respiratory infections. Magically, licorice is associated with love and lust, but also control, domination, and increasing magical power. As such, it can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove obstacles, bind negativity, and control one's breath and voice and potentially that of another.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Thyme is an extremely common and easy plant to grow. The flowering branches are best collected between June and August, and dry very well, allowing it to be used for months after harvest. Thyme is an antimicrobial expectorant, making it perfect to treat laryngitis, tonsillitis, sore throats, bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma. Magically, thyme is used to invoke courage, banish negativity, heal, and attract happiness. Use thyme in spells, rituals, and remedies for finding and strengthening your voice, breathing easy, and removing negativity from your life.

Elecampane (Inula helenium): The rhizome of elecampane, also known as horse-heal or elfdock, is unearthed and harvested from September through October and used as an expectorant to treat coughs and bronchitis, especially among children, allowing for the removal of phlegm and catarrh. Elecampane contains chemicals that reduce inflammation, soothe irritation, and kill bacteria commonly associated with whooping cough and bronchitis. It has even been used to treat tuberculosis! It's incredibly fast-acting, reducing symptoms quickly and allowing the ill person to rest peacefully. Magically, it's associated with sustaining the spirit, protection, neutralizing negative energy, enhancing psychic abilities, and even aiding in trancework and shapeshifting. As such, elecampane can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies not only for lung support, but also to remove, protect against, and otherwise hide from illness, negativity, and other untoward creatures.

Other potential plant allies for supporting lung health, breathing easily, and finding one's voice include goldenrod (Solidago virgauria), mullein (Verbascum thapsus), plantain (Plantago spp.), and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).

***

As the wheel turns toward autumn, these plant allies can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. Magically, they can empower and enrich your spells and rituals, timing them with seasonal changes and encouraging a bright and prosperous future. How you work with these plant allies is entirely up to you, but remember to always ask them for their assistance and thank them for whatever they provide for you in return. Maintaining these relationships is important and worthwhile.

Is there a plant you like to work with during the autumn months that I failed to include on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

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Transitioning From Summer to Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

Keats famously coined autumn the "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness," a time characterized by the final harvests, changing leaves, cooling temperatures, and lengthening nights. Shifting from summer to autumn reminds us that all things are fleeting and that nothing lasts forever. It is a time of balance, reflection, transformation, and reaping the rewards of hard work as the final harvests are brought in. Like all in-between spaces, the transition between seasons is deeply liminal and can leave us feeling tired, drained, and out-of-sorts. This makes it a great time to work with plant allies to bolster and fortify your body, mind, and spirit for the changes ahead as well as get in touch with the magic of the season.

In today's post, I offer 3 herbal recipes to aid your transition from summer to autumn. These recipes can be used to create a variety of remedies including salves, oxymels, steams, baths, tisanes (teas), or tinctures. It's completely up to you how to use these recipes, but I encourage you to consult with the spirits of the plants, your intuition, and even your ancestors or spiritual guides to determine which preparation method is best for you. While taking it as a tisane may be best for me, you may need to use it as a steam.

For Tending to the Future

I always associate autumn with wisdom and planning ahead as students return to the classroom and store rooms are checked to ensure a family's survival through the winter. There was nothing worse for a family than failure to thoroughly plan for the months ahead. While many of us are now privileged enough to not have to worry about stocking our pantries prior to winter, we still have need of the wisdom and forethought that went into such a process. This recipe combines milky oats (Avena sativa), nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) to create a potent tonic that clears the fog, strengthens resolve, and replenishes diminished energy.

2 parts milky oats (seeds)

1 part nettle

1/2 part red clover

1/2 part rosemary

For Battling the Growing Shadow

As summer wanes, the shadow begins to grow over the Earth, leaving us with less and less daylight as the seasons turn to autumn and then winter. Feelings of melancholy are common during this shift and while herbs alone will not cure your depression or anxiety, they can certainly help. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is well known for its ability to elevate one's mood, soothe anxiety, and even fight off minor colds. Peppermint (Menta piperita), like lemon balm, also improves mood and increases calmness, while also leaving you alert and self-confident.

1 part peppermint

1/2 part lemon balm

For An Ounce of Protection

Cooler weather means more time spent indoors and therefore more opportunities for pathogens to spread. While the cooler weather doesn't weaken our immune system, changes in our environment that increase stress and fatigue certainly do. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure" which is exactly what this recipe is. Preventing illness before it starts is far easier than trying to cure an illness once it starts. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is famous among herbalists for its immune-boosting properties which not only fight off infections but prevent them as well. Combined with echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), this herbal remedy is a surefire way to ensure you and your family stave off illness this autumn. While you can take this remedy in many forms, a syrup or oxymel is best.

1 part elderberries

1/2 part echinacea root

1/4 part goldenseal root

***

As the wheel turns toward autumn, these recipes can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. If you are like me, autumn is your favorite time of the year and there is nothing worse than squandering the season sick, depressed, and in a haze. This is a time of change and final harvests, a time when we can see the fruits of our labor finally come to pass. Move toward the future with the help of these plant allies and enjoy the season to its fullest.

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Magical Properties of Blue Calcite

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