Herbal Sleep & Dream Pillows

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Simple Salve Recipe

Recreational Witchcraft: Simple Salve Recipe
Beeswax salves are a great recipe to have in your repertoire because depending on the herbs included they can be used for many purposes. Healing balms can be made for cuts, scrapes, bites, and for topically treating pain like menstrual cramps or sore muscles. Moisturizing salves can be used on the lips, cuticles or to combat any dry winter skin.  As for magical applications, the list is a long one. Protection salves, flying ointments, and glamour salves are just some of the more common ways beeswax salves have been used as a simple method of transferring the power and magic of specific herbs to the body. The possibilities are quite endless.
You will need:

• A mason jar
• 1 cup of Olive oil
• 1 ounce of Beeswax 
• Assorted herbs

1. Choose your herbs. Remember to choose your herbs with care. Herbs have specific medicinal and magical properties and some can cause allergic reactions. Use your better judgment.
2. Combine your chosen herbs and one cup of olive oil into a mason jar. Your herbs will steep in this mixture for one month so their properties can be better absorbed into the oil. 
3. After your herbs have steeped for a month, Melt down your beeswax into a liquid form, taking care not to burn it. You can do this on the stove but know that wax can be a hassle to clean from pots and pans (For this reason we have a specific pot for melting wax).
4. Combine your infused olive oil and melted beeswax. You may strain out the herbs from the mixture to get a cleaner look like the salve above but the step is optional. Stir the wax and oil to together well, and pour the liquid into a tin or other other container. Let the salve cool and harden. Your salve is ready to use!

Essential Healing Salve Recipes

Essential Healing Salve Recipes
When it comes to healing salves, there are a couple kinds that prove their need most often. Though everyone has different preferences and different recipes for those salves, these are ours.
Sore Muscle Salve

• 3 Parts Cloves
• 2 Parts Arnica 
• 4 Parts Cayenne Pepper 
• 1 Part Basil

Bug Bite Salve

• 3 Parts Calendula
• 1 Part Plantain
• 2 parts Cloves

Topical Menstrual Cramp Salve (To be applied to the abdomen)

• 1 Part Rose
• 2 Parts Clary Sage

Cut & Scrape Salve

• 1 Part Comfrey
• 2 Parts Calendula
• 2 Parts Plantain

Need help getting started? See our Simple Salve recipe here.

Spell Candles

Spell Candles
Transfer text from tissue paper to a candle using wax paper and your hair dryer. You can print something too by taping the tissue to some card stock before sending through your printer. Use color tissue for color candles. You get the idea. Endless possibilities!
Good tutorial here: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2011/10/day-5-easy-print-candles.html

(Note: candle will drip more than usual, so use a safety plate, or something, underneath the holder.)

CELEBRATE IMBOLC

Outside:

• Leave cheese and bread offerings to soil you hope to be fertile in the coming season
• Take a walk or hike in search of signs of the changing season
• Gather and jar melting snow or icicles
• Prepare flower beds for the coming of spring

In the Home:

• Cleanse the home by burning Rosemary or Myrrh incense
• Sweep the house with a besom
• Reduce clutter and start spring cleaning
• Burn white candles on the windowsills and around the house
• Use the fireplace for the last time
• Drink hot tea melt the ice from your insides

In the Kitchen:

• Make potato leek soup
• Make braided rosemary bread
• Make and drink spiced wine
• Make a seed cake to symbolize coming potential

In the Bath:

• Prepare an Imbolc Ritual Bath
• Bathe surrounded by white candles
• Add ice to your hot bath to symbolize the melting away of winter
• Add a few drops of Rosemary oil or myrrh to your bathwater

On your Altar:

• Represent the melting snow on your altar by making ice candles, ice bowls, or ice luminaries.
• Decorate with white candles and flowers
• Incorporate the scents of rosemary, myrrh or angelica.
• Sprinkle your altar with seeds for prosperity and the coming spring

LOVE DRAWING BATH SOAK

This bath salt recipe is intended to draw romantic love to its user. Immerse your body in this citrusy pink salt soak and let the oils and roses do their work.

• 1 cup coarse Himalayan Pink Salt
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• ¼ cup of lavender buds
• ¼ cup of orange rinds
• 1 handful of miniature roses
• 8 drops of Sweet Orange Oil
• 4 drops of Rose Absolute 

Soak in hot water. Bathe until the heat dissipates. 

Sex Spell Candle

Sex Spell Candle
This spell candle recipe needs little explaining! It is intended to burn to encourage or enhance a sexual encounter.
Now, this sex candle requires basic knowledge of candle recycling. You will need:

• Wax scraps (reds are ideal)
• A wick
• A jar or container to pour your wax
• Cinnamon/Cloves for Lust and Passion
• Cocoa/Jasmine for Aphrodisiac and Sensuality
• Rose for Romance

Melt your wax over the stove (in a double boiler or pot you’re okay only using for candles). Stir the blend slowly, add your ingredients while inhaling deeply, putting intent into each addition.
Playing music in the background or making this with your partner are just two of the many ways to add intent and charge to the process.
Once your wax is stirred and charged it’s ready to pour. Whether you’ve made jar candles, pillar candles or small tea lights, you’ve just created an instant mood-maker.
Go get ‘em, tiger!

DIY Heart Shaped Tea Bags

DIY Heart Shaped Tea Bags

Really nice recipes. Every hour.

MOONWRITING INK: A RECIPE

Here’s one recipe you might enjoy trying. It’s made from easy to find, nontoxic ingredients, and you’ll feel like a medieval chemist as you brew it up.

Moonwriting Ink 
1 black tea bag
1 ⁄3 c. charged full moon water
A small saucepan
1 ⁄4 c. white vinegar
1 unsoaped steel wool pad
Small bowl
Unbleached cotton/cheesecloth
Toothpick or wooden skewer
Optional: gum arabica; 3% hydrogen peroxide (both available at drug stores)

Place the tea bag in a teacup. Bring the full moon water to a boil; pour it over the tea bag and let steep for 15 minutes. Wring tea bag out and throw away. The tea now contains tannic acid.

In a small saucepan, warm the vinegar. Use scissors to snip bits of unsoaped steel wool into the hot vinegar, making sure the vinegar covers the steel wool. Heat until the steel wool dissolves and/or forms a colored solution (iron sulfate). Allow to cool.

Pour the tea into the small bowl. Use a piece of unbleached cotton to strain the iron solution into the tea. This will form black iron tannate. Be very careful: this is indelible and will stain whatever it touches.

Dip a toothpick or skewer into the “ink” and try writing with it. If it’s too thick, thin the ink with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. If the ink seems watery, let it sit out for a day or two until enough evaporates to make it slightly thicker. Alternately, add dabs of gum arabica to thicken the mixture.

How To Make Flower Soaps

How To Make Flower Soaps
DIY Recipe here.

Great idea for witchy things…maybe make a Luck soap, or a Happiness soap, or a Money soap so that every time you wash your hands with it, it helps to draw money to you…

SELF CARE: SLEEP

• How To Cope with Nightmares
  
• How to Keep a Dream Journal
• Making a Dream Journal
• Sleep Meditation Music
• Teas for Insomnia
• Natural Sleep Remedies
• Medication Interactions Checker (Make sure you’re okay to take sleep aids before doing so!)
• DIY Bubblebath
• Foods that can help/harm sleep
• Cheap Pillows
• Aromatherapy
• Guided Meditation

Herbal Headache Soothing Salve

Herbal Headache Soothing Salve
Ingredients
½ oz beeswax * See bottom of post for info on vegan substitutions
4 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsps castor oil
1 Tbsps magnesium oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops citrus essential oil
Instructions:

1. Measure out extra virgin olive oil and set aside
2. Weigh out about ½ oz of beeswax. (or vegan substitution see below) If you prefer a softer salve in general, use a bit less. If your beeswax (or sub) is in a bar and not pastilles, shred or shave so that it will melt easier.
3. Place beeswax and carrier olive oil in a double boiler and melt. Use low heat to preserve integrity of the oil. If you do not have a double boiler or don’t feel like scraping the beeswax out of it later, simply place ingredients in a mason jar and hold over a pan filled with water.
4. Remove from heat and add magnesium, castor and essential oils. Whip quickly with a fork and pour directly into a small glass jar or tin. Experiment with different size jars so that you have some for your home, and some smaller ones to slip in your pocket for on-the-go.
5. Place the jar in the refrigerator or freezer to set. Remove when hardened (likely no more than 30 minutes). Apply to forehead, temples, neck, shoulders or wherever may need some cooling tension relief.

You can use Carnauba or Candilla wax as substitutes for beeswax in this recipe.
The substitution ratio for both alternatives is: ½ oz per 1 oz beeswax (simply use half of whatever amount of beeswax is asked for).
                             Beeswax                 Carnauba Wax       Candelilla Wax
Melting Point            143.6-149 F            181.4 ºF                 155 - 165º F
Candelilla wax tends to be a bit more greasy than carnuaba wax so keep that in mind when making substitution decisions.

Wheel of The Year: Ostara (Spring Equinox)

Ostara: Spring Equinox (Ostara) - March 21st/22nd

Incense: Jasmine, Rose

Decorations: Yellow Disk or Wheel, Coloured Egg’s, Hare Decorations, Spring Flowers

Colours: Yellow

This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan “Easter” - or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house. It is common to use this time to free yourself from things which hinder progress. As a day of equilibrium, it is a good time to perform self banishings and also perform workings to gain things we have lost, or to gain qualities we wish to have.

The second of the 3 spring festivals, this Sabbat occurs in mid march when day and night are of equal length. This festival is also of fertility where seeds are blessed for planting soon after. Traditional colors for this holiday are light green, lemon yellow and pale pink.

Ostara Incense

taken from Scott Cunningham’s book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF INCENSE, OILS & BREWS

Burn during Wiccan rituals on Ostara (the Spring Equinox, which falls on Tuesday, March 20th this year), or to welcome spring and to refresh your life.

The materials needed are the following: 

*2 parts Frankincense

*1 part Benzion

*1 part Dragon’s Blood

*half part Nutmeg

*half part Violet Flowers (or a few drops - like 3 - of Violet Oil)

*half part Orange Peel

*half part Rose Petals

*charcoal block/briquit

*fire-safe incense burner, censer or pot.

For best results, grind the materials in a mortar and pestle. Take a small amount and place on a burning charcoal block in a fire-safe censer or burner.

Ritual for Ostara/Spring Equinox

Flowers should be laid on the altar, placed around the circle and strewn on the ground. The cauldron can be filled with spring water and flowers, and buds and blossoms may be worn as well. A small potted plant should be placed on the altar.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, and cast the circle.

Invoke the Goddess and God in whatever words please you.

Stand before the altar and gaze upon the plant as you say:

“O Great Goddess, you have freed yourself from the icy prison of winter. Now is the greening, when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze. This is the beginning. Life renews itself by Your magick, Earth Goddess. The God stretches and rises, eager in His youth, and bursting with the promise of summer.”

Touch the plant. Connect with its energies and, through it, all nature. Travel inside its leaves and stems through your visualization - from the center of your consciousness out through your arm and fingers and into the plant itself. Explore its inner nature; sense the miraculous processes of life at work within it.

After a time, still touching the plant, say:

“I walk the earth in friendship, not in dominance. Mother Goddess and Father God, instill within me through this plant a warmth for all living things. Teach me to revere the Earth and all its treasures. May I never forget.”

Meditate upon the changing of the seasons. Feel the rousing of energies around you in the Earth.

Works of magick, if necessary, may follow.

Celebrate the Simple Feast.

The circle is released.

Rejuvenation Spell by Walter L. Mora

This spell will help to renew your spiritual self as the Earth does every Spring. You will need the following materials:

*a small black candle and a small white candle

*medium sized yellow or green candle - if you can find one shaped like an egg, even better!

*a spring wreath to fit around the candle, either hand-made or bought at a craft store

*sandalwood incense

*your favorite essential oil - a scent that reminds you of Spring

*parchment paper

*a black pen and a gold-ink pen (you can find them at your local discount or crafts store like Micheal’s)

*an ashpot, couldron, fire-proof container

First, break the parchment paper in half. Use the black pen to write on one sheet and title the page “BE GONE.” With the black pen, write all the habits, feelings, situations, etc. that you want to get rid off. Use the back if you need more space. Place this negative list under the candleholder or votive of the black candle.

Second, take a nice bath or shower and cleanse yourself of any negative vibrations. Visualize the water washing over your body and taking away the black cloudy grime that surrounds you to reveal a brilliant white glow. After the bath or shower, anoint yourself with the essential oil and dress yourself in white comfy garments or skyclad if you prefer.

Third, return to your work space and now take the other sheet of parchment paper and with the gold pen title it “REBIRTH.” With the gold pen, write all of those things you want to better in yourself, change for the positive, goals you desire to accomplish, etc. Make positive, active statements and void comments like I should, would, wish, hope or anything with negative connotations. This is your positive list so fill it with vibrant positive energy. When your list is complete, place the list under the candleholder or votive of the white candle.

Fourth, light the black and white cande and the incense. Take the incense holder and walk around your space three times clockwise. Situate the incense holder. Take the negative list from under the black candle and use its flame to set it afire and throw it in the ashpot, etc. As you do this say:

What once was will never be.

I’m making room for the new me.

Be gone, Be gone!

So mote it be!

Fifth, after the negative list is burnt to a crisp, take the positive list from under the white candle. Now here is where you need to be quick and steady. (If you feel you can’t do this that is fine and work your way around it.) Set the positive list aflame with the white candle and immediately use the burning list to light your egg (or yellow, green, etc.) candle and throw the burning paper in to the ashpost, etc.

Sixth, after this envigorating event, look at your egg candle and say the following words:

Let me feel, let me see,

Now reborn in positivity.

As I hatch into Spring,

Let all good things now come in.

In perfect love and perfect trust,

With harm to none,

So mote it be!

Lastly, gaze at your candle for a moment and meditate if you wish. When your ready, take the ashpot outside and throw the ashes to the wind, making sure it doesn’t come back into your house!. After that, make sure to snuff out the candles when appropriate. Go get something to eat and begin to enjoy your renewed self!

The Hedgewitch Cooks - Elder Tea Syrup

The Hedgewitch Cooks - Elder Tea Syrup

Ostara (Spring Equinox)

Other Names: Ostara, Ostre, Mean Earraigh, Alban Eiler, Pasch, Caisg, Pesse.

Date: March 20, 21, or 22 depending upon the calendar. When the sun reaches 1 degree Aries.

Meaning of the Word: Germanic dawn deity meaning “the month of beginnings or the month of openings”.

Primary Focus: Fertility, sunrise ceremonies, offerings to the goddess of spring.

Age of Holiday: 3,000 B.C. or older.

Popular Mythos: Return of the goddess from the underworld (Persephone).

Astrological Sign: 1 degree Aries; fire; fixed.

Planetary Ruler: Mars.

The custom of giving eggs on Ostara was known to the early Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Gauls. The symbol of life, the egg stands for our cosmic universe. The practice of colouring these eggs also dates back to ancient civilizations. The Persians dyed theirs red, where folks in other countries chose a variety of colours obtained by boiling the eggs with flowers or vegetables to achieve unique colouring. From foodstuff and symbol of new life to courtly art object to household decoration to focus for juvenile games, the Easter egg has travelled a very long way.

Ostara Invocation

Ouroborus tells us the beginning has no end
Alpha and Omega - all reside within
Pisces swims beyond the veil
Aries on the rise.
Mars becomes the focal point
capturing the prize.
The moon slips through her mansions
dancing in the signs
stars are fixed yet activate
the treasures of the mind.
The air is filled with harmony
of plant and bloom and bud
each egg foretells the birthing
of peace, and joy, and love.
Persephone emerges as winter falls away
Mother Earth rejoices -
her daughter’s come to stay.
As days grow long and nights are warm
the Goddess reigns supreme
Her power rises in my blood
I command all things unseen!
Magick symbols, knots and cords
wand and staff and blade
earth and water, fire and air
become the Witch’s trade.I am the ground, the sea, the sky
the breezes springtime sweet
gods and spirits dance the round
within this circle meet.
I conjure thee, O leaves of spring
hyacinth and myrtle
roses, lilacs, lavender
black earth, warm and fertile.
Gifts of Gaia, Green Man rule
my wishes come to form
good fortune roots within my world
prosperity is born! 

Magickal Ideas for your Ostara Sabbat Ritual

. Colour and empower Oestre eggs for health, wealth, and prosperity.

. Celebrate the return of the Goddess by conjuring potted plants and giving them to friends and loved ones.

. If possible, incorporate chocolate into your Ostara ritual.

. Review the items in your magickal cabinet or box and replace what is needed. Empower the supplies during the Ostara ritual.

. Bless seeds for the garden.

. Hold your ritual at dawn.

. Ostara (spring equinox) is solar driven. The sun moves from mutable, watery Pisces to cardinal, fiery Aries. Aries is a great “starter” sign but it manages to “poop out” along the way. Any magick done while the sun or moon is in Aries should be supplemented with other workings later on.

Homemade Cough Syrup

Homemade Cough Syrup
Ingredients:

• honey — Bee Free Honee (vegan) HERE
• citrus — lemons (Organic and washed)
• herbs — fresh rosemary & peppermint
• spices — ginger (fresh or dried/ground), whole cloves, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom

Instructions:

1. Slice the lemons into rounds and quarter them
2. Stack and mix the ingredients in a glass jar
3. Allow to sit for 4-6 hours shaking occasionally
4. store in the refrigerator for 2-3 months

Use:

• simply swallow a spoonful or two to ease a sore throat
• Add 2 heaping spoonfuls to a glass of hot water or tea

Cinnamon: Natural antibacterial properties
Cloves: anti-fungal with anesthetic properties
Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and immune boosting
Lemon: Astringent
Peppermint: antispasmodic, antimicrobial and anodyne (pain relieving)
Rosemary: antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal. 

CELEBRATE OSTARA

Outside:

• Collect spring flowers
• Leave offerings to your garden
• Set out sweet food for the Fae
• Scatter eggshells to fertilize the soil
• Make waterers for Bees and butterflies

In the Home:

• Throw open the windows to let in fresh air
• Cleanse your home with a floral incense such as Rose or Jasmine
• Make eggshell candles
• Set out vases to fill with fresh flowers
• Paint or dye eggs to celebrate springtime fertility

In the Kitchen:

• Make traditional hot cross buns
• Bake your own bread
• Make an Ostara Tea
• Make Ostara Honey Cakes
• Concoct your own edible flower cookies
• Make Strawberry Sage Lemonade

In the Bath:

• Bathe in fresh flowers for spring
• Surround yourself with green, pastel, or white candles
• Take an Ostara-Inspired Lush Bath

On your Altar:

• Decorate with colors of yellows, blues and greens
• Symbolize fertility with fresh eggs or their shells
• Scatter fresh flower petals across your altar
• Light a pair of black and white candles to symbolize the balance of the light and dark hours in the day

Ribbon Magick

Excerpts Llewellyn’s 2013 Magical Almanac Article Ember Grant. 
Okay this magic can be done with just about any type of string, twine, rope, or shoelace. Though this article is basically about the magic of Ribbons, which of course you can add by color association or images that are printed or sewn on the ribbon.

Binding

Items Needed:
Ribbon
Symbolic Representation
Traditionally done by wrapping or tying knots, it’s often done to stop someone or something from doing harm. However it can also be used to break a bad habit. For example: Use a black ribbon and a symbol that represents your bad habit. (Example used) A pack of cigarettes, wrap the black ribbon visualizing the habit being bound or trapped. Leave room on the ends to be able to tie three knots. Chant as you wrap:
I’d stop this habit if I could,
This is for my highest good.
Cease behavior causing harm,
With the bond I cast a charm.
Help me heal and make it last,
Guide me in this worthy task.

Braiding

Items Needed:
Ribbon
Braiding allows you to weave several elements of a spell together to create unity. For Example in a spell for prosperity, you could use three ribbons to represent success, prosperity, and good fortune. (yellow or gold, green, and purple) Typically this is done with three ribbons, but if you’re skilled in braiding, you can use more.
Another use for a braid is to create a bond between people.  Such as a handfasting ceremony. Use two white ribbons one for each person and a pink or red ribbon to represent love. Create a braid like this with your partner to strengthen your bonds of love and friendship. (Of course, remember to avoid forcing a bond.)
Here’s a chant you can use to create a love braid.
Over, under, through and through,
You for me and me for you.
Let us keep a bond that’s true
Love and peace between us two.

Breaking Unwanted Bonds

Breaking bonds are usually used for celebrating and dedicating new beginnings, groundbreakings and so on. A symbolic cutting is a good way to free yourself from difficult circumstances.
Here’s a breaking bonds spell you can use to adapt to your needs.
Things you Need:
Ribbon (Appropriate Color)
Black Candle
Scissors
Perform the spell that corresponds to your need, when the moon is waning. Select an appropriate moon if you desire. This is a spell for release. You may desire freedom from a particular attachment, broken heart or bad relationship, financial burdens, a job, or even a bad habit.
Tie the ends of the ribbon to form a circle. As you tie the knot, visualize this bond as the controlling force from which you wish to break free. Name the bond aloud by saying, “This ribbon represents _________.”
Next pick up the scissors imagine them as a sword you carry into battle. Pass them through the candle flame, envision the fire as your passion to be free, empowering the blades. Say the following:
As the moon wanes,
Release this bond.
As the candle expires,
Release this bond.
As I sever this tie
Release this bond.
I am free.
As you cut the ribbon into pieces, clearly visualize circumstances unfolding to set you free. See yourself being rid of this force outside of your control. After you cut the ribbon, bury the pieces into separate places. The earth will absorb and neutralize the unwanted energy. Alternatives you can burn the pieces of ribbon. Allow the candle to burn completely.

Bundling

Things you need:
Ribbon & Fabric (Appropriate color)
Stones,Herbs, and other objects.
Another way to use ribbon is to to make a bundle or sachet and ties the ends together. These bundles can contain herbs, stones, or other objects used as talismans and amulets. Use the appropriate color of fabric and ribbon, chanting as you wrap and tie with several knot:
Ribbon wind, tightly bind,
Wrap this spell that I design.

Other Uses

There are many other ways to get creative with your ribbon magic, you can wrap them around bundles of flowers or herbs, branches. Tying them around vases or tying them to wreathes. Use a ribbon to string a special pendant to wear, or wear them in your hair. Beyond the list of magical corresponds and seasonal colors. Some ribbons have been used to fight against different types of cancer, or to promote peace, pride, or other issues. Feel free to incorporate ribbons into your magic or charge a ribbon for a cause you believe in. Remember to use colors that have special meaning to you.
Happy Spell-Weaving!

List of Ribbon Color Correspondences 

White: neutral, all-purpose, full moon energy, protection, purity, meditation.
Black: banishment, breaking bad habits, binding, new moon energy
Red: protection, passion, energy, courage, strength, sexuality, will
Pink: romance, love, friendship, harmony, emotions
Orange: success, commerce, motivation, courage, legal problems, attraction
Yellow: mental skills, communication, self-confidence, charm, travel, health, success
Green: money, fertility, growth, abundance, health,
Dark Blue: dream magic, transformation, instinct, psychic awareness, depression, understanding
Light Blue: beginnings, endurance, awareness, joy, patience, understanding
Pale Violet: inspiration, divination
Dark Purple: authority, good fortune, spirituality, power
Gray: neutrality, mystery, dimness, concealments, secrets
Brown: home, domestic issues, animals, grounding
Silver: reflection, intuition, lunar connections
Gold: Financial gain, business endeavors, solar connections

Nightmare Guardian

Create a happy guardian friend to watch over you at night and shield you from nightmares. This is a fire-free spell but it requires a moderate amount of botanicals. During this process you may create a thought-form. If you don’t want that to happen, avoid personifying your guardian and just make a regular charm bag. Create a sigil that represents the bag and use it to control or destroy the thought-form.
Ingredients:

• A charm bag
• One or more of these herbs: rosemary, anise seeds, thyme, or mullein. Or, any herbs which protect from nightmares or guard sleep.

Prepare your charm bag. You can decorate it like a little person to watch over you if you want to. Consider adding sigils related to protection of sleep, or drawing/embroidering a sword and shield on to your bag. As you create the bag, give it instructions on how it should behave and what it is meant to do. The bag may be as large or small as you wish. If it is large enough it can function as a pillow. If it is small enough you can wear it as a pendant at night. Otherwise you can place it close by where it watches over you.
As you create the charm bag, be aware that you are creating an empty vessel which will be filled with the energy of herbs. The energy of the herbs will be blocked or focused depending on how you construct the magical bag.
When you are ready, gather your herbs. If you desire, take them under the moon. You must fill them with your personal energy and request assistance in guarding against nightmares.
Fill the charm bag with your herbs. The amount of herbs you use, and in what combination, is up to you. Research the herbs and use your intuition; they will have different effects.
Tie the charm bag tightly closed with final instructions.
Gently holding the bag, sit quietly until you are aware that you are a part of nature. As a witch, you are a powerful force, both ruler and servant of the forest, and within you is the sacred breath of life. Breathe deeply, feeling the life-force of Nature fill your lungs. Then, gently exhale on your guardian, giving it life.
Place the guardian in it’s designated area. Recharge it often using personal energies, lest it become overwhelmed by nightmares and turn against you.
If the guardian feels “bad” or “wrong” or “creepy” after you create it, untie the top of the bag and announce the guardian is destroyed. Separate the bag from the herbs. Throw the herbs away and destroy the bag (burn it or cut it in to tiny pieces). Throw it all away outside your home.
Miscellanea: Making charm bags
If you like, create a second guardian who’s job it is to draw in pleasant dreams.

Make an Ice Blow

Ribbon Spell

Ribbon Spell - Write your intentions on ribbons and tie them to a tree. Letting them be released by the wind to the universe.

CELEBRATE BELTANE

Outside:

• Make a maypole
• Tie colorful ribbons on trees with blessing written on them
• Build a ceremonial pyre
• Pick colorful flowers
• Take a swim in a natural body of water
• Go on a picnic
• Build flower bouquets 
• Leave out offerings for the fae

In the Home:

• Decorate your home with multicolored ribbons
• Burn sweet, floral or fruity incense
• Make flower crowns
• Adorn the doors and parts of the home with bells
• Make Beltane Baskets

In the Kitchen:

• Make a spread of berries, cherries and pomegranates
• Make edible flower cookies
• Make a fruity sun tea
• Make a rainbow beltane cake

In the Bath:

• Take a sunrise morning bath
• Bathe in fresh colorful flower petals
• Pick out a colorful rainbow bath bomb
• Surround yourself by multicolored candles

On your Altar:

• Cover the space with colorful fresh flowers and ribbons
• Make a flaming centerpiece to represent the fire festival
• Incorporate gemstones like garnet, rose quartz or emerald
• Make a miniature maypole
• Decorate with colorful feathers and shed antlers

an example two ways to create runes

an example two ways to create runes, but remember that there are many others!

Lilac Sugar Recipe

Lilac Sugar Recipe
What you need:

• Clean, dry lilac petals (preferably purple as they are very fragrant)
• Granulated sugar
• A jar

Layer flowers and sugar in a jar. Let stand dark and cool for a few days, shake every now and then. Now your sugar is ready to use. Perfect for baking or in a cup of tea.
{great offering for the fae folk}

Tea for love

Tea for love:  1 part damiana, 1 part rose petals, ½ part cinnamon chips, ½ part dried strawberries, ¼ part jasmine flowers.
*please make sure to check herb side-effects*

Tutorial on Engraving Rune Stones

I found I good tutorial on how to engrave runes.
[link to the blog] [link to the youtube video tutorial]

Shower Disks for Attracting love

Shower Disks for Attracting love

So you have seen our lovely bath magic spells but you cannot take a bath. Maybe you don’t have a bath in your current residence, maybe you are physically unable to use bathtubs, maybe you’re just super stretched for time but want to get in some extra magical umph. Recreational Witchcraft is here for you.
Shower disks are traditionally used in the aromatherapy world to relieve congestion and other flu-symptoms while showering via the use of essential oils, but we will be bumping up their magical potential.
Basic recipe:

• 1 cup baking soda 
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1/3 cup of water
• Muffin tins and muffin liners

Attracting Love:

• vanilla extract
• essential oil of jasmine
• essential oil of ylang ylang
• apple seeds
• 1 lavender flower
• pinch of cinnamon

Combine baking soda and corn starch (making sure there are no clumps), then slowly add in the water. Fill lined muffin tins about third of the way, then add in dry herbs and spices. Leave out to dry for at least 24 hours. Carefully take disks out of the liners, add your essential oils, and place your disk somewhere in your shower that will allow them to dissolve slowly while you shower. Bam, you’re done.
Note: This spell should not be used to circumvent consent or change someone’s will. Do not send us messages about the ethics of love spells.

How to make your own natural herbal infused oil

How to make your own natural herbal infused oil in a few easy steps.

Make your own oils from scratch. Once made, these oils are suitable for a range of uses, they can be burned in a candle oil burner to add fragrance to the air, excellent to use at your altar instead of incense, use it to anoint candles for candle magic, add to baths for spell work purification and for silky and heavenly soaks, make it into perfume, use for a variety of skin conditions, use it as massage oil or even just a delicious cooking oil or salad dressing.

See below for instructions.

Use, olive, almond, sunflower or coconut oil work best.

1. Find a large, clear, clean glass jar or bottle with a tight lid.

2. Pack fresh, clean, whole herbs loosely into the jar, use any herbs you like or a mixture, you can experiment with smells and tastes or if you need a specific one for a spell or potion only use that.

3. Cover the herbs with oil. High quality olive oil is best, but any good quality vegetable oil will work.

4. Put the lid on as tightly as you can, and set the jar on a sunny windowsill - this is best done in the summertime, but can be done in winter if you have a window that gets maximum amount of light, even in winter.

5. Leave the jar on the windowsill for 30 days, shaking it gently once a day.

6. Find another large, clear, clean glass jar or bottle with a tight lid, a large funnel, and some cheesecloth. Pack the cheesecloth fairly tightly in the funnel. Set the funnel in the empty jar, and wrap some cheese cloth around where the mouth of the jar meets the funnel, to prevent spillage. You can also use a fine sieve but it won’t work as good.

7. Slowly pour the oil into the clean jar through the funnel. The cheesecloth will strain the herbs, letting the oil filter into the jar.

Experiment with mixes. Fill the jar with a mix of chamomile, vanilla and lavender to ensure pleasant sleep. Mix vanilla and cinnamon to fill your kitchen with cooking scents.

This does not make essential oil. Essential oils are the herbs compressed to make oil. This makes diluted oil. There is no need to further dilute this oil.

Lavender is soothing, cinnamon invigorating, mint fresh. White willow bark has a spicy smell, sage is used by Native Americans for cleansing, chamomile is used to soothe and help sleep. Do some research about your favorite scents, and see what you can find.

In the Autumn try using rosemary which also has astringent and healing properties as well.

In the summer pick or purchase mint to make a refreshing oil
White willow bark (or any kind of bark or nuts or roots) may need to be soaked in water first, left in the oil longer, and/or used as freshly as possible.

Some herbs can be used dried, like cinnamon, but for the most part, dried herbs lose their essential oils, so best to use fresh.

Store oil in a cool, dark place, and smell it occasionally. If it smells rancid, don’t use it.