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Kitchen Witchery |
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Kitchen Witchery |
In the land of Erintulach we take certain things very seriously. One of them is that the kitchen is the spiritual center of the household. It's where everything happens -- where family congregates and friends come to visit.
With that in mind it's always good to have a little magic. The place to start is of course with your kitchen windowsill. Depending on your exposure you can grow herbs or flowers. For instance, basil is traditionally used for love, protection, and purification. Parsley is used for fertility, passion, and protection. Sage is used for healing, protection, and prosperity; and thyme is used for clairvoyance, courage, and love.
I especially like to grow tarragon in the kitchen window if I have the right light because of it's connections with dragons; not that I've ever had the best of luck with this no matter how hard I've tried. The biggest problem is that most kitchen window sills are simply too narrow to properly hold a pot. Also the kitchen window may not get enough sun. If you have an east or a south east window you can generally grow anything. African violets love east windows (though mine struggle valiantly with the north exposure of my kitchen window) and finally if all else fails -- air plants will grow anywhere.
Find a "kitchen Witch" doll for good luck. In fact this is one thing that has been in my kitchen since 1986. I was given a small hanging witch (the quintessential hag) back in the 80's and she has held court over 7 different kitchens. Just this year though she was elevated to the status of a Solstice ornament. I now just have a small statue of a kitchen witch who sits above the sink holding my magic spoon. I found a multicolored wooden spoon in a kitchen shop and I use it when I want to put positive energy into something I'm preparing. The spoon is starting to get old and bleached out by the sun so I'll have to get a new one at some time.You can also hang things on the kitchen window (sun catchers and the like) or you can hang things from a curtain rod if they're too heavy.
Blessing the stove
Here is the sacred center,
the hearth fire, the heart fire,
The spark at the core of all worlds.
Here is the flame of life, it arises from the depths,
The fire within the well -
The well of wisdom, the well of wyrd,
The boundless depths that reach through all times.
Come! Let us regard the depths,
And rise with the flame,
The meeting place of all times and places here,
That opens as our hearts to welcome those we call!
KITCHEN DEITIES
Throughout the world many cultures have believed in and worshipped various kitchen gods and goddesses. These deities are generally regarded as benevolent, and their presence is said to offer protection against kitchen accidents, fires, and food poisoning; to keep negativity, ghosts, and evil influences out of the kitchen; and to bless all foods that are prepared.
In Japan, the god and goddess of kitchens are Oki-Tsu-Hiko-No-Kami and his consort Oki-Tsu-Hime-No-Kami. They are the children of the harvest god, and their main duty is to look after the cauldron in which water is boiled. Another Japanese deity associated with the kitchen is Hettsui-No-Kami. She is the goddess of the kitchen range. Each year on the eighth day of November she is honored in Japan with a Shinto festival called the Fuigo Matsuri.
The Greeks honored Hestia, and the Norse Frigg and of course as a good Irish household we honor Brigid as our lady of flame.
THE FOUR ELEMENTS
In addition to the gods and goddesses of the kitchen, the spirits of the four ancient elements are strongly connected to, and make their presence well known in, the Witch's kitchen.
- The refrigerator is an appliance dedicated to air. Air is also linked to the steam given off by hot foods and boiling liquids.
- Fire (the source of heat and symbol of transformation) dwells within stove and hearth.
- Water rules over the kitchen sink as well as the liquids used in the preparation and cooking of foods and potions.
- Vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and spices, and even meats and poultry are all gifts from our blessed planetary Mother. These foods that nourish and sustain us are, of course, ruled by the earth element.
The elemental spirits of air, fire, water, and earth can be invoked at any time in the kitchen for protection, empowerment, magical aid, and so forth. It is through the use of these four basic elements that kitchen magic is created.
The information above was originally taken from Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar 1999
and has been edited and reworked to reflect my personal views