Kiki's Cauldron

Writer with a MA in Medieval English. Author of 'A Curious Future.' Currently exploring and discussing tarot, divination, witchcraft, sacred sites, spirit of place, and high strangeness. She/Her. 4w5. Gemini Sun, Capricorn Moon, Leo Ascendent. Tumblr with creative tarot spreads, tarot info, witchy graphics and reblogs.

[kikiscauldron]

Today's Jupiter-Uranus Conjunction in Taurus offers us great opportunities for transformation, evolution, and good luck. Take some time today to ask yourself what you feel called to do in your life. To clarify: what does your authentic self, your unique soulful essence, and your inspired higher self ask you to pursue and develop in your life? What does a personal revolution look like for you and what would the best possible outcome be for this fabulous act of rebellion? Ride today's optimistic astrological wave of opportunity and fortune. Shake things up. Go for it.

Find a way to honor the feelings you have today, even taking time to develop goals and plans to get you closer to success. Cast prosperity spells. Whisper your dreams to a tree. Eat expensive chocolate. Wear velvet green and emeralds to the grocery store, sure why not. Put your hands over your heart and complete the following statement: "I am so thankful for ___." Close your eyes and visualize how success manifests in your life, celebrating the places and people you see in this content state of mind. Let luck be on your side today to initiate monumental changes that allow you to transform, grow, and have abundance for yourself and those you love.

Here is a little tarot spread you can use to help you contemplate those precious things that make you feel fulfilled and what actions you need to take to get you to where you want to go (and deserve to be).

[garlandedspirits]

John William Waterhouse + medieval and renaissance costumes

[embroiderycrafts]

Jackrabbit Abduction! A full-back design chainstitched on a purple velvet jacket. by JasonSteady

[kikiscauldron]

It's been a while

I'm dusting off my Tumblrs and hoping to be a little more active on here again. Thank you for your patience as I go through renovations and get everything in working order again!

[samwisethewitch]

Earth-Friendly Witchcraft

Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs.

And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the destruction of the natural world. Most developed nations have a linear economy, which means resources are extracted and then sent on a one-way trip to consumers who will use them and then throw them away. This leads to overflowing landfills, air and water pollution, and quickly disappearing resources. The World Economic Forum predicts that, if our habits don’t change, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And I dearly hope that by now we’re all familiar with the reality of climate change and its devastating impact on global ecosystems.

I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to point out the hypocrisy of drawing power from the Earth in our magic while simultaneously contributing to her destruction. If we truly want to consider ourselves spiritual allies of the planet, we need to make an effort to live our lives — and practice our magic — in ways that are less harmful to her.

You don’t have to become an environmentalist or switch to a zero waste lifestyle, but we can all make little changes for a more sustainable life. There’s lots of information out there about how to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle, so in this post I’ll be focusing on how to apply that same philosophy to your witchcraft.

Steps to a more Earth-Friendly Practice:

Limiting your consumption will automatically lower your negative impact on the planet. Follow my previous guidelines for avoiding consumerism to start shrinking your carbon footprint.

Avoid plastic as much as possible. According to the WEF, 70% of our plastic ends up in a landfill or in the world’s waterways, and according to Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living Well, only 9% of household plastics get recycled. Plastic (unlike glass and metal) cannot be recycled indefinitely — it can only be recycled a handful of times before it becomes too degraded to be repurposed any further. There really is no way to make plastic safer for the planet, so it’s best to just avoid it altogether. Look for tools made of metal, wood, or glass instead of plastics, and try to order things shipped in paper and cardboard when possible.

Create spells that won’t leave leftovers. One of the big contributing factors to our current environmental crisis is that we just produce too much waste. You can avoid this in your magical practice by crafting spells that won’t leave you throwing away a big ball of candle wax, herbs, and paper. Kitchen magic is a no-brainer for this, since kitchen spells are meant to be eaten. If you want to do a candle spell, use small candles that will burn up completely — I find larger candles are more likely to leave leftover wax. Making magical bath salts is another great option for leftover-free spells — just make sure everything you include is safe to go down the drain and won’t contribute to water pollution!

Forage for your own spell materials. One of the best ways to avoid plastic packaging and cut down on emissions from shipping is to use materials from your backyard! Learn about the plants, animals, and minerals native to your area, and take regular nature walks where you can gather what you need. Remember to only take as much as you need and to be careful never to damage the plants you harvest from. Make sure to carefully disinfect any animals bits you pick up — you can do this by burying them in salt for a full moon cycle and/or setting them in the sun/under a UV light for several days. If you find a dead animal and want to strip and clean its bones for use in ritual, this is a much more involved process and will require special research, equipment, and lots of time. And, of course, never eat anything you have foraged unless you happen to have an advanced degree in botany.

Keep a magical garden. Another great way to connect with the planet and shrink your carbon footprint is to grow your own herbs, vegetables, and fruits. You can, of course, grow food for your kitchen if you have space, but even if you live in a tiny apartment you can grow a handful of magical herbs in pots. For a list of common houseplants and their magical associations, check out this post.

Shop for spell materials at a local farmer’s market. Buying local is a great way to avoid the environmental impact of shipping produce, and it allows you to support small farms. Farmer’s markets also typically carry seasonal produce, which can help you align your magical practice with the cycles of nature. Farmer’s markets are a great way to find seasonal fruits and vegetables for kitchen magic, but you can use the produce you find there for other types of spells as well.

Trade paraffin wax candles for beeswax or soy wax. Paraffin, the material used for most cheap candles, is a by-product of crude oil, which is not only highly unsustainable but contains carcinogens (chemicals that may cause cancer). Beeswax is a sustainable alternative, and beeswax candles produce a “clean” burn, meaning it does not negatively affect air quality. Soy wax is a slightly pricier, vegan-friendly sustainable option that also produces a clean burn.

Use undyed, unbleached paper for your written spells. The bleaches and dyes used in most commercially available paper have a toxic effect on the environment. Colored paper cannot be recycled or composted because it will contaminate everything it touches. Use plain, unbleached paper for your written spells, especially if you plan to bury them in the ground or dispose of them outside.

Make sure your essential oils are ethically harvested. Essential oils are tricky — although they are marketed as natural, many of them are produced through unsustainable methods. Because essential oils are concentrated, it may take thousands of pounds of plants to produce a single pound of oil. This can have a devastating impact, especially for endangered plants like white sage or palo santo. Look for ethically-sourced, wild-harvested essential oils — these are oils that are gathered from the wild in ways that don’t hurt the local ecosystem. Mountain Rose Herbs and Eden’s Garden are two brands that are committed to sustainable essential oil production.

Instead of burying a spell in a jar, bury it in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. Many traditions call for spells to be buried in the ground. Items like jar spells and witch bottles are traditionally buried on the witch’s property. The problem with this is that plastic and glass bottles do not biodegrade, and will remain in the ground for years. Instead of putting these materials in the ground, bury your spells in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. As a bonus, you can choose this item to support your intention. For example, you might use an apple for a love spell or a spicy pepper for protection. Just make sure everything inside the spell is also biodegradable!

Keep a compost pile as an offering to your local land spirits. Compost is an easy way to reduce food waste, and it gives your garden a boost! Even if you don’t have your own garden, you can give your compost to a fiend who does or look into donating it to a community garden. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” ingredients (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. Start your compost with a layer of brown — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil.

Make your own tea blends with loose herbs and a reusable tea strainer instead of buying teabags. Witches and tea go together like peanut butter and chocolate, but the individual wrappers on teabags create a lot of waste. On top of that, since many of these wrappers are dyed, they may not even be recyclable. Keep your teas earth-friendly by buying dried herbs in bulk and blending your own teas. Making your own blends is not only better for the planet, but also allows you to choose each ingredient for a specific magical intention.

Find ways to use your trash in your craft. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Instead of throwing things away, find ways to use them in your magic! Use food scraps from cooking, like carrot greens and potato peels, in spells. Turn an old shoe box into a travel altar. Add your coffee grounds to spells to ground them and manifest results in the physical world. You get the idea. Be creative!

Research different models for Earth-friendly living, like the zero waste/low waste lifestyle, sustainability, and the solarpunk movement. This will give you more ideas for a sustainable lifestyle, as well as a sustainable magical practice.

The funny thing about Earth-friendly living is that, the more time you spend taking care of the planet, the more connected you feel to it. I encourage you to try some of the ideas on this list — you’ll be amazed by how quickly you develop a deeper relationship with the Earth and all her creatures.

Resources:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says” from The Washington Post

A Sustainable Mind podcast

Practical(ly) Zero Waste podcast

[nemfrog]

The beauty of the heavens. 1842.

[annyamarttinen]

[kikiscauldron]

[warm-nook]

[recreationalwitchcraft]

Mabon Bath

Mabon marks the beginning of Autumn, and what better way to celebrate cooler weather than with a warm and healing bath. Ideal as both a pre-ritual bath or the main magical event of this Sabbat, this mixture brings healing, protection, and spiritual opening.  

Ingredients:

1 part oatmeal

1 part powdered milk

1 part sea salt

dried calendula petals

dried chamomile flowers

frankincense essential oil

myrrh essential oil

Place oatmeal in food processor or blender and blend until it becomes a powder consistency (conversely, buy it in powder form). Transfer to a separate container. Mix in equal parts powdered milk and sea salt, then add roughly 1 teaspoon of each dried flower per cup of mixture. Drop in essential oils to desired fragrance strength. 

Draw a warm bath the night of Mabon and add in at least one cup of the mixture to the water. Add plenty of candles, spicy incense, and fall colors to the space to set the mood. While in the bath, meditate on the coming darkness and ask your deity or the elements for protection. 

[aphrodites-gem-deactivated20220]

[kikiscauldron]

[kikiscauldron]

A spread for those who want to embrace the magic of the winter. 

[kikiscauldron]

If you try this spread out to see what happens in 2020 please share your answers! I am curious to see what all readers pick up on for the upcoming year.

[kikiscauldron]

The Yule and Winter Solstice Menu: Recipes for the Winter Holidays

The holiday season offers dishes that warm the body and comfort the soul. At the Winter Solstice the focus is on rich, hearty, and nurturing. The season celebrates displays and masterful cooking through roasted dishes, slow cooked stews, bright salads with pops of fruity flavor, and sweets that double as delicious gifts. Seasonal fruits and vegetables include beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Citrus Fruits, Cranberries, dates, escarole, fennel, horseradish, kale, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, radishes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.

At this time of the year I like to honor the traditions and the foods that my family cooked. I love the nostalgic feeling of creating recipes that my parents had at Christmastime, so you may find recipes inspired by that. Do you have a dish that reminds you of the winter season and December holidays? Is there something you traditionally make for your Yule or Winter Solstice celebrations that I didn’t put on this list? Please let me know and I will add it!

Main Courses

The main courses of the winter holidays are warm and inviting for a full table of friends and family. Common main courses are rich, filling, and lavish – classic main courses include roasted or baked bird, hearty beef dishes, pot roasts, and meat pies.

·      Chicken and Dumplings with Mushrooms

·      Coq au Vin

·      Cranberry Hazelnut Turkey Wellington

·      Fennel & Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce

·      Herb-Crusted Roast Beef with Horseradish

·      Mushroom Wellington

·      New England Lamb Bake

·      Old-Fashioned Honey Glazed Ham

·      Perfect Turkey Recipe

·      Pomegranate and Fennel Chicken

·      Pork Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

·      Roast Goose

·      Simple Crock Pot Turkey Breast and Dressing

·      Slow Cooker Pot Roast

·      Spaghetti with Olive Oil, Garlic, and Anchovies

·      Stuffed Cornish Hens with Cranberries and Apples

·      Tourtiere: French-Canadian Meat Pie

Soups, Stews, and Chilis

There is nothing like a rich and hearty soup to warm you up during the winter season. Soups that kick up their spice game are a great feature at the Winter Solstice.

·      Creamy Spinach and Pear Soup with Pancetta

·      Farro and White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard and Herb Oil

·      Golden Turmeric Chickpea Chicken Soup

·      Pasta e Fagioli with Escarole

·      Parsnip Soup with Pears, Ginger, and Coconut

·      Slow Cooker Winter Vegetable Soup with Split Red Lentils

·      Sopa Azteca (Mexiccan Chicken Tortilla Soup)

·      Swedish Meatball Soup

·      Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili

·      Winter Solstice Soup

·      Winter Solstice Stew

·      Winter White Soup

·      Wintertime Braised Beef Stew

Salads

During the winter months salads become creative dishes featuring root vegetables, nuts, and citrus fruits.

·      Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Walnuts

·      Citrus Endive Salad

·      Millet & Pumpkin Winter Salad

·      Roasted Beet and Winter Squash Salad with Walnuts

·      Roquefort Pear Salad

·      Warm and Roasted Winter Salad Bowl

·      Winter Chicory Salad with Kumquats and Date Dressing

·      Winter Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad

·      Winter Solstice Salad

Breads

There are many traditional breads baked at this time of year all around the world – some favorites are featured in this list below, along with flavors perfect for the holidays.

·      Ham and Cheese Quick Bread

·      Holiday Rum Eggnog Bread

·      Panettone (Italian Christmas Bread)

·      Krendel (Russian Christmas Bread)

·      Pecan Maple Loaf

·      Savory Christmas Bread

·      Savory Rosemary Goat Cheese Quick Bread

·      Spiced Anjou Pear Bread

·      St. Lucia Saffron Buns

·      Stollen (German Christmas Bread)

Side Dishes

Casseroles featuring in season vegetables and rich side dishes, all served piping hot, are familiar fares at the Winter Solstice.

·      Farro Risotto with Walnut Cream and Roasted Butternut Squash

·      Glazed Parsley Carrots

·      Macaroni and Cheese in Acorn Squash Bowls

·      Parsnip Latkes with Horseradish and Dill

·      Persimmons and Watercress Salad with Candied Walnuts and Goat’s Cheese

·      Potato and Parsnip Gratin

·      Roasted Winter Squash with Kale Pipian

·      Seared Radicchio and Roasted Beets

·      Spicy Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan and Pine Nuts

·      Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Rosemary Parmesan Cream Sauce

·      Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato Casserole

·      Winter Pastry Wreath

·      Yorkshire Pudding

Desserts

Sweets flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, or peppermint work out perfectly for Yule. Other classic sweet treats for Yule include traditional holiday cookies like shortbread, snowball, caraway, or ginger snaps. Pears and oranges are also a nice touch to a dessert at Yule.

·      Buche de Noel

·      Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies

·      Chocolate Pavlova with Spiced Pears and Butterscotch Sauce

·      Christmas Pudding

·      Christmas Rice Pudding

·      Classic Yule Log

·      Cranberry and Peppermint Honey Cake

·      Cranberry Bliss Bars

·      Cranberry Chestnut Cake

·      Cuccia

·      English Toffee

·      Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies

·      Grand Fir Dark Nougat: Winter Solstice Sweets

·      La Befana Cake

·      Maple Pecan Shortbread

·      Partridge in a Pear Tree Pie

·      Pecan Pie Truffles

·      Potato Chip Cookies

·      Roasted Chesnut Cookies

·      Salted Caramel Brownie Truffles

·      Salted Dark Chocolate, Pecan, and Rosemary Bark

·      Snickerdoodles

·      Solstice Shortbread

·      Sparkling Butter Toffee Cookies

·      Spiced Brown Butter Linzer Cookies

·      Spice Parsnip Cake

·      Sugar Plum Cupcakes and Sugar Plums

·      Swedish Ginger Thins

·      Tiramisu Yule Log

·      Vanilla Crème Brulee

·      Vegan Gingerbread Man Donuts

·      Walnut Cardamom Snowballs

·      Winter Solstice Cake

·      Winter Solstice Cake (Festive Carrot Coconut Cake)

·      Winter Solstice Cookies

·      Woodland Shortbread: Evergreen Biscuits Three Ways

Beverages

Nothing says “Happy Holidays” quite like a warm and rich drink curled up in front of the fire. Yule and the Winter Solstice feature beverages that warm the soul and bring cheer to hearts.

·      Harry Potter’s Hot Butter Beer

·      Hot Buttered Rum and Cider

·      Hot Wassail (Non-Alcoholic)

·      Mulled Wine

·      Old-Fashioned Swedish Glogg

·      Slow Cooker Gingerbread Latte

·      Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

·      Toffee Eggnog

·      Tom and Jerry

·      Vegan Eggnog

·      White Chocolate Peppermint Mocktini

·      Winter Sangria (Non-Alcoholic)

·      Yule Tea

[lothlorienmagic]

Decoration tips from the local hearth witch

Dried slices of orange, lemon, lime, and apple are wonderful for decorating your sacred space (mine is my kitchen). Create strings of them to dangle from the ceiling, or perhaps set them one by one along your windowsill. Not only is it a cute and witchy way to invite positive energy into your home, but it’s homemade and very Earth-friendly.

To begin this project, I consulted both a very old recipe card from one of my relatives and the internet. The following is what I did in particular, though I offer no guarantee that this will work perfectly.

Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature possible, preferably between 150 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Find a cooling rack and a baking sheet or metal pan big enough to hold said cooling rack. (This is to keep the fruit slices elevated while baking, to prevent burning.)

Slice the fruit of your choice, preferably round, ripe, and unbruised, into 1/8 to 1/4 inch pieces. The thinner your slices, the faster they will dry. Thin slices also allow more light to pass through, thus creating a sun-catcher of sorts.

If using apples, soak the slices in 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of table salt (or a similar ratio) for about 10 minutes before baking to prevent browning.

Use a tea towel to pat dry each slice of fruit. You may press gently on the pieces to squeeze out more moisture, but be careful not to damage or stretch your slices.

Place the fruit slices onto the cooling rack. Place the cooling rack onto your baking sheet (to catch any residual fruit juice) and pop it into the oven.

Return once every hour to turn over the slices of fruit. You’ll know slices are done when they harden—if you squeeze the fruit and liquid is still present, it is not fully dried yet.

After 3–6 hours, you have your dried slices! This little project will bless your home with the lovely scent of warm citrus. If you’re feeling festive, try adding cinnamon sticks, walnuts, or ginger to your mix.

Notes from the hearth witch:

Don’t fret if some of your slices are overdone. Even the brownest of my lemon slices look perfectly clear in the light!

For me this is spellwork, and the entire process was very calm and grounded. My craft is about making the home a sacred place. I have simply shared the “recipe” portion of the experience; take liberty in using it for your own rituals, giving these as gifts, or simply making a decoration.

blessed be ♥️🕯

[kikiscauldron]

A fun spread to use if you are doing any traveling. Bon Voyage!