Everyday Household Magick
Okay, so like most people, I’ve got tons of herbs, fruit, veggies, etc. in my kitchen. Now, turning your kitchen into a magickal one is as easy as learning the magickal properties of what you have on hand. So here’s a basic list of what you’re more than likely going to have in your kitchen, and their immediate magickal uses. Enjoy!*
Apple – unless you’re allergic, you’re going to have an apple in your kitchen at some point. plus, they’re easy to find (and cheap!) at the market. they’re used for love, healing, garden magic, and immortality. apples are also used to promote friendship, and is the fruit of the dead. as such, it is burned at Samhain to honor the souls of the dead. it is associated with Water, the planet Venus, and several deities such as: Aphrodite, Athena, Hera, Apollo, and Iduna.
Basil – everyone has this. admit it. if you have ever tried to cook anything, you’ve used this. and it’s a very versatile herb! according to Scott Cunningham, it’s good for love, exorcism, wealth, flying, and protection. It’s used to soothe tempers between lovers, or burned to make a marriage more harmonious. It also dispels confusion and fears and is worn to attract money or luck. it’s typically associated with Fire and the planet Mars.
Cinnamon – this is another one you’re probably going to have. according to Cunningham, cinnamon is good for spirituality, success, healing, power, psychic powers, lust, protection, and love. if you burn it as an incense, it raises spiritual vibrations and stimulates psychic powers. It’s also used for prosperity and is a popular herb to use in charms for that very reason. it’s associated with Fire and the Sun.
Coffee – yes. that’s right. coffee has magick. and not just the magical ability to wake you up for work in the morning. while Cunningham doesn’t mention coffee, a little bit of digging can tell you some of coffee’s magickal properties. themagickalcat states that coffee “helps dispel nightmares and negative thoughts”, as well as “peace of mind and grounding”.
Marjoram – this is actually one of my favorites. marjoram, according to S.C., is used for protection, love, happiness, health, and money. it’s particularly added to food to strengthen love, and is protective when placed around the house. it can also help to dispel negativity and supposedly attracts a husband if you put a pinch in each corner of each room of your dwelling every month. it’s associated with Air and the planet Mercury.
Olive – you probably have olives or olive oil in your kitchen, so here’s a little bit about them: olives and their oil are good for healing, peace, fertility, potency, protection, and lust. they can also be used for fidelity, marriage, or money. it is associated with Fire, the Sun, and a number of Greek deities.
Oregano – if you’re Italian-American, you’re familiar with this particular herb. but you won’t find this in many editions of Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs for some reason. that said, it’s a pretty useful herb. it’s good for happiness, tranquility, luck, health, protection, and to deepen love. it can be worn to promote psychic dreams or used for spells to bring joy. themagickalcat says it’s also good for vitality and added energy. it’s associated with Air and the planet Venus.
Parsley – this herb is used for lust, protection, and purification. it can also be used to draw prosperity and luck. it’s associated with Air, the planet Mercury, and the goddess Persephone.
Rosemary – uggh. what can I say about rosemary? it’s great. it’s amazing. it can actually be used as a substitute for the majority of herbs (especially frankincense). S.C. says its powers are for protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep, and youth. it’s particularly good for cleansing and purification when burned, and can even aid the memory when worn. themagickalcat suggests using an infusion of rosemary to wash hands before any healing magick, or to use it in bath magick for purification. it’s associated with Fire, the Sun, and Faeries.
Ginger – ginger is used for love, money, success, and power. according to S.C., eating ginger before a spell will help make them more powerful. it also draws adventure and new experiences. the ginger root can be used as a magickal token or poppet (or you can make a gingerbread person!). its associations are Fire and the planet Mars.
Thyme – this is actually one of my mother’s favorite herbs to cook with (and for good reason!). it’s used for health, healing, sleep, psychic powers, love, purification, and courage. according to S.C., when placed underneath your pillow, it promotes a restful sleep and chases away nightmares. it can also attract loyalty, affection, and good opinions about the wearer. themagickalcat suggests adding a “thyme infusion to the bath regularly to ensure a constant flow of money.” its associations are Water and is ruled by the planet Venus.
Tomato – yep. a tomato can be used for magick, too. it’s good for protection and prosperity, and when eaten, has the power to inspire love. it can also be eaten to inspire creativity. witchipedia adds that the tomato “can be used in place of apples in many magical spells”, or “in place of other members of the nightshade family”. go tomato! it’s associations are Water and the planet Venus.
Vanilla – let’s face it; if you like to bake, you probably have vanilla extract in your cupboard. like nearly every baking recipe calls for it. magick-wise, it’s good for love, lust, and mental powers. it can also increase energy if carried. it’s associated with Water and the planet Venus.
*this list is based on one of those twirling spice racks i got as a housewarming gift, and just some other foodstuffs i have lying around my kitchen. this is by no means an exhaustive list of the things i like to keep my kitchen stocked with, but it’s a good place to start.
also, the majority of the information was found in Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, themagickalcat.com, and witchipedia.com
