Happy Sagittarius – almost – season!

Technically, the sun doesn’t leave Scorpio for Sagittarius until November 22, this year. However, we can certainly prepare!

| Kitchen Magick Basics | Spiced Chai Recipe | Simmer Pots | | Enjoying Your Potion |

The final sign of the autumn season, we fall into a time of fire, which brings us nicely into Yule. As we transition from the last of the harvest seasons and into the dormancy of the winter, we light our fires, our candles, and stoves to keep warm and to prepare to welcome the returning sun.

This makes for a perfect time to get into some kitchen witchery.

This recipe will bring a little craft into your house as you create somewhat of a simmer pot, while also bringing nourishment to your body. Who doesn’t need a good spiced chai recipe?

Kitchen Magick Basics

There are a lot of recipes out there for kitchen witchery, which is an excellent way of incorporating the craft into your daily, mundane tasks. It brings a spark of life to what would otherwise be somewhat boring.

However, while creating recipes and knowing the magickal properties of foods and spices is an easy magickal hack, I assure that when you bring these properties into your home, it is essential that you treat them with the respect you would any other spell.

This means that you respect the ingredients you use. This can mean ensuring a quality and ethical source when possible,* ensuring that you aren’t being wasteful, practicing gratitude with each ingredient as you obtain them and perhaps even before you use them, as well as charging each ingredient as you use it.

And most importantly, respect the culture that the recipe and ingredients come from. There are many articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and books about the various cultures of the world and how not to appropriate them, and how ensure you are paying respect to them. I don’t need to share more of that information here.

And finally, read each recipe through as if you would a spell before you begin. Make sure you are prepared with the time and space you need for your recipe and intention.

* Magick and its ingredients should be accessible. We don’t all have the means or have access to locally, organically, sustainably produced ingredients. That is ok. This is simply something to have in the back of your mind as you and your practice grow. Do the best you can within your means and ability.

Spiced Chai Recipe

I want to note too that this is not my recipe. It was sent to me from a family member of a friend with this specific purpose in mind. That is the recipe itself. The explanations of the magickal components, the intention, and how to use this as a spell are on me.

Serves 4-6

• 3 c. water
• 2 sticks cinnamon (Active energy, Fire; raising spiritual vibrations, manifestation of the material realm, psychic energy, healing, protection, love, lust, boost spell potency)
• 15 cardamom pods (passive energy, water, Venus; bring forward charm and eloquence, lust, clarification, love, abundance, wealth)
• 15 whole cloves (fire, Jupiter; protection against illness, growth, money, legal issues, luck, abundance, cleansing, health, mental clarity, spiritual awareness)
• 1 Tbsp chopped, fresh ginger (fire, Mars; luck, healing, sex magick, retribution, increase energy/personal power, lust, love, increase spell speed, prosperity, passion, joy, success, protection)
• 1 c. milk (fertility, abundance, prosperity, passive energy, offerings)*
• 3 Tbsp sugar or honey (Sugar: Attraction, love, amplify any attraction spell. Honey: water element, earth, Demeter; happiness, sweetness, prosperity, healing, spirituality, connection of earth and the divine, love)
• 2 Tbsp black tea leaves (feminine, earth; strength, stability, cleansing/expelling negative energy, energy, focus, courage)

* You can of course use milk alternatives. It will change the properties a little to suit the properties of the alternative. Almond Milk would take on the properties of almonds, for example.

When deciding how to use this recipe as a spell or for magickal purposes, consider the common denominator or properties:

• Prosperity
• Manifestation
• Protection
• Passion
• Love

Attributes to any of these properties run through all the ingredients. This means that this recipe can essentially be used for any of these purposes, depending on the intention you set forth.

Like crystals, while each of these ingredients has several magickal properties, until you charge it with intention, they will simply be. It is your energy that brings forward the magick of the tools we use in witchcraft.

Be clear on what you want to use this tea for, and chose the attribute of the ingredient that will best enhance that purpose. Focus on the energy of that attribute and call it forth as you add it to the mix. Remaining focused while you concoct your brew is important. Remember, you’re not just making a tea. You’re conjuring energy and bringing forth the vibrations you need to ensure you manifest your need.

That being said, you can absolutely infuse your ingredients as you create the tea and call it good. This might not work as a specific spell. However, it’ll help to give your own magickal-being-self some umph, and charge your own energy as you go along. While you might not have your  magickal faucet fully turned on, you’re allowing for a steady stream to keep the pipes from freezing.

Step 1:

Bring the water to a boil with the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and ginger, over medium-high heat. You can let this boil for as long as you want, and even add some orange to the mix to bring a bit of freshness to it.

In bringing these ingredients to a boil and allowing the steam to fill your space, you are bringing in fire energy along with water energy. This creates a balance of active external energy as well as passive, internal energy.

In the tarot, this is keenly seen in the major Arcana card, Temperance, which is also called Art in the Thoth tarot. This is a card about the balance of our active energy, our creative energy, coming into harmony with our internal, creative flow. When creativity (water) and creation (fire) come together, then our own personal art is manifested.

This means, that the balance of self and your ability to bring your desires to fruition are being amplified when these two elements come together.

This first step could be the most important step of the concoction.

Simmer Pots

Before moving on, I want to say something about simmer pots.

This is a method of bringing energy into a space. This can be particularly useful if you lives somewhere that doesn’t allow any form of fire (thus negating the ability to use incense or candles). This can bring a freshness to the air, and the water can then go on to be used for other purposes such as a cleaning product or, in this case, something to consume.

However, not all simmer pots are consumable. Be sure to use discernment when creating a simmer pot and deciding what to do with the aftermath.

Step 2:

Turn down the heat and allow to simmer for as long as you’d like, topping up with water as needed.

However, if you’re not wanting to wait, then you can turn the heat off once the water and spices have reached a boil.

Add the tea and cover the pot.

Step 3:

Let stand for 3 minutes.

You can use this time to charge the pan with your own energy and intention. To do this, you can cup your hands around the pot without touching it so as not to burn yourself, and focus on your energy going into the mixture with your desired intention.

I suggest setting a timer and trying not to let the pot sit for more than 3 minutes, as it can affect the taste of the tea.

Step 4:

Strain the tea into another saucepan and add milk and sugar/honey. Gently bring to a simmer so as not to scald the milk.

As you bring it to the simmer, feel your intention rising with the heat of the tea.

Once it reaches a boiling point, completely remove from the heat, and serve.

Enjoying Your Potion

As you drink your chai, try to stay centered and in the energy of your intention. If you’re not someone who can sit still while you drink, maybe taking this time to journal about what you are trying to manifest, or scripting what it will be like when you have obtained your desire in the present tense. Or, perhaps you find this is a good time to pull some tarot cards about it.

Whatever you do to complete this spell, allow the energy to run through you as you take each sip, and practice gratitude for what you are bringing in.

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There are so many ways you can use kitchen witchery. Especially in the winter, it can be a very cozy craft to get into.

If this recipe feels like a little too much, start off by charging your tea or coffee in the morning. Put your hands around your cup (if it’s cool enough not to burn you), and put your intention and/or gratitude into your beverage. This simple step can be done with anything you consume: meals, snacks, medication, supplements—anything.

Magick doesn’t haven’t to be all high ceremonial. It can be as simple as stating intent along with bringing forward your own energy or opening yourself up to the energy your ingredients have to offer you.

Happy cozy season, my friends.

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The Bellingham Pagan Market is currently proudly sponsored by Living Earth Herbs, The Stone Moon, and Beck’s Shoes.

Be sure to come down to the Yule market on December 18^th!