Of course, none of these foods are effective alone, but with the proper visualization of your purpose at meal or snack time, they are magickally potent.
Sources for the above tips are two books by Scott Cunningham: The Magic of Food, & The Magickal Household.
THE RITUAL USE OF HOUSE CLEANING
by Monti ElfDragon
I am someone who hates housework, who is totally disorganized, foregetful,and a stressed out mom of 3 little witchlets (each one a wyld chyld). I have a major problem of finding time for ritual and personal spiritual growth.
Well, along came the Spellcraft Tapestry Spring Cleaning Edition. And I have discovered that I am starting to enjoy cleaning. I know this sounds silly. I can hear you housework haters out there........." this witch chick has lost ALL her marbles!"
Now, let me explain what I have started doing. This amazing thing that has turned a drudgery, something to be put off. Into something to look forward to.
As a Kitchen Witch, I try to make everything I do, every moment in my life magickal. Because I have so little time for ritual. I decided to incorperate specific rituals in everything I do. I have turned cleaning into a magickal ritual. This works for me. It may not work for others in just this way, so experiment. Make it your own.
Thanks to the afore mentioned Spellcraft Tapestry Spring Cleaning Edition. I started to make my own cleaners. When I make them, I create them magickally. That is, I ritually charge them with what is needed in my life. Or what I need to be rid of. I also magickally charge any store bought cleaners with specific intent.
Each day before I start to clean. I ground and center. Then meditate on what I need to do that day. I meditate on what I want in my life(good habits,love, peace, joy, prosperity, etc.) And/or the things I want to be rid of,(anger, resentment, bad habits, strife, STRESS, etc.) I then light the appropriate color candle and incense.
I have found that when I meditate on the things to do and the things I want/don't want in my life. I can visualize the need with the appropriate chore. As an example, I have been feeling the need for clarity and organization of thought and deed. The chore that came to me was; cleaning & polishing mirrors and glass. Cleaning is pretty mindless sometimes. So visualization comes easily. I just asked the Lord and Lady for what I needed. And visualized being organized(able to accomplish everything I set out to do). And, visualized myself with clarity of mind and purpose. I may not get everything accomplished that I set out to do that day. But I find that I accomplish more than normally.
Believe it or not, but scrubbing the toilet is great for getting rid of anger and resentment. Visualize all your anger and resentment into the toilet bowl, add it to all the yuck in the bowl. As you are scrubbing the toilet see yourself scrubbing away your anger, resentment, or anything you want gone from your life. Then flush, as the yucky water is flushed away, see those things you want gone being flushed away as well.
Cleaning the woodwork and oiling/polishing it down, is great for adding good things into your life. Although for me it filled me with wonderful ideas, thoughts and feelings(ways to reach my goals).
Laundry
I also magicklly charge laundry detergent to cleanse all psychic yuck that collects, as well as the mundane dirt. Imbue your fabric softener with things you want in you and your family's lives.
Putting clothes away for me, the disorganized person that I am. Is a treat my family looks forward to. They are very lucky if it gets done in a timely fashion. So, when I fold/hang them I visualize order in my mind, in my life. As I fold my families clothes. I fill each article of clothing with love and peace for each member of my family.
If there is some really nasty things going on in your life or the lives of family members, i.e. rough time at work or school, or an illness. A few drops of an appropriatly charged oil in the laundry works wonders.
Scrubbing Floors and Walls
If you make your own cleaners, or if you use commercial cleaners, as you are mixing them up. Visualize the cleaner not only cleaning away the dirt and grime, but psychically cleaning your home/room of any bad psychic energies. When you mix up your rinse water, add a couple of drops of a protection oil, or a peace and harmony herbal infusion.
The direction in which you clean will be determined by whether you are wanting to bring something into your life(clockwise), or getting rid of something(counter-clockwise)
Dishwashing and Spiritual Growth
I really must give Diane(StLucyMom) credit for this one. This is her sink meditation. Put a pagan picture above your kitchen sink, or something that comforts you(I have a lovely view of my woods as well as my prayer to Brigit, a few Witch Bottles, plants and such).
As you run the water, stick your hands in the water and see the stream washing away all of the schmoo that builds up in your aura......and down the drain.
Then make a mental note of something you want to get rid of, and visualize it coating the dishes. As you wash the dishes see the problem being washed away. It helps keep the stress levels down a lot.
I also say my prayer to Brigit out loud as I'm finishing up the dishes. I also try to say it every time I am at the sink. Even if its just to get a drink of water.
Great Goddess Brigit
I ask for your inspiration
In all my endeavors
Help me to learn new things
Please give me the gifts Of poetry and creativity
Help me to clean out the old and musty
In my mind and heart
Show me how to make mundane tasks
A joy and Honour to you
Make my hands, my lips, my mind
My heart and my soul,
a blessing to you
Forge me into your instrument
That I may be a blessing
To you and the Old Ones As well as a blessing to all I meet
May they see your love and power in me
Teach me to
Honour you in being
A wife, a mother, and keeping a home
I dedicate my life to you
My body, soul, heart, and mind
To your service SO MOTE IT BE!!
Vacuuming
Vacuuming the carpet is when I come up with some of my best ideas. Also with 3 small witchlets, 2 dogs and 1 cat. I have to vacuum at least twice a day. Every other night after the family is in bed. I mix up some baking soda, salt and powderd herbs. I infuse this mixture with peace and love, and let it sit overnight to absorb odors, then vacuum it the next morning. It keeps the house smelling fresh and the family happy.
At least once a month I use this vacuum cleaner spell to get rid of unwanted energies that may have built up.
A simple ritual that can be adapted for just about any need or purpose.
Supplies:
Vacuum cleaner
Powdered herbs (for specific intent),
mixed with equal parts Baking Soda and Salt
Quarter Candles, Altar candles, Candle of intent
Incense
Gather supplies at your altar (or the center of your house). Ground and center. If you are doing a home purification ritual put the quarter candles at the cardinal points in your home (not all in one room). Establish sacred space as you light the quarter candles.
You can do a full blown circle, or this simple one; (for this one light the quarter candles before or after you establish sacred space, your choice. Or you can omit the quarter candles.)
Face north; "Here in the center of the world I stand. Earth is before me, Air on my right hand. Fire is behind me, on my left water lies, as I stand here between the earth and the skies."
At your altar, prepare your powdered herbs with a mortar and pestle, while visualizing your intent. Mix equal parts of herbs, salt and baking soda in a large ceramic bowl or vessel, still visualizing your intent. For increasing Magick, stir with your hands clockwise. For decreasing Magick, stir with your hands counterclockwise infusing it with your intent.
Starting at your front door move deosil for increasing; widdershins for decreasing/banishing Magick. Sprinkle the herb/salt/soda on your carpet. If you so desire you can draw (sandpaint) runes, pentacles or other magickal symbols of your intent, saying appropriate words for each symbol.
Or words such as these for purifaction/house blessing:
Begone and leave, all hate, strife, ill will, and bad luck!!
In the Names of the God and Goddess I cleanse this house!!
This home is a sacred sanctuary of peace for Myself, My Family, and our Friends!! Anger and misfortune have NO place here!!
Do this in every room of your house. When done return to the altar. Visualize your intent. For purification, see the salt, soda, and herbs drawing in, absorbing the negativity, anger, strife, whatever is troubling your house.
Cense your vacuum cleaner, saying these or similar words:
I ask the Lord and Lady and the guardians of the quarters to bless this home,
grant us harmony,knowledge,freedom,love,healing,perception,pleasure,friendship and happiness.
Grant us riches,treasure,prosperity,employment,stability,success,business and money.
'An it harm none, So mote it be.
Starting at your front door, vacuum in a clockwise direction. When finished, throw out the vacuum cleaner bag (outside). Visualizing all that psychic goop/bad luck/bad feelings/illness/whatever,is being thrown out with the bag.
These are just a few ideas that I have come up with that work very well for me.I also have 3x5 cards tacked up all over the place with all this information. In my laundry room, with my cleaning supplies, the inside of cabinet doors all over my house. My family thinks I'm crazy but it helps me jog my memory.
Since I have started doing this, I have recieved many answers to my questions. Figured out ways to organize my time and life. Gotten rid of unwanted thoughts, feelings, anger and things that were keeping me down. I've welcomed the new thoughts, feelings and ideas into my life joyfully. I realized, that even though I don't have everything I want or need. That I am not where I want to be"yet". I am well on my way. Each day, I wake up to the joy that life has to offer. I am becoming more patient with myself and others.
I am accomplishing more each day, and feeling good about myself. I am more at peace. I still find I get sidetracked, but I try to get back on track quickly. And figure out why I got sidetracked in the first place, and ways to prevent it next time.
The following are some oils and herbs that I have found useful in ritual cleaning:
Oils
Prosperity: Almond, Bergamot, Honeysuckle, Mint, Peony, Bayberry, Hyssop, Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pine, Basil
Healing: Carnation, Mimosa, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Lotus, Clove, Pine, Lavender, Myrrh
Protection: Basil, Frankincense, Lavender, Myrrh, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Cypress, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Gardenia
Purification/Cleansing: Bay, Benzoin, Camomile, Champhor, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavrnder, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Myrrh, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Sandalwood,
Success: Bergamot, Clove, Ginger, Lemon Balm, Apple Blossom
Happiness: Laverder, Lily of The Valley, Marjoram, Apple Blossom, Lotus, Magnolia, Basil, Orange
Peace: Lavender, Gardenia, Passionflower, Scullcap, Cumin Seed, Lilac, Magnolia, Narcissus, Rose, Tuberose
Blessings: Benzoin, Cummin Seed, Rue
Harmony: Basil, Cumin Seed, Lilac, Narcissus
Love: Rose, Jasmine, Basil, Camomile, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Lime, Neroli, Orange, Palmarosa, Rosemary, Yarrow, Ylang-Ylang
Herbs
Purification/Cleansing: Anise, Bay, Calamus, Camomile, Camphor, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Lime, Mimosa, Parsley, Pepermint, Pine, Rosemary, Thyme, Valerian, Vervain
Protection: Angelica, Anise, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Bay, Bergamot, Calmus, Carnation, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, Clove Clover, Cumin, Cypress, Doll, Rose Geranium, Heather, Honeysuckle, Hyssop, Juniper, Lavender, Lilac, Mugwort, Orris, Patchouly, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Rue, Sage, Violet, Woodruff
Peace/Harmony: Cumin, Gardenia, Lavender, Lilac, Loosestrife, Meadowsweet, Narcissus, Pennyroyal, Tuberose, Violet
Love: Apple Blossom, Basil, Camomile, Catnip, Chickweed, Cinnamon, Clove, Gardenia, Rose Geranium, Ginger, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Marjoram, Mimosa, Myrtle, Orchid, Orris, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Thyme, Tuberose, Vanilla, Violet Yarrow
Healing: Allspice,
Angelica, Bay, Carnation, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Citron, Eucalyptus, Gardenia,
Heliotrope, Huneysuckle, Juniper, Lemon Balm, Mugwort, Peppermint, Pine, Rose,
Rosemary, Spearmint, Thyme, Violet, Willow, Wintergreen, Yerba Santa
Prosperity: Allspice, Basil, Bergamot, Camomile, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Eldar, Ginger, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Orange, Patchouly, Peppermint, Pine, Sage, Woodruff
To make an infusion to add to your rinse water steep 1 to 2 small handfulls of herb in 1 quart boiling for 30 minutes.
I hope you find something useful in this article. Like I said before experiment, make it your own. Brightest Blessings, Monti ElfDragon
This article appeared in our ezine Spellcraft Tapestries.
Make Your Own Household Cleaners
by Eliza
Cleaning Rags
1. Never throw away old shirts, towels or sheets. Cut them into rags.
2. Contact a local diaper delivery service. They usually sell used cloth diapers as rags. They are excellent for cleaning windows (there's no lint) and cars.
3. Contact local hotels to see if they would sell their used towels and sheets
4. Visit yard sales and flea markets as a source for rags.
Warning
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia. This mixture gives off fumes that can kill or seriously injure.
Furniture Polish
Pound fresh sweet cicely seeds. Place a handful on a rag and rub on wood.
Furniture Polish
Melt 1 TBS carnauba wax and add to 2 cups mineral oil and 1 tsp. lemon oil. Apply a light coat on furniture and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth.
Furniture Polish
Mix 2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon juice. Wipe on areas to be polished.
Furniture & Floor Polish
Mix 3 parts olive oil with 1 part white vinegar. Wipe on areas to be polished.
Glass Cleaners
Fill a spray bottle with equal amounts of vinegar and water. This is my favorite glass cleaner because it does not streak.
Glass Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with:
2 cups rubbing alcohol
2 TBS household ammonia
1 1/2 TBS liquid dishwashing detergent
Window Cleaner
Make a wet paste out of cornstarch and water. Wipe on windows and let dry. Wipe off.
Wall Cleaner
Mix in bucket:
1 gallon of water
1 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
Carpet Cleaner
1 TBS vinegar
1 TBS household ammonia
Mix with one quart water.
Carpet Cleaner
Sprinkle cornstarch on the carpet and let sit for 10 minutes. Vacuum.
Deodorizer for Cat & Dog Messes
Clean up mess. Sprinkle baking soda on the area and then spray with vinegar. Let sit for about an hour. Wipe up with a mild soap and water solution.
Oven Cleaner
Sprinkle fresh spills inside the oven with salt. The salt will absorb the spills and can be brushed away once the oven has cooled.
Oven Cleaner
Do this only if your kitchen is well ventilated. Preheat the oven to 200F and then turn it off. Pour 2 cups of straight ammonia into a non-aluminum pan and place on the middle rack. Shut the oven door and let sit overnight. By morning the grease will be easy to wipe up.
Refrigerator Cleaner
Spray and wipe clean with equal parts of vinegar and water.
To Clean the Dishwasher
Once a month, pour a cup of vinegar into the dishwasher and run it through the whole cycle. This will clean, disinfect and reduce the soap build up.
Herbal Disinfectant
Simmer a handful of the leaves and stems of rosemary, juniper, lavendar or sage in 2 cups of boiled water. Strain and use to clean kitchens and bathrooms. Adding a little dishwashing detergent helps to cut the grease. Recipe can be doubled.
Kitchen Cleaner
Once a month, wipe down entire kitchen and the inside of the refrigerator with 2 TBS chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. This will kill off all the harmful germs.
For Greasy Dishes
Add a splash of vinegar to your dishwater to cut the grease.
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Grind a couple of ice cubes made from vinegar in the garbage disposal and then run cold water for about a minute.
Get Rid of Sink Odor
Pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar down the kitchen sink. Flush with cold water a half hour later.
Herbal Disinfectant
Simmer a handful of the leaves and stems of rosemary, juniper, lavendar or sage in 2 cups of boiled water. Strain and use to clean kitchens and bathrooms. Adding a little dishwashing detergent helps to cut the grease. Recipe can be doubled.
Kitchen Cleaner
Once a month, wipe down entire kitchen and the inside of the refrigerator with 2 TBS chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. This will kill off all the harmful germs.
For Greasy Dishes
Add a splash of vinegar to your dishwater to cut the grease.
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Grind a couple of ice cubes made from vinegar in the garbage disposal and then run cold water for about a minute.
Get Rid of Sink Odor
Pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar down the kitchen sink. Flush with cold water a half hour later.
Air Freshener Simmer 2 tsp. cinnamon in 2 cups of water.
Bug and Rodent Deterents
Ants: Spray vinegar on ant trails and around the areas they are getting into your house. Place sprigs of pennyroyal, tansy, or rue in the cupboards and shelves.
Fleas: Fleas hate laurel leaves, rue, and winter savory. Crush and place under rugs, sofa cushions, doormats, etc.. Add a tsp. of vinegar to your pets drinking water.
Flies: Hang sprigs of lavender, mint, pennyroyal, peppermint, or rue. Make potpourris out of lavender. Grow any one of these herbs in and / or outside of your house.
Moths: Make sachets out of lavender, lemon, thyme, mint, rosemary, tansy, or wormwood. Place in linen closets and drawers and in closets.
Weevils: Place bay leaves on shelves and in cupboards. Put a whole leaf in with your flour, rice and dried beans.
Mice: Place sprigs of tansy or mint on your shelves, cupboards and anywhere mice have been seen to deter them.
Draft Stopper
Instead of rolling up a towel and placing it in front of the crack under your door, you can easily make a more attractive draft stopper in one or two hours.
1. Use a heavy, dark material such as a tweed or canvas, that is about 5" wide and 5" longer than the width of your door.
2. Fold the material in half,wrong side out, and sew one short side and the long side, leaving one end open for stuffing.
3.Turn right side out. Stuff with cut up scraps of fabric, leaving some room so that the tube is flexible.
4. Turn in edges and sew shut.
SOURCES:
The Supermarket Sorceress By Lexa Rosean
The Magical Household By Scott Cunningham
Be a Goddess! By Francesca De Grandis
