Kitchen Witches Creed
In this pot, I stir to the sun. an'
follow the rule of harming
none. Banishment of bane
when going winddershins; an'
with water and salt negativity is
cleansed.Household duties are
more than chores. Magick
abounds when mopping floors.
With this broom, I do sweep to
clean my house and safely keep.
Marigold, Basil, Thyme, and
Yarrow my spell is cast for a
better tomorrow. Lemons for
joy and apples for health the
pow'r within brings great
wealth. And, in this kitchen I
do pray To truly walk the
Witches' Way.
(Copyright 1998, 1999 E.
Zigler)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUST A KITCHEN WITCH???
By Sorceress
Every so often when the word "kitchen witch" pops up in a
conversation,there will be a few students of the Craft with a more,
shall we say, refined taste, who will wrinkle their brows. Can a
kitchen witch be real?
I mean, what with the bundle spent on ''real'' tools and an impressive
altar, and the robes and the jewelry, and, and...you get the idea.
Well, before you think a kitchen witch really can't know her stuff,
gear down for a sec and really think about where the term originated.
CAN a kitchen witch be real?
Never more so! The kitchen is probably the place where magick
STARTED, way back when. The oldest place of working witchery, and the
strongest. When you think how many years of study it takes to be
really good and effective enough to cast a spell that DOESN'T fry
half the village on the backfire,consider that in the kitchen you are
looking at the person IN CHARGE of whole households (and never mind
what the knights thought...would they consider battle on an empty
stomach? Fat chance!). Someone who is already familiar with all the
tools, could find everything with her eyes closed, and spends most of
her day working here, chopping, stirring, thinking, wishing
(Whoah! Sounds like magick to ME). The mind was free to wander and
sort things out while the hands were busy.
For generations the kitchen table was a place where the whole family
gathered, therefore creating a lot of energy, building a tight cocoon
over and around themselves. A lot more was dished out here than just
a stew. Here, the well being for a family was laid in every day's
caring and working. The first remedy for sickness was brewed up in
the cook-fire area of a cave. I find it hard to believe that there
could be a more powerful spot. I well remember my grandmother's huge
kitchen with a stove that still had to be lighted, and even today all
of my relatives favor houses with big kitchens, with a large wooden
table to sit and gather- not an easy feat to accomplish in today's
small apartment world.
The places which still have big kitchens also seem to have more
personality. One can almost hear the laughter of times long gone. Or
not so long? In my family, when something needs a serious discussion,
along with a good cup of tea or a stiff drink (depending on the
problem and the age group present), we all tend to gravitate towards
the kitchen for closeness instead of the living room table. You can
see a family gathering starting in the dolled up living room, and one
by one, the women disappear (okay, so the men keep following, taking
odd seats on countertops and sinks. But THEY don't have the foggiest
as to WHY they are coming in there).
When I need to solve a problem, (and wouldn't you just know that
ALWAYS happens around four or so in the morning) I start cooking.
Within a few hours, I could feed an army, and depending on what
bothers me, I have been found to tackle up to three major dishes at
the same time And that's home cooking we're talking here, everything
made from scratch! (Courtesy of my German roots, I am a packrat with
a giant freezer full of supplies, so when the mood strikes I can chop
and fry and stir things for hours without even making a noticeable
dent). By the time the last pan is washed with tired hands, my pain
is draining away with the soapy dishwater. When I fill my little
freezer containers with TV meals to drool over a few hours after the
radiant sun comes through my big window, I am smiling again.
If everyday life deals some cards one could REALLY do without, thank
you all the same, what could be more soothing than something making
bubbly noises in the background, tantalizing smells slowly wafting
around you, while you spill your guts to a friend and tear into the
chocolate (heavy on the butter please, diet is NOT a word that goes
well with stress) cookie jar?
In a kitchen, there is always an answer. After all, where do you
think the first cauldron was found? Which herbs were used for the
first medicine? And, the best knife is one that already fits into
your hand like an old friend. If it is true that tools become part of
the person who handles it, as many people and cultures believe, then
the term "kitchen witch" should be something everyone can be proud
of. I am sure my grandmother would agree, if the sweet old biddy
understood the term.
So, maybe next time someone looks down a little on a kitchen witch,
keep in mind that she has access to a whole bunch of powerful helpers
(and if you ask nicely enough you might even get something fresh to
munch on), and never, EVER insult a kitchen witch while she can make
a grab for them. As I was recently told, a rolling pin can be used
for more than flattening dough. Come to think of it, I have never
gotten any back-talk while chopping things into tiny bits with my
meat cleaver, either.......
Sorceress, kitchen witch, and proud of it :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Art of Cookery Spell
Tie up a bunch of these herbs, Basil, Savory, mint, Dill; Drench them
in water drawn from the tap, and sprinkle the kitchen-lintel and sill,
Shelf and canister, table and stove, Cupboard and wall and window and
floor, Crockery, cutlery, napery, all-With drops from the stalks,
delicious and pure; Then crush the bouquet in both your hands, Breathe
its scents, and whisper this spell:
" Sweeten the oven,
Sweeten the pot,
Sweeten the cold And sweeten the hot
Summon thy virtues
Into this place
To teach me patience
And skill and grace."
Make from the leaves a strengthening tea, drink it, and keep your
kitchen well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kitchen Blessing
Props:
Mixture of salt, cinnamon and crushed bay leaves
Several large onions (any type)
Herbal vinegar (sage, pepper, lemon peel) or (anise,
lemon peel and clove)
---The herbal vinegar can be made by adding the
appropriate ingredients and letting it sit for a week
shaking occasionally. I would suggest a cheap vinegar
as you will not be eating it :).
Take the vinegar and pour into a bowl and add some
warm water. Take the bowl in your hands and say;
"Herbs and spices I have added,
Your properties I release.
As I scrub my kitchen,
Surround it with your blessing."
Begin to wash the kitchen and say as you do so;
"I wash away negativity,
I wash away all harm.
I leave my kitchen clean and sound,
For many seasons to come."
Once the whole kitchen has been ceremonially cleaned
(that includes inside the cupboards too), take the
salt and herb mixture. Sprinkle the mixture across
windows, doors and openings of all kinds;
"The salts made from the ocean and air,
Herbs grown from the earth and sun's fire,
Protect all in this house from harm."
The mixture can be removed after the blessing. I
would suggest that you hand broom it.
Take the onions and say as you place them across the
window;
"Many layerd friends of the the earth,
Within your deepest and most hidden heart,
Absorb all harm that enteres this house,
Let the only tears wept be from your bitter flesh."
This ritual is pretty simple and uses ingredients that
most Kitchen Witches will have in her cupboard. You
can do this when you move into a house or with each
Spring.
My great grandmother always told me that onions made
you cry as it was the price you paid for their
protection. Also, never eat the onions you leave at
the window or you will be absorbing the negativity
they have absorbed. Garlic can also be used instead
of onions.
by Hearthwitch |
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