Food Archives - Otherworldly Oracle

Yule Cookies: 10 Cookie Recipes for a Sweet & Magical Winter Solstice

kitty fields — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 21:00:02 +0000

I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Sugar. I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Babe. Just a little George Strait song for you, folks. You don’t have to like George Strait or country music to be here, but you DO have to like Christmas treats. Over the past few years, I’ve been researching and thinking – why aren’t there more pagan and witch-themed Yule cookie recipes? There’s a few, but not as many as there should be. SO I’ve come up with some of my own, mixed in with some of the traditional Christmas cookies (with a witchy twist). Here’s my top 10 procured and personal witchy Yule cookie recipes. 10 Yule Cookies for a Very Witchy Winter Solstice The great thing about Yule cookies is this – you can make traditional Christmas cookies and put your own witchy spin on them by adding special spices or herbs. Nature-themed and witchy cookie cutters are easy to procure and use in place of angels or nativity scene cookies. Get inspired. Get your kids involved. Bring on the witchy this Yule in the kitchen! 1. Sun and Moon Yule Cookies As pagans, we have a thing for the sun and moon. We just can’t help ourselves. And with the Winter Solstice being the longest night of the year, why not celebrate the moon’s rule PLUS the return of the sun the following day with sun and moon Yule cookies? These are as simple as using your favorite sugar cookie or gingerbread recipe, and then cutting out moon and sun shapes with cutters or by hand. Stars are appropriate too and an easy-to-find cookie cutter shape during the holidays. Or try this Yule moon cookie recipe by CDKitchen. Offer a sun cookie to a solar god or goddess and a moon cookie to a lunar god or goddess. OR keep a few as offerings for Odin…I mean Santa…I mean Odin. 😉 2. Prosperity-Drawing Snickerdoodles for Yule Snickerdoodles are an absolute family favorite when it comes to Yule cookies. And, not to brag, but Allorah says my snickerdoodles are the best she’s ever had! Something about the light-airiness of the cookie coated in cinnamon just screams joy and abundance. And, not to brag, but I make some pretty amazing snickerdoodles. How do we consider these pagan or witchy? We look at the ingredients and see cinnamon – which is an herb that draws success, prosperity, and strength. Bake and eat snickerdoodles to draw an abundance of health, happiness and wealth in the coming year. They are little sugary spells on your plate! 3. Magical Snowballs Also called Russian teacakes, snowballs are one of my all-time favorite Yule time cookies. They literally melt in your mouth. Pair it with some milk or coffee…oh my gods. Drool-worthy. I like to think these little treats are witchy – with a name like “snowball”, coated in powdered sugar (pure magic) and walnuts added. Walnuts bring fertility, wealth, and new opportunities. So eat up! Here’s my favorite snowball recipe. 4. Krampus Cookies Is there such thing? Yes. And again, you can make the cookies from any recipe you’d like, but we prefer sugar cookie. Get yourself a Krampus cookie cutter. Then be sure to ice it or put sprinkles and red hots on top. There’s angel cookies and nativity cookies, why can’t we Pagans celebrate Krampus with a Krampus cookie? And if you’ve ever seen the movie titled Krampus, you can make regular gingerbread men with evil little faces to celebrate the film. 5. La Befana and Berchta Cookies Traditionally, La Befana has her own special cake in Italy. It’s called…yep…La Befana cake. But since we’re talking Yule COOKIES, we are going to modify the tradition a bit to fit our own. In case you didn’t know, La Befana is the Italian Christmas witch that gives presents to kids during the Winter season. And just like her American elven counterpart (Santa Claus), she enjoys treats to show one’s gratitude. One way to make La Befana cookies is to modify the cake recipe into a cookie recipe. OR you can acquire witch-shaped cookie cutters. These will also work as Berchta cookies! Read more about Christmas Witches here. 6. Gingerbread (The “Original” Christmas Yule Cookie) My research says the first Christmas cookie was something close to gingerbread. According to the History network, “many Christmas cookies are still heavily spiced. We think of ‘traditional’ Christmas flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, and those are exactly the same spices medieval cooks would have used in their cookies ages ago.” My kids love making gingerbread men, specifically. You can also make gingerbread krampus cookies, Christmas witch cookies, and whatever shapes you feel evoke the pagan Yuletide season. 7. Chocolate Chip Cookies With Sea Salt This Yule season, bake a holiday favorite – the chocolate chip cookie. But make it witchy by adding sea salt. Every witch worth her salt (pun intended), knows the potent magical properties of sea salt. Adding a bit to your Yule chocolate chip cookies not only amplifies the flavor profile, but also provides a protective magical boost. Want to learn more about salt’s magical properties? Click here. Make chocolate chip cookies with sea salt with this recipe. 8. Sandbakelse: A Traditional Nordic Yule Cookie Baking sandbakelse in Norway is a common, two-centuries-old family tradition. Sandbakelse translates to sand tarts, but aren’t made with sand. They’re made with flour, sugar, butter and chopped almonds. Similar to the American sugar cookie or snowball. Norwegian immigrants brought sandbakelse to the New World with them in the nineteenth century, along with the quintessential cookie tins. If you have Norwegian ancestry, or just want to try making these cookies, check out this recipe. And here’s the tins. 9. Melomakarono: Traditional Greek Cookies Likely the oldest cookie we have on our list here is melomakarono. Melomakarono is a Greek dessert made at Christmas-time that’s based on the ancient “Mercy Meal”, also called Makaria. Makaria was a Greek goddess and the daughter of Hades, god of […]

The post Yule Cookies: 10 Cookie Recipes for a Sweet & Magical Winter Solstice appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Yule Recipes: 13 Traditional & Modern Winter Solstice Meals & Beverages

kitty fields — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 01:30:36 +0000

It’s almost time to break out your warm blankets, cozy slippers, and dutch ovens. Look, I know most pagans live for the Samhain season. But I most look forward to the Winter Solstice season every year. Particularly for the warm, hearty meals and drinks. I mean, truthfully, there’s more to it than just the food. But who am I kidding? The food is hands-down the best part! Here we give you our favorite 10 traditional and modern Yule recipes for the Winter sabbat season. Solstice Blessings! 13 Yule Recipes for Heartwarming (And Tummy-Filling) Meals and Drinks The Winter Holidays scream the colors of red and green, as well as heavy, rich flavors. Depending on where you live, the traditional Winter and holiday meals will differ. I think that’s half of the fun! Try making both traditional Yule fare as well as modern meals and alternatives. Include your own traditional Winter foods. Make these meals throughout the Winter season, as well as on the Yule sabbat. You won’t regret it. 1. Ham (In Place of a Roast Boar) *A Traditional Yet Modern Yule Recipe* To our Norse ancestors, the Winter Solstice (or Yule as they called it), was a time of being together and feasting. It was a time to give thanks to the gods for all they had. On Yule, a great boar was sacrificed in the name of the god Freyr and then eaten. Since most of us don’t have access to a wild boar for our Yule feasts, a ham or roast pork is a delicious substitution. Order a special honey-baked ham and have it delivered to your front door. OR try this delicious brown-sugar, mustard glazed ham recipe as your main entree next Yule. Pair it with traditional American sides like broccoli casserole and mashed potatoes. 2. Wassail *A Traditional Yule Recipe* Wassail is an ancient Yule tradition in the British Isles that still continues today. Hot wassail is essentially a hot cider drink infused with heady spices and fruit juices. There is more than one custom of wassailing, including going from door-to-door to visit neighbors and wish them luck. AND singing blessings in apple orchards to ensure a good harvest the following harvest season. Whether you have a local orchard or not, making hot wassail this Yuletide honors your ancestors from the Isles and the spirits of Yule. 3. Cioppino *Italian Seafood Soup* For Christmas and Yule If you’re Italian, you know how decadent Cioppino is as a Winter holiday meal. A tomato-based soup jam-packed with shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters, as well as calamari, fish, and basically any seafood you like. The seafood is NOT cheap, so this is what makes Cioppino such a special Yule dish. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to disclose our family recipe; HOWEVER, I’ve found one that’s pretty darn close. Find a Cioppino Recipe for Yule here. Don’t forget to add some crusty bread, polenta, and green herbs to this meal. The green herbs and red soup evoke all the Yule feels. 4. Surf and Turf *Steak and Crab* I don’t know where you live. But whether it’s out in the country or near the sea, surf and turf for the holidays is always a great choice. We can’t always afford steak and lobster year round, but like I said before, we try to go “all out” for Christmas and Yule every year. So save up your extra dough and indulge on some filets (or rib-eyes, whatever you can afford). Then pair your turf (steaks) with some rich seafood like lobster tails, snow crab, etc. This meal is a LOT of meat, so balance it out with a side of vegetables or mashed potatoes. 5. Prime Rib With Pureed Parsnip Prime rib. Yummy. One of my all-time favorite Yule meal recipes that any meat lover will drool over. Frankly, my favorite part of THIS meal is the horseradish dressing. Call me a weirdo. I can’t help but enjoy having my sinuses cleared out on Yule eve. This is a decadent dish and if you add pureed root vegetables like parsnip to it, you have a Winter Solstice meal perfect for nobility. Keeping in mind, you can substitute the parsnip for mashed potatoes OR roasted carrots. Any root veggie is traditional for Yule. 6. Eggnog (Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic) *Traditional American Recipe* You love it. Or you freaking hate it. Either way, eggnog made our list for Yule recipes. It’s just too darn prevalent around the Winter holidays. And to give you a brief history, eggnog apparently dates back to Medieval Times. In the thirteenth century, there was a drink called posset. The monks made and drank this beverage and it was made from milk, figs, and eggs. This may have been the origins of eggnog and over the centuries, folks decided to add liquor. Leave it to us partiers. Here’s a traditional eggnog recipe made from scratch. Of course you can always buy your eggnog from the store and simply add liquor and spices to it, if you’d like (you cheater you). I like thinking of eggnog as a magical way to encourage Spring to come soon, since eggs are a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. 7. Yule Log Recipe Ever made a Yule log? Like a real log decorated with greens, ribbons, and topped off with candles? Or thrown into the Yule fire? If not, don’t worry about it. You can always make one this year. PLUS you can make an EDIBLE yule log. It’s called cake. And it’s fantastic. It looks like a REAL yule log but tastes like you’ve died and gone to the Summerland. Try Ree Drummond’s Yule Log Recipe here. 8. Rum Cake Nothing says the Winter Solstice to me than a rum-soaked bunt cake…aka the rum cake. I have a few family members who enjoy making rum cakes every year and giving them as gifts. And, I’m lucky to be on the receiving end. Even luckier that these two women can be rather competitive. […]

The post Yule Recipes: 13 Traditional & Modern Winter Solstice Meals & Beverages appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

11 Samhain Recipes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks and Dessert

kitty fields — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:55:35 +0000

Samhain is around the corner…kitchen witches rejoice! ‘Tis the season of the pumpkin. Of aromatic spices. Of hot cider and apple pie. We connect with our ancestors and celebrate the end of the harvest on All Hallows Eve. And what’s one of the best ways to celebrate? Food, of course. In this post, we share our favorite Samhain recipes including breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and desserts! You’ll find both traditional foods and modern suggestions below. Samhain Recipes: Bountiful Breakfasts I don’t know about you, but I like celebrating Samhain all day long. Starting with sunrise. This year, in the Northern Hemisphere, Samhain Eve begins on a Sunday. So if you have Sunday off, consider making one or more of these Samhain recipes for breakfast! Don’t forget your enchanted cup of coffee or seasonal hot tea. 1. Butternut Squash Hash with Fried Eggs Next to apples and pumpkin, squash is the third in the holy trinity of Fall ingredients (at least in my witchy opinion). And butternut squash is just so soft and delicious to eat. For any meal. Celebrate the harvest season upon waking and have some butternut squash hash, eggs and bacon. The photo provided is from Paleo Running Mama and here’s her Paleo and Whole30 recipe for butternut squash hash. Not just tasty and seasonal, but it can also be a healthy Samhain recipe to start your sabbat. 2. Autumn Cinnamon Apple Pancakes Recipe for Samhain Morn Treat yourself this Samhain with apple pancakes in the morning. My kids go completely nuts for pancakes. And honestly, what screams witchy comfort food louder than pancakes with cinnamon, spices and apples? Apples are indeed a seasonal fruit, and with good reason, as they also represent the underworld, the harvest, the goddess, and all four elements. Cut an apple horizontally and you’ll find the 5-pointed star inside! Try this cinnamon apple pancake recipe. 3. Irish Boxty *Traditional Irish Samhain Recipe* If you’d like a list of Samhain foods with more traditional recipes, click here (this list from 2020 includes barnbrack and colcannon). Another traditional Irish recipe for Samhain is called boxty – essentially they are Irish potato cakes. A hearty addition to any breakfast or brunch. And, being made of potatoes, makes one’s Irish ancestors happy if given as an offering on All Hallows. Delicious Lunch Samhain Recipes Whether you want to indulge in something wickedly decadent OR stay healthy, we’ve got you covered with these two Samhain recipes for lunch. Both are in alignment with the Fall season and the Samhain sabbat. 4. Beer Cheese Soup I’m a bit of a cheesehead. And I don’t mean I’m from Wisconsin. I mean, I’m a cheese addict. Who doesn’t love cheese on literally everything? Cheese overall screams the Samhain season to me, particularly cheddar and gruyere. So when I heard there was something called beer cheese soup, I made it and then wanted to bathe in it for my traditional Samhain bath ritual (kidding…sort of). Here’s my favorite recipe for Samhain lunch: beer cheese soup. 5. Autumn Apple Salad for Samhain If you’re trying to stay health conscious and keep the pounds off before Yule, salads for lunch are truly the way to go. Adding apples to any salad truly gives it Samhain vibes. But if you really want to know what exactly to put into your Autumn Apple Salad, here it goes. Keep in mind – I’m not providing measurements. If you’ve made salads before, it’s pretty simple. It just takes some eye-ing it and don’t over-do it on the salad dressing! Ingredients: Spinach Dried cranberries Sliced honeycrisp (or a combination of fuji and granny smith) apples Feta cheese Chopped salted pecans Bacon (cooked and chopped) Vinaigrette: if you can find apple cider vinaigrette even better! (3-4 tbsp) Instructions: Toss spinach, cranberries, apple slices, pecans, and bacon in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle feta cheese on top. Gently pour vinaigrette dressing onto the salad. Toss to distribute dressing and cheese evenly. Hearty Samhain Dinner Recipes Every year I tell my family I’m going to dress up for Halloween/Samhain. And every year I struggle. Why? Because I’m typically too busy making dinner for everyone, eating, then cleaning up and getting my kids ready to go trick-or-treating. SO I need to remember to make SIMPLE Samhain meals from now on. Here’s a few you could try. 6. Easy One Tray Roasted Chicken and Fall Veggies Tasty’s recipe for one tray roasted chicken thighs and vegetables is EASY and perfect as a Samhain recipe. If you’re a mom who can’t find the time to do everything on Halloween, this meal might be the right one for you. You can even prep it all ahead and stick it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it. I do one thing differently from the recipe – I add minced garlic under the skin of the chicken thighs. Replace the fingerling potatoes with chopped sweet potatoes, if you want to go a bit more Autumn-looking. See my actual version in the photo below: 7. Pomegranate – Soy Glazed Fish Filets How is pomegranate glazed fish a Samhain recipe for supper? Pomegranate is a traditional Samhain food, as it represents Persephone and her journey to the Underworld every Autumn season. The choice of filet is up to you, but I’ve made this recipe with everything from grouper to snapper to salmon. If you can get it fresh, this is best. And be sure you buy natural pomegranate juice. In addition, I roast green beans or brussel sprouts with this meal and it is always a hit. If you’re a devotee of Hecate, this is a goddess-pleasing-offering as well! If you’re looking for more Samhain dinner ideas click here. Drinks for All Hallows Eve 8. Hot Apple Cider *A Traditional American Samhain Drink* When the Wheel of the Year turns, and Fall comes back around, I get excited about all of the fun drinks! Sure you can drink apple cider in the Summer, if you really wanted to, […]

The post 11 Samhain Recipes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks and Dessert appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Kitchen Witch Dinner Recipes: Our 10 FAVORITE Magical Meals

kitty fields — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 21:59:13 +0000

Give me my dutch oven, fresh herbs from the garden, a glass of wine and Norse music. And I’ll make MAGICK in no time! I’ve been cooking and baking magically for the past decade. And so I’ve developed quite an inventory of recipe cards and cookbooks. I’ve cooked many different kinds of foods from all over the world. And in this article, I’m spilling the tea on my 15 FAVORITE kitchen witch dinner recipes of all time. NOTE: there are recipes with meat and dairy. Kitchen Witch Dinner Recipes Most of the kitchen witch dinner recipes here require time and effort. I wouldn’t say they are for beginner cooks, and I recommend cooking them on days you are off of work. OR for special holidays and sabbats. And, as always, if you grow your own herbs and vegetables use them in your kitchen magick. It makes your meals that much more healthy and powerful. In addition, set your intentions while cooking each meal to amplify their effects. 1. Summer Chicken Marbella: The Best Kitchen Witch Recipe for Summer Dinners Summer chicken marbella is one of my favorite kitchen witch recipes of all time. If you have a complex palate and enjoy Mediterranean food (specifically Spanish or Moroccan dishes), you’ll love this meal. It has a great balance of salty, savory, sweet and acidic flavors. I typically make it for special occasions. Moreover, the last time I made it for the Summer Solstice. And everyone loved it! I’m not going to give the full recipe, so you’ll find the FULL recipe here on Tasty.co. But I will provide the ingredients’ magical properties here: Chicken: protection of the home and family Kosher salt: divine protection and purification Garlic: warding and protection Oregano: protection, love and luck Red plums: love and relaxation (plums are an aphrodisiac too) Apricot: love and sweetening the spirit Red wine vinegar: health, vitality, and joy Olive oil: fidelity, peace and protection Green olives: see above (same as oil) Capers: love and protection Bay leaves: protection from psychic attack Light brown sugar: sweetening one’s disposition, love Dry rose wine: friendship and happiness Couscous: prosperity and nourishment Basil: love and abundance Two things I substituted/changed: I used a bubbly rose wine in a can instead of buying a whole bottle of dry rose wine. Instead of kosher salt, I used Himalayan pink salt (use the salt you already have). I used oregano, basil and bay from my garden. Put it on a pretty plate. Then enjoy and share it with your family on Litha! (photo below) 2. Charcuterie Do you like fancy meats, cheeses, and breads? If you haven’t had charcuterie yet, you’re missing out. This kitchen witch recipe is great for fancy sabbat dinners for a smaller crowd. I’ve also made charcuterie to honor my French ancestors. The key to crafting a delicious charcuterie board is to select higher quality ingredients and provide a nice variety. Typical charcuterie boards consist of: meats, cheeses, crackers and bread, salted nuts, olives, dried fruits, honey, preserves, and pickles. Present a mixture of salty, savory, sweet and acidic flavors (as seen below). This kitchen witch dinner recipe also makes for a great date night meal. Just add wine! Ingredients: salted cashews, brie cheese, honey, crackers, proschiutto, salami, fontina cheese, local honey, dried apricots, and preserves. Add to this more cheeses, meats, etc. depending on how many people are eating. Display it on a wooden charcuterie or cutting board. 3. Herb Roasted Chicken I make this kitchen witch dinner recipe often, not just on special occasions. Once you’ve made it a few times, it becomes second nature. HOWEVER, it’s so darn good that you might want to reserve it for Mabon or Samhain. Chicken is representative of protection of the family and nourishment. The most important ingredient in this recipe (besides the chicken) is the lemon. The lemon stuffed inside releases it’s steam and keeps the chicken meat super moist. Promise you it’s the best chicken you’ve ever had in your life. And will be one of your favorite witchy recipes. To make it even more special, add fresh herbs from your garden. Ingredients: whole chicken, cleaned and innards removed: chicken is for protection of the family and nourishment/healing 2 lemons, cut into chunks (unpeeled): purification one onion, cut into chunks: wards off illness handful of fresh herbs: rosemary, thyme, and lemon balm are best! (each herb has its own magical properties) half stick of salted butter: nourishment generous amount of salt and pepper: purification and protection Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Clean the chicken: remove the innards and wash the outside. Pat dry with paper towels. Squeeze a lemon chunk into the chicken’s cavern and then stuff the lemon chunks, onion pieces, and fresh herbs into the chicken. Tie the legs closed. Rub salt and pepper all over the chicken’s skin. Set on pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes per pound. When there’s 40 minutes left on the chicken (or before the chicken skin gets too crispy/burns), melt your butter and pour over the chicken. Return to the oven. Every 10-15 minutes following, baste the chicken with the juices in the pan. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut and serve. 4. Rustic Chicken Thighs & Vegetables I’m obsessed with the website Tasty.co. They frequently update with new recipes, and many of the recipes have video tutorials. Save your favorite recipes to your Tasty “favorites” list and return to them later. My newest favorite kitchen witch recipe is their easy one tray chicken thighs and vegetables. It’s simple to make, healthy and delicious. One thing I did differently: I smeared the garlic underneath the chicken skin. Here’s the ingredients’ magical properties: Fingerling potatoes: abundance, stability, grounding and protection Carrots: clarity and fertility Red onion: Banishing negative energies and preventing illness Salt: purification and protection Black pepper: protection Rosemary: prosperity and health Olive oil: healing and peace Garlic: wards off negative energy Chicken thighs: nourishment and protection of family 5. […]

The post Kitchen Witch Dinner Recipes: Our 10 FAVORITE Magical Meals appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Kitchen Witch Tools: 15 Essentials for the Pro Kitchen Magician

kitty fields — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 16:31:40 +0000

What would life be like without the scent of homemade bread floating out of the kitchen? Without that familiar clink and clank of pots and pans as mom prepares Sunday dinner? The legit kitchen witch needs the right tools, ingredients, AND magick. Here’s my 15 essential kitchen witch tools for modern times AND ways to use them magically. First, Must Every Kitchen Witch Have These Exact Tools? When I first started cooking, I had a limited supply of tools and ingredients. But I didn’t let that stop me. So don’t let it stop you! If you don’t have the money to afford all of the kitchen witch tools listed here, don’t fret. One day you will, so in the meantime, choose more affordable substitions for your tools and ingredients. And the most important thing? Put YOUR energy and intention into each meal, herbal tea, and brew you make. Then it will all turn out fabulous. Our 15 Favorite Kitchen Witch Tools and How to Use Them Keep in mind, it’s taken me fifteen years of cooking and kitchen witchery to acquire all of the tools below. Each year, ask your significant other or family member to purchase one of these for you as a gift. Find some of these items at second hand shops or on sale online. Take your time. The right kitchen witch tools will come to you. 1. Dutch Oven: An ESSENTIAL Kitchen Witch Tool My absolute favorite kitchen witch tool is my dutch oven. In fact, I have two but shhh don’t tell anyone. The one I use in my kitchen the most is a Le Creuset and is fire engine red. Every time I use it, it just feels like a witchy experience. I have another dutch oven (cast iron from Target – thirty bucks!), I call it my cauldron, and I use it outside over an open fire. What can you do with a dutch oven as a kitchen witch? SOOOO much! My kitchen dutch oven is used to make magical stews, soups, roasts, homemade bread, mulled wine and ciders. My outside dutch oven (cauldron) I use to bubble unguents and herbal concoctions over an open fire. I also use it to burn loose incense on charcoals and to burn petition papers. 2. Instant Pot For the kitchen witch on the go, the Instant Pot is a modern dream. Yes, it’s similar to your classic dutch oven or cauldron, but it’s kicked up a few notches! The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, similar to what the pros use, that cooks your food at lightning speeds. It cooks rice in five minutes. Whole pot roasts that would usually take 8 hours in a slow cooker take 1-2 hours in my instant pot! I’ve also made baked potatoes, tamales, soups, stews, macaroni and more. If you love to make magick in the kitchen but don’t have a ton of time, the instant pot is your best friend. 3. Tea Kettle Whether it’s electric or on the stove, a tea kettle is a necessary tool for the kitchen witch. One of my favorite forms of magick is crafting, brewing and drinking tea. The tea kettle is very old and most assuredly has been used by kitchen witches for ages. I prefer a kettle on the stove and one that whistles is even better! Draw a symbol in the air over your kettle to quicken the boiling process. Buy one on Amazon, at a second hand shop, or wherever is affordable. 4. Tea Infuser Continuing with our tea talk, if you make your own herbal tea blends, you’ll need a good tea infuser. There are tea balls (cheap) as well as cup infusers that act as a way to infuse your hot water with the herbs of your choice. This prevents the tea leaves from being in your cup. However, if you like having the leaves in your cup to “read” when you’re done drinking, more power to you! You can purchase these online almost anywhere. And don’t forget: you can drink tea for magical intentions PLUS craft teas as offerings to your ancestors or gods. In addition, using tea as an herbal mist is effective as a cleansing method for one’s space. 5. Spoons and Spatulas Everyone needs an assortment of utensils including large spoons, spatulas, tongs, ladles, etc. The kitchen witch doesn’t need a wand, he or she uses their magically charged spoons! Purchase special kitchen witch spoons here at spiritnest.com. I like the spoons with witchy symbols and moons. It adds an extra magical touch to every meal you make! But if all you have is a plain wooden spoon, a hand-me-down spatula, and utensils, this is ALL you need! 6. Chef’s Knife Yes, a block of knives is a boon in any kitchen witch’s space. HOWEVER, throw out that block because you only truly need one knife in your life. The chef’s knife. My husband gave it to me as a gift last Yule and let me tell you. I haven’t had to use another knife since. Slice through potatoes, meat, and all manner of herbs like butter. While I use my chef’s knife, I imagine it’s an alchemical tool that aids in turning ingredients into magical meals with just my intention. I don’t recommend using a chef’s knife for things outside of cooking, though. It’s too sharp and they’re typically too expensive to use for anything except food. Use your old (dull) kitchen knives for carving candles, cutting twine, etc. 7. Cookbooks and Herbal Guides Where would I be without my favorite cookbooks and herbal guides? In cold depths of Niflheim, I tell you. I have an entire shelf with cookbooks of all kinds: antique cookbooks gifted to me by ancestors and modern cookbooks for easy meals and multi-cultural dishes. My favorite cookbooks include: The Art of French Cooking by Julie Child, Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat, Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala, The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook (don’t laugh, […]

The post Kitchen Witch Tools: 15 Essentials for the Pro Kitchen Magician appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

How to Make Your Own Tea Blends in 4 Easy Steps

kitty fields — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 20:12:28 +0000

Teavana is expensive and Celestial Seasonings is boring. So why not learn how to make your own tea blends? When I first had interest in making my own tea blends, I couldn’t find much on the topic. Then I decided to figure it out on my own. It wasn’t difficult, but it took me some time and practice. I will share my process with you here. How to Make Your Own Tea Blends 1. Identify Your Base Ingredient First, when learning how to make your own tea blends, decide on your base (main) ingredient. The base ingredient will be the main flavor of your blend…the main character in your play, so to speak. It should be what you taste most prominently. Base ingredient options: Black teas: English Breakfast, Assam, Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, Darjeeling Green teas: Dragonwell, gunpowder, Matcha, Green snail spring, Tie guan yin Red teas: red rooibos, honeybush, honeyroo Herbs: peppermint, lemon balm, blackberry leaf, raspberry leaf, marshmallow Do your research on base ingredients and play around with different ones. Don’t use a base ingredient that you know nothing about or have never tasted before. The base ingredient is the foundation for your tea blend…so choose a good one. Put a handful of your base ingredient into a medium sized bowl. A wooden bowl is best, if you have one, but glass/porcelain works well too. 2. Add Complimenting Flavors Next, add complimenting ingredients/flavors. The amount of complimenting flavors you add is up to you; however, I typically go with at least 2 and up to 4 ingredients. Remember to choose ingredients you’re already familiar with and think about how they would compliment your base ingredient. You want these flavors to support, not overwhelm your base ingredient. Like the supporting characters in a play. Great Complimenting Herbs to try: chamomile and cinnamon chamomile and lemon balm hibiscus and rosebud mint and cacao catnip and mint rosehips and lavender elder flower and vanilla bean thyme and lemon verbena rosemary and lavender cornflower and hibiscus basil and mint Pour your complimenting flavor(s) in with the base ingredient. Blend carefully with your clean hand or a spoon. You’ll want less of the complimenting ingredients than your base ingredient. I honestly just eye it! A tablespoon per ingredient should do it. 3. Taste Test Your Tea Blend After you’ve blended the base ingredient with complimenting flavors, taste test your tea blend! Get your water boiling and test out your first tea blend. When learning how to make your own tea blends, it’s important to sample your creations. If you find one of the complimenting flavors overwhelms the tea, repeat steps 1 and 2 but add less ofthat ingredient. There are no measurements when I craft my teas, I simply go off of what feels right! So don’t stress out over measurements, just eye it! Crafting the perfecttea blend is all about finding that heavenly balance between the base and complimenting ingredients. 4. Add Fruits, Nuts, & Sweeteners Now it gets really fun! When you’ve crafted your perfect tea blend, time to add the finishing touches. Time to get creative! In addition to herbs and teas, add different fruits, nuts, legumes, and sweeteners to make your tea blend one of a kind. As far as fruit, dehydrated fruits work the best because you can mix them right into your tea blend. And your entire tea blend will stay fresh for months. Dried fruits to try in your tea blends: lemon peel orange peel grapefruit peel blueberries raspberries strawberries rosehips banana slices apple chunks/slices peach chunks goji berries Try these nuts and legumes in your blends: almonds pecans walnuts salted peanuts hazelnuts And last but not least, if you have a sweet tooth, add a sweetener of your choice. You can do this with each cup or blend it right into your tea blend to save yourself time. Try these sweeteners: sugar (powdered or cubed!) organic raw sugar brown sugar stevia leaf sweetened cacao nibs chocolate chips honey monksfruit My Personal Tea Blend Recipes I’ve been blending my own teas for many years now and have a few that are my favorite. I’ll share them with you here. Oolong (base) with Hibiscus and Lemon (complimenting and fruit) Lavender and rosemary (equal parts) Black tea (base) with Cinnamon and Apple pieces (complimenting and fruit) Chamomile (base) with Cinnamon pieces (complimenting) Hibiscus (base) with pink rosebuds (complimenting) English Breakfast (base) with Anise and Vanilla Bean (complimenting) Peppermint (base) with Spearmint and Strawberries (complimenting and fruit) Lemon Balm (base) with Marjoram and Catnip (complimenting) Red Rooibos (base) with Bee Balm and Almond slices (complimenting and nut) Where to Purchase Herbs & Teas There’s a few ways to purchase your base and complimenting ingredients. I prefer to buy herbs and teas in bulk through Mountain Rose Herbs. Their products are organic and affordable. In addition, I grow some of my own herbs at home including rosemary, mint, lemon balm, oregano, thyme and bee balm (to name a few). I harvest and dry my homegrown herbs and use them often in my tea blends. How to Drink Your Teas When I first became interested in loose leaf teas, I had no idea how to properly brew or dispense the tea! Sounds silly but if you’re never worked with loose leaf tea, you might be stumped. There’s a few ways to do it: you can add your tea blend to a tea ball, re-useable tea bags, OR use a tea dispenser/diffuser. I prefer the tea diffuser most, because the tea floats around freely inside and flavors the infusion thoroughly. And if you really want to make the best tea in your neighborhood, research the right temperature and steeping times for your tea blend ingredients. NOTE: The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Seek the advice of your healthcare professional before going on any herbal or tea […]

The post How to Make Your Own Tea Blends in 4 Easy Steps appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Dumb Supper: How to Host a Sacred Ancestral Dinner for Samhain

kitty fields — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:19:26 +0000

Samhain is coming on the eve of October 31st. This night marks the “end of Summer” in the Celtic calendar, as well as the Witches’ New Year. Traditionally, our ancestors have the ability to visit and dine with us at a meal called the Dumb Supper. Eating this food doesn’t make anyone stupid, it actually means everyone eats a full meal in silence. Learn the importance of and how to host a sacred Samhain Dumb Supper to honor your ancestors. What is a Samhain Dumb Supper? Samhain is celebrated on October 31st through November 1st. And it is the night when the ancestors are walk among us freely. On this night, we celebrate the ancestors and those who have gone before us. Many pagans enjoy setting a special place at the dinner table for their ancestors. OR you can take it to the next level and host a Samhain dumb supper. A dumb supper is when the entire family eats dinner in silence, out of humble respect for the ancestors. It is a gesture of gratitude and sacredness. In addition, and most importantly, remaining silent through the dinner allows time and space for the ancestors to speak to us. I know I’ve heard their voices louder in the silence than in a crowded, noisy room. A Samhain Dumb Supper Menu What foods to include at your Samhain Dumb Supper is entirely up to you. However, we suggest making something seasonal (for Fall) PLUS incorporating your ancestors’ favorite types of foods. For example, if your ancestors are Irish, consider making colcannon (a traditional Samhain food) along with your chicken. If your ancestors are Nigerian, choose traditional Nigerian foods. Etc. Check out our 10 Samhain Meal Recommendations. Another idea for Samhain Dumb Supper is to make a meal that your immediate ancestors enjoyed. For example, your great grandmother loved making chicken and dumplings. So you will make chicken and dumplings. Maybe your grandfather loved eating apple crumble for dessert. Then you can have apple crumble in your dumb supper. Don’t forget the beverages! If you drink alcohol, consider making a traditional mulled wine. Beer, wine, mead, and hard cider are acceptable to the ancestors and are appropriate for Samhain. If you’re a non-alcoholic household, regular apple cider is perfect! How to Set Up the Dumb Supper Table Depending on how many ancestors you’d like to honor with your Samhain dumb supper, consider setting that many places at your dinner table. For me, I have dozens and dozens of ancestors I work with in my practice. Which also means I do not have enough space at my dinner table. So I typically set one space only and make it known the ancestors must share! Do what feels right to you. But make sure no one else sits in that place or touches the setting after you’ve set it up. You’ll want the setting of the supper to be lit with as much natural light as possible. Candlelight, oil lamps, etc are best in welcoming the ancestors’ presence on Samhain eve. In addition, clean the room and cleanse it spiritually beforehand. I like to leave a window open if the weather allows it, to allow the ancestors to easily come in and out. Jack-o-lanterns outside help light the way for the good spirits and keep out the bad. You may cast a circle, if you feel so inclined. I simply ask for my elevated ancestors ONLY to join us for dinner and to keep any malevolent spirits or ghosts out. As for color and decor, go with what you feel. I prefer dark colors like black and purple or black and red. OR Autumn colors like orange, red, brown, yellow. Place a few photos of your ancestors on the table. How to Perform the Dumb Supper Traditionally, everyone enters the room silent and stops for a moment at the ancestors’ chair(s) to silently pray for the departed. Sometimes we leave notes at the side of the place-setting for the ancestors. Remember – the whole point is that no one talks for the entirety of the meal. It’s respectful to serve the ancestors their meal first, then serve from oldest to youngest. No one should begin eating until everyone is served (this is just normal manners and should go without saying). When you pour the drinks, pour the ancestors’ first and be sure to make a silent toast while gently clinking glasses (this act scares any spirits out of the SPIRITS you’re drinking!) Anticipate Problems Before They Happen What if someone needs something else for their dinner? It’s your job as host to keep an eye on your guests and be able to anticipate what they need. A good idea is to add an extra fork/knife/napkin to each setting. Make sure there’s plenty of salt and pepper on the table (both ends/throughout). What if a phone rings or there’s an outside distraction of some kind? Before beginning the dinner, ask your guests to leave their phones and devices out of the room and turn them off. Same goes with TVs in the room itself. This limits or completely cuts off distractions from happening and breaking the silent ritual. What if someone needs to use the restroom? Before entering the room for dumb supper, make sure everyone knows where the bathroom is located. Then tell them if they need to use it during the meal, they may quietly get up and walk away. Then return without a word Up the Samhain Dumb Supper Wrapping Up The Samhain Dumb Supper To finish the dinner ritual, everyone should quietly exit the room, stopping once more at the ancestors’ place to silently give thanks and say goodbye. Leave the food and drink at the ancestors’ place to allow them time to finish and maybe linger a bit longer. Leave a few of the candles burning, only if you can check on them or have a safe view of them in the house (safety first!) Before anyone leaves your home, […]

The post Dumb Supper: How to Host a Sacred Ancestral Dinner for Samhain appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Samhain Foods: 10 Meals Your Family & Ancestors Will Love

kitty fields — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 21:04:57 +0000

There’s a chill in the air. Autumn and Halloween decorations set vibes in the neighborhood. The veil is thin. Samhain is coming. Are you planning a Samhain meal for family and ancestors? If so, here we provide our favorite 10 Samhain foods your family, friends and ancestors will love. 10 Samhain Foods: Traditional & Modern What kind of foods do you associate with Samhain or Autumn? Pumpkin, corn, cinnamon, squash and maybe apples? We say, it’s time for ALL of these Autumn foods! 1. Pumpkin Goat Cheese Fettuccine Alfredo I know what you’re thinking. Pumpkin pasta? Bear with me. Pumpkin is traditionally associated with sweet treats like pie. But trust me when I say, pumpkin is so much more than dessert! I’ve made this recipe almost every year and it never disappoints. It is rich and creamy and the perfect Samhain meal. HERE’S THE RECIPE. Wash it down with a nice Cabernet. 2. Irish Bangers and Colcannon *A Traditional Irish Samhain Meal* A traditional Samhain food, colcannon comes from the Emerald Isle. Samhain custom tells us to add little trinkets and charms to the mashed potatoes and cabbage and watch as each guest/family member finds their own charms. Each charm has meaning – this is an old school form of divination for Samhain Eve. Charms might include hearts, baby bottles, coins, etc. Just make sure everyone knows to be careful when eating it! Add Irish bangers (sausages) and call it a full Samhain meal. 3. Butternut Squash Soup In addition to it being pumpkin season, in America it is also Fall squash season. So, it’s time to load up on Butternut squash, acorn squash, etc. Another of my favorite Samhain meals is butternut squash soup. If you’re night’s busy, prepare it ahead of time and throw it in your Instant Pot when you’re ready to eat. HERE’S THE RECIPE. 4. Apple Waffles Samhain is on a weekend this year (2020). Take advantage and make an elaborate Samhain breakfast and save dinner-time for dressing in costume and handing out candy. Apple waffles with cinnamon and syrup make Samhain breakfast a treat! Plus, everyone loves apples in the Fall. Particularly the ancestors. 5. Pumpkin Soup You all know how much I love making and eating soup. Remember our talk about pumpkin being more than just dessert? It’s back again, but this time in the form of a savory soup. I’ve made this for Samhain in years past and everyone enjoys it. Add a crusty bread and it will stick to your bones for that long Samhain ritual or Halloween trick-or-treating. HERE’S THE RECIPE. 6. Barmbrack *A Traditional Samhain Food* It’s not a full meal, but it is a traditional Samhain food. Barmbrack put simply is an Irish fruit cake. If you’re a fan of fruit cake, then try making Barmbrack for Samhain this year. HERE’S THE RECIPE. Slather it in butter before eating! 7. Pork Roast with Apple & Acorn Squash Stuffing I love using my crockpot and instant pot in the fall. Pork roast is always simple, delicious and feeds a family (or you end up with leftovers). Add apples and acorn squash to make it a full Samhain meal, and be sure to offer some to the ancestors. HERE’S THE PORK ROAST WITH APPLES RECIPE. Roast acorn squash in the oven like this. 8. Oktoberfest Sausages, Apple and Kraut If you’re German or have German ancestors, don’t forget that October is also Oktoberfest! This is a day when Germans celebrate food, family, friends, Fall and beer. Oktoberfest foods can be substituted as a Samhain meal. Sausages, apples and sauerkraut are traditional along with a frosty cold beer. PROST! Here’s a list of nothing but Oktoberfest foods for your Samhain meal. 9. Herb Roasted Chicken With Mashed Turnips And now my mouth is watering. One of my favorite seasonal feasts features an herb roasted chicken. When you stuff a chicken with lemons, fresh herbs from the garden and onion, cake the chicken’s skin in salt and pepper, and baste with butter, you have the recipe for mouth-watering, moist chicken for your Samhain meal. I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s ALWAYS a hit! Ingredients: whole chicken, cleaned and innards removed 2 lemons, cut into chunks (unpeeled) one onion, cut into chunks handful of fresh herbs: rosemary, thyme, and lemon balm are best! half stick of salted butter generous amount of salt and pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Clean the chicken: remove the innards and wash the outside. Pat dry with paper towels. Squeeze a lemon chunk into the chicken’s cavern and then stuff the lemon chunks, onion pieces, and fresh herbs into the chicken. Tie the legs closed. Rub salt and pepper all over the chicken’s skin. Set on pan and bake at 350 degrees. 20 minutes per pound. When there’s 40 minutes left on the chicken (or before the chicken skin gets too crispy/burns), melt your butter and pour over the chicken. Return to the oven. Every 10-15 minutes following, baste the chicken with the juices in the pan. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut and serve. And instead of mashes potatoes, go with traditional mashed turnips. 10. Pumpkin Pancakes As a Samhain Meal Do you ever eat breakfast for dinner? My kids absolutely love having breakfast for dinner. It’s always a fun meal for the whole family. Why not eat pumpkin pancakes for your Samhain meal this year? Here’s our favorite recipe. Choose Your Own: Samhain Veggies, Fruits, Etc. If none of the Samhain meals above tickle your witchy fancy, select your own recipes using some of our suggested Autumn ingredients: Veggies: root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions are all appropriate as Samhain foods All Autumn squashes: acorn, butternut, and pumpkin Fruits: apples, blackberries, and pomegranates are all traditional Samhain and Halloween foods Meats: roast pork, roasted chicken, turkey, sausages, etc. Corn and grains like wheat, rye, barley, etc. Bread is traditional and evocative of Samhain and all things […]

The post Samhain Foods: 10 Meals Your Family & Ancestors Will Love appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Cinnamon Magic: 10 Ways to Use Cinnamon in Witchcraft

kitty fields — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 00:25:38 +0000

You have it in your kitchen. We use it to bake goodies. You might even have cinnamon sticks in your cupboard. But did you know you can use cinnamon in your witchcraft? Let’s talk all thing cinnamon: cinnamon magic properties and 10 easy but powerful uses in the craft. The POWER of Cinnamon Cinnamon, Cinnamomum, is essentially a common spice that’s made from the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees. This genus of tree belongs to the Laurel family and are considered evergreen. These trees emit aromatic oils which have seduced people for centuries. Cinnamon is a spice used mostly in baking and cooking, and it also comes in essential oil form. Cinnamon has been traded and used for thousands of years. Records show since at least 2000 BC. Ancient Egyptian priests used cinnamon in the mummification process, giving it an inevitable link to the spirit world and the dead. It was also given as offering to royalty and to gods and goddesses in ancient times. It has been traded from various countries in tropical Asia and in high demand all over the known world since. Cinnamon Magic Properties Cinnamon is used by magical practitioners and witches of all kinds and for many reasons. Cinnamon’s magic properties include protection, money, strength, love, amplification, divination and connection to the ancestors and the spirit world. Cinnamon is also used medicinally for many reasons including as an anti-inflammatory, for its antioxidants, to lower blood sugar and aid in the body’s insulin-production, and to decrease risk of heart disease. 10 Ways to Use Cinnamon Cinnamon comes in a few forms, making cinnamon magic versatile and fun. Find cinnamon sticks, chips, and powdered at your local grocery store. Cinnamon essential oil is sold by natural food stores and herbal shops. How you use cinnamon in your witchcraft is only limited to your imagination. Here’s a few ideas: 1. Cinnamon Magic With Coffee or Tea Sprinkle cinnamon on your morning coffee and visualize your intention: love, protection, strength, vitality, etc. for the day. Add cinnamon chips to herbal tea or sprinkle over top in the same way. 2. Cinnamon Magic in Bottles and Bags One of my favorite forms of magic is spell bottles and jars. Add cinnamon chips, powder, oil or sticks to your spell bottles, jar, and bags for your intention OR to amplify the effects of the spell. Cinnamon is a known strengthener of any magical intention = it yields more powerful results. 3. Cinnamon Oil as Offering I don’t know if anyone else does this, but I use cinnamon essential oil (among others) as offerings. I sprinkle a few drops on my ancestor and deity candles, on god/goddess statues, and more. It smells amazing and pleases Spirit. 4. Cinnamon Rolls for Joy & Comfort I bet you have cinnamon in your kitchen pantry or cupboard. If you enjoy kitchen magic like me, make a pan of cinnamon rolls this weekend to lighten the household’s mood. Cinnamon rolls are delicious and comforting in times of stress and anxiety. While making/baking, visualize your intentions and smile! Yummy cinnamon magic. Here’s a recipe. 5. Cinnamon Candle Magic The first candle spell I ever cast included a red votive candle and McCormick’s powdered cinnamon. If all you have is a candle, a bit of oil, and some cinnamon, you’re good to go! Sprinkle cinnamon around the candle, or anoint the candle with a bit of oil and roll it into the cinnamon. Great for love, money, protection, and all kinds of spells! 6. Simmering Cinnamon Magic Potpourri You all know how much I love my simmering potpourri spells. SUPER EASY, cheap and effective in the home. Add cinnamon to an Autumn or Christmas simmering potpourri to cleanse, invigorate, and promote love in the home. Here’s our article on Simmering Potpourri Magic to give you ideas. 7. Mulled Wine with Cinnamon Nothing reminds me of Autumn or the Winter holiday season like mulled wine. Great for family dinners, holiday parties, coven meetings, and more. Making mulled wine in a Dutch oven over an open fire or on the stove always makes me feel like I’m brewing a magical potion. Mulled wine wouldn’t be the same without cinnamon sticks. Add for protection, health, love, and more. Here’s a recipe for mulled wine. 8. Door and Floor Washes An old folk magic tradition is working magic into chores. The next time you have to wash your front door or floors, make an infusion of herbs and spices. Include cinnamon for whatever your intentions are that day. Cinnamon brings abundant blessings into the home. Making an infusion is easy: simmer water with herbs on the stove for 10+ minutes, strain and use as door wash or mop water. 9. Cinnamon Stick Runes & Symbol Craft I’ve seen a lot of cinnamon stick decorations during Christmas time. It’s as easy as gluing or stringing cinnamon sticks together to make a symbol. Witches can use this craft to make runes, pentagrams, etc. Pinterest has some great crafting tutorials – just search for “cinnamon stick craft”. Then add string or ribbon to the top and hang your cinnamon magic runes above your altar, around the home, and even in your car. 10. Snickerdoodle Cinnamon Magic Snickerdoodles are basically sugar cookies rolled in cinnamon. Sounds delicious, right? It is. Add a little magick to your cookies by visualizing your intentions while baking them. You could even draw sigils and symbols into the cinnamon before rolling your cookie dough in them. More Herb Magic: Basil Magic: 12 POWERFUL Ways to Use In Your Craft Chamomile Magic: 8 Ways to Use Chamomile in Your Craft A-Z Gods & Goddesses Plant Associations: A Reference Guide

The post Cinnamon Magic: 10 Ways to Use Cinnamon in Witchcraft appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.

Hecate Night: Host a Sacred Supper for the Witch Goddess

kitty fields — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 22:33:08 +0000

Ancient devotees of the greek goddess Hecate celebrated with elaborate feasts and festivals. If you’re a devotee today, consider hosting a special supper on Hecate Night. This is an elegant, sacred meal dedicated to the Greek Goddess of the Crossroads. With traditional foods and good witchy friends, who wouldn’t want to join this dinner party? Ancient Hecate Feasts The ancient Greeks loved to party. And what better reason to party than to celebrate and honor a beloved deity? Hecate was once a widely-worshiped goddess, with her main cults located on Eleusis and Samothrake Island. Elaborate feasts and festivals were thrown every year in her name. But when her followers weren’t in a temple, they were meeting her at the crossroads with a Special Hecate Supper. Supper At The Crossroads Picture this. It’s the Dark Moon. The night is quiet, dark and warm. You’re carrying a lantern, a basket of offerings, a bottle of wine and a steaming hot loaf of garlic bread. Your friends, also your coven-mates, are meeting at the crossroads deep in the woods behind the old town cemetery. Tonight is the night to celebrate your matron goddess Hecate. You round the corner and see other bouncing lantern lights glowing in the darkness ahead. As you walk closer, a long wooden table with benches is illuminated with candlelight. There’s laughter and anticipation in the air. You take a seat beside your best friend and surrounded by your coven. As you raise a toast in Hecate’s name, a dog howls in the distance. This is Hecate affirming her presence. You all feast on Hecate’s supper and enjoy one another’s company in the wild wood. Wine, homemade bread, fish, and fruit is shared among you. After the feast is over, the remnants are given as an offering and left at the crossroads. You don’t look back. How to Host a Hecate Supper Hecate Night is traditionally held on November 16th. This is the night she haunts the crossroads with her hounds. November 16th is also a night to initiate oneself or others under Hecate. Her feast day is January 31st; however, Samhain and the nights of the Dark Moon are also appropriate. Other days honoring Hecate in Greece include August 13th (a day offerings are left at the crossroads to appease Hecate’s wild stormy side). Hecate Night: The Ambience Whether you host supper inside or out, the ambience should be dark. Low lighting, candlelight is best. Lanterns, hurricane lamps, and oil lamps set the mood. Plates and napkins should be of dark colors: black, maroon, and/or shades of purple. Hecate particularly loves red and black. Incorporate these colors into the tablecloth, centerpiece, and invitations. Give every guest a skeleton key as a token to remember Hecate Night (keys are one of her symbols). Flowers like dark red roses or black hollyhocks. A moon and stars motif would be perfect, too! It’s best to keep the dinner as quiet as possible – play classical piano or violin music on low. Place a statue or representation of Hecate at the head of the table. If you can host Hecate Night Supper at the crossroads, even better! Hecate Night: The Supper Menu Traditionally, Hecate loves garlic, fish, honey, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, cake and wine. Consider using our menu or building your own using each of Hecate’s traditional offerings mentioned above. Hecate should be set a place at the table and left offerings after the dinner is done (see below for more info). Alternatively, instead of cooking everything yourself, ask your friends to bring one dish or beverage as part of the offering. As you’re setting the table OR as your guests arrive, invoke Hecate’s presence by inviting her to join for supper. Let her know she is the reason for the feast. To Drink: Red wine: Cabernet or Merlot (wine was sacred to the ancient Greeks and was no doubt given as an offering to Hecate) Mead: honey-wine isn’t traditional to Greece, but Hecate loves honey so this drink is appropriate Water Pour a glass for Hecate first. Then clink glasses together and toast Hecate’s name before partaking in the wine, mead or water! Clinking glasses scares off the “spirits” and toasting Hecate is traditional. Appetizers: Dolmas: Stuffed Grape Leaves Mydia: red mussels steamed in red wine and herb sauce Charcuterie Board: including cheeses, meats, hard-boiled eggs, honey, jams, apricots, olives, etc. Remember to serve Hecate first before the rest of your dinner party. Out of the utmost respect for the goddess. Hecate Supper: Red Mullet in Caper Sauce: red mullet is sacred to Hecate and traditional at Hecate Night Suppers Marinated Mushrooms: mushrooms are also traditional to Hecate Homemade Rosemary Garlic Bread with Mediterranean Herb Butter Spread Dessert: Greek Honey Cake Fruit: include pomegranates, figs, navel oranges, apples and peaches. During Hecate Night, ask each individual to share their thoughts and experiences with the Goddess of the Crossroads. Read aloud poems and myths that honor Hecate. Sing songs. You might even consider allowing party guests to bring their canine friends and providing doggie treats. This would please Hecate immensely! Ending Hecate Night With Traditional Offerings If you hosted Hecate Night at the crossroads, it’s traditional to leave the remnants for the goddess and her hounds. Two things you MUST do: don’t leave anything at the crossroads that’s not perishable (no plates, cups, cutlery, etc. unless it’s perishable!) once you leave the offering at the crossroads, do NOT turn around and look back! More on Hecate: Hecate: 13 Ways to Work With the Goddess of Witchcraft A SECRET Tea Recipe to Honor Hecate (Members Only)

The post Hecate Night: Host a Sacred Supper for the Witch Goddess appeared first on Otherworldly Oracle.