Psychic Moon Bath


This spell is best Preformed during either the New Moon or Full Moon

This Herbal bath will help bring out or enhance ones psychic abilities, while working with and utilizing the energizes of the Moon.

Materials Needed

1 cup Sea Salt
¼th cup Mugwort
¼th cup Bay leaves
¼th cup Lavender
¼th cup Yarrow
Once you assemble all Your ingredients, Mix them together . While Feeling their energizes, pouring your power into them and visualizing your magickal goal blend the herbs with your fingers. once mixed Either set them aside in a bowl or Pour into a Sachet ( adding them to a sachet makes clean up faster)
Next run a hot bath, and add the herbal mixture and let seep for a few minutes before entering.
Now enter the bath and just soak focus on your goal and intent for this bath. Stay in the water until you feel ready or the bath water becomes cold.
Mugwort should Never Be handled during pregnancy or if you are trying to become pregnant 

Solstice Bath Tea


Solstice Bath Tea is full of skin-nourishing herbs that also work wonders on soothing the nervous system. A lovely bath blend for folks of all ages right before bed!

1 part Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Flowers

1 part Elder (Sambucus nigra) Flowers

1 part Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Flowers

Optional:
Add 1-2 cups of healing salts to every cup of herbs

Add one or more of the Winter Solstice Flower Essences depending on your need

Mix all the flowers together in a golden blend while singing songs of merriment. Add 1/4 – 1 cup of Solstice Bath Tea to every bath either by adding the flowers directly into the water or wrapped in cheesecloth. Alternatively, you can brew the Bath Tea ahead of time for 20 minutes to a few hours, strain, and then add to your bath water which allows you to access more of the medicinal qualities out of the blend.

Winter Sun Sugar Scrub


Winter Sun Sugar Scrub is like the right sort of candy for the body combining the exfoliating qualities of sugar with healing herbs and essential oils. Chamomile, like other bright, sun-like herbs, are wonderful during the winter months aligning our earthly bodies with celestial signs (since herbs like Chamomile and Calendula are well suited to the signs of Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces) and bringing cheer to dark nights.

1 cup Coconut Sugar

1 tablespoon Chamomile (Matricariachamomilla) Powder OR 2 tablespoons whole Chamomile Flowers

1 – 2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil

2 drops Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) Essential Oil

1 drop Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Essential Oil

2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil

Optional Essence blend:
1 drop Chamomile Flower Essence

1 drop Oak Flower Essence

1 drop Sage Flower Essence

Mix all ingredients together while dancing and store in an airtight container. Use by rubbing the blend onto damp skin and then washing off, leaving your skin sunshiny and smooth.

Juniper Liniment


Juniper is a cleansing and protective herb, well suited to the work of pulling pain from the mind, body, and spirit.

8 oz Organic Juniper Berry (Juniperuscommunis)

300 ml Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Extract

Optional essential oil blend:
3 drops Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) Essential Oil

3 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil

3 drops Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Essential Oil

6 drops Juniper (Juniperus communis) Essential Oil

6 drops Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Essential Oil

Begin by creating an extract by combining your ground up Juniper Berries with the Witch Hazel. Let brew for a full cycle of the Moon, shaking and singing to daily. Strain the Juniper Berries from the Witch Hazel and you can either bottle the beautiful brew now or add the optional essential oil blend. I take the leftover Juniper Berries and wrap them up in cheesecloth and add them to my evening bath.

To use your Juniper Liniment make sure to shake the bottle up and then add some to a clean cloth. Use the cloth to either wrap or rub on the liniment to the area causing you discomfort such as aching knees or sore shoulders. You can also add the brew to a spray bottle and apply the liniment by spraying it on the affected area. The liniment should keep for a number of years if stored in a cool, dark place when not in use.

Herbal Pot-Pourris, Sachets and Pillows

There are many uses for herbs in sachets, pot-pourri, pillows and other containers where the herbs may not be visible but release their delicious scents. No one could resist a lovely collection of lacy herb sachets for their cupboards or linens. Most of these ideas are very simple to make, yet are perfect presents for all generations. The sachets and pillows can be varied according to the likes and dislikes of the recipients. Many inexpensive fabrics can be used and then decorated, so none of these ideas need be expensive.

Herbal Pot-Pourri

Pot-pourri is a very traditional aromatic accessory for the home and many recipes have been handed down through the generations. There are several ways to make pot-pourri. The oldest method is for a moist pot-pourri where layers of rose petals, spices and salt are arranged in a large crock and left to rot down for six weeks or more. The strength of scent is excellent but the visual appearance is not good (the salt bleaches out all the color in the rose petals). That is why traditional pot-pourri jars are closed, with holes for the fragrance to waft through.

A prettier finished effect is gained by mixing flowers and herbs with essential oils and a fixative, such as orris root. This is also a fairly lengthy method but the finished effect can be lovely, particularly if some flowers are dried with silica gel and placed on top for decoration.

As most of the projects here are for sachets or other items where the herbs are hidden away behind some fabric, the look of the finished pot-pourri is not of paramount importance. The main point is that the scent should be strong and long-lasting. When making small sachets it helps to use fairly small ingredients of an even size, so there are no unsightly lumps and bulges in the sachets. The best answer for this is to use small sprigs of dried herbs and flowers with a much larger proportion of fixative.

Many recipes call for powdered orris root, but I use cut and sifted orris or blue flag root instead, as I find the powder spoils the outward appearance of pot-pourri. However, as the recipes here are mainly for use on sachets, either powdered or cut orris root will do.

Many of the recipes here can easily be altered to suit whatever ingredients you have available. Once you have made several batches of your own pot-pourri you will become more courageous and want to experiment. It is easy to make up your own recipes, just keep to the basic guidelines on quantities of ingredients.

Orris Root and Oil Mixture

As a general note, I use a measuring jug when measuring out the various dry ingredients, unless they are measured by the spoonful. The orris root is best mixed with the essential oil first and put into a small screw-top jar to mature for a couple of days. If you are intending to make several types of pot-pourri, I would suggest you build up a collection of jars with different orris root and essential oil mixtures which you can use as you wish.

Mix the oil and orris root in the proportions of 4 oz orris root to 1/2 fl oz essential oil. Once it has matured for a couple of days you can use it by the tablespoonful as indicated in the recipes. Make sure that you label the jars clearly, stating the particular essential oil you have used. The collection of orris root/oil jars can then sit in a neat row on your kitchen shelf or worktop, where you can shake them occasionally to encourage the mixing process. Avoid storing them in strong sunlight as it will reduce the strength of the essential oils.

Delicious Mint and Cinnamon Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint cinnamon pieces
1/2 pint mint leaves, crumbled
2 tbsp cinnamon/orris mixture
1 tbsp apple/orris mixture
1/2 tbsp mint/orris mixture

Use a large mixing bowl and mix together all the ingredients. As these recipes are mainly destined for use in sachets, you should break the cinnamon pieces up fairly small. Having mixed it well, turn the mixture into a large jar or polythene bag and seal. Put it away for two to four weeks, shaking it regularly to ensure even distribution of the oil mixtures. Check the smell after two weeks; if the aroma seems satisfactory you can use it, but if not, you should wait another couple of weeks. If you are still not happy with the smell, try adding other orris root/oil mixes until you like the balance of the fragrance.

Lemon Pot-Pourri

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1/4 pint lemon balm leaves
1/4 pint lemon thyme leaves
1/2 pint lemon and orange peel, dried and chopped
1 tbsp bay leaves, crumbled
1/4 pint mint leaves
3 tbsp lemon/orris mixture
2 tbsp neroli (orange blossom)/orris mixture
1 tbsp mint/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Herbs and Spices Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint ginger root
1/4 pint cinnamon sticks
1/4 pint star anise
3-4 nutmegs, broken
1/4 pint angelica root
6-8 bay leaves
1/4 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint rosemary
1/2 pint sage leaves
1 tbsp thyme
5 tbsp allspice/orris mixture
3 tbsp cinnamon/orris mixture
1 tbsp thyme/orris mixture
1 tbsp rosemary/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Herb Garden Harvest

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1/2 pint rosemary leaves
1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint lemon balm
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp crumbled bay leaves
1/4 pint sage leaves
1/2 pint oregano
1/2 pint scented geranium leaves
5 tbsp geranium/orris mixture
4 tsp lavender/orris mixture
1 tbsp rose/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Spicy Lavender Pot-Pourri

1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint cornflowers
1/4 pint cloves
1/2 pint crushed cinnamon sticks
1/2 pint pink rose petals
2 tbsp lavender/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Moth Chaser Sachets

1/4 pint Santolina, crushed
1/4 pint Artemisia
1/4 pint mint leaves
1/4 pint rosemary leaves
5 cinnamon sticks, crushed
1/4 pint cloves
1/4 pint lemon peel, dried and chopped
1/4 pint lemon-scented geranium leaves
3 tbsp lavender/orris mixture
3 tbsp clove/orris mixture
2 tbsp lemon/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process. Use in sachets that can be hung in cupboards or laid in drawers to ward off fierce moths.

Christmas Sachet Mix

1/2 pint pine needles
1/2 pint conifer leaves
1/4 pint bay leaves, crushed
1/4 pint eucalyptus leaves, crushed
1/2 pint orange peel, dried and chopped
1/4 pint cinnamon sticks, chopped
1/4 pint allspice berries
5 tbsp pine/orris mixture
3 tbsp orange/orris mixture
2 tbsp allspice/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Hop Pillows

For centuries, hop pillows have been popular remedies for combating insomnia and promoting restful sleep. Originally, mattresses would have been filled with grasses and herbs, which is why the plant Galiumordorata is commonly known as ‘ladies bedstraw’ or ‘hedge bedstraw’. From there we progressed to stuffing pillows and mattresses with down and horsehair, but the smell of the grasses was replaced by an herbal pillow. During the Victorian era, herb pillows were much favored, particularly ones made from lavender and roses.

Although it is traditional to slip herb pillows into the main pillowcase and therefore keep them out of sight, they look best when decorated with plenty of lace and ribbons, especially if you are giving them as a present.

Many fabrics can be used for making pillows, ranging from plain calico that can be slipped into the main pillowcase to antique linens and lace that give a really luxurious effect and deserve to be left on show. The two most popular scents for inducing sleep are hops and lavender, but these fragrances do not blend well together so choose one or the other. Both of these recipes smell heavenly and will help you drift off into scented sleep.

Sweet Hop and Spice Mix

2 pints dried hops
2 tbsp allspice
2 tbsp orange peel, dried
2 tbsp lemon balm leaves
1 tbsp allspice/orris mixture
1 tbsp neroli (orange blossom)/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Victorian Flower Sleep Mix

3/4 pint dark red or pink scented rose petals
1/2 pint elderflowers
1/2 pint lavender flowers
1/4 pint rosemary leaves (they keep away evil spirits!)
5 tbsp rose/orris mixture
3 tbsp lavender/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Making a Hop Pillow

To make a hop pillow, you will need the following ingredients:

1/2 yard muslin
Sweet Hop and Spice Mix
1/2 yard plain or patterned cotton lace or ribbons

Cut out two pieces of muslin, each approximately 14×12 inches and machine or sew by hand around three sides. Turn right sides out and fill with the hop mix, then stitch up the fourth side firmly by hand. Now cut out two pieces of the cotton, slightly larger than the muslin and allowing extra for seams approximately 16×14 inches. Placing right sides together, machine sew around three sides, incorporating the lace if you wish at this stage. Turn right sides out, then turn under the seam allowance on the fourth side and place the hop pillow inside. Finish the last edge by hand with neat oversewing stitches. You can then decorate the pillow with lace or ribbons.

When the fragrance of the hop pillow begins to fade, all you have to do is remove the inner filling, replace the hop mix with a new batch and then sew up the pillow again. This is quicker and easier than having to replace loose contents in the cotton pillow.

Handkerchief Pillow

The easiest way of all to make a pretty square sleep pillow is to use pretty lace-edged handkerchiefs. Most of the work is done for you then, and a pretty pillow can be made in a very short time.

You will need:

4 lace-edged handkerchiefs
1/2 yard plain white cotton lawn or cotton
1/2 yard muslin

Join the four handkerchiefs together in a square by oversewing the edges or using a zigzag stitch on a sewing machine. Cut the cotton backing to the same size as the square of four handkerchiefs and then turn in the edges by the depth of the lace so the square fits the fabric area of the four handkerchiefs. Machine-stitch around three sides of the fabric, leaving the lace free and one side open. Make a square muslin pillow as described for the hop pillow and fill with any of the sachet mixes, the Victorian flowers mix might be the most suitable. Insert the muslin pad and close the pillow with small slip stitches. You can decorate the top of the cushion with some ribbon bows if you wish.

Small Perfumed Sachets

Smaller sachets have many uses; they can be tucked in drawers and cupboards, or used to scent linen cupboards or lingerie. There is nothing more glamorous than a drawer that exudes a lovely floral aroma whenever it is opened. Desks can benefit from sharper scents if work has to go on through the night, a sachet filled with basil to relieve tiredness, or cardamom to help concentration, might be appropriate.

To sleep in bedlinen scented with the sweet smell of lavender has long been a luxury. The easiest way to make little sachets to give as presents, or to use yourself, is to buy a collection of pretty lace-edged handkerchiefs. Place a couple of tablespoons of one of the mixtures in the center of each handkerchief, gather up the edges and tie with pretty ribbons to make an elegant and fragrant bundle.

If you wish to use a printed or plain fabric, you can cut out two pieces of fabric of the size you require, with a small allowance for seams. Sew around three sides of the main sachet and similarly on two slightly smaller pieces of muslin. Turn the muslin right sides out, fill with pot-pourri and sew up the fourth edge by hand. Turn the cotton sachet right sides out, insert the muslin sachet and sew up the fourth edge by hand. It is not essential to make the muslin liner but it does save time when renewing the sachet as you can throw away the old sachet and replace it with a new one. A liner also reduces the likelihood of the oils staining the outer cover.

Padded Coat Hangers with Fragrant Sachets

Another luxury with a practical purpose is a padded coat hanger that has a matching sachet hanging from its center. Padded hangers are much kinder to clothes than ordinary wire ones and are less likely to leave hanger marks on delicate fabrics. The sachet can be hung inside the article of clothing, making it fresh and fragrant the next time it is worn. You can either use a flowery pot-pourri mix or the moth chaser recipe, which will keep away moths and help to protect woolen clothing in particular.

You will need:

6 wooden coat hangers
1/2 yard wadding
1/2 yard printed cotton
2 yards 1/2-inch wide ribbon
matching cotton
extra ribbon for bows

Cut a strip of wadding 36×2 inches and wind it around a coat hanger, stitching it securely at each end. To cover the hook, fold 1 inch of ribbon over at the end and then bind the remaining ribbon tightly all the way down the hook. Stitch the end of the ribbon to the wadding at the base of the hook, then cut off the surplus ribbon.

Cut out a piece of the fabric about 4 3/4 inches wide and slightly longer than the hanger, then fold it in half lengthwise with the right sides together. Stitch across both short ends. Turn to the right side. Neaten the raw edges on the long sides by folding the seam allowance over and pressing or tacking it into position. Press a crease line along the bottom of the casing.

Place the wadding-wrapped hanger inside the fabric casing, with the open edges along the top of the hanger. Pin in position while working. Join the seam edges with running stitch, leaving the cotton loose at the end. Also sew running stitches along the bottom crease and again leave the cotton loose at the end. Pull both ends of the hanging threads to form gathers all along the hanger, then secure the threads tightly. The hanger can now be decorated with a large or small bow. Make a matching sachet in the same way as for the small perfumed sachets, then hang it from the hook with some ribbon or lace.

Gentleman’s Mix

Most pot-pourri and sachet mixes are rather too feminine for a man’s wardrobe. So here is a mix that would suit most men and might appeal to some ladies as well!

1/4 pint lemon verbena leaves
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp cloves
1 tbsp rosemary
1/4 pint raspberry leaves
1 tbsp lemon/orris mixture
1 tbsp mint/orris mixture
1 tbsp oregano/orris mixture

Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and place in a large jar or polythene bag. Seal and put away in a dark place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally to help the mixing process.

Vinegar – Use it about Anywhere

1. Cleans Glass. Mixed with water or simply sprayed full-strength on glass and mirrors, vinegar does a great job quickly and easily. Simply wipe windows dry with crumpled-up newspapers and watch your windows sparkle.
2. Clean your car. Use it full-strength to polish car chrome with a cloth and see it shine! Use it on your cars windshield and windows, too.
3. Cleans drinking glasses. Soak cloudy drinking glasses in warmed white vinegar for a few hours to remove the film, simply wipe clean, rinse, and dry.
4. Clean your washing machine. Periodically run a gallon of distilled vinegar through your washing machine to clean it thoroughly, get rid of soap scum, and clear out the hoses. Run the machine through the warm water wash cycle empty and then add the vinegar during the rinse cycle.
5. Furniture Polish. Make your own furniture polish with one part vinegar and three parts lemon oil or olive oil.
6. Remove price tags or stickers Paint them with several coats of vinegar and let it soak in. Depending what you are removing them off of is whether they’ll slide off easily or require a little heavier rubbing.
7. Clean your IRON -Put vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Remember to flush it with water when you are done.
8. Clean paintbrushes -Simmer paintbrushes in pure vinegar, then wash in hot soapy water.
9. Wash walls. Wipe down your walls with a vinegar-water mixture and it will help absorb odors and clean the surfaces.
10. Remove spots from glass.Use a vinegar-soaked cloth to remove spots from any glassware or crystal.
11. Unclog drains Pour boiling white vinegar down clogged drains to remove the clog!
12. Clean jars. Remove odors and stains from jars by cleaning them out with vinegar.
13. Clean an old lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it
sit in the lunchbox over night.
14. To loosen splattered on food in the microwave, boil 1 cup of water with ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar in the microwave. This solution will also remove any odors from inside the microwave.
15. To eliminate odor from a garbage disposal, freeze equal amounts of vinegar and water in ice cube trays. Once frozen, drop the cubes into the garbage disposal and run the cold water down the drain for 2 minutes.
16. Vinegar can be used to clean automatic coffee makers. Run the coffee maker on the regular brewing cycle after filling the reservoir with white distilled vinegar. Run a cycle of regular water thru after the vinegar cycle to eliminate any vinegar odor or taste.
17. Pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain for 30 minutes, once a week will deodorize the kitchen drain. After the vinegar has sat for 30 minutes, rinse the drain with cold water.
18. You can deodorize the refrigerator by using 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Set the cup in the refrigerator for two days to remove any odor.
19. To give the refrigerator a good cleaning, use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Apply this solution to a rag to wash the refrigerator.
20. For cleaner dishes, pour 1 ½ cups of white distilled vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Use the normal dish detergent and run the dishwaster on the normal cycle for spotless dishes.
21. You can use undiluted white distilled vinegar to disinfect and clean wooden cutting boards and chopping blocks.
22. By using ½ cup of vinegar mixed with ¼ cup water, you can clean stainless steel appliances. When applied with a soft cloth it can remove streaks off the appliances.
23.Polish brass to a beautiful shine by using 1 cup of white distilled vinegar, 1 teaspoon of table salt, and floor. Use enough flour to form a paste, and then apply it into the metals. After leaving the solution on for 15 minutes, rinse the brass clean using warm water. Polish the brass until it is dry.
24. Washing hard surfaces in the kitchennwith white distilled vinegar can help to eliminate ants from the kitchen.
25. Teapot cleaning Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
Clean eyeglasses Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
20. Remove stains from furniture and upholstery Remove stubborn stains
from furniture upholstery and clothes. Apply Heinz White Vinegar
directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer’s
instructions.
21. Natural air deodorizer Heinz Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.
22. Remove rust Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted Heinz White Vinegar overnight.
23. Toilet bowl Pour in one cup of Heinz White Vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.

24. Remove detergent from clothes in final rinse, Brighten fabrics Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
25. Natural cleaning wipes A cloth soaked with vinegar for sanitizing kitchen counters, stove, and bathroom surfaces. This is just as effective as the anti-bacterial products and does not promote resistant strains like the commercial products can, this is also a cheaper and greener way to protect your loved ones.
26. Remove lint from laundry Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
27. Remove grease from suede Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
28. Remove perspiration stains from clothing Apply one part vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.
29. Clean coffee or tea stains from china A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from chinaware.
30. Fabric Softener Replacement I use vinegar in place of fabric softener in my laundry. I use the same amount as fabric softener plus twice the amount of water (so 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar) and put it in my fabric softener dispenser. Clothes come out soft and scent free. It also helps reduce static (I still have some but not enough for me to go buy fabric softener!).
Vinegar Tips for Floors:

31. Carpet stains are common in many households, especially those with children and pets. Next time a carpet stain appears, mix 1 pint of warm water with 1 teaspoon of a liquid laundry detergent, then add in 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar. This mixture will work well to remove non-oily stains from the carpet. Using a small brush or towel, apply the mixture to a stain, rubbing it in lightly. After this is done, use a clean towel, dampened with water to spot dry the surface. Use these steps until the stain is removed and then promptly dry the area with a hair dryer or fan.
32. Vinegar can also be used to clean no-wax floors. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water to make a moping solution.

Vinegar Tips for the Bathroom:

1. In your bath water. Add ½ cup of vinegar or so to warm bath water when bathing and get double benefits : softer skin and a cleaner bathtub with less work!
2. Hair Conditioner. Vinegar makes a simple, inexpensive conditioner for your hair and helps remove the sticky stuff shampoo can leave behind. About a tablespoon in a few cups of water will do it.
3. Dandruff Treatment Simply pour a few Tablespoons of vinegar on your hair and massage into your scalp. Wait a few minutes, then rinse and wash hair like normal. Try this for a few days until you see results.
4. Weight Loss. Vinegar naturally helps to remove fat from the body – Apple cider vinegar is especially good for this. Drink 1 tablespoon or more in a glass of water a few times a day, and add a little lemon or honey for a nicer flavor. This will also help reduce your appetite.
5. Cracked, dry skin. Smooth a little vinegar on dried skin to help it heal.
6. Clean dentures Soak dentures overnight in Heinz White Vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.
7. Facial Spritzer mix 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water into a spray bottle. Refreshing!
8. Hair Cleanser – Take 1 cup of vinegar and warm water into a large glass and use to rinse your hair after you shampoo. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.
9. Longer lasting pantyhose -Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the rinse water when washing and your pantyhose will last longer!
10. Toenail Fungus Treatment Another use for vinegar…….Soak your feet in a strong solution of 10% vinegar and 90% water at least daily to get rid of toenail fungus.
11. Showerheads can be unclogged by soaking the showerheads in white distilled vinegar over night. If the showerhead can not be removed, wrap a vinegar saturated towel around the shower head for the same effect.
12 To remove soap scum from bathtubs, wipe the surfaces with white distilled vinegar, and then wipe with soda. When this is complete, rinse the surface with clean water to remove the soap scum.
13. Shower doors can easily be cleaned by washing them with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar, leaving the doors scum free.
14. To remove stains from the toilet, apply white distilled vinegar to the stains and scrub them away. Afterwards, put 3 cups of white distilled vinegar into the toilet, letting it sit for 30 minutes to eliminate any odor.

Vinegar Tips for Walls and Windows:

1.General Household Cleaner Keep some vinegar diluted in a spray bottle. Use this for wiping down counter tops (at night only so smell goes away) .
2. Removes smoke stains from walls (Submitted by Kathy) To remove nicotine from walls before painting, always use vinegar in hot water. Will remove stains and the nicotine will not bleed through the paint. It is especially good in bathrooms, where there is a lot of steam from
showers. Be very careful to use rubber gloves because the nicotine will absorb into the skin and you will get the same effect as smoking.
3. put in dishwasher to use in place of jet dry.
4. Rings left from wet glasses on woodenfurniture can often be difficult to remove. By mixing 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil, you can create a mixture to assist you in removing the rings. Use a towel to apply the mixture to the furniture, rubbing with the grain of the wood. Afterwards, polish the furniture for an amazing result.
5. To have streak freewindowsin your home, mix ½ cup of white distilled vinegar and ½ cup warm water. Apply this solution with a soft cloth to have beautifully clean windows.
6. By mixing 1 gallon of warm water, ½ cup white distilled vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and ¼ cup of baking soda; you can make a great solution to clean your wall woodwork, painted walls, and Venetian Blinds.

Vinegar Tips for the Garden:

1. Clay Pot Cleaning Remove white salt buildup on old clay pots by soaking them in full strength vinegar.
2. Kills grass. Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks.
3. Kills weeds. Spray full strength on weeds – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass as it will kill that too.
4. Deter Ants Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather.
5. Keep Cats Away Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.
6. Freshen Cut Flowers Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoon sugar for each quart of water.
7. To give your plants a vibrant appearance mix 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of sugar, and 16 cups of water together and water the plants with the mixture to help them thrive.

Vinegar Tips for Cooking:1. Cheese Storage Cheese will last longer if you store it in a vinegar-soaked cloth.
2. Whiter Cauliflower Add a teaspoon or so of white vinegar to your cooking water while cooking cauliflower – it will retain a whiter color.
3. Ketchup Only have a little ketchup left in the bottle? Add a bit of vinegar and give it a good shake and you’ll have a bit more!
4. Boiling Eggs Add a bit of white vinegar to the water you’re boiling your eggs in, and the shells won’t crack.
5. Cooking Cabbage Add a bit of vinegar to the water you’re cooking your cabbage in to remove that stinky cabbage smell.
6. Fluffier Meringues Add 1 teaspoon vinegar for every three egg whites and you’ll have fluffier meringues.
7. Tenderize Meat Soak in vinegar over night.
8. Unsticky Rice To cook rice without sticking add a spoon full of vinegar in it.
9. Remove onion odors from skin Eliminate onion odor by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.
10. Disinfect/clean cutting boards Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.
11. Make buttermilk Make buttermilk. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand 5 minutes to thicken.
12. Potato Cooking Water Add 1 teaspoon to the water when you are boiling potatoes to avoid them going black. Note this does not apply to potatoes that are freshly dug or new. This works on potatoes that have been in storage over the winter.
13. To have tender, sweet fish, first soak the fish in a mixture of water and vinegar before cooking it.
14. If you fresh vegetables have begun to wilt, soak them in an equal amount of vinegar and cold water.

Vinegar Tips for Pets:

1. Pet’s drinking water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to your pet’s
drinking water to encourage a shinier coat, and reduce odor.
2. Remove skunk odor Use vinegar straight to remove skunk odor from your pet’s fur.
3. Stop your cat’s scratching furniture Sprinkle or spray vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat scratching on.
4. Fish bowl cleaner Eliminate that ugly deposit in the gold fish tank by rubbing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinsing well. For stubborn deposits, soak for several hours or overnight
5. Remove pet stains from carpets Blot up urine with a soft cloth, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.
6. Clean pets cages I use a mixture of 50% White Vinegar and 50% Water
in a spray bottle to clean my pet cages. It disinfects and deodorizes it and is much cheaper than the commercial products. rinse with plain water.
7. Stops dogs scratching Read the cat scratch tip ;it works for dogs as well.
8. To stop puppies from chewing, spray undiluted vinegar on the puppies favorite chew spots.
9. Give your dog a gleaming coat by spraying or rubbing with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 quart water. As a bonus, you save the cost of an expensive shine product used on
show animals. (Works even on a horse!)
10. Keep a dog from scratching its ears by wiping them out regularly with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
11. Discourage a cat from sitting on a certain windowsill or other surface, or from scratching upholstery, by spraying white distilled vinegar on the item. Test first on an unnoticeable area to be sure there won’t be a discoloration.
12. Keep a cat out of a garden area by placing paper, a cloth, or sponge there that has been soaked in white distilled vinegar.
13. Keep the birdbath clean by scrubbing it often with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse well.
14. Keep flies away from horses or other outdoor pets by spraying a mixture of water and white distilled vinegar around the area where the animals are.
15. Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, swish it around, then rinse with cold water.
16. Kill fleas by adding a little white distilled vinegar to your dog or cat’s drinking water.
17. Remove pet odors. After cleaning, cover the area with baking soda. Let it stand overnight. The next day vacuum up the baking soda and wash the area with white distilled vinegar. Rinse and
let dry.
18. Cats hate the smell of vinegar. If you have a cat that is marking its territory around outside your house, spray the area with white distilled vinegar then rinse with a hose.
19. Prevent cats from eating your plants by spraying the leaves with a solution of white distilled vinegar and water.

Vinegar Health Tips:

1. Suffering from a sore throat? Mix a teaspoon vinegar with a glass of water. Gargle with the mixture and then swallow.
2. Remove calluses Try soaking your feet in a combination of white vinegar and warm water nightly and watch your feet soften noticeably.
3. Soak a washcloth in vinegar and gently apply it to sunburned skin for cool relief. Reapply as needed as it evaporates. Besides sunburn, vinegar also soothes the itch and irritation of bee stings!
4. Arthritis Tonic. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, several times a day.
5. Jellyfish Stings Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
6. Sinus Infections and Head Colds Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
7. Wart Removal Mix one part Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.
8. Soothe an upset stomach Drink two teaspoons Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.
9. Mosquito bites Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Heinz Vinegar straight from the bottle.
10. Thousands of years ago, vinegar soaked sponge used for contraception
11. Relieve the discomfort of sunburn by rubbing vinegar lightly on the skin.
12. If you have itchy, dry skin, try adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water to moisten your skin.

Misc. Vinegar Tips;

1. To keep windows from frosting over, wipe 1 tablespoon of water and 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar over the windows the night before to eliminate the chances of possible frosty windows.
2 your paint brushes become hard or stiff, soak the paint brushes in hot white distilled vinegar for a few minutes and then completely rinse them with soapy water.
3. Let your goldjewelryshine by cleaning them in a cup of apple cider vinegar. Soak the jewelry in the vinegar for 15 minutes and then dry them with a cloth.

THE NATURAL MAGICK OF HEARTH AND HOME

The natural magick of the home-based Witch is uncomplicated and down-to-earth. There is wisdom and spirituality evoked by the very earth that we live on. Why not take that basic energy and direct it into your home? Applying the subject of natural magick to your home is a great opportunity to get in touch with your sense of enchantment and to link back into the tides of nature to celebrate the cycles of the earth, the moon, and the seasons.

You may call yourself a cunning man, wise woman, hedgewitch, kitchen-witch, garden witch, or maybe you think of yourself as a natural magician. Perhaps you don’t give yourself a title at all. A Witch’s inner power comes from connecting to the influence and secrecy of the natural world that surrounds their home, family, and life. Natural magick is elemental, quiet, and spontaneous.

Working with the influences of nature to boost the power and security of our homes is not a new idea. Author Scott Cunningham described a magickal home as being a “pool of protective energy” and “a shrine to the deity of life itself.” This is an elegant way of pointing out that your home is a sacred and influential magickal place. So now that you’ve wrapped your mind around this idea, what are you going to do about it? How can you apply this idea to your lifestyle in a natural and practical way?

If you are thinking Well, I just live in an apartment, I don’t have anything fancy, let me point out that it’s not about how much you spend or how fancy of a residence you live in—that matters not in the slightest. I am not expecting your home to look like a photoshoot for Better Pagan Homes and Gardens. Cottage witchery is about making magick with what you have or can acquire affordably.

Look at garage sales and flea markets for fun and charming decorative pieces. Watch for sales or make magickal and creative accessories yourself. Remember, natural and magickal décor and supplies do not have to be expensive. It is not about how much money you have or how big the place you call home is. That sense of welcome and practicality shows up in each of our homes, and that type of common sense is a magick unto itself.

The idea behind cottage witchery is to encourage folks to look at their homes in a new magickal way and to connect to a simpler time. No one is asking you to give up your computers or to start washing your laundry on a rock down at the creek. I am encouraging you to reconnect to the energies of the natural world—to cherish, celebrate, and then to direct these magickal forces into your homes and
everyday lives.

Go ahead and arrange a few sunflowers in an old glass canning jar and set it out on your table this summer. It will brighten up the whole room, just like magick.

This autumn arrange a few mini pumpkins and gourds on a shelf and scatter a handful of oak leaves around them to celebrate wisdom and the earth’s abundance during the harvest festivals.

How about setting a rustic basket of pine cones and pretty twigs that you gathered and arranged yourself on your hearth this winter? This would invoke an earthy type of enchantment, as the pine cones are symbols of fertility and the pine itself encourages prosperity. This is the essence of simple, affordable, and practical magick. Try looking at things from a natural magick perspective. Nature is beautiful. Imagine what fascinating energies you could incorporate into your life by bringing natural and rustic items into your home.

Cottage witchery is meant to inspire you to add a little old-time charm and down-to-earth magick into your everyday life. This book is filled with witchy ideas, all of them no-nonsense and easy to incorporate into your magickal lifestyle.

Spring Cleaning Recipes

These recipes use the guidelines found in Spiritual Spring Cleaning to create natural magical cleaning products. To make the following recipes you will also need a blender or food processor, mixing bowls and spoons, a spray bottle, and a couple of storage jars.

Spring Clean Scouring Powder
1c baking soda
1c sea salt
½ c lemongrass
½ c lavender flowers
10 drops lemon, lime, or grapefruit essential oil

Combine all ingredients in the blender or food processor and pulse until they become a powder.

Sparkling Window Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
3 cups boiling water
10 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil

Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well.

Spring Sunshine Carpet Freshener
½ c cornstarch
½ c baking soda
¼ c lemongrass
¼ c lemon peel
6 drops grapefruit essential oil
4 drops lemongrass essential oil

Combine all ingredients into the blender and pulse until they become a powder. Transfer into a mixing bowl and stir occasionally until completely dry. Sprinkle onto carpet and let sit 15 minutes before vacuuming.

Feel free to adjust the recipes to your preferred strength and scent or create your own combinations to make them your own

Hearthcraft

The word hearth is of old English origin, meaning the floor around the fireplace or the lower part of a furnace where molten metal is collected during the smelting process. Throughout the ages, Hearth has come to represent domestic comfort and the entire home, perceived as the heart of the centre of the living space. Therefore someone who practices hearth craft is someone whose spiritual practices revolve around the hearth and home.

Hearth Craft like other aspects of the house withes and other forms of kitchen and green witchcraft, revolved around practicality, with little ritualistic guidelines or necessary formality

When thinking of Hearthcraft a few words that may be an idea to keep in mind are the following:

Simple

Practical

Family Related

Domestic

Everyday

Household

Magickal Herbal House Washes

There are several ways to create a magical floor wash. The simplest is to place herbs that correspond to what you are trying to achieve in a bowl. Pour hot water over the herbs and let them steep for 10 to 15 minutes; drain the liquid into a bucket and add warm tap water and the cleaning product of your choice. Soaps and products made with pine oil are good choices. Use the mix to clean floors, walls, door frames, and windowsills. Always be careful with the type and color of herb used, to avoid staining. You can use an herbal wash to cleanse your home of negative energies or to promote positive feelings, such as love or calm. When doing the actual cleaning, wash clockwise when drawing positive things to you, counter-clockwise when ridding your home of unwanted energies.

Good Luck Wash

  • 2 chamomile tea bags
  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part oregano
  • a handful of peanut shells

Health and Healing Wash

  • 2 parts sage
  • 2 parts thyme
  • 2 parts rosemary
  • 1 part salt
  • 1 part dill
  • a handful of shredded coconut
  • a handful of pine needles (if available)

Protection Wash

  • 2 parts rosemary
  • 2 parts basil
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 2 parts ginger
  • 1 part dried garlic
  • 1 part black pepper

Four Thieves Wash (to repel illness and for protection)

  • 1 part rosemary
  • 1 part black salt
  • a splash of Four Thieves vinegar

Heartbreak Ease Wash

  • 1 part fennel seed
  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part fresh or dried chives
  • a handful of raw almonds

Stress Management Wash

  • 2 chamomile tea bags
  • 1 part culinary sage
  • 1 part fennel seed
  • ½ part salt
  • ½ part ground cloves

Happy Marriage Mix (use after an argument to heal emotions, also good for anniversary dates and days that are special to you and your spouse)

  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part dried apple peel
  • 1 whole star anise
  • ½ part fennel seed
  • 1 chamomile tea bag

Successful Business Wash

  • 2 parts basil
  • 2 parts culinary sage
  • 1 part mint
  • a splash of champagne vinegar (or white vinegar)

Spirituality in Hearthcraft

Nurturing the spiritual elements of the home can be key to the path of a herth based house witch. The answer to how you can do this depends on how you define your spirituality.

Attempting to define spirituality can at times be challenging, frustrating and faith-testing. It may be the case that when you recognize something as spiritual, you acknowledge that something about it moves you or touches you deeply in a very specific way, evoking feelings that may be indefinable.

Once you have started to realize what kind of things you find spiritual or what kind of events or actions evoke that response within yourself, then you may have some idea of there to focus on your practice of home-based spirituality. This may include how to identify with everyday activities that can support you as a spiritual person. With all this, you may be able to begin to recognize and reinforce your commitment to making the home a spiritual place. One way of doing the above is to use certain moments and activities as an opportunity to think about things that are important to you as a person.

Maintaining healthy spirituality means keeping yourself focussed, relaxed when practising something. I may also mean keeping the lines of communication open between you and something greater than you. The term practice is often used to describe what one does with respect to a spiritual path. It also can mean physically or intentionally acting on a theory associated with the path. By actively seeking out or defining spiritual activity  you create an opportunity to develop a deeper connection with the world around you

Ritual Soap Spheres

Using a very sharp, thick-bladed knife, cut a four-ounce bar of castile soap into very small pieces no larger than 1/4 inch square-the smaller (as long as they are cubes) the better. Place these in a heatproof nonmetallic container. Heat slightly less than 1/3 cup water until nearly boiling. Pour the still-hot water over the cut up soap. Let it sit until the water has cooled sufficiently to allow you to handle it. Mix the soap and water with your hands. This will moisten the soap chips, but they shouldn’t be floating on the surface of the water. If they are, add more soap.

Let the soap and water sit for about nine minutes until mushy. If the soap cubes are still hard, set the bowl in a pan of water and reheat it gently until the soap is soft. While the soap is melting, mix together the oils and empower them with your magickal need. Then add 20-50 drops of the combined oils to the soap/water mixture. Very warm water evaporates the oils, so wait until the water has cooled. Mix them in thoroughly. The scent should be strong; if not, add more oils.

The quality and strength of the oils you use determines the quantity needed to overpower the natural, rather antiseptic scent of genuine castile soap. Just add them until you can smell the oils. Divide the scented soap mass into three or four parts. Form these into spheres with your hands. Place each on a nine inch square piece of cotton cheesecloth. Pull the ends tightly around the sphere. Tie the ends closed with strong string. Repeat with each sphere.

Hang the soap spheres in a warm place for three days, or until the soap is completely hard. When the spheres won’t give to finger pressure, remove the cloth wraps. The soaps are ready to be used in ritual baths. Or, they can be wrapped in clean cheesecloth, labelled, and given as gifts.

Isis Soap

3 parts Myrrh 2 parts Frankincense

1 part Lotus Bouquet

Use before any Egyptian or Isian ritual. Also, wash with this soap to develop spiritual awareness. If you wish, substitute rose water for the water in which the soap chips are melted.

Love Soap

4 parts Geranium 3 parts Palmarosa 2 parts Neroli 1 part Ginger

Wash with this soap to attract love, or prior to love rituals. And again, rose water may be used in the same proportions as plain water in preparing the soap.

Luck Soap

2 parts Vetivert 1 part Orange 1 part Nutmeg

Wash to change your “luck” or to bring positive energies into your life. Orange flower water may be used in place of plain water during soap manipulations.

Money Soap

3 parts Patchouly 2 parts Peppermint 1 part Basil

1 part Pine 1 part Cinnamon

Wash your hands daily with this soap to attract money, or use prior to money-drawing rituals.

Moon Soap

3 parts Sandalwood 2 parts Camphor 1 part Eucalyptus 1 part Lemon

Use before rituals on the Full Moon to attune with its energies.

Protection Soap

4 parts Rosemary 3 parts Basil 1 part Frankincense

1 part Bay 1 part Mint

Wash daily with this soap when you feel the need for protection, or before such spells.

Psychic Soap

3 parts Lemongrass 2 parts Bay 1 part Cinnamon

Wash with this soap to increase your psychic awareness, especially prior to divinatory or psychic workings.

Sabbat Soap

4 parts Sandalwood 3 parts Rosemary 2 parts Patchouly 1 part Cinnamon

1 part Myrrh 1 part Bay 1 part Lemon 1 part Ginger

Use during ritual baths prior to the Sabbats or as a general magickal cleanser.

Witch’s Soap

3 parts Rosemary 2 parts Pine 1 part Cinnamon 1 part Orange

Wash with this soap before rituals of all kinds to increase your personal power.