Garden Witchery (16 page)

Faery Magick and Kids

When you work with the faeries for any length of time, you may start to notice a certain amount of faery mischief in your home. This can be benign or troublesome, depending on the level of faery interest you are receiving. Bottom line, if you practice magick and you have kids, you are going to attract the attention of the faeries. If you have children who have a natural flair for magick, you're in for even more interesting times.

When our old orange tabby cat died a few years ago, the whole family was heartbroken, my daughter especially, as Skippy had been “her cat.” Our other cat, a young gray and black tabby, was lonely without Skippy, but we all decided to wait a while before adopting another animal into the family.

My daughter, Kat, was not so patient. After a few weeks it seemed like every time I opened the door, a different friendly stray cat would be sitting on my front porch—harmless, cute, curious, and wanting a good scratch. My daughter was only too happy to oblige. I warned the kids to be careful and not to feed any strays, and assumed that would be the end of it. A few days later I arrived home from work to find my daughter sitting in the back yard with a big fluffy orange cat on her lap. After the initial double-take, when I assured myself that it was not our Skippy, I went outside to ask her about her new friend.

The cat had a collar and actually belonged to a family down the street. No, we could not keep him, I told her. However now that he had found a soft touch, that fluffy cat was back every day. For a month this neighbor would sit outside under the kitchen window and meow loudly until Kat came outside to hold him and play with him. This continued all summer until the family that he belonged to moved away. When the parade of strays suddenly resumed once again, I took my daughter aside and reminded her that it was okay to miss her pet. I then gently asked her if she had been working any magick.

Her face turned red, and she started to laugh nervously at her spell's success. Kat admitted that she had asked the faeries to send us another cat. And they certainly had, every stray in the neighborhood. “What do we do now?” she asked me.

That evening, the two of us performed a small ritual to thank the faeries for helping, but to please stop sending any more cats to us for now. The parade of strays stopped immediately.

I bet you're wondering if my daughter ever managed to get another pet? Yes, she did. About a year later, my family adopted a stray kitten from the animal shelter in our neighborhood. We ended up with a sleek, solid black feline with bright yellow eyes. She adores my daughter and follows Kat everywhere.

Sometimes faery mischief gets a little out of hand. Signs to look for are a suspicious string of small annoyances or bad luck—missing jewelry that will then turn up in odd places, skittish household pets, and a house that never seems at rest or calm, even after the kids go to sleep.

A witch that I know, Crystal, has a young daughter who possesses a real knack for calling in the faeries. Missy is a natural. At the tender age of eleven, this young girl possesses as much information and experience of working with faery energy as most adult practitioners that I know.

Unfortunately, it tended to create havoc with any and all spells that her mother performed. The entire house and yard was a hotbed of mischievous faery activity. Guest's car keys would disappear, and the house had an unsettled, jumpy feeling, way beyond what you would expect in a house full of small children. When our group put their heads together, we came up with a way to minimize the trouble her daughter was causing, albeit unknowingly.

The first thing we did was to have Crystal cleanse the house and perform a banishing. As a single mom she was the head of the house, and if anyone could do a little faery busting, it should be her. I had her take some salt and water and asperge the four corners of the house and announce that any unknown spell or purpose not in alignment with herself should depart.

Why? Because by announcing that any magick other than her own had to go, she cleaned up any extra bits of magickal energy that might have been floating around, causing chaos. I encouraged her to remind her daughter to take down any circles that she was casting—no sense in having a bunch of trapped, pissed-off elementals hanging around the house. They had enough nature spirit activity in there already.

As a group, we all tried to teach Missy some faery etiquette. Nicole (another adult member of the group, who is herself very talented with nature spirits) gently reminded Missy to be very careful with the faeries. Nicole and I both warned Missy that the Fae are infamous for stirring up trouble and causing mischief, just for the sheer joy of it. It is simply their way. Nicole had a personal stake in this, as it was always her keys that would disappear! They turned up in the weirdest places on circle night. I would watch her put her keys in her purse and then later, when it was time to go home, they were usually gone.

Crystal performed her cleansing and it worked out very well. The animals are calmer and friendlier, and her house is a much more relaxing place to be. It now has a welcoming, I'm-so-glad-you're-here feeling. So the moral of these stories are (and all good faery tales have a moral): Don't allow your children free rein with faery magick. Supervise them if possible, or you may find yourself in some faery-mayhem situations. Remember to teach your children that if they work with faeries to always make sure they work inside of a cast circle. More importantly, remind them to take down their circles when they are finished. Encourage the fairies to live outside in the garden and everyone will be happier.

My teenage daughter Kat helped me to write these next faery spells. She went over this entire chapter's spells and charms with all of the relentless enthusiasm of a drill sergeant. I dedicate this chapter to her because she always insisted, rather loudly, that I should tell our faery stories.

Do you seek the road to fairyland? I'll tell; it's easy, quite.
Wait till a yellow moon gets up o'er purple seas by night
And gilds a shining pathway that is sparkling diamond bright
Then, if no evil power be nigh to thwart you out of spite,
And if you know the very words to cast a spell of might,
You get upon a thistledown and, if the breeze is right,
You sail away to Fairyland along this track of light.

Ernest Thompson Seton

Faery Spells

Spell for Faery Protection of Your Property

For this spell, you will need:

• A small, attractive faery or gnome statue to place in your garden, to represent
their benevolent presence on the property

• A few tealights

• Violet or lilac oil (just a drop or two)

• A posy, or small bouquet of flowers that are sacred to the faeries

• Timing: In a waxing or full moon. Work on a Monday for the moon's psychic influence. Chant the following spell three times:

Small garden faeries, brownies, and gnomes,

Come circle 'round and protect my home.

A token of friendship I now leave in this place

May you always guard and defend this sacred space.

Stopping Faery Mischief in the Home

To work this spell, you will need:

• A tealight

• Patchouli oil (a drop or two on the candle)

• A half cup of graveyard dirt—if you can't discreetly get your hands on some, you may substitute dried, crushed mullein leaves

• Iron cauldron, any size. Put the graveyard dirt in the cauldron. Place a tealight inside of the cauldron, on top of the dirt. If you use dried mullein leaves, sprinkle them in a circle going in a widdershins direction around the
outside
of the cauldron. (For safety, do not have dry ingredients near an open flame.)

• Timing: On a full moon for power; during the waning moon for a banishing; and in the dark of the moon if you are in
way
over your head. Work on a Friday (Venus' day) if you are asking them to leave nicely. Choose a Saturday, Saturn's day, for a full-blown banishing, should the situation be intense. Repeat this spell three times.

That's quite enough trouble, it's time now to cease,

Halt your Fae mischief, cause no more faery grief.

With love I release you, go safely on your way,

Return to the garden to sing, dance, and play.

Take out your garden witchery notebook or use this book's journal and jot down your ideas for a faery garden, and note any faery plants that may already be growing in your yard. (Don't overlook those violets!) Make a wish list for some new enchanting plants and add them into your garden as soon as you are able.

Nature spirits are shy and may take some time before they will make their presence known to you. Be patient. You will probably sense them long before you ever catch a glimpse of them. Pay attention as you work in your garden. I have watched with held breath as the flowers quivered or a tree limb bounced, for no other obvious reason, as I spoke to a plant or tree. The faeries may make their presence known in a variety of ways.

Even I, who have worked with the garden faeries for many years, was surprised to have been awoken late one Beltane night to the sound of what could only be described as faery music. Drifting through the window, first loud and then soft, came the unbelievable combination of whispers, flutes, and bells. Coming fully awake, I raced to the bedroom window to try and pinpoint the source of that sound. As I stood there, I began to realize the sound was definitely coming from somewhere out in the garden. Did I rush outside to investigate? No, I accepted it as the extraordinary gift that it was, for I knew that to intrude would be disrespectful. I climbed back into bed and happily burrowed under the covers just to listen, leaving the faeries to their own revelry.

[contents]

I have never had so many good ideas, day

after day, as when I worked in the garden.

John Erskine

8

Garden Witch Crafts

T
his chapter puts the “craft” back into your witchcraft. Are you ready to put a whole new spin on the arts and crafts store? I'll warn you now, you'll never look at a craft store the same way again after I get through with you.

We are going to explore making magickal accessories. You'll find directions on how to sew some drawstring-style charm bags and magickal herbal-scented dream pillows, as well as recipes for magickal sachets to fill those charm bags and pillows. There are instructions for fashioning dried tussie-mussie bouquets. We'll look at formulas for bath salts, suggestions for herbal wreaths, and thoughts on creating your own garden witch's Book of Shadows. This chapter will finish with a small correspondence chart of backyard flowers and plants, including everyday herbs that you probably have in your cupboards and their magickal uses, as well as crystal and color correspondence tables.

Magickal accessories such as pillows are an easy, inexpensive project to start out with, even for those of us who shudder at the sight of a sewing machine. My sewing skills are basic at best, limited to pillows, craft projects, hemming the occasional pair of shorts, and, of course, the yearly Halloween costumes.

Botanical, celestial, and Halloween fabrics are fun to work with for your projects. Sometimes the celestial or astrological prints may be found in the juvenile section. In the fall, when they put out the winter holiday fabrics, you can usually find prints in deep purple and blue with metallic stars and such. Watch for sales or check the bargain tables.

I will confess that I am always on the lookout for Halloween fabric. I've made vests, table cloths, throw pillows, and, of course, many charm bags out of Halloween material. Halloween fabrics featuring adorable folk-art witches, full moons, stars, and cats usually start to show up in stores around July. Some fabric stores will carry it year 'round, but they will have a bigger selection in the late summer months.

I think charm bags that are sewn up from fabric that has witches and other magickal themes on them are fun and clever. They're
charm
bags, after all. For those anal-retentive types who consider Halloween fabrics that sport cute little girl witches with pumpkins and cats beneath them, or harvest-theme material that feature witches on brooms and stirring cauldrons in bad taste . . . I say, oh, loosen up. You are allowed to laugh and enjoy your witchcraft, you know. Tuck that tongue firmly in your cheek and let's have some fun, shall we?

What is charm? It is what the violet has
and the camellia has not.

Francis Marion Crawford

Charm Bags

Charm bags are a classic example of a garden witch craft. With a few simple ingredients found around the house, some fabric, a bit of ribbon, herbs from the garden, and the secret added power of the garden witch, you have the makings of a potent magickal tool.

Often the simplest and easiest magicks, such as a charm bag filled with magickally charged herbs and stones, will work the best. Small and easily portable, they make wonderful magickal talismans for all kinds of situations: for good luck on job interviews, healing after a surgery, keeping ghosts out of a home, or increasing sales at a business—just about anything you can think of.

A good illustration of the charm bag would be one that I made for a coworker who traveled all the time but was actually afraid to fly. This charm bag included a moonstone for safe travel and some homegrown lavender and a few drops of the essential oil for its calming effects. I tossed in some sea salt to banish negativity and added yarrow for courage. I passed it along with instructions to keep the bag on his person or in his carryon bag. After returning from his trip, it was reported back to me that it was the smoothest flight he had ever taken and that he was even bumped up to first class!

Sewing Directions for Drawstring Charm Bags

1. Cut out two fabric pieces into 4 x 6-inch sections. Press under
1
⁄
4
inch
across the shorter side.

2. To make the drawstring channel, fold over the fabric again
1
⁄
2
inch. Press.
Sew right above the folded edge. Make sure you are allowing enough room
for a ribbon to pass through. Repeat on the second section of fabric.

3. Turn both pieces so the right sides are facing each other. Pin in place.

4. Sew
4
⁄
8
-inch seams across the bottom and the sides, stopping just before
your seam along the top folded edge. Clip corners. Turn right-side out and press.

5. Cut twelve inches of a coordinating ribbon and pull through the seam allowance,
across the top of both sides of the bag, with a safety pin. Cut the ribbons at an
angle to help avoid fraying. Pulling on both ribbons will draw the bag tightly
closed.

Charm Bag Instructions

Now, to fill those charm bags using ideas listed under Recipes for Spellbinding Sachets on
page 146
. The ingredients are given in the following order: charm bag color, suggested herbs, and suggested crystals. In regards to the crystals, use those small, inexpensive tumbling stones that you can pick up at any metaphysical or nature-type store.

Choose your ingredients, and place them into the charm bag. Draw the ribbon up tightly to close the bag. Empower the magickal sachet by holding it in both hands and visualizing what it is that you want it to do. Then, using an old Craft standby, tie the charm bag shut and knot the ribbon three times, saying:

By the powers of the moon (tie the first knot)

The stars (tie the second knot)

And the sun (tie the third knot)

Do as I will, an' it harm none.

Or, if you prefer, you may try this:

By the powers of the Maiden (knot)

The Mother (knot)

And the Crone (knot)

Bless this charm bag that I have sewn.

To sleep: perchance to dream . . .

Shakespeare

Dream Pillows

Dream pillows are small, decorative pillows filled with stuffing and a small amount of dried, fragrant herbs, such as lavender or rose petals, to promote restful sleep or love. These make a fun and easy project for a beginner or for a teen. Celestial fabrics and botanical prints in particular are delightful choices for dream pillows.

Dream Pillow Direction

1. Cut your dream pillow fabric into 6
1
⁄
2
-inch squares. Place the right sides of the fabric together.

2. Sew shut three of the sides of the pillow using a
4
⁄
8
-inch seam allowance. On the final and fourth side, sew the seams in one inch on both sides, leaving the center open to receive stuffing.

3. Turn pillow right-side out, work out the corners to a point, and press.

4. Stuff the pillow with fiberfill and add a few tablespoons of dried herbs.

5. If you care to use an essential oil, use one drop in the center of the stuffing. Don't go overboard on the oils. It will stain the pillow and, if the scent is too strong, it may make the recipient nauseous. A light scent is desirable, nothing more.

6. Sew the pillow shut by hand. Pin the raw edges together, turning them to the inside, and then whipstitch the pillow closed with matching thread.

To enchant your dream pillow, say this verse while you sew the pillow shut:

By the powers of magick and flowers grown,

Bless this dream pillow that I have sewn.

Secure your seam with three knots and snip the thread on the last verse.

Note: Please be careful and do not use any herb or oil that may be toxic, especially if you are giving this pillow to a older child or pregnant woman. If this is a gift for a child, make sure that they are old enough not to eat the contents.

Some safe herbs, fragrant flowers, and spices to use in dream pillows are lavender for peace; rose petals for love and romance; chamomile flowers to soothe and uplift; calendula blooms promote good health; mint leaves encourage prosperity and are refreshing; dried, grated orange rind and lemon rind will perk you up and boost your energy; and rose geranium leaves are for elegance and devotion.

Recipes for Spellbinding Sachets

These sachets may be inserted into either charm bags or dream pillows.

Conception:
Pastel yellow for creativity (tie up the bag with blue and or pink ribbons); yarrow, rosebuds, cyclamen leaf or bloom for fertility; acorns for a boy and cinquefoil for a girl (add both if you aren't particular); rose quartz for love; and a moonstone for the Goddess' assistance.

Good Luck:
Green and gold; a four-leaf clover, mint, cinquefoil, basil, and an oak or maple leaf for prosperity and good fortune; aventurine is the gambler's stone.

Love:
Pink and red; red rose petals, yarrow, and rosemary for love; a maple leaf to sweeten things up; rose quartz for love. Note: Don't target anyone specifically, use this to draw love to you.

Peace:
Blue or light purple; angelica, lavender flowers, and pink rose petals for peace and healing; an amethyst and moonstone for their protective and calming qualities.