Supermarket Magic: Creating Spells, Brews, Potions and Powders From Everyday Ingredients (23 page)

• Fall Harvest Powder

Pour a ring of powder around the outside of your

home to bless and protect it from danger.

Charms

This charm can be made to increase wisdom and the abil-

ity to make correct choices and all it takes are three nuts that are renowned for their powers of wisdom and mind

strengthening.

Autumn Nut Charm

• 1 black, brown or red charm bag

• 1 almond

• 1 hazelnut

• 1 walnut

Charge each of the nuts individually with your intent

then place them in the charm bag and seal it. Carry the

bag with you as often as possible.

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Foods

The foods of the Autumn Equinox are all the traditional

“Thanksgiving” foods; roast turkey or chicken, mashed

potatoes, baked squash, apple and pumpkin pies and

breads. A traditional bread for the Sabbats is an older,

heavy bread known as bannock.

Harvest Bannock

• 2 cups flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup butter

• ½ cup water

Mix together the flour and salt. Cut in the butter and

add water. Knead the dough until smooth. Grease a pan

(preferably cast iron) and press the bannock into the pan.

Bake on top of the stove on low heat. Cook slowly, mak-

ing sure the outside does not burn before the center is

cooked. When the bread can be released from the pan

(about ten minutes into cooking), carefully flip it over and cook the other side of the bread (approximately ten more

minutes), then place on wire rack to cool. Bless the bread as it cools and serve with butter.

Shopping List

Here are the items and ingredients used for Autumn

Equinox in this section.

Sabbats and Esbats 253

❏ Almond (nuts ❏ Flour

❏ Rosemary

and oil)

❏ Apple (fruit

❏ Hazelnut

❏ Sage

and juice)

❏ Butter

❏ Honey

❏ Salt

❏ Candles (dark ❏ Passionflower ❏ Walnut

red, brown,

tea

orange, yellow

and green)

❏ Cloth (black, ❏ Pomegranate

brown or red)

juice

Esbats

Esbats are celebrations held on specific moon phases usu-

ally the full moon, but may also be held on the new moon

or on a weekly basis. Weekly coven meetings aren’t usually overly formal; they are generally study meetings so, I am

going to focus on the new moon and full moon Esbats.

New Moon Esbats

The new moon is the time when the sun and the moon

meet in the same astrological sign and are considered

“conjunct” and if there is an exact conjunction, a solar

eclipse results. Since the new moon is the beginning of

the lunar cycle, a new moon Esbat is a time of new be-

ginnings and in my tradition, any meetings held on the

new moon focus on asking for the guidance and inspira-

254 Chapter 12

tion to understand the nature of our obstacles and the

strength to overcome them. Then the chalice (filled with

juice or wine) and a white candle are passed around and

each member gives thanks for a blessing in their life and

states a problem that they wish worked on. They then

take a sip from the chalice and pass it and the candle to

the next person. After everyone has had their turn with

cup and candle, any training exercises are worked on, fre-

quently a magical goal for the full moon is discussed and

finally, it is time to acknowledge and settle any grievances coven members may have. New moon esbats, at least in

my tradition, are mostly practical occasions; think family meeting versus intricate religious ceremony.

Full Moon Esbats

The full moon is the culmination of psychic power. It is

the exact midway point in the lunar cycle when the sun

and moon are opposite each other. This esbat is more for-

mal as it is a celebration of the moon and the Goddess.

In my tradition, it is kind of complex as more than one

goddess is honored, but to each their own. In any case,

the full moon esbat begins at moonrise (dusk). The cel-

ebrants gather together and bannock bread is baked (see

Autumnal Equinox section of this chapter) and a special

potion is brewed in the cauldron. The celebrants call on

the goddesses and visualize beams of moonlight being

drawn down and filling their third eyes and or hearts with goddess energy. They pay homage to the goddesses and

Sabbats and Esbats 255

then call down moonlight into the chalice, which is filled with pure water. The water is then sprinkled around and

everyone also takes a sip from this cup. Next, the group

joins together to cast a spell for a previously agreed upon goal. Afterward, the esbat meal is held with everyone

having some of the bannock and some of the potion from

the cauldron. Finally, any divination or psychic work is

engaged in and then, the ceremony is concluded.

Since both the new and full moon esbats are about

the moon, the foods and oils, charms, etc. are all moon-

related and so shall all be grouped together.

Brews

This tea can be brewed during an esbat ceremony and

sipped to connect to the lunar energy and promote a re-

laxed mental state; the ideal frame of mind for magic.

Lunar Tea

• 1 passionflower tea bag

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 cups water

Heat the water to boiling then remove from heat and

add the tea bag and lemon juice. Cover and let steep for

ten minutes. Pour a cupful and sweeten with the honey

to taste.

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Oils

This esbat oil can be used to anoint the wrists, third eye and back of the neck to promote psychic ability and a

proper ritual mindset.

Esbat Oil

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest

• 1 tablespoon lemongrass

• 3 bay leaves

• ½ cup grape seed oil

Combine the ingredients in a pot and warm over

low heat until the air smells lemony. Remove from heat

and let cool completely. Once cooled, charge the oil with

lunar energy, strain and bottle.

Oil Spells

This spell is to find a solution in which there seems to

be no way to make everyone happy. Too many people are

under the impression that in order to “win” someone else

has to “lose” but, in the Craft, with the concept of the

Infinity of Solution, all things are possible.

Full Moon Infinity of Solution Spell

• 1 white candle

• Esbat Oil

Sabbats and Esbats 257

• Pin

Scratch the problem into the candle with the pin.

Anoint the candle with the oil and charge it with your

desire to solve the problem in such a way as everybody

is happy. Do not focus on any way that this might be ac-

complished; remember, only focus on the end result in

magic and NEVER on the process! Once the candle has

been charged, light it and say, “Conflict has grown and

needs to be cured, a remedy is sought in which all may

find joy. For good of all, harm to none is ensured, infinity of solution, I hereby employ.”

Allow the candle to burn out on its own is safe to do

so. If not let it burn for as long as you can and extinguish.

Re-light each day until it is completely burned down.

Powders

This powder can be used to ring candles on an esbat altar

and also used in spells of purification and protection.

Moon Dust Powder

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest, dried

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes,

dried

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

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Grind and combine the lemon zest and coconut

flakes. Add the cornstarch; charge with intent and bottle

for use.

Charms

This charm can be carried to enhance psychic ability. Rub

the bag on your third eye daily and before engaging in any divination or psychic work.

Witches’ Moon Charm Bag

• Piece of lemon peel cut in a crescent

moon shape and dried

• 1 teaspoon cloves

• 2 teaspoons lemongrass

• 1 teaspoon cucumber seeds

• ½ teaspoon poppy seeds

• 1 white charm bag

Combine all the ingredients in the charm bag and

seal. Hold the bag in your hands and charge it with lunar

energy. Say, “Magic herbs and Witches’ moon, I ask you

now for psychic boon. Let my intuition be unleashed and

free, empower this charm, so mote it be.” Carry the bag

with you as much as possible.

Sabbats and Esbats 259

Foods

As previously mentioned, in my tradition bannock bread

is a staple for esbats. In modern times, there are many

recipes that have evolved for use in the ritual meals. Potatoes, turnips, cabbage and mushrooms have lunar associa-

tions and lemonade and white grape juice or white wine

are ritually appropriate esbat beverages. One of the most

well known foods eaten on holidays, particularly esbats

are crescent cakes which are essentially almond cookies

that are moon shaped and a frequent item served during

the “Cakes and Wine” ceremony of Sabbats and esbats.

Crescent Cakes

• 1 cup almonds, ground

• 1 ¼ cups flour

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• ½ cup butter

• 1 egg yolk

Mix flour, sugar and nuts in a large bowl. Cut in

butter and egg yolk. Cover the bowl and chill dough for

1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape the chilled

dough into a log and cut off 1 inch thick pieces. Shape

the pieces of dough into crescents or roll out the dough

and cut out shapes with a moon shaped cookie cutter and

set them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for

260 Chapter 12

15 to 20 minutes and cool on a wire rack. If desired, you

can toss the cookies in additional powdered sugar before

serving.

Shopping List

Here is the list of ingredients and items used for esbats.

❏ Almonds

❏ Cornstarch

❏ Grape seed oil

❏ Bay leaves

❏ Cucumber

❏ Lemon

❏ Butter

❏ Eggs

❏ Lemongrass

❏ Candles

❏ Flour

❏ Passionflower

(white)

tea

❏ Cloth (white) ❏ Honey

❏ Poppy seed

❏ Cloves

❏ Grape juice

❏ Sugar

(white)

(powdered)

❏ Coconut flakes

this chapter has listings of herbs for you to use in

your own spells, rituals, and magical formulas. There

are different listings for astrological and planetary herbs as well as herbs grouped by the elements. Every herb

listed can be purchased at a supermarket.

Astrological Herbs

These are herbs that are attuned to the different signs

of the zodiac. Some herbs have more than one listing as

some signs have more than one ruler.

Aries

Allspice, cloves, fennel seed and peppermint

Taurus

Apple, cardamom, thyme and vanilla

261

262 Chapter 13

Gemini

Almond, anise, dill, lemongrass and parsley

Cancer

Coconut, lemon, cucumber seeds or peel

Leo

Cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and rosemary

Virgo

Almond, lemon or chocolate mint, dill and fennel seed

Libra

Apple, marjoram/oregano, spearmint, thyme and vanilla

Scorpio

Allspice, basil, cloves, cumin, and ginger

Sagittarius

Nutmeg, orange and sage

Capricorn

Sage, black cherry, beet greens

Aquarius

Almond, mace, mint (all types)

Pisces

Anise, catnip, cloves and lemon

Miscellany 263

Planetary Herbs

These herbs are listed according to their planetary asso-

ciations. Again, some herbs have more than one listing as

originally, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were unknown and

the magical lore surrounding these heavenly bodies is still being gathered.

Moon

Aloe, cabbage, coconut, cucumber, gourd, grape, lemon,

lettuce, mushroom, papaya, peas, peach, pear, poppy seed,

potato, turnip

Sun

Bay, cashew, chamomile, chicory, cinnamon, ginseng,

hazel nuts, olive, orange, pineapple, rice, rosemary, saffron, sesame, sunflower, tangerine, tea, walnut

Mercury

Almond, bean, brazil nut, caraway, celery, dill, fennel,

hazel nuts, lemongrass, mace, marjoram, parsley, pecan,

peppermint, pistachio, pomegranate, summer savory

Venus

Alfalfa, apple, apricot, avocado, banana, barley, blackberry, buckwheat, cardamom, cherry, corn, huckleberry, raspberry, spearmint, thyme, vanilla

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Mars

Allspice, basil, carrot, chili peppers, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, horseradish, leek, mustard, onion, peppermint, radish