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21 Easy Ways to Celebrate Samhain and Halloween

It’s time to celebrate Samhain, and Halloween too! So Samhain and Halloween are but days away and this year is going to be unlike any other for quite a few reasons! Full Moon, Blue Moon, it’s on a Saturday, and oh yeah COVID is still here!

Samhain is always a highly anticipated night in our house and in the witch community in general, even without all of these extra special touches! Lol.

Now when you think of celebrating such a big Sabbat you may think, oh I need 16 hours, flowy robes, a bonfire, a coven, and a spirit to communicate with in order to do this properly or I may as well do nothing at all. Oh, and is it okay to celebrate Samhain and Halloween both?

Me and this post are here to say NO, you don’t need all of those crazy fixings, and YES, it is absolutely okay to celebrate Samhain and Halloween!

So today I bring you 21 easy ways for you to celebrate the day, remember loved ones, have fun, and get into the spirit of the season without robes, or bonfires, or even leaving your house.

The Spirit of the Season

Samhain is an exceptional night for many. Even if you don’t identify as a witch, but are a seasonal living enthusiast embracing this day is such a big part of it. And it’s filled with so much lore and meaning that it should really be a hallmark in everyone’s Autumn season.

If you read my post on Ways to Live Seasonally, you’ll remember that embracing seasonal activities and holidays, is on there.

This day is a celebration of life, death, and new beginnings, let’s harness that energy in order to motivate and propel us forward into the darker part of the year with renewed energies, motivation, and hope.

A Note on Halloween

Just a quick note to elaborate my view on this. It is totally fine for one to celebrate Samhain and our more modern Halloween traditions together in harmony.

A lot of people only celebrate one or the other without a second thought which is totally okay too. But, for me, I love both so very much and I don’t believe the fun and joy of one takes anything away from the beautiful and special traditions of the other.

Our modern-day Halloween traditions evolved from Samhain after all. So although they are indeed very different in today’s modern world they are still connected and, at least in my house, both can be celebrated with great enthusiasm.

So regardless whether you celebrate Samhain, Halloween, or a combination of the two there will be ideas on this list to make it a meaningful, thought inducing, beautiful, and super fun night!

Here we go!

21 Easy Ways to Celebrate Samhain and Halloween

Write a Samhain Journal Entry

Take a few minutes from your day and write down the changes you would like to see moving forward. What things are you ready to let go of and what goals are you ready to really tackle?

Many consider this the Witches New Year and it’s a perfect time for planning new beginnings.

Make a Witchy Bucket List

Make a list of all of the things you would like to accomplish in your spiritual practice in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Perhaps you want to learn more about herbs, kitchen magick, start a Grimoire/BOS, or begin connecting with a deity. Maybe all of those things!

Write them down and check them off throughout the year as you accomplish them. I don’t know about you but checking things off a list always makes me feel accomplished.

Have a Nature Walk

A wonderful way to celebrate Samhain, and any other Sabbat really. Take a few minutes from your day, go outside, and connect with nature.

Autumn is such a glorious season. As you are walking clear your mind and really take in your surroundings, the trees, the colours, the scents of fall, the way the air feels on your face. And during your walk give thanks to mother earth for all that she does for us.

Do a Meditation to Honour Your Ancestors

A meditation doesn’t need to be an hour long. Even if you can only spare 10 minutes from your day for this you will feel good that you took the time to make it happen.

Sit somewhere quiet and take these few minutes to remember your loved ones who have passed on, think of happy memories, their smile, their favourite things and let them know they are in your heart and with you always.

Honouring those who have passed on is an integral part of Samhain and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Do a Quick Tarot Reading for Yourself

Even just a little three card reading can be beneficial to see a glimmer of what may be in store this year and give you a bit to think about in terms of you path and the directions and changes you will make moving forward.

Celebrate Samhain & Halloween with Decorations!

Embrace the symbols and colours of the season.

Surround yourself with pumpkins, skulls, ghosty things, and maybe carve a pumpkin. Decorating is a hugely fun part of the holiday, and a fun activity to do with the little ones if you happen to have any running around.

Bake a Halloween Treat Symbolizing New Beginnings

There is always some baking going on in my house for Samhain and Halloween. No reason not to infuse a little magick into your treats this year.

Enjoying some special goodies is also a staple part of the season. Most holidays have food involved and Samhain is no different.

Light Candles for Your Loved Ones

Light candles for your loved ones as a sign of remembrance.

You can place them in the window to help guide them on their journey this night where the veil is thinned and spirits roam.

Light a Candle for Yourself

Light a candle and recite affirmations for yourself.

Things you would like to see yourself accomplish in the coming weeks and months. Candle work is a mini fire ritual on its own, no huge bonfire required.

Have a Ritual Bath

A peaceful bath with some candles, maybe some oils and salts, to release negativity is a timely activity to perform on Samhain.

Releasing any negative energies that you have built up in order to enter this new year feeling cleansed and refreshed.

Cleanse Your Space

We don’t want to forget about our homes as well!

Simply burning appropriate herbs and walking through each room of your house will do the trick. Walk throughout your home slowly, focusing your energies and visualizing any negativity lifting away out into the aether.

It’s Not Halloween Without Costumes!

We usually have a party at our place and costumes are required lol. Alas, this year there will be no gathering of friends but that’s no excuse to not really have some fun and get into costume!

And it’ll be fun for the trick or treaters, if trick or treating is still happening in your area. And if not, just get dressed up and have a photoshoot, because let’s be honest that is always a good time!

Tell Ghost Stories

Samhain is steeped in lore about ghosts, ghouls, demons, and the like. All of these otherworldly creatures are said to walk the earth during Samhain when the veil between worlds is at it’s thinnest.

Embrace the spookier side of the season, make a hot bevvy and tell some stories. If you’re brave enough that is!

And you can check out this article from Reader’s Digest to get you started: The 13 Most Haunted Places in the World.

Watch a Scary Movie

What would this season be without some good jump scares. ‘Halloween’ anyone?

Charge Your Crystals

This Samhain is also a Full Moon. Take advantage of that energy and set your crystals outside to charge.

Charging your crystals under a Full Moon is a powerful way to re-invigorate their energies, and doing so under a Samhain Full Moon will be doubly so.

Host a Dumb Supper

During your evening meal leave a place setting empty for your loved ones who have passed and eat your meal in silence.

If you don’t want to do the silent part you can still leave out the empty place setting. This literally takes no extra time out of your day.

Add Some Samhain Pages to Your BOS or Grimoire

If you keep a Book of Shadows or Grimoire add some info in there on Samhain.

If you already have pages on the Sabbat there is always something new you can add in. Some facts you maybe didn’t know or a new ritual perhaps. Be creative!

Keeping one of these is a wonderful outlet for both your practice and your creative spirit.

Create a Space to Honour Your Ancestors or Loved Ones

You can add these things to your altar if you have one but if not, you can simply set up a little space for them somewhere in your home.

You can put pictures, flowers, foods, and some of their favourite things. A simple and wonderful way to show remembrance.

Let Your Hair Down and Dance

Dance has long been associated with celebration and life.

Crank up your favourite seasonal tunes and let yourself go. Dancing is a wonderful way to release energies from the body and can have you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Just what the new year called for.

Make Moon Water

Fill a glass jar with water and focus your intentions on what the water will be used for, take your time with this process so that your focus is clear. Leave the jar outside over night to soak up those awesome Full Moon energies.

Celebrate Life

While this can be a somber day when we are missing our loved ones, it is also a day that should be filled with life and celebration.

This can mean anything that you feel is celebrating and honouring life. Indulge in your favourite foods, read a book, dance around your house, have sex…whatever it may be cherish the moments and really LIVE.

There you have it!

These ideas, especially some of them, should be fairly easy to incorporate into your day if you are crunched for time.

Pick one or two that really call out to you and do them with vigour. Really enjoy the moments, take them in, and savour them.

You can of course do as many of them as you wish or spend more time on any of them if you have it. Take a long luxurious bath, do an hour-long meditation, perform a lengthier ritual, or dedicate your whole day and do 15 different things lol. You do what resonates with you and what your schedule will allow.

If you feel you got the most out of your day and are happy with how you celebrated, that is what truly matters.

You can also check out my full post on Samhain Celebrations and Correspondences for some more ideas and inspiration if you wish.

Your turn! Tell me your Samhain wishes!

Do you normally celebrate Samhain, Halloween, or both? How will you be celebrating this year? I always love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment or drop me a line. There are lots of ways for us to connect

And if you enjoyed the post, remember you can SUBSCRIBE, receive your Mini Autumn Grimoire Bundle for FREE, and be the first to know about new content and exclusive freebies!

Happy planning pixie dolls.

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

13 Best Witch Quotes to Get You Into the October Spirit

Well the Season of the Witch has arrived! October has begun and I am here for all of it. Halloween, Samhain, cooler weather, sweaters, boots, witches everywhere, and all of the hot beverages. Witch quotes included lol.

Now I may be a witch all year but witchy movies, costumes, and the like are a staple of the Halloween season and I’m not gonna lie, I love it!

So, to help get everyone into the spirit of the season I put together a just for fun post of some of my favourite quotes about, and by, witches.

Seemed like the perfect way to kick off my October posts! So let’s get into them.

13 of the Best Witch Quotes for the Season

1. "When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers 'tis near Halloween." ~ unknown

2. " The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life." ~ Margot Adler

3. " The moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun. The light has been broken, the spell has begun." ~ Midgard Morningstar

4. " In this whole side wicked world the only thing you have to be afraid of is me." ~ Fiona, (AHS Coven)

5. "For all you know, a witch may be living next door to you right now." ~ Roald Dahl

6. "You have witchcraft in your lips." ~ William Shakespeare

7. "You've always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself." ~ Glinda (The Wizard of Oz)

8. "To me, a witch is a woman that is capable of letting her intuition take hold of her actions, that communes with her environment, that isn't afraid of facing challenges." ~ Paulo Coelho

9. "A witch ought never be frightened in the darkest forest because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her." ~ Terry Pratchett

10. "Witchcraft...is a spiritual path. You walk it for nourishment of the soul, to commune with the life force of the universe, and to thereby better know your own life." ~ Christopher Penczak

11. "Love for life in all its forms is the basic ethic of witchcraft." ~ Starhawk

12. "Never put your faith in a Prince. When you require a miracle, trust in a witch." ~ Catherine M. Valente (In the Night Garden)

13. "There's a little witch in all of us." ~ Aunt Jet (Practical Magic)

There you have it!

13 of my of my favourite witch quotes. However, I have to write a little disclaimer. Some of these refer to witch as ‘her’ or a ‘woman’. If these were my quotes they would not tie witch to only women. A witch can be anyone at all. Gender need not apply.

The sentiment of these quotes however speaks to my little witchy soul. I hope that they sparked a bit of magic in you as well!

Let me here from you!

Do you have a favourite witchy quote that I didn’t include in my list?

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials.

And remember, if you enjoyed this post, and would like some serious Autumn inspiration, you can check out my newly released Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook for recipes, rituals, and autumn correspondences. You can find full details HERE.

And you can also SUBSCRIBE to The Wholesome Witch Mailing List to receive a 20% OFF discount code for my Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook, as well as my full Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide as a thank you!

Happy October friends! Let the season of the witch begin!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Easy and Delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for Prosperity

Who doesn’t love a good oatmeal chocolate chip muffin? Add in an intention for prosperity and it’s the perfect little magickal filled snack, or breakfast lol.

And, for a lot of us, Autumn is a time for baking! Treats that are prevalent throughout the season are just some of the tastiest. Umm hello pumpkin spice lol.

The ritual of baking also helps to fill our home with those quintessential warm and cozy fall vibes. Not to mention delightful aromas!

So all that being said, today we shall indulge in making Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for Prosperity. A healthier, vegan version of course.

Before You Begin

Infusing your meals and baked goods with intention is at the very core of Kitchen Witchery. Joy, abundance, protection, you name it.

A good tip is to always set these intentions and choose your goal prior to beginning. Even before preparing anything. That way you can have that focus in mind for the entire process, from cleansing down the counters, to the moment you remove your delicious creation from the oven. The whole process should be a relaxing, joy filled ritual.

There are lots of little extras you can add to amp up the power of your spell. It could be burning a candle of the appropriate colour (or white) while you work, placing a crystal that corresponds with your goal on or near your workspace, giving your tools a quick blessing, reciting a little chant or spell, burning incense, or being mindful of the direction you are mixing.

Truly, there are many ways for us to infuse more magick into our meals. However, key elements are to be mindful, relaxed, and keep your intention in mind throughout the full process. And of course the ingredients you choose.

Key Magickal Properties

Each food carries their own magickal properties and can be used for many different kinds of spells. Here are the key magickal ingredients and their properties for our muffins today.

Whole Wheat Flour – prosperity, money

Oats – sustainability, wealth

Chocolate – love, grounding, prosperity

Cinnamon – prosperity, success, luck, strength

Apples – balance, harmony, peace

Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for Prosperity

Makes 12 servings – Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1⁄2 c. whole wheat flour (or gluten free 1-1 flour)
1 c. quick oats
3/4 c. golden cane sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp baking soda
1⁄2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 egg replacer (Bob Red’s Mill) or flax egg
1⁄2 c. non-dairy milk (I use oat)
3/4 c. applesauce
3 tbsp coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
1 1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c. vegan chocolate chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line your muffin tins with paper liners.
Mix together all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix together all wet ingredients.
Slowly combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour batter into your lined muffin tins.
Bake the muffins for 15 to 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the centre to test. Should come out clean.
Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes to cool then transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before serving or storing.

Nutritional Info Per Serving:

Cal 200 | Fat 7g | Carbs 35g | Protein 2.6g | Fibre 3g

These muffins are perfectly moist and delicious. Not to mention a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike. So enjoy!

May they assist in bringing you much prosperity in the coming weeks.

Your thoughts!

Do you have a favourite recipe you use for prosperity?

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials. And if you try out the recipe I would love to hear about that as well!

And remember, if you enjoyed this post, and for more Autumn inspiration, you can check out my newly released Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook for recipes, rituals, and autumn correspondences. You can find full details HERE.

And you can SUBSCRIBE to The Wholesome Witch Mailing List to receive a 20% OFF discount code for my Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook, as well as my full Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide as a thank you!

Sending much love and blessings for a beautiful autumn season my friend.

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Easy Gratitude Ritual for Mabon

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox is upon us! Mabon is not one of the larger Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. However, it is highly anticipated by many as it signifies the beginning of the Autumn season. The Season of the Witch. And performing a gratitude ritual is a wonderful way to help celebrate this turn of the wheel.

Mabon is also known as the Witches Thanksgiving. It is a time to be grateful for all we have received throughout the year. And, in times past, to be thankful for the bounty that the seasons harvest had provided to get through the winter months.

Seeing that we are no longer so dependent on the harvest to sustain us through winter, the notion of feeling grateful for the food we eat and all we have is, sadly, often lost.

Yes, we can run down to the super market and get just about any food we could want. This doesn’t mean we should forget to show gratitude. We must remember to show nature and the universe our thanks and appreciation.

Gratitude Magick

Mabon is an optimal time to perform spells and rituals to do with protection, cleansing, new beginnings, prosperity, and yes, gratitude.

For more info and correspondence for Mabon you can check out my full post on the celebration HERE.

I believe it is crucial to put our gratitude and appreciation out into the universe in order to cultivate positivity and prosperity in our lives. We don’t want to be always be asking for things without showing our thanks in return.

Therefore, for today’s post I have prepared a gratitude ritual to be performed on Mabon, or during the week of Mabon.

Mabon Reflections

Mabon is also a time for reflection. Reflecting on all the year has brought, where we are in our lives, and where we want to be. Sizing up what might need changing is an excellent practice for the fall season.

Let your starting point be gratitude. Allow your gratitude for where you are now motivate you and help to propel you towards where you want to be.

Note: This ritual is an excerpt from my Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook. If you enjoy it you can pop over HERE for full details and how to purchase. It’s on special sale until the equinox!

Mabon Gratitude Ritual

For your altar or ritual space, gather the following:

An offering of fresh fruits or vegetables (this can be offered to a deity you work with, Mother Nature, or the universe)
A candle signifying abundance – green, gold, or white
Allspice or Ginger Oil to anoint your candles, wrists, or ritual tools.
Jasmine Incense for happiness
1 Peridot stone to signify abundance and good luck.
Items that represent things in your life you are grateful for (photos of loved ones or pets, a shiny coin to symbolize enough wealth for the food on your table and roof over your head, a rock representing nature, etc.)
Brown marker to represent grounding and security
Piece of paper
Small enclosed box. Maybe something pretty that you feel fits into your altar set-up.

Ritual Steps

Light your incense and candles.
Take a moment to centre your thoughts and get that appreciation energy circulating.
Close your eyes and begin to imagine the things that you are grateful for. Anything you can think of, be it little or grand. What makes you happy in your life? What things could you not live without
Take the brown marker and make a list of all of the things you can think of that you are grateful for. Really all of them.
Once finished recite the list either out loud or in your mind to put those thoughts out into the universe.
Now fold the list 3 times and thank Mother Earth, the universe, the goddess, whatever feels right, for these gifts.
Place the folded list into the box with the peridot and close the lid.
Place the box on your altar in a special spot of your choosing.
If you’re ever feeling low or find yourself envious of things you don’t currently have, re-read your list or add things to it.
Each Mabon read your list from the previous year and replace it with a new list. This is a great reminder to see where you were and what your mindset was like one year ago.

After performing this ritual you will be ready to jump into the autumn season feeling grateful for all you have in life at this moment.

But also motivated. Motivated by where you are at now to have you pushing through these coming weeks with vigour. Moving towards your goals and the magickal life you are creating for yourself.

Your thoughts!

Do you already perform gratitude rituals? What else might you do for Mabon this year?

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials.

And remember, if you enjoyed this post, and for more Autumn inspiration, you can check out my Seasonal Kitchen Witch E-book Series for recipes, rituals, and autumn correspondences. You can find full details HERE.

And you can SUBSCRIBE to The Wholesome Witch Mailing List to receive a 20% OFF discount code for my Autumn Kitchen Witch E-book, as well as my Daily Witch Planner Pages as a thank you!

Sending much love and blessings for a beautiful autumn season my friend.

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Simple Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes for the Kitchen Witch

The Autumn Equinox is swiftly on it’s way and there is nothing quite like the scents of Autumn filling the home. Am I right? Cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, pumpkin spice and apple pie. Autumn has, without a doubt, some of my favourite aromas. And nothing creates a warm cozy atmosphere more than having these wafting throughout your home. Enter the simmer pot.

Now while I am a huge fan of scented candles and room sprays (natural ones of course), there is nothing quite like the way aromas created by a simmer pot fill your home with warmth and amazing energies.

Simmer pots are an efficient and non-toxic way to have your home smelling like autumn in a few short minutes.

And, added bonus, they also have wonderful magickal properties attached to them.

Read on to discover a few delicious recipes to have your home smelling lovely and your kitchen magick brewing this autumn season.

The Simmer Pot

Simmer pots are like boiled potpourri. Which sounds a bit weird, but it’s an accurate description lol.

You choose your ingredients, put them in a pot with water, bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and let it do its thing.

They couldn’t be any easier, just be sure you don’t let your pot boil dry! If you want to keep the pot going simply add more water when it gets low. And obviously never leave your stove on when you aren’t home. Let’s use our common sense here friends.

Simmer pots also lack the harsh toxins that are packed into conventional air freshener sprays and scented candles. Just fresh ingredients from your kitchen! Fake fragrance oils need not apply.

One more benefit, they are economical. Simmer pots are cost effective and can be thrown together with things you likely already have in your kitchen.

Just Say No to Chemicals

So let’s be real, generic scented candles and air fresheners are some pretty serious toxic offenders.

Paraffin candles give off toxic fumes on their own and now lets add mystery ingredient fragrance oils on top of that. Cause you know, they can just say they use ‘fragrance oils’ and be done with it. What exactly is in the ‘fragrance’? We really have no idea.

And air fresheners are a whole other ball game. You are literally just breathing in toxic fumes. That are almost always overpowering enough to have you choking on them. How refreshing! Note the sarcasm there.

My favourite ways to naturally freshen up my space are room sprays (non-toxic that I blend myself), soy essential oil scented candles, using my diffuser, and you guessed it, simmer pots!

There are so many natural ways to have your home smelling divine. You can most definitely skip the artificial stuff.

Simmer Pot Magick

Another great thing about a simmer pot is they can be used to assist in your magickal goals. You just need to choose the right ingredients to fit your agenda.

Items that create those autumn vibes have a wide array of magickal properties attached to them that can be used to your advantage.

When I do a simmer pot with a magickal goal in mind, I follow these simple steps to incorporate my magick and intention into the process:

Fill pot with water about 3/4 full.
Add ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer, stir the pot clockwise. Unless you are doing a banishing or releasing spell, in that case stir the pot counter clockwise.
Visualize your desired outcome or goal for the magickal work you are doing. Are you aiming to create happiness in the home, or more money in your wallet? Whatever it may be focus on what you want the outcome to look like. Continue with the visualization and stirring until it feels right to finish. You’ll know when!
You may recite your goal, a chant, or ritual words while you stir as well. Something pertaining to your desired outcome.
When you finish I would let the pot boil down until there is about an inch of water left and then turn it off. Your work is now complete

Note: You may also trace runes or symbols related to your goal in the air above the pot if you feel so inclined. Feel free to be inventive and really personalize the experience!

Simmer Pot Recipes

Apple Pie – for peace, harmony and love

3 apple slices
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp all spice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Pumpkin Spice – for prosperity, success, and wealth

1 tsp pumpkin spice
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp cloves
2 orange slices
1 tsp vanilla extract

A Taste of Autumn – for protection and releasing negative energies

2 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp whole cloves
2 orange slices
1 lemon slice
2 bay leaves
1 tsp vanilla extract

Witch Spice – for balance and inner strength

1 tsp star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp all spice
1 bay leaf
1 tsp ginger

These amounts are simply guidelines and ratios that I enjoy. Use more or less to suit your own tastes. Be creative and mix things up!

Love these recipes? Check out my whole seasonal simmer pot collection HERE.

What to do with your simmer pot ingredients when you are finished?

Another awesome thing about simmer pots is that they don’t create waste. You can simply compost your ingredients or dry them out and store in an airtight container to be used in future spells or for potpourri.

A note on using essential oils in your simmer pots.

Many people recommend essential oils as a good ingredient for your simmer pots. I fully have to disagree for a couple of reasons.

Essential oils are expensive and why use Lemon EO when you can use leftover lemon rinds? Or Clove EO when you have the spice sitting in your cupboard?

Another big reason for me is that essential oils are all flammable and have their own flashpoints (point at which the vapours formed can ignite if exposed to spark or flame). This caution is especially true if you have a gas stove.

I simply don’t use them in the kitchen at all when I have the stove on, call me paranoid, which I most definitely can be lol. Some people use them all of the time for their pots and it’s totally fine.

If you do decide to use them just use caution, common sense, and know well the oils you are working with.

But really an unnecessary addition to your simmer pots in my opinion when there are so many whole, natural, and affordable ingredients already in your kitchen.

Final thoughts.

Do you already do simmer pots at home? If so, what is your favourite recipe?

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials.

If you enjoyed this post and for more Autumn inspiration you can check out my Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook for recipes, rituals, and autumn correspondences.

And you can SUBSCRIBE to The Wholesome Witch Mailing List to receive a 20% OFF discount code for my Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook, as well as FREE Daily Witch Planner Pages as a thank you!

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magic,

Krystle xo

P.S. If you enjoyed this post you may also like diving into some candle magic as we enter this darker part of the year. You can check out my Candle Magic for Beginners post to get you started!

Sleepy Time Teas: 7 Teas for a Good Night’s Rest

Picture it, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you wake up in the morning feeling rested and refreshed. Ahhh, what a feeling. A feeling that many sadly can’t relate to. That’s why today we bring to you a list of sure fire sleepy time teas to help you get the rest you deserve.

So many people suffer from poor sleep. As a society, we are tired! We often don’t allow proper time for winding down or actual sleep.

And for a lot of us, once we do lay down it takes forever for sleep to actually arrive.

These 7 herbs taken in tea form can help you achieve the sleep of your dreams, so to speak. Lol. Just give them the chance to work their magic and you’ll see 🙂

Tea Time!

Herbal tinctures, teas, and remedies have long been used to help support what ails us. There are countless herbs out there that can benefit us in so many ways, whether it be to ease anxiety, clear up your skin, put you in a better mood, or achieve a better sleep quality.

Teas are a safe, wonderful, and tasty (usually lol) way to utilize what mother nature has so generously given us.

Everyone needs a little help sometimes, or a lot of the time, preparing their body and minds for rest and these sleepy time teas are here to help!

Tuesday Tea Series

That being said this is the 4th, and final, instalment of our special Tuesday Tea Series here on the blog. In the previous weeks we covered teas for anxiety, mood boosting, and clear skin. You can check them out HERE if you’d like.

Alright, here we go seven of the best sleepy time teas to help you wind down and rest well.

CHAMOMILE

The always amazing Chamomile definitely had to be on the list. It is very well known for the relaxing and calming effects it has on the body. A relaxed body automatically equals better sleep.

There are also properties in Chamomile that bind to our GABA receptors in the brain which helps to bring on sleep.

While scientific studies on the topic are few there has been benefits shown such as the ones HERE.

PEPPERMINT

Peppermint is a natural muscle relaxant and can help ease digestion. Both of which are useful for achieving a better sleep. If our body is in distress we will not sleep soundly.

Peppermint is also naturally caffeine free and sometimes used to ease insomnia. Plus the scent and flavour give us cozy, warm fuzzy vibes. Or is that just me?

LEMON BALM

Lemon Balm is another one that has been used to treat insomnia.

We tend to think of anything lemon as being energizing and uplifting, which it definitely can be. But this little tea has layers!

It is said to increase our GABA levels (chemical messenger in the brain). Higher GABA levels means better sleep. Studies, such as this one, have shown it to be beneficial in treating symptoms of insomnia.

Lemon Balm has also been shown to help reduce tension and muscle tightness in the body. Not to mention the lovely aroma and flavour it carries!

LAVENDER

Lavender is a well known sleep aid, from using it in aromatherapy to drinking it in tea form. The aroma alone seems to be the most responsible for the calming and sleepy benefits.

There has been much research done on the benefits of Lavender. From soothing nerves and reducing tension in the body, to inducing sleep, lowering blood pressure and pain relief. You can find some more information in this study HERE.

Lavender’s calming effect on the body gets top props for aiding in better overall sleep quality. Remember to breath in the lovely aroma while you sip your tea for ultimate benefits.

VALERIAN

Valerian is a wonderful sleepy time tea.

It is another on the list said to increase our GABA levels leading to better sleep quality.

It has been shown to be effective against insomnia as well as encouraging to an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

PASSIONFLOWER

Passionflower is yet another tea on our list that has been shown to increase our GABA levels. As we mentioned above, increased GABA levels lead to better sleep.

It has also been shown to have positive effects on anxiety sufferers. The relaxation and calming effects that this tea bestows help to prepare the body for a good nights rest.

KAVA KAVA

Kava is another tea that is commonly used to help with sleep issues.

It is known to reduce stress, ease anxiety and help with insomnia.

Fun fact, it is also the national drink of Fiji. Who knew?

A Note on Timing

The best time to indulge in sleepy time teas is around 30-60 minutes before your bedtime.

Use this time to wind your body and mind down by doing something relaxing while you sip your way to la la land.

And remember, it’s never a bad idea to steep before you sleep!

The ‘T’ on Tea

Herbs are generally a safe and amazing natural resource. Especially in tea form. Teas are less concentrated than supplements, tinctures, or oils. However, interactions and unpleasant side effects are still possible.

It is always recommended to discuss with your health care practitioner before adding any type of herbal remedy into your self care routine.

This is especially true if you are on medications, pregnant, or have a diagnosed illness.

Remember we are all individuals and what works for one person may not necessarily work for you. So you may need to try out more than one before you find the one that is just right. Like Goldilocks.

Also, each tea here could most certainly have an entire post of it’s own and I would still not cover everything about it. I am simply highlighting a few of the key components in each that help with our topic of discussion for the week.

Sourcing Your Tea

While it’s easy enough to just go to the grocery store and grab the cheapest tea you can find, its worthwhile to invest a little.

By invest I don’t just mean in dollars, but also information. Know where your tea is coming from and try to buy fair-trade, ethically sourced brands.

Tea companies don’t always use best practices and it shouldn’t be assumed that they do. So do your research. And bonus, Fairtrade teas offer higher quality ingredients and are usually organic.

Some brands that I love include:

Traditional Medicinals
Pukka
Yogi
Stash
Four O’clock

These are just a few but there are many more! I am in Canada so depending on your country the brands in your area may differ from these ones. Have fun and shop around. Boxes are also labeled Fairtrade so they are easy to spot.

Okay, without further ado, I declare it tea time!

Penny for your thoughts…

Do you use tea to help you fall asleep already? If so, do you have a favourite?

As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials 🙂

If you enjoyed the post, remember you can SUBSCRIBE to keep up on The Wholesome Witch happenings and receive your FREE Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide 🙂

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be medical advice, I am not a doctor. Teas are NOT meant to replace medications or cure disease. As I mentioned above, always consult your doctor prior to starting any new herbal routines.

What is a Kitchen Witch? And how to become one.

A small stone cottage sits alone at the far edge of town, vines wrapping up the sides, wild flowers cover the front but for a narrow stone walkway, and a lush garden full of fresh veggies and herbs engulf the back. Perhaps a cat purposely crosses the lawn and lays down to bathe in the sun. The home of the town wise woman, the healer, the kitchen witch.

We all know this house and can picture it in our minds. It’s the resident witch house, with the stories and lore to go with it. This is the fantasy, the mythology, what we want the witches house to look like. Hell it’s the one I want to live in one day lol.

But what does the life of a kitchen witch really look like? And indeed what makes a kitchen witch in this modern day world we live in?

Bringing me to the topic of our post, what exactly is a kitchen witch.

What is a kitchen witch?

Now you may think of kitchen witch and think of a woman, whipping up all of the magickal concoctions in the kitchen. One with abilities to grow her own herbs and food, and can expertly make everything from freshly baked bread to cakes, with a home in tip top shape perfectly clean and magickally balanced. Well, yes and no lol.

A kitchen witch, sometimes thought of as a cottage or hearth witch, does indeed create most of their magick within hearth and home.

They work with herbs, put intention and magick into meals, knows that everything carries energy from the herbs that make tea, to the carrots on their dinner plate.

Magick is weaved into domestic tasks with ease and everything is done with intention and purpose.

Crystals are placed with care around the home to create a peaceful energy, a broom is left by the door for protection, and sage is sprinkled across the entryway to keep out negative visitors. One is also deeply in tune, and connected to nature, and all of its beings.

Thanks are given to Mother Earth, and life is lived mindfully and sustainably. Most assuredly a kitchen witch is a domestic goddess in their own right.

Can you be a kitchen witch?

But of course, you can! Kitchen Witchery is for all who it calls out to.

What being a kitchen witch doesn’t mean, however, is that you need to be Martha Stewart. So please don’t feel like you haven’t the domestic skills to take on the title.

You don’t need to be able to create a Pinterest perfect cake or have a home completely free of dust to be a kitchen witch.

I for one am no Martha Stewart lol. My cakes are tasty but never look Pinterest ready and my home is tidy, but hardly dust free. I also don’t like spending hours slaving over a meal. I am more of a baker than a cooker really. I’m not gonna lie to you!

But most certainly I still consider myself a kitchen witch. It’s not about being a master of all things in the kitchen and your home. It’s about your energy, intentions, and whether or not the term resonates with you.

And of course, having the willingness to learn. Learn how to infuse your lunchtime salad with an energy you wish to manifest, learn how to put up protections, to cleanse negativity, and how to create teas and tinctures from herbs. It’s not mandatory that you do all of those things, they are but examples.

You will carve out your own path of kitchen witchery that feels right to you in time.

What About Gender or Religion?

It absolutely doesn’t matter your gender, your religion, whether you consider yourself Pagan, or if you follow the sabbats.

The kitchen witch path, or any witch path for that matter is open to all. And we are all individuals and do things in our own special and magickal ways.

Do you love working with herbs and oils, making your breakfast smoothie one that manifests a successful day, and having a lot of your magickal intentions focused around the home?

OR you connect with the idea of these things even if you have no idea where to start. Then you might feel good taking on the term Kitchen Witch, even one in training. We are all continuously learning and evolving our craft.

With a little effort, thirst for knowledge, and focused intention anyone can be a kitchen witch truly. And you don’t have to confine yourself to a box. You can be a green kitchen witch, a traditional kitchen witch, a solitary eclectic kitchen witch, you get the idea lol.

It’s okay to have more than one type of witch that resonates. I have a few that I relate with as well. You can have several, or just one, and that’s okay. There are no rules here.

Where does a kitchen witch live?

Anywhere and everywhere! Though some of us may dream of that picture I painted in the beginning of this post, that isn’t for everyone. And it’s certainly not the norm.

Kitchen witches live in suburban houses, farmhouses in the country, small apartments, and downtown condos in big cities.

Where you live has nothing to do with what kind of witch you want to be.

How to be a kitchen witch in modern times

The reality is things aren’t the way they used to be. Society isn’t as connected to nature as it once was.

Most of us don’t grow all our own food or make a poultice for an ailment.

A modern day kitchen witch may have an office job during the day, be running her kids to soccer practice in the evening, and have to buy her herbs instead of wild foraging or growing them herself. These scenarios are normal to modern day life, and that’s okay.

There are lots of ways we can embrace our inner kitchen witch. Even if we aren’t growing everything we eat, or living in that little cottage at the edge of the wood.

Kitchen witchery in itself is truly a wonderful way to connect with the earth and add a some magick into tasks that are normally considered mundane.

5 elements to Begin Your Kitchen Witch Journey

Eat whole foods that are close to the earth.

This deepens our connection to our food and to the place it comes from. Nature.

Try to shop local.

Frequent farmers markets, or purchase directly from farms if they are accessible to you. That is if you are not growing your own.

I’m not able to grow things for myself at the moment, but do try to hit up the farmers markets and eat as seasonally as I can.

Live green.

As in try to have a sustainable lifestyle as much as you can. We all need to be kinder to mother earth. And I feel as witches we have an extra responsibility to try our best to tread lightly. This applies to any witch really, not just kitchen witches.

Give your home a cleansing.

Both literally and spiritually. Give your space a thorough cleaning. Refresh it and prepare it to be transformed into your warm, magickal abode.

This is a process, so don’t think it needs to be done overnight. Take your time with it.

Focus on sweeping away the negativity in your space as you clean, or burn Sage and Rosemary to cleanse away the negative energies and make way for a new beginning.

Turn your kitchen into a sacred space.

Clean and organize your surroundings so that it feels fresh. This is the heart of your home and the heart of your practice after all.

And, in my opinion, this includes the food in your cupboards. Ditch the overly processed and refined foods to make way for more wholesome, nutrient dense foods from the earth.

Transform your space into one that you feel inspired to create in. The goal is of course to have our entire home be a magickal and sacred space. The kitchen is an excellent place to start.

Begin to learn your herbs and spices

Start to learn about different herbs and spices. Learn what remedies can be made with them, what their magickal properties are, and how you can transfer those energies into your foods.

It’s all about focus, intention, and the desire to manifest. But we need to know what to use and when as well.

Summing up

We can all be kitchen witches. Religion doesn’t matter, gender doesn’t matter, and where you live just does not matter.

We are all magickal beings and how we choose to work that magick is completely up to us.

If you are just starting out on your journey begin with some of the steps I mentioned above.

And remember, this is a lifelong path and learning process. You will not become the wise old kitchen witch overnight, and you should want to.

Learning and discovering what calls out to you is part of the adventure.

Embrace learning, embrace the aspects of kitchen witchery that tug at your inner spirit, and embrace your own magickal gifts.

You will know them when you find them.

So what do you think?

Are you feeling the kitchen witch vibes? And if you already consider yourself one, do you have any favourite aspects of the craft?

As always, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials

If you enjoyed the post, remember you can SUBSCRIBE to keep up on The Wholesome Witch happenings and receive your FREE Daily Witch Planner Pages and a 20% OFF coupon code for my SHOP

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Teas for Clear Skin: 7 Best Teas for Skincare

So I think it’s pretty safe to say we’d all like to have beautifully clear, smooth skin, am I right? That’s why this week we are talking about teas for clear skin!

Relaxing with a nice cup of tea and helping your skin at the same time seems like a win win situation to me.

We are always investing in creams and products to put on our skin to keep it soft, smooth and blemish free. As much as possible anyhow.

But what a lot of people don’t consider is what they are putting IN their bodies that can either help our skin, or aggravate it. Teas included!

Tea Time: Week 3!

So last week, when we tackled happy teas, I noted that herbal tinctures, teas, and remedies have been used for millennia to help aid what ails us. If you missed week 2 of our Tea Series you can find it HERE.

There are countless herbs available to us and countless benefits to go with them. If you aren’t yet taking advantage of these gifts from nature, this post will help you do just that!

Teas are safe, fun, and tasty (usually lol) ways to help combat unpleasant symptoms we may be experiencing. They are also the gentlest, and arguably easiest, way to reap the benefits of herbs and plants.

So much is involved in our skin health. Our digestion, and in turn our diet, play a huge role in what goes on with our skin. So it makes sense that teas can help combat skin issues from acne to fine lines and wrinkles.

I also just want to emphasize I say ‘help’ here, not magically cure. Teas will certainly benefit you, but drinking a cup of Chamomile is not going to clear up your acne overnight.

Okay! So that being said, let’s find out how they work and which ones are particularly beneficial.

Tuesday Tea Series: Teas for Clear Skin

Yes, we are already into week 3 of our Tuesday Tea Series here on the blog. And Teas for Clear Skin is the topic!

Next week we dive into teas for a sound sleep, so make a mental note to check back in 🙂

Alright, here we go seven of the best teas to help us on the road to clear and healthy skin.

DANDELION

Dandelion Root is extremely beneficial to aid in liver detox. What does that have to do with my skin?

I am so happy you asked!

Our liver is the main detox organ in the body helping to filter out unwanted toxins, including excess hormones. When excess toxins and hormones aren’t properly eliminated they circulate in the body causing all sorts of issues, including issues with our skin.

Ultimately, a healthier liver will equal healthier skin. So you can feel good about adding Dandelion into your regular tea rotation.

CHAMOMILE

Chamomile is full of top notch anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This tea fights free radicals, can help to tighten your pores, speed up cell regeneration, and protect the skin against sun damage.

Not to mention, Chamomile induces a restful sleep. I think we all know that a good night’s rest is paramount to achieving a beautifully clear complexion.

GREEN

Green Tea is another one full of antioxidants, which you may remember from last weeks post. Anti-oxidants help to ease inflammation and fight free radicals in the body.

Free radicals cause pre-mature aging of the skin, among other not good things, so we definitely want to eliminate as many as possible.

And the anti-inflammatory properties it contains will allow the skin to heal itself more quickly.

ROOIBOS

Rooibos is a power house for the skin.

It also has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it what? That’s right, anti-aging. It can help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as encourage the growth of healthy skin cells.

Not to mention Rooibos has a high vitamin and mineral content. Making it a sure fire way to help us achieve glowing skin.

WHITE

So White Tea, perhaps surprisingly, is the least processed of all the teas. This alone makes it a winner.

It’s also a great source of anti-oxidants (are we noticing a theme here, lol). Again, antioxidants fight free radicals which will help to prevent pre-mature aging of the skin.

What White Tea does as well though is aid in our digestive process. As mentioned above, healthy digestion equals less toxins in the body, which equals healthier skin.

PEPPERMINT

Peppermint is another tea that aids our digestive process.

The menthol in the tea stimulates bile production in the stomach, as well as has a relaxing effect on the digestive muscles. Both of these encourage smooth digestion, and elimination of toxins.

Another key thing Peppermint Tea does is slows down oil production in the skin. So, especially helpful if you have extra oily skin to begin with.

NETTLE

Nettle is an herb with a plethora of benefits to our health.

One of which, is that it helps to flush toxins out of the body. And, as we said, less toxins in the body equals healthier, clearer skin.

It also contains anti-inflammatory properties helping to ease redness in skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

The ‘T’ on Tea

The following information I will be including every week of the Tea Series as it bears repeating. Also, some individuals may only read the one post that interests them most and I want this information to be available.

So, feel free to skip the next couple of bits if you tuned in last week!

Herbs are generally a safe and amazing natural resource. Especially in tea form. Teas are less concentrated than supplements, tinctures, or oils.

However, interactions and unpleasant side effects are still possible.

It is always recommended to discuss with your health care practitioner before adding any type of herbal remedy into your self care routine.

This is especially true if you are on medications, pregnant, or have a diagnosed illness.

Remember we are all individuals and what works for one person may not necessarily work for you. So you may need to try out a few before you find the one that is just right. Like Goldilocks.

Sourcing Your Tea

While it’s easy enough to just go to the grocery store and grab the cheapest tea you can find, it’s worthwhile to invest a little.

By invest I don’t just mean in dollars, but also information. Know where your tea is coming from and try to buy fair-trade, ethically sourced brands.

Tea companies don’t always use best practices and it shouldn’t be assumed that they do. So do your research. And bonus, Fairtrade teas offer higher quality ingredients and are usually organic.

Some brands that I love include:

Traditional Medicinals
Pukka
Yogi
Stash
Four O’clock

Okay, without further ado, I declare it tea time!

Penny for your thoughts…

Do you currently use any herbs or special teas in your skincare routine? Do you have any favourites?

As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials 🙂

If you enjoyed the post, remember you can SUBSCRIBE to keep up on The Wholesome Witch happenings and receive your FREE Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide 🙂

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Vegan Blueberry Scones for Lughnasadh

Looking for an easy and delicious vegan recipe for your Lughnasadh/Lammas meal planning? Then these Vegan Blueberry Scones are just what the doctor ordered!

So in my own searches for Lughnasadh recipes I found that the recipes were never vegan. Being vegan myself I was always having to adapt them to fit my dietary needs.

That is why I decided to begin adding Vegan Sabbat recipes to my roster of blog posts. This is the first of many more to come.

This time of celebration marks the first grain harvest and is forever tied to food. Making it the perfect time to get your booty in the kitchen to conjure up some good old fashioned kitchen magick.

Fresh berries and grains are thriving and bountiful at Lughnasadh. With them also being traditional foods of the time, blueberry scones seemed like the perfect concoction to share with you all today.

Vegan Blueberry Scones & Lughnasadh

Food is magick. And, like I said, food and Lughnasadh go hand in hand. So get ready to embrace your inner domestic diva and live your kitchen witch fantasy!

Indulging in bountiful gifts of nature such as grains, veggies, and fruits during Sabbat times make me feel that much more connected to nature. It also makes me aware of how grateful I am to all that the earth provides for us.

Now, full disclosure, though I love working magick in the kitchen I’m not a master chef or baker by any means. I can hold my own, but nothing fancy lol. So, I created this recipe to be easy to make as well as delicious to taste.

Scones, at least to me, sounded intimidating to make the first time I tried. But trust, if I can make this recipe, so can you!

So let’s dive right into todays recipe!

Blueberry Scones: Magickal Properties

Blueberries – promote feelings of peace and calm, wards of psychic attacks, protection. They are also a traditional Lammas/Lughnasadh food.

Cinnamon – success, strength, luck, love, enhanced psychic awareness

Vanilla – revitalizes energy, promotes happiness within yourself and the home, calms the system, brings luck

Maple – Love, prosperity, spiritual healing, longevity

While mixing and whisking your ingredients, focus on the intent of your ritual baking. Perhaps you are wanting to promote a happy and calm environment at home or want to manifest abundance in the weeks to come. Focus on each ingredient and visualize your desired outcome manifesting into existence. You can also draw symbols or sigils above your bowl while mixing to add additional power to your workings. Tracing them onto your scones prior to baking is another option here.

This is what kitchen magick is all about and I particularly love when we perform it around Sabbat times. And especially for the harvest festivals. The energies of the day gives us an extra boost of magick to make the outcome that much more powerful.

Remember though Lughnasadh is all about gratitude and thanking the earth. So be sure to offer your thanks on this day as well and don’t just manifest selfishly. Perhaps place one of your scones on your altar as an offering.

But also feel okay taking advantage of what these gifts from nature can offer you and how they can help to manifest your goals.

The Recipe!

Makes 8 servings – Total time: 1 hour

2 cups all purpose flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
2 tbsp golden cane sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup vegan butter (cold or frozen)
3/4 cup coconut cream
3 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries

Preparation

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Cut or grate butter into the dry ingredients. If your butter is frozen you can use the grating method. Consistency should be crumbly. You are not creaming the butter in. After cutting the butter in with a knife I use my hands to combine until I get the right consistency. Once mixed, put in fridge to keep cold.
Whisk all wet ingredients together.
Remove dry ingredients from fridge and slowly pour wet ingredients over the top.
Pour in blueberries and mix just until everything is moistened. Don’t over mix.
Shape dough into a ball. You may need to add additional flour here to get rid of any stickiness left in the dough.
With floured hands press dough out onto floured surface into a circle shape. About an inch thick.
With a sharp knife (or pastry knife) cut into 8 equal triangles.
Brush tops of triangles with either a dairy free milk or more coconut cream to allow for browning.
Place triangles on a parchment covered plate or baking sheet and put in fridge for at least 15 minutes prior to baking.
While waiting for dough to chill prepare your baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350 F.
Remove from fridge and bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes to cool then transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before storing.

Top with whatever suits your fancy and enjoy! Maybe some fresh berries or blackberry jam, or just have one plain. A perfect vegan, gluten-free blueberry scone for a lovely Lughnasadh brunch.

Nutritional Information | Per one scone

Calories: 327 | Fat: 16g | Carbohydrates: 42.6g | Protein: 1.2g

A Few Baking Notes

Do not skip chilling the scones in the fridge. Keeping the ingredients cold is key to your scones turning out nicely.
You may add more sugar to the mix if you like a sweeter scone. I tend to enjoy mine on the less sweet side. You can also sprinkle with sugar to bake or make a glaze to pour over once they are finished.
All ovens differ so I recommend checking your scones at 15 minutes to see how they are doing.
You will know the scones are ready when a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean and the bottoms are golden brown.
You can use this base recipe for any sweet scone. Perhaps you’d like to try a different berry or maybe some chocolate chips. Just sub out the blueberries for your filling of choice.
Scones are best eaten fresh out of the oven so it’s definitely better to bake these on the day you would like to consume them. But of course you may store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days covered with a paper towel (to keep them moist) and they will remain fresh.

Lughnasadh Feasting

So, are we excited for your Lughnasadh breakfast? This turn of the wheel is all about the first grain harvest and feasting is a long lived tradition of it. These blueberry scones will be a great start to your day. But don’t let it stop there.

Go all out and really make the most of it. Put together a delicious meal for your family, friends, or even just yourself.

And remember to be present, be grateful, and be joyous.

Thoughts!

What special foods do you have planned for your Lughnasadh celebrations? Aside from these scones of course lol.

I always love to know your thoughts, so please leave a comment or connect with me on social media. 🙂

Also, if you enjoyed the post and would like to read more about holistic wellness and magickal living SUBSCRIBE and receive my complete Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide and other bonuses for FREE!

A bright and bountiful Lughnasadh/Lammas to you!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Happy Teas: 7 Teas to Help Boost Your Mood

Maybe you’re tired, maybe you are a little anxious, or maybe you just plain got up on the wrong side of the bed. It happens to the best of us! So you need a little pick me up, an afternoon mood boost if you will.

Well, there’s a tea for that! Surprise right?

Today, in week 2 of our Tuesday Tea Series I bring you a list of amazing happy teas that will help to put some extra zest in your step

Tea Time: Week 2!

So last week, when we tackled anxiety teas, I noted that herbal tinctures, teas, and remedies have been used for millennia to help aid what ails us. If you missed week 1 of our Tea Series you can find it HERE.

There are countless herbs and countless benefits to go with them. If you aren’t yet taking advantage of these gifts from nature, now is the time!

Teas are safe, fun, and tasty ways to help combat unpleasant symptoms or emotions we may be having. And a natural way at that. If it’s not obvious, I am a fan of natural remedies.

Daily exercise and happy teas baby. Theses two elements can be game changers!

Tuesday Tea Series: Happy Teas

As I mentioned above, this is the second week in my Tuesday Tea Series I will be sharing here on the blog. Next week we dive into teas that help with skin health, so be sure to check back in!

Alright, here we go seven of the best teas to help you boost that mood on any day of the week.

LEMONGRASS

Apparently Lemongrass isn’t a very popular tea…well I love it lol. It’s known to lift mood and decrease stress in the body.

The scent itself has been shown to have mood boosting abilities.

Lemon Balm is also a good alternative. And if you can get one of those blended with Ginger you will have a real pick me up on your hands!

VALERIAN

Valerian is known for being a stress reliever. It boasts the ability to calm nerves and prevent anxiety attacks.

Being able to aid in lowering stress automatically makes it a mood booster. And I am down for anything that might curb anxiety attacks.

SAFFRON

Saffron has an influence on the production of Serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a happy hormone. Making Saffron Tea a happy tea 🙂

This herb boosts mood, and may also help to balance mood swings during PMS.

That alone is probably enough for a lot of ladies to give it a try!

TURMERIC

Turmeric is like a little golden miracle, with all of the health benefits it touts.

It influences both Seratonin and Dopamine in the brain. Both hormones are responsible for positive vibes and feelings of happiness.

As a bonus, it also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Inflammation can be a big contributor to low moods and poor emotional well-being. Including anti-inflammatories in our diet is a must.

ROOIBOS

Rooibos helps one cope with daily stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone.

Its ability to lower cortisol, in turn lowers our stress levels. Lower stress equals happier individuals, putting Rooibos Tea square on this list.

ASHWAGANDA

Another real super star herb on the list, Ashwaganda is a powerful adaptogen and has long been used in Ayurveda Medicine.

Adaptogens work to help the body deal with stress and bring it back into balance.

Ashwaganda assists in balancing out hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, leading to an overall improvement in mood.

SAGE

Sage has been shown to improve mood, and cognitive function.

It’s also been suggested that the smell can enhance mood.

Perhaps then, you will want to burn some Sage incense to go with your cup of tea for extra oomph!

The ‘T’ on Tea

So, feel free to skip the next couple of bits if you tuned in last week!

Herbs are generally a safe and amazing natural resource. Especially in tea form. Teas are less concentrated than supplements, tinctures, or oils.

However, interactions and unpleasant side effects are still possible.

It is always recommended to discuss with your health care practitioner before adding any type of herbal remedy into your self care routine.

This is especially true if you are on medications, pregnant, or have a diagnosed illness.

Remember we are all individuals and what works for one person may not necessarily work for you. So you may need to try out a few before you find the one that is just right. Like Goldilocks.

Sourcing Your Tea

While it’s easy enough to just go to the grocery store and grab the cheapest tea you can find, its worthwhile to invest a little.

By invest I don’t just mean in dollars, but also information. Know where your tea is coming from and try to buy fair-trade, ethically sourced brands.

Tea companies don’t always use best practices and it shouldn’t be assumed that they do. So do your research. And bonus, Fairtrade teas offer higher quality ingredients and are usually organic.

Some brands that I love include:

Traditional Medicinals
Pukka
Yogi
Stash
Four O’clock

Okay, without further ado, I declare it tea time!

Penny for your thoughts…

Do you use tea to boost your mood? Do you have any favourites?

As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials 🙂

If you enjoyed the post, remember you can SUBSCRIBE to keep up on The Wholesome Witch happenings and receive your FREE Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide 🙂

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Browsing Category

The Spirit of the Season

A Note on Halloween

21 Easy Ways to Celebrate Samhain and Halloween

Write a Samhain Journal Entry

Make a Witchy Bucket List

Have a Nature Walk

Do a Meditation to Honour Your Ancestors

Do a Quick Tarot Reading for Yourself

Celebrate Samhain & Halloween with Decorations!

Bake a Halloween Treat Symbolizing New Beginnings

Light Candles for Your Loved Ones

Light a Candle for Yourself

Have a Ritual Bath

Cleanse Your Space

It’s Not Halloween Without Costumes!

Tell Ghost Stories

Watch a Scary Movie

Charge Your Crystals

Host a Dumb Supper

Add Some Samhain Pages to Your BOS or Grimoire

Create a Space to Honour Your Ancestors or Loved Ones

Let Your Hair Down and Dance

Make Moon Water

Celebrate Life

There you have it!

Your turn! Tell me your Samhain wishes!

13 of the Best Witch Quotes for the Season

1. "When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers 'tis near Halloween." ~ unknown

2. " The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life." ~ Margot Adler

3. " The moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun. The light has been broken, the spell has begun." ~ Midgard Morningstar

4. " In this whole side wicked world the only thing you have to be afraid of is me." ~ Fiona, (AHS Coven)

5. "For all you know, a witch may be living next door to you right now." ~ Roald Dahl

6. "You have witchcraft in your lips." ~ William Shakespeare

7. "You've always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself." ~ Glinda (The Wizard of Oz)

8. "To me, a witch is a woman that is capable of letting her intuition take hold of her actions, that communes with her environment, that isn't afraid of facing challenges." ~ Paulo Coelho

9. "A witch ought never be frightened in the darkest forest because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her." ~ Terry Pratchett

10. "Witchcraft...is a spiritual path. You walk it for nourishment of the soul, to commune with the life force of the universe, and to thereby better know your own life." ~ Christopher Penczak

11. "Love for life in all its forms is the basic ethic of witchcraft." ~ Starhawk

12. "Never put your faith in a Prince. When you require a miracle, trust in a witch." ~ Catherine M. Valente (In the Night Garden)

13. "There's a little witch in all of us." ~ Aunt Jet (Practical Magic)

There you have it!

Let me here from you!

Before You Begin

Key Magickal Properties

Whole Wheat Flour – prosperity, money

Oats – sustainability, wealth

Chocolate – love, grounding, prosperity

Cinnamon – prosperity, success, luck, strength

Apples – balance, harmony, peace

Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for Prosperity

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Nutritional Info Per Serving:

Your thoughts!

Gratitude Magick

Mabon Reflections

Mabon Gratitude Ritual

Ritual Steps

Your thoughts!

The Simmer Pot

Just Say No to Chemicals

Simmer Pot Magick

Simmer Pot Recipes

What to do with your simmer pot ingredients when you are finished?

A note on using essential oils in your simmer pots.

Final thoughts.

Tea Time!

Tuesday Tea Series

CHAMOMILE

PEPPERMINT

LAVENDER

VALERIAN

PASSIONFLOWER

KAVA KAVA

A Note on Timing

The ‘T’ on Tea

Sourcing Your Tea

Penny for your thoughts…

What is a kitchen witch?