Starting The Year With Love II

We got up before dawn today to finish all the scheduled work early, and then we went to the animal shelter to drop a sack of dog food and explore the nearby roads, which were in herbal-winter-glory mode. We wildharvested a lot of wormwood to make our smudge sticks, fennel for health and magic alike, and a good amount of donkey excrements and earth for our container roof garden, which we will mix with the food scraps we have on our miniature compost bin.Our herbs are going to love it!

We also brought samples of several herbs to check on our herbal books, and discovered two of them were Fumitory and Wild Mallow, so we’ll be back there soon for more. Left offerings for the Spirits of the land – water, rum and a mix of cereals+dry bread+dry corn – and watched the birds fill the valley: blue-chest chiffchaffs, swallows, herons, kestrels, and even several wild partridges. At times, it seemed unbelievable that we could be just a couple of miles away from the city. Next time, we’ll go even earlier and see if we can harvest a good amount of snails.

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New Blog At Pagan Square, New Seed Sets Listed

Just a quick post today to let you know that this morning I have published my second post at Pagan Square: The Spirit Of Dolls.

I have also listed a new Magical Garden Seed Set, with some of the best seeds we have grown and wildharvested this year: Okra, Bloodflower, Jimson weed, Dragon’s Blood Tree, Fennel and Marvel Of Peru are the ones included. Click on the pic to go to the listing, where you will find detailed descriptions, photos of the plants and suggested uses for your magical gardening.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

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Picture Post

Peppermint, cut right after the storm last weekend, holding the amazing energy of the first thunder of autumn.

Another year, another Mirabilis Jalapa root harvested – this one is even bigger than last year’s and has two more “arms”. Once dried, it will be made into a talisman as we did with last year’s root.

Beautiful offerings for the Seven African Powers – Lemon Cake from La Cruz Santa (The Holy Cross), a town in the north of the island.

A new kyphi dedicated to Saint Michael – it will be up for sale in a couple of weeks after it cures and dries properly.

Lucky Dumpster Find of the week – a new tin for my collection ( I collect tins and boxes with rose prints). I’ll be making a sewing box from it I think.

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New Listings!

Please click on the pics to be taken directly to the listings!

Spring Goddess Embroidered Altar Mats

Sets Of Two Handpainted Wooden Bobbins With Handspun Yarn (this pic shows them all, but they are listed in pairs)

Five New Wildharvested/Homegrown Herbs – Eucalyptus, Orange Tree, Fern, Lavender And Wild Grapevine – in much bigger bags than the ones we used to sell!

 

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New Listings Have Started!

Please click on the pics to be taken to the new listings in the shop. On each listing, you will find detailed descriptions, sizes and of course more pictures of each item. And don’t forget we still have over 70 items with a 50% discount!

Hamsa Hand Pendulums With Sangria Garnet/Dragon’s Vein Bead – with free pouch to keep them safe :).

NEW Kyphi Bath – The Portal – Now in pretty box and with 12 pellets instead of 7 !

Mechitas – Now in pretty box and with 10 wicks instead of 5 ! (only white wicks from now on).

Sea Urchin Pouches And Handbag

 

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Things To Do While Waiting For A Storm

Hurricane Nadine seems to be taking it slowly to arrive, so after the mundane preparations (moving plant pots away from wind, getting batteries/cash/food, charging appliances, washing all clothes in case we lose power), we spent Saturday on more pleasant activities. So, here are the things two Witches do on a slow day – hope it brings some inspiration!

Make a new batch of Kyphi, since the “The Wanderer” batch is almost sold out. Each of our kyphi batches has been a unique recipe, and this one, which we have named “The Portal”, is no different. It will be ready for selling in a week if humidity doesn’t rise too much because of the storm.

Bake the first bread of autumn, and eat it with guavas and plums.

Make an offering of fruit at the altar, and get intoxicated by the fragrance and sensuality it exudes.

Try (for the third time) to make friends with cross stitch, a craft that really tests my patience, and get childishly happy with the results.

Drink lots of black tea with cardamom while falling in love with the new little teapot Fernando purchased (its predecessor fell and was smashed to pieces after almost a decade of hard work).

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New Items Listed!

(click on the images to be taken to the Etsy listings)
Ekeko Set

Ekeko is one of the Central America gods of abundance – dressed as a travelling seller packed with goods, he is much revered in Santeria and every house and business has one to protect them in all areas.I have worked with him extensively and he is very generous!

These sets have been created completely from scratch by us. The Ekeko figurine (about 1,5 inches tall) was handsculpted and painted resembling the traditional ones, and the word “Suerte” (Luck) written in his belly. Besides the figurine, the set contains several items to offer to him:
- Three Orisha Money banknotes, so you always have financial abundance;
- A bag with lentils, rice, corn grains and one African fava bean, so you always have food on your table;
- A cowrie shell, to unblock your paths;
- Three beautiful Mulberry paper roses: red for romantic love, pink for family love, and white for spiritual love;
- A miniature wine bottle, so you always have something to celebrate;
- A charm holding three Huayruro seeds and a horseshoe, so you are always lucky.
- A vial of Abundance oil, for anointing candles, mojo bags, or even yourself.

You can also add any offerings you want – some traditional offerings are rum, cigars and cigarrettes, sweets, coins, small toys, and anything that represents your wishes.
The tray and the candle are NOT included – it is a suggestion of how to present the items in your home.

Santa Muerte Altar Box

Handpainted wooden box, 11 x 7 x 5 cms./ 4.2 x 2.7 x 1.9 inches. Painted dark green on the outside and sage green on the inside, and depicting the Santísima Muerte / Holy Death / Iku. This could be perfect for a shell/bone/rune oracle, to store incense or stones, or to be offered as a gift on your Ancestor Altar /Boveda Espiritual. One Of A Kind.

Spiritual Herbal Bath – Seven African Powers

Seven powerful, organic, homegrown and wildharvested herbs are united in this bath, representing the Seven African Powers. This bath is made to eliminate negativity, cleanse your energy, unblock your paths and tune with the energy of the Orishas. The herbs are:

Eleggua – Wormwood: unblocks the paths;
Obatala – Oak Tree: gives stability and clarity;
Yemaya – Almond Tree: brings creativity and love;
Ochum – Orange Tree: brings passion and sweetness;
Oya – Lavender: brings business and connects with Ancestors;
Chango – Fig Tree: brings strength and justice;
Oggum – Wild Grapevine: brings endurance and truth.

How to use it:
Option 1 – make a tea out of the herbs, let steep for seven mintes and strain. Take your regular bath and after you have finished pour it over your head and body while still warm; dry yourself gently, patting on the skin or leave it to air dry if temperaure allows.
Option 2 – pour the herbs on a muslin bag and place in the hot water of your bath. Immerse yourself in the water three times. Remember not to add any soap, herbal salts or any other bath product to the water (so we recommend you shower before doing it). Dry yourself gently, patting on the skin or leave it to air dry if temperaure allows.

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Wildharvesting

We didn’t have any appointments today, so we decided to go wildharvesting. We prefer to do it during work days so we are less watched by curious eyes :), as wildharvesting is a concept that clearly has not reached Canarians. The first impression we got today is that we are going to have to stretch the areas we forage at, because the island is dryer than we’ve ever seen. We are already really frugal in our harvesting, but this year we’ll have to do it even with more care to assure next year’s foraging.



We brought home fennel, canarian ivy, fig tree leaves, milk thistle, almond tree cuttings and leaves, and common vetch and poppy seed pods. Everything “re-plantable” will be tried, as we want to have them for our own garden and for replanting around, guerrilla gardening style.

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Today’s Picture: Monarda Citriodora

Although this plant doesn’t grow here in the wild, we have managed to grow it from seeds bought from a US seller, and today I took this beautiful picture of the first flowers. Also called Lemon Balm* and Bergamot Herb** because of its citric scent, this herb is edible, contains strong antiseptic properties and can heal upset stomachs and lower fever. Also, it is a wonderful bee attractor, which is perfect for a roof garden like ours. Magically, I think it has just as many properties, and I would add it to the “good-for-all-uses” category of magickal herbs, as it has proved to be just as useful for love spells as for protection or cleansing spells. It has the spirit of a fighter (growing so beautifully while being so far away from it natural habitat speaks very loud of its power and tenacity), while giving us the gift of its delicious scent and taste, and of its absolutely perfect flowers. A keeper on our magical garden!

Note* – Lemon Balm can also refer to Melissa Officinalis.
Note II** – true Bergamot is a type of orange tree, the Citrus Bergamia.

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Offerings, And A Very Sweet Recipe For Valentine’s Day

The altar, overflowing with offerings. The Carnival starts this week so we will be making some special offerings in the next days to connect with its amazing energy.

Since tomorrow is Valentine’s day, I thought it would be nice to share an extra sweet recipe – Herbal Sugar.
This recipe can be made with white sugar, brown sugar, or fructose sugar as this one you see. Actually, even honey would be used.

You must powder in a grinder the following herbs:
- A teacup of lavender flowers;
- Two sticks of Indian cinnamon;
- Seven cardamom pods;
- Half a teacup of dry ginger (or two spoons if you have it already powdered);

- A 2-inch piece from a fresh vanilla seed pod – this ingredient is not powdered, and must be retired once the product is ready because its scent would overpower the rest;

Mix well with around a pound of your chosen sugar, and let sit on a dark, cool place for three months at least. It will be perfect to sweeten tea, coffee, herbal infusions and even your bakery! It has sedative and restorative properties – but honestly, it is the scent what will make you become addicted to it!

Other herbs/seeds that can be added at your taste: jasmine flowers, orange flowers, rose petals, violet flowers, lemon balm, lemon verbena, star anise, liquorice root, fennel seeds – the possibilities are endless! Also, it is a very unexpensive gift – we made a whole batch and gave jars to everyone at Christmas. It was a great success!

This recipe also has a magical use – sweetening spells, called endulzamientos in Spanish. Sweetening spells are made when situations are too harsh between people, and trust and love must be restored. Also, it can be used as an ingredient on more complex love spells and potions. A perfect magical craft for Valentine’s Day!

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