Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year - Brossura

Mitchell, Mandy

Brossura

ISBN 10: 157863556X ISBN 13: 9781578635566

Casa editrice: Weiser, 2014

Riassunto

Fun, practical, and easy-to-follow suggestions for bringing the wisdom of the hedgewitch into your home—includes dozens of recipes, rituals, spells, and correspondences that all follow the seasons of the year.

“The hedgewitch was the ‘true’ witch, in my opinion. It’s about time we had a good book focused on that wise one.”--Raymond Buckland, author of Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft
Once upon a time the witch held a place of esteem in the village; her knowledge of local plants and wayside herbs were used to heal; her wisdom and empathy made her the village matchmaker and marriage counselor; and her ability to commune with nature and animals gave her a place of revelry and wisdom. She was the Hedgewitch.
Aimed at the busy witch, who is both breadmaker and breadwinner, this book revives the spirit of the Hedgewitch and teaches you how to make every day one full of wisdom, healing, and magic. For the practicing or would-be witch whose life is more jeans, chaos, and the never-ending question of what's for dinner than it is black robes, cauldrons, and incantations, Mandy Mitchell has a recipe for you!

"I want to demonstrate how daily chores can become magical rituals with the potential to enrich and transform your life--everything from the way we form relationships with our families and friends to cooking, cleaning, and healing." --from the introduction

Journey through the wheel of the year with one eye on the kettle and the other on the magical!

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull'autore

Mandy Mitchell is a mother, a doting grandma, and also a practicing Hedgewitch. She lives within the magical landscape of Wiltshire, with Stonehenge, Avebury, and Savernake forest very close by. She believes in juggling real life and trying to live each day magically by turning the daytoday tasks into magical rituals. Along with simple spells, seasonal food and honoring the rhythms of nature, a sense of humor is key to being a modern Hedgewitch!

Mandy is passionate about connecting with others in today's busy world, bringing the modern and ancient together. She embraces the online world and would love to hear from anyone wishing to be part of the magical community. Check her out: facebook.com/hedgewitchbookofdays

Estratto. © Ristampato con autorizzazione. Tutti i diritti riservati.

Hedgewitch Book of Days

By Mandy Mitchell

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

Copyright © 2014 Mandy Mitchell
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-556-6

Contents

Introduction, 
Chapter One: March, 
Chapter Two: April, 
Chapter Three: May, 
Chapter Four: June, 
Chapter Five: July, 
Chapter Six: August, 
Chapter Seven: September, 
Chapter Eight: October, 
Chapter Nine: November, 
Chapter Ten: December, 
Chapter Eleven: January, 
Chapter Twelve: February, 
Final Thoughts, 
Appendix: Magical Properties of Herbs, Plants, and Trees, 
Acknowledgments, 

CHAPTER 1

March

Mad march hares under a bright full moon,
Sunny days are coming soon!
Warming our way into the year
Bringing with them so much cheer.

Foods at Their Best in March

Fruit and Vegetables

brussels sprouts, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, celeriac, chicory, cauliflower, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, parsnips, purple sprouting broccoli, red chicory, radicchio, spinach, swede, salad onions, sorrel, rhubarb, turnips

Seafood

crab, clams, cockles, eel, hake, John Dory, lobster, lemon sole, salmon, scallops, skate, trout, mussels, oysters, sea bass, winkles

Wild Foods

daisies, dandelion leaves, fat hen, fresh nettle tops, garlic mustard, horseradish, lime leaves, morel mushrooms, sea beet, violets, wild garlic

(Hurrah! The hedgerow is picking up.)

March Correspondences

• Festival: Ostara (vernal equinox). Symbols include eggs, seeds, bulbs, spring flowers, and the hare.

• Full moon name: Worm Moon. As the snow begins to melt and the ground softens, the earthworms come to the surface, leaving behind their casts. Other names include Crow Moon, Sap Moon, Fish Moon, Chaste Moon, Death Moon, and Moon of Winds.

• Astrological signs: Pisces, February 19–March 20; Aries, March 21–April 20.

• Birthstones: Aquamarine and bloodstone.

• Nature spirits: Air and water beings connected with spring rains and storms.

• Animals: Hedgehog, badger, hare, and chickens.

• Birds: Song thrush and blackbird.

• Trees: Alder and birch.

• Flowers: Anemone, crocus, daffodil, violet, and primrose.

• Herbs: Broom, yellow dock, wood betony, and Irish moss.

• Scents: Honeysuckle, rose, jasmine, and citrus.

• Colors: Pale green, yellow, white, and violet.

• Goddess: Ostara.

• Powers: Energy, growth, new beginnings, and balance.

• Other: St. David's Day (Wales), Mother's Day, St. Patrick's Day (Ireland), Easter (first Sunday after the full moon following March equinox).

March is here and all around spring is—well, springing. The hedgerow is picking up and you can't move out in nature without tripping over a new green shoot or a bouncy lamb. The flowers are in bloom and the birds and bees, ladybirds, and those small annoying little gnat things are everywhere. Incidentally, does anyone out there know exactly how the birds and bees "do it"? I have absolutely no idea. It is still a mystery to me; I guess I really did fall asleep in biology all those years ago.

In March, it's so beautiful that you can't help but want to get outside without your coat and feel some warming sun on your skin. Oh, how long it seems since you were last able to do that. This is, of course, assuming that March doesn't roar in like a lion and roar out again; it can be a little unpredictable on that front.

In March, nature is still busy at work, but you only get to see it all if you're brave enough to fight your way through driving rain and gale-force winds. That's the way March is, I guess. We all love to see a host of golden daffodils waving gracefully in the breeze along the banks and in our gardens; however, the reality tends to be a host of slightly battered-and-bruised, bent-and-flat, not-so-golden daffodils lying forlornly on the ground. March winds can take your breath away—that's for certain.

Well, we had best get started, my lovelies. And where to start? At the very beginning!

Getting Started

Getting started on your path can seem a daunting prospect, with a wealth of names and labels to contend with. Are you a Wiccan? A Witch? A Pagan? A Kitchen Witch? A Druid? The list is seemingly endless. I hate these labels, because I believe there is no one box that fits us all; we are all individuals and, whatever your faith and beliefs, they are as individual and personal to you as your personality or your fingerprints. I call myself a Hedgewitch, because I feel this is the image that best describes me. However, I reserve artistic license to believe in what I like—as you should.

That being said, where on earth do you begin to learn your craft, whatever you have chosen it to be? In the old days, crafts were learned by word of mouth and practical methods that were handed down from generation to generation. These days, this has become almost a thing of the past. But the modern age has a trick up its sleeve to replace it—the Internet. Like it or loath it, the Internet is going to be with us for a very long time, and it can be a wonderful aid to getting you started. Out there, in the unseen world of Computerland, are people like you and me, searching for friends and kindred spirits with whom they can converse and share knowledge. With a few simple clicks of a mouse, you can connect with likeminded people all over the earth. You can share your views and beliefs, join clubs and covens, and "like" and follow pages that speak to you. It's like having a Book of Shadows at your fingertips and on speed dial.

If you have access to a computer and the Internet, use them! We are blessed to have this wonderful way of communicating with each other. We witches are an adaptable bunch and should embrace the modern and the new with as big a hug as we do the traditional and ancient. It seems to me that we should move with the times. Who knows? In another thousand years, our relatives may look back in wonder at the "old way" of doing things online!

With so much on the Internet to explore, you may ask what place books have in this mix. (No, no, no; that is not a cue to stop reading this one. Come back!) Books are where I started to learn about what I do, and my bedside is never without a half-read book. The feel and smell of a new book is something so special to me; it touches all those old feelings from childhood. I loved to read and remember receiving a wonderful big book on wild plants for my eighth birthday that I still have today. I have no idea why I was given such a book, as I can't ever remember showing any particular interest in wild plants as a child. But over the years, that one book has been a massive source of reference for me. So there must, I think, have been a higher reason why it was given to me.

For all the resources on the Internet, books are still the first thing I reach for when I want to absorb knowledge. The joy of reading something that has come from one person to another comes second only to the pleasure you get from owning a book. Books are real and tangible—always there to pick up and dip into and reread as many times as you like. The written word, although certainly not as popular as it once was, is still used by everyone, everywhere. Harry Potter, for example, has given me many a quiet evening while my girls buried their heads in the magical wizard-filled realm of Hogwarts.

So as you start on your path, read anything and everything you can get your hands on and then read it again. When you gravitate toward books of a similar category, you start to find that the terms used in those books become familiar to you. Take what you can from these books and absorb what's important to you. This will increase your general knowledge of your subject and give you the point of view of others, which is always a good thing. You don't necessarily have to agree with what an author says. Remember, we are all different. As you read more and more, you will find that you are building a small reference library of your own; one book seems to lead to another. After a year of reading, you may find that you have started choosing books that go into more depth on the subjects that have spoken to you. For me, that old book of wild plants and a good book on herbs were a great starting place for learning what was around me.

The best way to get started, however, is actually to start! Show an interest in what's around you where you live, and if you can, visit some ancient sites and woodlands. I happen to live in one of the most beautiful parts of England—in the county of Wiltshire just near the ancient stone circle known as Avebury Henge. This is actually the largest stone circle in Europe and draws many tourists and visitors each year. It's a peaceful place, where I've watched the seasons change throughout the years. The old stones stand in the fields watching the passage of time; they remind me of the magic that exists in everything that surrounds us.

Avebury Henge is just one of the sacred places I visit from time to time. I suppose that, having it all on my doorstep, I may sometimes take it all for granted—particularly when real life gets in the way. There's also a sacred spring called Swallowhead Spring not far away and a huge earth mound called Silbury Hill that rises up from the ground, creating a dramatic focus in the landscape.

One of the things I enjoy most is going to our community shop, run by volunteers from the village. It stocks local products from around the county. It's so nice to buy bread, cheese, meats, honey, and milk that help support local people and cottage industries. I feel very blessed to live in such a magical and beautiful place.

Another way to get started is to light a candle or some incense and give thanks. Cook and run your household with love and intent, and the rest will come to you in its own way in its own time. Never doubt how much you already know. If you're interested in herbs, start simply with one or two dried culinary herbs that you know are safe, and learn all about them. The same goes for crystals and colors, and for spells and rituals. Record all you learn and see in your own Book of Shadows. My Book of Shadows is a collection of recipes and spells that can be used for everyday needs. I try to keep it as simple as possible. Take your spiritual journey slowly and trust yourself. Even when working on your own, you are a part of the bigger picture—and an important one at that! The power is within you, not without. Remember, harm none. And, if in doubt, shout! Someone will always hear you.

So, provided the weather is being kind, let's begin by getting off the sofa.

March is the time of year when you start to venture out into the big wide world again. After years of practice, I know never to leave my house without a bag or a basket to carry the fruits of my foraging. You can be sure that, if I forget that bag or basket, there will be a treasure trove of goodies for me to gather and no way to carry them home. Try leaving a small basket by your front door to remind you to take it out with you.

The following recipe is a great one to start your foraging. But be sure to bring gloves and something to carry your finds so you are not stung by the nettles.

Spring's Sprung Salad (serves 2)

This is a throw-together recipe that I love to use at this time of year. It has no rules, only guidelines. Use what you can find and judge your amounts by eye. It is a perfect celebration of all things green and leafy. Remember, it is a salad, so your greens only need moments in the pan. For greens, you can use nettle tops, cleavers, wild garlic, garlic mustard, dandelion leaves, daisy leaves, or fresh spinach. For seeds and nuts, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, pine nuts, cashew nuts, and walnuts all work well. And always make sure of what you're picking—if in doubt, leave it out!

Ingredients

4 large handsful of leafy greens
A large handful of seeds/nuts
2 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. cider vinegar or lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Method

1. In a frying pan over a medium heat, combine the oil, honey, and lemon juice or vinegar. Heat together until hot and add a good pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

2. Add the nuts and/or seeds to the hot dressing in the pan and lower the heat to warm them through without burning.

3. Toss the green leaves into the pan and remove from the heat. Turn the leaves over to coat with the dressing and combine with the nuts and seeds. Make sure any nettle tops have been exposed to the heat so they lose their sting.

4. Serve immediately to retain the crunch of the leaves.

This makes a wonderful lunch or starter. I like to serve it with warm pita bread. Throw in whatever you have on hand in the fridge, too. Celery, spring onions, and lettuce all work well with the bitter greens. It is beautiful with shaved Parmesan cheese. Oh, and for a warm cozy glow of delight at how clever you are at foraging—a glass of red, anyone?

A Time of Balance

March is the month that we've all been waiting for. After the long cold winter, the spring equinox is upon us and the light reaches that wonderful balance point again. Only, this time, the light wins and our days, slowly but surely, start to get a little bit longer each day. The festival of the vernal equinox (ver in Latin means "spring"; equinox means "equal night"), or Ostara, marks the time when we celebrate the return of the sun. It happens around March 21 and signifies the first official day of spring—although we've been celebrating it since Imbolc, haven't we? In the U.K., March is also the month when our clocks jump forward an hour—the start of British Summer Time. (Now, hang on a minute. Isn't it spring?) So prepare to lose an hour's sleep and have children and animals on a different time than you are. Their bodies never follow the hands of the clock!

The symbols of this time of balance are the March hare, the egg, and fertility in nature. In the family home, this is the time when the dreaded holiday Easter arrives and the house appears to be taken over by an invading army of chocolate bunnies and eggs by the hundred weight! The little darlings are home for their school holidays again, and every year, it seems as if those holidays get longer. I'm sure I don't remember having all that time off in my school days, do you? But it can be wonderful to have the children home for a few days at this time of year, especially if you are blessed with good weather. There are normally lots of things to do and many day trips you can take—laid on mainly for the sanity of mums and dads. Easter egg hunts, lambing at the local farm, and craft fairs all beckon you and push you hurtling toward spring—whether you're ready or not!

I remember one particularly bad Easter when daughter number two announced that she needed an Easter bonnet for the last day of term—which, of course, was the following day. I naively threw myself into this task, stitching fluffy chicks and bows onto an old straw bonnet between rounds at the convalescent home where I worked. The next morning, I proudly presented my daughter with the finished bonnet, bedecked in everything that had anything to do with Easter. Off she went to school.

Foregoing any sleep after the night of crafting and work, I duly arrived at school for the end-of-term Easter assembly, secure in the knowledge that my supreme effort would ensure that my daughter would win the prize for the finest bonnet ever in the history of mankind. Wow, was I wrong! As all those sweet little children filed into the hall, I found myself staring open-mouthed at the creations that bobbed along on their little heads. Honestly, if I had made my child wear a real bunny on her head holding an Easter egg in its paws, she still wouldn't have won! The winner was an amazing creation of a well-known chocolate egg, complete with real chocolate for the children to break off and eat. I learned two valuable lessons that year: First, parents can be amazingly competitive, and second, I am rubbish at crafts! Bake sales and cake stalls? No problem. Bonnets and costumes? No way!

The symbol of the egg is a link to Ostara and the origins of Easter. Eggs are life and fertility all tied up in one neat little bundle. Imagine all of nature's life-force curled up tight in that eggshell, ready to crack the surface—shaking off the old and emerging as new life awakening. It's the perfect symbol for this time of year, don't you think? Eggs, however, always make me think of that old saying about teaching your granny to suck eggs. I have no idea how to suck eggs, and blowing them to ready them for decorating is a rare skill that I don't possess. Because of this, any decorated egg in my house is either chocolate (always better), or colored.

Simple Ostara Altar

It is wonderful to create a focal point for spring festivals if you can, especially if the weather is keeping you inside more than out. Here are some ideas:

• Decorate with flowers. Remember, in the U.K., it is against the law to gather wildflowers. So go for a bunch of daffodils or tulips—unless you have a garden full of primroses and violets, that is.

• Light pastel-colored candles. Green, blue, pink, or yellow are good, but white works beautifully too. Use flower-scented incense like jasmine, honeysuckle, or rose. Keep it light and fresh.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Hedgewitch Book of Days by Mandy Mitchell. Copyright © 2014 Mandy Mitchell. Excerpted by permission of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Weiser
• Data di pubblicazione: 2014
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 157863556X
• ISBN 13: 9781578635566
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 263
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile