Day 9: Pre-Cooking

Before I begin cooking, I do all the sanitation things - make sure the trash can has a new liner in it, the dishes are washed, the counter and stove scrubbed, and my hands scrubbed as well.    And then, it's time to get down to business.

If I am working on a recipe for this blog or one of my book project dealies, I like to think about the energies that are present in the ingredients, and how they will come together.  If I am making a magical recipe such as my Prosperity Shortbread, I will take the time to infuse each ingredient with my intent.

In order to do this, I simply touch the ingredients. I run my (clean) hands through sesame seeds.  I will hold a potato in my hands, close to my heart.  I stir symbols into the batter or stew as I cook as well, but before that, I like to focus on the purpose of the meal.

I like to take my time and relax. I don't chop things quickly.  I don't want to hurt myself, for sure, but more than that, I want to be calm and focused.  I don't want to be sloppy, especially if it's a recipe I am making for the first time.   If I am feeling angry, I will take time to breathe and release the anger.  I release my negative feelings before I begin cooking because I do not want them to contaminate the food.  (Yes, I'm a big fan of Como Agua Para Chocolate.)

That's it:  relax, slow down, focus on the energy and intent, and focus on the actual task of cooking so you don't cut or burn yourself.

How about you?

Day 8: Special cleaning rituals/practices

I'm going to try to catch up a little bit.  I got busy with work and got behind.  I figured I would, though, hehe.

Day 8 is about special cleaning rituals or practices.  I know some FLYladies, and I know some domestic witches who do a room or 'zone' a day.   Me?  I practice...avoidance.    Yup, that's right.  I'm a damned slob.   I love to cook, but I hate to clean.  Fortunately, my boyfriend deemed it his duty to keep the kitchen clean so the delicious foodz would keep a-comin', so my special cleaning practice right now is asking the Aussie.

But...

I don't want it to be that way. I really don't.  Help me?  What are some things you do to make cleaning less of a pain in the hindquarters?   Knowing it *has* to be done?   Or do you invoke a deity, someone for company?  Do you clean to music?  What do you listen as you clean?   Please, I'm begging you for tips and tricks to turn me into the gourmet slob that I am and into someone who is slightly more domestic.  I'll never learn sewing or anything like that, but I can at least keep my house from being a hazardous area.  I'm only half-joking...

Just a quick note

I haven't forgotten about my own blog challenge, but I have been incredibly busy with work.  I will get caught up this weekend.   I've been writing exams (more to go) and correcting essays (couple more of those, too), but I shall return!

Day 7: How Do You Imbue Your Hearth With Magic?

I'm going to refer to the stove as the hearth, as I don't have a traditional hearth in my apartment (drat!).   When I clean it, I clean off the grime and food stains and I also take time to smudge the area and light a candle on the back of the stove.  Sometimes I'll put a candle inside the (clean, electric) oven as well, as a welcoming to the hearth deities, especially Hestia.

I don't have any specific cleaning chants that I use, but I'd love to learn some if anyone knows of any.  That's it.  I clean and bless the area, but not that often, really.  Just whenever I feel it needs a good cleansing.


* Use natural cleaners - I use a mixture of white vinegar, water, and hydrogen peroxide (this mixture can be found on various websites)
* I like to scrub widdershins, and then do a polishing deosil wipe

Day 6: My Least Favorite Task

My least favorite kitchen task has always been loading and unloading the dishwasher.  I loathe it, probably because my mother forced me to do it when I was younger.  I'm not too fond of washing dishes by hand, either, but I can find some sort of peace in that, rather like Roland Abu Hadee (so many bonus points to you if you get that reference)...

What's your least favorite kitchen task?  Why do you dislike it?  I still don't know exactly why I dislike it, unless it's simply because I'm lazy.  I'm fortunate, though.  My boyfriend, from the day he moved in, deemed it his duty to keep the dishes washed so I can cook up a storm.  It's  a very nice arrangement. :)

Day 5: My Favorite Kitchen Task

My favorite thing to do in the kitchen is make bread.  I love to knead dough.  Sure, it's hard work sometimes to knead lots of dough by hand and it does hurt my shoulders after a while, but it's so rewarding.  I love taking just a few simple, basic ingredients and watching the dough rise. I love the smell of bread baking. I adore pulling a perfectly golden loaf or pan of rolls out of the oven.  

When I make bread, I like to take my time kneading the dough.  I chant as I do it, or I listen to music.  Sometimes I ask my boyfriend to drum as I knead.  I think bread is one of the best kitchen witch foods to make because of the amount of intent you can put into it.  Your hands are in the dough for 10 sometimes 15 minutes or longer.  Your muscles do a lot of work during that time.  What better chance to let your mind focus on something with which you want to infuse the bread.

My favorite kneading chants are:

She changes everything She touches
and everything She touches, changes

and

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All the dies shall be reborn
Vine and grain, vine and grain
All that falls shall rise again

Day 4: Favorite Tools ( + Bonus Wordless Wednesday!)

Day 3: What Doesn't Make a Kitchen Witch?

What doesn't make a kitchen witch, and who am I to say?   Well, let me begin by saying I DON'T think I'm in the position to go around deeming some people kitchen witches and others as something else.

However, we all have our opinions and mine is this:  You're a kitchen witch if you are conscious of what you are doing, as discussed in a previous post.  Just following a recipe or formula, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily make you a kitchen witch.  Going into the kitchen one time to make some holy water or four thieves' vinegar doesn't necessarily make you a kitchen witch.  You're a witch. In the kitchen.

A kitchen witch is one who, in my view, works mainly (or maybe even only) in the kitchen, uses whatever tools are on hand, and works to impart magic of some sort into everything s/he does in the kitchen, whether it be dinner preparation or a special recipe for attracting extra money.

Make sense?  Let me know your thoughts. :)

Reminder

You can start 30 Days of Kitchen Witchery with Day 1 at any time.  Also, if you get behind, you can either catch up or just pick up with whatever day we're on when you return.  No biggie. :)

Thanks to those of you who are participating.  Spread the word!

Day 2 : What Makes a Kitchen Witch?

In a word: Consciousness.

A hearth priestess, a kitchen witch - or any witch, for that matter - is conscious of his/her surroundings.

Before I continue, let us consult the dictionary:

con·scious

adjective

1.

aware of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.

2.

fully aware of or sensitive to something (often followed by of  ): conscious of one's own faults; He wasn't conscious of the gossip about his past.

3.

having the mental faculties fully active: He was conscious during the operation.

4.

known to oneself; felt: conscious guilt.

5.

aware of what one is doing: a conscious liar.

So, as a kitchen witch I am acutely aware of my surroundings and I try to tap into how I am feeling so I can understand it better. 

I am aware of and sensitive to the world around me and conscious of my own faults, as the example mentions. 

When I am cooking, I am fully aware of what I am doing.  I am consciously trying to imbue the food with some specific purpose - love, harmony, prosperity, etc. 

So, that's it for me.   Knowing what I'm doing and why I'm doing it is part of what makes me who I am as I travel my path. 

How about you? 

Day 1 - Why Kitchen Witchery?

I guess everyone has had to answer questions about his or her path at some point.  Well, when someone asks me why I'm a kitchen witch, the first thing I do is tell them: I don't consider myself a witch, per se.

I consider myself a keeper of the flame, a priestess of the ancient deities of the hearth.  Kitchen Witch is just a shorter, easier title, and that's fine, too.   I'll answer to "kitchen witch", or just about anything else, for that matter.

I have always felt at home in the kitchen. I've been cooking and crafting in the kitchen for years.   When I first started studying about paganism and Wicca and such, there wasn't a whole lot of information about the path of the kitchen witch.  At least, not that I could find.  Maybe I just didn't know to look at the time.

Fast forward a few years. Texas. I met a couple of groovy Pagan ladies to hang out with, do rituals, study, chat, whatever.  I did what I always do - I brought food.  People loved it.  It opened doors.

I guess I really don't have a defining moment, but the idea really took hold when I was living in Texas.  I have some wonderful friends to thank for that.  Min, Gabs, if you're reading - love you!

I'm still working on my path.  I consider myself to be a Pagan-ish, Agnostic-type person.   I don't know for sure that the old gods are around still, or if they ever were.  I'll honor the idea, but I have no way of knowing for sure.   It's a process.

 The path to who you are and where you're going is a personal journey. I have chosen to make my path by being in tune with the rhythms of the earth through her bounty, and by sharing that bounty with people whenever possible.

What about the other lovely kitchen witches who read this blog?  Care to weigh in?  I would absolutely love to hear from some people.

30 Days of Kitchen Witchery

Won't you join me in yet another blog challenge?  This one is good for kitchen witches and hedgewitches as well.   Please feel free to play along, and don't worry if you get behind. I'm sure I will!   If you decide to participate, just put a link in the comments section to your post and I'll take it from there.  Happy blogging!

30 Days of Kitchen Witchery


1. Why kitchen witchery?
2. What makes a kitchen witch?
3. What doesn't make a kitchen witch?
4. Your favorite tool(s)  (photos)
5. Favorite kitchen task and why
6. Least favorite kitchen task and why
7. How do you imbue magic into your hearth and home?
8. Special cleaning rituals/practices
9.    Pre-cooking preparing practices
10. Recipe for love
11. Recipe for prosperity
12. Recipe for peace
13.Do you stir deosil or widdershins? 
14.Your kitchen altar
15.  Kitchen deities
16.Your kitchen deity
17.Your favorite food/meal to make in honor of your kitchen deity
18.Songs or chants that you use while cooking
19. Mealtime blessing
20. Blog about hunger
21. Do you have a familiar? Is your familiar allowed in the kitchen?
22. Favorite cookbook(s)
23.Diet and magic
24.Meat and magic (or no meat, depending on your preferences)
25. Junk food and magic
26. Favorite sabbat dishes
27. What other magic do you do in the kitchen? (Witch bottles, candles, incense, bath salts...)
28. Do you listen to music while you cook? What? Is it specific to the food you are making?
29. Worst kitchen disaster
30. The future of your path

2    I really hope you all join me!  

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