Litha - June 2020

Wild Goddess Magick

Witchology Magazine Getting Started With

Litha Rituals and Crafts

Summer Kitchen Witchery

Witchy Interviews With Author, Lisa

Chamberlain and Druid, Jon Hughes

Litha

& Summer Magick

Tapping into the

Astrology of Midsummer An Exclusive Excerpt From

Reading the Leaves

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Litha

Celebrated on June 21–22 in the northern hemisphere and December 21–22 in the

southern hemisphere. Litha is the summer

solstice—the longest day of the year. Use this

time to honor the the sun, vitality, growth, and empowerment.

-The Spell Book for New Witches

Lukas Gojda

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EDITORIAL Ambrosia Hawthorn, Owner & Editor Sarah Justice, Co-Editor WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Miss Wondersmith, Mike Sexton, Karla Freeling, Josie Hellbore, Severina Sosa, Hazel, Quinn K. Dyer, Katiee McKinstry, Vivacia Ahwen, Meg Rosenbriar, Lauren Over.

ART & PHOTOS Cover: Ambrosia Hawthorn and stock.adobe.com All other photos are from free stock sources or from contributors.

SALES ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com SUBMISSIONS ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com sarah@witcologymagazine.com www.witchologymagazine.com/ submissions-ads/ SOCIAL www.witchologymagazine.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag Copyright © 2019 by Wild Goddess Magick.

All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Magazine is intended for ages 18 and up.

We are a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All our content is reviewed and vetted in the process.

The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Witchology Magazine or Wild Goddess Magick.

Witchology Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Welcome!

“These words herein are from me to you, each picture, thought, and quote we imbue.

This issue reflects the knowledge I have to share, use each spell, ritual, and work with care.”

Welcome to our 25th issue of Witchology Magazine!

A small independent digital publication created just over two years ago. Within these pages, you’ll find what’s new in the witchy community, must-haves for Litha and summer. We have two witchy interviews and an abundance of June themed articles for you to enjoy. Stop by our “what’s new” to see the latest book releases and Litha goodies!

No matter what your path is, there’s always something that can enrich and elevate your practice!

Please also note, we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the content of this magazine, but please don't give up on the magick within you!

Blessed be witches,

Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick Editor, published author, Wiccan, eclectic witch

Wild Goddess Magick

Witchology Magazine

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Cover by Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick

Our Witchy Team 1

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1. Sarah Justice @tinycauldron Tinycauldron.com Co-Editor, writer, shop owner

4. Josie Hellebore @hillcountrybruja hillcountrybruja.etsy.com Witch, writer, creator, curator, hop owner

7. Quinn K. Dyer @themoonmanual www.themoonmanual.com Gardner, bookbinder, shop owner

2. Karla Freeling @wiccanology Wiccanology.etsy.com Mother in the military, Pagan, shop owner

5. Mike Sexton @artistmikes Mikesextonstudio.com Eclectic Wiccan, artist, published author

8. Katiee McKinstry @rosecafletic lifestartswithcoffee.com Writer, Witch

3. Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith Thewondersmith.com Wondersmith, recipe creator, forager, event hostess

6. Hazel @hex_tarot Hextarot.bigcartel.com Witch, and professional tarot and palm reader

9. Vivacia Ahwen @sheraprincess Msvivacia.wordpress.com Witch, astrologer, romance author, artist

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10. Severina Sosa @severinathewitch medium.com/ @severinathewitch Hedgewitch, herbalist, writer 11. Meg Rosenbriar @witchoftheshoreline witchwithme.com Mother, wife, artist, sometimes poet, and hedge witch 12. Lauren Over @the_star_17 laurenover.com Artist, herb columnist

BELTANE & MAY 7 8 9 16 20 26 38 40 52

What’s New in the Witchy Community Witches Supporting Witches June Magickal Workings Pinnacle of the Wheel June Astrology Forecast: A Wild Sea Interview with Author Lisa Chamberlain Spellbinding Shop & Giveaway Interview with Druid, Jon Hughes Witchology Directory

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FEATURES 10 The Sacred Sunflower 17 The Magick of Bees 18 Litha Deities & Fire Magick 19 The Tiny Spellbook: Celebrating the Balance 25 Harnessing the Energy of the June Sun and Full Moon for Strength 28 Reading the Leaves Excerpt

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MAGICKAL LEARNING 14 The Basics of Candle Dressing 34 How to Use Clear Quartz During Litha 37 The Power of Meditation During Summer 39 Herb of the Month: Vanilla

MAGICKAL RECIPES

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43 Hill Country Bruja’s AllNatural Mosquito Repellent 46 Midsummer Mead: A Basic Brew for Beginners 48 Wild Rose Petal Jam 50 Pansy Vanilla Shortbread Biscuits 51 Rosemary Loaf Cake

What’s New in the

Witchy Community

Want to know what’s happening in the Pagan community?

Well, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the latest releases.

Wicca Book of Spells

By Lisa Chamberlain

Reading the Leaves: An Intuitive Guide to the Ancient Art and Modern Magic of Tea Leaf Divination

By Leanne Marrama and Sandra Mariah Wright An illustrated guide to tapping into your intuition through the simple act of sitting down to a cup of tea.

Whether you're wondering about career, finances, love, or health, Salem witches Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama are here to help build your intuitive skills and transform your life.

Available at Amazon.

The world of magic is full of immeasurable potential. There are literally thousands of spells in existence, for every purpose you could possibly imagine. In this book from best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, you will find spells and other magical workings that, when applied with focused intention, can bring positive experiences into your life.

Divided into four general categories, they are suitable for Witches of all experience levels, without calling for extravagant or hard-to-find ingredients. Each spell contains explicit instructions, but there are also opportunities to personalize the work as you see fit, using your own intuition and style. With the variety of magical opportunities for enhancing the most important areas of life, there’s something for everyone in this book! Available at Amazon.

The Druidic Art of Divination: Understanding the Past and Seeing into the Future

By Jon Hughes Hughes explains the three forms of divination used by his tradition: interpretive divination, used by readers of the Sevens (small staves with engraved sigils); inductive divination, which includes instructions for reading the wind, reading smoke, and divination using water; and intuitive divination, whose tools includes cup-stones and slate mirrors for scrying. Providing step-by-step instructions for practices in each of the three forms, he offers a wealth of divinatory techniques and explains how to access the altered states of consciousness necessary to read time backward and forward. He also explores the crafting and use of all tools and mixtures the reader will need to perform each type of divination, including botanical compounds, scrying wands, and a slate speculum vitae, the “mirror of life.” He reveals how the prime function of divination in this school of Druidic lore is to gain insight into past, present, and future events through a process of internalizing them, akin to empathy, and then interpreting them. Available on June 16, 2020 at Amazon.

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Witches Supporting Witches Midsummer Specialty Cauldron Candle $51.37+ FromAFable

Check out the latest creators, shops, collections, and more for this month!

Litha Candle Holder Altar Piece $38.00 MyPaganMaiden

Goddess Doll: Litha Blessings $25.50 AWellAppointedWitch

Wheel of the Year, Celtic Knot Litha Altar Cloth $34.89 FrogBirdsHouse 8

JUNE MAGICKAL WORKINGS The month of June celebrates Litha and the strength of the sun.

Litha is a time to honor the energy of the Sun, fire, and warmth. Work on magick relating to prosperity, strength, endurance, or anything you want to continue to grow.

The major theme of Midsummer is of course, honoring the Sun so however small, spend time meditating or casting rituals under the sun’s rays. If you can’t get outside, use a candle to bring warmth wherever you are.

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The Sacred

Sunflower

By Hazel of Hex Tarot

Born in spring and summer, they draw down the sun's energy into their bright faces, reflecting it up to the sky.

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here is something pure and joyful about the hue of a yellow flower. Of all the yellow flowers, the sunflower is possibly the most magickally associated with the sun. They are part of the composite family and can grow up to twelve feet tall.

Their emblematic faces following the sun's transit from dawn to dusk. This is known as heliotropism, and it is one of the many reasons why this flower has been named sacred and domesticated for the last four millennia. The sunflower is possibly the most widely grown flower on the planet due to its highquality, versatile oil. This was not always so. In my complete naivety, I had, at one time, assumed sunflowers were native to southern Europe. They are a native species of North and Central America, where over 60 of the 63 varieties originate. The plant is believed to have been domesticated in what is now Mexico around 4600 years ago. It played a significant role in the crop production of the Southern North American tribes.Â

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The Aztecs of Mexico regarded it as a sacred flower; evidence of sunflowers have been found in temples and at sacred sites. Peru has three native species that grow there and across South America. Sunflowers were revered by the Incas, as they were known to be used in worship to honor the Sun God. Sunflower heads were worn as flower crowns by high priestesses and would be placed on temple altars. I have seen flower offerings of orange marigold flowers at Hindu temples in India; it's an impressive sight. I can only imagine how magickal the temples in Mexico and Peru would have looked adorned with sunflowers.

During the late 17 Century, Spanish conquistadors brought the sunflower to Europe.

The sunflower began to be cultivated for its high-quality oil. It was given the botanical name Helianthus annus, derived from the Greek language. Directly translated, it means Fower of the Sun. This would suggest, like the sun, that the sunflower was viewed as male or holding the sun's male properties.

It's hard to find old or reliable folklore about the sunflower. There is a Greek myth alluding to the sunflower being a transmuted water nymph called Clytie, who became besotted with Apollo. Her love was unrequited, and she suffered greatly through rejection. In one version of the story, she starves herself through grief and slowly transmutes into the sunflower as a representation of her love for Apollo. A less macabre version tells that the other Gods take pity on Clytie from seeing her in such sorrow, so they changed her into the yellow flower so she could match Apollo's beauty. However, as sunflowers were not brought over to Europe until the 1690s, we can surmise this is poetic license. The original flower in the story was likely a native species popular in native to Greece when Apollo was at his most widely worshipped.

Sunflowers are often used in spells, rituals, and oils for fertility and prosperity magick.

They are also associated with the tarot sun card and represent integrity, truth, and honesty. Astrological associations are with Virgo and Leo, but sunflowers may represent any sun sign.

In many modern rituals, sunflowers are used to bring luck, love, joy, make wishes come true. They have a connection with the midsummer festival of Litha. Many witches use it as anointing oil and decorate their altars with flowers for this festival. I have used sunflowers in prosperity spells to good effect. The seeds form geometric patterns similar to the flower of life. I have found gazing into a sunflower head can bring trance-like states.

Sunflowers have never lost their appeal, frequently appearing in art and literature over the centuries. Their very faces and petals mirror the sun and its life-giving rays. It's joyful beauty will always be the marker for its success.

The Sacred Sunflower

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Easy Litha Crafts

By Mike Sexton

Get creative with your Litha celebrations with these ideas that you can use all summer long.

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his has been a crazy year in so many ways, but let's celebrate the beauty that Litha brings. Litha officially unveils the summer season, so you might want to consider doing a few craft projects to help celebrate the warmer time of the year. The simple crafts below will bring in the Litha magick. You can have these creations around your home all season long, and they're a wonderful way to bring the kids in on the Sabbat activities.

am a professional artist, but I also like to do things a bit simpler sometimes. One of the glasses I have made just consisted of me drawing little dots in alternating colors along the base of the glass, up to about midway. Just a word of caution: do NOT use these glasses for drinking or eating purposes, as washing the glasses will likely cause the paint pen marks to be removed during the washing process.

Clay Sun Disks Create sun disks for your altar and for your living room coffee table or centerpiece by getting either air dry clay or poly-clay and create round flat discs- do not worry if they're not perfectly round. Once formed, let them dry.

You can paint them in fiery colors, add runes, or draw sigils. The ideas for this are truly endless.

If you want to hang these up, be sure to poke a good-sized hole into the clay while it's wet so you can string it.

Litha Colored Rice A really easy way to bring the magick of the solar festival is to create a bowl of colored rice.

You can pour as much uncooked rice as your bowl can fit. Separate the rice into two or three separate batches. For each batch, you'll put in a plastic bag and add about one teaspoon of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol (your choice) and add about 5-10 drops of food coloring. You can create red, yellow, and orange rice if you like, or maybe you want to do three different hues of red or yellow. That's up to you.

Litha Candles What would a fire festival be without beautiful candles? Consider creating your own candles for Litha. Some may tell you it's fine to melt crayons to create candles, but I don't advise this as the dye in the crayons can clog your wick.

Once the rice is colored, leave the bag open but out of reach of children and pets and let it dry a day or two. Then you are ready to pour each bag into your bowl in whatever color combination you'd like to do. You might even take a spoon or bamboo skewer and create a swirl design in your bowl once you have all the rice in. Each color symbolizes magickal correspondences of warmth, prosperity, protection, fertility, and the rice itself symbolizes abundance and goodwill, not to mention protection.

I always use organic soy wax, beeswax, and organic coconut oil. You can find candle dye chips online so you can create candles in any color you like. You might consider beginning with a jar candle as they are pretty simple to make. But make sure the jar you use is heattolerant. You can create one for each family member and let them choose the color and meaning for each candle and use them at Litha and throughout the summer. I wish each of you a joyous Litha!

Another great idea for the Litha and summer season is to get a couple of plain glasses. Get a few paint pens at the craft store and create some wonderful Litha and summer styled glasses. Don't worry if you're not too artistic. I

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THE BASICS OF CANDLE DRESSING

By Severina Sosa

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andle magick is one of the most popular forms of magick out there. It is easily accessible and inexpensive to perform, while still being incredibly powerful.

oil in some of the next steps, it’s best to use simple consecrated water and salt to wash off any prior energies the candle may be holding onto.

“Dressing” a candle can help amp up the magick substantially. While some traditions consider it essential before performing a spell, others do not. Ultimately, though, it’s always best to go with what feels right to you when performing any act of magick.

Then it’s time to move on to sigils if desired.

While this isn’t a necessary step, it can add additional strength to a spell. Carve a sigil you find appropriate into the candle side with a consecrated tool meant for the purpose.

Now it’s time to dress the candle.

In the end, dressing, or oiling, the candle before performing the spell helps to even more specifically bond the candle to the intention. It also connects the magickal practitioner and the candle together, even further strengthening the spell.

Using a neutral oil, like grapeseed or almond (some might want to make their own anointing oil), anoint the candle while focusing on your intentions. Start at the top of the candle and, using your hands, rub the oil down the candle, stopping in the middle. Start again, from the bottom this time, and rub the oil up the candle, stopping again in the middle. Focus the entire time on what you hope to achieve.

This can be done with herbs, oils, and sigils, paying special attention to the color and scent.

Start by choosing a candle that fits the type of spell you intend to perform. For instance, red candles are great for sex and love magick, while purple is best for power and ambition. Do a little research before choosing a color to make sure it best lines up with your intention. You don’t want to use a white candle for banishment or dark blue to attract money.

After that, if you are using any herbs in your candle dressing, you’ll want to take the freshly anointed candle and roll it in them. The herbs should also be related to the spell’s intention. A few examples would be lavender for happiness, rose petals for love, or cloves for protection.

And with that, your candle is dressed and ready for spell work.

Once the color is chosen, the next step is to cleanse the candle. Since you’ll likely be using

Ultimately, though, it’s always best to go with what feels right to you when performing any act of magick.

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@Asta

Pinnacle of the Wheel The midnight hour of the world strikes hot!

The clock’s hands are made of glowing pokers,

And the numerals are broad-winged sunflowers.

Time to seal the circle on the waxing season,

Energy so high. Earth so bursting. Eager so apparent.

Time to give.

Time to manifest.

For soon the Season of the Witch arrives in waning robes, And we will ride on manifest besoms.

Gilded with the last rays of this giving Litha magick.

-By Meg Rosenbriar

Lukas Gojda

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The Magick of Bees

By Severina Sosa

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here are very few joys in the summer better than wandering through a local farmer’s market, browsing the goods. Seasonal produce and the like can vary depending on the month, but one of the summer’s staples is honey.

This delicious, ancient food item is an excellent addition to tea or toast, but did you know that honey has magickal properties as well?

Using honey in spells is commonly used to sweeten people’s feelings. It can also be used as a type of magickal glue due to its sticky nature. When combined with its ability to sweeten, honey is perfect for helping couples who may be having romantic issues. Some Pagans even use honey in beauty spells, incorporating it

into hair and face masks to give a little extra, delicious glow.

Honey, since its inception, has been used as an offering to the gods and goddesses, as well as to the dead. You can also cook and bake with it, providing a way to make magick taste good!

Bees themselves are also considered magickal. They have been used as a symbol of royalty, are associated with deities like Aphrodite, and are even said to be representative of purity, health, and money.

The symbol of the black and yellow striped bee is iconic, and all Pagans know that even the most benign bees can sting.

Even beeswax is prevalent throughout modern Paganism.

For instance, beeswax is often the preferred substance for

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making candles, as it is clean, pure, and detoxifies the air around you. The best part of making your own candles is that you can customize them for whatever purpose you need, with size, shape, color, add-ins, etc. Beeswax can also be used to make custom seals for letters or sealing magickal workings. In general, many Pagans believe that the act of heating beeswax can actually release negative ions that calm, increase creativity, and help make people happier.

Bees, as well as their amazing byproducts, contain some of the most ancient power in the world. Learning how to harness that power in a respectful, environmentally friendly way is a great way to honor them and all they have given to civilization over the years.

Litha Deities & Fire Magick

By Karla Freeling

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plate of a meal or by saying a prayer for her as we burn the first log for our fire.

hroughout the years, I have celebrated Litha (also known as Midsummer) in many different ways. This year is special because I can’t think of a better time to celebrate Kali Marie’s (my newborn’s) Wiccaning. Kali Marie was specifically named after the dark goddess Kali, and while there are many different deities associated with Litha, Kali, and the Holly King are two that I plan to honor this year. Litha isn’t just important in Pagan culture; it has been considered sacred in many cultures around the world. It is also a good time to honor the sun and male deities.

Below are some of the gods and goddesses of Litha and how I personally honor each one.

Belenus, also known as Bel (Celtic) - As a sun god, Belenus is celebrated during Beltane and Litha. He is considered to be one of the oldest and most widely worshipped of the Pagan Celtic deities. I honor him in a variety of ways; however, my favorite is to have what we call a “Bel inspired fire.” We say a quick prayer in his name, and I place golden healers and sunstones around the fire to welcome his light.

Freyr (Norse) - The twin of Freya and one of the children of Njord. I associate Freyr with goldstone and rose quartz, and I usually pray to him for balance, wisdom, and peace.

Amaterasu-o-mi-kami (Japan) - This is one of the first goddesses I learned about when I moved to Japan eight years ago. She is a sun goddess. She is also known as the sister of the moon and the storm god (Susano-Wo). I pray to Amaterasu to help me channel the beauty of the heart and live gracefully.

Helios (Greek/Roman) - Long ago, Helios was combined with Apollo. Because of this, some mythology lists him as a Greek and Roman god. It is also said that, to the Romans, he was known as Sol. Last year for Litha, I created a gorgeous arrangement in his name and placed it on my balcony. This spellbound arrangement was created to welcome Helios’s light into our home to create a warm and safe place.

Hestia (Greek) - Also known as the goddess of home and hearth, Hestia was known to receive the first offering of every sacrifice in the household. I honor her by offering the first 18

Litha is a festival of growth. It’s a time of transformation and prosperity, and it’s time to celebrate our successes. It is also the perfect time to perform fire and water magick! As a Sagittarius, I concentrate more on the fire aspects of the celebration. There is nothing like a bonfire, campfire, or a fire pit in the backyard to help me meditate and set intentions for the rest of the waning year. There are many ways to harness the fire element's energy, although my top three include candle spells, hearth magick (cooking & baking), and burning papers with wishes and intentions in our backyard fire pit.

Tip: preserve the ashes of those fires to use as amulets for the rest of the year. Hopefully, this article inspires you to do something new!

Whatever you choose, may all the gods and goddesses of the sun bless you and your family!

Happy Solstice.

The Tiny Spellbook:

Celebrating the Balance

by Sarah Justice

Litha is a dedicated day to celebrate the offerings of fire and heat. But we’re also celebrating how the element of fire contributes to the fire within us and around us.

Yet, we can’t celebrate the fire without honoring the other facet of Litha: Balance with darkness.

Archaically, Litha is celebrated as the light overcoming the darkness, with this day exhibiting the longest period of daylight during the year. However, it also begins the process of the darkness slowly building.

Thus, Litha reminds us that we must accept both of these facets of nature and what they offer us. We must also see and honor this balance of light and darkness in ourselves.

Stand inside a circle made visually with light or with herbs or salt. Turmeric or dandelions can do in a pinch! Say: I open the door to the spiritual side, To reach out to ether from the light that’s inside, The portal is guarded, all evil stays put, No place for the wicked when this magic’s afoot.

As you speak, envision your palms or fingertips tingling with energy and connecting via twine to the outside world. Envision these pieces of twine wrapping around high tree limbs and the grass, then reaching and disappearing into the sky and ground. If inside, envision them puncturing through the ceiling and climbing upward infinitely. Chant: I create, I reach, I connect with a tether, I heighten my spirit like the wind does a feather.

When you feel you have built energy into the space, chant aloud: I light the wick and tease the flame, And in the fever of sun I proclaim: The embers fight the nightly chill, The kind that comes when life is still, It sits in the chambers of the heart and the hearth, Its battle made manifest on the grounds of this earth, They strike a cease-fire; an ancient truce, To acknowledge their facets and their positive use, A delicate balance of the highest self, and the pain that resides in the deepest of wells, We honor the dark wind, with bright embers upon it, For even honey and vinegar make a strong, stable tonic.

When you feel a sense of completion, thank the elements for assistance and close the connection you made with the spiritual world. To leave it open means to invite those who may have come in unannounced, whether good or bad. Close the circle by reciting the following: I close this portal, the spell laid to rest, Its ashes in the ether to be made manifest, The ground becomes earthen, it tempers its magick, It releases the energy, like a breath onto matches, Any entities tangled are released from this web, When this chanting is over, the connection is dead.

Offer any herbs or salt to the earth when finished by pouring it in a safe space away from pets or children.

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ASTROLOGY

June 2020: A Wide Sea

By Vivacia Ahwen Hot, a griffin's mouth of flame, The sun rasped with his golden tongue The city streets, till men and walls shriveled; The dusty air stagnated.

At the third noon a wind rippled, A wide sea silently breaking; A thick veil of rain-drops Hid the sun and the hard blue.

-Richard Aldington’s “June Rain” (1892-1962) from Images: Old and New, 1916

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n these turbulent times, summer’s arrival carries particular significance. The metaphor of the longest day of luminescence penetrating what’s been a three-month-long “dark night of the soul” is a symbol we can all relate to. Here comes the sun, and I say …it’s all right. On June 20th, we celebrate Litha (Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Midsummer’s Eve, Gathering Day, St. John’s Day, St. John’s Eve, Alban Hefin, Feill-Sheathain). Time to rededicate ourselves to the god and goddess, and open our hearts to love. For some Litha ritual inspiration –and then some-- check out our own Ambrosia Hawthorne’s latest book, Seasons of Wicca available on Amazon.

come up with compromises that leaving all parties happy. But if you just seem to be running in circles and into walls, good news, my friends.

On June 25th, Venus is back on track, and not a minute too soon.

June is full of retrogrades. Even some who dismiss astrology as “woo” suddenly become believers when Mercury does its backward dance. Flat tires! Twitter’s down! Instagram’s been hacked! Thrice a year we get a couple of weeks which play out like April Fool’s Day on crank. This round is June 18-July 12. Remember there’s an upside to Mercury retrograde, and we’ll look at how to make it work for you.

Make your evening magickal!

On June 21st, there’s going to be a live stream from Stonehenge if you enjoy the idea of worldwide witchy celebration, because—as we’re learning—social distancing doesn’t equal spiritual distancing. Let’s go on a virtual journey together, shall we?

On June 23rd, Neptune goes Retrograde in Pisces until November 29th. This formation can play out like an episode of The Twilight Zone, as though life hasn’t gotten weird enough already. But you can decide whether this distorted reality will go in the nightmare direction or have a restructuring based on truth.

Back to that “invite romance into your life on the Solstice” suggestion. Have the past couple weeks of Venus retrograde been wreaking havoc on your love life? Problems you’d thought were over and done with have been rearing their ugly little heads? Hopefully, you’ve taken advantage of the Venus retrograde to sort through some of that and

June 30th’s Jupiter Retrograde will conjunct Pluto Retrograde in Capricorn. That’s not only quite a mouthful; but it’s going to take a bit of tricky maneuvering to pull it off with a modicum of success. You up for it? Great. Without further ado…. Let’s jump into June!

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ASTROLOGY and negative—of the choices you made under Mars’ influence. Now with Neptune hopping onboard, you need to revisit and review. Find a body of water to meditate beside and bask in the early June sunlight. Open your eyes.

June 3rd Sun conjunct Venus in Gemini. You’re feeling a swell of generosity and goodwill, so lean into that.

Give and receive sincere compliments. Don’t let calls go to voicemail or bail last second on that Google hangout. Your peeps need you right now, and you’re radiating charm. You can always go to bed early if buzzy social interaction wears you down.

June 13th Mars conjunct Neptune in Pisces. A surge of Mars energy inspires you to be more assertive and make a splash. You find an opportunity to bring all that Neptune in Pisces flights of fancy into a more realistic perspective, as you are the Master (or Mistress) of your own personal universe.

Venus in Gemini square Mars in Pisces. You find yourself drawn to engage with someone who’s your polar opposite, either a current acquaintance or a new potential connection. The palpable pushpull tension is a major turn-on. If you’re already attached, don’t get pulled into temptation. If you’re single, see where the banter leads.

June 18th Mercury Retrograde in Cancer. Mercury Retrograde rolls around again, but this time you’re prepared: You backed up your files, changed your oil, charged your phone, and signed any significant paperwork already this month, right? Right. Cancer rules the home, and Mercury retrograde gives us the opportunity to reconnect with our nearest and dearest. Maintaining family connection in this time of social distancing is vital to our mental and emotional health. Go beyond Zoom meetings, emails, and meandering phone calls. Bring back the snail mail! Send handwritten letters to relatives, especially the ones with whom you’ve fallen out of touch. Mercury goes direct July 12th, so just hang in there.

June 5th Full Moon in Sagittarius and Lunar Eclipse. Sun in Gemini opposites Moon in Sagittarius. This is a good day (and night) for a spiritual experience, one which transcends the five sense perceptions. Explore the beckoning unknown via automatic writing, astral travel, or “deep” scrying, after casting a circle of protection around yourself. For more pragmatic folks, it is important to see the big picture before setting goals.

Mercury in Cancer sextile Uranus in Taurus. An exciting announcement arises, catching you off guard. While the news is positive, you experience anxiety from the surprise. You’ll find a reason to celebrate when it sinks in, but don’t give in entirely to Taurean excesses, which could leave you bloated and hungover. Your erotic energy is vitalized, and you feel experimental. What does love in the time of coronavirus look like to you?

Enjoy the discovery.

Mars in Pisces Sextile Pluto in Capricorn. Use the absurdity that comes with Neptune Retrograde in Pisces as a starting point for a creative renaissance. Revisit that manuscript you started writing, the unfinished painting or the halfcomposed song, and focus all that frenzy into making a masterpiece.

June 20th Summer Solstice/Litha Observed.

The warmth of solstice sunshine embraces your soul. Find some space outside to soak up the beams and drink in the light. Focus on healing and whisper a quiet spell or prayer for our planet, which so desperately needs illumination. You’ve got the power to change this world; you’ve had it all along. Stay gold, Pony Boy.

June 6th Sun in Gemini square Mars in Pisces. You’re faced with a crucial decision (Hello, Gemini!), but you struggle to focus on pros and cons due to Pisces’ dreamlike tendencies. Pay attention.

June 11th Sun in Gemini square Neptune in Pisces. You are experiencing the consequences –both positive

June 2020: A Wild Sea

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ASTROLOGY June 20th Sun Enters Cancer. There couldn’t be a better time for the turbo-charged sun to plunge into Cancer, shining a light on home, security, safety, and family. You are more demonstrative with your affection. Give in to the part of you who wants to spoil your loved ones on this sacred holiday.

daydreaming is tempting over the coming months, but try to keep your eye on the ball. You’ve got major work to do, and you need to keep a level head. This planetary aspect is in place until November 29th, and there’s an election between now and then. Be on the right side of history. Be the change.

Mars in Pisces Sextile Jupiter in Capricorn. You seek challenges, feel competitive, and are putting together a creative blueprint for future accomplishments. Work hard, ask smart questions, and be bold.

June 25th Venus Direct in Gemini. “O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, you thief of love!” Hermia could well have been addressing Venus retrograde, amirite? Well, happy days are here again, because with Venus going direct in Gemini, we’ve got the tools we need to open doors or mend bridges in love; both of the eros and familia influence. You can stop being so serious all the time, and laughter is the best medicine. Treat yourself to some seasonally appropriate rom-com/chick-lit, courtesy of the bard (and MIT!) Yes, William Shakespeare invented the romantic comedy…along with 1,700 words of the English language.

June 21st Annular Solar Eclipse. Annular solar eclipses occur when the moon is farthest from Earth and covers our sun’s center, leaving the visible outeredge circle to resemble a ring of fire (annulus) on the outer lunar edge. During solar eclipses, we recognize that we deserve and need more abundance in our lives. Invite the universe to fill your cup.

Now go make things right with your bae!

New Moon In Cancer. Your family is about to begin a positive new phase of relating. Are you ready to embrace change? New Moon will affect your family of origin, created family, or your “chosen family/inner circle.” Be ready to leave your old narrative behind and let the story of your kin unfold and expand.

June 28th Mars enters Aries (and sextile Saturn in Aquarius.) The Red Planet feels at home in Marsruled Aries. Therefore, his power is boosted. Mars in Aries pushes us to take action. During this transit, people can listen to their instincts. You can trust your gut and move a plan into powerful forward motion.

Sun conjuncts Moon in Cancer. Since you are extra sensitive under this astrological configuration, you need emotional intelligence more than ever.

Remember not to take on others’ projection, and feel free to dismiss any unsolicited advice which doesn’t ring true.

June 30th Jupiter retrograde Conjunct Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. During the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve discovered depths of inner strength we weren’t aware of, and during this formation, you need to call upon that fortitude. Jupiter in Retrograde guarantees challenges and goals will be enormous, while Pluto Retrograde meeting Capricorn’s sharp mind indicates that while surmounting obstacles will be a slow process, you will succeed. Patience, Grasshopper.

Know what else is on June 21st? Father’s Day. A great opportunity to reconnect with your dad or another father figure and let him know how he’s changed your life for the better. Holiday too patriarchal? Daddy issues? I gotcha, girl. Check out Linda Schierse Leonard’s classic The Wounded Woman: Healing the Father-Daughter Relationship.

June 23rd Neptune Retrograde in Pisces. Imaginations run wild. Falling into a cushy well of avoidant

June 2020: A Wild Sea

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June Astrology Correspondences Tarot: Justice Elements: Water Deities: Cernunnos, Lugh, Sol, Sulis Minerva Stones: Moonstone, pearl, alexandrite Plant Magick: Oak, mint, strawberry, vervain, belladonna, and St. John’s Wort. [Please consult with your primary care physician if using SJW medicinally.]

Found Treasures: Mother of pearl, mica, feathers, a dime Colors: Fiery orange, bright yellow, oceanic green Affirmation: I am the sunshine. I am the sea. Life forever flows through me.

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June’s Moon is

The Rose, mead, strawberry, strong sun, or hawthorn moon; ideal for spells relating to protection, strength, prevention, and maintenance

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Harnessing the Energy of the June Sun and Full Moon for StrengthÂ

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une has a special kind of power to it.

The flowers are starting to bloom and grow, early summer produce like fruits and vegetables are popping up, and the days are becoming longer.

the day. It will absorb the rays from the sun even stronger if it is a sunny, warm day! The sun has many positive benefits and will aid in the search for happiness and contentment as well as providing strength.

You can also charge your ritual tools the same way.

This month's full moon is known by a few names, like the Strawberry Moon, the Lover's Moon, or the Honey Moon, but it is most commonly referred to as the Strong Sun Moon. It is a time to spend with friends and family (socially distant, of course) and for nurturing your own garden.

Don't forget to work during the evening and harness the power of the Strong Sun Moon when it's at its strongest. A great way to do this is by making moon water.

To make moon water, find a glass jar and clear and cleanse it before filling it with spring or distilled water. Then set it outside under the full moon overnight. It's best if it sits in a place where it will be under direct moonlight for most of the night. It can then be used in spells or recipes where you want to increase your intuition and strength.

It's also a time to honor the sun's importance, which is just as powerful as a full moon.

One way that you can do that is by making a solar charm.

Start by choosing a stone with associations to the sun, like aventurine or topaz. Wrap it gently in wire so that you can attach it to a necklace or a ribbon to hang either on you or in the home. Then, place the stone outside in direct sunlight and leave it for

Every full moon has its own unique power.

This June, help build your strength by taking advantage of all the Strong Sun Moon has to offer.

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INTERVIEW

Interview with Author,

Lisa Chamberlain Can you tell us a little about you and your practice?

Well, I started as a traditional solitary Wiccan, and moved more into an eclectic practice as I got older. My practice is very much immersed in the natural world these days, and I like to work outdoors as often as I can. I place a lot of emphasis on really feeling into the seasons and lunar cycles, and being open to the spiritual lessons that these changing cycles always have to offer, even when change isn’t the most comfortable thing to be experiencing in the moment!

In my magical practice, visualization and vibrational frequency have become more and more my focus, so that I’m practicing being attuned with my goals on a consistent basis—not just when I’m doing spellwork.

Where do you get your inspiration from for writing books?

I guess it’s a blend between drawing from my own experiences and wanting to take a more “reporter-style” approach to presenting information. When I was coming up in the Craft, all the books I read were typically focused around one person’s practice, or based on a specific form of Wicca, or otherwise pretty singular in perspective. I definitely found many of those perspectives helpful, and I still find much inspiration in other people’s ideas and approaches. But I saw that there was also room for a more neutral, objective voice that didn’t promote one form of Wicca or one style of practice over another, and I know I would have found that helpful when I was beginning.

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INTERVIEW

I also wanted to create resources with a little bit more “academic” weight to them, particularly in terms of historical accuracy, than most of what I first encountered in my teens. Back then, the idea that Wicca itself was a direct continuation of a preChristian religion was still prevalent, and it was part of what really attracted me to Wicca. It wasn’t until later that I learned that this was not exactly the case, and I really wanted to address that with my first book, Wicca for Beginners. Since then, I’ve enjoyed researching history and other cross-disciplinary subjects, like scientific discoveries, as they apply to contemporary Witchcraft. So I like to include at least a little bit of that in each book, while still keeping the content accessible to readers who might not be quite as nerdy as I am!

Wicca and magic. You can also find descriptions of all my books there.

I’m a little old-fashioned when it comes to social media, so I haven’t had much of an online presence beyond the website, but I’m finally planning to start an Instagram account! It’s a bit bare at the moment.

But if you want to follow me while I’m building it, my Instagram handle is @wiccaliving.

Is there anything else you would like Witchology Magazine readers to know about you or your books?

I’m just so delighted by how many readers have enjoyed the books. I did not expect this level of success when I began—not by a long shot! So I just really have a lot of gratitude for all my readers, especially those who have been with me since the beginning. And I appreciate the opportunity to interview with you as well, so thank you!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and also, how many books do you currently have?

I actually wrote my first “book” on the eve of my 4th birthday. It was about 5 sentences long, and some of it actually made sense! I always loved reading and writing, and majored in English specifically in order to take creative writing classes. I then went to graduate school for writing as well.

At the moment, I have 22 self-published books, several of which are in the process of being reissued by Sterling Publishing. Wiccan Kitchen (formerly Kitchen Witchery) is the first Sterling collaboration, which was just released last month.

Two more will be coming out soon—revised and expanded versions of Wicca for Beginners and Book of Spells. And I’m really excited about several collaborations in the works right now with some unique new voices, who will be publishing with me on a range of topics including hedge witchery, chakra magic, and potions! I can’t get into details yet, but I’m quite looking forward to making more announcements about these new books soon.

How can our readers connect with you?

My website, www.wiccaliving.com, has contact information, along with a plethora of articles about

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How to Use Clear Quartz During Litha

By Katiee McKinstry

The warm nature of Litha invites you to connect with the summer sun. Look to perform meditation or rituals to harness the energy of clear quartz and the sun this season. Clear quartz is a perfect stone to use due to its versatility and affordability.

Clear quartz can assist with intention setting and raising energy. It’s also a beautiful crystal to help you “see” more clearly. If you feel that you are limiting yourself and giving in to negative thoughts, clear quartz will help you embrace your power and clear your mind.

Clear quartz is one of the most abundant crystals on the planet. It is easy to find, but don’t let that fool you. As a fantastic manifestation tool, clear quartz is entirely programmable. When you have a job to do in your meditation and manifestation, clear quartz will be your best friend.

Use clear quartz for your midsummer celebrations to help you connect with the summer energy and manifest your desires.

If something feels just out of your reach, meditate with clear quartz, and a clear pathway will begin to unfold before you.

Clear quartz, in general, intensifies the power of other crystals in your collection. It cleanses, heals, amplifies, and channels energy and increases perception. Quartz is often needed for Geminis and Pisces, as it provides them with clarification and understanding.

If you suffer from anxiety, clear quartz can be an amazing crystal to carry with you. It helps you see past the negative thoughts that may spiral, and clear negativity from you.

Add a few clear quartz crystals to a grid to enhance the abilities of the surrounding crystals. That makes it a great addition to your altars, crystal grids, energy work, spells, and rituals. This amplified energy is perfect to match the power of the sun at its strongest during Litha.

While you are meditating, place the clear quartz in between your eyebrows. That way, it can begin working to cleanse, heal, increase psychic energy, and promote calming feelings. It will also start cleansing, leaving you feeling refreshed and centered.

Remember to also take deep breaths when using during meditation.

Use clear quartz to celebrate what is to come and what has always been.

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the power of meditation during Summer

M

and the fire element are incredibly important to the summer in general and Litha specifically.

They also give Pagans a more specific point of focus, which can be especially helpful for new meditators.

editation is beneficial for everyone, no matter the time of year. However, summer provides Pagans with a unique opportunity to get outside and meditate.

This allows the additional level of involving nature in the meditation, communing more specifically with the elements. It is also a great way to honor the season in a special, personal way.

To perform a candle meditation, find a place where you won’t be disturbed for a reasonable period of time. Choose a candle (white or gold are preferable) and sit in a comfortable position. Some Pagans prefer scented candles or those dressed with oils known to help deepen the meditative state, like sandalwood, lavender, or bergamot. Light the candle and look at the flame with a soft-focus, until your eyes stop seeing details and your mind engages.

Spend as much time as it feels appropriate in this state.

Also, an excellent way to celebrate the summer solstice is by performing a Litha meditation.

Many Pagans spend the time around this sabbat, taking a close look at the things that could be considered “light” and “dark” in their own lives. Sunrise or sunset are great times for this, as they allow you to commune with either the light or dark as well as remembering that neither of them lasts forever.

However you choose to do it; meditation is the perfect way to commune with the spirit of the summer. This summer solstice, spend some time contemplating what the upcoming shortening days mean to you. Appreciate the long days now, and get outside while you can.

Nothing lasts forever, which is part of why it is so beautiful.

If you are choosing to meditate at sunrise, try to face the east. If meditating at sunset, face the west. Always wear comfortable clothes, or even consider meditation totally in the nude if you have enough privacy.

If getting outside for summer meditation isn’t possible, consider a candle meditation. Candles

Meditation is the perfect way to commune with the spirit of the summer.

” 37

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”

Getting to Know

Druid, Jon Hughes

Can you tell us a little about your practice?

I am fortunate to have been born into a Druidic household, my mother from the Scottish tradition, and my father from the Welsh. As such, and living in a small Welsh village, my whole education and upbringing were orientated around the Druidic lore of the Welsh tradition. From the age of eighteen, I have set myself the task of trying to learn and understand as much of the many branches and widely varied interpretations of the traditions that I was taught. I continue to follow the unique tradition I grew up with, as, in the fifty years that I have continued my research, I have yet to find a world view that better encapsulates our intimate existence within nature. I engaged myself in the whole repertoire of the Druidic Pagan tradition practices and moved from Wales to County Kerry, in the far west of Ireland, as it is the focal point of the Druidic Pagan tradition with the highest concentration of ancient Druidic Pagan sites in the world. For example, Kerry or Cork region has the highest population of stone-circles in the world, with a collection of unique five-stone circles found nowhere else. All this makes it a uniquely powerful Druidic environment.

What inspired you to write your book, The Druidic Art of Divination?

Many people who may have a cursory knowledge of Druidic lore will have heard the folk-tales of clandestine initiations, blood sacrifices, and oaths of secrecy regarding the vital lore of the Druids. Much of the motivation for all of my books, articles and presentations is a desire to provide people with clear and understandable insights and information regarding the tradition I know so well and to help eliminate many of the common misunderstandings that distort the true nature of the belief system as I know it. Divination is one of the principle practices of the Druid; it is a praxis that has been associated with the tradition since the beginning of time and is probably the one that many people would most readily identify with the Druid.

When the Romans arrived in the Druidic homelands, it was one of the things that they most feared about the ancient Druids, and they quickly made any Druidic Divination rituals punishable by death. It is interesting to note that whilst the Romans allowed most of the civilizations they conquered to continue their indigenous belief systems and Pagan rituals, they not only made the Druidic rite punishable by execution but also slaughtered over a thousand Druids on the island of Ynys-Mon in north Wales.

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This was an attempt to eliminate this powerful threat and uniquely made the explicit declaration that the individual was not a Druid, did not follow the Druidic Pagan beliefs and did not believe in Druidic Divination as part of the oath taken to becoming a Roman citizen. All this goes some way to explain the intrinsic power of Druidic divination.

So, this begs the question of just how ‘location specific’ are our current practices? We are all aware of the potential energy of ley-line, as well as many other types of earth energies, of the ‘thin places’ (best translation I can think of from the Welsh expression that I know), where we are overwhelmed by the closeness of the other world energies and where the barrier between them is ‘thin.’ Places where we talk in whispers and stand in silent awe. These were the places where the ancient Druids built their circles and monoliths; these are still the special places where many of us, in all traditions, find to be the most effective place to do our workings.

My prime motivation in writing this book was to share my knowledge in the art and give the reader an insight into the techniques and principles involved.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

My on-going dilemma is, in writing about my divination practices and giving instructions for their working, I draw reference from my practices regularly undertaken at an ancient five-stone circle within ten minutes’ walk from my home. I know well the power and energies of this location and how it elevates my practices, but in explaining the same practices to my readers, should I accept that, if I believe they are ‘location specific’ and are empowered by the powers of the stone circle location, then the reader will only ever experience a diluted version of the working, or, if they can find their own specific location will they be able to replicate the working with the same energies and power? Alternatively, if they undertake the working, according to my instruction, will they experience any result at all in their own kitchen or garden? For my part, when I have undertaken working as far apart as India, America, and Antarctic Finland, I have had mixed results.

Whether this is the location or just me, I really don’t know, so until I can discern some factual evidence, my concern continues. The thesis raises a wide range of questions; if our practices are ‘placespecific’, where does that leave global organizations such as the online groups.

As this book is an explanation of a traditional practice that I have been involved with most of my life, there were very few surprising revelations resulting from the process. One of the recurring issues that I have encountered in all my work is the question of the importance of location and how fundamentally many of the practices are true ‘Location Specific.’ I know from my personal experience that this is a question that concerns many practitioners in a wide range of belief systems worldwide, including many of the witchcraft practitioners I have discussed it with.

The question of whether a particular rite or ritual is inextricably linked to a specific location is fundamental to the understanding of the ritual or rite itself and is a matter of increasing concern as a result of evolving communications systems and social media interaction. We all know that rituals and rites are by definition carried out in a certain way, using specific tools and devices, in a specific environment, be it at a favorite altar, working table, grove, or circle. The question is whether the ritual or rite is wholly dependent upon the particular location, or can it be enacted anywhere as long as the other specifics are adhered to?

Can you be a Druid in America, for instance, where you have no direct access to the original ancient sites of power? Does this mean that to be a Druid, you simply just have to live in a country that gives you access to these places? Not forgetting, of course, that being a Druid means being a learned member of an ancient Pagan belief system, and a person does not need to be a Druid to follow this path.

How can our readers connect with you?

Contrary to long-standing archaeological beliefs, we now know that stone circles were established in locations prior to the domestic settlement established close to them, as opposed to the previous belief that after settlements were established, the occupants then build their stone circles. In other words, the location of the places of rites and rituals, the stone circles, was identified by powerful energies rather than convenience for their users. They were frequently placed in obscure places, far from essential water supplies and potential agricultural land, meaning that the forces that determine their location was far more important than the life-supporting daily needs of the population that used them. This, in turn, means that location is of paramount importance, overriding all other needs.

Any reader who wishes to contact me does so in the first instance through my e-mail address: jonhughes@eircom.net.

Getting to Know Druid, Jon Hughes

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42

Hill Country Bruja’s All-Natural Mosquito Repellent

By Josie Hellebore

T

he summertime brings with it many blessings such as warmth, long evenings, and garden harvests. It also brings some unwanted guests who can put a damper on outdoor festivities: mosquitos! I live in Texas, where the mosquitos are savage, large, and relentless.

be dry enough to store. I store my herbs in mason jars, and because my citronella clippings are large, I use a 64 oz jar. For the infusion, I use a slightly smaller jar simply because handling and storage are easier with smaller containers. My preference for the infusion is a 32 oz jar. The longer the herb is infused in the oil, the stronger it will be.

Additionally, the more olive oil you add into the mixture, the more base-oil you will have.

The herbs will soak up a good amount of oil, so keep that in mind.

All of my life, I have fallen prey to these heatinduced assailants in the summer months.

Unfortunately, many mosquito repellents contain harmful chemicals. As I have aged, the importance of avoiding carcinogens has been increasingly more important to me.

Being the herbalist that I am, I decided this year to formulate my own natural mosquito repellent.

I begin by creating my base oil, which is an infusion of olive oil and dried citronella. I have three large citronella plants, which I harvest clippings from sparingly over several months. Citronella is the main ingredient in most mosquito-repelling candles and bug sprays. The smell is light and floral and similar to rose or geranium. It grows beautifully in the warm spring and summer months and can survive through mild frosts in winter. I grow mine in pots so that I can bring them indoors during harsh winter freezes.

If you want to give your infusion a jump-start, you can heat the concoction using a double boiler method in a large pot of boiling water or a crockpot. As the oil inside the jar heats up, the herbs will begin to release oil and fragrance. I do this for about 20-30 minutes before pulling the jar off and letting it cool.

The oil can burn if kept on heat for too long or too high. The smell of burnt oil and herbs is quite distinct, and you will do better to start over fresh if this happens. Once the jar has cooled, I wrap the outside of the jar in aluminum foil and then place the jar in a dark, cool place. The current batch I am working on has been marinating for about three months now. Remember, the longer you let it set, the more potent it will be.

When drying herbs and plants without a dehydrator, tie them in a bundle at the base of the clipping and hang them upside down.

After two to three weeks, the cuttings should

Now that the brew has steeped for a prolonged period and the mosquitos are out in full force, it’s time to strain the oil and move on to our next step in the process.

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heat. You do not want to burn the blend or cook out the fragrance, so only heat until the oil and wax have been fused together and are in liquid form.

To strain the oil, you will need either cheesecloth or pantyhose. They are cheap and easily accessible, and their stretchy composition allows them to hug the rim of the jar. Next, unscrew the lid off the jar and remove the outer ring and the lid, stretch the fabric over the jar’s mouth with a fair amount of tension. Then, secure the fabric in place with the outer ring. This allows you to strain the herbs from the oil while transferring the infusion into a heat-safe container. I use a glass measuring cup. For this recipe, I use 2: one to pour the base oil into, and another as the inner container of my double boiler.

This next step isn’t super scientific. I say that because dependent upon how much salve you plan to make, as well as your sensitivities to essential oils, the number of drops you add in will vary. I like to use a heavy amount of geranium oil, a medium amount of lemon, and a smaller amount of rosemary. Add in oils to your preference, mixing with the wooden spoon as you go. The salve will begin to set fairly quickly, so you will want to work hastily.

The other items you will need include: • Large pot halfway filled with water • Oven mitt • A wooden spoon • 2 glass measuring cups (I prefer the 4 and 8 cup containers: the smaller one to pour base oil into, the larger one as the double boiler) • Essential oils: Geranium, Lemon, Rosemary • Oil dropper(s) • Beeswax, about a cup broken down into smaller pieces (this makes it easier to melt) • Salve container (I use 2 oz metal tins which I order in bulk off of Amazon, but you can also use open-mouthed jars.)

Using the oven mitt, carefully pour the salve into your tins or jars. I lay down a sheet of parchment or wax paper for easy cleanup. In a few hours, your salve will be completely set and ready to use and store.

This method can be used to create any salve or healing ointment; simply swap out herbs and oils to create different scents and intentions. As always, when using herbs and essential oils, be mindful of negative side effects or allergic reactions. Use your imagination and creativity to formulate a salve for any purpose, from magickal to medicinal, or even a combination of the two! As always, be blessed witchy boos and happy witching!

I suggest pouring the infusion into a large glass measuring cup because the handle and lip allow easy, clean pouring into the double boiler container (the second glass measuring cup).

Place the double boiler glass measuring cup (the larger of the two) in the pot and bring the water to a boil. As the water is heating up, add in the beeswax chips a little bit at a time, allowing them to melt. Once the beeswax has been completely melted, pour in the base oil.

Mix gently with the wooden spoon. After the mixture is blended, use the oven mitt and remove the glass measuring cup from the

Hill Country Bruja’s All-Natural Mosquito Repellent

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FEATURED

Midsummer Mead: A Basic Brew for Beginners

By Quinn K. Dyer 46

FEATURED brew with luck, but the flavor can be too subtle for use alone.

Homebrewing falls under my list of good old practical kitchen magick. Like most kitchen witchery, it leaves us with a tangible, edible product at the end of our labors, imbued with our intentions. Both brewing meads and drinking them are great ways to celebrate a Sabbat if you’re of age. Engaging in kitchen witchery, such as brewing, during the sun’s peak power can charge our creations with its wonderful solar energy.

Yarrow especially has a connection to the summer solstice and is traditionally harvested on Midsummer’s day. It can be used in a brew to bring lovers closer, but beware because it can taste bitter!

For a basic batch of mead, you’ll use a gallon of water—only distilled or spring water—and from 2 to 4 pounds of honey. I recommend using raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized honey. And generally, that means no grocery store honey because it’s usually processed. Raw honey is easily found at local farmer’s markets. This recipe relies on wild fermentation, which relies on naturally occurring yeast to begin the fermentation process. Raw honey is essential to start the process because it contains that natural yeast. Even the honeycomb contains that yeast and can be used while brewing. Left alone with just a bit of water, the honey-water mixture will naturally ferment.

Mead is a relatively effortless initiation to homebrewing. Sometimes called honey-wine, mead is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world. Yet it requires very few ingredients to make — just a bit of time!

Of course, the staple ingredient in mead is honey.

In many cultures in antiquity, honey was considered a gift from the gods and was often used in rituals.

This golden nectar’s energy is used for binding, love, bringing people together, fertility, and generally ‘sweetening’ attitudes. Honey also vibes well with solar spells and is an excellent ingredient for any spellcasting during Midsummer.

The ratio of honey to water that you’ll want to use depends entirely on how sweet you’d like it to taste. For a super sweet mead, 3 pounds of honey, half a pound of blueberries, one sliced lemon, and a gallon of water make for a delicious drink.

Mead can be flavored with a variety of different herbs and fruits that are in season. Many are available to wildcraft or harvest, and both are great ways to celebrate the season’s bounties. The choices are vast! Blueberries, blackberries, citrus, chamomile, mulberries, yarrow, elderberries, ginger, hops, dandelions, to name a few. Try different things! Many homebrewers keep a journal to keep track of experiments.

Herbs and fruits can be used to imbue their magickal properties into your brews as well. And with an arsenal of herbs on hand, it’s easy to tailor a spell to your needs. Dandelions connect us with happy, sunny energy and can dispel depression, while elderberries have a healing energy that goes hand-in-hand with honey. And if you’re looking to capture the strength of the sun and amp yourself up, try a mead made with ginger root. Chamomile also has strong solar associations, and when used with lavender, it encourages visions. Mint can be used to imbue a

In a ceramic crock or glass container, mix your ingredients and stir well for several minutes.

Cover the pot with cheesecloth and let it sit in a warm, dark place. Stir the mead at least once daily.After a few days, but maybe up to a week later, you’ll notice the mixture bubbling and a distinctive fermenting scent. That means it’s working. Continue to stir it daily until the bubbling peaks and then mellows. Then strain out all fruit, honeycomb, and dead yeast from the brew.

Your mead can be drunk or stored in a carboy for a second fermentation. During this process, the brew will sit from several weeks up to months.

Even after the process of secondary fermentation, the mead can be bottled and aged further. Drink your mead when it tastes good.

Midsummer Mead: A Basic Brew for Beginners

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Wild Rose Petal Jams

By Miss Wondersmith

I have my Polish grandmother to thank for this recipe. This technique of soaking the rose petals in sugar overnight to tenderize them has been handed down from generation to generation. My foremothers ate it as a filling for pączki, delicious fried doughnuts eaten on celebratory occasions.

Rose petal jam has been eaten throughout Europe for hundreds of years, though it is more of a specialty food anymore. I think it’s even more delicious when made with the native wild roses here in the Pacific Northwest, the Nootka rose. The petals of this rose are smaller than most garden varieties, and it only has five petals. I’ve found them to have less bitterness than larger imported varieties, and their scent reminds me of heavenly sundrenched afternoons in the forests that I love.

These particular roses also carried a sacredness to many indigenous peoples, who used them both ceremonially and as medicine. Wild roses remind me to indulge in the sensory delights of life and show love for myself and others. They are the perfect treat to share with someone you want to show goodwill towards, or perhaps even romance.

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Wild Rose Petal Jams

By Miss Wondersmith

Try this jam spread directly on some good bread or folded into creamy yogurt and let that sunshine-filled tartness of early summer carry you off to perfumed bliss.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

4 oz fresh rose petals with the white base trimmed off (about 4 c gently packed) 2 c sugar, divided 2 lemons, juiced 3 c water 1 (1.75 oz) package powdered pectin 1/4-1/2 tsp chipotle pepper

1. Toss the rose petals, lemon juice, and 1 cup sugar until evenly coated.

Cover and let sit at room temperature overnight. This helps to soften the petals to make a smoother jam.

2. The next day, bring the water to boil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Stir in the reserved 1 cup sugar and dissolve, then add the rose petal mixture and stir until all of the sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the petals are translucent and the mixture has thickened.

3. Bring back to a boil for 5 minutes and stir in the pectin. Boil another couple of minutes.

4. Pour the jam into sterilized jars. These will keep in the fridge for several weeks.

5. To can this jam to enjoy months later, bring a pot of water to a boil while you’re cooking the jam. Immediately after filling, gently screw the lids on the jars (don’t tighten too much) and place them in the boiling water for 15 minutes to seal and sterilize them. Let the jam jars cool, then tighten the lids all the way.

6. Note: if you’d like to make a smooth jam like the one pictured here, blend the hot liquid in a blender until smooth before pouring it into jars. You may want to add a little extra pectin (¼ or ½ of a package) for a firmer spread.

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Pansy Vanilla Shortbread Biscuits These flower embossed shortbread biscuits are perfect for summer rituals, enjoying the magick of flowers, or infusing with energy of the sun.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1 c butter, softened ½ c granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste, or pure vanilla extract 2 c all-purpose flour Assorted pansies

1. Put the sugar and soft butter into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine thoroughly.

2. Add the flour and extract, and pulse about ten times, then run the machine briefly, just until the dough comes together into a lump or lumps.

3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and bring together into a smooth flat disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm enough to roll about 2 hours.

4. While the dough is chilling, remove the stems from the pansies, and place them on a large sheet of waxed paper, or parchment paper. Place another sheet on top, and then weigh it down with a baking tray or another large flat surface, topped with several heavy books. Let the pansies press for at least 30 minutes, or overnight if you like.

5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325F. 6. Roll out the dough to a 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness and cut out with a cookie cutter.

I used both a 2 inch and a 2 1/2 inch cutter.

7. Bake the cookies in batches, one tray at a time. Bake the smaller cookies for 7-8 minutes, and the larger ones for 9-11 minutes, depending on thickness. Your cookies will not brown; they will be pale and soft when done.

8. Remove the tray from the oven and gently press the flat pansies onto the hot cookies, pressing slightly to adhere the flowers to the cookies. Don't push too hard; the heat of the cookies will do the job. Sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.

Let the cookies cool completely on a rack.

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Rosemary Loaf Cake Recipe from Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Cooking

By Rachel Patterson A book to take you through the seasons. Cooking with produce when it is at its best (and cheapest). Recipes for all, with menu ideas to reflect the energy of each month of the year. Family style, no fuss cooking to nourish the body, spirit and soul.

Herbs in a cake? Weird, I know. Trust me, it works. The loaf cake slices really well and makes an excellent addition to picnics or rituals.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

250g/9 oz butter at room temperature, diced 200g/7 oz caster sugar 3 large eggs 210g/7.4 oz self-raising flour 90g/3 oz plain flour (allpurpose) ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Leaves from a 10cm stalk of rosemary, chopped 4 tablespoons of milk 2 tablespoons caster sugar, extra

1. Preheat oven to 325F/170C/Gas 3 and grease and line a loaf tin.

2. In a bowl, cream the butter and the sugar, and continue creaming until smooth and light.

3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, folding in a heaped spoonful of flour after each addition. After this is mixed add the rest of the flour, then the vanilla and rosemary.

4. Add the milk, mix well then spoon into the tin. Sprinkle over the extra sugar then bake for 50-60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

5. Leave on a wire rack in the tin until cold. Store in an airtight container.

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