In the Witchy Kitchen

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Almost from the beginning of my journey into Wicca and Paganism I have always been strongly attracted to the aspects of Kitchen and Green Witchery.  I LOVE baking and gardening and creating in general.  It's really where my heart sings.  Now that I have a family (a pretty good sized one too) I now feel the need to be in the kitchen not only for the preparation of meals, but just to have my little escape.  Nothing is more soothing to me than cutting out a batch of fresh homemade noodles, or kneading together some delicious baked good from scratch.  Over the last couple years I have neglected the gardening part of my life, but others have been good to me.  I have gotten some delicious herbs and herb blends from many fellow pagans that I have used to add a little magick into my everyday meals.

  Along with the creating of food, I have also used these herbs in spell work.  From turning sage into smudge sticks, to creating homemade bath salts.  The later is what I am going to be sharing with you today.  I made up a batch of Purifying bath salts that is perfect for a pre-ritual cleansing bath.

I chose lavender and rosemary for both their scent and for their cleansing and purify purposes.  lavender is also a calming herb and rosemary has protective properties.  I used baby oil because it is gentle on the skin and already used in many bath and body products or even alone.  

Here is what you will need:

• 1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
• 2 Tablespoons baby oil
• 2 Tablespoons Rosemary
• 2 Tablespoons Lavender
• Lavender oil (about 10 drops)
• several dishes for mixing ingredients
• mortar and pestle for grinding herbs (optional)

For my spell crafting I always try to measure out all my ingredients and put them into either stainless steel or glass bowls or dishes.  These dishes won't absorb smells or stains from my materials, and I feel won't hold onto energies from past spell work.  They are both made from earth elements, unlike man made plastic composed of chemicals.  I lay them out on my altar (or workspace if it is a large spell or project) and light my charged full moon candle, and let the candle light and smoke cleanse the items and prepare them for crafting.  The candles I use for spell working and for spell crafting are different.  These crafting candles are charged specifically for the purpose of cleansing ingredients and materials prior to crafting.  I charge them in the light of 3 full moons.   This is a personal thing, I am very attracted to the cleansing energies from the full moon and incorporate it into as many aspects of my spell work as I can.

To make the bath salts  I start by pouring my Epsom salt into my stainless steel bowl and adding my baby oil and mixing by hand to make sure all the oil and salt are blended.  It should take on a wet, clumpy appearance.

Next I put the rosemary and lavender into my mortar and grind them up until they take on a powdery consistency.

  Finally I add the herbs to the salt mixture and combine them by hand until everything is evenly dispersed.










 You can now transfer your ritual bath salts into glass jars or other containers and store them, or use straight into your tub.  I use about 1/4 cup in my tub.  This container has enough for two baths, and the recipe has enough for four.   

I chose lavender and rosemary for both their smell and for their cleansing and purify purposes.  Lavender is also a calming herb and can aid in relaxation and meditation. Rosemary has protective properties which make it perfect for circle casting.