Feeling the winter blues already?!
Autumn is here and everyone is feeling the wistfulness and quiet that the cool weather brings. All that inward-turning energy means more time spent at home. Whether you are witchcraft curious or an accomplished spellcaster, the coming months are an open invitation to take time to delve deeper into your witchy spirituality.
Embrace the coziness, break out your book of shadows, and curl up by the candlelight, because this is the perfect season to fully indulge your inner witch. Here are 3 magick rituals to help you cast away your winter blues…
1) Home is Where the Hearth Is
The hearth is at the heart of winter’s seasonal magick. In the olden days, the hearth was both a heat source and where the cooking was done. As such, it symbolized family togetherness, abundance, and protection, all in one.
In modern times, a fireplace and mantle are an ideal addition to a witchy home, but it isn’t usually where we bake and cook. Here’s how to honor the old ways and make a mini-altar that can be set right on the kitchen stove.
All you’ll need is a tray, bowl, some sand, and a charcoal disc for incense.
1. Use a large cookie sheet or tray as a base. Set it up with multiple candles, and decorate with anything you like – as long as it won’t be caught by the flames.
2. Your kitchen witch offerings will be made in a cauldron. If you already have a small cauldron or large incense burner, great! If not, a metal or pyrex bowl works just as well. Place some sand or ash in the bottom of it.
3. Place your mini-altar tray on the stovetop and light all the candles. With each candle, name one thing you are grateful for.
4. Now light a charcoal disc and put it in the bowl. Whatever goes into the cauldron will symbolize your desires for the winter season. You can use whatever you have on hand in the kitchen. Burn herbs and spices on the charcoal, and sprinkle any food onto the sand. Getting creative and personal will only improve the spell, so don’t be shy to be innovative with whatever you find. Here are some ideas to get you started…
Salt, Rosemary, Mint – Protection
Flour, Orange Peel, Marjoram – Abundance
Sage, Oregano, Lavender – Tranquility
Nutmeg, Apple, Basil – Good Luck and Healing
Cinnamon, Almond, Catnip – Love
2) Energizing Golden Chakra Meditation
This is a meditation with a superpower that fights the winter doldrums!
It’s hard to keep up your energy to do what needs doing when it’s cold outside. The focus of this meditation is your third chakra. It’s the energy center that governs confidence, self-worth, will power, ‘get-up-and-get-em’, and playfulness! When this part of yourself is strong and active, you’ll have more clarity, courage, and energy. And who doesn’t need that?
Do this on the regular and you’ll find your winter blues turn to gold.
1. Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Take a deep breath and bring your awareness to the area right below your ribs in the center of your body. This is the third chakra.
2. Imagine a steady golden flame there, sending out a small circle of light.
3. Take three more breaths. On each exhale, imagine the golden light expanding and filling up your whole body with energizing rays like golden sunshine.
4. Now imagine that light radiating all throughout the house, making even the objects gleam. Especially imagine objects that symbolize an area of your life that could use a boost of energy from you — like your computer, keys, tools, or the kitchen pots and pans!
3) Citrus Sunshine House Blessing
During winter, the days grow short and the nights grows long. Solar energy is at an ebb, while lunar energy reigns supreme. It can be a wonderful time of coziness, togetherness, and introspection — but let’s face it, all that cold and dark can also be tough to deal with.
While magickal practitioners embrace every side of life, dark and light, we also strive for a balance! This simple ritual will bring a little sunshine and brightness into your home until Spring comes around again.
1. Warm-up 1 cup of water in a pan.
2. Zest the skin of one orange and one lemon into the warm water and let it steep for ten minutes. (This will make your house smell amazing!)
3. Strain the liquid into a bowl, using some linen or muslin fabric as a strainer.
4. Use your fingers or a sprig of greenery to flick the concoction into every corner of the house, saying simply — “Bright and blessed be this home!” as you go.
Raven Hinojosa
