#Kitchen Witchery - Tips for Making Magic in Your Kitchen

By Patti Wigington. Paganism/Wicca Expert

Patti first discovered contemporary Paganism in 1987, and has studied a number of different magical and occult systems, including Wicca. She got her first Tarot deck as a gift in 1988, and has been reading cards ever since. She is an initiated third-degree High Priestess, and is the founder of the Stone Circle tradition, a Neo-Celtic Pagan group. Patti is an advanced-level Reiki practitioner, and is licensed Pagan clergy in the state of Ohio. She is also active in the planning of her local Pagan Pride Day. Her freelance work has appeared in a number of Pagan publications, including Gaea's Cauldron, Llewellyn's 2007 and 2008 Herbal Almanacs and 2012 Sabbat Almanac, and Pagan Parenting. Patti is the author of several books, including a middle-grade novel about teenage witches, Summer's Ashes (2007 Keene Publishing). She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Ohio University.

What is Kitchen Witchery?:

So it s no surprise that kitchen witchery has seen a rise in popularity.

Meal Prep as Magic:

When you take the time to put meals together from the basic ingredients, you have a magical opportunity at hand. You can infuse every dish with intent and will. A meal can stop being something you dump out of a can, and start being a ritual in and of itself. When you take time to prepare something with your own hands, that lends it sacredness, and will make you want to spend time savoring it with your family, rather than just snarfing it down on your way out the door to soccer practice.

By changing the way you view food, its preparation and its consumption, you can craft some practical magic at its simplest level.

How To Bring Magic Into the Kitchen:

As you become more aware of what it s like to live magically. and more in tune with your own actions and activities, you may at some point realize that your kitchen is a magical one. There are a number of things you can do to enhance the magical atmosphere in your kitchen. Try some or all of these to get started:

• Have a kitchen altar. The stovetop is today s equivalent of the hearth fires of old, and it s where most food preparation is done. Create a small altar with items that can be moved as needed -- add a statue of a home or hearth goddess. a cauldron, or a candle. If you like, paint a trivet with symbols of your tradition.

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• Make sure your herbs are readily accessible. If you cook with them, display them in decorative jars. Make sure that they re not sitting in direct sunlight, though, or they ll lose their potency. If possible, have live plants in pots to use during the year. Keep fresh vegetables on hand as well.
• Read up on practices like Feng Shui so you can optimize your work space for maximum efficiency, both spiritual and practical.
• Keep the space clean. Much like any other sacred space. physical cleanliness maintains spiritual cleanliness. It s hard to find balance in a place that is cluttered and chaotic. Make sure counter tops are wiped down after each meal, keep the sink free of dirty dishes, and organize cupboards and shelves so they are easy to use.
• Paint the walls in colors that are comforting and happy. If your house still has the 1970 s metallic flecked wallpaper in the kitchen, it s time to get it out of there. Choose a color that makes you and your family feel good -- earth tones are soothing, yellows are happy and bright, and greens bring prosperity and abundance.
• Keep cookbooks and recipes organized where you can find them. You might even want to have a special book of magical recipes that you keep separate from your regular Book of Shadows .

You can also incorporate magical practices into your cooking. Consider some of these:

• When stirring a recipe, stir in a deosil or widdershins direction, depending on the goal you wish to achieve.
• If you re making a sandwich, spread condiments like mustard in a sigil for your purpose.
• When you bake bread, add herbs or spices that correspond to your magical needs.

Although kitchen witchery is rapidly becoming a popular term, it s hardly a new concept. Get your kitchen clean and organized, and you ll be well on your way to a successful path as a kitchen witch!