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Oftentimes, your kitchen is the heart of the home. Something about cooking and sharing food brings people together. An herbal wreath hanging on the kitchen door can be a source of love and luck. You’ll need the following for your creation: Freshly cut herbs of your choice, wire wreath frame, available from most craft stores,  either string or florist's wire, ribbon, and perhaps a hot glue gun\

Its been a rough week so do some sacred self care this weelend and tend the fire of your love life! 

We might call it kitchen witchery and our Scandinavian friends could say it is how we “get hygge,” which means to get as cozy as humanly possible. This newly trendy lifestyle tradition from the frozen north is not just for lazing about, though we greatly appreciate that aspect; it is also a very healthy way of living with sauna sessions, lots of herbal food and drink but also with your sweetheart, which is an immunity booster on its own.  Tea is a mainstay if you want to be comfy and doze and we feel sure wise women and hedge witches in Northern Europe were the first on the hygge bandwagon, For an ambrosial brew you can enjoy together, add a sliver of ginger root and a pinch each of echinacea and mint to a cup of hot black tea. Add a teaspoon of honey Now relax and enjoy!

I recently read a trend report saying that FOMO, fear of missing out, is over and has been replaced by FOGO, fear of going out, While, I am not sure that is altogether true, I do see a great return to nesting, cocooning together with loved ones to avoid the hard world outside. It is certainly no mystery why the Scandinavian concept of hygge.  What is “hygge?” It is a Danish term defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Pronounced “hoo-guh,” the word is said to have no direct translation in English, though “cozy” comes close. It derives from a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” which is related to the English word “hug.” Curling up with books, blankets, mugs of hot cocoa by a fire does sounds absolutely delightful but shutting out the world is not the final answer.

My sincere recommendation is combining an approach of inner strength within yourself as well as buttressing your defenses with protective magic, creating a comfortable home base as well as mastering the art of energetic shields to protect against events and people who are psychic drains. All of which is covered in this book! Creating sanctuary is truly one of the most important things you can do for yourself and will not only bring a long term sense of security for you and your loved ones but will also provide simple cozy joy and homely happiness every single day.


After I graduated from college, I had one of those experiences we all must endure in our twenties: a bad breakup. I was somewhat of a zombie but my best friend was of a more practical bent and was studying Zen Buddhism. She placed a broom in my hand and suggested I “stop thinking about anything but doing the best possible job sweeping the floor.” I took her advice and even swept the sidewalks once I was done with the small cottage we lived in. Sweeping did bring about a stillness inside me, which was a relief after all the turmoil, I was still hurting but simplicity of the chores engendered quietude. I have a few brooms, including symbolic besoms,  and one is always right outside the back door and ready for the simple ritual of sweeping. Grab your broom and say aloud as you get started:

 No storm outside, no storm within,

This simple ceremony blesses your home with the power of the sun and the protection of the palm leaf. Essential elements for this ritual are a palm leaf or front, incense, cup of water.

Take your palm leaf outside on a sunny day. Cast your sacred circle. Light the incense and pass the palm leaf through the smoke, saying:

Even if you don’t ascribe to magic, you would probably guess that certain flowers and herbs have their own energies, in the same way they have uniquely lovely scents and oils. Simmer this mixture whenever you feel the need to infuse your home and hearth with the energies of quietude and protection. This will safeguard you and your loved ones from outside influences that could be negative or disruptive. Set your intention for how you want your space to feel and gather together the following dried herbs:

 1/4 cup rose petals

In Asatru and other heathen traditions, receiving a house key can be part of a marriage ceremony, when a woman is starting her household by moving into a new place with her new family. For that reason, many people see it as a symbol of marriage, but it's really a symbol of property ownership. I've had the real life keys to the home in which I live for a couple of decades now, and my relationship with the landwight here is a strong and good one, but I haven't included a ceremonial key in my ritual garb. My mom was the homeowner.

Many of the adjustments I've made since my mother's death have had both a mundane and a spiritual dimension, and this is one of them. I'm not becoming the exclusive owner of my home-- my brother and I inherit it equally-- but it's close enough for me to feel that receiving the official title paper is the right time to put on the ceremonial key.