The Magick Kitchen: Hungry for Magick?

My journey with you is about developing a spiritual experience with food, far beyond the dull habit of consumption. We have a marvelous opportunity here to take a mundane task and make it magickal!

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Tea Magick – Going Within

Tea is as old as plants and water. Humans seem to always have known the valuable properties tea can offer; From alleviating symptoms of the common cold to lowering cholesterol, to stimulating the sex drive… and so much more. Tea has been around for centuries and has been used by many cultures in a variety of ways; including Magick!

I have been a practicing Witch for well over 2 decades. I have been a certified Master Herbalist for well over 15 years, and one thing I feel is missing from the Magickal world is tea. Rarely do you hear about tea being used in ritual and Magick. Of course, we have all heard of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, but this is a limited view of how tea is used in a meaningful way. 

In my tradition, we take it a little further. I am talking about changing your world. I am talking about transforming your life and reaching your higher purpose. I’m talking about MAGICK! To me, the mingling of herbs and water makes perfect sense. In my experience tea is a powerful tool to have in your Magickal repertoire.

Tea transcends all traditions. You don’t have to be a Kitchen Witch, Hedge Witch, or Green Witch to use tea in your practice. You only need to gain a basic understanding of tea, tea blending, the herbs you plan to use, and how to fit it the ritual of making tea into your regular practice.

Often tea is overlooked. For many, it becomes a beverage for when it’s dark and cold outside. It seems most often used when we retreat indoors for warmth and comfort. As we seek comfort from the cold we also reach the point in our spiritual practice where we begin looking within. It is time to take stock of our lives, our paths, and in our successes or failures. It is time to go within so that when the light returns we too can be reborn. As you seek comfort try using tea in your methods. 

I find myself turning to my tea recipes that are heavy with Cinnamon, Cardamom, and clove. My favorite is Chai or sweet cinnamon. It really is no wonder. As I go within to plan and rebirth myself for the coming of spring, using herbs and spices related to luck, prosperity, strength, success, and wealth are essential. The energy I retrieve from the ingredients I will use will help boost my chances of success in all I set out to achieve.

The act of making tea is a mindful process. It helps bring us inward to the core of who we are and our practice as Witches. The best way to make Magickal Teas is to grow your own ingredients, harvest them with care and respect, and then dry them yourself. This allows you the most control over the quality and potency of your ingredients. This is also the most cost-effective method of attaining your ingredients. When I see tea made from basic ingredients selling for over $10.00 per ounce I take a step back and wonder. Really? To be honest, in my head, I'm saying “WTF!” Sure, some of these teas are very delicious, but they are not this tasty without a little help from some “natural” flavor. This alters the balance of the tea and gives tea companies the illusion of high quality. This also gives them the advantage of selling their teas at a ridiculously high price. Why? Because they claim the quality of their product is in the flavor. Yeaaaah… OK.

In Tea Magick we recognize that plants have their own spirit, their own perceptive self from which we draw power.  The simple truth is that plants don’t need humans to survive. In fact, most plants do much better when they are left alone by humans. Plants seem to offer their knowledge, energy, and healing powers to us willingly. It is up to the Witch to recognized and honor this gift. Growing your own ingredients will directly connect you with the energy of each plant you tend. As you nurture your plants, you will mingle your energy with the plant’s energy forming a bond that is extremely powerful in Magick.

BUT… This level of dedication and involvement is not practical for everyone. Some Witches live in cities where growing and processing herbs, spices, and fruits can cause stress. As you can conclude stress does not make a good relationship with your plants. Instead, you can get creative in finding the right ingredients for your teas.

 

Farmer’s markets

This is probably the best resource where you can use to find a variety of fruits, spices, and herbs to create your own unique tea blends. Not only will you find a good selection, you will also have the chance to talk with the people who run the farm where the ingredients are grown. You can learn about their harvesting practices if they use pesticides/herbicides, and how they process the plants.

 

Online Suppliers

When you can’t find what you need from the Farmer’s Market there are several online suppliers you can trust. The key here is to purchase small amounts at first so you can sample the ingredients and determine their quality. When you find a supplier you trust, you can then buy in larger quantities and in the end – save money.

 

The Ritual of Tea

The process of brewing tea as a spiritual and Magickal act is one that opens the mind and connects the soul to subtle energies around us. As we mindfully move inward we are reconnected to the energies we tend to brush off or overlook. As we blend our ingredients we are brought into connection with the true purpose of our needs and desires. When the water boils we further solidify the process of creating that intimate connection.

Each plant used in blending tea for flavor and purpose is a direct manifestation of the elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, working together to manifest nourishment, far beyond their medicinal or nutritional value. As we measure each scoop we take in the essence through the aroma of these elements. As we pour the water over our blends we transform seemingly mundane ingredients into an infusion filled with energy and intent. This is Tea Magick and this is how we accomplish our desires and needs. Be mindful of your ingredients, your water, with each sip. Move inward and embody what it is you wish to manifest.

There are many aspects of a tea ritual you can observe, but the main element you want to always observe is mindfulness. Below is a Chai Tea recipe I have created for you to try next to each ingredient I have listed one or two of the Magickal aspects of the ingredient. Please join us in the Tea Magick Facebook group and join us in our many conversations about Magick and tea.

Enjoy!

 

Chai Tea Recipe

Yield: 8 cups

 

Ingredients

2 whole star anise (Psychic Powers, Luck)

½ tsp crushed cardamom (Love, Luck, Wealth)

12 whole cloves (Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money)

2-3 cinnamon sticks, broken (Commanding, Compelling, Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money)

1- 1” piece ginger, candied or fresh, diced (Love, Luck, Money, Power, Sex Magick, Success)

1 T crushed black peppercorns (banishing, Exorcism, Protection, Separation)

2 bay leaves (Blessing, Exorcism, Healing, Protection, Psychic Powers, Purification, Strength, Success, Victory, Wealth, Wishes)

8 tsp black tea (Courage, Strength, Wealth)

8-9C Water (Filtered or Spring)

 

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except milk and sweetener, and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes more. Strain when serving.  

Add hot milk, and mix, with your choice of honey or brown sugar.

 

Helpful Hints

Place ingredients in a cloth tea bag and strain a second time through a fine mesh tea strainer to prevent solid bits of the tea mixture from getting into your cup.

 

Noted

 

Play with the ingredient ratios to get the perfect blend of spice and sweetness for your tea. 

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I just want good food and to live a Magickal life! Is that so much to ask?   Through persistence, I found the honest answer… I can have both! I realize that I could forge my own path using the skills and knowledge I gained, and the simplest of techniques.   I love food, from the cultivation to cooking, and of course eating. I have spent more than 35 years in the kitchen, enjoying every minute. Okay… well, enjoying almost every minute of it.   In addition, I have disbursed nearly as many years studying Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism. Combining these two passions has created a Magickal path where I combine food and spirituality. To my delight they play brilliantly together.   My love of whole healthy foods, and unique recipes has also lead me to help run a local teen cooking program, where I teach kids valuable life skills in the kitchen. In addition, I teach a variety of cooking classes for adults and covens. These subjects range from making the time spent in the kitchen more enjoyable, to cooking together as a group, and recipe-spell creation.   It only made sense that I would begin writing and sharing my experience. From this, The Magick Kitchen was born. My journey with you is about developing a spiritual experience with food, far beyond the dull habit of consumption. We have a marvelous opportunity here to take a mundane task and make it Magickal!   The Magick Kitchen is about connecting to Divinity through food and the ritual of preparing and sharing food. It is about developing a sacred balance between nourishment, ritual, and spirit. Food has the power to heal, sooth, and bring us together as friends, families, and community.   I am so glad you joined me! Sharing knowledge, experience, and personal perspective with you is an honor. Thank you!

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