June News 2025
Welcome to our June 2025 Kitchen Witch newsletter.
Flamin' June as the saying goes! We have had some lovely weather during May - more sunny days than the whole of Summer 2024, according to the folks at the weather stations.
Earlier this month, we got together at KWHQ. We like to get together whenever time allows, to lunch, chat and make magic! This visit was about incense blending, oil making, wax sealing and hoard box construction. We had a fabulous day and the time goes by so quickly. The final Crow hoards were sent on their way, and the fabulous Owl hoard and the Summer Solstice/Summer box are now ready and up on our emporium for purchase.
We have the Green Oaks camp this month, so we will be reporting on that in next months newsletter. Let's hope its sunny, and warm (not too warm). I'm sure we will have a fantastic time.
Blessings of the Solstice to you all!
Ness x
What's Going on in Nature this Month from Ness
I love this time of year - everything is green and lush! The footpaths where I walk are narrow brown bands of earth flanked either side with nettles, grasses, cow parsley, cleavers, bind weed - some of it is taller than me and I love walking between it while it is still there, as it usually gets cut back to allow for walkers.
The blossom of hawthorn and blackthorn has dispersed now and
it won't be long before we see the tiny berries appearing. June is a time for elderflower - that frothy, creamy bunch of beautifully scented flowers fills me with joy - I love it! Elderflower cordial is usually on my to-make list.
Elsewhere, the gardens are blooming, bees are buzzing, although I have not seen any butterflies yet - perhaps this month I will spot some. The golden fields of rape have just about finished flowering - the seed pods have appeared and will be ripened by the sun's summer rays. Daisies, and buttercups carpet lawns bringing dainty, pretty colours. The blackbird sings his song first light and last light and the wheel continues to turn.... Happy Summer Solstice Blessings to all in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spruce Syrup by Heather
A recipe with a difference, and the inspiration for sharing this goes to Gwen’s Garden, a small family business with over 20 years’ experience in Herbal Medicine & Nutrition https://www.gwensgarden.co.uk
Rachel and I attended a fascinating, informative herbal preparation day facilitated by Laura, the owner of Gwen’s Garden. One of the many things we got to taste and start the process of making is Spruce Syrup, an aromatic syrup made from spruce tips and sugar aged in the sun.. Laura had a bottle of her own she had made, which we had a spoonful of and then supplied us with a jar, pine tips and brown sugar. She said it was a well recorded method, and on getting home I looked up and found numerous foraging sites had the same recipe.
As pine tips will still be new and bright green, I thought it would be nice to share this with all of you.
Spruce Tip Syrup
about 2 cups spruce tips, lightly packed (200gms)
about 2 cups brown sugar, lightly packed (400gms)
These measurements will vary depending on the size jars you use, but it is a layer of pine tips with an equal layer of sugar.
Put a ½ inch layer of spruce tips into the bottom of a clean wide-mouthed pint jar. Add a ½ inch layer of brown sugar and pack it down firmly. Continue layering and packing until the jar is filled to the top.
Seal the jar and leave it in a sunny window for 2 weeks. The sugar and spruce tips will combine and form a syrup gradually. Tip the jar daily to distribute the syrup as it forms.
As it settles, you can add more layers of spruce tips and sugar to fill up the jar, leave for 4 or 5 more days after adding additional layers.
When all the sugar has completely dissolved, strain out the spruce tips which you can candy, or discard them.
Pour the syrup into jar. Makes ~1¼ cups syrup. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.
Candied Spruce Tips
Save the drained spruce tips from making the syrup and spread them out in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or in a dehydrator. Dehydrate them or dry them in the oven at its lowest setting (150°F/65°C or lower) for 6 to 8 hours until dry and crisp. They are perfect for snacking on, tossing into salads, or for decorating desserts.
Sources –
https://foragerchef.com/classic-spruce-tip-syrup
https://www.kitchenfrau.com/spruce-tip-syrup
Flower for June by Heather
Honeysuckle
A member of the Caprifoliaceae family, honeysuckles are native to the Northern Hemisphere, its name comes from the Middle English word honeysouke, which translates to honey suck. It is thought the name came because the nectar can be sucked straight from the flowers once picked.
The honeysuckle traditionally symbolises happiness and affection for a new love. It has also been known to represent nostalgia for first loves or old flames. They were often planted near homes to bring happiness and positive energy, in other areas it was believed planting a honeysuckle near the home would keep away negativity and protect the home from evil spirits.
Honeysuckle has been used to treat digestive disorders, respiratory issues, and headaches. Its uses also include treating arthritis, rashes, skin diseases, and even snakebites. In China, honeysuckle has been traditionally thought to remove toxins from the body and promote positive emotions.
The flowers can be used in cosmetics, soaps or steeped to make a sweet fragrant tea.
Magical properties
Happiness, love, prosperity, protection, psychic powers, balance, lust, meditation, memory, intuition, friendship.
Sources -
The Magical World of Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson
Traditions and Magic of the Summer Solstice
Other names: Midsummer, Litha, Alban Heffyn, Coamhain.
Colours: red, orange, yellow, gold, green, white, blue.
Symbols: Fire, Sun, Oak/leaves and acorns, Sun wheels, Flowers, herbs, Sunflowers/ seeds, Fruit, Sickles.
Herbs: Elderflower, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, St. John's Wort, Bay, Honeysuckle, Yarrow, Mint, Thyme, Mugwort, Carnation, Fennel, Ginger, Rose, Meadowsweet, Vervain.
Foods: Strawberries, Apples, Honey, Seasonal vegetables, Salads and Fruits.
Crystals: Citrine, Sunstone, Ruby, Garnet, Carnelian, Tiger's eye.
Drinks: Mead, Elderflower cordial, Homemade Lemonade.
In the Northern hemisphere Midsummer's day takes place somewhere between 20th-22nd June (the date varies slightly each year), the longest day and shortest night of the year and the first official day of Summer. The sun reaches its most Northerly point and is at its peak of power, but from this day until the winter solstice, the sun's power will wane, and the day's will gradually shorten, despite this the hottest part of the summer is still to come.
The word solstice comes from the Latin word 'solstitium' meaning 'sun stands still'. Evidence shows that the solstices were marked in one way or another for centuries. The sacred site of Stonehenge is aligned with the summer solstice sunrise and attracts thousands of visitors wanting to witness the event and join in the celebrations every year.
Traditionally many of our ancestors would have stayed up all night on Midsummer's eve, to welcome and honour the sun. Bonfires would be lit on hilltops, often made using oak wood with aromatic herbs scattered into the fire. People would have danced around the fires and leapt over them for purification, fertility and prosperity. The ashes from the fires were scattered on fields in the belief that it would bring a good harvest.
Wheels and other round objects were seen as symbols of the sun, an old custom in some areas of Britain involved cartwheels swathed in straw, set alight and rolled down hills. Torchlit processions were also popular, a forerunner of our carnival parades perhaps!
In some traditions the Solstices are seen as a time of battle between light and dark, which is represented by the battle between the Oak and Holly Kings. The Oak king is ruler of the light half of the year from the winter solstice to the summer solstice when the sun is growing in strength, and his brother the Holly king rules the dark half from the summer solstice to the winter solstice when the sun is waning. This battle is often re-enacted by covens as part of their solstice celebrations.
The Sun is ruled by the element of Fire, so it’s a good time to work some fire magic. Fire brings transformation, passion, protection, purification, success, creativity, clarity, strong will, energy, inspiration, courage and change.
The summer solstice, as well as a time for celebration, is also a time for reflection, for while the sun is at his zenith, he is also starting to wane, a promise of the return of the dark, a time for inner development, inner wisdom and looking within, a necessary part of the cycle of the year.
Midsummer is the time to gather with like-minded people, arrange a picnic or barbeque asking everyone to bring food and drink to share, get up early enough to watch the sun rise hang sun symbols around your home and altar, make a mandala, harvest and dry herbs, visit a stone circle or other sacred place. Whatever you decide to do, try to spend as much time outside as possible.
The Summer solstice is time to celebrate all that you have achieved, learn from any mistakes you have made and start to make plans for the dark half of the year. Remember count your blessings and have fun.
originally published on the kitchen witch blog June 2019
Rune of the month from Ness Armstrong
This months rune gives us the clarity of Kenaz. This is about shining the light into those dark corners - what do you see? Things that were not apparent before, may well be now. Kenaz also teaches us to shine a light on ourselves - to look at issues with a different perspective and to make the relevant changes.
Kitchen Witch Summer Hoard Box
Coming up in July, we are hosting live, online, our Kitchen Witch Summer/Summer Solstice workshop and ritual. This is a 2 hour workshop and ritual with plenty of information and correspondences for the summer solstice and how you can work with it in your magical practice. Our ritual has a craft spell so if you would like to join in, you will need various items. This is where our Summer Hoard Box comes in. There is everything that you will need for the ritual as well as a few extra goodies. It is available to purchase by clicking on the picture above and if you would like full details of our upcoming ritual and workshop, that can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitchenwitchuk/events
