Public - Newsletter

Welcome to our March 2024 Kitchen Witch newsletter.

The Kitchen Witch Team had a production meeting end of February to discuss what we'd like to do for this coming year. Lots of things were discussed - aided by coffee, cake and a delicious lunch - and lots of notes and ideas were 'ummed and aahed' over. A bit of work will be needed to get these ideas to fruition but definitely watch this space!

Ness xx

What's Going on in Nature this Month from Ness Armstrong

Its been another rainy month in February. We had a couple of dry, sunny days and it was lovely! We finally felt that Spring had arrived and got very excited about warmer days ahead - maybe a bit premature though! Although it is supposed to be what the weatherman calls 'mild', I am still feeling the chill of the winds and the dampness isn't helping. But Nature isn't minding too much and she is getting on with her work. Cleavers are abundant in the hedgerows as are wild arum and white dead nettle. Blossom has appeared on a lot of trees and shrubs. Daffodils are in their element at the moment and not letting the weather deter their growth. Crocus, Violet, Hyacinth, Camellia, Daisies, Primulas - all beautiful colours in the lawns and in borders is a welcoming sight. Dandelion has also made an appearance which is lovely for those early visits by bee's who are venturing out when the weather permits.

Aventurine from Sue Perryman

This month Kitchen Witch is focusing on Growth, either spiritual or personal, whichever direction you want to go. Green Aventurine is the perfect crystal for growth, it brings abundance and success into your life, and helps you to release past negative attachments, old patterns and habits, so that new growth can take place. 

Magical Properties: Balance, decisions, motivation, anxiety, calm leadership, visualisation, creativity, luck, money, opportunities, happiness, growth, adventure, love, success, courage, truth, comfort, support, healing, peace, connection, perception, intellect, psychic abilities. 

Element: Earth and Air 

Planet: Mercury, Earth 

Zodiac: Aries 

Known as the Stone of Opportunity and the Gamblers Stone, Aventurine can improve your luck in any situation, but especially with prosperity, games of chance and competitions.  

Aventurine is a type of Quartz, with inclusions of Mica and other minerals that give it a shimmering effect, known as ‘aventurescence’. It is mostly green but comes in other colours such as: blue, red to reddish brown, dusty purple, orange, yellow and silver grey. 

Wearing aventurine as jewellery or keeping a tumble stone with you can protect you from electromagnetic smog and environmental pollution. 

An elixir can be made with it, but the indirect method is recommended. 

Keep a small piece of Aventurine in your purse to attract money to you.

Keep a bowl of aventurine crystals in your main living area to soothe tempers and dissolve negativity. 

Keep a piece of aventurine beside your bed to encourage a good night's sleep. 

Use green aventurine in spells or rituals for luck or prosperity. 

Aventurine is said to be excellent for conceiving a baby. Near your time of ovulation, dig a small hole in the ground and break an egg into it, place the shell on top and pop your crystal in one half of the shell. You could make up a chant to recite while doing this and visualise yourself holding a baby.  

Spell for Growth 

You will need: 

A candle in a colour that represents growth to you. You can inscribe the word growth on it or a word, sigil or rune that corresponds with growth if you want 

A candle holder 

Matches or a lighter 

One or more green aventurine crystal/s 

Herbs that you are drawn to for growth. I used Lemon Balm and Mugwort as both grow like crazy in my garden. 

A few drops of lemon essential oil (or one you are drawn to) mixed into a base oil. If you don’t have any essential oils, you can use olive, sunflower or whatever you have in your kitchen cupboard. 

Once you have everything you need, set it all up on your altar as you like it and charge all your ingredients with growth while visualising your intent. Anoint your candle with the oil, then pop it back into its holder. 

Light your candle while still visualising your intent and say either the rhyme below or one of your own: 

'Aventurine, bring your energy 

Help me to succeed 

I need to grow and change my life 

Bring the energy that I need'.

Sit quietly watching your candle burn for a while, visualising your intent and taking note of any messages or images that come to you. 

Allow the candle to burn out, but only if you can keep an eye on it. If not snuff it out and relight it again when you have more time. 

Walk the Wild with Me by Heather Dewhurst

This book by Rachel Atwood has at its core, the folklore of Robin of Sherwood.  However, the author has woven into her narrative Elen of the Ways with other mystical characters, to bring this world and the Otherworld together for a daring rescue.

The characters are beautifully portrayed and have a depth to them that brings them to life.   The Faery Court and Queen Mab’s petulance is reminiscent of the Queen of Hearts, here is a quote from the back cover of the book to give you the flavour of the story –

…Nick slips into the crypt beneath the abbey.  There he finds an altar older than the abbey’s foundations, ancient when the Romans occupied England.  Behind the bricks around the altar, he finds a silver cup, embellished with the three figures of Elena, Celtic goddess of crossroads, roads, sorcery, and cemeteries.

With Elena’s cup in his pocket, Nick can see that the masked dancers at the May Day celebration in the local village are actually creatures of the wood: The Green Man – known to mortals as Little John – and Robin Goodfellow, Herne the Huntsman, dryads, trolls and water sprites…

If you are interested in folklore, but also enjoy fictional yarns, this book will not disappoint.

Meet Our Dogs

Bazzie by Heather Dewhurst

Baz is a 14 year old Jack Russell cross, who came into our lives 7 years ago via Dogs Trust.  As she was older we didn’t change her name, but over the years she has got used to numerous variations – Baz, Bazzie-Boo, BazWaz being the most frequent!

She was quite withdrawn although she had only been with Dogs Trust for a month, in fact the behaviourist said she was depressed with a tragic expression.  Gradually over the first few months she realised we were her new pack, and her personality started to blossom.  If she didn’t want to go a particular way, she would plant herself firmly and narrow her eyes, willing you to go the way she wanted!

As you can see from her ‘svelte’ figure she loves her food, being very friendly towards the cats.  They never finish their bowls, so she sneaks in to help them out, and then can’t understand why they get so upset when they return and find an empty dish!

A couple of years ago she started to go deaf, as the vet said selective old lady hearing, as she even now knows when the fridge door opens!   This was followed by a deterioration in her sight, which is now complete.   She knows how to get round the house and garden with minimal bumping into things, for walks she now has a Baz Buggy, from which she regally watches as the world passes by.

List of Spring Goddesses

Anna Perenna (Roman) she was associated with the cycles of the year and renewal. Her main Festival was celebrated on Ides of March.

Artio (Swiss)the bear Goddess who hibernates during the Winter her return heralds the beginning of Spring.

Beiwen (Finnish) A Saami Goddess associated with the fertility of plants and reindeer. Together with her daughter Beiwe-Neia, they turned the hills green so the reindeer could feed.

Blodewedd (Celtic) This Spring Goddess was created by magic from nine spring flowers to be the wife of Llew Llaw. This got around the curse Arianhod had placed upon her son preventing him from taking a human wife.

Brigit (Celtic) In her maiden aspect this Goddess is honoured at the festival of Imbolc which celebrates the first stirrings of Spring.

Dziewanna (Eastern European) the Goddess of Spring and Agriculture. She was especially honoured by local farmers.

Flora (Roman) The Goddess of flowering plants, especially those that bore fruit. Her festival, the Floralia, took place in April or early May and was marked with dancing, drinking, and flowers.

Freya (Nordic) This Nordic fertility Goddess is linked with spring growth and flowers.

Gefn (Norse) This is another name for the Nordic Goddess Freya.

Hare Ke (West African) Goddess of the sweet waters fed by the spring rains that brought fertility back to the land.

Hebe (Greek) The Goddess of eternal youth and Spring.

Ostara (Celtic) Painted eggs and white rabbits are sacred to Ostara, the Celtic Goddess of Spring, fertility and rebirth. Her symbols haves been incorporated into the Christian celebration of Easter.

Kono-Hana-Sakuya-Hime (Japanese) She is associated with the Springtime and cherry blossom as her name means "Lady who makes the trees bloom." She is also Goddess of the sacred site Mount Fuji.

Kore (Greek) Kore is an alternative name for the Greek Goddess Persephone.

Kostroma (Russian) the fertility Goddess and personification of Spring. In Russian mythology she dies at the end of each Spring, only to arise once more at the end of the following winter.

Lada (Eastern European) As Goddess of Spring and Love she was worshipped throughout Lithuania, Poland and Russia.

Libera (Roman) Together with Ceres and Liber she formed part of a triad of ancient Roman Gods and Goddesses responsible for bringing fertility back to the land.

Maia (Greek) This Goddess of Spring represented the forces of growth and the return of the warm rays of the sun.

Olwen (Celtic) Goddess of sunlight she reappeared every Spring, leaving behind her a trail of white clover wherever she walked.

Persephone (Greek) Her mother Demeter mourned her daughter as left for the underworld each Autumn causing the land to become cold and barren. When she returned in the Spring the happy Demeter would bestow the land with growth and abundance.

Prosepina (Roman) She was the Roman counterpart to Persephone and daughter of the grain Goddess Ceres.

Rafu-Sen (Japanese) Goddess of plum blossoms.

Sita (Hindu) Spring Goddess and Goddess of agriculture and the earth.

Herbal Tea for Growth

Taken from A Witch for Every Season by Rachel Patterson

1 teaspoon dried pomegranate or 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice,

1 teaspoon dried black cheery tea or 1 tablespoon cherry juice.

Steep in hot water, strain if necessary.  Inhale the aroma, sip slowly, savouring the taste whilst visualising what it is you wish to grow.

Magical properties –

Pomegranate – divination, protection, wisdom, guidance, knowledge, fertility, abundance, good luck, juice can be used as a blood substitute.

Cherry – love, passion, abundance, happiness, protection, enhance intuition, psychic abilities, and dream work.

Rune of the month from Ness Armstrong

This months rune is Naudhiz. Not a rune that comes out very often in a draw for me, but it is a rune of need or necessity. It can indicate hardship or adversity. The image shows a badger who signifies persistence, determination and patience. This rune is about putting either yourself first, or putting others first before yourself. You may need to go without if it means someone else will benefit from you doing so. Taking the courage to stand back, let others go first. It also can mean that you need to take a stand for yourself, letting others also standing back to let you go before them. It is a two sided rune but you will know which side it is that you must work with.