October Newsletter
Welcome to our October 2023 Kitchen Witch newsletter.
Crazy to think that we are approaching the end of 2023 - this year has absolutely flown by! KWHQ are getting together this month for a catch up - not only are we able to chat about all things Kitchen Witch related, but as friends, we are able to spend some time together nattering, putting the world to rights and chatting about what we have all been up to in our lives over a coffee and a large slice of very nice cake. Hopefully we will still have some of this warm autumn sunshine that is gracing our part of the world at the moment - perfect for a wandering!
Ness x
What's Going on in Nature this Month from Ness Armstrong
October - I can't quite believe that I am saying that. I don't honestly know where this year has gone. Autumn is usually my favourite time of the year - I love putting on a warm jumper, jeans and boots and trudging through crisp colourful leaves, but for some reason, I'm not liking the evenings drawing in this year. Maybe, I'm not quite ready for it...
Out in nature, berries, fruits and nuts are all at their peak, ready for picking. Insects and animals are also making the most of this time of year, for foraging and collecting ready for the big winter sleep. The hedgerows are winding down now - the fields are harvested and in some cases, roughly ploughed in readiness for next years planting. We've had some rains but also some warm sunny days, so flowering in my garden is still going on and my poor apple tree had some blossom a couple of weeks ago on one of its branches - it must be very confused! Making the most of the warm days - late September still had highs of 20 degrees C, which is quite unusual but very welcome. Our winter days are long enough!
Labradorite from Sue Perryman
I’ve chosen to work with my favourite crystal Labradorite for October, although it is one that I use all year round. I love its beautiful flashes of iridescent colour, known as Labradorescence. I particularly like those that have the blue flash, but there are others equally beautiful with gold, green, purple and a reddish/ orange colour.
The Inuit people have ancient legends about Labradorite, one tells that a brave warrior struck a Labradorite stone with his spear and created the Aurora Borealis, another tells that the beautiful crystal fell to earth from the Northern Lights.
This magical crystal has long been used by Shamans, diviners and healers, it was known to be used by the Red Paint people of Maine, who lived in the area thousands of years ago and were given their name as they buried their dead in large quantities of red ochre. Although to the modern world it was only discovered in 1770 by Moravian missionaries in Labrador Canada, they named it after the area it was found and brought it to Europe where it became very popular during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Labradorite is an excellent stone for meditation and all kinds of journeying including astral travel. I nearly always either hold or keep one beside me when meditating and find it really helps, particularly with visualisation and focus. It is also useful for enhancing your intuition and psychic awareness.
A powerful stone of protection, Labradorite is especially good for shielding your aura from unwanted energies and preventing leaks. It is a good crystal for reducing stress and anxiety and calms an overactive mind and the negative side of our personalities.
A fabulous healing crystal, Labradorite is especially good for those who are training to be energy healers as it can help them in developing sensitivity in the hands. It is said to also be useful in treating lung disorders and respiratory problems and may ease PMS and digestive issues.
Labradorite has an upbeat, positive energy which can drive away fears and insecurities as well as enhancing a strong belief in oneself and the Universe.
This magical stone awakens one's natural magical power, enhancing intuition and psychic abilities. It is particularly good for those times when we feel a sense of disconnection from our path.
Place a small labradorite on your third eye to help with meditation, visualisation and any kind of journeying.
Keep a tumble stone on you if you are nervous about going somewhere, to protect your aura and give you the confidence and courage you need to stay calm.
Sit quietly and hold a labradorite crystal in your hands to ease feelings of anxiety and stress.
Use labradorite in spells to bring change and success to a situation.
Sources:
The New Crystal Bible -Cassandra Eason
The Crystal Bible by - Judy Hall
Book of Stones -Robert Simons and Naisha Ashanti
Kitchen Witchcraft Crystal Magic -Rachel Patterson
Mushroom by Heather Dewhurst
In the kitchen... or to be more precise, from the earth to our kitchens!
October tends to be the best autumn month for mushrooms. If you can, go out for a woodland walk to see how many are appearing through the fallen leaves. Only pick to eat if you are absolutely sure which fungi they are! Otherwise it is safer to purchase them, from the supermarket, or if you are fortunate enough to have a farm shop close by, they usually have local foragers who supply them.
Fungi are a genus of their own, being not animal nor vegetable. They are high in protein, and some can manufacture vitamin D from being left in daylight for as little as 30 minutes. They can lie dormant in the soil as mycelium for years, until the conditions are right for them to ‘flower’.
With the change in season, it is nice to have a simple comforting recipe handy, which takes just 30 minutes to prepare and cook, and can be served with naans, chunks of farmhouse loaf or rice.
Mushroom & Potato Curry
Ingredients
1 tbsp oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 large potato, chopped into small chunks
1 aubergine, trimmed and chopped into chunks
250g button mushrooms
2-4 tbsp curry paste (depending on how hot you like it)
150ml vegetable stock
400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk
chopped coriander, to serve
Method
Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and potato. Cover, then cook over a low heat for 5 mins until the potatoes start to soften. Throw in the aubergine and mushrooms, then cook for a few more mins.
Stir in the curry paste, pour over the stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins or until the potato is tender. Stir through the coriander and serve with rice or naan bread.
Magical properties – prosperity, wealth, abundance, energy, passion, protection, purification, strength, courage, magic, patience, balance, grounding, healing.
Sources
https://www.thespicedlife.com/potato-curry
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45486844
A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Food by Rachel Patterson
A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson
Rune of the month from Ness Armstrong
This months rune is Gifu/Gebo. I think it ties in nicely with this month - counting our blessings and being thankful for all that we have achieved or accomplished this year. Focusing on the positive but not ignoring the negative - what didn't work? What could you change next time?.. are there any positives that can be taken from anything that didn't pan out like you hoped that it would?
With Blessings of the Month from Rachel, Ness, Sue and Heather
