February 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to our February 2026 Kitchen Witch newsletter.
A big hello to all of you - our newsletter subscribers. February and the wheel is slowly but surely turning. This month we have our very first online retreat which we are very much looking forward to. There will be magical crafting, ritual, a tea ceremony, meditation and time to chat with one another. The retreat will run from 10am to 4pm on 7th February and there will be opportunity during that time for comfort breaks and lunch. It's not too late to sign up if you would like to join us. Head over to our website - www.kitchenwitchhearth.net/shop.
If you are a Kitchen Witch student, we are hosting via Zoom, a student moot. This will give students the opportunity to chat with us, ask any questions about the lessons or witchcraft in general, and also to meet their fellow students. Check the website for further details.
We have four online rituals planned for this year - the first one is celebrating new beginnings with Brigantia - and the date for this is 21st February at 6pm UK time. Keep an eye on our socials for full details.
Have a fantastic month!
Ness x
Rune for February by Ness
The rune for this month is Dagaz. This rune means 'day'. It is about cycles, transformation and the never ending circle of life. It is a rune that also speaks of illumination and enlightenment - shining a light in the dark and bringing things to the light. Is there an issue which needs to be dealt with...something that has not been resolved or discussed. Something that you know needs to be talked about, in order that you can move forward. Sometimes these things can be awkward and there is a fear of perhaps making things worse, but Dagaz encourages us to clear the air, speak out with firmness and kindness. Release those stagnant energies and begin February with a fresh outlook.
What's Going on in Nature this Month from Ness
January was wet, very wet with patches of icy weather. Where I live, we rarely get snow and if we do, it is usually a slight dusting which is gone by the time the sun has risen enough to defrost it. It is still cold though, with the winds, but the days are slowly getting a bit longer - hurrah!
The first signs of spring are making themselves known - the earth is stirring after her winter slumber. I have seen snowdrops and daffodils - that bright yellow is a welcome sight against the dull skies of grey. The photo above is a daffodil springing to life among the evergreen and the decay of winter.
There is an air of anticipation, of new beginnings and a fresh start. A walk around the fields and hedgerows where I live was damp, very muddy from all the rain and the brown decay of last years plants and flowers were trodden into the soil. Cleavers are making a welcome return, and I spotted a big patch of red dead nettle. Chickweed and nettles are an early February spot, along with dandelions and greater celandine. Sunny days bring just a tinge of warmth about them - welcome to Imbolc!
My Goddess of the Month by Ness
Way back when I was a Kitchen Witch student, I took the Arc of the Goddess course which meant working with a particular Goddess each month for a whole year. I found this course to be very enjoyable and it allowed me to work with many Goddesses during that year that I had not worked with before. There was a title to go with each month's meditation and February's was 'Creatrix.
I made a felt dolly to represent each of the Goddesses that I connected with and added to them, what I was gifted from them in my meditation. I found the Goddesses tucked away in a box, while I was looking for something, so have decided to show you one each month with a paragraph or three about them, how I worked with each Goddess and their correspondences.
February - Arianrhod
In the month of February, I meditated to meet with the Goddess that I would be working with and Arianrhod came to me. During the meditation she came dressed in a dress of bright green and her long hair was the colour of flax. She gifted me a mother of pearl shell, which is associated with intuition, wisdom and transformation.
I had not worked with a Welsh Deity before but I found her to be fascinating.
Arianrhod is said to be connected to the Full Moon and the constellations. She also played a role in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. The Mabinogion being a collection of the early Welsh stories. She was the daughter of Don and Beli Mawr and she had several siblings, as well as two magically produced children.
Her name is said to mean 'silver wheel' or 'silver disc' and it was this that stood out the most for me. She is a Goddess of fate, fortune and destiny and together with her wheel, I was being pushed to pursue new avenues in my path, to not be afraid and to follow my intuition. I felt, very much, the forward movement and the road that I was encouraged to travel. I like to think of her wheel as a spinning wheel and I think of her sitting spinning her silver threads to be weaved into the tapestries of life.
I had read several articles about her while working with her that month - but revisiting her this month for the newsletter, I was drawn to a podcast on the Pagan Portals Podcast with Kristoffer Hughes which I found to be very interesting. He has also written a book about her, called simply 'Arianrhod'. He touches on the wheel in the podcast and it was this that I was most drawn to in that month of working with her.
Symbols
Silver Wheel
Full Moon
Stars
Animals
Barn Owl
Wolves
Spider
Source and further reading:
Arianrhod by Kristoffer Hughes
Wreath of Hearts by Heather
In homage to this month’s theme being love, the craft is very simple and can be adapted to embody self-love or love within a relationship.
Cut a circle out of card.
Cut out multiple heart shapes from paper or material – I used red felt, but pink would have been nice to add in.
Glue or tape the hearts in a clockwise spiral whilst saying what your intention is for this symbol, visualise yourself lovable and loved, or the relationship it represents full of companionship, harmony and love. You could write a petition or sigil on the back.
Attach ribbon or string, hang your wreath of hearts somewhere prominent to radiate your spell throughout your home.
The Snaptun Stone, Denmark, which is thought to depict Loki.
More from Loki by Heather
For those who read last month’s newsletter, you will know that Loki and I have been getting acquainted. Turns out He has been rather patient, waiting for me to realise who was loitering on the periphery of my senses! Not the behaviour I would have expected before, however now our relationship is building, it is understandable.
I mentioned that I wanted to share some more about Him this month, of course I got an affirmative, then as I was deciding which aspects of our discoveries to disclose a loud ‘flea!!’ got thrust at me. For those that may not know, Loki is a master at shapeshifting, one of the lesser mentioned creatures He has morphed into is a flea. However, it is not the story of why He shapeshifted that Loki wants to have shared, it is the associations of this tiny creature, as He thinks that will be more fun! It also makes me work, because I am finding there is always a deeper meaning to be realised with Him.
For those that are still reading, most of us will think of fleas as nothing more than irritating pests, but across many cultures they symbolize persistence, awareness, and the cleansing of negative energy. Possibly due to their persistence and ability to flourish in hostile environments, the flea challenges us to look beneath the surface to see what is real, perhaps in unusual ways – just as Loki does!
The flea may be tiny, but they can be a sign to pay attention to the small details, otherwise it may develop into a huge problem. Recognise those micro habits that you naturally use to define your life, to ensure they are the ones that serve you the best. This tiny creature is a survivor and can show us how to be resilient, to adapt to the challenges we experience throughout our lives, we can call on their energy to help push through difficulties or find a way around obstacles.
Let go of irritations, scratching at it will only make it worse! This reminded me of another saying that I’ll paraphrase – resentment is the poison you pour into yourself, expecting the other person to be affected. Basically, release frustrations so you can focus on taking better care of yourself and your environment. Fleas go unnoticed until they bite or have become an infestation, maybe it is time to clear out negative energy, declutter your space, move on from relationships. Spend time meditating to get clear about what is going on, a calm methodical plan often works much better than a quick fix. Flea can guide us to stay grounded as we work though what needs to be cleansed.
Invasion of your personal space without permission, another spiritual message from flea might be to set up or reinforce your boundaries with people, habits, or energies that drain you. Flea can also represent our shadow selves, those parts we hide, but need to accept to enable self-awareness and understanding.
The humble flea symbolises renewal and transformation, reminding us that life is cyclical, what appears to be an ending might be the start of something new and wonderful.
If you want to read the saga of Loki turning into a flea, a translation can be found here -
https://www.germanicmythology.com/FORNALDARSAGAS/SORLATHATTURKERSHAW.html
Recipe for the Month by Heather
Chickpea Stew
From: Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Cooking by Rachel Patterson
Delicate flavouring with Moroccan spices makes this stew satisfyingly warming on a winter day, it is simple to make and overflowing with magical energy.
Ingredients
1 tin chickpeas/Garbanzo (400g)
2 bell peppers, diced
2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 tablespoon tomato puree
2 onions, sliced
1 teaspoon chilli flakes
2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 large courgettes (zucchini), diced
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
2 tablespoon oil
500ml/1 pint vegetable stock
Method
Heath the oil in a large pan and add the onion, sauté for five minutes. Add the courgette, carrots and peppers, cook for another five minutes.
Add in the coriander, cumin, chilli flakes and tomato puree, then pour in the stock.
Simmer for about twenty minutes then add in the chickpeas. Cook for a further five minutes.
Serve with some crusty bread.
Magical Properties
Nourishment, sustenance, nurturing, beauty, transformation, growth, grounding, stability, abundance, balance, healing, wisdom, creativity, peace, love, wealth, protection, passion, fertility, success, fidelity, clarity.
February Edible Love Spell by Heather
Melt in the mouth shortbread biscuits/cookies to share with your beloved. These are flavoured with rose water, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with rose petals and pistachios.
Makes approximately 30 biscuits/cookies
Ingredients
1 cup/227 g unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup/133 g granulated sugar
2 1/3 cup/292 g plain/all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp rose water
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp dried rose petals
3 tbsp double/heavy cream – or plain Greek yogurt for a healthier option
1 cup/227 g chocolate, melted
1 tbsp dried rose petals, slightly crushed
1 tbsp pistachios, finely chopped or almonds
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/Gas 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Add butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, rose water, salt, and rose petals into a mixing bowl. Mix on low for 2 minutes until the mixture has a coarse crumbly texture. Add the cream and mix for 30 seconds.
Shape the dough into a flat disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Roll out half the dough until it is 1/4 inch thick. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes. Cut the cookies out with your cookie cutter. Roll out the scraps with the rest of the dough and repeat until no dough is left.
Place the cookies onto the parchment-lined baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges of the cookies just start to brown. Cool completely on a rack.
Pour the melted chocolate into a jar that is wide enough to fit your cookies. Dip each of the cookies into the chocolate so about half of it is covered, allow any excess chocolate to drip off and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. As you do so, sprinkle each cookie with chopped pistachios and crushed rose petals.
Freeze for 10 minutes and then store in an airtight container, they will keep for up to one week.
Magical correspondences –
Love, peace, spirituality, harmony, enchantment, prosperity, abundance, protection, sex magic, passion, creativity, grounding, healing, luck, psychic powers, dreams, friendship, cycle of life.
Adapted from the Pistachio and Rose Shortbread recipe on https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pistachio_and_rose
