April 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to our April 2024 Kitchen Witch newsletter.
"drip, drip, drop, little April showers" - oh I hope not. We've had enough rain to last us the whole year, we would quite like some sunshine now, please, and some dry days! We have a couple of things for April - our Self Confidence ritual is on the 13th April but before that, the Kitchen Witch crew will be at the twice yearly Wandering Witches Art & Crafts Fayre which is one not to be missed. Rachel will be selling all her fabulous books, so if you're in the area, pop along and say Hi! Full details of both can be found at the bottom of the page.
Spring Blessings to you all
Ness
xx
What's Going on in Nature this Month from Ness Armstrong
You're going to be fed up with me saying we've had rain again, but yep, its been another soggy month. As I type this, we are approaching April and we are hoping that drier and sunny days are on the horizon. I take my dog out daily and the shore and hedgerows are part of my walk. Mother Nature has fully woken from her winter slumber and is very busy! Nettles of all kinds - red and white dead nettles - as well as the lovely vibrant green stinging kind are in abundance, along with cleavers, violets, speedwell, wild anenomes, daffodils, tulips, wild arum, cow parsley, hogweed and one of my favourites - bluebell!.. the trees and shrubs are also coming to life - new leaf shoots on many, including hawthorn and elder and blossom on blackthorn and wild cherry.
Hematite from Sue Perryman
This month we are focusing on Self-Confidence. Hematite has a powerful energy and is a very useful and inexpensive crystal, it can be carried or worn as jewellery when you need to boost your self-confidence.
Magical Properties:
Grounding, money, decisions, manifestation, finances, healing, focus, clarity, stability, protection, balance, divination, problem solving, emotions, self-esteem and self-confidence, productivity, doubt, anxiety, communication, strength.
Element: Earth/Fire
Planet: Mars
Zodiac: Aries
Hematite is one of the Earth’s most abundant minerals, it is an iron oxide mineral and the most important source of iron ore. Magnetite has more but is not in such plentiful supply as Hematite.
The name Hematite comes from the Greek word “haimatitis” which means blood red. The name stems from the red colour that Hematite produces when ground to a fine powder.
Our ancient ancestors found that Hematite could be crushed and mixed with a liquid to make red paint. Cave paintings dating back to 40,000 years ago were created with Hematite.
Nasa discovered why the planet Mars appears red, the rocks and surface of the planet are mostly made up of Hematite.
Hematite is a strong grounding and protecting stone, I find its energy very heavy and almost uncomfortable at times, although the more I handle it the easier it becomes.
This stone can be used to enhance your memory and stimulate focus and concentration.
Used or held while out-of-body journeying, Hematite will protect the soul and ground it back to the body.
Often called “The Lawyer’s stone”, Hematite is said to bring a positive outcome to court cases.
Wear or carry Hematite when you need to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Polished Hematite can be used for scrying.
Keep a small hematite tumble stone in your purse to attract money.
Keep Hematite around your home to dissolve any negative energy.
Candle spell for self-confidence
A red candle, or any colour you associate with confidence. You can inscribe the word Self-confidence on it, or a word, sigil or rune that represents self-confidence to you.
Candle holder
Matches or a lighter
One or more Hematite stones
Herbs that you are drawn to for self-confidence, I used black pepper, cinnamon and fennel seeds
A couple of drops of cinnamon essential, 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 self-confidence 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:
As I sit by this candle bright
With herbs and the crystal Hematite
Bring the self-confidence that I need
To be the person I want to be.
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.
Spring Cookies by Heather
from A Witch for Every Season by Rachel Patterson
75g (2 1/2oz) butter
75g (2 1/2oz) sugar
1 egg, separated
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
50g (1 3/4oz) currants or sultanas
15g (1/2oz) mixed dried peel
3 tablespoons milk
175g (6oz) plain/all-purpose flour
Sugar to sprinkle
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F).
Whisk together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk. Stir in the cinnamon, currants, and mixed peel. Mix in the milk. Add the flour and bring together into a stiff dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 6mm (1/4in). Using a 7cm (3in) cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and lay them on a baking sheet, re-rolling the trimmings. You should get about 18 cookies. Beat the egg white and brush each biscuit top with it, then sprinkle with a little extra sugar.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until pale golden.
Pagan Portals – Artemis Goddess of the Wild Hunt & Sovereign Heart, Irisanya Moon by Heather Dewhurst
Before reading this book I had not felt a connection to the Greek pantheon, however discovering this book has been interesting and thought provoking. The author has provided an accessible, relatable source of information about the goddess Artemis, offering the reader the opportunity to delve deeper into those aspects that pique their interest.
In each chapter historical references give the original source material, then proceeds to explore ideas of how these practices may be evolved, or developed, for us to use today. The author reminds the reader throughout that it is up to the individual to forge their relationship with Artemis, or any godd (the authors spelling for inclusivity), that the book contains suggestions and to use these as a starting point to find what works best for you.
There are meditations given to enable the reader to connect with the subject covered in that chapter, together with suggestions for solitary and group workings. I particularly like that the author deals with the fact that Artemis is multifaceted, can be caring and generous, or cruel and vengeful, with an emphasis on justice. This does not make Her frightening or dangerous to work with if anything it encourages being clear in your communication.
There is a good bibliography, with websites also listed, which I find very useful, as it gives the authors sources, allowing the reader to undertake their own research. This book is ideal for someone wishing to know more about Artemis but would also be of interest to those who already have a relationship, to perhaps discover new ways of enhancing their personal practice.
Recipe for April by Ness
What better way to help the blues than indulging in a large slice of delicious cake! We at Kitchen Witch are partial to a slice of cake – or two – and I’ve picked this favourite of mine from Rachel’s ‘Practically Pagan’ Cook Book. It just happens to be in the April Section too!
Lemon Drizzle Tray Bake
Ingredients:
225g/8 oz butter, softened
225g/8 oz caster sugar
275g/ 9 ¾ oz self-raising flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 eggs
4 tablespoons milk
Finely grated rind of 2 lemons
Topping:
175g/6 oz granulates sugar
Juice of 2 lemons
Method:
Cut a rectangle of non-stick baking parchment to fit the base and side of a tray bake tin or roasting tin, 30x 23 x 4 cm (12 x 9 x 1 ½ inches). Grease the tin and then line with the paper, pushing it neatly into the corners of the tin. Pre-heat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3
Measure all the ingredients for the tray bake into a large bowl and beat well for about 2 minutes until well blended. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin. Level the top gently with the back of the spatula.
Bake in the middle of the pre-heated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until the tray bake springs back when pressed lightly with a finger in the centre and is beginning to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Allow the tray bake to cool in the tin for a few minutes then lift it out of the tin still in the lining paper. Carefully remove the paper and put the tray bake onto a wire rack placed over a tray (to catch drips of the topping)
Mix the sugar and lemon juice topping together in a small bowl to give a runny consistency. (side note: I usually poke some holes in the traybake with a skewer - this allows some of the syrup to be absorbed) then spoon the mixture over the top of the traybake while it is still warm. Leave to cool then enjoy a slice with a nice cup of tea!
Recipe from Practically Pagan - An alternative guide to cooking by Rachel Patterson
Celtic Tree Calendar - April by Heather
Alder Moon March 18 - April 14
In the Celtic Tree Calendar, Alder signifies the 4th month which forms the bridge between the cold, wet season, and the imminent dry, warm time of the year.
The Alder month, called Fearn by the Celts, pronounced fairin, is a time for making spiritual decisions, magic relating to prophecy and divination, and getting in touch with your own intuitive processes and abilities. Alder flowers and twigs can be used as charms to be used in Faerie magic and whistles were once made out of Alder shoots to call upon Air spirits.
A dark and enigmatic tree, Alder prefers to grow on riverbanks and waterlogged moors, in the liminal space, where the boundaries between earth and water merge. As it soaks up the water, it becomes dense and heavy, yet resistant: Alder does not succumb to rotting, in fact it has the power to dry up damp, watery bogs. It is because of this ability that alder wood was used for the foundations of houses, especially those built near lakes and rivers. Most of Venice is built on Alder stilts. Bogs and moors are often considered to be spooky places, frequented by fairies, dangerous water spirits and folk from the otherworldly realms and so, Alder also became associated with that magical twilight zone.
Perhaps because of the ability to stand strong in waterlogged land, Alder was also thought to offer protection against fire, especially if hung above doors.
The leaves of the Alder were used to line shoes to prevent feet from aching, also the leaves were used in bedding to help relieve rheumatism.
Alder is the sacred tree of Bran, God of divination and patron God of bards, poets and musicians; and of Morrigan, a Goddess of divination and sovereignty, both these deities are ferocious in battle and guardians of the land.
Magical uses for Alder –
Divination
Psychic abilities
Protection
Standing up for yourself and what you believe in
Courage
Faery magic
Astral travel
Hedge riding
Sources
The Woodland Trust
Rune of the month from Ness Armstrong
This months rune is Algiz and is a personal favourite of mine. Algiz is known as the Elk Rune, the rune of protection and connected to the wild. This image depicts a stag with a pentacle between his antlers. He is stood by a tree trunk with ferns growing around it. He looks very much in command in this image. This month Algiz speaks of connecting with Nature, getting out in it as much as you are able to, getting your hands in the soil, or even just to feed the birds or wildlife where you live.
Taking some walks along the shore, woodlands or to a park - a bit of fresh air will feed your soul!
