Cauldron Spirit

Many Witches pour a bit of ordinary surgical spirit [rubbing alcohol] into their cast-iron cauldrons and light it by carefully dropping in a lit match.

is often done as part of a healing ritual, invocations to the elemental spirit of Fire, scrying, divination, Sabbat fire festivals and various working rituals.

The sight of the cauldron blazing with flames can be very magical and mesmerizing, and when the alcohol has been steeped in aromatic herbs, a sweet but gentle, incense like fragrance is produced.

To make an herbal ~ Cauldron Spirit~, put into a glass bottle a small bunch of any of all of the following:

fresh lavender flowers and leaves, fresh mint leaves, fresh rosemary flowers and leaves, or fresh thyme flowers and leaves.

Fill the bottle to the top with the alcohol; cap it tightly, and then give it a good shake.

Keep it in a cool dry place for thirteen days, shaking it twice daily [every sunrise and every moonrise].

Strain through a double thickness of muslin into a clear bottle, cap tightly, and store away from heat or flame.

Cauldron Spirit will keep indefinitely.

~ Kitchen Witchery Magick Potions

Gerina Dunwich

Seven Sacred Herbs of the Celts

~ Nuts and Cones: Sacred to the Druids; very magical, especially in fertility magic. Small cones or acorns were sometimes used on the tips of wands used by the Celts.

~ Willow: A Druid sacred tree; one of the seven sacred trees of the Irish. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the Goddess. Its grooves were considered so magical that priests, priestesses and artisans sat among the trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills, and prophecies.

~ St. John's Worth: A Druid sacred herb. The Celts passed it through the smoke of the summer solstice fire, and then wore it into battle for invincibility. The people of Scotland wore it as a charm against Faery influence.

~ Mint: A Druid sacred herb. Burning mint cleanses the area.

~ Juniper: A druid sacred tree. Its berries were used with thyme in incenses.

~ Thyme: A Druid sacred herb. Repels negativity and depression.

~ Elder: A Druid sacred tree. Sacred to the Celtic White Lady and the Summer Solstice. The Druids used it both to bless and curse. Elder wands drive out evil and negativity. Standing under and elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a ring of Faery Mushrooms, will help you see the Little People.

Compiled by Barbara Morris

image of Brigid found here