The Kitchen Witch

A Kitchen Witch is someone who would once have been viewed as the village wise woman or cunning man, their magical work centres around the hearth and home, in times gone by, the kitchen was seen as the hub of the household, the fire in the hearth was used for cooking, warming the bones and for sitting and socialising. These days the importance of the kitchen is something that has wanned in this day of convienience meals and short cuts; most of us no longer have a traditional hearth in our kitchens, but we do have some means of cooking be it an aga, gas hob or microwave!
Most of a Kitchen Witch's work is done quite literally in the kitchen and/or other areas of the home and their garden, should they be lucky enough to have one. The entire home is seen as sacred space, not just a particular room where a ritual is held. Cooking is an important part of kitchen witchery, you add garden herbs to your recipes to bring protection, prosperity and healing to your family. Teas are brewed to sooth the body and soul and remedies to clear the mind and soothe ailments are made. Charms in the forms of wreaths and sachets are likely to be found throughout the household and magic is an entire way of life, not just occasionally. Kitchen witchery can be used as ones sole practice or in conjuntion with other paths.

The Tools Of A Kitchen Witch

There are many tools that can be used in kitchen Witchcraft - the few that I list below are essential to my time spent crafting in the kitchen, however some tools may differ from witch to witch. Some may scorn the use of modern day gadgets such as blenders and electric grinders, others may share Dorothy Morrison's view from her book Everyday Magic and embrace microwaves and coffee makers into their kitchen witchery as easily as thyme and basil. Most are simple and obvious tools that you would find in any well equipped kitchen that would seem mundane otherwise, but they can serve as very necessary tools of the craft.

Some kitchen witches will keep an Altar in their kitchen to honour the dieties of hearth and home, like mine shown in the photo above. This may be their only altar, or one of several in the home. An altar set up can be as simple as a small table or shelf layed with symbols of the elements (feathers, stones, flowers etc..), a small candle and some incense, or it can be made as elaborate as one likes or as space allows. My altar holds my pestle and mortar, some items dedicated to Hestia, a selection of crystals and my mini cinnamon besom. There are always flowers or greenery on the altar and items vary with the Sabbats and the seasons.

Another very important tool is the besom. I have a large besom I made from using a besom bought at a garden centre and then decorated with rosemary that I grew in my garden and dried and I keep it hanging over the main entrance to my kitchen. Bound round it are juniper berries and oranges slices to ensure that love is always in my kitchen and that it is protected from negativity.

A Kettle is an obvious but very important tool for brewing teas and tisaness. We have an electric kettle for everyday use, but I have a copper kettle that I use to boil water on the cooker for magical purposes. Herb teas are then brewed in my teapot.

A good pair of scissors is a staple in my kitchen. Not only are scissors good for cutting and de-boning for the mundane tasks, but they are also good for breaking the hexes and curses. It is said when you feel that you have been cursed to drop an open pair of scissors behind you to to the floor to break the spell.

A Mortar and Pestle is a wonderful tool for bruising and crushing herbs and spices to be used in brews and infusions. I have three in different sizes, the one on my altar is a very heavy one that I use when I need to grind seriously tough herbs and spices. A mortar and pestle set can be found at many culinary shops as well as any witchy supply shops. I also use an electric blender, food processor and coffee grinder when working with herbs, all are viable kitchen tools to the modern day kitchen witch.

These tools along with traditional tools of the craft (wand, athame etc...) can be powerful aids in your kitchen witchery. It doesn't take a lot of work, time, or money to transform an ordinary kitchen into a magical workplace. To begin with, there are many simple, yet effective, charms (such as a rope of garlic, a sun-catcher, or pentagram symbols) that can be placed in the kitchen for protection. I have a willow pentacle that I wove herbs for protection and love into that I've hung on the wall.

A sunny kitchen windowsill filled with pots of herbs not only looks good, but releases magical energies into the room. Even common culinary herbs that are found in the cupboards or herb racks of nearly every kitchen possess strong magical properties. For instance, basil is traditionally used for exorcism, love, protection, and purification. Parsley is used for fertility, passion, and protection. Sage is used for healing, protection, and prosperity; and thyme is used for clairvoyance, courage, and love.
The biggest problem is that most kitchen window sills are simply too narrow to properly hold a pot. Also the kitchen window may not get enough sun. If you have an east or a south east window you can generally grow anything.

Hang a "kitchen Witch" in your kitchen for good luck. The kitchen is also the place to hang a blessing spoon. As well as a decorative spoon you should also have a magical spoon for cooking, I have several wooden spoons and utensils that I keep to one side for magickal work only.
A well-stocked Witch's kitchen should contain herbs, essential oils (kept in a dark cool place, not in direct sunlight as the oils will deteriorate) and an assortment of glass bottles for decanting your potions.
Kitchen Deities

Throughout the world many cultures have believed in and worshipped various kitchen gods and goddesses. These deities are generally regarded as benevolent, and their presence is said to offer protection against kitchen accidents, fires, and food poisoning; to keep negativity, ghosts, and evil influences out of the kitchen; and to bless all foods that are prepared. Eamples of a suitable kitchen deities are Hertha the Saxon Goddess of the hearth, Cerredwin who is the keeper of the sacred Cauldron and Hestia.

Hestia, also known as Vesta, is one of the Greek Mother Goddess's, her name means "Hearth". She is the Goddess of household harmony. Invoke Hestia for abundance in the home, conception and general well-being. Hestia's blessings are simple ones, she teaches the virtues of home and family life, the sweet rewards of labour and the value of good food and good rest. Where there is anger, she cools it. Where there is strife, she ends it. The bonds of family and friendship are of foremost concern to her. Hestia lends herself to stimulating and encouraging the household arts, such as candlemaking, soapmaking, preserving foods, culinary herbalism, cooking, baking and kitchen witchery. The presence of Hestia can be found in the centre of a fire - Hestia's fire served to make sacred whatever place it dwelled in. If you do not have a hearth then a candle or the cooker in the kitchen are places she can be found.

Ways to honour Hestia are simple, make your home as inviting and comfortable as possible, show hospitality to others, invite them into your home and share your food and comforts with them. Never let a chance go by without showing your family and friends how important they are to you. Keep a lamp, candle, or hearth fire burning in the room you entertain family at all times to honour Hestia.

Hestia Aroma's - The goddess of the hearth and home is celebrated with scents reminiscent of a those days spent at a favourite relative who made the most wonderful cakes, scents of Yules past, newly baked bread, herbs drying by the fire, fruits and nuts and the kitchen, homely scents.

Hestia Hearth Incense Burn in honour of Hestia for a safe, warm, loving home. 2 Parts Myrrh 2 Parts Lavender Flowers 2 Parts Orange Flowers 1 Part Yarrow 1 Part Juniper Few Drops Lavender & Orange Oil.

In addition to the Pagan gods and goddesses of the kitchen, the spirits of the four ancient elements are strongly connected to, and make their presence well known in, the Witch's kitchen. The fridge is an appliance dedicated to air. Air is also linked to the steam given off by hot foods and boiling liquids. Fire (the source of heat and symbol of transformation) dwells within the cooker and hearth. Water rules over the kitchen sink as well as the liquids used in the preparation and cooking of foods and potions. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and spices, and even meats and poultry are all gifts from the Earth Mother. These foods that nourish and sustain us are, of course, ruled by the earth element. The elemental spirits of air, fire, water, and earth can be invoked at any time in the kitchen for protection, empowerment, magical aid, and so forth. It is through the use of these four basic elements that kitchen magic is created.

Recommended Reading

There are two titles on the Moonshadows Shop that I'd recommend, these are Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan and Magical Spells For Your Home by Ann-Marie Gallagher, as well as the books below, all available from Amazon.