Household Magick

Kitchen magick: Cooking a special meal, thinking about the family as you prepare the meals, creating “Craft” items (lotions, soap, candles), kitchen witches

Rest of the house: Using “decorations” as protection: brooms, wreaths of herbs, Green Man plaques, goddess statues – many are not readily identifiable as “Pagan”, use of color and natural items, Feng shui

Planting a garden around the house to protect/consecrate

Creating an altar/sacred space: how public, how obvious, how does it change the room that it’s in or the whole house?

Use of protective measures: salt, corn meal, etc for non-sympathetic visitors

Familiars, pets and other animals

From Cunningham’s book:

The Hearth

Crossing the poker and tongs before the fireplace prevents sparks from popping out onto the floor and magically cancels any negative energies that might float down through it. A jar of salt on the hearth comes in handy in times of argument, tension or danger of any kind. Simply throw a pinch on the flames and its cleansing powers, when released by the flames, bless your home.

Three circles drawn with white chalk on the hearth ban evil from entering.

A blazing fire is useful for simple transformative spells, such as those in which dragon's blood, rosemary or rose petals are cast into the flames. Such actions, accompanied by the proper visualizations, bring love to the spell-maker. Nettles thrown into the fire conquer fear, while vervain dispells the pangs of unrequited love.

Fire-gazing: sit comfortably before the fire. Wait until the flames have died down and a sea of glowing reddish-orange coals stretches out before you. Still your mind. Gaze with half-opened eyes at the constantly pulsating and changing embers. Relax and allow yourself the experience. Some preserve the custom of fire-gazing in a blaze mad of sandalwood, juniper and cedar logs. A simpler method consists of combining ground sandalwood, cedar and juniper and tossing this mixture onto the coals just prior to gazing.

The Bedroom

There are certain traditional sleeping positions:

The head pointing North increases stability, calmness, prosperity and quick recuperation from illness. Some say this is the ideal direction in which to sleep, for the North is a source of magickal power.
The East has long been associated with religion and spirituality. It is also the point of intelligence, of sharp mental powers and freedom of mind. In this direction, the Sun and Moon rise, which has brought about the belief that one should sleep East to West, following the natural course of the heavenly bodies. Also, if you live in a hot area, sleeping with your head to the East might cool you down.
With your head pointing South during sleep, nothing but weariness and disease will afflict you. This may also cause or aggravate insomnia.
Sleeping with your head pointing West ensures love and spirituality, increases sensitivity of all kinds and promotes psychic abilities. It's ideal for those wishing to practice dream magick. It has also been used to promote creativity and so is recommended for artists.

If you can't move your bed to what seems like an ideal location, make do with what you have but place appropriate charms on the bed itself to offset any possible harmful effects from facing an undesirable direction. Place a small mirror somewhere on the bed facing the opposite direction: on the headboard facing South, for instance.

The Kitchen

A popular kitchen protection is a rope of garlic, onions or peppers. These ropes can be purchased in gourmet shops and farmer's markets and are not only excellent protective devices, but they're also attractive. If you hang one of these ropes in the kitchen expressly for protective purposes, make sure it's never used for food, for the vegetables absorb negativity and spell danger to anyone who eats them.

Symbols such as pentagrams can be painted, carved, chalked or traced with fingers or essential oils on canisters, cupboards, appliances, pots and pans -- even dishes.

A kitchen Witch bottle can be constructed to protect your food from contamination. Put 3 needles, 3 pins and 3 nails into a jar. Fill the jar with salt, seal it tightly, vigorously shake nine times and drip red candle wax over the seal. Then place it in the cupboard where it won't be seen.

When you burn food, cut yourself, drop pots and pans or experience a rash of accidents in your kitchen, a cleansing is in order. Get a shiny new copper tea kettle. Fill it with water (distilled) and add some bay leaves, rosemary, lemon peel (fresh if possible) and cinnamon. Have a small quantity of salt as well. Place this on the stove, uncovered and turn on the heat.

Next, place bowls or vases of fresh colorful flowers throughout the kitchen while the water warms. As its scented steam fills the air, scatter salt evenly over the kitchen floor, then sweep it up and discard it outside your home. Place a whole onion beneath the kitchen sink to absorb negativity (replace every month if necessary).

After a few minutes, turn the heat off. Allow the liquid in the kettle to cool, strain it through cheesecloth and sprinkle a few drops onto appliances, in the cupboards, in the sink, on the floor and so on. Pour the rest of the water down the drain, and your kitchen should be fresh, cleansed and ready to do its magic once again.

The Bath

You may wish to acknowledge the Full Moon with a Moon bath.

Simply draw a half-tub of water, preferably cool but certainly not hot. Dip out about a quart of this water with a glass or a crystal bowl. Then hold this outside for a few moments, letting the Moon's light flood the water. Then go back inside and add this water to your bath.

The Kitchen

A kitchen can be one of the most magical rooms in your home. By its very definition, your kitchen is the room most often used for magic. Essentially cooking is a very potent type of home magic. It bears all the basic aspects of spells and rituals.

-What scent reminds you most of "love" in the kitchen? The sense of smell is one of the most potent reminders of our deepest memories. Often, cinnamon or chicory, dill or nutmeg can overwhelm our senses with a flood of feelings. Feeding those you love is emotionally based and we grow as children, storing those wondrous memories of certain scents in our hearts. It is rejuvenation.

-What taste suggests "passion" for you? Ask yourself what food or flavor most brings a feeling of sensuality to your body. Perhaps basil or oregano? Or chocolate and strawberries? Learn to appreciate the manner in which a food or spice or herb "hits" you right in the spine. Practice connecting the body and heart and mind.

-When cooking, do you crush herbs or sprinkle them into the pot? There are a few who steadfastly maintain that to handle the herb as little as possible leaves it more potent. I personally disagree. To take the herb between your palms, open your energy to its own and begin to blend them is one of the most powerful things a pagan can do. By absorbing some of the plant's energy and mixing your own with it, you are ensuring a smooth and non-chaotic dance between you, to best enhance the magic.

-What three herbs would always be in your cupboard? If you were to have only three herbs on hand at all times, what would they be. Would you choose them for taste? Or vibration. The reason I include this question is because every person has herbs they seem to connect with more strongly than others do. Because of this blending, those should be found in your cupboard always. You will find that they provide a stronger magic and a deeper connectivity.

-When was the last time you really "tasted" your food? We live in a hurried world. Fast food, microwaves, no time, no time, no time. Stopping to smell the roses is all very well....wonderful for the soul. But pagans must try to remember that food in its glory and abundance is a gift from the gods and must be held in reverence, as any fine gift would be. Creativity, strength, shelter, rains when the land is dry... and food. The source of our survival. Taste the food you eat. That is the finest way to show appreciation. Because when we start taking a thing for granted, we may find ourselves without.

-When did you last "clean" the corners? Energy, like drafts, tends to move or swirl in a circular pattern. Just as dust gathers in corners because of this pattern, so too does "old" energy. Energy you may have missed when last you (metaphorically speaking) swept your home clean. Pay attention to the corners. Clean them as you do the rest. Quarter apples length-wise and dip in salt. Sit them in the four major corners of your homestead. Place comfortable plants in these areas. Clean them out, scent them and bless the area. You'll be surprised at the difference.

The Hearth/House

-How do you protect your hearth? Most pagans feel very comfortable with salt as a purifier and protector of the hearth. Salt is almost essential for me in that respect. I do love to use a few other things though. To complete the symbolism for me. I incorporate a representation of a lock and key, a brown item (a base shade of strength), a personal item to those in the household (small lock of hair, signature, etc.) and an egg. I am sure that the first three are fairly self-evident. The egg however you may look strangely upon me for. Well, here is my reasoning. And please, as pagans, freedom is your first right. Exercise the freedom to practice comfortable magic, not by rote. Pick what feels right to you. For me, the egg represents the protection the Mother (hen, human or omnipotent) places around Her children. It represents strength to me. It sums up the essence of what is love from the protector.

-How often? I try to magically clean my home at least once every turn of the moon. If possible, at the dark and full. This works for me. Another schedule may work better for you. I do however try to make an offering each day so that I keep alive the protection I've placed around the home.

-Which element is prominent? There are differences of opinion on which element is best highlighted in a protection spell. Some say the strength of fire is paramount...others believe earth is the predominant protection. Of course, the ideal is a representation of each in a protection. But that is not always possible. I do believe that the element is best suited to taste once again. Each of us has a predominant element with which we work well. Use it; its gifts are offered freely.

The Altar

-Does your altar get dusty? Everyone's does. Fact of life. However, keeping it clean also reintroduces your energy to it. Strengthening the effects of the altar proper.

-How many times per day do you acknowledge the altar? By acknowledgment I do not mean a glance, blowing incense dust away or replacing candles. By acknowledgment I mean deliberate and concentrated connection with the force emanating from the altar space itself. Consciously taking in the atmosphere you have created there. This is an important step in increasing your awareness.

-Which direction is your altar sitting in? Many pagans, especially those living in large cities where direction is not usually noticed, often set up their altar in a place appropriate or suited to it. There is nothing wrong in this. If the altar feels right in a certain place, then it works. No rule says it must be set up in a particular direction although many writers suggest north as the preferred. However, the reason for this question is for you to be aware of what direction it does in fact face. Knowing which, is an important part of acknowledgment.

-What adornment do you use? I am a firm believer in working with your altar. Altar areas are generally in a constant state of movement. We fuss with it, clean it, bless items, rearrange things, adjust stones and sacred pieces. I also believe that an altar should be adorned with the symbols of the season. Witches and many pagans believe the year to be divided into eight parts. Each is represented by a particular time of the season. Use that symbolism and decorate it with care and love. Offer this adornment to the gods and you strengthen your space.

The Bath

-How do you cleanse your body? Just as our food is hurried, like our lives...we generally do not take the time to enjoy or relax with our ablutions. Using the water element in its primal capacity as a Universal cleaner, the entire action of cleansing is a ritual. Take the time to absorb the magic in it and enhance your own energy.

The Bedroom

-What color suggests passion to you? Does your choice of color stem from commercialism and a barrage of models sporting red, black and purple? Or does it coincide with who you are and the color of your most erotic moments? Allow yourself the freedom to choose the color you find most sensual, without letting the outside world decide for you.

-Which is more important to you.....soft lighting? or scent in the air? If you are of the general population, lighting is rather important. Bright lights serve to make many people self-conscious of their bodies and feel that light only enhances any flaws. However, many people like the atmosphere that scent can create. Of course, both are ideal. But this is a question meant to enhance your awareness. So ...which shall it be - light or scent? One thing you may want to remember, if we are talking of an atmosphere of passion....your lover usually does not provide soft light, but his or her body can provide the most sensual of scents. And that scent is truly magical....it is an aspect of the joy of passion.

House Cleansing Ritual

Adapted from the book "Earth Magick: Dianic Witchcraft". You may use whatever God/dess for your blessing of each room. These are what I used.

Night of the Full Moon --Tools to be used: Athame, Incense, Holy Water, Sea Salt, White candle

Starting at the front door and going counter clockwise to every entrance and opening, hold a lit white candle in your left hand and athame in you right. Using the athame, draw in mid-air the pentagram, with blue flames a-glowing.

"In the name of the Goddess and the God, I banish all negativity in all time and in all space."

After that is done, proceed to use each of the four elements; starting at the front door, working counter clockwise throughout your household.

Incense is the element of Air. Become this element and at each entrance and opening chant, "Her breath cleanses, Her breath brings love, Her breath protects."

Sea salt is the element of Earth. Become this element and at each entrance and opening chant, "Her body cleanses, Her body brings love, Her body protects."

Holy water is the element of Water. Become this element and at each entrance and opening chant, "Her blood cleanses, Her blood brings love, Her blood protects."

White candle lit is the element of Fire. Become this element and at each entrance and opening chant, "Her spirit cleanses, Her spirit brings love, Her spirit protects."

After the elements are finished, go through each room and assign a Diety to fine tune the energy:

Goddess Hestia -- Kitchen
"May your warm hearth and heart bring love and well being to the foods I make here."

Goddess Cerridwen --- Altar room
"May your intuition, wisdom and magick bring inspiration to the workings that I do. Help me to be the Witch, to be the angel on earth."

Cleansing~Purification - The Lemon Infusion

When the Moon is full, completely peel nine lemons using your hands alone. As you finish peeling each one, place the peels in a bucket or a large bowl of water. Next, gently squeeze the peels into the water, expressing their oils until the sharp, clean fragrance of lemon hangs heavily in the air. Visulize the lemons' powers cleansing your home of negativity. Next, visualizing, scrub the floors, doorknobs and windows with lemon water. Pour a little of the remaining water down each drain. Repeat this ritual each Full Moon.

Sweep the rooms with magickal broom, saying: Sweep, sweep with this broom, all bad from this room. Sweep, sweep all good in, bad never to return again.

Using water, purify the apartment with these words:

I invoke the cleansing power of the Goddess with water as I purify this place. This is the ritual bath that removes all evil or negative things that might be here. As the waves of the ocean cover the sands, this water covers our home in harmony and peace.

Using salt, consecrate the apartment with these words: I invoke the sanctifying power of the God as I consecrate this place. I use salt to signify the earth’s strength, making our home sacred. As salt gives flavor to food and preserves it, this salt gives our home stability and keeps us united.

Using oil, anoint the lintels:

Front door, blessing it with these words:

Bless this house and all that enter this door. Let all who live here do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Kitchen, blessing it with these words:

Bless this kitchen. Let the food prepared here and the meals shared be joyous and loving. Bless the cleaning up and the putting away, that they are also times of happiness and family closeness.

Bathroom:

Bless this bathroom. Let us share it with good cheer, and keep it in good order.

Bedrooms:

Bless this bedroom. Grant us dreams that teach or help us to understand ourselves. Let our sleep be sweet and undisturbed.

Living Room:

Bless this living room, that our living here is happy and harmonious. Let us make this a place of haven from the world’s demands, a place to be with those we love, a place that is warm and welcoming to our friends, family and neighbors. Bless our days and our nights, our meals, our work, our pleasures and pastimes. Bless the house with abundance of that which is truly important. Bless us with our needs, so that we are fed and clothed and housed adequately. Bless us with the ability to share these blessings with those who need. So mote it be!

Light incense, light candle

Invocation of Horus (Or any of the warrior gods):

I invoke Horus, Warrior God, to protect us from all harm. I call upon His power to guard our space, our belongings, and ourselves.

Using oil, anoint:

Front door: (making a pentagram) I seal this door against those who would harm us through any kind of violence. This seal is an iron gate that locks out evil. Should anyone approach this door with mischievous intent, this seal will confuse the mind and make him forget why he is here. It will make him want to leave this area as quickly as possible, and he will not enter.

Windows: (all four sides) I seal this window against those who would use it enter unlawfully. This seal is iron bars that prevent access to our home. Should anyone attempt to enter through this window, his mind will be confused and he will feel an overwhelming urge to leave this area as quickly as possible.

I ask Horus to further seal these places with His mighty power, to give us safety in a world that is often not safe. Should we ever require it, I ask that His strength and cunning be ours to handle any situation that might be dangerous or harmful so that we can triumph. This is my will, so mote it be!

Meditation

I thank the Goddess and the God for Their many blessings. I thank Them that we now have this place to live. I thank Them for providing us with a place that meets our needs, so that we are together. I thank Them that the cost is bearable. I thank Them for neighbors that we will meet and hopefully become friends with. I thank Them for the closeness to work and shopping. I thank Them for Their protection and care, and bid Them hail and farewell. This is my will, so mote it be!