Save for one male cousin who is in his twenties coming down with it last year (thankfully, he did not get terribly ill and bounced by quite quickly), no other close relative in our family had contracted this frightening illness until my sis fell ill a few days.

Mercifully, thus far, she has not needed hospitalization and appears to be gradually improving a little already (knock wood!).

As she is a lifelong asthmatic with some other health issues as well, I have worried a great deal since the pandemic began that my sister might end up getting Covid.

I would gladly come down with this illness a million times in a row if it spared her getting sick with it even once.

Alas, no entities or higher powers have shown up to offer me that sort of Faustian bargain and, sadly, the Coronavirus found my sister.

The past 2 – 3 years have been rather rough on various fronts for my sis (including multiple car accidents – none of which were her fault), and I am certain this is truly the last thing in the universe that she needed or wanted.

On my end, not for the first time since this blog’s inception, I genuinely wasn’t sure if I would be able to get a blog post up this week.

Thankfully, as the week wore on, I was able to briefly spend some time crafting which meant a post was still feasible (yay!!!). The end result is the darling Valoween project featured in this entry.

I needed something lighthearted, upbeat and festive – and in my books, this sweet Valoween card ticks all of those boxes.

The last few days have indeed felt long at times. However, January as a whole has whizzed by faster than a snowflake on a strong arctic wind and that means Valentine’s Day is rounding the corner again soon.

Hey, ghoul friend adorable Valoween Day ghost themed friendship card

Hard as it is to believe that we are almost 1/12^th of the way through 2022, it is even trickier for me to wrap my head around the fact that close to a year has elapsed since I first posted here about Valoween.

If you are not familiar with the concept of Valoween – which is essentially adding a dark/spooky/macabre/Halloween spin to Valentine’s Day – be sure to check out my post Dark and Romantic Valoween Shaker Wand and Card Set for the 411 on this frightfully fun spin on Feb. 14^th.

This year, I am planning on bringing you two Valoween project shares – with this super cute card being the first.

It is, admittedly, on the sweeter side of Valoween (which, I should mention, is sometimes also spelled as Valloween).

I doubt very many people would be frightened by the trio of squeal-worthily precious ghost friends here, nor the red-dominant colour palette.

While red does take center stage, other colours find their way into the fold as well. Grey, black, cream, and pink all play supporting roles.

I love the mix of red and white lettering. The white alphabet stickers are Thickers and made of foam, which gives them this fabulously charming quality that I find works sooo well into the context of nearly any type of ghost or otherwise spooky related project.

Naturally, as a project pertaining to Valentine’s Day, this Valoween greeting includes some hearts. This is not required for any take on Feb. 14th, of course, but the perpetual “lover of love” in me can rarely help including at least a heart or two when crafting for February 14^th.

Two of the central layering pieces are wonky/wavy-edged ovals, which I opted for as I felt they had a certain ghost shape element all their own that fit the theme here to a tee.

My perpetual addiction to metallic cardstock appears here again, as does my endless love for layers and embellishments.

This handmade Valoween card began with a project concept in my mind’s eye (as many do). However, when all was said and done, the end result deviated somewhat from how I had initially pictured it.

I know this is something that many a paper crafter – and creative soul, point-blank – can wholeheartedly relate to!

Happily though, in the end, I was (am) very pleased with the final result and will keep my original concept in mind for a possible future project.

This card design is quite easy to make. There is really nothing tricky to it and the most time-consuming aspect is simply manually die cutting out the various layers and ghost figures.

This is an enjoyable card that works great for Valoween/Valentine’s Day. While at the same time, it could also be used for a wide range of other occasions as well – provided you swapped out or simply ditched the “Happy Valentine’s Day” part of the sentiment.

I can also see this charming ghost themed card fitting the bill for events such as birthdays, Halloween, and Samhain – as well as thinking of you, missing you, congratulations, and just because cards. Assuming, of course, that the recipient is a fan of sweetly spooky creations.

And given the highly spirited (pun intended) October 31st influence at work on this card, it is my latest #MakeHalloween365 project share.

If you would like to make your own adorable Hey, Ghoul Friend Valoween card, read on for a complete list of materials used and detailed step-by-step instructions that will guide you through doing just that.

Products used to make this super cute ghost themed Valoween card

-Black cardstock – Raven Black Cardstock from Bazzill

-Light grey cardstock

-Cream cardstock

-Light red cardstock – Tim Holtz Distress Collection 4.25”x5.5 (mini pad) from Core’dinations

-Matte silver metallic cardstock

-Red metallic cardstock – Scarlet Organza Mirror Cardstock from Tonic Studios

-Pinkish-red metallic cardstock – Opera Red Mirror Cardstock from Tonic Studios

-Pink polka dot and damask-y floral print papers – Je t’Adore 8”x8” Multipack from Making Memories

-Decorative edge oval die

-Wavy/wonky edge nested die set (you can currently score a very similar looking Wavy Nested Frame Set from Whimsy Stamps.)

-“Wave” decorative edge scissors (Mine are unbranded and likely came from a dollar store at some point; you can, at the time of writing, find a similar pair of wavy edge scissors on Amazon.)

-Ghost and spider stamps – Ghosts 4”x6” Clear Stamp Set from Gerda Steiner

-Happy Valentine’s Day sentiment stamp – Perfect Match Stamp Set from Papertrey Ink

-Black ink – Jet Black Archival Ink from Ranger

-Very dark red or burgundy ink – StazOn Claret Solvent Ink from Tsukineko

-White metallic ink marker – White Metallic Marker from Forever in Time

-Small dark red alphabet stickers

-White foam alphabet stickers – Thickers Rockabye Foam Letter Stickers from American Crafts

-Mini stapler and staples – Tiny Attacher and Staples from Tim Holtz Idea-ology

-Cream/flax coloured paper raffia – Earth Tones Paper Craft Ribbon from Craft Medley (dollar store brand)

-White seam binding (or ribbon)

-Pink seam binding (or ribbon)

-Black rhinestone embellishment strips – Black Jewel Stickers from Crafter’s Square (dollar store brand)

-Grey rhinestone heart embellishments – Pyramid Gems Classic Hearts from Forever in Time

-Sparkly creamy-white gem embellishments – Say It In Crystals Pretty Pale from Prima Marketing

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to Make an Adorable Hey, Ghoul Friend Valoween card

Begin by making a card base from light grey cardstock (you could also use white, cream, medium grey, or black cardstock here instead).

Cut a piece of Making Memories light pink polka dot paper slightly smaller than the card base. Ink all edges with burgundy ink. Adhere to card base.

Cut a piece of Opera Red Tonic Studio Mirror Cardstock slightly smaller than the previous layer. Adhere to the previous layer.

Cut a piece of matte silver metallic cardstock a little smaller than the previous layer. Use the “wave” decorative edge scissors on all four sides.

Using black cardstock, cut two slender pieces about ½ of an inch or so wide and a little less than half the length of the card front long. Cut their outer (left) edge with the wavy decorative edge scissors.

Next, cut a piece of cream cardstock a little smaller than the previous layer. Ink all four edges with burgundy ink.

Tuck one of the black cardstock pieces under the top left-hand side of the cream cardstock. Adhere to underside of cream cardstock. Repeat the same process on the bottom right-hand side of the cream cardstock, then adhere the cream cardstock piece down.

Cut a black rhinestone (gem) adhesive bling strip piece in half and adhere one half to each of the two black (wavy edge) pieces of cardstock from the previous step. Repeat the process, only this time the other half of the rhinestone strip goes horizontally, as shown in the photos.

Cut a piece of elegant damask-y floral paper a touch smaller than the previous layer. Ink all four edges with burgundy ink. Adhere.

Run a piece of pink seam binding (red, white, grey, black, silver, or gold could also be used here instead) across the center of the layers that you’ve composed so far. Adhere in place.

(Note that most of this piece of seam binding will be hidden – you only see a wee glimpse of it on the right-hand side of the center of the card.)

Using the largest-sized die from the wonky/wavey oval die set, die cut one shape out of Scarlet Organza Tonic Studio Mirror Cardstock. Adhere.

Using the second largest wonky/wavey oval die, die cut one shape from light red cardstock. Adhere.

Die cut an oval-shaped piece using black cardstock and a decorative edge oval-shaped die. Adhere to the previous layer.

Use red and white letter stickers to spell out the sentiment “Hey Ghoul Friend” on the black oval layer that you just created.

Take a piece of light grey cardstock (the same cardstock that you used for your card base here) and, in black ink, stamp three ghosts and one adorable little dangling spider from the Gerda Steiner Ghosts Stamp Set. Die cut (or fussy cut) the ghosts out.

Colour the bodies of the ghosts and the whites of the spider’s eyes with the metallic white marker (or paint pen; in lieu of either, you could use anything from a white gel pen to white chalk and a chalk fixative to white Nuvo Drops).

Adhere the ghosts around the wavy/wonky oval layers, as shown. Adhere the dangling spider from the bottom right-hand side of those layers.

Use a stitched (or plain) edge heart die to cut three identical-sized heart shapes from cream, light grey, and black cardstock (one heart per colour). Ink the edges of the light grey heart with burgundy ink and stamp “Happy Valentine’s Day” in the same ink on that heart.

Adhere the three hearts together, offsetting them a bit (as shown) so that each colour is visible.

Punch a hole near the top of the heart stack and string a small piece of cream/natural (or white, black, grey, red, or pink) raffia, paper raffia, or other suitable trim through the hole. Tie the ends of this piece of trim around the pink seam binding layer (or adhere in place instead, if so desired).

Do not adhere the heart stack down to the card layers beneath it. You want the hearts to dangle and be able to move around freely.

Create a multi-loop bow from white (or cream, pink, red, grey, or black) seam binding. Optionally, crinkle the seam binding ahead of time if you are going for the same look as the seam binding bow shown here. Adhere on the left-hand side of the card so that the bow conceals where you tied/adhered the raffia/trim in place.

Adhere one grey rhinestone heart embellishment to the center of the seam binding bow and four others around the card in various spots.

Lastly, adhere a few sparkly creamy-white colour Prima gem embellishments around the card, as shown.

And there you have it. One over-the-moon cute Valoween, Valentine’s Day, or Galantine’s Day card to give to one of your favourite ghoul pals (naturally, you could swap out the word “ghoul” to the less gender-specific “boo” instead, if desired).

There is spooky, and then there is scary

The concept of Valoween as a whole can certainly be spooky, mysterious and/or eerie, but it is unlikely to evoke genuine fear in many people.

As much as I love spooky things – and even some very specific hair-raisingly frightening ones as well – I am rarely looking to be or to feel sincerely scared.

That is one of many responses, however, that most of us feel when somebody we care about falls ill or gets injured. And it is one that countless millions around the globe have contended with since the pandemic took hold.

Though the initial fear I experienced upon learning that my sister had come down with the Coronavirus was powerfully intense, it has subsided somewhat at this point and now sits at a mid-level worry.

I do not see that shifting downwards further very much until we know she is safely out of the woods and doing substantially better again.

Our family has been exceedingly lucky thus far regarding Covid-19 and not a day has gone by since the pandemic began that I haven’t given thanks for that being the case.

I am acutely aware that many others have not been able to say the same thing and that our own luck could vanish in the blink of an eye. As far as medical science knows, save for a tiny subsection of the population who appear to possibly be immune to Covid, this virus can strike any of us at any time.

In the face of the most real of threats and worries, it is perfectly normal (and healthy) for any of us to be scared. Who hasn’t experienced at least a bit of fear since Covid burst onto the scene?

Creating this card helped me to momentary relax and connect with the fun side of spooky for a few hours.

All the while, never losing sight of the ever-greater poignancy that concepts pertaining to death, the afterlife, and spirits have taken on for many of us over the past couple of years.

Know that whether you, your partner, your child, your parent(s), your sibling(s), or anyone else that you care about is ill or has lost their battle with Covid, my thoughts, heart, and perpetual understanding are with you.

And should you ever need someone to talk to on that front, please remember that I am always just an email away.

Here’s hoping that February is a vastly more positive month for all those who need it to be – and that maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t feel quite as speedy. (#wishfulthinking)

On top of the second Valoween project that I will be sharing, I have some really cool content coming down the pipeline in the next few weeks, including an exciting author interview post with one of today’s most beloved + best selling Pagan authors.

So you will certainly want to keep your dial set to Witchcrafted Life as we embrace Imbolc’s return and do our best to stay safe and well all February long.

Have you and/or anyone close to you contracted Covid-19 so far? Do you enjoy the concept of Valoween or are you more a traditional Valentine’s/Galantine’s Day person?  

PS: On a largely unrelated note, earlier this week my browser crashed moments after I had opened up nearly three weeks of recent blog feeds in my feedreader and somehow that ended up marking them all as read and in turn instantly, irretrievably deleting them from my feed (what? how? why?!!! ).

As a result, if I missed commenting on some of your January blog posts (and I normally visit your site), please know that this is the reason why, my dear friends.

Many sincere apologies about that! It is unusual for my computer to freeze or crash (thankfully), even though it is getting on in years at this point.

When it does crash or freeze though, I find that more often than not, this happens so when I am doing something that I don’t want to risk losing or having to start from scratch with (Murphy’s Law all the way).

Oh well! Not a big deal of course, especially in the grander scheme of things – but I did want to mention it here all the same.

The post Hey, Ghoul Friend Adorable Valoween (Spooky Valentine’s Day) Ghost Themed Card appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

In the roughly twelve weeks since the inaugural edition of the quarterly Magick, Craft Makes and Me debuted, we’ve witnessed the world endure the continued ravages, impacts of a pandemic that is still going strong, and some remarkable happenings pertaining race in America (and by extension, elsewhere across the globe).

Here at our house, and within our family on both sides of the Atlantic (all of my husband’s family lives in his homeland of Italy), I am very thankful to report that we’ve remained virus-free so far.

While certain public rules have been relaxed and various non-essential business and public locations have reopened in recent weeks in our area, we’ve opted to remain in strict self-isolation for the time being.

When the winter edition of this post appeared here, there was still an abundance of snow on the ground, icicles dangling from the roof, and daily subzero temperatures. What a difference a handful of weeks makes when it comes to the changing of the seasonal guard!

Spring began in earnest around these North Okanagan parts at the start of May and, in true Canadian fashion, by the end of that month, we were already experiencing temperatures in the low 30s Celsius.

When the next edition rolls around that the end of the summer, we’ll be witnessing the Wheel of The Year rotate into the gloriousness that is autumn.

As much as I adore fall with every last fibre of my being, I’m in no mad rush to put summertime to bed quite yet.

Though summer can be a challenging season in some respects, it’s also a beautiful, dreamy, even heady portion of the year and one that never fails to make me feel especially young at heart.

Right here and now, however, let’s take a gander at some of the witchy/Pagan/magick, crafting, and various other various links (the latter falling under the “Me” header of this post) that caught my eye during the turbulent months of spring that our world just endured.

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

-Anytime two of my very favourite things – cooking and witchery – combine, chances are, I’m going to pounce on it like Annie on a tennis ball!

This pairing is examined through the lens of edible delights that are especially well suited to the moon in Other Worldly Oracle’s fantastic Full Moon Food Guide, which is chock-a-block with tasty recipes, food suggestions, and creative ideas.

-Candles, incense, smudge sticks – if you can safely burn it in a magickal context, a good many witches and Pagans are likely doing so as we speak.

However, there are plenty of times and/or reasons why you may want to cleanse without the need for matches or a lighter.

Willow’swonderful look at this very topic is explored in-depth in her recent post, 13 Smoke Free Ways to Cleanse, which may be of particular interest to those who are highly sensitive or allergic to smoke, incense and the like.

-Scrying is an ancient and widely used form of divination that has been practiced by various cultures around the world for many thousands of years. It remains popular to this day, particularly with some of us in the witchcraft and Wiccan communities.

One of the most common – and I would argue, effective – forms of scrying is mirror scrying. If you’ve always wanted to give it a go, but didn’t have a suitable mirror to work with, you’ll definitely want to visit this informative post that takes you through all the steps needed to Make Your Own Scrying Mirror.

-I am a firm believer that one can come to witchery and/or Paganism at any point in their life. However, there there are some of us for whom an ingrained sense that we were witches has been with us throughout our entire lives.

This topic is explored in Astrea’s insightful post, Born This Way: Witchcraft Comes Naturally to Some, which – as a “born witch” – I found myself nodding in agreement with from top to bottom.

-Spring and summer are peak seasons in many parts of the Western Hemisphere for early morning dew. If you’re keen to gather and put this potent, wonderful natural magickal ingredient to work in your witchcraft, be sure to check out Annwyn’s lovely video and accompanying blog post on How to Collect Dew.

-We in the 21^st century have a tendency to praise and elevate the act of being busy to near god-like status. Productivity is certainly important and has its rightful place, but so does the vital act of downtime and the ability to leave at least a few hours of our lives unencumbered with frenetic activity.

In The Magickal Art of Doing Nothing, Phoenix explores this topic and helps to remind us all of just how essential it is to simply be at peace with the present moment every now and then.

Card Making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

-Going all the way back to my earliest collections – housed in the de rigour magnetic page photo albums of the day – back in the 1980s and early 90s, to the bevy of them that reside in my craft room today, I’ve loved and actively used stickers throughout my whole life.

You can just imagine then how much my eyes lit up and my creative juices started flowing when I recently spotted this handy-dandy post on how to make your own DIY Vintage Spring Flower Stickers. (The method for which you could easily apply – adhesive related pun intended – to a wide range of other sticker images as well.)

-Few fruits say spring and early summer better – or more iconically – than strawberries! If you’re in the mood to dish up a lovely serving of the paper variety of this fabulous produce offering, then you’ll definitely want to check out this DIY Paper Strawberry Tutorial over on Maggie Holmes’ inspiring blog.

-It likely comes as little surprise that the century which saw the invention and meteoric rise in popularity of photography would in turn produce a wide range of picture frames to help house some of the millions of photos that were taken at the time.

While real examples of Victorian photo frames often command steep prices these days, thanks to this lovely Victorian Folding Photo Frame Tutorial, with a few basic craft supplies and access to a digital die cutting machine, you can now whip up all the 19th century picture frames that your heart desires!

-Love working with alcohol markers but aren’t sure which ones to invest in or which might work most effectively for a given project? Let Ivana’s excellent and very informative comparison of The Best Alcohol Markers help ensure you find and work with the right markers for your crafting needs.

-When you think of summertime foods, what jumps out at you first? Ice cream? Watermelon? Lemonade? What about that beloved classic, a freshly made cheeseburger?

If you’ve been looking for a fun new pincushion to create, why not have a go at making this darling DIY Cheeseburger Pincushion?

It has all the look, but none of the grilling work involved with the real deal.

And of course, vegans, vegetarians, and plant-based eaters can just as easily imagine that it’s their favourite meat-free (and potentially dairy-free) burger instead.

-Valentine’s Day was a few months ago, but there’s no reason why you can’t whip up this fabulously charming Gothic Valoween Garland anytime and proudly use it as year-round décor. (An easy DIY craft project that involves both hearts and coffins it is a serious winner in my books!)

What’s shaking in my life and on my radar

Wow, I remember thinking back in March that I had scarce little of note to report in terms of what had been transpiring in our lives then.

After three more months of being in strict self-isolation, I have even less of note to share – which sounds dreadfully dull, I know!

Our days are full of the usual happenings of life, however, and goodness knows I could use about a thousand more hours in every day to get a mere fraction of what I’d like/need to accomplish done.  

As we’ve been at home around the clock lately though, I don’t have too many adventurous tales to regale you with this time around.

Looking ahead to the summer months, both Tony and I will celebrate our birthdays before the season draws to a close. Our beautiful country of Canada also turns another year older soon too, hitting the venerable age of 153 come July 1^st.

Historically, Tony and I have usually taken at least one get-away (usually a road trip somewhere within Western Canada) between mid-spring and late autumn.

However, with the very real safety concerns surrounding the pandemic so far this year (to say nothing of possible subsequent waves of it), we’ve not planned a trip for 2020.

For two souls who adore and derive a great deal of positive benefits from travelling, including the sheer joy of having an upcoming trip to look forward to, this has been a bit strange indeed!

Of course, many others are in similar boats and tons of folks have had to cancel or postpone travel plans (including one of my aunts and her daughter who were set to visit France this summer), and we’ll just make the best of things here at home for the time being.

The safer we are now and the more precautions we currently take to help stop the spread of Covid-19, the faster we might be able to return to a world where it’s safe to once again travel, visit with others, and do more activities in public point-blank.

-At the very end of April, on the six-month mark to Halloween (a date that many Halloween fans affectionately refer to as Halfoween), I shared a fun post highlighting 31 Ways to Celebrate Halloween All Year Long.

After I wrote that entry, I found myself thinking (not for the first time) about various ways to help ensure that I have an environmentally friendly Halloween/Samhain celebration.

This led me to find a very handy Guide to Greening Halloween, which abounds with tons of useful, practical and enjoyable ways to help keep your October 31^st all the more planet-friendly.

-If you think that things like cosplaying and sci-fi related conventions are a relatively new invention, Vintage Everyday is here with a slew of photos from the 1966 Science Fiction & Fantasy Costume Contestants Posing at the 24^th World Science Fiction Convention that will quickly prove these much-loved passions have been going strong for many decades now.

-It’s safe to say that one of the most important aspects to the continuation of life on this planet – the world’s oceans – is in a dire state and in need of immediate help.

An extraordinary ‘Landmark’ Study Lays Road Map for Exactly How We Can Restore Oceans to Former Glory in Just One Generation, and I know that I won’t be alone in hoping to the stars above (and the starfish below) that the approaches it proposes are able to be put into action.

-Should you happen to be a fellow lover of edible flowers, want a gorgeous dessert to serve at your next tea party or bridal shower, or an ideal sunny weather sabbat feast treat, may I present you with Lindsay and Jonas’s gorgeous Violet Shortbread Cookie Recipe.

-While the amount of TV that I’ve watched during this time of self-isolation has changed little from my usual levels, I have been making a point to view shows, movies and documentaries that really speak to me on a deep level.

One of the most stand-out titles in that respect that I’ve viewed recently is a documentary on Netflix called Crip Camp, which was just released this year.

It is a stirring, poignant and much needed look at how a mid-twentieth century American camp for special needs individuals helped to plant some of the seeds for the immensely long overdue social and political revolution that took place within the disabled community during the past century.

If you’re not already doing so, why not pop on over to Instagram and follow my account there? I post a wide range of content pertaining to witchery and Paganism, crafts, nature, history and vintage, travel, our daily life (including snaps of Annie), and more!

Summer lovin’

While fall time will forever reign supreme for me personally, I’m the first to admit that summer holds a special place in my heart as well.

Between the fact that it’s the season into which I born, the one in which Tony and I became engaged (back in 2004), and that it’s the prelude to my favourite chapter of the year, it’s hard not to adore summertime.

There’s dreamily perfect warm nights, ice cold drinks, the magick and marvelousness of both Litha and Lammas, sunsets so stunning they evoke tears, vibrant gardens, sundresses, feeling the sun-baked earth beneath your bare feet, and so much more to enjoy + appreciate about this season.

At this point, all any of us can do is guess and prepare in regards to what the summer may hold in store pandemic wise.

It would be amazing, nay, extraordinary, if the world was in a vastly safer, healthier place come the fall equinox, but the realist in me isn’t going to place any bets on that being the case.

What I will confidently do, however, is strive to have a beautiful, enjoyable and very meaningful season, whether we remain in self-isolation the whole time or not.

And you can count on plenty of fun, informative new content here, as well as on my Instagram account.

In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll cover a wide array of topics, from Canada Day to book reviews, summer sabbat posts to ones that will lead us straight into the magickal months of fall.

It is my unwavering hope that each of you will have a safe, healthy, peaceful and positive summer (or winter, if you’re south of the equator), and we can all met back here in three months for the next installment of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me.

What are you most excited about this summer? Any standout plans in the works?

The post Spring 2020 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For many witches, Wiccans, and Pagans, the Summer Solstice – also known as Midsummer, though in many modern calendars and cultures alike, it is generally seen as the official start of summer, not the middle of the season – corresponds with the sabbat of Litha.

Because both the Summer Solstice and Litha are inextricably linked to the sun, so they are inherently connected with nature itself.

While certain rules regarding self-isolation are loosening in some parts of the world, and the number of businesses and public locations such as parks and beaches that are once again open is steadily increasing, a good many of us remain in self-isolation this month either by necessity/ordinance or personal choice.

My husband and I have opted to voluntarily continue sheltering at home throughout June, which means that I’ll be celebrating Litha right here on our property.

We’re fortunate to have a lovely little slice of rugged woodland for our backyard. And though it will play an important roll in my Litha celebrations, today I wanted to shine the spotlight on Summer Solstice activities that you can do indoors.

Regardless of the Covid-19 situation, not everyone has a backyard or easy access to a public park, forest, beach, etc..

You may be indoors on the Summer Solstice due to medical reasons, your job, caring for loved ones, personal choice, or an array of other reasons.

And, while for many of us witchy and Pagan folks nature is akin to oxygen for soul, not everyone goes gaga for the great outdoors – which is perfectly okay!

If it’s currently safe for you to do so, and nature is your personal jam, you can certainly involve the outdoor world in your Midsummer celebrations.

However, as the ideas in this post detail, it is entirely possible to celebrate the Summer Solstice without setting foot outside.

When is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice has a floating date and takes place each year between June 20^th and 22^nd.

This year, the Summer Solstice takes place on Saturday June 20, 2020.

The exact time of this year’s Summer Solstice’s occurrence will be 11:43 UTC, which equates to 2:43 PM PST and 5:43 PM EST, respectively.

This Solstice is one of two times in the year (the other is the Winter Solstice) when one of the Earth’s poles – the North Pole – is titled as closely to the sun as it possibly can be, thus making the South Pole as far as away from the sun as it can be.

This explains why the Summer Solstice is the day with the longest number of daylight minutes.

Hard as it is to believe, from the very next day onward, we gradually start to lose light again.

Thankfully, we won’t start to see or feel the impact of this in too many notable ways until summer starts to wind down and the beautiful season of fall, with its notably shorter hours of daylight, returns.

Are Litha and the Summer Solstice the same thing?

Although they frequently fall on the same day – and plenty of witches and Pagans (myself included) will sometimes use the two terms (as well as Midsummer) interchangeably, technically speaking, Litha and the Summer Solstice are not the same thing.

Well, not entirely at least.

The Summer Solstice is an astrological event involving, as we just discussed above, the day when the North Pole is at the closest point it will be to the sun in the entire year.

Litha is one of many forms of Midsummer festivals or sacred days that have been held to celebrate the Summer Solstice throughout the course of time.

Today, Litha is celebrated by many contemporary witches, Wiccans, and Pagans as a way to honour and work with the longest day of the year.

Though as with each of the eight sabbats that comprise the Wheel of the Year, not all observers of Litha may opt to celebrate it on the exact same date as one another. Thus, for some people, their personal (or group) Litha celebrations may not transpire on the Summer Sabbat itself.

Various individuals and belief systems see Litha as a day that witnesses the eternal battle between light and dark in our annual cycle of life here on this planet (a fight which repeats itself on the Winter Solstice in December).

This is sometimes portrayed as a battle between the Oak King (who rules over the light-filled half of the year) and the Holly King (who has domain over the darker half of the year).

In short, the Summer Solstice refers to the longest day of the year, whereas Litha is a sabbat that corresponds with and is often celebrated on the Solstice, but which does not always transpire for all observers of the sabbat on the exact same day.  

Whereas plenty of people who are not witches or Pagans may choose to observe and possibly honour/work with the Summer Solstice on a spiritual level, relatively few individuals who are not of a witchy, Wiccan or Pagan persuasion are likely to observe this day as the sabbat that is Litha.

And as a fun, relevant fact, in case you were curious, the word “solstice” is an amalgamation of two Latin words. Sol, which means sun, and sistere, which means to stand still.

And just as the ancients looked upon the solstices as times when the sun may have seemed to stay or stand still for a little longer, so too can we opt to hold these days with reverence. Devoting some introspective time to honouring what they mean to the planet and to our own individual lives alike.

12 Ways to Celebrate Litha Indoors During Covid-19 (or anytime!)

The ideas presented below include some that are of a more witchy or Pagan nature, but all are open to anyone, regardless of their personal spiritual path or beliefs who may want to engage in them.

The Solstices are an ingrained part of the year which occur whether we make a point of celebrating them or not.

Observing the Summer and Winter Solstices (as well as the Spring and Fall Equinoxes), however, can be a highly meaningful way for us to feel an even stronger and more poignant connection to the changing seasons and to nature, whether we’re inside or outdoors.

1. While you might not be able to do so on the shores of a beach or heart of the woods, if you have access to a window (and an at least somewhat unobstructed view), you may be able to watch the sun rise on the Summer Solstice.

This seemingly simple act can be one of the most intensely meaningful and memorable. I love to watch the sun rise (and later, set) on Litha, often grounding myself first, practicing mindful breathing throughout, setting intentions, giving thanks, saying Pagan prayers, and sometimes even singing straight from my heart to the rising orb that has sustained life on this planet for millions of years now.

2. Cook, bake or eat foods that correspond with the colour of the sun and its light in their raw state.

Bananas, lemons, apricots, starfruit, mangos, yellow kiwi fruit, golden raspberries, eggs, corn and cornmeal, pancakes, yellow zucchini, yellow potatoes, yams, yellow peppers, chanterelle mushrooms, pineapple, yellow apples, yellow plums, yellow figs, yellow watermelon, yellow cheeses, yellow/golden cakes and cupcakes, honey, many different cooking oils, chamomile tea, mustard, turmeric, and saffron are just some possible – and delicious – yellow food options.

If you practice kitchen witchery, you may wish to select foods whose correspondences align with the overall themes – such as life, bounty, hope, love, fertility, abundance, and manifestation – of Litha/the Summer Solstice.

Just as you want to work kitchen magick while preparing your delicious yellow foods, stirring your intentions, desires, and magickally focused thoughts into your meals.

3. Use the return of summer’s sunlight and warmth as an ideal time to metaphorically burn away negatives in your life.

Much like how we tend to shed layers of clothing as the weather heats up, this point in the year is an ideal time to take stock of your life and actively look for areas that are no longer serving your well, which are holding you back, or that may be hampering you in other ways.

Engage in releasing, banishing, dispelling, grounding, and balancing spellwork and rituals during the season of Litha to help cleanse your life of negatives and better prepare yourself mentally, physically and spiritually for the dark half of the year that lays ahead.

4. Make a new magick wand. Various tools are associated with each of the sabbats. When it comes to Litha, candles, staffs, and wands in particular are closely tied to this sacred summer celebration.

Get creative and make a new wand using items you have on hand or can easily, and safely, access outdoors.

Create your wand in the days leading up to the Summer Solstice and consider consecrating, blessing and charging it with the rising sunlight on the Solstice morning (or at any point that day).

You may wish to create a wand that you use specifically on Litha and during the summer months or one that will be a year-round magickal tool for you.

In either case, utilizing colours (such as yellow, orange, red, green, white, and gold, as well as clear), crystals, and other materials that correspond with Litha and the sun can help to imbue your beautiful new wand with an even deeper connection to the Summer Solstice.

5. Burn candles! Bonfires have been lit at Midsummer since the time of the ancients and remain an important part of many Summer Solstice and Litha celebrations around the world to this day.

If having or attending a bonfire is out of the question this year, turn to the radiant energy, light and beauty of candles instead.

Now, I’m not suggesting, of course, that you gather up ever last candle in the house, place them side-by-side, and have an indoor bonfire. Goodness, NO!!! Please do not do this!!!!!!!

Instead, what I am proposing is that the twinkling flame of one or more candles can be used a meaningful and potentially magickal way of honouring both the sun (+ its warmth and light) and the traditional bonfires of the Summer Solstice.

While not mandatory, if you have some to hand, you may wish to burn candles in solar colours such as yellow, orange, and red that correspond all the more to the sun’s own colours and energy.

You can add further magick and intention to your candles by doing things such as anointing them with various oils/herbs/charged waters, carving sigils or other meaningful symbols or signs in the wax, and charging the candle before using in the sunlight on the Solstice.

As always, be sure to make safety your top priority when working with candles. Never leave them unattended or around curious pets or children. Burn them in appropriate candle holders and have an easily accessible source of water available in case any flames start to get out of control.

6. Make paper oak leaves to honour the Oak King. The mighty oak tree has a long and highly venerated connection with the Summer Solstice, as does the figure of the Oak King, who presides over the waxing half of the year leading up Litha.  

The Oak King is a folkloric representation of the warmer half of the year, which is usurped by the Holly King who in turn rules the waning half of the year until the Winter Solstice.

Fascinatingly, the Celtic name for Oak (“Duir”) means doorway. This is especially apt given that from this point onward, we will technically be entering the dark half of the year, closing the door on the lighter months that lead up to the Summer Solstice.

Whether freehand, tracing the real deal, using a die cutting machine, or with a printable oak leaf template, the Summer Solstice is an excellent opportunity to create a flurry of our own paper (or fabric/cork/felt) oak leaves.

You can use your homemade oak leaves as the paper for spellwork, as home décor, on your altar, create a wreath or wearable crown with them, make garlands out of them, involve them in crystal grids, use them to write down your favourite summer blessings or memories on, as place cards at a Litha meal, and much more! Let your imagination soar and have a delightful time crafting your own handmade oak leaves this summer.

7. Create a sun-filled summertime music playlist. Did you know that there are over two hundred songs in the English language that include the word “sun” (or some variation of sun, such as sunshine or sunny) in their title?

As this list of songs with the word sun in them attests, this is definitely true.

Why not create a playlist of songs that involve the sun and/or other summertime lyrics to pump up your mood, or conversely, to help you relax and unwind, this Litha?

If you’re a fan of dancing, swaying, or singing along to the beat, go all out and let your inner musical spirit soar. Summer is an inherently fun time of the year for many of us and music can help make it all the more so.

8. Honour your inner light. It is anything but a state secret that this year has been incredibly challenging for both the world as a whole and many individuals themselves.

It is completely understandable – and natural – if you’re feeling more drained than a bathtub right about now.

What are some simple, meaningful and enjoyable ways that you can honour your own inner light and allow it to shine all the more, (especially) if it’s been put on the back burner in recent months?

Litha, the longest day of the year is an ideal time to honour and nurture your inner light.

Permit yourself some self-care time, engage in an activity that makes your heart sing, create a list of reasons why you’re amazing, treat yourself to a favourite meal or activity, breath deeply, and know that no matter how dark life may get at times, your own inner sunshine is with you always.

9. Bake and decorate an edible version of Stonehenge. Not only is Stonehenge in the UK strongly connected to both ancient and modern Paganism, but it one of the most visited ancient sites in the world each Summer Solstice.

This year’s festivities have been shelved due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a hit of the magick and mystery of this sacred monolithic site into your own Summer Solstice celebration.

Why not try making a lovely gingerbread Stonehenge and (optionally) decorating it with things such as sugared flower petals, chocolate-coated sunflower seeds, sweet herbs and spices, candied citrus peel, and frosting in solar shades of red, orange, or yellow?

You could create your gingerbread Stonehenge as an offering, to use on your Litha altar, to enjoy as part of your Summer Solstice feast, to utilize in spellwork, or for any other reason that you fancy.

This is a fun activity for the whole family. If you have little ones at home, consider getting them involved and sharing some cool facts about Stonehenge and its historical significance as you bake and decorate your impressive Summer Solstice dessert.

10. Integrate a new spiritually meaningful activity into your life. Back in early January, I posted about 12 Ways to Live a More Magickally Focused Year. Now is a terrific time to take a few minutes and assess how you’ve been doing on the daily magick front so far in 2020.

It is also a great point in the year to start (or pick up) a spiritually meaningful activity, habit, or focus that you’ve been wanting to begin or reconnect with.

Let the longest day of the year shine its light on your life to help you see your deepest desires and drives that have yet to be fully addressed.

Which of these can you begin doing something positive about this summer? What skills would you like to learn? What areas of your life may need some TLC?

All of these things are excellent points to give mindful, focused thought and corresponding action to at Litha and straight on into the second half of the year.

11. Put together an energy bag. Select or make a pouch or bag in the size of your choosing out of a sheer, mesh/tulle, or other gossamer type fabric.

If sewing isn’t your – cough, cough – bag, but you want to make one from scratch all the same, I highly suggest checking our Silver Raven Wolf’s excellent tutorial on How to Make a No-Sew Magickal Bag.

You’ll want to fill your energy bag with items that pertain to the vibrancy, warmth, light, joy and sense of thriving life that the sun and summertime give off.

Examples of such items includes the following:

-Small candles in solar colours

-“Fiery” crystals and stones such as sunstone, yellow appetite, pyrite, orange calcite, carnelian, rose and yellow quartz, garnet, yellow aventurine, citrine, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline, and aragonite.

-Charms or pieces of jewelry in warm metals such as gold, brass, copper and bronze

-Beads, especially glass and crystal beads, in solar and other summertime colours

-Fresh, dried or artificial flowers (do keep moisture content in mind if using fresh flowers, especially if you wish to keep this energy bag for more than a few days)

-Dried herbs, dried herbs, dried seeds (including sunflower seeds), dried tea leaves, and/or dried or dehydrated summer fruits

-Small vials or other containers of beach sand

-Ethically sourced shells, sea dollars, sea glass, and other small items from oceans or lakes

-Ethically sourced feathers from birds that are especially active or visible during the summer months

-Small vials or other contains of glitter in sunny colours such as yellow, orange, red or gold

-A warm or “fiery” incense blend

-Pieces of dragon’s blood resin

Gather the items you wish to use, place them in your energy bag, charge your bag in the sunlight on Litha, bless or concrete the bag and its contents, and either use the mixture as part of spells workings, as offerings, on your Litha altar, or as a personal source of strength, energy and vitality throughout the summer months.

12. Do something pertaining to genealogy. Trees are one of the first things that I associate with Litha. I adore trees, working with tree spirits and energy, doing tree magick, spending time in the company of trees, you name it!

Save perhaps for small potted trees of the indoor variety, most of us don’t have a lot of branch filled friends under our own roof. One tree that we do have with us at all time, however, is our family tree.

Whether you’re a passionate family genealogist or would be hard pressed to come up with your grandmothers’ maiden surnames off the top of your head, there are activities pertaining to our family trees that nearly all of us can do.

You may wish to research branches of your family tree that you don’t know much about, speak with or even interview living relatives about your family history, frame and display treasured family photographs, create family trees stretching back 3 – 5 generations and give copies to your immediate family members as gifts (this site has over 370 different free family tree templates), record facts about your own life for posterity, or research the history of surnames in your family.

If you are adopted or otherwise do not have much (if any) information about your birth parents or ancestors, you could opt to work with the family tree of your adopted parents, if doing so felt right to you.

Or you could focus more on your own life instead, documenting facts about yourself and putting together a budding new family tree starting with yourself, any biological siblings you may have, and your own children and/or partner(s), if applicable.

You can also use this time to call upon, work with, provide prayers or offerings to, or otherwise engage with your ancestors, whether you know them by name or not. (As I’m very fond of saying, we might not always know our ancestors’ names, but, from the other side of the veil, they know ours.)

Litha and summertime are natural fits for family related activities of all sorts, so don’t be shy about making your nearest and dearest (be they living or departed) an especially meaningful part of the sunny season.

And a few additional ways to celebrate Litha indoors

I had such a blast compiling the twelve ways to celebrate Litha indoors for this post that as I was putting the finished entry together, I felt compelled to share a few more ideas.

These ways to celebrate Litha are not detailed to the same degree as the twelve listed above, as I feel they’re fairly self-explanatory.

Naturally, if you have any questions or would like me to expand on any of them, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comments below.

-If you have a piece of it leftover, burn the remnants of your Yule tree or other natural Yule season greenery (boughs, wreaths, etc). Inside the house, this is often best done in a woodburning stove or fireplace, or a large fire-safe cauldron. (Ensure that you have a working fire extinguisher at the ready.)

-Decorate and actively work with your altar for Litha. I really enjoy adorning my altar for Litha and often do so with fresh or dried flowers, decorations and images of the sun; sand, grass, leaves, various animal figurines, crystals in Litha related colours, and anything else that feels right to me in the moment.

-Do an oracle or tarot card pull or spread for Litha (such as this lovely example of a Litha Tarot Spread).

-Charge your crystals and/or other magickal tools of your choice in the sabbat sunlight to imbue them with the might and majestic energy of the longest day of the year.

-Leave offerings to the fae and/or otherwise work with or honour the faerie folk.

-Plant an indoor herb garden in pots or other suitable containers, ensuring that they’re able to get enough daily sunlight.

-Make a summer themed centerpiece for your Litha dinning table, altar, mantle, dresser, coffee table, or other spot of your choosing. The sky and your imagination are the limit when it comes to what to include.

Some fun ideas include fresh, dried or article flowers and/or leaves, seashells, sea glass, miniature beach toys, beads or charms, springs of lavender or rosemary, small figurines or toy versions of animals that you associate with summer, candles, glass pebbles (available from many craft stores, florist supply shops, dollar stores, and big box stores), small vintage linens or crocheted doilies, items depicting the sun, and fresh or artificial summertime fruits.

-Create a piece of art or another type of craft project that depicts or represents the sun. Bless and imbue it with positive, radiant energy and display it on your altar or elsewhere in your home to enjoy throughout the summer – or all year long, if you fancy.

These are but a few more ideas regarding what to do on Litha and how you can celebrate this beautiful summertime sabbat when you’re indoors.

Naturally, if such is feasible for you at the moment, you can carry out some of the activities listed in this post outdoors or bring your completed projects with you when you go outside.

The Midway Point in The Wheel of The Year

That is precisely what Litha/the Summer Solstice is, and as such, it has a unique advantage of being able to pull from the strength of the earlier sabbats in the year, and to help propel us onto those that still remain.

Many see the next sabbat in the Wheel of the Year, Lammas/Lughnasadh, which transpires in early August, as the first of three harvest festivals and, in some respects, the very earliest start of autumn.

Thus, Litha is the main summer sabbat and its position as such enables us to truly celebrate and honour the present season.

No matter how much we may miss spring or love fall, summer is here and it deserves to be venerated and enjoyed.

Whether you spend the whole day inside, outside, or a combination of both, take time this year to reflect on what the Summer Solstice means to you, your life, and your spiritual journey.

Get creative, give thanks to the sun, have fun, and carve out some time to embrace the warmest season, starting with the Summer Solstice straight on to the third week of September, when we’ll once again say hello to the Fall Equinox.

What are your plans for the Summer Solstice/Litha this year?

The post 12 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice Indoors During Covid-19 (or Anytime!) appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Historically, Beltane has often marked the start of the light half of the year, which is characterized by such things as abundant sunlight, warmth, and a wide variety of fresh crops.

This light-filled half will conclude, from a sabbat standpoint, with Samhain at the end of October, from which point onward the world will experience the darker half of the year. Until, in a dance that has played out since time immemorial, the cycle begins anew once more the following Beltane.

For those north of the equator (south of this point, the seasons – and, optionally, Wheel of the Year – are experienced in reverse order to those in the northern hemisphere), May and June are often a gloriously lovely time.

All of nature has come out of hibernation, the sky rivals tropical seas with the depth of its azure tones, the grass is verdant, lush and inviting to our sandal clad feet, and some of the most delicious fresh food of the entire year is once again in season.

This year, however, while all of those same things still ring true, the Covid-19 pandemic and continued need to remain in self-isolation, coupled with global food chain and supply shortages of certain products means that popping down to the nearest grocery store or farmer’s market for fresh produce may not be possible at present

Even if our local supermarkets are open, there’s no guarantee that the items we’re after will be on their shelves. Nor that we’ll be in a position – be it due to health, finances, or safety – to reach the stores nearest to us in the first place.

I’m a huge proponent of eating fresh, shopping locally, and (if feasible and so desired) growing some of your own food.

Tough times alter our lives, however. The types and availability of food that we presently have available to us is currently one of the ways in which many people are experiencing the impacts of this devastating global pandemic.

In today’s post, we are going to explore some of the foods that are closely associated with Beltane coupled with ways to make the most of those foods in store cupboard form, as that is what an ever-increasing number of us are working with for our daily menus and sabbat meals alike.

What foods are traditionally associated with Beltane?

Beltane is the Celtic May Day festival whose roots stretch far back in history, to a time of a primarily agrarian-based society the predated the industrial revolutions by hundreds upon hundreds of years.

It is one of the four traditional Celtic/Gaelic festivals that helped to delineate the seasons for these early people (the others were Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh/Lammas, respectively).

Beltane was heavily associated with the start of the summer pastoral season, fresh produce, and energy filled life, plus fiery passion, and was seen to be a time when – much as at Samhain – the veil between the worlds thinned.

The ancient Celts were certainly not the only culture to celebrate, honour and/or worship the start of May, but it is largely through their observance of this annual happening that we’ve derived much of our 21^st century interpretation of Beltane. Influences from other early European cultures, including the Norse and the Germanic peoples can be felt as well.

As this springtime sabbat is typically observed on, or right around, May 1^st, the foods that have traditionally been associated with Beltane tend to be those that are at are in season at that point in the spring.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Asparagus

-Artichokes

-Baby/new potatoes

-Bannock

-Blueberries

-Carrots

-Celery

-Dairy products (vegetarians, vegans, and those who do not otherwise consume animal milk products can easily swap in dairy alternatives instead)

-Garlic (as well as wild garlic)

-Green beans

-Green peas

-Edible springtime flowers such as honeysuckle, lilacs, jasmine, roses, and violets

*IMPORTANT NOTE* Only Jasminum officinale is edible. All other jasmine species, including “false jasmine” are poisonous. Please see this page on edible flowers for more details.

-Honey

-Leeks

-Lemons

-Lettuce

-May Wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions; here is a lovely May Wine recipe that you may enjoy)

-Oatcakes

-Radishes

-Ramps (a species of wild onions)

-Roses (and rose water)

-Rhubarb (in some areas, in others it may be ready later in the summer)

-Scones

-Spinach

-Spring onions

-Strawberries

-Swiss chard

-Various herbs such as chives, dill, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme

-Watercress

Importantly, it should be noted that the ancients did not have had access to all of these foods at the same time and in the same place. (Ye olde Whole Foods Market was definitely not a thing yet! )

However, chances are that of those they were able to harvest or otherwise obtain (such as through trading), they would likely have included a variety of these healthy offerings into their diet during the spring and early summer months.

Some of the above listed foods are going to be explored in further detail below, complete with their respective magickal correspondences.

Are fresh foods a better choice for Beltane?

While you might prefer the taste or texture of fresh versions of certain foods, from a magickal standpoint, I do not personally believe that canned, tinned, frozen, dehydrated, or otherwise non-perishable forms of food are automatically less effective, magickal, or meaningful (especially if little to no preservatives or artificial ingredients have been added to them).

You can impart, bless, charge, or otherwise imbue anything that you eat or work with in your practice with the energy and intent of your choosing.

Doing so should help to ensure that foods with far off expiration dates are just as useful and beneficial in your workings (and daily meals) as those that were just plucked from the field or tree.

Objectively, while some foods are seen as being fairly common non-perishable pantry or store cupboard staples, I have no way of knowing what you have on hand and/or may readily have access to at present.

I encourage you to keep in mind as you continue reading from this point onward, that this is not a checklist. It is totally okay if you do not currently have some or even all of these different foods at your house.

Necessity is the mother of invention and of substitution. As lovely as it is to try and eat foods that are traditionally in season – or otherwise plentifully available – at the time of each of the sabbats, if that isn’t feasible for you, please try not to worry about it.

As an alternative, you could aim instead to focus more on the colour of your food. For example, luscious greens and sunny yellows, pretty reds and elegant purples to mirror and correspond to the hues that we see in abundant in the natural world during the month of May.

As well, for the purpose of keeping things concise, I have used the terms “pantry” and “store cupboard” quite liberally here, extending them to cover various foods that you may have in canned, tinned, packaged, frozen or otherwise non-perishable form.

Naturally, if you currently have ready access to the fresh versions of these foods and wish to enjoy them during the Beltane season, by all means do so.

That said, we witchy folk are nothing if not resourceful and know that making the best of what we have at our disposal right now is one of the keys to a happier, more content, and abundantly blessed life and magickal practice alike – so reach for those store cupboard staples!

15 foods for Beltane and their magickal correspondences

1. Asparagus: Magickal properties for asparagus pertain in no small part to lust, sex, power, and fertility – making it one of the most well-suited foods to tuck into at Beltane. In addition, asparagus is linked magickally to cleansing, purifying, healing, water magick, money magick, fortitude, keeping a calm head, standing up for yourself and others, boldness, and masculine energy.

Common non-perishable forms of asparagus include frozen, pickled, and canned/tinned.

2. Artichokes: Magickal properties for artichokes tend to gravitate heavily towards matters of shielding and protection, as well as areas of personal growth, getting to the heart of the matter, letting your inner desires shine or manifest, exposing the truth, boldness, honesty, caring for others, and love of all sorts.

Common non-perishable forms of artichokes include frozen, pickled, and canned/tinned.

3. Blueberries: Magickal properties for blueberries abound – much like the healthy properties of these powerhouse fruits. Turn to blueberry magick for protection (including of pets and other animals, as well as houses and property protection), the moon, feminine energy, health, healing, restoration, aura cleansing and strengthening, divination, faeries, sweetness, vitality, completion (of projects, goals, tasks, etc), shielding and protecting from energy vampires and psychic attacks, and optimism.

Common non-perishable forms of blueberries include frozen, dehydrated, powdered, freeze-dried, syrups, jams, jellies, preserves, and canned/tinned.

4. Carrots: Magickal properties for carrots – by far one of the most iconic and beloved of springtime vegetables – include such things as grounding, healing, protection, desire, sexuality, fertility, seeing things for what they truly are, planting seeds of your desires, positivity and fun, sweetness, healing, opening your third eye, dreams, visions, youthfulness, and playfulness.

Common non-perishable forms of carrots include frozen, dehydrated, freeze-dried, jams, preserved in sweet syrups, relishes, pickled, and canned/tinned.

5. Celery: Magickal properties for celery include those that can help with a number of important areas of our lives, including mental clarity, releasing, banishing, concentration, psychic awareness and gifts, soothing, helping to pass or speed along unwanted situations, serenity, calming, weight related matters, balance and harmony, unearthing the truth, and (much like asparagus) water workings and rituals.

Common non-perishable forms of celery include frozen, dehydrated, celery salt, celery seeds, and canned/tinned.

6. Garlic: Magickal properties for garlic, one of the world’s most frequently used and adored culinary ingredients, are quite abundant and pertain to matters such as protection, luck, distancing yourself from unwanted energies and individuals, health, personal growth, masculinity, strength inclusion in witch jars, spell jars, mojo bags, and poppets; home protection, cleansing, purification, ancestor work, spell breaking, hex and curse breaking, working at the crossroads, and nighttime magick.

Common non-perishable forms of garlic include minced and crushed forms of garlic sold in jars, frozen, freeze dried, garlic salt, garlic powder, garlic paste, pickled, and canned/tinned.

7. Green Beans: Magickal properties for green beans are plentiful – much like the culinary applications for perineal springtime vegetables. Matters of divination, money, creativity, new starts, standing tall (standing up for yourself), insight, wisdom, communication, clarity, personal space, getting out of ruts, hopefulness, creativity, garden and the fae are some of the key areas where green beans can help your magickal spells and other witchy workings. (Note, these magickal properties apply to yellow wax beans as well.)

Common non-perishable forms of green beans include frozen, freeze-dried, pickled, and canned/tinned.

8. Green Peas: Magickal properties for green peas (including sugar snap peas) share points in common with those of green beans, as well as some of their own special strengths. Turn to green pea magick when you want to focus on areas relating to new growth, love, traditions, family matters, ancestor work, history, gardening, environmental protection, Gaia, strength, grounding, acceptance, serenity, and money matters.

Common non-perishable forms of green peas include frozen, freeze-dried, canned/tinned, and green pea snack crisps.

9. Honey: Magickal properties for honey flow as abundantly and beautifully as this ancient, much adored culinary treasure. Work with honey in your spells, rituals, offerings and other magickal activities that pertain to love, happiness, peace, serenity, creativity, femininity, fertility, healing, self care, vital energy, binding, friendships, reaching amicable outcomes, traditions, family, celebrating both life and death (including as an offering at cemeteries, launching new project and businesses, sweetness, kindness, romance, longevity, the sun, in hoodoo honey jars, and as an offering to a wide array of gods, goddesses, and spirit allies.

Most forms of honey, assuming they are properly stored are inherently long-lasting. If needed, honey can be frozen and thawed for later use (or used straight from its frozen form in some types of recipes).

10. Lemons: Magickal properties for lemons are generally upbeat and sunny, reminding one of the vibrant hue of this beloved citrus fruit. Make lemons your magickal main squeeze when you want to focus on spells, rituals, offerings and other witchy workings pertaining to awareness, spirituality, clarity, purification, cleansing, rejuvenation, happiness, compassion, prosperity, warm and friendly relationships, friendship, femininity, fertility, children, auras, lightness of being, dreams, breaking negative ties, optimism, and the moon. (And, my fellow Cancers may enjoy knowing that lemons are closely associated with our astrological sign, much as it is with that of Pisces.)

Common non-perishable forms of lemons include frozen, freeze-dried, dehydrated, preserved, dried lemon peel, lemon extract, lemon juice, lemon concentrate, lemon pepper, jams, marmalades, and candied lemon peel.

11. Oats: Magickal properties for oats stretch far back into the past and oats remain one of the most versatile and useful magickal ingredients you can keep in your kitchen or witchy ingredient cabinet to this day. Use oats in your magickal workings when you’re focusing on areas of happiness, health, tradition, stability, fertility, ancestor work, family matters, fortitude, endurance, persistence, personal change, meditation, house and home, beauty, friendship, faithfulness, good luck, stick-to-itiveness, comfort, healing, respect, spiritual growth, venturing out into the world, education, employment, and achieving balance in your life.

Most varieties of oats, assuming they are properly stored are inherently long-lasting. Some of the most common forms of oats include oatmeal, quick cooking oats, old-fashioned oats, rolled oats, steel-cut oats, oat flour, oatbreads, oatcakes, oat crackers, oat based breakfast cereals, granola, musali, granola bars, British flapjacks, oatmeal cookies, and oat milk.

12. Rosemary: Magickal properties for rosemary abound and this beautiful herb is one that should have a standing spot in both your magickal workings and your kitchen. Use rosemary when you’re focusing on areas pertaining to love, attraction, spicing up your life, the solar plexus, dream work, warding off nightmares, memories, loyalty, sleep, strength, kitchen witchery, home blessings and protection, family, jealousy, bonding, purification, divination, protection from the evil eye, cleaning your space, offerings, the dead, hedge riding, spirits, ancient history, creativity, strengthening relationships, rejuvenation, bathing, and the element of air.

Common non-perishable forms of rosemary include dried, frozen, rosemary paste, rosemary-infused oils, and rosemary salt.

13. Spinach: Magickal properties for spinach are strong and ample (much like the delicious culinary possibilities when cooking with spinach). Tap into the green goodness of spinach when you wish to focus your magickal workings on areas of personal growth, money, fertility, passion, strength, determination, shielding, charging, the forest (and nature in general), travel, transportation, ley lines, astral projection, or the planet Jupiter.

Common non-perishable forms of spinach include frozen, canned/tinned, and dehydrated.

14. Strawberries: Magickal properties for strawberries are generally sweet, upbeat and highly welcome – much like this sunny weather culinary staple. Turn to strawberries in your magickal workings when you’re centering your attention on romance, love, pregnancy, family, youth, beauty, femininity, positivity, hope, truthfulness, creativity, warmth, friendship, overcoming hardships, dedication, success, stamina, reliability, giving, spiritual detoxification and cleansing, good luck, or the goddess Venus.  

Common non-perishable forms of strawberries include frozen, dehydrated, freeze-dried, powdered, syrups, jams, jellies, preserves, and canned/tinned.

15. Thyme: Magickal properties for thyme include those pertaining to purifying, cleansing, releasing and banishing negativity, happiness, personal style, prosperity, sweetness, hope, stability, tradition, balance, personal freedom, boldness, positive outlooks, letting go, compassion, reaching peaceful agreements, easing anxiety and nervousness, grief, trauma processing, releasing negativity, the fae, forest spirits, history, ancestors work, finding lost items, house hunting, financial matters, longevity, creativity, performing arts, writing, and honoring the dead.

Common non-perishable forms of thyme include dried, frozen, thyme paste, thyme-infused oils, and thyme salt.

As discussed earlier in this post, it is useful to remember that the magickal properties of each of the above listed foods apply whether a given food is fresh or preserved in some manner.

I aimed to include foods in this list that are, under normal (aka, pre-Coronavirus) circumstances, relatively readily available in many parts of the world in at least one non-perishable form, such as canned, tinned, frozen or dried.

Thus making them more likely to be a store cupboard (or freezer, spice rack, etc) item that you already have in your home or which you may be able to purchase – depending on what the shops or online sources for groceries (and magickal ingredients) in your area still have in stock at the moment.

Ways to work with food at Beltane

If you’re wondering how to work with food at Beltane, you’ve come to the right place!

The following are some lovely and meaningful ways to involve springtime foods in your Beltane celebrations, rituals and magickal workings.

Before hopping into this list, I need to preface it by making an important point. If you – or anyone in your household/family – need every last bite of food at present, please do not sacrifice even so much as a single blueberry or crumb of oatcake for purposes that do not involve human or pet consumption of said food.

It is a wonderful thing to celebrate the sabbats with food-related activities and festive meals, but we are currently living through some exceptionally different and difficult times and survival must always come first.

So with that important point established, let’s continue on and explore a number of different ways to perform Beltane kitchen witchery and otherwise work with food at Beltane in a magickal context.

–Place offerings of food on your altar or in another spot in your house (or yard) for whatever spirit allies, deities, elementals, angels, or other entities you presently work with.

–Hold a dumb supper. While most commonly associated in a modern Pagan sense with Samhain, the act of holding a silent – or “dumb” – supper in order to honour the departed is a poignant act that is inherently at home come Beltane as well.

This is especially true since Beltane and Samhain are exactly opposite each other on the Wheel of the Year and both are liminal times when the veil between the worlds grows thinner. If you’d like to learn more about Dumb Suppers, I suggest checking out this guest post I wrote on the subject back in 2018.

-Whip up some delicious Beltane recipes and have an early morning feast to welcome the rising sun on Beltane morn (or later in the day as a fun and festive May Day brunch.

-Make a batch of beautiful Beltane cupcakes or a charmingly lovely May Pole Cake, both of which honour the centuries old tradition of dancing around a maypole at the start of May.

–Anoint candles with dried or fresh herbs or flower petals (ensure that anything you burn is safe to be inhaled by humans and any animal friends who live with you).

–Mix dried or fresh herbs with salt (white, black, pink, etc – depending on what you’re aiming to accomplish or manifest) and use it to cleanse, bless, protect, or banish unwanted elements or energies from your house, by sprinkling the herbed salt mixture in various areas inside or out of your home (again, make sure any ingredients you use are safe for pets and humans – especially if you live with children).

–Create healthy, all-natural treats for your beloved pets using some of the same store cupboard ingredients that you may be tucking into this Beltane. For example, these 4-Ingredient Dog Treats that star blueberries and whole wheat flour or these inviting looking Carrot and Catnip Kitty Treats.

-Make a loaf of bread, cake, batch of cookies, tray of brownies, or another recipe that includes two or more of the Beltane foods listed in this post for extra seasonal potency.

For example, what about a carrot, thyme and lemon cake? Why not a vegan pot pie with green peas, spinach, leeks and assorted herbs? Or why not a delicious overnight oatmeal loaded with strawberries and blueberries, plus rosemary or lavender, if you have some to hand.

–Connecting all the more with the fae is one of the key elements of Beltane for some folks, myself included. Why not bake classic oatcakes, scones, Fried Honey Cakes, or Elderflower Fritters to leave as an offering for those faeries who inhabit your immediate environment.

-If you have access to pesticide-free edible flowers that are safe for human consumption, consider creating a gorgeous flower-infused honey that celebrates two of spring’s most meaningful (and delicious elements).

This Rose Honey recipe does the trick superbly (and would also make for a wonderful drizzle atop a wide range of Beltane baked goods, from muffins to cakes to berry crisps, crumbles, and buckles).

-If you’re imbibing this Beltane or otherwise utilizing alcohol in your workings, rituals or offerings, consider adding some delectable spring fruits – such as strawberries and blueberries or, if you can get them, early season or frozen peaches – to the wine or your choice for a delectable Beltane sangria.

–Start a book of your favourite sabbat recipes or magickal recipes, including those for Beltane, and add to it each time you hit upon a dish that’s a winner. Alternatively, jot down your sabbat recipes in your grimoire, book of shadows, or another existing book in which you record information pertaining to your path.

Creating our own light during the darkest of times

Beltane is a time to actively embrace, honour and celebrate the sunshine generated light that has returned to our world.

To this end, bonfires have long been a traditional part of many Mayday festivities and rituals. They are not the only way to let the light shine all the more brightly in our lives, however.

Things are not just tough, they’re out and out brutal for the planet as a whole right now.

At Beltane, I encourage you to look for safe, meaningful ways that you transmit energy, positivity and hope out into the world.

Ensure that you focus on your own well being, while also remembering that of others and the countless ways that we are each doing our best to stay afloat, keep our worlds intact as best we can, and remain alive during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to working with seasonal foods and kitchen witchery in general, ask yourself what are some things you could do right now to brighten your days or those of others?

Much as there is a limitless amount of energy in the universe, so too do we have a profound amount of both inner energy and light that resides within ourselves.

This Beltane, tap into and honour that light.

Let it shine, allow it to help you process and cope with the current state that the world is in, and permit it to guide you onward through the remaining months of 2020 that lay beyond May 1^st.

With all my might, I wish you a safe, sacred, beautiful, and blessed Beltane.

The post 15 excellent pantry staple foods for Beltane and their magickal properties appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.