Power of Spring
The season of spring shares its primary characteristic with its opposite season, autumn. While summer marks the point in the year where the earth is positioned so the majority of the sun’s rays are angled over one of the hemispheres (northern or southern, depending), the season of spring and autumn occur due to the exact same phenomenon; the sun’s rays being primarily over the equator. What gives them their power is not only how the season is initiated but also what came before and what will happen after, underscoring the importance of the equinox days as times of balance. It is at the times of balance when the greatest potential for change occurs. During spring, with its balance of heat, light, and weather, the proper conditions are established to sustain the delicate unfolding of nature’s new life. Tiny seedlings and baby animals can grow during this milder time before the full force of summer is upon them. I am of course speaking in ideal conditions; there are many times and places that do not experience the same thing. There are also plants and animals born at all times of the year, but for the vast majority of crops and domestic animals, this cycle is a needed advantage in their growth process.
The greatest power of spring is that of balance. It is such an important time, a phase of moderate temperatures as sweet relief from icy chills of winter and comfortable preparation for rising heat in summer. In this moment of temperance, we can gather our strength, shift our focus, and align with our goals. We unite our hopes with our potential, bringing fantastic achievements.
Growth and Abundance
A great deal of magic is centered around correspondences and sympathetic connections. Sympathetic magic is the style focused on the idea that things which share a similar nature can affect one another. Using a poppet to magically affect a person is a good example of this type of work. A broader example is timing your magical work to the phases of the moon or the changes in season. Since spring is the time of growth and (hopefully) increasing abundance in the natural world, it corresponds well to prosperity magic as well as working for long-term projects or to improve your luck.
Simmering Potpourris
With the scent of this potpourri drifting into the air, the energy shifts, clearing away those not in harmony with abundance and increasing your ability to gain and maintain prosperity.
Prosperity Potpourri
Combine the first five ingredients into a pot. Hold your hands over the pot and charge the herbs with your intent for prosperity. Add enough water to cover the herbs and turn on the stove. Let the potpourri simmer for as long as desired, adding water if the level gets too low.
Brews
Earl Grey tea is traditionally made from regular black tea, (associated with money magic) and essential oil of bergamot (a citrus fruit with the Latin name Citrus bergamia) which is also aligned with money and prosperity. I enjoy the flavor of Earl Grey, but some do not care for the bergamot note. If that is the case, you can substitute regular tea for this potion.
Simple Money Potion
Place the basil leaves in the bottom of a tea cup and add the tea bag. Heat the water just under the boiling point and then pour into the cup. Allow the tea to steep for a few minutes, then remove the bag and basil leaves. Stir in the desired amount of sweetener and charge with the desire for money and prosperity.
Incense
Though this incense is made for the spring equinox, its energies are also useful for protection and healing.
Green Spring Incense
Grind the herbs together and to charge the incense visualize the sun shining down on a field of flowers, basking in the warmth and light. Mentally pour this energy into the incense and bottle for use.
Oils
The spicy yet flowery fragrance of this oil is a lovely magical accompaniment to equinox workings. It energy is naturally attuned to the spring and also lends itself well to prosperity magic.
Spring Equinox Oil
Break open the tea bags into a pot. Coarsely chop the radish greens and add them and the thyme to the same pot. Cover with the olive and almond oils and simmer over low heat until you can smell the herbs in the air. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. Strain the oil into a bottle and charge the oil using the same visualization as in the spring incense instructions.
Powders
Most powders are meant to be used externally, either sprinkled on the ground where needed or used to encircle candles for added power. This powder can be utilized for those purposes as well but is also completely edible (barring any allergy, of course) and can be used as a seasoning, instilling a bit of food magic into an otherwise ordinary meal.
Spring Zing Herb Powder
Each of the herbs in this recipe can be used for multiple purposes: love, money, luck, purification, and protection, so the powder makes a great all-purpose magical item. To make: grind the rosemary into as fine a powder as possible, preferably in a coffee grinder. Powder the remaining herbs and add them to the rosemary, stirring to combine. Charge the mixture with pure white light and bottle for use.
Powder Spell
As a fast method of magically empowering your food to help reach a goal, a small amount of this powder can be poured into your hand and charged for whatever purpose you choose.
Using the Spring Zing Herb Powder
Visualize the magical goal and say this spell to direct the charge.
To bring forth [state intention], this my spell,
savory herbs and Witch’s power;
infused with intention; serve me well,
the magic unleashed, to grow and flower.
Sprinkle the herbs into the food and then the food can be eaten to bring the magic within so that it will begin to have an effect.
Charms
In the spring, resurgence occurs in the natural world; the plants, animals, and birds are more active. In my family, we have always left food out for the birds. Birdseed, dried meal worms (yuck), grains, dried fruit, and so forth. I have always felt that since life can be so unpredictable, it is a person’s duty to lend a little stability, help, and comfort when possible. The nature of physical existence is tilted toward decline which in my opinion makes nurturing growth and preservation a powerful spiritual action. Additionally, in magic it is a great act of balance to offer something in return for asking something; it honors the balance and energy exchange. This charm serves both purposes. These ornaments are not only magical talismans that can foster abundance, protection, and improved luck, but they also feed the local birds and honor this phase of nature’s cycle.
Magical Birdseed Ornaments
A few notes on ingredients: If you have a peanut allergy, an additional cup of sunflower seeds can be used in place of the peanut pieces; cracked corn is usually in the pet food section with birdseed, but unpopped popcorn can be cracked with a mallet to give the same results; millet is harder to find but usually with the organic grains.
To begin, combine the sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanuts, and millet to create the birdseed mix. Prepare the biscuit cutter by spraying it with cooking spray. Pour the water and corn syrup into a pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and then add the gelatin, whisking it in just until dissolved. Remove from heat. In a heatproof mixing bowl combine the syrup mixture with the flour, stirring until well-blended like a thick batter. Add the seed mix into the batter and blend it well into a thick, firm mixture.
Press the seed dough flat onto a foil-covered cutting board. Using the prepared biscuit cutter, cut out several ornaments from the dough, placing the cutouts onto a greased cookie sheet. Drive the skewer through the middle of each cutout to create a hole for hanging the ornaments, being careful not to crack them. If they do crack, press them together again. Allow them to cool and harden overnight before stringing them. Pull the twine through the hole and make a loop to hang from a tree or bird feeder. Charge the ornaments with your desire before hanging. Store extra ornaments in the freezer until needed.
Foods
Of all the foods that are appropriate for this time of year—wonderful green salads; early fruits, vegetables, and herbs—the most prominent food attuned to this season, especially in the popular mind, is the egg. Eggs are symbolic of creation, rejuvenation, rebirth, fertility, and the earth. In this time of waxing light and energy, eggs are powerful magical ingredients for renewal.
Springtime Egg Salad
In a bowl, chop the eggs and add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine and charge the salad with the intention that “this salad shall bring cleansing, renewal, and success to all who consume it, according to free will and for the good of all.” Serve immediately or chill until needed.
Bath Salts
This bath salt recipe uses the oil made earlier but combines it with the energy of fresh lemon thereby making the resulting blend perfect for cleansings, healing, and renewal.
Herb-Citrus Bath Salt
Combine the salt, baking soda, and Epsom salt. Add the oil and lemon juice, stirring to combine. Hold your hands over the mixture and charge it with your desire. Put salts in the jar and store in a cool dry place.
Witch Bottles
Herb-infused vinegars can add a wonderful decorative element to a kitchen and for us magically-minded folks can also provide a powerful force of spiritual energy, discreetly hidden in plain view. Combining a few key herbs, some simple vinegar, and a few other ingredients with a bit of magical intent into a decorative bottle can create an effective witch bottle that offers protection to the home.
Herb Vinegar Protection Bottle
Gather the herbs together and choose the best-looking sprigs. In a bowl, add the water and 1 teaspoon of bleach. Submerge the herbs into the bleach water for a moment and then rinse in clean cool water. Dry the herbs on a kitchen towel. Charge each herb with the intent for protection. Charge the bottle of vinegar with the intentions of protection and of banishing incorrect forces. Clean the bottle thoroughly and slide the herb sprigs into it. Pour in the vinegar just under where the top will be. Close the bottle and if desired, light the white candle and drip wax over the top of the bottle to completely block out air and also to form a magical seal. Display wherever you wish but one word of caution; though this is made with culinary ingredients, this vinegar should not be consumed by anyone. The addition of bleach into the mix is to prevent bacterial spoilage but makes the vinegar unsuitable for food.
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a term that has become a cliché but in truth, making sure that not only our spiritual lives are in good order but also our everyday physical lives, makes solid sense as we prepare to move into the most active time of the year. Minimizing potential setbacks now gives us stronger momentum to achieve greater ends; proper preparation being such a major part of any success. After you have done any “mundane” regular cleaning, a magical touch can be added by blessing and cleansing what has been cleaned so that the item is renewed not only practically but also spiritually. To clean objects (that are not fragile or easily damaged), you can use magically charged cleaning solutions designed for purification such as the following mixture.
Spring Cleaner
Pour the water in the pot. Leave the teas in their bags and add them to the pot of water along with the rest of the herbs. On low, heat the herbs and water to a steady simmer until it just begins to boil. Remove from heat and allow the water to cool completely. Strain the herbs out of the water as thoroughly as possible and pour the water into a bottle. Add the vinegar to the bottle and stir the mixture. Charge it with your desire for purification and put on the lid. Use as needed.
To use: this liquid can be added to cleaning water to wash floors or used in a mister bottle to clean glass or counter tops or poured into a bowl in which to dunk or soak small objects.
Holiday: Vernal Equinox
As the shift occurs where the sun is directly over the equator, the hours of day and night become nearly equal and the energies of the planet both light and dark achieve a momentary balance. Equinoxes are so significant in that the whole globe shares in a similar energy at the same time. For the solstices, one half is experiencing the peak of energy while the opposite half must experience the nadir to compensate. Since both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes are both essentially the same astronomical phenomena, for the moment of equinox at least, the world falls into balance. For the vernal equinox, what follows is of course the waxing time of light, so this holiday is not only celebrated for its theme of balance but also as a doorway into the time of growth and increase.
Ritual
To celebrate and acknowledge this terrestrial event, I like to use the eight-spoked wheel symbol to represent the totality of sabbats but I also prefer to make it out of edible ingredients for use in the ritual. I use peanut butter but if an allergy is a concern, it can be substituted with another nut butter or even hummus.
Drawing in the Waxing Light
Prior to the ritual, prepare the wheel symbol. On the plate, spread a layer of peanut butter across it so the surface is completely covered. Arrange the sunflower seeds over the peanut butter in two lines so that they make a + (a plus sign) then make two more lines forming an X through the plus sign so that eight lines are shown. Use the dried apricots to make a circle around the edge of the plate, encompassing the lines. Place a single dried apricot directly in the center where the lines meet. Refrigerate the wheel until needed.
Create an altar by covering a table or open countertop with the green or white cloth. Set the wheel plate in the center of the altar with the bowl of ice touching it on the left and the red candle (unlit) touching it on the right. Place one white candle in the back of the altar on the left and one on the right; these are the altar candles. Put the incense burner between them, if using. Before the ritual, take a cleansing bath or shower and meditate on the idea of balance; the idea that light and dark can be in harmonious equality and that they may be different expressions of the same reality, essential variances of an underlying essence.
To begin the ritual, light the altar candles and the incense charcoal. When the charcoal is glowing, add the incense. Facing north call out, “Bright green earth warmed and renewed, draw into this space to charge it with power” in order to invoke the earth energies. Turn to face east and say, “Light cool air, flow in from afar, draw into this space to charge it with power” to invoke the power of air. Turn to face the south and say, “Power of revitalizing heat, draw into this space to charge it with power” in order to invoke the power of fire. Turn to face the west and say, “Waters of life, quench and restore, draw into this space to charge it with power” to invoke the power of water.
Facing north once more, place your hands over the wheel plate and say, “Into this wheel, elements combine: earth, air, fire, and water; equal and balanced, merged and entwined, charging this symbol with your power.” Visualize the elements coming together into the wheel plate, vitalizing the food with their energies. When you feel ready, light the red candle. While focusing on the bowl of ice, wheel plate, and red candle say:
Through the icy winter the earth has emerged
and into the light we begin to go;
the elemental forces are now waxing, we partake
of each to magically grow.
The light has begun to meet the dark and soon
shall overtake it in power;
the earth is warmed by heat of the sun and seeds
will sprout, grow, bloom, and flower.
Eat some of the wheel to receive the energy of the equinox. If you wish to call any deities to share in your celebration, this is the ideal time to do so. Any magic you would like to work can also be done at this time. Afterward when you are ready to end the rite, thank any deities called and then release the elements by turning to the west, south, east, and north and saying, “Power of (name element), thank you for adding your power to my rite, go in peace and blessed be.” Extinguish the candles and the incense and leave any leftover portion of the wheel outdoors as an offering to the wildlife.
Witchy Ways
Since the hard-boiled egg is a staple food and symbol of this time of the year, it may be helpful to look at how to properly cook them. If done right, hard-boiled eggs can turn out perfectly cooked (no runny middles) and easy to peel almost every time. Otherwise, the peel can stick and take most of the egg white with it when removed. The first step is to choose the freshest eggs possible. For practical purposes, this means to wait to buy eggs until a day or two before you plan on using them.
When it comes to the actual cooking, place the eggs in a pot first and then add cool water to the pot. Add an additional inch or so of water above the eggs, so that they are more than covered. Heat the pot over medium heat, uncovered. When the water begins to boil, remove the pot from heat and cover. Allow the pot to sit for 15 minutes to complete the cooking process. Don’t lift the lid beforehand or much of the heat will escape. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the eggs and transfer them to a colander. Run cold water over them to cool them and stop their cooking. Transfer the eggs to a cloth or paper towel to dry before serving (or coloring). Happy spring!
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