Here is a list of things that I would suggest that kitchen witches keep on hand. I know that we get a little caught up in the THINGS of witchcraft, but for the kitchen witch the things are much more simple and easy to come by. Also I feel like kitchen witchery is kind of about these things:
Wand: for a kitchen witch, the wand is one of the super fun items. Because… your spoon is your wand! Pick a favorite metal spoon or a wooden spoon, maybe decorate it, maybe not. Designate that as your wand, and make sure every magic concoction is given a good stir with it. Even use it in non food spell casting! Brandishing a spoon has a very unique and powerful feel to it ;3
Besom: the witch’s broom can take many forms. I like to have 2; a practical broom that I can use to clean and to cleanse, and a little broom for more symbolic cleaning. I’ll use it when I feel particularly yucky and I “sweep” out the air around me. I made mine from willow branches, and wrapped them in a long string to make the handle, and dipped the tip in wax. Easy! The kitchen witch can use any old broom to be their besom.
Cauldron: you’re probably getting the idea. The cauldron doesn’t have to be massive, cast iron, and hang over a fireplace. Choose a pot to be your cauldron. Specify it for magical concoctions. Making a super-charged soup for cold fighting? Pull out the cauldron! You can even use it every day, because magic is best when it happens all the time. I also keep a small ceramic bowl that I use as my mini cauldron, much like my mini broom, it’t for more symbolic workings.
Athame: any kitchen knife can become your athame, but having a special knife set aside for specific plant harvesting is I think a good idea. I also have a neat (and useless) arrowhead knife that I use for symbolic things in spells and rituals,
Empty jars. Lots of empty jars. Spells and storage!
Sewing kit: I really like making little sachets of herbs for various spells, and as a kitchen witch I’m always fixing and making things. Also who hasn’t had a button fall off their favorite shirt?
Herbs: There are a great number of dried grocery store herbs that I think a good kitchen witch will want to keep on hand, both for cooking and for magic. The are thyme, garlic, onion, ginger, bay leaf, basil, oregano, rosemary, nutmeg, cinnamon. Sage is of course the witch’s all purpose cleanser, and lavender is a great herb to have. These may not be as easy to find, however lots of lavender soaps and oils are becoming available.
Cook book: get the most all inclusive, massive, wonderful cook book you can find. Write in it. Find things on the internet and print them out. Build a massive library of delicious things to do with food.
Spell book: This is also your Book of Shadows. Every witch should keep a journal, notebook, and or their own personal book in which they gather information on their craft. Record everything, even things you later don’t believe. Be informed!
Notebook
House plants: House plants are air cleaners, mood boosters, and good friends. Jade and other succulents are extremely easy to care for. I feel that kitchen witches are well suited to keeping little friends, for good spirits and the like.
Candles: keep candles on hand, also for spells. Birthday candles are great for some quick magic.
Hearth: I know that in the modern world, having a fireplace isn’t going to be possible for everyone. Kitchen witches are about the home, and as such I think that we need a “hearth”. For the urban and or poor witch, this can be a stone, a candle, a jar, anything. Make it your center. Make it the essence of your home. This makes cleansing and assessing the energy of your home a little simpler. It’s also a great way to help acknowledge the home as an entity with a heart.
That’s it! Most of these are easy to get, not only inexpensively, but also at pretty much any store. And even so, I want to say again that not all of this is necessary. You just need a kitchen to be a kitchen witch, really!
For all your devotional/witchy needs! (not a witch, but I know a ton of my followers are). This is based off of personal experience, so feel free to add any tips and tricks you have for gauging times to buy candles! 🙂
White: Really all the time. Buy in bulk around holidays such as Easter and Christmas.
Red: Christmas time, sometimes Halloween. Again for a short time around Valentine’s Day.
Orange: Around Halloween, end of Summer, and throughout Fall till Thanksgiving.
Yellow: Springtime for bright yellows and Fall for darker yellows. For pale yellow, search around Easter!
Green: For light leafy-green, spring and summer, but for dark green, end of autumn/Christmas time. Look around near St. Patrick’s day for a variety of green.
Blue: Bright blues are found during Summertime, and so are teal/turquoise shades, since it’s a b”beach-y”color. Pale blue can be searched for during Easter. Indigo, or otherwise more grey-toned candles are things I see around Christmas through January.
Purple: Easter-time for pale purple, Halloween for dark purples, Christmas for plums/red-purples,and summer/spring for brighter more magenta-colored candles. During the fall, you may find some nice deep magenta candles as well.
Pink: Easter for the pale pinks, and valentine’s day for pretty much every nuance available. Pink shouldn’t be too hard to find due to its popularity.
Grey: Winter time, from December through January usually. Around Halloween as well, and sometimes in Fall.
Brown: Fall, definitely. Beige and tan can be seen throughout the summer months due to its sand-inspired color, but it is still a bit harder to find than other colors.
Q: How do I get started? A: Start reading. Read everything. Here’s some things to read. Be critical. Remember that its not all written in stone and see what jives with you. Witchcraft is very, very personal, so see what calls to you and study it. This isn’t like being a mechanic or a doctor or a lawyer, you don’t need certifications and to go through a set series of courses. You chose your pace, you chose your course of study.
Q: What should I do. Like spell wise? What’s a good first spell? A: Well what do you need done? That’s the thing, there’s no one good guide. Start with something manageable that needs to be done. Start pouring energy into things you already do. Add energy to a cup of tea while you stir it. Try enchanting a pencil for homework help. Cleanse your house while cleaning. Start with small, mundane things that need to be done, and try to get comfortable working with these energies.
Q: I don’t have deities! Who’s going to help me? A: You don’t need deities, you can practice secular witchcraft, and its ok if that changes over time. That’s fine. You can help you. You can generate energy. You can draw energy from the earth, from the sea, from the universe. Its ok. You can do this.
Q: People tell me this isn’t real, or that this is a product is a symptom or signifier of mental illness. Are they right? A: Witchcraft appeals to a lot of people who feel small and helpless. Many times this includes mentally ill people, and can be a tool for them to regain their sense of agency in this world. But so can religion, and we don’t generally harass Christians or Jews or Muslims or Buddhists who believe. We don’t harass people with other beliefs. If you have some kinds of mental illness, then some kinds of witchcraft may not be for you. If you have psychotic episodes, some kinds of meditation may exacerbate some of your symptoms. People with ADHD may not even be able to meditate, and may have problems with ritual magic. That’s ok. As long as you are happy and feel healthy, then that is all that matters.
Q: I hear that this is evil or false. Is it? A: Its not fake. Magic is real. Magic is reality that scientists have not yet explained. And it isn’t any more evil than you yourself are.
Q: I already have religious beliefs and I’m told that I can’t be a witch unless I abandon them. Is this true? A: NOPE. You can practice secular witchcraft, or incorporate your existing beliefs. Honest. And more than that, you’re not alone. There are other people like you in the world and on tumblr. You’re good.
Q: When can I call myself a witch? A: Its the same as calling yourself a swimmer or a knitter or a painter or a cook. At the point at which you perform the verb, basically. At the point when you’re practicing witchcraft.
Q: Wait! What if I have more questions? A: Then research it or ask someone! Most witches who run blogs are pretty happy to answer questions, and may have already posted the answer somewhere online.
First off the bat, witchcraft is a secular practice, so you’re good! You don’t have to have a religion to be a witch.
Second, the where should I start question is always a hard one to answer because witchcraft is very personal. I’d try dipping my fingers into every interesting pool (barring closed cultures not your own). You’ve got oh, green witches, hedgewalkers, technowitches, sea witches, kitchen and hearth witches, witches that work with dragons or fae, (gasps for air) elemental witches, sigil witches, urban witches, weather witches, pop culture witches- the list goes on and on and on. So it really depends on what’s interesting for you.
Third, materials. When you’re getting started you’re gonna be tempted to buy every fancy thing that comes your way- but oftentimes you don’t need weird ingredients or fancy ass supplies like wands and altar cloths. Sometimes all you need is a handful of salt, a cheap quartz point, some rosemary, and a kickass attitude. (I stand by salt, quartz, and rosemary for everything).
I’m gonna point you to my Spellbook and my Resources pages, both of which have a bunch of useful stuff, but I insist that you READ. Read read read everything you can get your hands on. Here’s some free books to read and authors to avoid and why. Also, your local library might surprise you.
And there’s quite a community of people here on tumblr that are always willing to help- it’s always useful to find like minded people to create a dialogue with, particularly once you’ve found your niche. There’s also this blog I discovered called Adoptawitchling that’s kind of like a personals page for people looking to mentor/be mentored. And as always, my ask box is always open and anon is always on, even for little questions.
“Metaphysical Shops” / “New Age” shops are way over priced. Convenient, But expensive. Check out Etsy, Farmers Markets, Thrift Stores, and your Grocery stores first.
Garden Sage works just as good as White Sage.
Spells can take a day, A week, Or even months to show results. Be patient, And don’t feel like you need to do the same spell again to get results.
Always, Always protect yourself while doing any spell. Draw sigils on yourself, Or have a talisman of sorts on your person. Always.
If you’re using a spell book for your rituals, Switch them up and make them personalized to your craft.
White, or Black Candles can take the place of any colored Candle, And Rosemary can substitute many herbs.
You can have certain books (Wiccan, Pagan, Occult, New Age, etc) sent to your local Library for free.
You can cleanse your tools, Or crystals by Moon Light, And Charge them by Sunlight.
Always listen to your intuition.
Many “Common Weeds” can be used for magical purpose. (Mugwort, Yarrow, Dandelion, etc)
I love when the witchy people of tumblr share their knowledge by creating incredibly useful masterposts of information. I made this “masterpost of masterposts” to act as a running directory of such resources. If you see any errors (such as credit or misinformation) please contact me and I will make any necessary changes.
**Disclaimer: this is a collection of links that I thought would be helpful. I did not create any of the above content within the links. If you are confused or have concerns about any of the material please contact the original creator.
If you know of a link that would fit on this list please feel free to share. :3
The Carving Witch 