Kitchen Cupboard Magic by Lady Bleu

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Kitchen Cupboard Magic
Adapted from Witch in the Kitchen, by Cait Johnson (Inner Traditions,
2001).

We don't usually think of sea salt and basil and apples as magical,
but our more earth-centered ancestors knew they were.

Here, then, is a list of some traditional herb correspondences;
choose one or more according to your desire. You can add a handful to your
washing-water next time you mop the floor:

Apples: Food of the Goddess, love. Add a few pieces of fresh or dried
apple to your water (but not too much or you'll end up with sticky
surfaces!)

Basil: Love, fidelity, wealth, protection. A nice all-purpose herb
with a luscious summery scent.

Chamomile: Serenity and calm; purification. Smells like a blend of
apples and new-mown hay. While you're at it, make yourself a cup of tea to
drink after you've finished cleaning; it's very relaxing.

Cinnamon: Happy home, safety, healing, protection. The primal
home-and-hearth spice. Use pieces of cinnamon stick for your brew
(the powdered kind will turn into a gelatinous glop in the bucket).

Clove: Purification; promotes love and spirituality. Try it with
cinnamon--delicious !

Eucalyptus: Health, protection. Warm and fresh, actually kills germs.

Evergreen: Health, purification, vitality. A few sprigs of pine,
cedar, or juniper growing nearby, a few sprigs placed in boiling water will add
green freshness to your housecleaning brew.

Lavender: Love, friendship, peace, happiness, protection. Such a
sweet, relaxing, and calm-inducing scent--and it's also an antidepressant.

Lemon peel: Purification. It's no accident that so many cleaning
products are lemon-scented; lemon smells fresh and uplifting and cleanses
negativity.

Marjoram: Love, protection, antidepressant. You can sprinkle a little
of this dried herb in the corners of every room to promote love and
safety.

Peppermint: Purification, healing, soothing. A wonderfully relaxing
and refreshing scent.

Rosemary: Cleansing and protection; clears negativity; encourages
clear thinking.

Sage: Purification, wisdom. It's no coincidence that the word
for "wise one" is the same as the herb's name. A traditional ingredient of many
Native American smudge bundles, a strong sage tea will help clear your home
of negativity.

Sea salt: Traditional for purification and protection. If you've been
feeling vulnerable or weird and you only have time to add one
ingredient to your wash-water, this could be it.

Vanilla: love, happiness. A piece of the bean or a few drops of
extract will make your home smell and feel delicious.