The Juniper Witch - Tumblr Posts

Meet the Witch

💚 Juniper

💚 she/they

💚 Aries sun, Gemini moon and rising

💚 30's

💚Practicing witch of 19 years

💚 Kitchen and green witch with a love of candle, herb, and domestic magic. I was taught a fair bit of various types Southern folk magic

💚 Primarily work with Hera, Hestia, Hecate, Apollo, and Aphrodite and tend to stick with Greek deities, but I'd like to explore my Welsh roots through my practice.

💚 Born and raised in Mississippi, lived in Louisiana for a bit. Now Kentucky is where I call home.

💚 Aspiring crone. I've spent nearly two decades practicing witchcraft, and I want to share it with others.

💚 That said, I am absolutely a safe place for beginner witches.

💚 Asks and messages are always open

Kitchen Witch Tea Spell- Find Yourself

For those days when you feel stuck and like you don't even know who you are anymore, this tea ritual might come in handy. It isn't a great big cure-all that will fix everything, but it definitely helps me to not feel like I'm floating away.

Tea Ingredients

1 part lemon balm (tranquility)

1/2 part rose (love)

1/4 part lemongrass (remove blocks)

1/4 nettle leaf (courage, healing)

Prepare tea to your liking. I prefer adding a little honey to sweeten the mood. Light two candles, one black to banish the negativity that clouds you, one white for cleansing your energy.

Sit quietly, channeling your intention into the tea. Say:

"My energy wanes, but now it grows,

I search my heart by candle's glow.

Chaos and clutter, I dismiss from here

I call myself home and banish doubt and fear."

Drink your tea. Take the time to do whatever spiritual work calls to you as the candles burn. I prefer working with Hestia, as domestic work feels very grounding. But you do whatever feels right for you.

When you're ready, say a little word of gratitude to the universe and carry on.

Crystals I like in my kitchen.

I've been on my witchy path for 19 years now, and I will admit crystals are the area I'm the least versed in. However, I've found a few that I like to keep on my kitchen altar that help with the energy while I'm doing kitchen and domestic magic.

Clear quartz to amplify the energies I'm putting into my work.

Green aventurine radiates abundance and growth, and its presence feels like a charm in and of itself to keep food in our fridge and pantry.

Citrine is one of my favorite stones, and I seek to channel its positivity and joy as I work.

For anyone who is into crystals or kitchen witchery: what are your favorite stones and gems in the kitchen and why?

Tuesday Magic: Protection Oil

To harness the protective energy of of Mars, why not infuse an herb-infused oil?

Ingredients

Bay Leaf

Nettle

Cinnamon

Cloves

Black pepper

Olive Oil

Lemon essential oil (optional)

Instructions

Add the first 5 ingredients to a jar. I don't measure how much I use and tend to let intuition guide me. As a personal rule, I try not to fill more than half of the jar with the dry ingredients.

Add your carrier oil. Make sure you cover all the dry ingredients and then some.

Since I usually use protection magic in unison with banishing and cleansing, I like adding 3-5 drops of lemon essential oils for the purifying nature.

Close your jar and store in a cool place without direct sunlight for about 2 weeks, shaking it every few days.

If you want to add a little extra oomph to your work, you can add on a few extra steps. Maybe light a black candle as you focus your intention. Draw protective runes and sigils on the jar. Place protective crystals like black tourmaline on the lid.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 21

A subtle way to practice color magic is by matching your ink to your intention while writing out goals. Green for prosperity, pink for romance, etc.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 22

Boil orange slices in water with a bit of clove, and use the water to bless doors and windows in the home. It channels comfort, happiness, warmth, health, and luck into your home.

Kitchen Witch Recipe: Lavender-Infused Honey

This is a yummy little recipe that incorporates two of my favorite things: lavender and honey (as the title of this post suggests).

From a culinary viewpoint: it's so good drizzled over yogurt or freshly baked bread. Add it to your tea for a soothing sweetener (I'm especially fond of adding it to bedtime teas).

From a witchy viewpoint: Both lavender and honey are associated with love magic. Honey always felt more of a warmer sort of love energy, whereas lavender is a calmer love. Together, they're a bit like a warm, magical hug: soothing, secure, peaceful, and happy.

Ingredients

Raw honey

Food-grade lavender dried lavender buds

Instructions

Prepare your jar and lid.

Your ratio should be 1 part lavender to 4 parts, so fill your container about 1/4 of the way with lavender buds.

Fill the jar with honey. Use a spoon to give it a good swirl and incorporate the lavender.

Tighten your lid and leave the jar in a cool, dark place for about Teo weeks.

Once the time is up, strain your honey through a fine mesh strainer. Return the filtered honey to your jar and enjoy

Kitchen Witch Recipe: Balsamic Roasted Sweet Onions

The mundane: This fairly simple side dish takes the humble onion and really helps it shine. The sweet onion balances nicely with the tang of balsamic vinegar. There's a nice depth of flavor. Plus it's fairly simple to make (always a bonus in my house) and something different.

The witchy: This side dish is brimming with protection and banishment magic potential in the form of the onions, vinegar, and even the parsley garnish at the end, as well as your classic salt and pepper duo. This is an excellent side dish to make to utilize Saturday's protective energies and to enhance banishment workings.

Makes 6 servings, so adjust as needed

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 small sweet onions

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 tablespoon sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Directions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit

Peel the onions and cut them into halves

In a baking dish large enough to fit the onions, combine the butter and oil. Once combined, whisk in your balsamic vinegar, white whine, sugar, and salt and pepper.

Add the onions to the dish, placing them in a single layer, making sure the cut side is facing down.

Cover loosely with foil and bake about 20 minutes.

Remove from oven. Turn each onion over and brush them with the pan juices. Make sure they are well coated!

Put them back in the oven, uncovered, and bake another 20-25 minutes until onions are tender and have browned.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with parsley, and enjoy!

To add a little extra magic to it, feel free to make a ritual of it. Light a black candle as you focus your intentions during prep and cook time. Call upon any deities you might want to work with. Say a chant for protection or banishing. These little things can really add a little extra razzle dazzle to something that feel otherwise mundane to some.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 22

When you feel overwhelmed by social interactions, put your hands under running water and visualize it carrying the excessive energy away.

Kitchen Witch Recipe: Illness Protection Tea

This is a tea that I like during the fall and winter months because of the warmth, but it's also a helpful little potion for wellness.

Ingredients

Ginger tea for healing

Cinnamon sticks for cleansing

Lemon slices for purification

Cloves for protection

Honey for comfort and warmth

Instructions

Simply brew your tea. While it's steeping, add in the cinnamon, lemon and cloves (I didn't include quantities because the flavor profile comes down to preference). Before drinking, add a little honey and stir either clockwise to invite healing energies in or counterclockwise to banish illness.

As you stir, you may want to call upon any deities associated with healing. I usually invoke Apollo for this. If you don't work with deities, simply channeling your intention and working with the healing energies is also a good option.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 23

Draw sun sigils on places where you want to bring more light/motivation.

A little tarot with a late morning tea, and I'm feeling beyond inspired and certain. I've been debating going back to school to become a nutritionist or dietician. It's been heavy on my mind. And then this card pops up

The Page of Wands appears to remind us that our long-term goals will require a lot of dedication and work, but that the dedication pays off. It encourages us to find our inner compass and let that guide us.

So... cheers. Seems like this is a green light from the universe.

Extra Strength Cleansing Bath

For those days when the world seems to be kicking your ass, and you can't seem to shake off the negative energy that's still clinging to you.

Infuse eucalyptus leaves, lemon peel, and rosemary into your bath.

As the steam rises, say, "The earth has left its mark on me- body, mind, and soul. With these waters, I cleanse myself, I become whole."

Bathe as you normally would. Allow your body to air dry.

Finish it up with a soothing cup of peppermint tea to clear the mind.

When disposing of the herbs from your bath, make sure to do so outside of your house so the energy they've absorbed can be carried away.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 24

Catching a falling leaf before it hits the ground is supposed to be good luck. Add it to your altar for good luck, protection, and abundance throughout the autumn season.

Kitchen Witch Recipe- Lemon Rice for Abundance

The mundane- This is a nice little side dish made with ingredients you might have on hand. The lemon is bright without overpowering the dish. Honestly, just a winner all around in my book.

The witchy- Rice shines as the key ingredient, so this dish is excellent for enhancing spells for abundance, especially with dill (great for money magic) in the mix! You also get some protective energies from the garlic and parsley which could be separate focuses entirely, or tie back into protection of your assets.

Makes 4 servings!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 cup long grain rice

Juice and zest of 1 large lemon

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat the oil in a pan. Add onion and cook over medium heat until softened (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and cook another minute.

Stir in uncooked rice and toast 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in lemon juice and zest, then add vegetable broth.

Bring to a simmer. Lower heat and cover the pan with a lid. Cook about 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

Turn off the heat and leave covered about 10 minutes.

Uncover and stir in parsley and dill. I like serving this with additional thin slices of lemon.

As always, if you want to add a little extra razzle dazzle to it, you can make a ritual of it. Focus your intention on each ingredient as you add it in. Light a green candle. Include stones associated with abundance on your kitchen altar if you have one. Anything that helps you feel more magical as you make this dish.

Do you have any tips for starting to work with deities? There’s a lot of info and it’s kinda overwhelming.

I feel like deity work is something I sort of blundered my way into and ran with it, so I can't provide anything too in depth, and I know it's an experience that will be different for different people. But here's some things I've picked up in my personal practice and experience.

Start small. I know when I was a kid, I didn't have a lot of information. I found a list of various deities and wanted to find a way to work with all of them, without knowing anything about them really beyond your generic "So and so is the deity of this thing." So, I would definitely recommend against rushing into things and taking on too much. Get to know the deities, learn their stories, etc. Sometimes you might find a connection with you had previously never thought of.

Adding to that first point, don't try to work with too many at once. I feel like it's like learning most things: if you try to do too much before you're familiar enough with it, you might get overwhelmed or discouraged. Start by working with one deity. Learn about them, talk to them, call on them, leave them offerings. As you get more comfortable, you will find it easier to work with multiple deities.

Look for signs. These aren't always the same for everyone, but sometimes you will feel a deity reach out to work with you. Hera and Hecate both reached out to me in my active practice, and in both cases I couldn't shake the sudden desire to work with them. A former friend worked with Artemis because she would see deer in her yard and feel an undeniable connection to divinity.

It's okay to be the one to reach out to a deity. I've seen advice about how the deities should always be the ones to choose you. Maybe that's true with some deities, but, at the very least, not all. Some are absolutely happy when you make the first move. I sometimes feel like Hestia was always with me, and she was just politely waiting for me to invite her in.

Deities are allowed to say no! This is a big one. I've seen people get discouraged because they worked with a deity in spellwork, but they didn't the result they wanted. A few vented about how they'd never work with that deity again. It can be easy to fall into mindset, especially when it's something you had really set your heart on. But sometimes it just means the universe has a different plan for you. A good example was when I appealed to Aphrodite again and again in hopes of getting back with my ex, but I think she knew that he and I were destined for a more platonic love (he's still my dearest friend to this day), and that my soul mate was, in fact, 600 miles away. Deities don't say "no" as way to punish us, but as a way of guiding us. (But it's valid to feel disappointed and such when those moments happen. We are only human).

Offerings are nice, but I think the gods understand that they can't always be promised. I see people steer clear of deity worship because they aren't able to leave physical offerings for one reason or another (not able to light incense in an apartment, having to hide their practice, finances make buying that extra little treat impossible). Offerings don't always have to be physical. A prayer or little note of gratitude goes a long way. Plus acts of devotion are an offering (self care days for Aphordite, spending a little extra time tidying the kitchen for Hestia, being scared but doing the thing anyway for Ares).

Don't compare your journey with deities to others. I think this is the biggest piece of advice younger me needed in all aspects of things. But definitely applies here. If someone works exclusively with one deity, has a whole altar dedicated to them, and has devoted their life to that deity? Hell yeah. That's great. If someone else feels a more casual type of connection with their deities and talk to them like they're besties? Unconventional, but everyone's path is different. It may come naturally to you, or you may find yourself still having to double-check things five years later. Do what works for you, whatever that may look like.

And finally, one of the most important things to keep in mind: not all deities are open. If a deity belongs to a practice or pantheon that's closed to you, that means the deity is as well.

This wasn't as eloquent as I'd hoped, but I really hope it helps!

Having a non-witchy partner who supports your craft is fun. Doing a beauty ritual (hair mask and self-care thing) as a devotional act to Aphrodite, and my boyfriend joined me and let me do his hair as well. Just very sweet and precious.

Kitchen Witch Recipe- Orange Cardamom Hot Chocolate [for love magic]

The mundane: I'm a sucker for chocolate and orange combos, so this is a recipe that's right up my alley. Add in cardamon (one of my favorite spices), and just *chef's kiss*. Also, as we start moving into the cooler part of the year, hot chocolate just hits the spot. I know it's more of a winter drink, but give me hot chocolate year-round, and am a very happy witch.

The magical: Chocolate tends to be universally synonymous with love, so having it as the star of this drink adds a big boost of love magic. Cardamon adds a warm sort of energy and helps to enhance love, lust, and sensuality, as well offering a boost of confidence. Orange also is used in love magic, but I really like it for enhancing happiness.

Ingredients

4 cups milk (I prefer whole milk for my hot chocolates, but use whatever you think is best)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or just roughly cut it from a chocolate bar)

Rind of half an orange- use a vegetable peeler and try to get as little of the white bits as possible

10 cardamon pods, cracked

Directions

Add orange peel and cracked cardamon pods to the milk in a saucepan.

Bring it to a boil. Stir often! You don't want it to scald.

Remove the orange peel and cardamon pods.

And your chocolate to the milk. Stir until melted.

Serve as is, or spruce it up. I like adding whipped cream and strips of candied orange peel.

To use this in conjunction with love magic, focus on your intention as you drink it.

Also, while making it, think about what you hope to accomplish. Is this a self-love ritual? Are you sharing it with a partner to enhance existing energies, ignite a little passion, etc? Or maybe you're using it for attracting someone. Whatever the purpose, cater this spell to it. Invoke a love deity to help you. Light red or pink candles. Add rose quartz or carnelian to your kitchen while preparing the hot chocolate.

Unsolicited Witch Tip 26

Mangos can be used in workings for self-confidence, success, and increasing your personal power.

Any tips for a baby witch who cant do anything TOO witchy (the people i live with are really REALLY christian)

I was always lucky enough to be able to practice openly, but I have also had to help others navigate this, so here are some things I think help. I'm not sure what your personal situation is, if you live with family, etc, so some of this might be more broad and not necessarily relevant to you.

I think one of the biggest tips is to remember that you don't need a lot of elaborate items. The aesthetic side of things is cool and all, but it's important to remember that you are magic in and of yourself.

Learn where you can (but also make sure to use knowledgeable sources to combat misinformation). Expanding your knowledge and understanding is such a big step, and internet access being more readily available is a blessing.

If you plan to keep notes/make a grimoire, you don't need a big, fancy journal. A digital copy on a phone or laptop is just as good. My first one was a bunch of scribbles in a one-subject notebook.

Things don't always have to be a big ritual! Again, the aesthetic side of things is always cool, and there's nothing wrong with it, but it's not a necessary part of things. A lot of times, my practice revolves around intention and channeling that into my actions.

Kind of adding to the above: subtle witchcraft is amazing. The thing about focusing on your intention while stirring your tea or coffee may not seem like much, but I feel like it really helps me to weave a little more magic into my life when my resources and/or energy are low.

Sigils! I don't work with sigils often, and I'm still practicing making my own. But I think they're great for when you can't do anything too big or bold, and they're so versatile. I really like them for subtle magic since you can make them small if physically drawing one, but you can also opt to just finger-trace them instead without having to worry about a visible mark.

If you work with deities, prayer! I feel like it's becoming more of an underrated act of devotion, but it is so simple and easy to keep hidden.

Bring a little nature inside! There's magic everywhere, but especially outside. Collect acorns for luck. Grab a rock that you really like and bring it home with you. Little things like this can connect you to the energy of the earth.

Meditation is good in general, but it can be used to connect with energies around you. I've found a few witchy ones over the years that I return to. YouTube is a treasure trove.

Find small ways to make the mundane magical. When you eat, think about what the different ingredients do (my neighbor just brought us pumpkin bread. To him, he made it because he likes baking, but as I eat it, I focus on the abundance and prosperity that pumpkin brings). Focus on cleansing your energy when you shower. Honor the sun by basking in the sunlight. Choose teas or coffee creamers with intention and focus on those things while drinking them.

Above all, remember that at the end of the day, it's about what feels right and works with you. Sometimes witchcraft is walking in the rain and letting it heal your soul. Sometimes it's pouring your heart into your hobbies. Ultimately, the magic lives inside you. It may be hard to practice right now, and your safety should always be priority. But one day, if your path continues to lead you in the way of the witch, you will be able to live your best witchy life.

Good luck! And if you ever need advice, I am here to help!

Also, I couldn't find a spot to put it in the above post that actually felt natural, but a chant I love helps me remember that I am magic. "Earth, my body. Water, my blood. Air, my breath. And fire, my spirit. I am born of the elements."