Thursday 30 July 2015

A bit of a round up...chaotic & twirly

Apologies for not being on here much, this past two weeks have been chaotic and twirly...

The saying 'I am proud of how much I prentended to do today' came up on the net when I was looking for something else and it made me laugh so I thought I would share as it sums up the past few weeks.  So much to do and sometimes it feels like I am taking one step forward and two backwards...but I will get there!

We have been busy getting the Arc of the Goddess course ready for launch on Saturday - this is a really exciting course for us because we will be working through it ourselves along with the students...see my post http://tansyfiredragon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/if-you-cant-find-what-you-wantwrite-it.html

I also got to spend last Saturday with some very lovely people at the Lammas Festival in Eastbourne, lots of stalls, live music and the Pentacle Drummers all on the sea front.

The hall and landing to our home has also just undergone a transformation...three days and counting because we still haven't finished...decorating is not my favourite activity...and how much chaos does it cause?

My next book is another in the Pagan Portals series this one is all about Meditation and I have just received notification that publication will be 11th December.  I really enjoyed writing this one and love that I am able to share my experiences with such a wonderful practice.

We have also recently welcomed a very special group of people into the High Priest/ess course at the Kitchen Witch School, we felt that they were so fabulous that they have also now become Hearth Guardians for the School - we are so proud of each and every student and feel very blessed to be walking this pathway with them.  This also means some new and exciting changes, events and inspirations within the school as our team give their input.

And of course the children are now on school holidays which whilst lovely to spend time with them does hamper the work flow...

I have also been asked to run a witchcraft workshop locally in October - details on my website www.rachelpatterson.co.uk

And...a very exciting visit to Glastonbury is also planned for October - more details to follow.

October is turning out to be a busy month because it will also see my first article in Spirit & Destiny magazine...a four page Mystical Masterclass on Kitchen Witchcraft...eeep!

This month also saw my article and recipes on chocolate in Pagan Dawn.

I am not really sure where this year has disappeared to really with August in the next few days it still feels that Christmas has only just been and gone and I am pretty sure the UK hasn't had a proper summer yet...

I stopped working specifically with the eight sabbat dates a few years back and now I work with the energies of the month (which is what the Arc of the Goddess course echoes) and the seasons, it doesn't feel like Lughnassadh to me yet...perhaps it will soon but for now I will celebrate the bonkers UK summer weather and go with the flow...

Huge thanks to all that continue to support me personally with my books and the Kitchen Witch School and Coven ♥



Friday 17 July 2015

The magic of...Sunflowers

I was gifted a bouquet of sunflowers last weekend, they are so beautiful, such majestic flowers.

Sunflower
(Helianthus annuus)

An annual that can grow incredibly tall, the stem is slightly hairy with large leaves and the flower itself is a large flat disk of seeds surrounded by bright yellow petals. The flower head always turns to face the sun which makes them good to use in loyalty workings.

Aztec priestesses would wear sunflowers and they would be placed in Aztec temples.

Obviously this flower carries with it a huge punch of masculine sun energy (the name is a bit of a giveaway).

If you need to know the truth about a situation sleep with a sunflower under your bed (presumably just the flower head otherwise it wouldn’t fit…) this would work with sunflower seeds too.

Bring sunflower into your home to promote integrity.

Growing sunflowers in your garden will bring you good luck and protection.

Eat sunflower seeds for fertility and add them to fertility workings (they also taste quite yummy).

Also use sunflower seeds in workings to make wishes come true.

Sunflower is an incredibly happy, bouncy, cheerful kind of a flower so I find it works well in happiness spells (the seeds or the petals). You can also add a handful of sunflower petals to your bathwater to make you feel happy and content.

I’ve also seen ‘secret hideaways’ created by planting sunflowers in a circle in your garden, once they grow to a decent height you can sit inside, it would make a lovely ritual circle.


Sunflower Magical Properties:
Wishes, fertility, truth, integrity, luck, protection, loyalty, happiness
Ruling planet – Sun
Sign – Leo
Element – Fire
Gender – Masculine



Source - A Kitchen Witch's World of Magical Herbs & Plants

Thursday 9 July 2015

COMPETITION for sparkies...

Competition time to win some witchy sparklies...


For a chance to win a witchy charm bracelet, pumpkin earrings and two sets of spooky pin badges you will need to...




Pop back to my facebook author page www.facebook.com/RachelPattersonbooks once it is done and leave a comment on the competition thread...so that I know who you are!

Draw will take place 30th August 2015.

www.amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.com

Thank you ♥


Wednesday 8 July 2015

The magic of fennel...


The fennel in my garden has started to flower...

Fennel
(Foeniculum vulgare)

A perennial it grows up to 5 feet tall with bright green stems that have dark green feathery plumes and bright yellow flowers throughout the summer that turn into aniseed flavour seeds. The root of the plant can also be used and makes a lovely salad or roasted veggie.

One of my favourite spices it makes a lovely aromatic tea and the seeds can be munched upon after a spicy meal to settle the digestive system and freshen your breath.

It is a fiery spice that brings a breath of fresh, cleansing and purifying air. It is not subtle, it is a strong pungent cleanse, for a real good clear out.

Hang fennel in your house for protection (the seeds in a pouch or the leaves in a bunch…not the fennel bulb because that would just be silly).

Fennel seeds work well in protection, purification and healing spells.

Add fennel seeds to incense blends to cleanse and purify.

You can also add fennel seeds to your bath water to clear your mind and purify your body.

Carry fennel with you for confidence and courage this probably goes back to Roman soldiers who used to chew the seeds before battle.

Throw fennel seeds at hand fastings to ensure fertility for the happy couple and the birds will love you for it as fennel seeds are much tastier than uncooked rice or paper confetti.

Add a few fennel seeds (or a fennel tea bag) to your floor wash to give your home a cleanse and purification and to add protection.

Another ancient herb that was used to ward against witches (seriously we are nice people really).

Supposedly effective against snake venom (but I wouldn’t recommend it).

An excellent seed to use for initiation rituals as it helps to release the old and see clearly the pathway before you bringing with it courage and protection.


Fennel Magical Properties:
Healing, purification, protection, courage, confidence, fertility, initiation
Ruling planet – Mercury
Sign – Leo, Virgo, Aquarius
Element – Fire
Gender – Masculine


Excerpt from A Kitchen Witch's World of Magical Herbs & Plants (c) 

Tuesday 7 July 2015

The Emporium of the Disc...


Yesterday we went on a road trip, the first stop was Wincanton in Somerset right on the high street...the home of the Discworld Emporium...

If you didn't know already I am a huge fan of the author Terry Pratchett (Sir) and his Discworld books going back probably about twenty five years.  In the early days I collected figures of the characters that were created by Bernard the Cunning Artificer at Clarecraft...for various reasons Clarecraft ceased to be and in its place Bernard and Isobel created the Discworld Emporium purveyors of all things Discworld.

The shop looks amazing from the outside, very Ankh-Morpork with fabulous window displays. Inside is even more fantastic with the look and feel of a typical Discworld establishment...thankfully not the Mended Drum but perhaps the Ankh Morpork Post Office...

The goodies inside were many and varied and all displayed brilliantly and the staff were so lovely and incredibly friendly.

It is not a huge shop but definitely well worth a visit for all Discworld fans and Wincanton has a couple of very nice cafes too...

If you can't get to the bricks and mortar shop they do have a very good online service, their website is http://www.discworldemporium.com/

If you are planning a visit to the shop check the opening times and days on their website as they close a couple of days a week for online order packaging.


Friday 3 July 2015

If you can't find what you want...write it yourself...


Last year Tracey and I decided that we would not run Kitchen Witch workshops this year or do many fairs to give ourselves a bit of free time to study, we felt that we had been so busy we hadn't been feeding our own spiritual cravings.

So we signed up for two different courses...sadly neither turned out to be what we were looking for, so in true Kitchen Witch style we wrote our own...

Arc of the Goddess was the result, this is the course we really wanted to do ourselves so we will be doing just that, when it launches on 1st August we will be working through it on a day to day basis alongside the students and we are incredibly excited about it.

A year long online course taking you on your own personal journey through the magical energy of each month, working with different deities, meditations, crystals, herbs, crafts, magic and foods; this course will help you connect and discover your own personal pantheon and ultimately the Goddess within...

Monthly pdf lessons & MP3 meditations to download, private facebook group to share & connect, full guidance and support throughout the entire course and beyond...

Total cost, one off payment £50 (approx $76.79)
(£45 for Kitchen Witch School students)

For more details or to book hop on over to www.goddesspathways.com or our online shop via www.kitchenwitchhearth.net

If you don't have time to start on 1st August it will be open registration so you can jump on board any time you like.



Thursday 2 July 2015

The new book...


So...the new book is now officially published.

A Kitchen Witch's World of Magical Food

I absolutely loved writing this one because it is all about food...magical food...something that I work with a lot and yes there is a section on cake of course!

Food is magical, not just because of the amazing tastes, flavours and aromas but also for the magical properties it holds. The magic starts with the choice of food to use, be added in whilst you are preparing and cooking then the magic unfolds as people enjoy your food. Dishes can be created for specific intents, moon phases, and rituals, to celebrate sabbats or just to bring the magic into your family meal. Many food ingredients can also be used very successfully in magical workings in the form of offerings, medicine pouches, witches bottles and poppets. Let's work magic into your cooking...

The paperback version is available via most online stores (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository etc) or signed copies can be purchased from the Kitchen Witch online store.

Full details and stockists can be found on my website www.rachelpatterson.co.uk

The paperback retail is £9.99 ($13.52) and the Kindle version is a silly price of just 99p (99c)

I was overwhelmed with the pre-orders, you guys totally rock - if you have read it already and would be happy to pop a review on Amazon that would be really appreciated ♥