Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

If you’re like me, you love the idea of using your own homegrown herbs in your rituals, or even just for incense in your home. Not only are they more convenient when you can simply go outside and pick your own, but you can also have easier access to those that are harder to find.

Herbs are generally very simple to take care of. They respond well to a variety of soil types and for the most part are pretty sturdy. They don’t require constant care like a lot of plants do and you can even plant them indoors in containers if you don’t have the outside space.

Of course, if you are going to be burning your herbs, or even cooking with them, you will need to dry them first. So at this point you might be wondering why I am devoting an entire blog entry on drying herbs, but the fact is that drying them out can be a complicated process.

The last time I picked a mess of sage and tried to let it air dry on my kitchen counter in a bowl it took over 3 weeks. No, I am not exaggerating. Not really convenient if you want to do a smudging ceremony in the next day or so.

So what are some better ways to dry out your herbs?

If you have herbs that have a low moisture content such as Marjoram, Bay, Rosemary, Dill, Oregano, and Thyme than letting them air dry isn’t a bad idea. However, for those that are dense in moisture such as Mint, Basil, Tarragon, and Chives the process is obviously going to take a bit longer and therefore might want to be reconsidered unless you have a lot of space and a lot of time (not Thyme!) on your hands.

Personally, I would recommend against using the microwave on them. Although this will definitely dry them out, it will also affect their taste and make them lose some of their nutrients. Freezing them is actually better, although I only use that as a last resort.

I prefer to bundle mine, although this will still take them some time. To bundle your herbs, take around 5 branches together and tie them at the bottom. You might need to pull off some of the bottom leaves first, as well as any diseased leaves. You can use a piece of yarn, string, or rubber band. If the herbs have a high water content then you might want to use small bundles.

I then take a paper bag (saved from the last trip to the grocery store) and use a hole puncher to cut a few holes in it. I always make sure that I write the name of the herb on the bag since I am prone to forget which ones I am dealing with, even after all these years.

Next, I take the bundle of herbs and place it upside down in the bag. Once I have done this, I tie the ends of the bag together and hang the bag upside down.

Of course, you don’t have to use the bag. In fact, you can simply tie the herbs in a bundle, use a clothesline or other long string and tie it around your ceiling, and hang your herbs from there. You want to make sure that you do this in an airy room, however, that gets plenty of air circulation. Keep in mind, too, that the herbs will shrink as they dry so you might have to keep re-tightening your string around them.

If you don’t want to hang your herbs up and instead wish to place them in a bowl and set them out then there are some things to keep in mind. First off, you have to ensure that they are getting equal airflow. This might mean that you turn them over every day and make sure that they are spread out evenly. You also want to ensure that they aren’t retaining water. If they do, then they might mildew and mold and you can’t use those.

Of course, if you really want to speed up the drying process then you can use a dehydrator. These don’t cost too much and they will definitely cut some time off of your drying. It’s also pretty helpful if you are drying a lot of herbs at once and you don’t want paper bag or bundles hanging up all over your house.

You will have to keep checking it and arranging them in order to regulate the airflow, but a good dehydrator can dry your herbs out in a matter of hours-not weeks or days.

Whichever method you choose to employ, I hope you have a fruitful herb harvest and I wish you luck in your own individual growing season.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

You understand how important a Book of Shadows is, but you might be having difficulty figuring out how to create one and what should go into it. This is a highly discussed topic, but in many instances we talk about it as though everyone knows exactly what we are talking about!

So what is a Book of Shadows? Basically, is a journal of sorts in which you write down your thoughts, spells, rituals, or any other information that you want to remember. It is a very personal book to you and although people do sometimes share them, you don’t have to. While you might ask someone about their own book and the types of information that they put in it, yours should be based on your own traditions and needs and not on someone else’s.

Some people find that writing a Book of Shadows is overwhelming. Perhaps they don’t consider themselves to be a writer or maybe they simply just don’t know where to begin. Well, the good news is that you don’t have to be a writer to keep on. In fact, you’re really the only one meant to read it so it doesn’t matter if it’s not creative, if you tend to misspell words or use improper grammar, or if you tend to use the same adjectives over and over again. This is not going to be graded!

As far as getting started, you can think of it as a journal if you would like. There is no wrong place or right place to begin.

I have a couple of books that I keep for myself. I have one book (a beautiful, leather-bound sort) that I use for spells and rituals. I also have a journal (okay, I have several) that I keep for my thoughts. In addition, I try to keep a dream journal, too, although sometimes I fall behind on that one.

Sometimes, of course, they overlap. For instance, if I do a spell or ritual I might make notes in the margins for things that I might want to keep for future reference. At the same time, I try to write about my experiences with the spell or ritual in my journal, too. I can be more in-depth with that particular outlet and I find that helpful. You might find it helpful, or you might not.

Some people write down the phase of the moon, the sign that the moon is in, and even how old the moon is when they record their thoughts in their journal. They like to do this because it helps them keep track of their moods, dreams, and thoughts to see if there is any pattern to them.

In my dream journal, not only do I jot down what I dream, but I try to analyze them and also write down other pertinent information that might be helpful in my determining the meaning behind them. For example, I always write down whether or not I was in my own bed at the time (or in a hotel, on the couch, etc.) and what I had eaten prior to falling asleep. Yes, food can sometimes play a part in dreams. In addition, I write down any movies that I watched close to my sleep and anything that I might have been thinking about before drifting off. This is particularly helpful if I have had a disturbing nightmare. It’s a lot nicer to think that it was caused by that cold piece of pizza that I ate rather than a foreshadowing of events to come!

The book itself should “call” to you. Friends and family members often give me journals and while I accept them politely the ones that I am close to are the ones that I have picked out myself because I felt something in them. Your writing utensil can be whatever you feel comfortable writing with, but my piece of advice is that if you find something you really like-buy a bunch of them.

Most people start the book off with a dedication that might be a poem, song, statement, or anything else that feels sacred to you. From there, what you put in it is up to you. Holiday descriptions, a depiction f your altar, your own definition of magick, the basic format to your rituals-it’s really up to what you think is important to you.

Although I have used other people’s spells (or at least a version of them) from time to time, I generally only write the ones that I have come up with myself in my Book of Shadows.

Keeping up with the times, some people find that having a Cyber version of their Book of Shadows is easier to keep than a “real” book. This is up to you. However, considering the instability of computers, you might still want to keep a hard copy with you. That way, you can make notes on it and you will always have a backup with you. And, you can carry it with you-unlike your desk top.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

Ahhhh…Winter is definitely here and is going to stay for some time. Back in the summertime when it was so hot and humid everyone was talking about how they couldn’t wait for cold weather to come back around again. Now that it’s cold, everyone is wishing for summer. We humans are rarely ever satisfied.

With the cold weather, however, comes one of my favorite rituals-the Yule Log ritual. While it is a simple ceremony, it’s one that the entire family can be part of and everyone has a good time while doing it.

To get started, you will need a Yule Log and a place to burn it in. I prefer to do the ritual outside, but there’s something nice and cozy about doing it indoors as well and you can enjoy it a little longer since you don’t have to worry about getting cold in the process.

Unlike some of the “props” that we use in our rituals and ceremonies, Yule Logs are generally pretty easy to buy. In fact, although I try not to advocate Wal-Mart and like to shop local, they do show up there if you don’t have any other options. Even non-Pagans sometimes like the Yule Log ceremony so their availability is pretty good.

If you get your Yule Log ahead of time then you might want to use it as a centerpiece on your dining room table or even coffee table in the days leading up to the ritual. This will lend it some of your family’s energy, which will make it even more powerful, and it’s a nice looking piece of wood to use for decorative purposes as well.

If you’re burning the wood outside, then you will want all members of your family forming a circle around it. However, if you are burning it in an indoor fireplace then it will have to be a semi-circle.

If you usually cast a circle then you should do it at the very beginning. For such a simple and open ceremony, however, you don’t necessarily have to do this. In fact, I usually don’t.
What I do is have each of my family members write something down on a piece of paper. (And sometimes I invite friends over to do this as well.) We each write down something that we want to see happen in the next year as well as something that we would like to say goodbye to from the previous year. Last year, for instance, I wanted to say goodbye to my impatience with some things that often threatens to keep me from feeling happy when I really should be.

Of course, my youngest child can’t really write yet so I do this bit. We then place the pieces of paper on top of the Yule Log and I light the fire. While the log is burning we sing songs, drink hot chocolate, and talk of the upcoming year and the year that has gone by.

After the log has burned down, I gather up some of the ashes and place them in a special box that I keep near my altar. I then scatter these ashes around our Yule Log at the next ceremony so that we can always have a part of who we were in each ceremony.

The great thing about a Yule Log ritual is that it’s very open to interpretation. Although some people will chant and recite poems or other mantras, some people simply make up their own words or don’t use words at all.

Some people don’t like to let their logs burn all the way down and instead save some of it for their next ceremony. While I like the idea of this, and indeed have even tried it myself, it’s not always a realistic choice. In fact, one year the log accidentally got tossed out and I felt an overwhelming sadness. The ashes are a little more convenient and I get to keep them in a nice looking box.

I wholly encourage you to start your own Yule Log ritual. While it’s a nice idea to learn about other people’s traditions and rituals, one of the best things that you can do is start your own. This will make the ritual much more personal to you and your family and you will find that you are able to tailor it to fit your own needs.

Don’t be afraid to expand on the ritual, allow your children to come up with their own ideas, and to invite non-Pagan friends and family to celebrate with you. The days might be longer and colder, but the positive energy that surrounds you is always growing.

I hope this Yuletide finds you warm and cozy and in the midst of those that you love.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

More than likely, you have come across more than one person who hasn’t really understood your “alternative religion” (as some people refer to it as) or dismiss your beliefs as merely a fad, a phase, or even ignorance. So how do you talk to these people to convince them that your beliefs are as valid as anyone else’s and do you even try to talk to them at all?

For many years, I was afraid to tell people that I was a witch because I was afraid that they would simply assume that I had watched “The Craft” one too many times or that I was going through a Gothic phase that lasted past my teenager years. I found myself constantly trying to justify my religion and my beliefs and it was very discouraging. From there, I went through a stage in which I didn’t engage in a conversation with anyone about my beliefs for fear that they would think I was strange. While we might be past the whole burning at the stake thing, it was still an uncomfortable topic.

These days, I pick and choose who I talk to and what I say to those that I do. There are some people that still want to turn up their noses at me, think that it’s a phase that I will eventually grow out of (not likely at my age!) and even tune me out when I start talking with a dismissive wave. However, I have also discovered that just as many people, if not more, actually have valid questions and are interested in what I do and believe in. These are the people that I love to talk to.

Sometimes, I feel like a walking information station not only for Wicca but all things Pagan. I find myself trying to explain the subtle differences, talking about rituals and spells, and dispelling a lot of common misconceptions. No, I do not ride a broomstick or worship the devil. Yes, I do use candle magic, perform rituals, and speak to the Goddess. I don’t just have to be well-informed for my own benefit, but for the education of others.

I try to answer questions as openly and honestly as I can, but I also try to be a little guarded myself. I am not ashamed of whom I am, but I am also human and nobody wants to be made fun of.

Oddly enough, or maybe not so oddly, is the fact that children seem to be more open-minded about Wicca and Paganism in general. Although I try to keep my language and explanations simple in nature depending on their age, I have found that children are usually less likely to judge and ridicule.

It constantly surprises me, though, at how well some people will accept Native American or even some African religions quite readily and yet shun Wiccans and Pagans even though we share a lot with these shamanistic beliefs.

When I am talking to someone about my beliefs, I always try to keep my audience in mind. I have some very staunch Pentecostal relatives and no matter how I try to explain things, and even point out some of the similarities of our beliefs, they still want to save my soul and invite me to Revival. I try to keep these conversations to a minimum.

On the other hand, I am also friends with some Christian ministers and I have found that either due to their education or their overall personalities they seem to be very open-minded and easy to talk to when we have theological discussions-even though they might not agree with me.

I don’t like to discuss religion with friends because I don’t want to start any kind of argument, although I am always there to answer questions if they have them.

In short, I don’t hide from what I am, but I also don’t walk around with a T-shirt that proclaims “Witch!” in big letters. (Except for maybe on Halloween.)

I try to abide by the Golden Rule, too. Even though I try to be respectful of all religions, there are some that I just don’t understand. There are others that have aspects that I don’t agree with or understand. When I’m in a conversation with people who practice these things, I do my best to remain calm and respectful. I know how I feel when I feel as though someone is attacking me and therefore I don’t want to do the same to them.

Lastly, I almost always tell whomever I am speaking to about my experience with other religions. I have been to a Buddhist retreat, a Jewish temple, a Methodist/Baptist/Presbyterian/Church or England service as well as a Catholic service, and I have even been to a Mosque. Some people assume that I am a witch because I don’t know anything about other religions. I try to explain that I chose this path because it calls to me, the same way that the religion that the person that I am having a conversation with called to them.

I hope that you find yourself surrounded with people who have unconditional love and support for you.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”