This seems to be a longstanding, ongoing debate: should a Book of Shadows be digital or does it have to be handwritten? Obviously, I think both are acceptable as I’ve had both. That being said, I often read, especially on forums where brand new-bies are posting, that a plain word document or notepad page is being used as a Book of Shadows and somehow that doesn’t quite sit right with me. I think it should be something a little more heightened than that. Does that make me a hypocritical cottage witch? Maybe. Probably. But, then, that’s the beauty of a path that lets you make a different decision on every detail!

Another Book of Shadows-related question that’s come up lately has been whether or not it is acceptable to share your book with other people. Although certain covens and traditions forbid the sharing of books, I think books (excluding personal journaling, of course) should be shared. One of the biggest obstacles the pagan and witch communities routinely face is finding a sense of community. We need to be able to talk about our craft, bounce ideas off each other and bond over mutual beliefs, even if we find that we don’t believe exactly the same things. My book is a combination of spells and ideas written entirely by myself along with ideas I adapted from other witches who were willing to share; after all, how are new witches and pagans going to find their way if no one is willing to discuss anything with them in depth?

That’s why I’ve decided to share a template based on my personal book! Attached is a word document version and a PDF version. It includes the pages I use for the Sabbats as well as the correspondence lists I’ve collected. Feel free to download it and tweak it as much as you like!

Book of Shadows PDF Template

Book of Shadows .Doc Template

Chardonnay + Zucchini Madeleines

3 medium-size zucchini, shredded
2 tsp salt
6 tbsp olive oil
1 medium size onion, chopped
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
5 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, minced and pressed
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves
¼ tsp pepper

1. In a large bowl, mix zucchini with salt. Let stand until limp and liquid has drained from it, about 30 minutes. Rinse well; drain, squeezing out as much water as possible.
2. Meanwhile, pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into an 8 to 10 inch frying pan on medium high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, stir flour with baking powder. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, remaining oil, cheese, garlic basil and pepper until well-blended. Add zucchini and onion and mix well. Stir zucchini into flour mixture just until evenly moistened.
4. Butter and flour Madeleine pans or small muffin pans. Spoon batter into pans, filling to rims. Bake in a 400 F oven until puffed and lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes, then invert pans to removed madeleines. Use a spatula to loosen them gently, if necessary.

My madeleine pan is one of my dearest friends! These adorable little scalloped cookie/biscuits are a deliciously summery appetizer and the addition of zucchini links them with prosperity, the perfect start to an afternoon with friends.

Pinot Noir + Pork Chops with Horseradish Apples

A hearty meal, pork chops pair perfectly with apples, the fruit of wisdom and divination. Pair with pinot noir for a delicious combination that will guide you to better clarity in a tarot reading, palm reading or other form of divination.

Port + Double Chocolate Cherry Torte

Cherries are related to love and chocolate to lust and romance so with the added bonus of a sinfully sweet port, this is one pairing destined for an evening with your sweetie.

The winner was chosen via random number generation. 

Coronaritas

2 Coronas
1 can limeade

Mix the limeade as directed on the can. Stir in the Coronas. Chill and serve. Makes 1 pitcher.

The second recipe is a virgin version I invented at my favorite local Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, as I’ve never actually made it myself, I’ve guesstimated on the amounts:

Virgin Orangarita

1 can orange juice
1 can limeade
Ice
Kosher salt

Mix the limeade and orange juice separately. Combine approximately half of the orange juice with half of the limeade (save the remainder for a separate recipe.) Blend the orange-lime mix with ice until it is smooth and crushed. Pour into glasses rimmed with kosher salt. Makes 1 pitcher.

Perhaps not my witchiest post ever, but I think a Midnight Margaritas post is “practically” mandatory for all witchy bloggers!

Verbena Apothecary is giving away a $20 gift certificate to be used for anything in the shop.

Simply leave a comment with what you love about the film (maybe your favorite quote, favorite scene, favorite character or just why it makes you happy) and you’ll automatically be entered to win.

The giveaway will run through midnight, Pacific time, on Wednesday, May 8 so be sure and get your comments in ASAP! On Thursday, I will randomly select a winner.

Thank you so much to all of my witchy friends out there!

1. Decorate a wooden dowel with ribbons and place in a pot of moss as a small-scale maypole.
2. Floral wreaths are a lovely way to mix up the style of centerpieces. Simply place a small wreath of flowers around a candle or even something like a punch bowl.
3. For décor subtly reminiscent of the ribbons of the maypole, tie or pin wide ribbons of various colors to a curtain rod and hang over an altar, bed or other area in need of decoration. Make your May Day curtain magickal by writing wishes or spells on the ribbon.
4. Fill a glass bowl with water and float flowers or candles in it. Decorate it further in the form of a well-dressing.
5. Make 12 inch blessing braids out of blue, green, red and yellow ribbons (each color honoring a different element) for use as curtain tiebacks. They will add a splash of color as well as make the windows of your home a spiritual opening as well as a physical one.
6. Cut butterflies out of a rainbow of tissue paper and hang in a window or over a table from monofilament line.
7. Fill unexpected containers such as watering cans with flowers and place on the front porch, in the entryway or anywhere in the house.
8. Decorate the bedroom with roses: bouquets, petals and floral prints will encourage romance at this romance and fertility related holiday.
9. Honor the fire festival aspect of Beltane by decorating with candles of all shapes, sizes and colors.
10. Place pressed flowers under glass for long-lasting spring décor.

With that in mind, I put together a little kitchen witch-inspired “treasury list” of Etsy products! Just click on the image below to go directly to the collection.

In that time, I have done lots of searching and Googling and reading about my preferred terms, kitchen witch and cottage witch. Unfortunately, what I’ve found has been frustratingly generic and so for my 200^th post, I’ve decided to share a more complete definition of just exactly what is a kitchen/cottage witch in the form of “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Kitchen & Cottage Witch FAQs

1. What is a kitchen witch?
   A witch who is focused on the kitchen, using mostly edible ingredients and kitchen tools to practice magick.
2. What is a cottage witch?
   A witch who is focused on the home, using ordinary household and kitchen items to practice magick which in turn is often focused on family, home and daily needs.
3. Are kitchen and cottage witches solitary practitioners or do they belong to covens?
   Like most witches of all different traditions, the choice to be a solitary or to belong to a coven is an individual one for kitchen and cottage witches. The majority practice as solitaries but there is certainly nothing barring us from belonging to an eclectic coven or from meeting up with other witches.
4. Can someone who is Wiccan or follows another tradition or religion also be a kitchen or cottage witch?
   In most cases, yes. Kitchen and cottage witchery are very informal and can easily be combined with many different religions and ideas. These traditions are about what’s most important to the practitioner and are very easy to adapt to your specific needs.
5. What does a kitchen/cottage witch’s altar look like?
   Again, this is something that is personal to each individual witch. In my case, I have a collection of candles on my dresser that essentially serve as my “altar,” a place I can do rituals at, particularly full moon rituals, and feel connected. Many kitchen and cottage witches set up traditional altars including the four elements, statues of their deities or other items important to them. The classic kitchen witch altar is typically set up in a corner of the kitchen and includes a corn dolly. Generally speaking, altars in the kitchen and cottage witch traditions are not formal set-ups with a lot of props but rather whatever space makes the practitioner feel most connected and spiritual.
6. Do kitchen and cottage witches celebrate the eight Sabbats (Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lammas and Mabon?)
   Most do, although some kitchen and cottage witches that also follow other traditions such as Heathenism have different holidays and feasts.
7. What kind of spells do kitchen witches cast?
   If someone is specifically a kitchen witch, the majority of their magick revolves around the kitchen only. This means that most magick should be made with edible ingredients like herbs, nuts and baked goods and that it should be done in the kitchen. For example, chocolate chip cookies with almonds added for wisdom could be a form of kitchen witchery. Kitchen witches can cast just about any type of spell, although many kitchen witches subscribe to an idea derived from Wicca, that their magick should not inflict harm on anyone or block anyone’s free will.
8. What kind of spells do cottage witches cast?
   Cottage witchery encompasses kitchen magick but also a much broader range of spell types. For example, adding a bit of organic cleansing herbs to homemade cleaning supplies could be a form of cottage witchery but so could making braids of ribbon in protective colors to use as curtain tiebacks. Again, cottage witches can cast just about any type of spell, but many subscribe to an idea derived from Wicca, that their magick should not inflict harm on anyone or block anyone’s free will.
9. Do kitchen and cottage witches worship gods or goddesses?
   Again, the answer to this question is individual to each witch. Personally, I use the generic “Goddess” when I pray during ritual but many kitchen and cottage witches are much more specific. Some gods and goddesses are particularly popular for their association with the home, threshold or hearth such as Hestia or Frigg but kitchen and cottage witches are free to worship any deities they like, even the Christian God.
10. How do I become a kitchen or cottage witch?
    Kitchen and cottage witchery is not like more formal pagan traditions like Wicca, in that we do not have specific set rules or training. To become a kitchen or cottage witch, one simply has to take on the title. However, it is good to know what you’re getting into before you jump in feet first. Read as many books as you can (I recommend Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan in particular) and talk to people online; ask them what being a kitchen or cottage witch means to them and discover how you can apply the terms to your own life.

I hope this list is helpful to anyone out there searching for answers on kitchen and cottage witchery or just wondering what it’s all about. What about you? Do you have any burning questions about this form of witchcraft?

Place the pinwheel in a bowl of fresh soil so it stands upright and light the candle. If it is a windy night and you are outside, meditate on the spinning pinwheel. (Otherwise, simply blow into the wheel or set up a small fan nearby to make it spin.)

Take a bite of the chocolate and a sip of tea, alternating until gone. Blow out the candle, saying “Blessed Be.”