Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery: Everyday Magic, Spells, and Recipes by Kris Bradley
Genre: New Age/ Wicca
Publisher: Weiser Books,
an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-57863-515-3
Number of pages: 224
Word Count: 49,000
Cover Artist: Jim Warner
Synopsis:
For domestic goddesses everywhere—add some magic and fun to
those mundane household chores with Mrs.
B.'s Guide to Household Witchery. Whether you're sweeping the floor,
making a meal, or cleaning out that junk drawer, domestic witch Kris Bradley,
creator of the popular blog, Confessions
of a Pagan Soccer Mom, will show you how to create spells and magic to
bring happiness and balance into your home.
Bradley offers ideas and solutions to make the most out of
everyday items, activities, and obligations. From Anchovies to Broccoli, and
Wine to Yeast, from sweeping the floor to blow-drying your hair, you can change
your outlook on life with a pinch of knowledge and a dash of magic! The book
includes simple rituals, spells, and ways to connect with the spirits that
watch over your home and family. Includes an appendix of herbs and a complete
materia magica from the kitchen pantry.
Mrs. B's Guide to Household
Witchery features:
Room by Room:
How to create magic while you cook, set up a family altar in the living room,
or do a junk drawer divination
The Elements
for the Domestic Witch: a primer on the 4 elements and how to balance them in
your home
The Domestic
Witch's Herbal: Magical uses for every herb and food in your pantry, as
well as instant magic with prepackaged spice mixes
Simple
Sabbats for the Busy Witch: simple ways to celebrate the
passing of the seasons
Magical Recipes: More than 100
recipes and spells
Excerpt
IntroductionWhen I started on my path as a Pagan, I read book after book after book. With no Internet and no idea where to even think of finding another Pagan or group to learn with, putting information together for myself was the only thing I had back then. I was strongly drawn to anything based on the domestic part of magic and deity: gods and goddesses of the hearth, kitchen witchery, recipes of all sorts. Over the years, I worked out a system that allowed me to include magic in my everyday life as a wife and stay-at-home mom. With three kids, a houseful of pets, and not a lot of money, these methods had to include things that were already in my home and that could be done in a short amount of time. I came to consider this collection of methods “domestic witchery,” and I eventually started a blog called Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, where I shared my ideas and thoughts on the subject.This book contains the basics of it all, though I do not consider it a “101” book. While I hope it will help point the way to beginners who are interested in taking a domestic path, it’s based on the idea that readers have a general knowledge of magical practice and Pagan religious traditions already. This book won’t teach you how to be a Pagan, but it will hopefully lead you to some ideas on creating a house filled with magic and give you a broader view of what it means to be domestic. And though it mentions the holidays that I personally take part in, I believe that many of the ideas in this book can be incorporatedinto any spiritual practice. I hope you enjoy!What Is a Domestic Witch?Domestic witchery is a magical practice based on bringing magic and deityinto the mundane of everyday domestic life. It’s the realization that even the simplest household chores can be transformed to influence the energies in our home and lives; every chore can honor our families, deity, and ourselves.Does that mean working like a slave to carry out the every whim of our families? Or turning into the stereotypical 1950s housewife with a pristine house, dishpan hands, and a smile plastered on her face (not to mention a flask tucked into her apron)? Not at all. Many domestic witches do set their sights on being similar to that fifties mom in the sense of being available to their children, taking pride in their home, and cooking family meals. They are attempting to restore things that have started to get put on the back burner in this busy, often chaotic world. However, being a domestic witch is still about being a modern witch who works as an equal to their partner and with their chosen deity to make a warm, welcoming environment in their home. For those who choose to be parents, it’s also about bringing up healthy, happy children who are self-sufficient, self-assured, and who have a well-rounded spiritual upbringing.Can a man be a domestic witch? Sure! Any man who wants to create a home that is a haven can work with magic to create the place he craves. Whether single or in a partnership, there is no reason why today’s modern male can’t take on the role of creating a magical household. Male domestic witches take pride in their homes, their land, their families. Domestic witchery is all about a love of caring for their hearth, home, family, and the deities who oversee them—not about gender!In this book we’ll explore deities that traditionally watch over the home, find out ways to use your ceiling fan as a tool of the element of Air, learn to mix up a prosperity oil straight from your kitchen cabinet, and much more!
SIMPLE SABBATS FOR THE BUSY WITCH: simple ways to celebrate the passing of the seasons
Samhain—October 31
Though many look to October 31 as Halloween, Pagans from around the world call it Samhain (Sow-en), a time to remember their ancestors and to celebrate the start of a new year. This period is well suited to practicing divination, working on transitions of all sorts, candle magic, protection magic, and working with or contacting those who have passed on.
October is often one of the busiest months of the year in a Pagan household.The fun of Halloween, creating costumes for the family, school events, and getting the household and property ready for the coming cooler weather keep us hopping. Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day to breathe, much less to plan a way to honor the season. Here are a few simple ways to celebrate.
Ritual: 5 Minutes Alone
This simple Samhain ritual lets you honor those who came before. If you have a few extra moments, add your favorite form of divination and see what the coming year will bring!
Items Needed:
• Your ancestor altar• Lighter or matches• A glass of apple cider• A small snack, such as gingersnaps or a sliced apple
1. Sit before your ancestor altar and take a few deep breaths. Think about those who have passed on—their struggles and how they’ve affected your life. Think about how blessed you were to have them in your life.
2. When you feel centered and ready, light the candle on your altar and say,I light this candle in honor of Samhain and to recognize the changing season. Ihonor the Lord and Lady and my ancestors and give them thanks. On this night,when their spirits walk among us and magic is in the air, I ask my ancestors fortheir blessings and ask them to watch over my family and home. So mote it be.
3. Sit for a moment or two. Drink your cider and eat your snack, being sure to leave some on your offering plate. Let the candle burn for as long as you safely can.
Small Group Ritual
This ritual is just the right length to do with a friend or two, your partner, or the whole family. Just gather round and share the time together.
Items Needed:
• A candle• A lighter or matches• Scraps of paper• A pen or pencil for each participant• Your cauldron or other heat-safe container• Cider and cups• A plate of cookies
1. Gather everyone, and sit down somewhere comfortable with all of your ritual items. Begin with a simple deep breathing exercise to get everyone centered.
2. When everyone’s ready, light the candle and say,
On this fall night of Samhain, we celebrate the turning wheel. As the seasons change, so goes the cycle of death and rebirth. Tonight we mark the death of the old year and the birth of the new. We make these pledges to ourselves and to the Lord and Lady.
3. At this time, each person should write down any resolutions that they’d like to make for the new year or any plans for new beginnings that they’d like to put into motion.
4. Go around the circle, and one at a time each participant can choose whether to share what they’ve written out loud. The paper is then lit on the flame of the candle (younger participants should be assisted by an adult) and placed in the cauldron to burn.
5. When everyone has finished, pass around the cider and cookies and enjoy each other’s company. Everyone should save a sip of the cider and a bit of his or her cookie. When it’s time to finish up, take the cooled ashes outside and bury them in the ground. Leave your food offerings nearby.
For the Kids
There are usually more than enough Halloween activities going on in October for the kids. But how do you get them to understand what Samhain is really about? Create something fun to draw their attention while you count down the days!
Grab some orange construction paper and cut out thirty-one pumpkin shapes; number them 1 to 31 on one side. On the other side, write a short fact about Samhain, or paste on a picture of a loved one who’s passed or share a fun fact about that person. If you like, staple or tape a small treat to each pumpkin, such as a piece of candy, a coin, a small Halloween eraser, or something like that. Starting on October 1, find a place to stash the pumpkin where you know your child will find it. Pack it in their school lunch, stick it in their sock drawer, or prop it up by their toothbrush. On Halloween morning, tape the last paper pumpkin to a real pumpkin and help them carve a face in it so that it can guard your home that night.
Tour Wide Giveaway: One Print Copy of Mrs. B's Guide (US)
About the Author:
Kris Bradley is the magic behind the popular blog Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom (2500 readers). She helped establish The Sisterhood of the Triple Goddess coven in Keyport, NJ and is a legally ordained minister, in addition to being a witchy wife and mother. Her work on domestic witchery has been featured in PaganParenting.org and as a national column for Examiner.com. She lives in Keyport, NJ.Find the Author
would luv to win a copy :)
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