Special Guest: Dee Chapman

It is official!!! On Feb 23, Dawn and Jen will be interviewing Your Favorite Witch, Dee Chapman.

You might know her as TipToeChick, Master Herbalist and the owner of The Green Eyed Owl LLC. Be sure to check out her pages here on Facebook, YouTube or head on over to her website where you will find all sorts of herbs, herbal remedies, herbal advice and other products for living the magickal life! *super excited*

Is there anything you want us to ask Dee? Leave your question in the comments section and we will ask on the air.

MHR Ep 24 Magick In the Garden

What now brown cow...

Over the last 2 weeks... we have mentioned that it is time to get your garden beds ready and gather clean your tools.

So now what. It is still a little to direct sow most seeds. If you have raised beds or planters, you can direct sow peas and potatoes. 

Seeds are popping up everywhere! Time to gather friends and share seeds. Or do my 2nd favorite thing... buy seeds for yourself! 

Garden Beds: Time to make sure that your garden beds a weed free. Add some compost to boost the nutrients. Before you know it.. its going to be time to fill those boxes with goodies.

Journals: Get your journals out and start recording your progress, plans, hopes and dreams... This is where the magick begins. 

Pay our respects: Leave offerings to the spirits of place. Ask them for permission to plant in the soil and thank them for their aid in an abundant growing season!

A Dash of Magick:

We asked the question: What is Magick?

The most often quoted definition of magick comes from Aleister Crowley, who says,

“Magick is The Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity to Will.” 

One of my (Jen) favorite excerpts describing magick is from Pure Magic by Judika Illes 

“Magic is part of real life. Magic is not an excuse to assume that Earthly laws, Laws of nature, will somehow be suspended, that exceptions will be made for you. Magic just reminds us that Earth’s laws are a little more complex than we often care to remember.... Magic isn’t license to abandon common sense. Ideally, they enhance each other. Magic doesn’t supersede the laws of nature: It is the Law of Nature.” 

We chatted about what Magick means to us.  So here is your chance to share your thoughts on what magick is. We want to hear from you!

MHR Ep 23 Love is in the Air!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

is Love all you need? Well, I’d say, Love....and a garden!

February is the Month of Love and with Valentine day coming up this week, The topic was  LOVE FROM THE GARDEN! So much magick tied to the month of February, as it is the beginning of spring in the ancient agrarian calendar, and spring is the time of awakening! In the garden, this looks like little buds coming through the snow, or perhaps a bit of BONE work going on, with the prep and planning of hard architecture, fencing and cleaning.

February is often under rated in terms of what kind of GARDEN LOVIN’ there is going on! Many people think of it as a rest time, or a fallow time, and really it is...but Depending on your climate, February is full of garden tasks to do!

So if your February is...

Hot: Start seeds of hardy veggies, annuals, herbs outdoors. Aerate and feed the lawn. Harvest fruits and veg daily to foil critters and promote new production.
Warm: Clean and sharpen your garden tools. Protect plants against late-season frost. Clean and repair your bird houses.
Mild: Start seeds of veggies, annuals and herbs indoors. Use sterile mixes to prevent damping off of young seedlings.
Cool: Get seed-starting equipment ready, including sterile mixes, trays, pots and lights. Be patient--spring will come! Repot any house plants that need more growing room.

This is also a great time to plan and start a kitchen garden.

A Dash of Magick

Self Love

Self love is probably the most powerful protection amulets around, and it is the most under utilized protection guard we have available to us! To many, the mention of Self-love seems kind of airy-fairy, new agey,, hippie dippy, but i think these notions keep us in a trap of fear of truly loving ourselves. Self love really encompasses simple actions--for instance, how we talk to ourselves, who we say Yes or No to, taking some time to do things that make us feel good.

One of the best things I have found from experience is reciting simple mantras to reinforce and solidify the beliefs in myself over time. Every time you catch your reflection in the mirror, tell yourself, “I Love You!” At first you might feel silly...but soon, you will notice a subtle change within your mindset. If you are doing this faithfully, without fail, every single time you notice yourself in a mirror or a reflection, the “I Love You” mantra will solidify in your mind and take root, and soon there will be no doubt whatsoever that you do, In fact, love yourself!

Witches Bottle

During the episode Dawn mentioned the use of witches bottles. She mentioned that she could not remember which book of Christopher Penczak's that had an in-depth look at making witch bottles.  Dawns favorite guide comes from The Witch’s Shield. His advice gives a great “recipe” for protective herbs, crystals and other symbols, identifying your intent and what else to include in your bottle and where to place it.

MHR Ep 22.. And we are back!!!

After a nice and well needed break we are back..
Happy Imbolc Everyone.

We had great show. It was chuck full of information. So if you didn't catch it when it aired. By all means listen. Just click the little widget for Blog talk and enjoy.

Can you believe that we are now in February? We neither can we. we are just happy to be back! With Spring right around the corner. There is must to be done in the garden.


Now is the time to...cut back brambles, plan and build your hard structures such as greenhouse and raised beds. Also time to plan your watering systems



Plants to sow indoors:  Cabbage,  Celery,  Endive, Kale, Leeks,  Lettuce, Mache, Onions, bulb
Radicchio Scallion (green onion)  and Spinach
Herbs: Chives, Fennel, Leaf  Marjoram,  Parsley,  Rosemary, Sage Savory, Summer  Thyme
Transplants: Asparagus and  Rhubarb

(Of course this will very depending on where you are on this planet)

Today’s Magickal Imbolc menu:

• Colcannon
• Soda Bread with Caraway Seeds
• Home made butter
• Jen's Green Soup

Homemade Butter: This so EASY!!!!!

1. Take a quart size mason jar. 
2. Fill 1/2 to 5/8 full of cream. 
• Here you can add some salt or herbs to taste.
3. Place lid.
4. Shake
• This was a great activity to get the kids help with. Pass it around.
  (We did this during our Imbolc Ritual, it is full of blessings and magick)
5. After about 15 min a shaking, There should be a clump of butter in liquid, If so, drain the the liquid, we added this to our offerings. Place the butter on a plate and enjoy!

Green Soup: 

With spring so close we coming to a period of the season where we want warm comfort food that is on the lighter side. This green soup base is a go to food  for me (Jen). What I love best about this soup is that  other than it being full of greens, is that it is a kitchen sink soup, anything goes. There are no exact measurements. This will make a nice size pot of soup. to adjust your ingredients based on your pot. 

1.  Caramelize 2-3 large Onions. 
• Thinly slice onions
• In skillet over medium low heat: drizzle Olive Oil or a pat of UNSALTED Butter (There is a reason for the unsalted butter... Adding salt during the caramelizing process,will prevent the very thing you are trying to accomplish) 
• Place onions in pan and cover. Stir occasionally 
• Cook till caramelized. (when you think it is ready cook a little longer)
2. Add to Stock pot:
• Caramelized Onions. 
• Stock ( I make a Big pot so i use about 93 oz of stock. This could be chicken or veggie stock.)
• Toss in 2-3 cloves of peeled garlic
• 1 Bay Leaf (if you don't have that is OK, I like how it helps meld all the flavors)
• Add herbs of choice at this point
• 3 Tbsp of white rice (This will give you our creamy texture with out adding dairy.
• Cook for about 15 min at a good soft simmer.
3. Add Greens
• Spinach, Kale, Mustard or Turnip Greens or what ever combination of greens that your heart desires. (Just remove the thick stems... save those for your next batch of stock)  
4. Simmer for about another 15 minutes.
5. Remove Bay leaf ,Salt and Pepper to taste.
6. Then blend with a immersion blender. (not everyone has one of these. I did not think i really would use this. but I end up using this 2-4 times a week. it was work the $20 I paid for it.) 
7. Garnish : Anything goes here... I like hot sauce, lemon and a drizzle of sour cream topped with croutons.  You can diced ham and cheese. Or like my girlfriends do. Put it in a bowl and leave it alone. 

Love Custard!!!!

Ok everyone, If you listened to the  MHR Episode Sweet Lavender, you have heard us mention "Love Custard!"

Well, I have put together a recipe modification that combines the element of scent and taste for Pumpkin and Lavender in a custard.  Here it goes...

The sugar and cream in this recipe is infused with lavender Flowers, instructions below.

"Love Custard"

Ingredients

15 ounces pureed cooked pumpkin

2 eggs

1 cup half-and-half cream*

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

Lavender Sugar*

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; beat until smooth. Pour into four greased 10-oz. custard cups.

Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan; pour hot water around cups to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.

When ready to serve, sprinkle approximately 2 teaspoons of Lavender sugar over the custard.

For best results, use a small hand-held torch. Hold the torch 4 to 5 inches from the sugar, maintaining a slow and even motion. Stop torching just before the desired degree of doneness is reached, as the sugar will continue to cook for a few seconds after flame has been removed.

If you don't have a torch, place custard 6 inches below the broiler for 4 to 6 minutes or until sugar bubbles and turns golden brown. Refrigerate  at least 10 minutes before serving. 

Yield 4 servings.

*Here is a link on how to make Lavender Sugar.

* To infuse the 1/2 & 1/2 Place in sauce pan add 1 tbs of lavender flowers(or more if you like) and heat gently. strain and cool.

MHR Thanksgivings - Dash of Magick

It’s time to add A Dash of Magick! Today I wanted to share a Wonderful Spell/Ritual I came across a couple years ago.
Bountiful Ritual To Increase the Good Things in Your Life by Amerindea 

This is a wonderful ritual to do around Thanksgiving, but it can be done anytime of the year that you want to be grateful for what you have and make sure that the good things,such as money, love, success and health, keep coming to you.
November is a time when psychic thoughts are strong. Doing this ritual in November brings an abundance of love, prosperity and health.
For great abundance of love, prosperity and health do this ritual on Saturday or Sunday before the full moon this month's full moon is the Full Beaver Moon: November 28, 9:46 A.M. (which is ThanksGiving weekend! Sunday would be a great time to do this Ritual) This ritual should not be done more than 3 times a year. The items you will need are: Gemstones: Rose quartz for friendship and love Unakite for a healthy mind Agate for strong protection Garnet for good luck, love and money Citrine for success and good luck Carnelian for health and money Emerald for love and health Smoky quartz for energy and prosperity Sodaltie for harmony 3 votive candles in clear glass holders 1 white votive, 1 orange votive and 1 green votive Vase with water and evergreens (can be ivy, holly or pine) 1 penny, 1 dime and 1 quarter A small dish or bowl (silver, brass or clear glass) 1 teaspoon of honey and a small piece of bread on a white plate 3 tablespoons of red wine or grape juice in a clear glass A list of 10 or more things for which you are grateful Clean your stones: Clean your stones in the method you like.
The night before the ritual write your grateful list and have your evergreens in the vase.

Prepare your altar: Put all the items on your clean altar. Put the candles in glass holders, have the matches close by. Place the candles from left to right white, green and orange.

Place the gemstones in an order that is meaningful to you in front of the candles. For example, if love is most important for you now, then put the love stones first starting on the left or if health is the most important, then the health stones. The order of the stones may be changed each time you do this ritual.
Put your grateful list under the white candle, put the vase with the evergreens behind the green candle and the coins behind the orange candle.
Place the small bowl to the left of the candles
Put the plate with the honey and bread and the wine or juice to the right of the candles. Light the candles starting at the left with the white candle and say: I have love and friendship in my life Light the green candle and say: I have a strong and healthy body with a clear mind Light the orange candle and say: I have success and prosperity in my life
Say the following lines in order as you pick up each gemstone one at a time with your right hand and place the gemstone in your left hand. After you recite each line gently blow on the gemstone and then put it in the bowl. I deserve love and friendship in my life I deserve a strong and healthy body with a clear mind I deserve success and prosperity in my life I feel the flow of love and friendship around me I feel the flow of health in my body and clearness in my mind I feel the flow of success and prosperity around me I accept the increase of love and friendship into my life I accept the increase of having a stronger and healthier body and a clearer mind I accept the increase of success and prosperity into my life
After the nine stones are in the bowl, dip the bread in the honey and say: I have much sweetness in my life! (Eat the bread and honey.) Take the wine and say: I have much joy in my life! (Drink the wine.) Let the candles burn out. Take away the bread plate and wine glass, but leave everything else on the altar for the next 3 days. On the third day, wrap the coins in your grateful list, take this and the evergreens to a tree you like and bury the wrapped coins at the base of the tree, then place the evergreens on top and say: So I give what I receive in abundance!

Magickal Harvest Thanksgiving Special

Dawn and I are gearing up for a Magickal Harvest Radio Thanksgiving special on 11/17/2012 1:00 PM MST  We would like to Hear from all of you! 
A: One thing that you are grateful for.
B: A special family tradition. (This can be a special Recipe/dish, activity etc.)


Send us an email with your Thanksgiving traditions to be shared on the air. You can drop us a line at MagickalHarvest@gmail.com or message us via www.MagickalHarvest.com or Facebook. We look forward to to hearing from all of you!