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witchy ingredient: dandelion roots

I have a huge fondness for dandelions. They’re sunny little flowers and their weedy resilience inspires me. I too would like to unexpectedly grow through the cracks of things without a care in the world.

Every part of the dandelion is edible–the leaves are a bitter green and the yellow flowers can be used in teas. Like many bitters, the plant has a mild diuretic effect (in fact, one of the folk names for dandelion is “piss-a-bed” which… how can you not love that?). This is supposedly good for your liver and digestion. Dandelions have been used in herbal remedies all around the world and across time, from Chinese traditional medicine to the indigenous nations of the Americas.

Today though I want to focus on the roots. They’re quite extraordinary! Dandelions are actually a taproot plant like carrots, meaning they have one big main root with several smaller ones reaching out of it. Their roots are notorious for growing really deep into the soil if left unbothered, and can be used as companion plants in gardening to help funnel nutrients up into the top layers of soil for surrounding plants. The roots too are edible with, again, a bitter taste.

How to Harvest Dandelion Root

Firstly, it’s not advisable to just eat any old dandelion you find. They often grow in places that have been treated with pesticides, which you don’t want to eat.

Once a reputable dandelion is found or planted, timing is everything. It’s best to let the plant grow for a couple of years, and to harvest the root in the fall.

In the fall the dandelions typically won’t have their signature yellow flower any more, so be absolutely sure that what you’re harvesting is actually a dandelion!

Depending on how soft the surrounding soil is, you can use your hands to dig up the root or a gardening fork. Ideally, you don’t want to break the root, so try jimmying around the plant to loosen the soil before going in.

Preparing the Roots

Wash the dirt off!

The roots can be eaten raw in salads, but typically they are dried. First take off the stringy excess roots. Then cut the taproot in half longwise and chop those pieces into shorter wedges, about ¼ to ½ inch or smaller. 

To dry, you can use a dehydrator or you can dry them out in a cool, dry spot over a couple of weeks. You can then use the dried roots for whatever witchy applications you desire, such as powdering them or using them in spells.

The dried roots will keep for about a year.

Dandelion Root Tea & Coffee

Once dried, the roots are tastier if you roast them. A lower heat for a longer amount of time is best, such as 250 degrees (F) for 2 hours.

After the roots are roasted, grind them into smaller bits in a coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle. If you store the roots in a jar and grind handfuls of them right before making them into coffee or tea, this makes the taste slightly stronger.

You can use the ground roots as you would coffee grounds to brew dandelion root coffee!

Alternatively, you can make a decoction tea, similar to how you’d make ginger tea. In a saucepan, combine a cup of water for every serving you’d like to make + 1 tsp of ground root for every cup. Lightly simmer for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, drain the tea and it’s ready to drink.

The taste is earthy and a little bitter, so feel free to experiment with sweeter elements such as cinnamon sticks or mixing with other teas.

Possible Correspondences

Along with resilience, dandelions personally remind me of joy and luck. The association with granting wishes in their seed head form can also be borrowed for spells.

The English word “dandelion” is a bastardization of the French “dent de lion” meaning “lion’s teeth.” Dandelions can therefore be associated with Leo.

Roots in general, due to their nature, can be grounding or can bear some connection to the underworld.

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Happy birthday! 💖

thank you so much!! 🥺💛

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happy birthday to meeeee

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I ate a rose quartz when do I start loving myself?

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I saw people designing Halloween themed pride flags so I thought I'd try it too!! I also posted these to my Instagram @_und3ad :)

Plz give credit if ur going to use these and feel free to request flags:) <3

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table centerpiece. it’s fall, y’all. 🎃

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Citrus Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner

My sister introduced me to this idea and it is a fantastic one for a great all-purpose, all-natural, and great smelling household cleaner.  It is so simple, but be patient, your first batch won’t be ready for a couple of weeks.  Here’s how

Cut the peels from you choice of citrus, either oranges or lemons

place in a glass jar with lid

fill with white vinegar

let stand for 2 to 3 weeks

fill a spray bottle ½ with the vinegar and ½ with water

clean away and enjoy the fresh clean smell

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To the spiders in the ceiling corners: you’re keeping your end of the contract, love u honeys catch those tasty flies

To the spiders halfway down the wall and touchin my furniture: you’re on thin fucking ice babes

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I want this deck

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Found this on pinterest 

cool idea for sea witchery 

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biggest betrayal is when it’s supposed to thunderstorm and it doesn’t

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hello, friends.

it’s been a long while. 💛

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Candle colors and their meanings

White: Purification, new beginnings, healing, spiritual growth, lunar work, and can also substitute for any color if needed. 

Black: Banishing negative energy, breaking habits, protection, and binding.

Red: Passion, love, power, vitality, strong energy, and the element of fire.

Blue: Peace, element of water, emotional healing, truth, and justice. 

Yellow: Element of air, arts, communication, focus and intuition, fresh ideas and inspiration. (As a writer and artist, I like to use this fairly often).

Green: Money magick, growth, prosperity, health, and any nature working.

Orange: Ambition and creativity, career workings, strength and individuality. (This is another candle I use frequently).

Purple: Psychic matters, divination, astral travel, and connecting with unseen realms.

Pink: Emotional well-being, sensuality matters of the heart, compassion, self love, attracting love, and forgiveness. 

Grey: Neutrality and balance, protection, and to gain discernment.

Brown: Grounding, emotional stability, balance, and trust.

Silver: The moon, psychic receptivity, dreaming, love, rest, and healing.

Gold: The sun, wealth, confidence, willpower, generosity, and optimism.

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A little witchy calendar to look forward to next year, since this one was a little bit.. cursed.

This lets you know about the full moons, new moons, wheel of the year celebrations and zodiac entrys, I hope you can use this to aid you on your practice.

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genuinely one of my favourite details about Bram Stokers Dracula that isn't really transferred to the pop culture is that vampires have irridescent eyes, they appear brown at a glance, however when light is reflected on them they seem to go red!

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