lilskittlexx

[lilskittlexx]

Hello! I hope you are enjoying your summer. Lughnasadh is upon us, the first of the 3 harvest holidays. I usually spend this day on the countryside, hiking and enjoying the sun, but this year it is a bit different for obvious reasons! 

I know that usually it is custom to bake some bread for Lughnasadh I am a bit of a rebel so today I am offering you a really great recipe if you plan to do a picnic of a feast to celebrate this special day! I have cooked these tarts more than 3 times already and it is always a success! The recipe is a bit long, and I tried to make it as clear as possible!

Strawberry and Wine tarts

The perfect dessert for Lughnasadh

Prep time: 1 hour

Rest time: 1 hour

Cook time: 30 minutes

Yields: 6 to 8 small tarts or 1 big tart

Ingredients

- Dough

120g (1cup) plain flour

60g (1/2cup) whole meal flour

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

100g butter

- Mascarpone Cream

250g (1 pack) mascarpone

35g (1/4 cup) powder sugar

60g (2 tbsp) heavy cream

- Strawberry and Wine syrup

500g strawberries (more or less, it’s not really precise)

55g (1/4 cup) sugar

juice of 1 lemon

A few fresh Thyme sprigs

60g (1/4 cup) port wine

Preparation

//Dough

In a bowl, mix everything until you have crumbs

Add a bit of water for the dough to keep together

Make a flat ball, wrap it and let it rest in the fridge until needed (at least an hour)

//Strawberries

Rinse and cut the strawberries in slices and put then in a bowl

Add the lemon juice, a few fresh Thyme sprigs and sugar

Let it rest in the fridge for until needed (at least 30 minutes)

//Pie crusts

Pre-heat your oven 180°/375°F

Roll out a portion of the dough about 5mm thick

Drape over a small tart tin with it and trim the excess

Put back the trim with the rest of the dough

Repeat until you don’t have any dough left

Pick the crust with a fork to keep the crust flat when baking

Bake in a hot oven for 15/20 minutes. The crust has to be light golden.

Let it cool on a tray

//Mascarpone cream

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients with a whisk or electric whisk until you have a creamy texture

Let it rest in the fridge until needed

//Wine Syrup

Stain the Strawberry juice and the Thyme in small sauce pan

Put the strawberries back in the fridge

Add the port wine in the pan, you can add more Thyme sprigs if you want a stronger flavour

Put the syrup to a boil then on medium heat until the liquid has diminished by half, or until syrupy

Remove the Thyme springs and set aside the wine syrup to cool

//Making the tart

Spread the cream

Layer with strawberry slices

Drizzle with a bit of syrup

Garnish with a few Thyme leaves

Tips

* These tarts have to be eaten the same day. I understand that the process is a bit long so you can cook the crust and whip the mascarpone the day before so you’d just have to do the strawberries, the syrup and the tarts the day where you plan to eat them

* Port substitution: You can use marsala as well, or nothing and just reduce the strawberry juice to make it a syrup

* If you choose to do a big tart, use weights when you bake the crust to keep it flat

[lilskittlexx]

Fae Aesthetic

For requests see this post.

[lilskittlexx]

An alternative to meditation for people who can’t focus well

Hello dear little fairy blossoms! I know a few of my witchy friends are diagnosed with ADHD, and thus, they find it very difficult to focus on one thing at a time, making meditation a rather painful experience. When I heard about this technique from my friend Sapphire, I thought it would be perfect for those of you who can’t concentrate whilst meditating, and I have it from several of my other ADHD-diagnosed pals that this really does work well for them. So, here I introduce you to… energy reading!

But what on earth is that, RJ? you might ask. Good question. Energy reading is where you connect to an object and sort of vibe check it in that you can begin to understand its energy and connection to you and the world around it a little better. 

  -  First, choose your object!

  -  Rest your hands on it gently. Imagine its energy coming out of the object and rising to meet your own. Imagine it as light, if you like, or smoke. Whatever feels right for you and the object. 

  -  Be quiet with the object for as long as you’d like and think about the thoughts and feelings that come to mind when you touch it. Do you have thoughts of healing or fear? Happiness or serenity? Why do you think this is?

  -  After you’re finished, write it down in a notebook! Experiment with lot of other objects, especially plants!

I hope this helps you, little bubbles x

- Love from RJ <3 

[lilskittlexx]

Witchy garden commission 

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Witchy Self Care 🧿🔮🌿

[via Pintrest & obscureclouds.com]

[lilskittlexx]

Witchy Self Care & Mindfulness🌻🌿

Artwork by @CraftingWitch on Instagram

[lilskittlexx]

Comforting Tea Spell

If a friend shows up at your doorstep in tears or distraught and is looking for comfort, brew her a witchy cup of tea by imbuing it with your intentions: visualize your friend being warmed and soothed by your cup of tea as she drinks it. As a witch, your intent carries great power through your actions. You perform everyday actions with intent and become more attuned to yourself and the way things work in the world around you. By learning to channel your desires through the spellwork you do, you will manifest happiness, joy, and abundance in your life. 🍵

For the tea blend, you will need:

Lemon Balm

Mint

Chamomile flowers

Lavender

Rosemary

Any additional add-ins you wish to brew into your tea based on your intentions, such as cinnamon for luck, ginger for strength, or sugar for sweetness

For the Spell:

Steep the tea blend in a tea pot or in a loved mug. As it’s steeping, stir the contents with a spoon clockwise and imbue your intent into the tea. Visualize your friend being warmed and soothed by the tea, or imagine her delight when she tastes the tea.

Add any additional spices, herbs, or sugar you’d like to add to the tea now. Consider their magical associations. Add a pinch of cinnamon for luck, or a pinch of ginger for strength, a pinch of thyme for courage, or a pinch of rosemary or salt for protection. Add sugar for sweetness if desired, for both taste and sweetness in mood.

Stir the tea, three times clockwise, one final time and recite: “With tea and spell, and help from above, all is well, light and love.” Then tap your spoon on the mug or teapot three times to seal the spell.

Serve the tea lovingly to your friend or loved one.

[lilskittlexx]

“ 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘣 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯.”

[lilskittlexx]

Hey guys! If you like these kinds of vlogs I’d love to me some more!

Walking my cat on a leash, picking elderflowers in the woods and a bathbomb-demo! │Vlog 3

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from 100 to reality real quick

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[lilskittlexx]

[lilskittlexx]

🎃 WITCHY VIBES! 🎃

✧  Please do not use, steal, edit!! Don’t remove caption ✧

This was sold as a premade/adopt and have rightful owners.  

[lilskittlexx]

The Elements and their correspondences

E A R T H

Earth represents strength, grounding, prosperity, the material, wealth, success, foundations, death and rebirth. Focus on this element if the goal of your spell is about fertility, prosperity, business or stability. Earth spells may take longer to work, but they’re also more firm and are good if you’re looking for long-term solutions.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Winter DIRECTION: North HOUR: Night

COLOURS: Green, Brown, Black ANIMALS: Bears, Deers, Wolves, Badgers HERBS/PLANTS: Ivy, Ash, Vetiver, Wheats, Oats INSTRUMENTS: Drums (Percussion instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn STONES/GEMS: Jade, Onyx, Emerald, Salt RITUAL TOOLS: Stones, Dirt, Bones, Pentacle, Salt, Crystals  RITUAL FORMS: Burying, Planting, Imprinting to soil or sand TAROT SUIT: Pentacles

A I R

Air represents intellect and the mind, wisdom, knowledge; logic as well as abstract thought, intuition and higher consciousness. If you’re seeking freedom, travels, or to enhance your memory and focus - focus on Air spells! Air is whimsical and amiable, personally I haven’t found it useful for more serious spells, but it does wonders for my studies. 

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Spring DIRECTION: East HOUR: Dawn

COLOURS: Yellow, White, Sky Blue, Pastels ANIMALS: Birds, Spiders, Butterflies HERBS/PLANTS: Lavender, Birch, Vervain, Dill, Aspen INSTRUMENTS: Flute (Wind instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius STONES/GEMS: Amethyst, Opal, Alexandrite, Beryl RITUAL TOOLS: Incense, Wand RITUAL FORMS: Fanning, Tossing into air, Suspending in a high place  TAROT SUIT: Swords

F I R E

Fire represents energy, passion, purification, love, inspiration, desire, will, courage, power, leadership, sexuality. In spellcraft, focusing on Fire is good for purification, healing and love spells; it’s the best element for quick, strong spells. Although, Fire is fierce in essence, and Fire spells are susceptible - they should be well thought out.

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Summer DIRECTION: South HOUR: Noon

COLOURS: Red, Orange, Gold ANIMALS: Snakes, Lions, Horses HERBS/PLANTS: Cacti, Cinnamon, Pepper, Basil INSTRUMENTS: Guitar (Stringed instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius STONES/GEMS: Amber, Citrine, Ruby, Tiger’s Eye RITUAL TOOLS: Athame, Candles RITUAL FORMS: Burning, Smouldering, Heating TAROT SUIT: Wands

W A T E R

Water represents purification as well; though it’s focused more on the soul and the subconscious rather than the physical, material world. Water stands for emotion, intuition, wisdom, eternal movement, reflection, lunar energy. Focusing on the Water element is good for psychic abilities, getting in tune with your inner self, mysteries, friendships, love, dreams and sleep.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Autumn DIRECTION: West HOUR: Dusk

COLOURS: Blue, Indigo, Silver ANIMALS: Otters, Fish, Sea Mammals, Frogs HERBS/PLANTS: Lotus, Water Lilies, Aloe, Gardenia INSTRUMENTS: Cymbal, Bell (Resonant instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces STONES/GEMS: Moonstone, Aquamarine, Pearl RITUAL TOOLS: Cauldrons, Chalices, Seashells RITUAL FORMS: Diluting, Placing into water, washing away, bathing TAROT SUIT: Cups

[lilskittlexx]

Sleeping Potion

Or as my friends call it; Lizzies cocoa for a good nights sleep!

Ingeredents;

Milk (almond milk tastes best with this one) 

2 tbsp of raw cocoa powder

brown sugar

vanilla sugar 

2 tsp lavender extract

Instructions;

heat up the milk to about 50-60°C. DO NOT BOIL!!!

add your cocoa powder till it fully dissolves

add brown and vanilla sugar until you’ve reached your desired sweetness. Attention!!! Do not add too much sugar, since it may cause nightmares.

add 2 tsp of lavendar extract, add one more if you usually have trouble sleeping

[lilskittlexx]

A Practical Guide to Herbology

Lesson Two: Healing with Aromatherapy

Among our senses, one of the most-looked over and powerful is our sense of smell. Aromas can help us recall happy memories - baking cookies with loved ones during the holiday season, the perfume or cologne of a loved one - as well as unpleasant memories. Through psychology, we’ve proven that, when recreating a scene, scents can be our most powerful allies in recalling past events in our lives.

Aromatherapy is the art of using scents to heal the body, mind and soul. We use scents in healing rituals, magic and spirituality frequently - it even manifests in religious practices such as Christianity when a pastor cleanses a space with incense.

Scents and Sensibility

Working with essential oils is really quite easy, but here are some precautions to take.

Dilute

It’s important to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil before using them therapeutically. You should rarely apply an undiluted essential oil to your skin.

By diluting your essential oils in a carrier oil, you get a lot more use out of them and you also prevent skin irritations. Some common types of carrier oils are grapeseed, olive, flaxseed, almond and sesame oil. Use 30mL (2 tbsp) of carrier oil per 5-10 drops of essential oil.

Storage

Essential oils need to be kept away from light and air. It’s best to store them in dark-tinted bottles to prevent light penetration. With proper storage, most essential oils can last 1-2 years. However, citrus oils should not be used after 6-9 months.

Allergies

Before working with essential oils, be sure to do a skin allergy test. Many people have sensitive skin and it’s important to take precautions and avoid allergic reactions to both essential oils and carrier oils.

To test for allergies, simply place a drop of your chosen carrier oil on your skin. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. Place one drop of essential oil in 15 drops of carrier oil and apply to your chest. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. If there is no reaction, then you likely have no allergy to the plant or the oil.

Precautions

Please avoid essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Specifically, avoid: cardamom, coriander, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, neroli, palmarosa, petitgrain, spearmint and ylang-ylang.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, it is best to avoid the following essential oils: black pepper, cinnamon, clove, grapefruit, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, orange, peppermint and spearmint. 

Healing with Essential Oils

When starting out with using essential oils for health purposes, it’s important to address one symptom or issue at a time. Limit your selection to a few different oils until you become more familiar with your tools. Once you get comfortable, start experimenting with making your own blends. As time goes by, you’ll see what works best for your body and you!

Stress

Stress often has the side effects of anxiety, upset stomach, heart palpitations and rapid breathing. One of the most common essential oils used to alleviate stress is peppermint - it relaxes the mind and body. Lavender is another good choice as it relaxes muscles and the vapors help regulate breathing.

Pain and Muscle Tension

Muscle tension and pain are something most of us are familiar with. When using essential oils to address this particular issue, it’s best to create a massage oil to rub the affected area. If you’re trying to relax muscles and ease pain, allspice and geranium are great choices.

Chest Congestion

Flus, colds, respiratory illnesses - we’re no stranger to those during the winter months. To use essential oils to treat this, apply a few drops of diluted oil across the chest and massage into the skin. I tend to use eucalyptus, but thyme is another great choice!

Concentration and Focus

Everyone experiences difficulties with focus and concentration; stress, lack of sleep, anxiety and depression are just a few possible culprits. To use essential oils for this, apply a few drops to the temples, middle of the forehead and the base of the neck. Rosemary and spearmint are great choices for this as they help you relax while improving mental clarity.

Fatigue

At the end of the day, many of us feel exhausted from school, work and just life in general. To help with this, place a few drops of essential oil on your wrists and rub them in. Citrus oils like lemon and lime work really well since they uplift mood, relieve fatigue and provide mental clarity and focus.

Insomnia

Sometimes we just can’t fall asleep. Place a few drops of essential oil on your forehead and at the base of your neck. Lemon balm and ylang-ylang are good choices for this as they promote restful sleep and reduce stress and anxiety.

Anxiety

This issue typically involves both the physical and mental parts of the body. To help alleviate anxiety, place a drop of essential oil on the forehead, base of the neck, wrists and along the collarbone or upper chest. Chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are excellent choices.

Recipes

Anxiety Relief 5 drops chamomile oil 5 drops lemongrass oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Stress Relief 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops lavender oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Muscle-Tension Relief ½ tbsp ground allspice ½ tbsp ground nutmeg 5 drops geranium oil ½ cup carrier oil

Muscle Pain Relief ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp ground turmeric 5 drops rose oil 5 drops tea tree oil ½ cup carrier oil

Chest Congestion Relief 5 drops eucalyptus oil 5 drops pine oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Mucus Killer 2 tbsp nettle leaves 5 drops frankincense oil 2 cups carrier oil

Focus and Concentration ½ tbsp ground myrrh 5 drops rosemary oil 2 cups carrier oil

Mental Strength and Clarity 1 tbsp dried rosemary 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Energizer ½ tbsp dried juniper berries 5 drops thyme oil 2 cups carrier oil

Citrus Energy 5 drops lemon oil 5 drops lime oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Sleep Easy 5 drops lemon balm oil 5 drops ylang-ylang oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Digestion Relief ½ tbsp dried catnip 5 drops ginger oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Common Essential Oils for Health and Wellness

Allspice: Reduces stress, calms, relaxes tight muscles, uplifts mood, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Basil: Calms, relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity, purifies the body

Cardamom: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Catnip: Anti-diarrheal, relieves indigestion, relieves anxiety, uplifts mood

Chamomile: Reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep and relaxation, relieves pain

Cinnamon: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, natural disinfectant, improves digestion, increases appetite

Clove: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Coriander: Relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Eucalyptus: Breaks up congestion, relieves pain, natural disinfectant, vapors help with breathing (asthma)

Frankincense: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, improves digestion, expectorant, sedative

Geranium: Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin

Ginger: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, increases appetite

Juniper berries: Relieves pain, energizes, improves mental clarity and memory, anti-inflammatory, repels insects, soothes insect bites

Lavender: Relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, balances mood swings, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, breaks up congestion

Lemon: Balances the nervous system, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Lemon balm: Relieves anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep

Lemongrass: Calms, balances nervous system, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Lime: Relieves fatigue, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Mandarin: Reduces stress and tension, calms, uplifts mood

Myrrh: Helpful in meditation, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Neroli and Orange blossom: Removes nervous tension, promotes restful sleep

Nutmeg: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, improves digestion

Palmarosa: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, helps regenerate skin, anti-inflammatory

Peppermint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, increases appetite, soothes itchy skin, improves mental clarity and memory

Petitgrain: Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity and memory

Pine: Lessens pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Rose: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Rosemary: Relieves pain, stimulates nerves, relieves fatigue, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Spearmint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, soothes itchy skin

Tea Tree: Relieves pain, natural disinfectant, aids in healing skin, vapors help with breathing

Thyme: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, increases appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Ylang-Ylang: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant —————————————– Images are under the Creative Commons License. Information is from a variety of books, websites and my personal experience working with essential oils.

Updated 7 March 2018 to include more warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series of lessons.

Warnings:  

Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. They are incredibly potent and are likely to cause irritation, burns and permanent scars. You must utilize an appropriate carrier oil for dilution - water is not acceptable.

Essential oils are not edible - DO NOT INGEST THEM. They are not used in tinctures, extracts or anything meant to be taken internally.

Diffusing essential oils can be toxic to your pets. Please do extensive research on which types of oils are not harmful to your pets.

Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.

Finally, aromatherapy is not a  substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR.

[lilskittlexx]

green winter magick

❄ pinecones : prosperity, abundance, new beginnings

❄ acorns : personal power, wisdom, youthfulness

❄ balsam fir : strength, breaking up negativity, insight

❄ cedar : confidence, money, protection

❄ cinnamon : spirituality, success, love

❄ clove : exorcism, money, protection

❄ fern : mental clarity, cleansing, purification

❄ ginger : sensuality, energy, liveliness

❄ juniper : attracting good health + good energy

❄ mistletoe : creativity, fertility, protection from ill will

❄ mugwort : instrospection, dreamwork, divination

❄ nutmeg : attracting money, prosperity, luck

❄ orange peel : love, divination, luck, money

❄ peppermint : healing, peace, restfulness

❄ rosemary : healing, preventing nightmares, faerie magick

❄ snowdrop : passing of sorrow

❄ valerian : dream magick, reconciliation, harmony

❄ wintergreen : good fortune

❄ yew : necromancy and death magick