As the chill of winter finally recedes, we find the tendrils of foliage slowly unfurling—a reminder of fresh beginnings and spiritual awakening. Our inner workings are abloom with hope for the new year, and it is crucial for any witch—especially for beginner witchlings, or the domestic witches out there—to set their abode up for the coming Spring Equinox on March 20th.
When I was a younger, angsty witch, my interests related to magic would fall more towards the elaborate and aesthetically pleasing spells to do. I’d feel pretty official with my colored candles and bushels upon bushels of store-bought sage. Since then, my hands have been filled with the duties of new motherhood, and all that has somehow changed. I now practice most of my magic with the intentions of healing. For the Spring season, we hearth witches thrive on filling our homes with positivity and warmth through practical magic; we love sprinkling simple enchantments here and there with the intention of enriching our loved ones’ and visitors’ lives.
Today I’d like to share a few useful, sneaky little ways to incorporate the elements while personally blessing the layers of your house. These are inexpensive, and require herbs and ingredients you probably have in your pantry already.
Air: Rosemary & Basil
Rosemary is known across most practices of witchcraft for its banishing and protection. Basil is a staple for blessing and purification. On a sunny morning—preferably a weekend, for this instant shift in energy can make you relaxed and a little sleepy—open all of your windows and boil a small pot of water. In this pot, place three springs of fresh rosemary and add a dash of either fresh or bottled basil; if you can’t get your hands on fresh basil then the seasoning type will do, but fresh rosemary will really amplify the shocking aroma that should be wafting through your home. Boil these for about 10 minutes while being careful not to let the pot overflow. After the leaves are fully steeped, remove your pot from heat and let it cool.
Fire: Frankincense, Sage, or Cedar Wood. If not, use a candle!
While your windows are still open, grab your incense—preferably frankincense for invoking sacred blessing, or sage or cedar wood for air purification. Break these up onto a fire-safe plate or your abalone shell, and scatter the herbs along the bottom. Light your coal disk, place it upon the herbs to start burning, and place onto a central window sill! If you don’t have any of these, lighting a couple cozy candles around your home will do the trick.
Water: Lemon Juice & Citrus
When your rosemary and basil concoction cools, strain the leaves from the liquid and add the juice of one fresh lemon to encourage the zest of positivity and friendship. Now, you can bottle this up in a jar to dip a cleaning cloth or sponge in, or pour it into a spray bottle. Rosemary and basil contain some of nature’s best antimicrobial properties, so you can use it as a room spray or gentle surface cleaner. Spray this onto your kitchen and bathroom countertops, followed by a quick wipe down.
Earth: Baking Soda, Rosemary, Thyme, & Bay Leaf
In a bowl, mix a dry half cup of baking soda, a pinch of rosemary, pinch of thyme (for courage and strength), and three crinkled bay leaves (for setting intentions).
If you own a vacuum and are ready to start cleaning, sprinkle this mixture as thinly and evenly as possible on your hardwood and carpet 5-10 min before you begin vacuuming. Baking soda is an age-old tool in soaking up unwanted oils and odors from carpets, rugs, and floors—and unwanted negative energies as well. If you don’t have carpet anywhere in your home, you can do this on any tile or wood floor with either a vacuum or a broom.
Lastly, sprinkle the remainder of this mixture on your doorstep and sweep off your entire front porch or stoop. You want to cast the negativity out of your house, but also off of your property for good.
This quick cleansing ritual has helped me many a time. I like to start our Spring cleaning off this way so that no matter what, the house is aired out and smells fantastic. It puts me in the mood for dreaded book organization—okay, that one’s not too bad—or maybe dishes, or the mounds of laundry begging my attention. Caring for our home is important, but no more important than keeping track of our spiritual and emotional well-being.
May your home be blessed, and your spirit be light.
xo,
The Attic Witch