"Can I get you a cup of Chicory?"

Dear Lexa,

I have three books of magickal ingredients, spells, and rituals. I have owned your book of Magickal Ingredients since it hit the bookshelves. And I have these two questions regarding it.

1) In your book Chicory (bark and leaves) are viewed and used in a positive way. And in all the others it has very negative properties explained about this ingredient. I have stayed away from it for this reason for years. I was wondering if it can be used for both (good and bad) or if it needs to be used with caution in order for this ingredient to be positive?

2) Rooibos. I was wondering if this tea is useful for any specific purpose? (In spells, rituals, baths, etc.) Since it wasn't listed in your book and I have yet to find any other magickal information about it's properties. I felt compelled to ask you about it.

I wanted to thank you in advance for your answers and for your time. And I wanted to express my gratitude for your book as it has been invaluable to me!

Very truly yours,
Leigh

Greetings Leigh

In my opinion, Chicory is an invigorating and most helpful plant. It's use has been recorded since ancient times for variety of positive purposes and enjoyment. It is possible that some may consider it negative because of it's bitterness? Also it was (maybe still is) used to kill intestinal parasites and is also deadly to the silk worm. Perhaps this is connected with it being negative? Certainly, if one were in the silk trade business - you would not want chicory anywhere near your crop.
Rooibos has healing properties and I would also suggest the use of it in magick spells for successful returns on financial investments.

I hope you find this helpful.
blessed be
Lexa Roséan

Thirteen for Love TT#6

Here's hoping you all had a great Valentine's Day. For those of you who did, here's some info to keep the love flowing and for those of you who didn't, here's some info to heal the heartache.The herbs, flowers, and assorted ingredients below can be mixed together in any combination you desire. They can be collected in a sachet and carried near the heart or placed under the pillow or mattress. They can also be added to the bathwater or sprinkled around a love altar or even a room. Some can even be eaten. These come from The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients. Check it out for more information to personalize your spellcasting.

1. Lemon Peel
A great one for clearing obstacles in the love life. Use after a fight to clear the air or use when your road seems blocked from meeting someone new.

2. Rose Buds
Attracts new friends and budding romance.

3. Orange Peel
Sexy sexy stuff!!! Also used for marriage spells and to bless sacred unions.

4. Jasmine Flowers
Creates mystery and allure. Also used to empower a relationship and intensify the love and commitment.

5. Almond (pure extract or whole nut)
For fidelity.

6. Ketchup
For love attraction. That's right! Call out the name of someone who's love you want to win while you eat it. (but go easy on the fries!)

7. Melon
The fruit of adultery.

8. Celery
Sex and fertility.

9. Oysters
Increases orgasms in women and makes men better lovers.

10. Passionflower
Name is misleading for this herb is actually used to cool the passions. Good for teens to keep their virginity intact and great to carry on the job to ward off sexual harassment.

11. Peas
Sacred to the goddess Venus and brings domestic bliss.

12. Cardamom
An aphrodisiac. Draws love and sensuality into your life.

13. Oregano
Increases pleasure and brings success when added to any love spell.

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Drifting back to Manic Monday

The Aunt Clara Moment has passed. Here are the ingredients for the CONCENTRATION potion. Use to keep you focused on your tasks or whenever you want to stop the mind from drifting.
use equal parts:
Mastic
Cinnamon
Myrrh
This can be ground into a powder and kept in a bowl on your desk. If you use organic ingredients, you can also place under the tongue. It may also be burned as an incense on charcoal or made in oil form and used to anoint the third eye or a black candle.

Earlier I listed two ingredients that are actually part of a Master formula. (Ho, where was my mind DRIFTING?!) The THIRD INGREDIENT is Tongue of Dog or Deer's Tongue and before you go harming any animals, just HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!! Deer's Tongue is an old Native American name for Wild Vanilla Grass. They call it that because the deer like to munch on it. You can find deer's tongue online or in a proper herb or occult shop. You can also substitute vanilla bean in the formula and that is very easily obtained in the market. The three ingredients are mixed together in equal parts and then used to dust the hands. It can also be made in oil form and used to anoint brown candles. The Master formula is great to use when you feel that opportunities are DRIFTING away from you! This potion brings confidence, luck and power in love and business matters. For the first two ingredients click here!

An astral travel tip: in order to avoid DRIFTING away into the void and land of no return, ALWAYS be sure to tie or anchor yourself before your journey. This is done by simply visualizing one end of a cord tied around your big toe and the other end tied around something physical in the room you are in. That way, you can always tug on the cord to safely return home.

Links to other Manic Monday Minions:

Magick for Manic Monday

Well, I just couldn't resist the invitation from the wonderful Morgan, but I insist on adding some magick to the mania. (thanks to Janna for the wonderful banners!) Ok, here we go:

CRUISING

As in cruising for a bruising
Oh, this is not a good idea and you must be sure to carry an amulet for protection when cruising in dangerous circles. I suggest a pouch stuffed with lavender and sage to keep you safe from rage. You can also wear a pentagram and learn the arts of the warrior ram.

Or..if you are cruising about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner, well, that's easy ~ carry some dried mint leaves and orange peel in your pants pocket. You can even suck on an orange/mint Ricola to bring some fast paced sexy action your way!

Now if you are cruising as in a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports, well now we're talking! (By the way, Morgan's description of his cruise down the Nile sounded so delightful, didn't it?!) Drink some mugwort tea to protect you at sea and carry a piece of Aventurine ~ this gemstone is green ~ stops danger unforeseen and keeps one serene. Aventurine protects from all ills and one of the frills is that it also brings thrills!
*recipes from The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients by Lexa Roséan




thanks for cruising by my blog :) Click here to see pics of my cruise on the Aegean last summer!

Links to other Manic Monday Minions:

Mango Magick

Once again we hear from our favorite Chic_Geek

Hi Lexa! Thanks for your answer to my question about new years day spells. the circle you cast on the blog was so thoughtful. I have a question. I recently applied for a job that I have been wanting for years. I found out about it through friends who work there and the manager there seems to like me so I figure my chances may be good. I went through the Power Spells book you wrote but couldn't really find anything to suit the situation (Or else I missed it) is there anything I can do to give my chances of getting hired a magickal boost?
Thanks so much!
Chic_Geek

Happy New Year C_G
Check out pg 64 fulfillment in work spell and pg 10 beat out competition. you are going to combine these two spells. when you read what each ingredient is for, it will make sense. the combining of two or more spells is often done to adapt the magick to the situation. (if this seems too complicated for some of your readers out there - don't sweat it. if you buy AND READ my books, obviously you'll be more in the loop. if not, well, just look at this as a brand new spell to get the job you want!

as always, begin on a new moon. next new moon is - whoah here we are. altho I suggest waiting until 24hr after the new moon for the first crescent of light to appear in the sky.
your ingredients:

skin of mango ground ginger ground orange peel dried basil

carve your name on the inside of a fresh peeled skin of a mango along with the position you would like along with the name of the company. (WARNING: if you are allergic to mango skin, you cannot do this spell!!! At least not without wearing gloves.) Rub the 3 herbs into your hands and then rub the mango skin between your hands dusting it with the other ingredients as well. use generous portions so that the herbs will stick to the flesh still remaining on the skin of the mango. let the skin sit on a window sill in the sun until it dries. then place in a cloth tea bag or ouanga bag and carry with you as a success and attraction talisman. once you have secured the position, remove the remaining ingredients from the bag and pulverize them using a wooden mortar and pestle. sprinkle this powder outside in front of your new office or job location to insure long lasting success and happiness there.

please keep us posted of your progress chic_geek.
blessed be
Lexa

Quicksilver Luck

Dear Witch Dr

I think I read this in one of your books but I can't remember which one - the encyclopedia maybe. Anyway, it was a spell for gambler's luck but there was something kind of scary involved - like maybe a poisonous ingredient? Can you help me out here because the wife and I are getting ready to go to Vegas and I need to prepare some sort of talisman to win. thanks in advance

High Roller

HR

ha, it's a good thing you gave me that clue as I've written so many different gambler's luck spells. They are quite popular as you know. The item you are referring to is mentioned in The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients and it is liquid Mercury. In the old days when I worked at Enchantments, we always had a bottle of liquid Mercury on the shelf. It is used in a lot of the Spanish and European magic. That was before they realized how poisonous it is. When I wrote the book in '05, the editors became very concerned and wanted me to remove this ingredient. The compromise was that we issued a HUGE WARNING against using the product. From my POV, I want to be as historically accurate as possible in describing how spells were worked. But that does not mean that I recommend you do these things. The original spell which is very old, was worked as follows:
Hollow out a small hole in the top of a whole nutmeg. Use a tiny drill bit or small screw driver. Carefully pour some drops of liquid Mercury into the hole and then seal with the wax of a green candle. Place the nutmeg in a red ouanga bag and carry in your left pocket for luck in gambling. Because there is now so much conflict over the use of liquid Mercury, I suggested a safer substitution of liquid mastic. Gum mastic is easy enough to find especially in a Greek specialty shop. You will then have to melt it down in a double boiler until it liquefies and then If you choose to work with the original ingredient, please be safe. The talisman will be most effective when created on the first Thursday following a new Moon. Good Luck!

Real Estate Magick

Lexa:

I am selling my wonderful home in Southwest Florida without an agent. I am offering a $10,000 finders fee to the person who sends me the buyer. To extol its many virtues, my condo has its own website www.YouWillLoveItHere.com. What spell can you suggest for someone who is selling their home on their own?

May your blessings never end.
Athena

Athena:

Whether selling a home in Florida, Rome, or Dubai, one should always petition the oldest goddess of the hearth, Hestia or Vesta. The best way to summon her and ask for Her blessing is through the element of fire. I prepare handmade custom designed candles that are dedicated to Hestia. These candles contain prayers inviting Her in to bless the home or property, along with magick seals, sacred oils, and herbs designed for the specific requests of the petitioner (such as buying or selling of properties).

The property should also be consecrated, cleansed, and blessed in order to remove any negative energies or blocks and to swiftly attract a buyer. One of the simplist (yet powerful) ways to do this is to place equal amounts of fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, and fresh basil, and bay leaves into a double boiler and steam until the space is filled with the aroma. You can also perform the dry method by pulverizing a teaspoon each of dried ginger, basil and bay leaves and mixing with equal amount of cinnamon powder. Sprinkle this blend around the property. Begin at the front door and move in a clockwise direction in a complete circle until you return to the front door. This ritual is most effective when performed on a new or full moon or on one of the festival dates of Vesta.

Next New Moon: 20 January
Next Full Moon: 2 February
Next Festival Dates of Vesta: 13 February, 1 March

I also have some other real estate spells on my website. Best of luck to you Athena and dear Readers please visit www.YouWillLoveItHere.com and check out this amazing property.

blessings
Lexa

New Year Wishes Granted in the Magick Circle

Hi Lexa Aka The Witch Doctor,

With 2007 coming up are there any new year rituals you can suggest to bring more spice to life? I had a pretty dull year last year minus a few things and I want to make this one shine. I'm sure alot of people feel this way. How can one give life a kick the pants romantically, socially, and career wise? Anything you can recommend or are there any basic new year spells you could think of. Thanks and have a great 2007!

- Chic_Geek81

Happy New Year Chic Geek

The actual Witches' New Year is celebrated on Oct 31/Nov 1, so there aren't any official spells in the Book of Shadows for the Secular New Year although it is said that wearing yellow or burning a yellow candle on New Years' Day brings lots of good luck. If you want to spice up your life this year, add cinnamon and/or curry to your diet. These two work quickly to bring excitement and energy into life. Now, I have done something rather unusual here for the New Year because it is also going to be a Full Moon (and the first one of the year) on Jan 3.

All witches know that on the Full Moon
the Goddess will grant us each a boon.

I have cast a circle on this post. It has been blessed and consecrated as a magickal space of power and all who leave their comments here shall be empowered in the New Year with strength and energy to help their dreams come true. By the power invested in me as priestess and witch I have hereby summoned stirred and called up the mighty ones of north, east, south, and west to bless and protect this circle post. I have invoked the power of the mighty oak to give those who enter here strength, endurance, and resolve. I have summoned the power of the willow for those seeking flexibility and change. Hail, the power of the green earth for those in need of healing, grounding, and material well being. Also the power of the mountains for those who seek protection, power, wisdom, and insight. Feel the power of the winds for those who seek intellect, inspiration, success, communication, friendship, and creativity. Behold, the power of fire to fulfill your strong desires, to excite and fan the flames of passion, and create more energy, ambition, and drive. Here is the power of the oceans for those seeking peace, a better flow, treasure, fertility, abundance, and love. Post your magickal wishes and goals for 2007 in the comments section before Jan 4 2007 and they will be granted by the Goddess. So mote it be and

House Blessing

Dear Lexa

Just wondering if you had any suggestions of spells that I could use to create and attract positive energies to the new house and guest houses we are building in Marrakesh. I want protection from evil spirits as well. Thank you for any help you can provide. And thanks for your supportive comment on my blog;-)

Maryam in Marrakesh

Hi Maryam

Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my blog. In answer to your request, I would suggest adding cedar wood to your new homes. It is one of the best woods for positive energy and always invokes prosperity, protection, and light. If it is possible, I would use this wood for foundation beams. Or for the construction of some key pieces of furniture. The oil can also be added to floorwashes or incense of cedar wood burned to bless the home. Rosemary is also a good protective herb and can be sprinkled around or grown in the garden to ward off evil spirits.

On a new moon, I suggest cleansing and blessing the homes. After doing a physical cleaning of the house, begin by sweeping with a new broom in a counterclockwise direction starting at the front door. Complete the circle by returning to the front door, and open the door. Sweep the broom briskly 3x over the threshold towards the outside while saying 3x: "I rid this home of all negative energies. So mote it be!" Close the front door.

Next you will carry the four elements around the home in a clockwise direction also beginning at the front door to consecrate and bless the home. You will use salt to represent the element of earth. Incense to represent the element of air. A white candle to represent the element of fire, and spring or holy water for the element of water. As you carry each element around say: " I bless and consecrate this space with the element of (earth, air, fire, water) removing all negativity and invoking good herein. May this home be a sacred space and protected by the power and light of *Hestia; goddess of hearth and home. So Mote it Be."

Finally, Tuesday is considered the best day to move in to a home. Bread, salt, sugar (or honey), and pennies (or coins)should be brought into the home with you to bless and protect the inhabitants.

best of luck and I'll check in with your blog to see how it's all developing.

*although Hestia is the traditional goddess to invoke for matters of the home, you may call upon any name of Divine Spirit that you wish.

Bothered...

Hello Miss Lexa,

I'm writing to you in hopes of some help with a spell. I've been having a really difficult time at work. I love my job but the company I work for recently downsized and now I'm left carrying a triple load (maybe even more). I'm also low man on the totem pole so everyone has been treating me like (pardon my French) S-H-I-T! I am definitely sick and tired of this abuse and I'd like it to stop. At the same time, I don't want to be too outspoken now because everyone is feeling really nervous and paranoid and I don't want to risk losing my job by blowing a fuse. Still, I really feel I need and deserve some (pardon my Aretha) R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Got anything extremely effective but considerably low key that might help?

ever grateful Harried Harriet

Dear Harriet

I have the perfect remedy. It's called BOSS FIX and it comes from the old Magickal Formulary from the Magickal Childe apothecary which we lovingly refer to as "the Hermanary". It is used to stop harassment from both bosses and co-workers and encourages them to treat the user with dignity, consideration, and the utmost of "Arethaness". It may take a few days to kick in but the effects are 99.9% guaranteed to make you SO DAMN HAPPY at work. Here are the ingredients:

Musk oil
Chili powder
Tobacco
Pulverized newsprint

To prepare, take the front page (sports is also good) of your favorite newspaper (after you've read it) and shred it up in tiny strips. Then add to a coffee grinder or food processor to pulverize. Sprinkle a tablespoon of chili powder or red pepper and a pinch of pipe tobacco or empty the tobacco contents of a cigarette into the mix. Add 3 drops of musk oil and mix thoroughly. Concentrate fully on resolving your problem as you prepare the blend.

Now that you have created your Boss Fix Powder, take it to work. Remember to be discreet. DO NOT BLOW IT IN THE FACES OF YOUR CO-WORKERS! Place it somewhere subtle like under carpets or behind the water cooler or in the bottom of a paperclip box sitting on your desk. Smile. And Sing (or Hum a tune quietly). Rescue Me, I Say a Little Prayer, I Will Survive, and Respect are all good choices. Good Luck Harriet!

Tis' NOT The Season

Dear Lexa,
In your book, Easy Enchantments, the spell 'To Mend A Broken Heart or To Soothe Feelings of Love', it calls for fresh lilacs. Is there a substitution that can be made during times of the year when fresh lilacs are not available? My friend and I are still learning but we have found your books and advice to be some of the best. My best friend has had the unfortunate luck to fall for a young man that has broken her heart. This combined with some lifelong bad luck has laid her low. She and I have struggled to make things better for not only herself but for all those that were around and we thought that this spell might be a solid addition to our efforts. The only problems are that 1.) It's October2.)We live in a rural area - florists have given us very strange looks whenwe even ask about lilacs at this time of year. 3.) We're both in college and struggling with money - ordering lilacs from a special grower over the net is simply beyond what our checkbooks can handle. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you so much for the wonderful information that you have out there.
Sincerely,
Heather

Hi Heather

Thank you for the wonderful feedback. Your question is a good one and I mention quite often (usually in the introduction chapters of my books), that substitutions are generally valid although fresh is ALWAYS best. In this case, your friend can use Lilac scented soap or lilac oil which should be easier to find this time of year.

blessings

Lexa

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