Kitchen Witchcraft (basics)
Simply, the best way to be a kitchen witch is to be familiar with the uses of each common household herb and spice and to infuse your love and intention into the food you are cooking.
Below are some of the common herbs and spices and their meanings or uses from around the world.
Common Magical Spices in the Kitchen Witch’s Cabinet
Most cooks have at least a few of these magical spices in their kitchen cabinet. If you are a kitchen witch, you might have all of them! If not, write down the spices and herbs you have and their magical properties. In the future, you will be able to quickly use these spices and herbs in your kitchen witchcraft.
Allspice – used by Mayans and other indigenous South American tribes for various purposes. Associated with male virility, fertility, and power. Also powerful in healing.
Basil – a Mediterranean herb that can be added to stews, sauces, salads, and more. Carry dried leaves in your purse to draw in money. Can also be used to promote love between two partners.
Bay Leaves – Bay leaves have long been used by Mediterranean priests and priestesses for visions and ritual. When rubbed against one’s forehead (third eye), will produce psychic visions and increase intuition. Also used in protection magick and to grant wishes. Write your wish on the leaf, burn it, then spread the ashes in your yard on the East side.
Cayenne – an effective warding, banishing, and overall protective spice. Spread over thresholds to keep evil spirits out. Use in hot foot powder to send someone malevolent out of your life. PLUS tastes delicious as a hot spice in food. Teehee.
Chamomile – cut open your tea bags and use the chamomile in spells for joy, healing, money and success.
Chili Powder – this hot spice is made from dried chilis (hence it’s name). It can be used to give spells a little kick (boost the power of a spell). In hoodoo it’s used in Hot Foot Powder to send someone far away.
Chive – an herb that can be used in healing spells and to rid one’s home and environment of negative spirits.
Cilantro/Coriander – a protective herb if grown in the garden. Used in handfasting rituals and to promote love.
Cinnamon – another great all-purpose spice used in luck, money, protection, and love magick. Sweet in small quantities but quickly overpowering if you use too much.
Clove – a powerful spice that can be used to draw in money and prosperity.
Cumin – a spice that’s long been used in the Mediterranean and Middle East to flavor stews and meat dishes. You can use it in your dishes to invoke love and lust, as well as fidelity. It’s also used for exorcisms and purification.
Dill – an herb used in pickling cucumbers. Also added to Mediterranean dishes and sauces. Can be used magickally to draw in money and luck. Also a protective herb.
Fennel – has a long history dating back thousands of years used in healing. Can be made into eye washes and to aid the stomach. Has protective and healing properties. Associated with Midsummer sabbat.
Garlic – Garlic is protective and wards off disease and evil. There’s a reason it’s thought to keep vampires at bay. Hang dried garlic from your ceiling. Cook with garlic to give your dishes a protective and healthy boost.
Ginger – a root used in Asian dishes and to cleanse the palate. Boosts any type of magick but particularly love magick. Used as an aphrodisiac, too. Can be planted in one’s yard to draw in money and good luck.
Mint – one of my absolute favorite herbs! It’s purifying, refreshing, and tastes great in desserts, teas, and even in Vietnamese soups. Not to mention it brings luck, money, and love.
Onion Powder – if you have onion powder, you have all the powers of the onion: warding off illness, absorbing negative energy, and more. Add it to soups, sauces, stews, etc. to increase everyone’s health in the household and ward off viruses.
Oregano – used in many Italian dishes. When grown in the garden and harvested is quite powerful (be careful it will take over your garden!) Used in love spells to strengthen a bond, worn as wreaths in handfasting rituals, used to bring happiness, and good luck.
Parsley – when eaten promotes lust. Great for fertility and if you have access to the roots, can be added to the bath for purification purposes.
Pepper – black pepper is just as powerful a purifier as salt. When sprinkled over the thresholds keeps negative energy out.
Rosemary – is an all-purpose herb (in my humble opinion). It was traditionally used for purification/cleansing rituals and to help improve one’s memory. It can also be used for love and success.
Thyme – is an herb known to attract the fay. It’s also used in healing and love magick.
Sage – whether using common sage or white sage, they both have purification properties. They are used in smudging ceremonies, as well as in protection magick. You can use sage in your cooking, spell bottles, burn it as incense, and more. It will drive away negativity and bring in wisdom and peace.
Salt – While not an herb or spice per se, salt is used to season all sorts of dishes from the savory to the baked goods. It’s been used for centuries all over the world. Use it to purify and dispel negativity. Throw it over your left shoulder if you accidentally spill the salt for good luck! Use it in circle casting and in purification rituals.
Sugar – Also not an herb per se, but has been used for centuries to sweeten dishes. Originally comes from the Caribbean and used in hoodoo magick to sweeten one’s disposition. Use it in love spells to sweeten a person’s heart.
How to Use Magical Spices
Herbs and spices are versatile in the kitchen, not just for cooking but also for casting! You can use them in various ways. Their uses are utterly limitless!
When you’re adding these seasonings to your meals, think of your intention while using them. Are you adding rosemary to a chicken to help improve communication in your household? Can you add thyme to a seafood dish to increase success? Don’t be confined to using magical spices and herbs only in your meals, think of other uses they have. Here are some ideas:
Add magical spices to your meals every day!
Make a magical hot tea out of your spices/herbs (be sure to put in a bag or strainer of some kind).
Make an herbal bath soak (add your favorite herbs to a cup of Epsom salts—make sure to research if the herb/spice is okay to apply to skin/mucus membranes!).
Put them in a spell bag or bottle for protection, success, prosperity, friendship, love, purification, etc.
Add the right herbs/spices to a dream pillow or dream sachet.
Use these herbs/spices as offerings to your ancestors or gods.
Make an incense powder.
Powder spices together in your mortar and pestle and spread over thresholds for various intentions
Roll oiled candles in powdered herbs to boost effects of a spell
Infuse butter, sugar, vinegar, or oils with these magical herbs/spices.
No matter what kind of magic you’re casting as a kitchen witch, there’s no doubt by just using a pinch of this or that spice from your own kitchen adds power to your intentions. Look up every herb and spice before using it for your magic and before using it on your skin, mucus membranes, or before consuming large quantities. Magic isn’t effective if you’re not safe!
Other ways to keep the kitchen feeling magical is by keeping your appliances clean and consecrated, keep a kitchen altar (could be herbs offerings, candles etc), and to have some kind of receipt book, journal etc etc. Many cultures also provide offerings to their hearth, as it was commonly believed that there were hearth spirits that provided blessings upon the home.
