Greetings friends and welcome.
Welcome to this seasonal journey with a kitchen witch and her garden.
An invitation perhaps to pause in the year to notice the natural world around you and take a short and sweet journey somewhere in between meditation and story and reflection.
These little in between places are where we may find a little magic perhaps.
So as always take your time.
We're going to take just 10 minutes out of our day and I'll guide you through a few ideas,
Images,
Reflections on perhaps how the kitchen witch's garden may appear to us in this season.
Close your eyes and rest dear one for you have travelled far through the seasons and through the year.
The sowing is here.
This is the season of red berries,
Brown nuts and changing leaves of golden hues.
Ruby rosehips,
Rowan and Hawthorn berries may be found dotted in the hedgerows or woodland through into midwinter.
Under the blossoms of Beltane we are at the wheels opposite point now at Samhain and those apple blossoms are now ripe fruits which will be a mainstay of the coming months.
Hazelnuts and walnuts decadent treats for the forager.
Hazelnuts when fully ripe drop from their husks although they're also edible when they're fresh and green.
We've always called these cob nuts in my family.
It is no coincidence that the things we associate with traditional Halloween celebrations,
Pumpkins,
Turnips,
Apples and nuts were all nature's bounty recently harvested from gardens and farms.
And even in these days of factory-made sweets being handed out to children trick-or-treating we still retain these threads and treats of Halloween's past.
With the seasonal festival of Samhain comes a sense of mystery,
Magic and stories that many more than just witches and pagans can enjoy.
Everyone can revel in the light warmth and sense of a bonfire and the joyful light of fireworks.
Of candles lit on windowsills and in carved pumpkins.
Of caramelised apples and spiced hot libations.
Gather in the last of the harvest.
Apples,
Squashes,
Pumpkins and nuts and by the power of your kitchen magic they become cakes,
Jams,
Soups and warming delights.
And we note as we look to these practices,
Yes,
There are connections with the dead.
But also how often the traditions are about love.
Some traditions for seeking out love.
And some celebrating lost love and departed loved ones.
So bake the soul cakes and harvest the apples.
Light the candles and celebrate love.
Design with joy and in memory and invite the spirits if you wish.
The winter is nearing and soon the bright lights of yule will be on their way.
When you feel ready we may open the eyes and stretch and I welcome you back to the day.
May your Samhain be blessed and beautiful.
I thank you for joining me and I look forward to meeting you here again soon.
Thank you,
Blessed be and namaste.
