Spring Magic

We have passed the Spring Equinox and now that the days are lengthening, our attention is turning outwards – more daylight and better weather makes it a pleasure to go outside and the pace of life is quickening. Here in the UK we move into British Summertime on the 30th March and the evenings start getting noticeably brighter for longer and all around us Mother Nature is showing her return. Those of us with gardens are beginning our preparations for the summer. Although the threat of frosts has not passed we plant seeds in greenhouses, cold frames and on indoor windowsills, and bushes and bulbs in the garden. Those of us without gardens can plant herbs and salad leaves indoors to bring life within and give us fresh green herbal foods.

From late March birds are nesting, so keep an eye out for them and give a helping hand by leaving out materials such as natural threads and scraps of material, straw and cuttings from plants. If you can see where birds are nesting in your garden try to put the materials nearby and hang them in a container or on a bush so that the birds can collect them quickly and save energy. This will also stop the materials flying away and keep them out of reach of cats!

Birds use a lot of energy nest building, for example; on their website the RSPB says “Studies have shown long-tailed tits can use up to 2,000 feathers in each nest and in their effort to collect all the various materials, they will fly between 600-700 miles!” 

So by helping them you are speeding up the nest building, saving them energy and encouraging them to stay in your garden. Don’t forget also to keep putting out bird food to keep their energy levels up and give the female the extra energy that she will need for egg laying later.

With all this growth and extra daylight we look at our homes and see the need for change and improvement. During a period of waning moon carry out spring cleaning.

Here is a recipe for a magical wash to purify your space, and remove the static energy of winter

Place 1 pt water, 1/2 teaspoon Frankincense & Myrrh and 1 teaspoon each of Cloves, Rosemary, Sandalwood and Thyme, in a saucepan.

Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cover and leave to cool.

Strain and use to wipe all your surfaces.

To brighten up our homes and raise the energies, bring in Spring flowers such as daffodils, primroses, gorse, shamrock and forsythia, and pots with growing bulbs.

Cleanse your crystals by rinsing under running water, or put them under the light of a waning moon. Recharge under the full moon or by passing through incense smoke.

If you have a home altar look at what is on it and change it around to reflect the energies of Spring; add eggs, spring flowers, animals etc to bring your magical space into line with the season.

We also need a personal Spring Clean, both inside and out; check your wardrobe and discard clothes that don’t fit or you never wear, do those minor repairs you have been putting off, and generally look at what you have left – does it really reflect who you are now?

You may have made a New Year resolution to diet and dropped it so try a new tack; change a part of your diet each week, bring in more fresh vegetables, give up one “bad” food at a time and make changes gradually. This will be easier to implement and you will stand more chance of being successful and not only lose weight but be generally healthier. Don’t forget to exercise too, now there is more light during the day you will feel more like doing that run after work, going  to the gym, walking in the park, going to dance/yoga/tai chi classes anything - but do something!

If you have been thinking of detoxing, think again; this is what your liver was designed to do, you don’t need to buy into a regime that isn’t any more effective than your body already is. However, you can help your liver to be more effective by cutting out or down on, foods like fats, alcohol, sugar etc.

You can also drink herbal teas to help your digestion and generally give you a lift.  Any of these teas are good, or any blend of them.

Nettle tea is wonderful it has vitamin C, iron and phosphates

Peppermint aids digestion. 

Rosehips are high in vitamin C.

Chamomile for relaxation

Ginseng for a boost to all your body and immune system

Ladies refresh your complexion with a honey face mask; this will remove impurities from below the skin and dead cells.

Mix 2 tablespoons of clear honey and 1 tablespoon of almond oil in a saucer and apply to your face after cleansing, avoiding the under eye area. Massage it into the skin using circular movements for 3 minutes, then lie back, relax and leave for approx 30 minutes. Wash off with lots of tepid clean water.

“In springtime a young man’s fancy turns to love”

And not just young men! If you are looking for a new love this spring there are many ways to attract it – and they are all simple – the easiest is to get a plant or sow seeds of, one of the plants listed below and charge it that as it grows, so will love – just remember to look after it!!

Buy flowers from the list and display them in your home, again charging them to bring love into your life – men give a carefully chosen bunch to a lady you would like to get to know better

Pot Pourri – mix any of the listed herbs – (you can choose by colour, or by smell whatever feels right) in a dish, place your hands in the mix and while gently turning the herbs over declare your wish for love, then display it in a pretty bowl on your altar, by your bed or wherever feels right

Herb Sachet – make a small bag and fill it with a mix of herbs (charged as above)  sew the bag up and carry it with you close to your heart and under your pillow at night. Replace the herbs after 3 months if necessary.

When cooking you can use the herbs on the list and as you add them state that you are inviting love into your life.

When the time comes to remove the herbs or flowers that you have used do so with thanks, even though you may not have seen a result yet. Thank them for their energy and if possible return them to the earth – a compost heap is ideal. Remember, the right person may be on the way; for all you know they, or you, may have to travel so that you can both be in the same place at the same time to meet. And get out there too, if you just sit at home you will not meet anyone except the gas man, postman or a tradesman, which is ok, but if you want a sporty partner join a gym, for a cultured partner go to museums, galleries etc. Just wishing will get you nowhere, you have to put in the effort and put yourself out there.

Love herbs and flowers include;

Basil, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Geranium, Hibiscus, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, Myrtle, Orchid, Rose – red or pink, Rosemary, Thyme, Tulip, Vanilla, Violet.

Spring has sprung and Mother Nature is leaping into action, this is the time to get moving and start working on the plans we made in the dark days of winter. If you want things to be different now is the time to make the necessary changes, so get out there and make magic happen!