It doesn’t matter if you only have a window sill with a pot plant on it, a small city terrace, a playing field or several acres, you can always work with the magic in your garden. The kitchen extends into the garden anyway and a Kitchen Witch will often be found pottering around in amongst the plants. Kitchen Witchcraft: Garden Magic is the second in a series of books which delves into the world of the Kitchen Witch. Each book breaks down the whys and wherefores of the subject and includes practical guides and exercises. Other titles include Spells and Charms, Altars & Rituals and The Elements. Rachel Patterson has penned more than a dozen books on the rituals and practices of magic and paganism. She is High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and an Elder of the Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft. A Hedge/Kitchen Witch with an added dash of folk magic. She lives in Portsmouth, UK. Kitchen Witchcraft: Garden Magic By Rachel Patterson John Hunt Publishing Ltd. Copyright © 2017 Rachel Patterson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-78535-766-4 Contents Who am I?, Welcome to my garden ..., Let's open the magical box, In the beginning, Flow of magic in a garden space, A garden altar, Hex signs, Harvesting, Your magical store cupboard, Garden journal, Doctrine of signatures, Gratitude, Devas, dryads, plant and tree spirits, Design a structure, Pick a theme, any theme, Colour Magic, Crystals in the garden, Animals in the garden, Poorly plants, pests and disease, Gardening by the moon, Zones, Floromancy and botanomancy, Plant dyes and inks, Trees, The magic of flowers and flower language, Garden spells, blessings and ritual, Edible flowers and garden snacks, Lotions and potions for you, Reference, CHAPTER 1 Who am I? I am a witch ... have been for a very long time. I am also a working wife and mother who has also been lucky enough to write and have published a book or thirteen. I love to learn, I love to study and have done so from books, online resources, schools and wonderful mentors over the years and continue to learn every day but have learnt the most from getting outside and doing it. I like to laugh, bake and eat cake ... I am High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and an Elder at the online Kitchen Witch School. I also have regular blogs on: Witches & Pagans www.witchesandpagans.com/pagan-paths-blogs/hedge- witch.html Patheos Pagan www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon Moon Books – www.moonbooks.net/blogs/moonbooks/author/rachelp My website and personal blog: www.rachelpatterson.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachelpattersonbooks Email: kitchenwitchhearth@yahoo.com www.kitchenwitchhearth.net www.kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.co.uk www.facebook.com/kitchenwitchuk My craft is a combination of old religion Witchcraft, Kitchen Witchery, Hedge Witchery and folk magic. My heart is that of a Kitchen Witch. Warning If you are handling herbs, plants, flowers and essential oils please be aware of any allergies. Check that you have identified the plants correctly. With essential oils especially (and some plants) check allergies and toxicity. Some plants are extremely toxic. Some undiluted oils can cause nasty reactions when they come in contact with skin. Pregnant ladies, elderly and young children should be extremely careful when handling essential oils – check with a qualified practitioner before using. CHAPTER 2 Welcome to my garden ... This is not a detailed 'how to' garden book, there are plenty of decent books on the market that will help you decide what to plant, how to look after it and how to garden successfully. Although I do give some hints and tips. The main purpose of this book is to help introduce magic into your outside space. Whether you only have a window sill with a pot plant on, a small city terrace, a playing field or several acres, you can always work with the magic of your garden. I think the kitchen extends into the garden anyway, so a Kitchen Witch will often be found pottering around in amongst the plants. Being in regular contact with your garden and what you grow, even with your house plants or a few pots of herbs, can help you to connect with the spirit of nature and recognise the subtleties of the changing of the seasons, and your garden can also provide you with food and magical ingredients. Magical gardening does take time, focus and attention. You can't just plant something and leave it in the hope that several months later it will have grown, flourished and be covered in fruit or flowers (Okay, on the odd occasion it does happen but not often!). My gardening memories date back to my childhood. My dad is and always was a keen gardener, organic before it was fashionable to be so. He has always had an allotment and a greenhouse which provide a bounty of wonderful fruit and vegetables. Apparently even as a toddler I would disappear down the garden with him and come back covered in mud. In my early teens I experienced food