Remaining Aware & Spiritually Attuned + How to Protect Yourself from Unwanted Energies

Modern life is so busy. It seems that finding any kind of balance between the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual parts of our being has become a sort of art-form and dance, as we juggle and stumble through our daily obligations, taking care of necessities, running errands, parenting, doing chores, and somehow trying to remember, that through it all, we are still spiritual beings working for a much broader purpose.

When we feel we are not in balance, even if just in one aspect, it can leave us feeling inadequate in many ways... drained, depressed, uneasy and anxious...

How are we to remain aware and spiritually attuned?

I have mentioned it before to friends of mine who have asked this very question. 

My answer is simple. 

Although I do not support religion in general, it has come to my understanding, through the growth of my own spiritual path, that in order for me to find the most balance in my life, I must practice my path "religiously" (or, with discipline).

 Discipline with my practice; Patience with myself

Discipline is my simple answer. 

Patience is my second answer when you ask how to remain disciplined. 

Like I said, it is a dance! 

Life has not always been this balanced in all areas of my life....

It has taken a lot of time to get where I am today, living the lifestyle I longed to live for so long. 

Here are some ways I 'keep the magic alive' in my day-to-day.

I hope it can help inspire you at the very least!

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

My mornings usually begin with a kiss goodbye from my husband as he leans over our sleeping toddler who lies between us all night, before he leaves to go to work. It truly is a beautiful moment, and I try not to take it for granted. 

This is Magick.

I stretch, clumsily find my robe and warm, fuzzy footies and find my way to the coffee pot. (I strictly believe that brain cells do not officially fire off and begin functionally properly until that first sip of coffee).

As I turn to leave the kitchen, there sits my living room altar. It has not always been there....

But one day, I slowly accumulated a bunch of candles atop one piece of wooden furniture that, up to that point, had been used as a catch-all for the household. 

My crystals soon needed more space to be out in the open, so some were also placed there.

Soon, my tarot cards found a home there as well, as running up to my bedroom altar to grab them while my baby took naps in the same room, became too much of a risk of waking him, as it began happening more often when friends started coming by for more readings. 

So then came an altar cloth, as I always lay my cards out on a cloth.

That was sort of the birth of my living room altar, which is now adorned with a conch shell, other shells and stones, crystals and more of my sacred, "witchy" items. 

Now that I have one, it has become the center of my spiritual growth.

It is always in front of me, and so my spiritual path is always at the forefront of my brain and my thoughts. 

This, I have found essential to my discipline.

Here is what it looks like, although this particular picture is missing several of my witchy items, as they were in use elsewhere at the time, or were being stored away from curious little toddler hands.

(our little boy loves to throw objects around the house that should never be thrown....lol)

An "altar" is a space that is kept sacred, for the purpose of giving focus to one's spiritual practice, usually adorned with items of meaning for magickal purpose and focus.

 Such as, items relevant to the elements of earth, gods & goddesses, as well as colors, candles, incenses & herbs that align with particular magickal energies needed for a particular time of the Wheel of the Year, for a  specific rite or spell being peformed, or for general purpose for opening the spiritual awareness of the practitioner during prayer, meditation, or deep thought. 

An altar can either be elaborate or simple. There is no wrong way to build your altar, although there are several examples of them all over the internet and detailed descriptions of layouts that can be found as well, that can help inspire you and get you started. Soon, I will blog on how to create your altar, as well as how to bless it and keep it sacred; just wanted to give a general description here for better understanding. 

After sipping coffee, I place a pillow down on the floor to kneel on, light some candles, light my incense and swirl it around my altar & myself (usually patchouli or sandalwood; just a personal choice), handle my crystals.. hold them against the glow of my candles and take a brief moment to admire their beauty. I touch the soil in my potted plant, sprinkle the dust left on my hands over my candles, fold my hands, close my eyes, and relish the silence. The children are still asleep, and the only sounds I hear are the sound of my own breath and the beat of my own heart. 

This is Magick. 

It's amazing how, when the world around you is still dark and dormant, the sounds of your very existence are more prevalent, and you can truly find feelings of love and gratitude coming to life inside of you, just by simply recognizing the moment, and knowing the true immensity of your being. It is said that, during the darkness of the night and early morning hours, we are closest to the spiritual world; the worlds are more closely aligned and open to one another, as the wavelengths of life and activity are essentially much slower than the busy energies of daytime. 

While sitting, I intentionally visualize a steam of white light from my root chakra (the base of my spine), reaching down into the earth... Through the floor, and through the ground beneath my home. And from the earth, I ask that her divine, powerful energy to be sent through me, via the white light, up through my spine, and branching out into my entire building until my entire body is full of this powerful, protective energy. The light expands, and forms a protective, white globe three feet above my head, and three feet below my body, encompassing my entire being in a protective barrier. 

This is Magick. 

My eyes open and I usually look up to see myself in my antique mirror hanging above my altar. I remember how I looked before... just waking up, stumbling with my pillow, eyes barely open or lively, rolling my eyes at myself as I dropped the matches or lighter for the second or third time... You know the look. 

But after my simple moment of reverence... After lighting each candle carefully and thoughtfully, waiving my fingers through their flames; after swirling the incense all around me and in the air and admiring the smoke as it dances before setting it down; after feeling my crystals, my water from my chalice, the soil from my plant between my fingers, and grounding myself to the earth as I closed my eyes in meditation... 

~My face is lifted, my eyes are sparkling with life, my core feels balanced and my aura is all but glowing~

This is Magick.

As a Witch, but also as a "sensitive" to the energies around me in general, I find it necessary and helpful to build up a healthy field of protective energy within my own energy field on a daily basis. 

This is something that has been practiced by shamans, witches, spiritual workers, etc. for centuries.

Another great way to build a protective energy around you is to bathe with

Rune Engraved Magickal Soaps

 that are created with magickal intent.

You can make some yourself (that's for another post).

Or, you can buy them.

We make some that you can find by visiting my

 Magickal Witchy Shop. 

My shop is still just a baby, so bare with me and its growth. :)

At this time, after smiling at myself for what I know I have just accomplished,  I either draw some tarot cards (as many as I feel the need for), or I simply stand, bow in Namaste and continue on to the kitchen to turn on some smooth-morning jazz, while I dance around and begin making breakfast and lunches for my little living creations that will wake soon. 

This is Magick. 

My moment has be had; I feel spiritually/elementally attuned, emotionally and physically balanced, and mentally strong & confident to start my day, and all I had to do to achieve all of this was to make myself have enough discipline to get up just a little earlier so that this could all be possible. And, if I'm lucky, I will have another, or a few more chances throughout the day to return to my very-conveniently-placed-altar, and enjoy more moments similar to how I started my day.

*****************************************

I'm never perfect at following such a routine. Some mornings, there is no way I can pull this off. So this is where PATIENCE comes in. 

Know you are not perfect, and also know that life, the very simple essence of living, is magick all in itself. 

My advice is to try something similar to this routine at least a few times a week, until.. before you know it, you will not be able to start your day (or even function properly) without finding your balance first thing in the morning. This is what has worked for me. 

But what about the days that this advice simply is not possible or realistic??

For me, this is how it goes.... 

Some days I sleep too long. We stayed up watching "Atlantis", or "The 100"... or some other show we watch religiously each night on Netflix, and my body simply will not move when my alarm goes off.

When I finally jump up and realize the sun has already risen, I rush down (did I forget my robe and footies?? I'm SO cold!!!), and immediately find our cat snuggled next to the heater. She looks so warm and cozy.... So I stand there for a moment with my feet tucked under her oh-so-warm body and she begins to purr and stretch. 

I smile.

She's just this little living being, breathing and purring and is so happy to see me.

We got her when my husband and I first got together.

Oh how I love this little creature.

This is Magick.

After only about 45 seconds of having a moment with my cat, I quickly realize just how hungry I am.

So I make lunches & breakfast for everyone, and just end up eating the scraps, like the crust from the sandwiches, peels of apples.... You know.

Oh man how I wish I got up early enough to nourish myself first. And have I even had coffee yet??

But then I hear this softest, most sweetest sound on the baby monitor. It is our baby boy.. He has rolled over, face against the monitor and his every breath is like the whisper of angels to my ears. 

I smile.

He is so sweet and loving. He is my everything.

How lucky we are to have him....

This is Magick. 

Halfway through and not anywhere near finished with my current task, my baby boy whimpers in the  monitor, babbling as he does when he first awakes, and his older sister is fumbling around the bathroom, and is saying something... but it is all just mumbles in the monitor.

When I get up the stairs, 

I find them both in my bed, and she is comforting her baby brother as he wakes.... 

I smile. 

This is Magick.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The moments in which we can find beauty in the mundane or daily routines of our lives, are all Magick.

My hopes is to encourage the thought that, 

if we try hard, every day (religiously) to not take one moment for granted, it is in these small and fleeting moments that we can find the broader purpose, and the real reasons we do all the things that we do.

So I didn't thank the Gods and Goddesses, or great spirits while in deep meditation in front of my altar every day this week... That does not make me any less aware, or attuned.
I was still sure to relish the Magick of each moment as often as possible.

The rest of the day follows.... 

 I notice the birds landing in our garden as I shuffle the kids out of the door to go to school, 

The ducks that waddle along the road on the way to the store,

The ravens that like to perch on the tops of the light poles in the parking lots,

The sudden pick up of the wind and swirl of the leaves as I pass the lake,

The giggle of my children on any given day,

and all the moments that make me smile.

These are moments filled with Magick.

We just have to be the ones to recognize it.

Once you do, and with discipline & patience with yourself,

~*~ You, too, can know balance ~*~

Do you have any techniques that work for you?

I would love to read about them!

With Love, 

MoonsWay )O(

How to Make a Potion + A Potion Recipe to Banish Stress & Unnecessary Negativity

Holistic Medicine can be dangerous

if not researched fully before use. 

Please use our recipe’s, suggestions, and guidance carefully.  Some herbs may be harmful to pregnant women, women who are nursing, or those with certain types of medical conditions. 

Holistic and alternative medicine should be researched fully, and/or one should consult with their physician or naturopath before ingesting any herbal recipes.

thesingingnutritionist.wordpress.com

To begin, Let's take a look at the Methods of Concoctions of Witchcraft, in general:

Potions: Spells in liquid form

Elixirs:  Sweet flavored liquid to cure ills & ailments

Infusion: Herbs steeped like tea, but not consumable

Tinctures: Scented liquids , Ethyl-alcohol based &  infused with dry plant materials

Salve / Balm: Healing paste/ointment laced or infused with herbs & oils

Essential Oils: Magical oils derived from plants

Poultice: A soft, moist, medicated mass that is heated and medicated by use of herbs to relieve aches, pains & inflammation

Smudge Stick:  A bundle of dried herbs, bound with string or twine, that is burned and then blown out; the smoke is used for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification

Incense: An aromatic gum of resin that produces a sweet, and usually earthy odor when burned; used to enhance a mood, psychic awareness, to cleanse, for focus in rites, to bless & consecrate, etc.

We will eventually have a post to refer to each of these methods, but for now, we will focus on 

How to Make a Potion~

Making potions is one of the oldest crafts known to mankind, from making elixirs, beers and wines, to making teas and concoctions with the intent for a specific purpose or outcome infused into them during the making process. 

Throughout the ages, from the earliest of civilizations, shamans, witches and healers were called upon to aid in sickness, attract abundance, or to protect from harm or negative threats and energies. 

Today, we can utilize this way of the old to manifest, protect and help us in our times of need.

First, there are things you should know to lessen any intimidation: 

- Potions can be simple or  complex. Do what works for you. No need to over-complicate.

- Making a potion is as simple as making tea, but with magickal elements added to direct your purpose.

- Dried or Fresh Herbs can be used; you will need 3x the amount of fresh herbs than dried though.

(if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon dried herb, you will need to make it 3 tablespoons if you use fresh herbs)

- Common herbs like Lavender, Rosemary and Mint have multiple magickal properties and can be used for many purposes. And those are only to name a few.

- Potions should taste good. The days of Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog are long behind us. Make your concoction taste-bud worthy.

- Prepare in advance. When you think of a need to cast any spell, or make a potion, set your sights on a particular day and time in the near future, and slowly & intentionally gather your necessary tools and materials. Put love and care into your craft, and you will get the most amazing results.

**************************

Now, we must be sure we have the proper tools in order. The following are useful tools to keep on hand, and should only be used for magickal creation purposes. Meaning, they should be kept sacred, for their usefulness in your workings will be greater and more in-tuned with the energy needed for your tasks.

Tools for Potion Making: 
 - A clay, ceramic, earthenware, stone, or wooden bowl (just be sure it is of natural materials; more than one may be helpful)
- A pot or cauldron. (a cauldron is best)
- Wooden utensils for stirring your cauldron. (even our utensils should be of natural material; always stir clockwise)
- Cheesecloth and/or a fine sieve for straining herbs, spices, roots, barks, etc.
- A mortar and pestle for grinding.
- Sterile glass containers or bottles with lids or corks.
- A funnel is useful.
- Pure Vodka for added preservative, when necessary.
- Spring, Well or Rain Water are best. Moon-charged Water is even better. (how to make Moon Water is for another post!)
- Corresponding Candles, if you so wish, to strengthen your focus and intent.
- Matches for your candle.
- Dried or Fresh Herbs
- Honey and Lemon to sweeten and add more flavor, if you would like.
- A prepared verse/incantation to charge your potion with your intent while making it; usually 3 to 4 lines long.

*******************************

The most common practice of potion making is to make a tea, an infusion of herbs or ground spices, root, barks, etc. by heating the ingredients in water, bringing to a boil, and then empowering the ingredients with our intent.

When making your infusion, it is important to be sure you have a secure fitting lid for your pot or cauldron. The lid is necessary in keeping the important, natural oils from evaporating as they heat up and start disappearing from our potion!

The types of dried herbs and such that you need depend on the type of potion you wish to create.

{ Eventually, I will add a page of the Magickal Correspondences for herbs, but for now you can find some here. }

There are also various magickal correspondences for certain days and moon phases to cast any spell or potion, and you can find them all over the internet, but here is a basic rule of thumb:

Magickal Correspondences for Moon Phases: 

Waning Moon (decreasing in size from Full Moon) = to push things away from you. 

This is the time for spells that banish, release or reverse. This is the time to break bad habits, and to end relationships that no longer serve you. A time for deep intuition and divination. 

The Waning Moon period lasts about 14 days. 

Waxing Moon (increasing in size from New/Dark Moon) = to bring things to you.

This is a time for spells that attract. A time for spells of good luck, new beginnings, spells for love, spells for growth, and for positive changes in your life. A time to conceptualize new ideas, business decisions; a time to invoke.

The Waxing Moon period lasts for about 14 days.

Full Moon (fully visible in the sky) = to strengthen your power.

This is a time for spells that transform, spells to strengthen your power, a time to refuel & for major workings to occur. A time to increase psychic ability; spells for love, fertility and awareness.

The period for the Full Moon lasts about 3 days prior and after the full moon. 

New/Dark Moon (in between the Earth & Sun, completely hidden) = to bring new beginnings

This is the time for spells of new beginnings, new undertakings, new ways of living, new business decisions. A time to be reborn.

You may wish to light a candles or a few candles based on your intent. Here are some magickal correspondences for colors, that can be used for candles, altar cloths, among other things in your craft. 

White - Protection, Peace, Purity, Truth

Green - Healing, Money, Prosperity, Luck, Fertility

Brown - Physical objects, Healing for Animals, Houses & Homes

Pink - Emotional Love, Friendships

Red - Sexual Love, Passion, Energy, Enthusiasm, Courage

Yellow - Clairvoyance, Divination, Studying, Learning, The Mind

Purple - Power, Healing Deadly Diseases or Sicknesses

Blue - Healing, Meditation, Tranquility

Orange - Strength, Authority, Attraction, Luck

Black - Absorption of Negativity, Destruction of Negativity

********************************************

Now, let's make a potion together, shall we? 

There are countless recipes out there in books and on the internet (and I encourage you to seek them out!), but let's make a recipe of our own.

Right now, on this very day, the moon moves into Waning, when it is moving away from Full, and going into the New or Dark Moon. So, as we have learned, this is the time for moving things away from us. 

So let's make a potion to... 

Banish Stress and Unnecessary Negativity

STEP ONE: 

Gather Ingredients & Tools {see list of tools above}

 We will need some herbs for purification, and I will choose: 

Lavender, Rosemary and Basil

(all common household herbs)

Also, some herbs of healing may be beneficial. 

(Use your intuition with your selections. Healing and Purifying just seem to fit well for our need with this potion.) 

I will choose: 

Sage 

Lavender and Rosemary are also healing, so we have double the strength with those herbs. There are many, many more options I could add, but remember we want our potion to taste good, or at the very least, not taste horrible. ;)

The amount of each herb used is entirely up to you.

However, I like the power of 3. It seems to work with me well in my craft and in life in general. So I will use 3 tablespoons each, which is going to make for a strong potion!

I LOVE to use candles. So I will light an unused white candle for PEACE while I create my potion.

You could go as far as carving runes in your candle for comfort, peace and healing, but for now we will keep it simple.

STEP TWO: 

Cast a Sacred Circle around your work area.

Very simple... you can either use the power of mind and create a circle of white light around your work area, you can use salt (but that gets messy) or you can do so with incense. 

So if you are working in the kitchen, cast your circle around the entire kitchen.

The different ways to cast a circle will one day be another post, but for now we will leave it at this.

STEP THREE:

Call upon the Elemental Powers to enter and bless your circle.

Something like, 

"I ask the power of the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, to enter my circle, and to bless my work."

STEP FOUR:

Call upon the Great Spirits, your Divine Guardians to enter your circle and bless your work.

Something like,

"I call upon the Great Spirits and all that is Divine to enter my circle and bless my work with their powerful energy."

STEP FIVE:

Assemble your tools for Use

Put pot on the burner.

Fill the pot with 3 cups of water.

Add your herbs.

Add in honey and lemon juice to taste.

For this, I will add 3 tablespoons each.

Light your candle.

Take a moment to center yourself spiritually, in any way that serves you.

STEP SIX:

Empower your Ingredients and Tools

Talk to them.

Handle them.

As you place them in the pot of water, put your emotions into them.

Truly feel the moment and let your guards down.

You are safe here.

Cry if you need to.

Laugh if it helps.

See the outcome as being so.. Visualize how you wish to feel afterward and know it be true.

Do not underestimate the power of thought.

That is your magic. Use it.

STEP SEVEN: 

Heat Ingredients & Charge your Potion

Now is the time to stir your pot.

Always stir clockwise.

It is heating up and not quite to a boil.

Repeat your prepared incantation.

Something like,

"Herbs of Earth, Power of Water, 

Steam of Air, Flame of Fire,

Hear my needs, beckon my call,

Bring peace and harmony,

To One and All."

Repeat 3 times while stirring.

Repeat 9 times, if you so wish, for 3x the strength.

Or just follow your intuition and repeat your incantation as many times as you feel the need, until you feel your potion is ready.

STEP EIGHT:

Steep & Give Thanks

Not quite to a boil yet, cover your pot and let it come to a boil.

Keeping it covered will ensure the natural oils do not escape your potion through evaporation.

Watch closely so that it does not boil over.

Once it is to a boil, remove from burner and let steep with cover on for 10 minutes.

To give thanks, simply thank the spirits, guardians, and elements for their presence and blessings. Nothing fancy, just thank them out loud or in your head.

I usually take a moment to pray, meditate and pay reverence.

Let your intuition be the guide.

STEP NINE:

Bottle, Clean up & Grounding

Bottle your potion and clean up your area, and then take down your circle. 

You may add a few drops of vodka to each bottle and shake it into the mixture as a preservative if you wish. I usually only make potions that will be used immediately, so this is not usually something I have to do.

As you bottle your potion, recite:

"As I will it, so mote it be."

Store in a dark space at room temperature.

Clean your area, clean your tools, consecrate them if you would like (I always do so they are fresh and ready for use), and put them away. 

Take down your circle that you cast by visualizing a door opening in your circle, and then the light slowly dissipating back into the Earth, or atmosphere.

(again, that is for a different post!)

Not all Witches find Grounding to be necessary, but when I build up my cone of power, I feel a come-down is necessary. 

Simply touch some soil and smell it. Feel it in your hands, fingers or between your toes. Eat something crunchy and natural; carrots are great. And give a big sigh of relaxation as you know what you have accomplished.

STEP TEN:

Give or Drink

Give the potion to the intended person to drink, when the time is right. Remember, always, ALWAYS ask for permission before performing magick for someone. Usually, the recipient comes to me for help.

Or, drink the potion yourself when the time is right.

Drink the potion immediately if you wish, or wait until you visit your altar next, or for a particular ritual.

I like to wait until really early in the morning, while the world is still quiet, my children are sleeping, and the moment is completely mine. Usually, I do a mini-rite that involves tarot, prayer, meditation and then a journal entry after.

There is no wrong way to take your potion. Only you know the best "time". Let your inner-voice and gut feeling guide you.

*********************************

I would always encourage you to archive your experiences, to write down your spells and recipes, and how you felt during and afterward.

Your future self will thank you for it.

<3 

~*~With Endless Love & Light~*~

Blessed Be.

MoonsWay )O(

Tarot Results for 11/6/2014 - Strength, The Star, Eight of Cups

Sometimes on The Natural Witch Facebook Page, I offer 3 cards for everyone to choose from and post the results the next day. 

The decision to do so usually comes to me in a wave of energy after I have done my daily morning reading and meditation, and I get an overwhelming feeling to give the gift of insight and perspective with my cards.

Here are the results for yesterday's reading, 11/6/2014.

The following cards speak of gentle strength of character, inspiration and personal growth, and being open to receiving the change that the universe has to offer.

May the messages be carried with you in your day-to-day, and may that bring you peace & comfort.

Card One: 

Strength - Major Arcana Card VIII 

Deity Associations: Apollo, Helios

Astrological Association: Leo

This card represents a time that needs gentle strength, calmness, fortitude and quiet personal power. It reminds us that brute force is not necessary, but rather the use of wise-personal power, self control, intuition, determination and strength of character. 

Do not give in to feelings of helplessness, fear or doubt... 

Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is have confidence in ourselves and our own personal power. Be strong enough to work calmly, with control and determination through any challenges you may be facing. 

Card Two: 

The Star - Major Arcana Card XVII 

Deity Associations: Star Goddess, Astrea, Venus, Isis, Ishtar, Nuit, Thoth

Astrological Association: Aquarius

This is the card of hope, inner peace, creativity, and healing. When this beautiful, tranquil card reveals itself in a reading, it is a sign that physical and emotional healing is on the way. Have hope, follow your dreams and your wishes will be granted. 

Throw out feelings or thoughts of self doubt or pessimism; these are your spiritual blocks.

This card speaks of inspiration. Regroup and find your inspiration again. Your creativity will flow like the ebb and flow of the pure element of water, better than ever before.. Be gentle with yourself and your self-talk. The Star illustrates a softer, gentler magick and indicates that you will be working successfully with your intuitive gifts. By allowing your inspiration and creativity to flow freely, those around you will also be inspired. 

That is your gift. 

Card Three: 

Eight of Cups~ 

This card symbolizes the need to move on in your life. The need to move forward might be a physical relocation, or this may be representative of an emotional shift. Either way, the message of the Eight of Cups should be honored. If your move is emotional or spiritual, then set some healthy boundaries, put the past behind you and go forward with determination to a better, happier, healthier place. If you are physically moving, changing your career, etc., This card is telling you to go forward with your head held high and enjoy the positive changes coming your way. Follow your gut and be open to changes in your life, on what ever level this message holds weight to you in your life. 

~*~*~* Blessed Be! ~*~*~*~

Until next time,

~MoonsWay )O(

Homemade Shampoo Recipe for Itchy Scalp and Dandruff + A little Herbal Magick

If you do not yet know (and if you cannot tell by my photo on the right of the page...) I have dreadlocks. :)

I am in absolute LOVE with them.

And, as I type this, I have just realized that my locks turned 6 months old a few days ago, November 1st!

Wooo!!

(Oh, and I'm a "Woo! Girl", aka something my husband made up because I say "Woo!" alot. But, that's for another post, isn't it?)

And in sticking with being off-topic in general this morning... 

I would like to give a shout out to the lovely Dread Goddess, based out of Portland, OR. 

~*~ 

Wooo!! Dread Goddess!!! LOL

Stephanie and who she affectionately refers to as her "bestie", Charity, started the business together, and they are changing lives every day. 

While I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Charity, Stephanie is amazing!

She will get your dreads started, keep them maintained, and mesmerize you by simply being herself. 

The essence of her very nature is sure to inspire. 

Seriously.

Start by visiting their site!

Dread Goddess

And when you make an appointment, please tell her I sent you!

Furthermore, if you have any questions about dreads, please ask! I wish I had someone to hold my hand when I started researching.. The information can be overwhelming, but it does not have to be.

Ask. And ye shall have peace of mind.

:)

This is when my dreads were still BABIES!!
Only 5 weeks old... Awwww!!

Now back to the topic of this post....

Contrary to popular belief, most of us with dreads DO in fact wash our dreads.

In fact, washing them actually helps them tighten and mature, in my experience.

It is a sort of art, finding the balance of how often to wash. 

Wash too much.. Itchy head.

Wash too little.. Itchy head.

And, finding the perfect washing solution is just as important. 

A lot of the common shampoos have a lot of sulfates and chemicals, leaving filmy residue on the scalp. They do make special shampoos specifically for dreads, but I tend to try making things myself before going out to buy something.

So, today I wish to share with you my very own homemade shampoo recipe for dandruff, itchy scalp, for those with or without dreadlocks, or just for anyone who would like to ditch the chemical-infused commercial products.

This stuff is for you.

Natural Anti-itch Shampoo Recipe: 
You will need:
3 tablespoon each of -
 Dried lavender flowers, mint leaves and rosemary leaves.
2 cups water
Small pot
Unscented liquid castile soap
Essential oil of your choice (optional)

Bring the leaves to a boil in the pot, reduce to a low simmer and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
(**If you want to experiment with hydrating your hair on your own as well, now would be the time to add in an oil, such as grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba, etc. Start very small, (such as 1/4 tsp) and if you are not satisfied with it after the first use, you can always add more. As for me, I have dreads!! Oil would prevent my locks from willfully dreading = no bueno.)


Remove from heat, strain through a fine sieve, and set aside for 10 minutes. Then, add in 1-3 Tablespoons unscented liquid castile soap. (**I say 1-3 Tablespoons, as it really depends on you and your hair. I like to use 3 Tablespoons because I like a good lather, and since I only wash every 3-4 days, I like to be sure I get my dreaded locks super clean. I would wash more often but my scalp punishes me and makes me itchy if I wash too little or too much. It's a delicate balance!!)

Now is the time to add in the essential oil(s) of your choice. I sometimes do, but not always.

Essential oils are not only great for aroma, but each one has its own individual properties and a variety of benefits for both skin and hair.
Lavender is healing with antiseptic properties, and smells floral, yet earthy.
Tea Tree oil has a medicinal smell, and is incredible for scalp health and anti-itch.

But you do not need the essential oils for scalp health, itchiness or simple shine. The tea leaves do that for you, and essentially leaves your hair smelling "clean", with no significant odor, really.

Store in a glass jar with a lid or cork (I like vintage-y bottles with corks, just because they are pretty.)
Keeps for up to 4 weeks in the fridge.

A word about Scalp Health: 
For some of us, washing our hair and massaging with our fingers is enough and not much more is needed for comfort after that. But for the rest of us, (especially those of us with dreads!!) could benefit from a little extra care and attention.
I have found that one of the keys to keeping dandruff and annoying itchiness at bay, is to be sure my entire scalp gets fully stimulated by massage while washing.
Since my fingers cannot really get to every part of my scalp that easily, I have befriended a wide shower comb. It is has these big plastic balls on the end of the comb and a handy hook to hang from my shower head.
After applying my homemade shampoo and lathering up really well, I take the comb and gently massage each part of my scalp in a circular motion.
Ensuring the scalp gets massaged well in this way every few days, stimulates the pores, and gets the needed, natural oils producing and keeping your scalp from getting too dry (aka, ITCHY!!)
Stimulating the pores in this way, also stimulates growth, and promotes healthy shine (for those of us without dreads ;) }


Magical Uses for herbs in my recipe are as follows: 
*Remember, as a Natural Witch, everything you do can have a little added magic to it, so focus your intent while making this recipe, and remember that intent each time you use it in in the shower, and visualize your intent being so. Use the water in your visualization and see any negativity being washed away, and rinsed down the drain. Believe it to be so, and so it will be!

Lavender:  to aid in sleep, anxieties, & overall purification; promotes visions, gives protection, brings peace and clarity. 

Mint:  to promote healing, strength and lift moods; also to attract money and luck. 

Rosemary:  to promote awareness, moods, healing, memory, protection, and intellectual strength.

Enjoy and let me know how any and all of this works for you! 

*~*~*~ Blessings, and Healthy Hair! ~*~*~*

~MoonsWay )O(