Cerridwen Greenleaf - The Book of Witchy Wellbeing: Rituals, recipes, and spells for sacred self-care

the book of

witchy
wellbeing

the book of

witchy
wellbeing

rituals, recipes, and spells for sacred self-care

Cerridwen Greenleaf

May we all find healing and love along our path to a life of peace. xo

Published in 2021 by CICO Books

An imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd

www.rylandpeters.com

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Text Brenda Knight 2021

Design and illustration CICO Books 2021

The authors moral rights have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-80065-032-9

E-ISBN: 978-1-80065-070-1

Printed in China

Designer: Geoff Borin

Illustrator: Emma Garner (artwork on by Amy Louise Evans)

Commissioning editor: Kristine Pidkameny

Senior editor: Carmel Edmonds

Senior designer: Emily Breen

Art director: Sally Powell

Head of production: Patricia Harrington

Publishing manager: Penny Craig

Publisher: Cindy Richards

SAFETY NOTE: Please note that while the use of essential oils, herbs, incense, and particular practices refer to healing benefits, they are not intended to replace diagnosis of illness or ailments, or healing or medicine. Always consult your doctor or other health professional in the case of illness, pregnancy, and personal sensitivities and conditions. Test any homemade beauty products on your wrist before using to check for any irritation. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising out of the general information, recipes, and practices provided in this book.

contents

introduction: the art of sacred self-care

When you awaken each morning, what comes first into your mind? Ideally, it should be a sense of the possible and of your very aliveness. And, indeed, every day is alive with possibility. Every single day is a good day to exist on this abundant planet that gives everything we need: air, water, heat, and earth and all the good things that come from them. These elements make up the building blocks for life and also connect us to the sacred in nature. Holding an awareness of this origin will keep you conscious of yourself, your breath, your energy levels, and how you feel in your body. As you wake up every day, you should connect to your body and breathe each new day in. If you are an early riser, all the better, as the dew in the dawn is extremely good for you. I learned this from my friends Chinese grandmother, Su, who lived to 108 and attributed this to doing a bit of tai chi every morning in the backyard (though I know she also drank many pots of herbal tea).

What I suggest you do is find the daily rituals that are soothing to you in body, mind, and soul. Like the wise elder Su, you should breathe, move, and awaken into your day with awareness and mindfulness. Meditations, prayers, and practices can make you feel grounded and whole, but it wont happen overnight, and can and should take time. What really nurtures you? What really quiets your mind and fills you with peace and positivity?

In this book, I suggest rituals that will enable you to up your wellness quotient by harnessing the power of flowers, herbs, crystals, candles, and more. You can also grow your craft with the natural magic that stems from our Earth, the four elements, and the energy of the moon, stars, and planets. Learn how you can cleanse your home and create a peace-filled, serene space for you and your loved ones with incense, essential oils, and simple spells. Discover how you can restore both your sense of self and vigor with herbal preparations, as well as meditations and prayers for the equally important care of your soul. Create your own Book of Shadows, a personal record of all your spells and recipes, and journal in it about your progress with these approaches to sacred care as you listen deeply to your heart and discover what feeds you.

My intention is to offer a wellness retreat for you in book form. The recipes, rituals, and practices herein have soothed my soul, fed my spirit, calmed my mind, and gladdened my heart. I have shared them with friends, clients, and loved ones as we have amped up our approaches to self-care over the last decade. Witches are often well ahead of the pack in terms of the healing arts, and every spellcaster I know has been busily endeavoring to expand their repertoire of rites and enchantments, as well as teas, tinctures, and pagan prescriptions, for total wellbeing. While my parents still wonder why I majored in medieval studies in university, I continue to be grateful about that choice as I am able to research and revive some of the best of the old ways that our foremothers used centuries ago. Brews from nearly forgotten plants that have fallen out of fashion two millennia ago can be a balm for our modern maladies. Essential oils and potions that remain in use from ancient Egypt and Greece are more indispensable than ever before. All this wisdom passed down from hedgewitch healers can add more joy to your days. Slow down a bit, breathe, and ground yourself in naturewitchy wellbeing is the most practical magic of all!

Chapter 1

happy, healthy you:

Enchanted Ideas and Mindfulness Magic

We are living in a time when wellness is a topic on nearly everyones mind, and this will only increase as health has become even more of a focus for so many of us. Cooking nutritious meals, meditation, and long luxurious walks in parks and around our neighborhoods have become healthy new habits embraced by many. Friends of mine that you could once barely pry from their offices have been suddenly rhapsodizing about the newfound pleasure of gardening and cooking fresh, homegrown veggies. I have noted all this approvingly as it indicates a newfound connection to our earth, which is the very core of wellbeing. Our Mother Earth heals usin turn, we should do the same. Wicca is a spiritual practice that is centered in earth wisdom. Right now, spells for healing are the most important magic we can do.