Spring Rites and Rituals
Everywhere you look you can see, smell and experience Spring finally arriving. It is a time for renewal and a fresh outlook – and how can you celebrate and make the most of this new season?
I will give you a few ideas…
Spiritual honouring
Whether you celebrate Christian Easter, Pagan Ostara or Spring Equinox, I feel it is important to mark the occasion to connect yourself with the world around you.
Of course, one symbology is universally associated with spring – the Easter bunny! Rabbits or hares reflect regrowth and rebirth, so adorn your home with critters such as stuffed animals, figurines, and drawings. Also, chicks and eggs are a clear symbol of new life and fertility, and perhaps the witchy side of you would like to honour your home with a simple blessing: toss crushed eggshells in the garden and recite this spell – ‘for fairy, for flowers, for herbs in the bowers, the shells pass fertility with springtime showers.’
Certain fragrances are also associated with the season, so feel free to burn incense or essential oils of jasmine, rose, violet, celandine, etc. And nature has many botanical bounties to decorate your home or personal space; daffodils, lilies, acorns and strawberries are perfect for creating window displays or centrepieces as well as any wildflowers you can find on walks.
And finally, the traditional teatime snack of hot cross buns are actually to honour the union of the sun and the earth…so get baking!
Spring Cleaning
Herbs can be used to protect us from germs as well as freshen our homes. When the antiseptic properties were studied from the late 1900s the results were outstanding!
You can create your own disinfectant by making an infusion of either thyme or rosemary – pour boiling water over the herbs and then discard the herbs after approximately 10-15 mins and use the water to wipe down surfaces.
If you want to keep the creepy crawlies at bay, windowsill plants are very useful to keep flies away as well as adding some beauty to your kitchen; plants such as sage, basil, mint, thyme are useful for this.
You can also make your own mosquito repellent simply by using almond oil (easily bought from pharmacies or big supermarkets) and adding a few drops of essential oil and applying it to exposed skin – choose one or two oils such as eucalyptus, geranium, peppermint and citronella. Not only will it keep mozzies back but it doubles as perfume!
Lotions and Potions
Spring is the perfect time for some R&R by making simple skin treatments and refreshing soaks. For a daytime moisturiser use 1 tsp of beeswax and 1 tsp of lanolin and melt together. Gradually warm 3 tsp of rosewater and 1 tsp almond oil and add to the mixture. Then add a sprinkling of borax (sodium borate) and stir all together until it has thickened. Once cooled, store in a jar and you can even add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for a nice scent (optional).
You can also create a soothing cream by using dried chamomile or elder flowers – place 1 tbsp of the flowers in a jar and cover with almond oil, then melt 2 tsp lanolin and pour over the mixture. Finally, place the jar on a heatproof plate and oven cook at low temperature for about 20 mins, then drain and stir in 1 tsp honey.
You now have your own homemade skincare!
Herbal baths are relaxing and rejuvenating to the muscles and skin and are so easy to prepare. Use either dried (approx. 50g) or fresh herbs (approx. 100g) and a jug of boiling water (approx. 600ml) and let the herbs soak. After 30 mins use a sieve to drain the infusion and then add to bathwater. For different properties use the following suggestions: chamomile for relaxation, mint for healing, rosemary for relieving fatigue, sage for stimulating.
(All ingredients are easily obtained either from pharmacies/body shops or cheaply online).
You can show off your new love for spring by wearing green with Alchemy’s The Green Goddess pendant, or enliven your home with a beautiful hanging ornament. And not forgetting a fresh cup of herbal tea with a tea-for-one set. See the wonderful pieces below:
The Green Goddess (P763) ~ Pendant | Tree of Life Hanging T-Light Holder (HD3) ~ Hanging Decoration | Freaks Like Me Drink Tea (ATS2) ~ Tea Set
So now you can enter spring feeling like a new you and ready to enjoy those sunny days!
– Rose Jekylle 🌹