A project we did here at COFF was a weekly study and the creation of a Kitchen Witchery section for a Book Of Shadows — specifically, information for the Solar and Earth Festivals. We researched the background and history of each Festival, plus developed our own menus and recipes for each. Most of our participants chose to present menus and recipes of a modern nature, but in keeping with the Celtic spirit and traditions of each Festival, APs Rhianwen Bendigaid presented foods to us that the ancient Celts would actually have eaten.
This study was designed to become a useful reference for food for the Festivals. We had a grand time coming up with and sharing what we each personally do for each Festival and what we’d like to try. Along with the Solar and Earth Festivals, we discussed the Lunar Festivals, as well. But of course, as the Moon is always changing with new energies and influences, we only came up with more generic ideas (Crescent Moon cookies, for example) for those.
For all the Festivals, we had traditions and folktales or wise tales. Of course, depending on the time of year, we added specific, usually traditional, themes to each, such as eggs for the Spring Equinox, grain for Lugnasad, and so on. From there, we created a menu. To go with the menu, we added the recipes for each of our dishes. When we finished, we had eight Festivals with menus and recipes on how to make them.
As mentioned above, the Lunar Festivals are a bit more complex. First, you need to decide which Moon or Moons you would like to celebrate with a meal. Realize this doesn’t have to be a big, elaborate meal like those for the Solar and Earth Festivals. As a matter of fact, it can be just one dish. You’ll then have to figure out what energies you will be working with…the phases of the Moon, the Mansions of the Moon, etc.
The Moon itself is always passing through the energies of the planets and zodiacs much faster than the Sun does. Plus, there are the eclipses, planetary retrogrades, and so on. There is a lot more to consider and research for the Moons. For this section, you will always be creating something new and specific for your magickal working. Plus, you will have the option that if you’re working on something big, you can carry it forward from the New Moon to the Full Moon or vice versa, depending on your desired outcome.
Incorporating a Kitchen Witchery section into your BOS or other Book of Magick is a fun and rewarding project. Further, you have the satisfaction of keeping records of your work (a necessity), being creative with your meals, and just exploring traditions that you may have never known about previously.
Blessings!
High Elder Redhawk
