A Simple Winter Solstice Ritual: design and live a life you love

In mundane terms, Winter Solstice or Yuletide is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Yawn… But when we look through the eyes of the Ancients, this becomes a time of rejoicing and celebration!

Of what, I hear you ask? Well, nothing much. Just the rebirth and return of the all-powerful Sun!!

Our ancestors would revel in the knowledge that soon the warm days of spring would return, and the dormant earth would reawaken to gift us with abundance. Just like magic.

In fact, they were so in awe of and inspired by the cycles of the Sun and Moon resulting in the seasons, that sacred places such as Stonehenge and Machu Picchu were designed to honour and track these celestial wonders.

Although I’m very much a summer-loving witch, Winter Solstice is an incredibly powerful event in my sacred self-care journey, and none more so than this year as it’s energy will be amplified with a solar eclipse!

I liken the energy of this time of year as to that of the Dark Moon phase on steroids; a rebirth and new beginnings. In fact, the Ancients referred to it as ‘The Renewal’, a celebration of the return of light after the longest night.

I embrace this sacred time to go within and reflect on the year past, indulging in restorative activities, especially journalling and meditation, and minimising outside noise so as to heal in the stillness. No more electronics for this little Katie-witch after today’s post!

By spending time in contemplation of days gone by, I can set my sails on a new course or recommit to an intention already made. Blockages and obstacles to living as the best version of myself in a life I adore become apparent through the guidance of the Goddess and Universe that I actively seek through prayer and connection.

Incorporating witchy correspondences into my day-to-day life brings me huge joy, comfort and peace of mind. I’m a bit of a ritual-fiend if the truth be known! From my outfit and makeup, crystal and candle choices, there’s always something there to remind me of the intentions I have set. So here are some of the elements I will be bringing with me today…

Herbs & Flowers

blessed thistle, allspice, sage, chamomile, cinnamon, ivy, peppermint leaf, rosemary, nutmeg, lemon & orange peel

Incense & Oils

cedar, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, juniper, myrrh, peppermint, pine needles, sweet orange, spruce

And now to my simple ritual to design & create a life I love to live by bringing it altogether…

Unfortunately I don’t have access to a Yule log or fire pit so I’ll be working with my candles, however, the principles are the same, and you can adapt any or all of them for your purposes!

You will need:

  • candles/fire pit/safe source of flame
  • essential oils/incense
  • crystals
  • journal/notepad
  • a pen
  • bay leaves
  • a heat-proof dish
  • a hot cup of tea!

So back to the candles! I’ve chosen midnight blue, silver and white but, again, make the choices that resonate with you. I’ve anointed them with frankincense and myrrh oils – what ritual would be complete without them?! – and a little dried sage for its cleansing properties.

Creating a private, quiet, uninterrupted sacred space for this ritual is vital. No darling puzz-cats, phone, electronics, other humans and what-not to disturb me please!! If you can comfortably be outside, that would be awesome but it’s not mandatory.

Come dusk, I’ll lay all of the above elements before me, diffuse my oils, clasp my crystals in my hands, light my candles, and it’s time to be hypnotised by the flame and slip into a meditative state. I offer up a little prayer to the Goddess at this stage to ask for her guidance but that is neither here nor there, or you may like to say an affirmation such as, ‘tonight, my soul releases all blockages and welcomes all the goodness headed my way!’

When my mind has stilled, I want to reflect on the year behind me; the good, the bad, the ugly. What is holding me back? Is fear restraining me? Where and when have I felt pure joy? How can I replicate that?

This is a ritual of decluttering mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It requires you to be entirely honest with yourself to get the best results. There’s no need to hide or be ashamed of this shadow self – your perfectly imperfect self. Only you and your higher power (if you have one) know the words you speak in your heart and soul.

Focus on love, understanding and compassion. Can you see a way(s) to be the person you want to be each day? To live every day in a life you just adore? Is there any action you can take to clear your path of the obstacles you’ve identified?

It’s during this questioning that I often whip out my journal/notepad and jot down notes on what is coming up for me. My memory is highly erratic and not to be relied upon!

When it feels to be the right time, I take my bay leaves and write a word that encapsulates each ‘nodule’ that came up for me during the meditation. Bay leaves are only little so I can’t waffle like I do when blogging(!), so a single word to capture a myriad of things is what I’m after (for example, fear).

Once I have these tangible symbols of what is holding me back from living my best life, I get to what I think of as the fun, witchy bit! Over my heat-friendly dish, I very carefully hold the bay leaf to the flame of a candle and while it burns, really focus on the inscribed word. I imagine a life without it and what will replace it instead. I call upon the setting Sun to take these impurities with him.

By symbolically burning what we wish to release, we are calling on the power of Mother Nature’s ultimate source of renewal – fire. As the leaf disintegrates in front of us, we are offering the Universe an incredibly powerful demonstration of our intention and what we want to manifest.

Gently blow out your candles and, depending on how long this has taken(!), enjoy your cup of tea and ponder the wonder and mystery of the life that is winging its way to you.

Do you do anything to mark the occasion of the Winter Solstice? I love hearing about other people’s ways of celebrating, so please share below xo

Love, light & blessings 😘💜✨

Katie

21 ideas for sacred self-care when I’m feeling blue…

21 ideas for sacred self-care when i'm feeling blue
“Until you’re broken you don’t know what you’re made of. It gives you the ability to build yourself all over again, but stronger than ever…” – Melissa Molomo

Today’s post has been prompted by a case of the blues. Icky.

I have a bit of a predisposition to melancholy/blues, as well as depression. My list below is not to minimise this more serious emotional imbalance in any way, shape or form. However, it’s important for me to monitor where I’m at, and, where indicated, seek out professional help immediately if I realise things have become more severe. It’s also important that I don’t over-state how I’m travelling and recognise when I’m just a bit down.

Journalling has been an absolute gift for me in this endeavour. My daily journal is a visual expression of what’s happening in life and how I am reacting. I use funny/beautiful/insightful/quirky stickers found on Etsy, especially those designed by Vexed and Hexed. I sometimes feel Anna, the talented shop owner, reaches into my heart, pulling out my feelings and arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing way!

Over (many!) years, I’ve also developed, and continue to refine, an arsenal of other sacred self-care tools to alleviate these feelings when they a pay visit. Here, in no particular order, is a list of just some of my favourites.

1. Fresh linen and PJ’s. When I’m not running at my peak, I find my doona and jim-jams are my greatest solace! Combined with a long rope of pearls and occasionally red lipstick, my soul feels somewhat soothed, and I enjoy the opportunity to have a giggle at my kookiness. No point in taking myself too seriously after all.

2. A clean immediate environment. This is almost counter-intuitive for me as I despise housework (you’re not looking at a Domestic Goddess here!), but when I’m down, looking at mess and dust etc makes me feel more sad.

3. If I feel able to get outside – which is not always the case – I like to spend some time with flowers or sit under a tree. Call me bonkers but I also love to have a chat with them and let them know how beautifully miraculous and comforting they are.

4. Wearing a specifically tailored essential oil blend. Some of my favourite healing scents include neroli, marjoram, vetiver, geranium and ylang ylang.

5. Part of my everyday sacred self-care practice is to thank my crystals for their protection and blessings. This becomes even more important to me during unsettled periods, and I feel comforted when I hold them close and feel their gentle energy. Rose quartz, moonstone, citrine, smokey quartz, howlite and aquarmarine are just some of my faves (I’m a bit greedy!). For Melbournites, I always enjoy visiting the lovely Sue’s stall at Dandenong Market or when shopping online, I can’t go passed Crystal Visions. My beautiful sister also has a wonderful range of Mala Beads on her website that provide an easy way to wear my little bringers of joy!

6. An incredibly powerful ritual for me is to choose candles to magnify my intention (eg. pink for love, blue for peace) and sit still in gratitude. I’m incredibly indebted to have been guided toward listing the wonderful blessings in my life instead of dwelling in more negative emotions.

7. From the amazing vantage point of my Nook, I look out the window and really focus on the wonder of Mother Nature. Weather, light in all its glory, the mini ecosystem in my garden, kitty cats playing, the sky. It’s all just heavenly!

8. On occasion, I’ll take this downtime to create/reorganise/clean my sacred spaces and altars. I like to connect to the things that are important to me.

9. A wise woman once advised me to write and say out loud three things I like about myself. I found this so difficult at the time, I didn’t have a very high opinion of myself, but gradually I’ve come to realise that I’m not worthless after all, and there’s actually quite a bit about my ‘Katie-ness’ that I appreciate.

10. Spending time in a happy place is vital – Pinterest has been a Goddess-send for me!

11. Asking a loved one for a cuddle (ideally for more than 20 seconds) releases the hormone oxytocin which is believed to alleviate stress and burn-out. The human body is such a fascinating, miraculous creation. A boundless source of wonder.

12. My darling Mumma instilled a love of throwing open the windows and doors, weather permitting. I believe this is a most excellent strategy to release negative energy, and I burn cleansing incense and oils to amplify the effect. My sister also introduced me to koshi chimes whose mellow sound I just adore for aural cleansing, and we have wind chimes positioned all around us here at Casa Loco!

13. Words are not big enough to express my love for the comfort of hot tea! I enjoy incorporating intention and ritual into this extremely frequent indulgence. As I spoon sugar into my black tea, I focus on things for which I am grateful. When cosseting myself with jasmine tea, I will chant the following:

I am the tool, you are the fire, fill this cup with all I desire.

I then swirl the tea three times towards me (to encourage the flow of these desires in my direction), and then settle in to enjoy my brew. Sometimes (okay, often!) accompanied by a chocolate biscuit.

14. A psychologist once guided me to minimise using catastrophic adjectives. I drop them like crazy when I’m feeling good because this is a state I want to magnify, but it’s a no-no when I’m down. Think ‘very’, ‘worst’, ‘depressed.’ Even ‘so’ can be a minefield.

My much-loved Dad encouraged an appreciation and curiosity in me for the living English language. It has such power! I seek out words that resonate or bring joy, and have even dedicated one of my Pinterest boards (Wonder of Words) to this pursuit! I just know Dad is looking down on this with a wry grin and some pride.

15. Remembering that being beautifully broken, perfectly imperfect, and fabulously flawed is actually a gift for personal growth. Or it’s my soul giving me a wake-up call that I need to slow down for a bit and give myself some TLC.

16. Someone once told me “tears unshed rust the soul.” I have attempted to source the author with no luck so if you know, please share! Crying can be a much-needed release – as long as I don’t dwell in it.

17. A physical key to minimising overwhelm and distress for me is to keep volume low. TV, social media, music, people. I love them all but sometimes they feel like they’re battering my senses.

18. Speaking of social media, pretty much every time I’m feeling blue, I take a brief hiatus as it can become overwhelming. A quote from Theodore Roosevelt comes to mind – “comparison is the thief of joy.” Sometimes seeing all these -insta-perfect lives can lead me to wallow in feelings of inadequacy. Not safe.

19. A selenophile from way back (please excuse me while I indulge myself in dropping a newly-found favourite word!), I moon journal. Come nightfall, I seek her out visually, sit quietly in her presence, then take to writing. I pay particular attention to her phase to determine if there is a pattern to my emotional balance, and try to practice the intentions for this period (more on this in a future post).

20. Thankfully stumbling upon the spiritual self-care blog, ‘Dwell In Magic’ has helped me greatly in formalising my sacred-self-care rituals. Jessica Dimas’s guidance has been a phenomenal gift; she has spoken to my soul and helped awaken a beautiful spiritual path. With the wonder of the internet, she is not even aware of the impact she has had on me and how often I turn to her teachings, especially when seeking comfort.

21. Last but never least, is spending time with my adorable puzzzz-cats! My Renaissance Boys as I have dubbed them – Leonardo, DaVinci and Michelangelo. As much as they make me laugh, it has been proven that petting a cat lowers your blood pressure, and relieves anxiety and stress. No wonder the Egyptians thought they were Gods!

This post has, in essence, been a cathartic journalling experience for me. I do hope it hasn’t come across as self-indulgent or even self-righteous. I just needed to re-commit to my spiritually guided sacred self-care rituals to find my way to another colour rather than blue.

Is there anything special you like to do for yourself, kitten, when feeling emotionally challenged? I’d love to hear about it as knowledge is power!

Love, light & blessings

Katie xo

A quick note before I sign off… the links in this post (apart from my doTERRA shop) are not affiliates. This means I do not receive any kick-backs for mentioning them; I have done so as I believe in them and use them myself. Just sharing the love, kitten! xo

My self-care birthday ritual…

My self-care birthday ritual to pamper my inner goddess!
…goddess pampering for an enchanted life…

I have a confession to make, kitten. I am a GIANT birthday fiend!

In fact, I’m quite notorious for not just having a birth-day but also a birth-MONTH! Not just for myself I might add, I love celebrating my nearest and dearest’s special days for as long as I’m allowed.

This year I think I’m more entitled than usual to celebrate ‘me’ day/month as it’s a rather big milestone. The big 5-0 if you’re curious!

So to kick off proceedings, I’m going to indulge in a nurturing ritual to welcome October and celebrate my special time of year…

Before any ritual can commence, I need to prepare the sacred space, so I’m going to cleanse the bathroom with a myrrh and patchouli resin blend as they’re two of the month’s corresponding incenses. Not only will these scents trail a lovely woody aroma in their wake, they have chased off any nasties that may have been inhabiting the environment.

To indulge the senses further, I have concocted a soothing, relaxing and beautifying bath potion using Epsom Salts (I’ve mixed through pink food colouring for bonus pretties!), almond oil, herbs such as thyme (imparts strength, courage, good health & luck), plus dried lavender (happiness & peace), chamomile (attracts abundance, peace, love & tranquillity), and rose petals (happiness, security & love). Even if these flowers didn’t have powerful magical correspondences, I would use them as they’re pretty!

There is no getting away from the fact that I simply adore candles and practise their magick daily, so they are a crucial ingredient of my ritual. I’ll be using them in a couple of different ways.

Firstly, I’m going to place a white tealight for each of my years around my bath. I hope the smoke alarm doesn’t go off! They will be joined by white, green and pink tapers in honour of my Goddess, Venus and a sweet tray of some of my personal crystals like moonstone, rose quartz and peacock ore.

As if my bath salts don’t smell scrummy enough, I’ll also be accompanied by a diffuser blend with some of my fave oils including ylang ylang, rosewood, cedarwood and honeysuckle, and to set the mood further, I’ll hit the button on a relaxing playlist and sip on my ever-present jasmine tea (feel free to swap that out for champagne if it’s more your speed)! Ok, ok there will also be chocolates but that’s just our little secret, right?!

As I sink into this blessed enchantment, I will offer up a prayer to the Goddess and my Ancestors to thank them for giving me life, the preceding year, and for their protection in the year ahead. Ancestor veneration is a large part of my spiritual practise but I’ll go into that in a later post.

Photo by Mohammad reza Fathian on Pexels.com

OK, cue bliss!

Did you know that baths (and showers) are a fabulous way to symbolically wash away any negativity or feelings of angst? Close your eyes and envision whatever is troubling you calmly and with minimal fuss exits your life as the water flows by you. Don’t you find that beautiful? It’s such a peaceful way to deal with icky feelings.

When (if!) I finally emerge from my watery paradise, it’s not the end of my pampering. Oh no! Now I will be anointing myself with a lovely softening oil (I like the very reasonably priced Palmer’s Moisturizing Body Oil ). It is only lightly scented and I add a few drops of Rosewood oil to add a little extra aroma. I find it best used on damp skin and then pat myself dry for an incredibly soft result. And this is not the time to be slacking off on my daily facial skincare routine either, so you can bet your booties I’ll be slathering on my gorgeous preparations like there’s no tomorrow!

To round out my little self-loving birthday ritual, I’ll scoot into nightwear that makes me feel good and a welcoming bed with my favourite linen. There are fresh flowers on the nightstand next to my ever-present blended oils and candles. And what is this I spy? Is that a little exquisitely wrapped gift someone (me!!) has left?!

I will now spend some time in my cosy little nest looking over photos from the previous year and before, really FEELING the gratitude I have for my loved ones, both here and departed. This time also lends itself to intention setting for the upcoming year so my journal will be close at hand to record any random musings that emerge, as well as reading over last year’s thoughts and ponder their ongoing validity or if I can let them go.

So there you have it, my little quest to pamper this goddess on her birthday(month!!).

Do you have a ritual you perform to celebrate your special day, kitten?

“Stop treating yourself as an afterthought. Eat delicious food, walk in the sunshine, jump in the ocean. Say the truth you are carrying in your heart like a hidden treasure. Be silly, be kind, be weird. There is no time for anything else.” 

– Richard Gere

Ostara blessings to you, kitten!

The simple, natural beauty of the season…

Spring has sprung and I can feel my soul rising up to greet the warming sun!

Don’t mind me, I tend to get a bit carried away at this time of year. With good reason I might add!

So for a bit of background, this is the time to celebrate all things new and fresh both in nature and in our own lives. Growth, beginnings, all aspects of fertility and … love! It is time for us to bask in all of Mother Nature’s astounding creations and give thanks for the precious gift of life that has been given to us.

Ostara celebrates the Spring Equinox where day and night are of equal length (being a Libran, I love this balance). The name stems from the Germanic goddess Eostre which was eventually adopted by the Christians as Easter (Ostara originated in the northern hemisphere where it falls in the first part of the year). You will find plenty of parallels between the two celebrations, including the Pagan practice of planting eggs in the ground for fertility, and the association with rabbits and chicks. Interesting, huh?

At this joyful time of year, I like to set my intentions for the next twelve months and focus my sights on new beginnings. A new hobby I’d like to take up? Research and footwork start now. Personal development I’d like to attend to (the list is endless!)? I’m on it.

Most importantly though for me is focusing on the wonder and absolute jaw-dropping beauty of life. I’m always on about every day being a special occasion, and I’m with Aristotle when he extolled that the “contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.” This is MY TIME of year! I can see the wonder in others’ faces as Mother Nature weaves her magic and I’m not the seemingly only one to be experiencing ‘Hallmark Card’ moments (ie. lots of laughing, crying and everything in between because of the sheer beauty of life).

If you’re curious about how this little witch may go about celebrating Ostara – apart from the above-mentioned starstruck awe – I’m thinking I’ll exercise some Craft Magick and dye eggs that I can decorate the garden with here at Casa Loco. I’m also keen to start a witchy herb garden so that’s also on the agenda. I also count my Hair Bouquets as a tribute to Ostara and a celebration of all things floral. I think it’s perfectly in keeping with this Sabbat to ‘birth’ new creations.

It would be remiss of me not to mention taking flower adorned baths. I do love me a bit of bath magick and it frequently appears as part of Goddess Pampering and Sacred Self-Care rituals. It can be done quickly and easily plus it’s very cost-effective. I just use Epsom Salts, essential oils I have at hand, and my garden or even a nature reserve (if it’s legal to do so) can provide the blossoms (ideally ones that are about to drop). Throw a bit of a coconut/grape seed/almond oil into the concoction, and you have a fragrant experience resulting in silky smooth skin!

Please overlook the cat hair & incense ash!
It doesn’t matter how often I clean, they haunt me…lol!

In the meantime, I’ve decorated my everyday altar to incorporate correspondences* of this festival, including:

  • My hand-crafted Hair Bouquets (coming to my Etsy shop soon!) in place of ‘real’ flowers as I don’t like cutting the little darlings if I can help it. If you want to pay tribute with fresh flowers, look to any spring blooms you may have access to or daffodils, violets, crocus, tulips, jasmine, roses and peonies to name a few.
  • The statue of my primary Goddess, Venus from Brigid’s Grove that I adore so much prompted me to add a Triple Moon Goddess on my moon altar (that’s for another post). I’m also keen on adding a spellbinding creation from Martha Silver Breninger (this is her Facebook page for your viewing pleasure!). I’m posting these links as I love the products – not because I get some sort of kickback because I don’t.
    Please don’t feel you must run out and buy a goddess statue. If you have access to a printer, run off a copy of your favoured deity or research the correspondences* associated with her/him and use something that speaks to you. Your intuition or possibly your deity will let you know what’s right for you. I don’t believe the deities nor our craft require us to be bankrupted in our pursuits so no cash outlay is required.
  • I’m also festooning my altar, the Nook and everywhere else that stays still long enough with white, green and pink candles! I also use white candles in place of coloured as they are pure and universal in candle magick. To go back to my earlier point of birthing creations, I’m researching how to make my own candles so I don’t need to spend a fortune on them in future.
  • It so happens that I am a huge crystal advocate so I have also added some amethyst, jasper, aquamarine, rose quartz and moonstone in my altar’s abalone shell. Truth be told, I have rose quartz and moonstone EVERYWHERE – I don’t need to wait for a special occasion!
    Again, if funds won’t stretch to expanding your crystal stash, you could print out images of what you’d like to collect or even substitute with something that reminds you of the stone of your choice. Perhaps a pink glass button in place of rose quartz for example. Anything that conjures up the image for you – focus on INTENTION rather than splashing cash.

* Witchy correspondences are various wide-ranging elements, including crystals, flowers, scents, deities, planets, zodiac signs, colours etc that can be included in rituals, altars and spell-casting.
If you want to know more about this vast subject, try googling
‘magic correspondences’ to be inundated with options!
Interesting tidbit; I often use colour correspondences to determine a palette for my clothes and makeup for the day!

I’m also a bit of a ritual fiend (I have one for pretty much everything!) so Ostara is no exception. It’s very basic but fills me with a peaceful joy and a strong feeling of connectedness.

If you’d like to give it a go, take my hand and come along!

  • Find yourself somewhere quiet and private outside. Sometimes easier said than done depending on your circumstances, so make-believe if you need to (perhaps a balcony next to a potted plant) but make sure you have your shoes off to connect with the Earth.
  • Try meditating briefly or breathing deeply while picturing to yourself why this is such a magical time of year.
  • Turn to face the sun (or where you think it should be if it’s not visible), and thank it for coming back to us after the long winter and its many blessings.
  • Now it’s Mother Nature’s turn to be thanked for her nourishing abundance and love.
  • To seal the deal with her, find a tree or beautiful plant in flower (or imagine you have) and sit next to it. Gently touch it in greeting and gratitude. Imagine both of your energies becoming intertwined and filling you with love and warmth. When you’ve finished meditating on this joy and you feel ready (there’s no time limit here), thank your new friend and express thoughts of good-will and love.
  • Finish up by once again thanking the sun, Mother Nature and your tree/plant for all the gifts of this beautiful season and let them know just how grateful you are for their ongoing care and protection.

If you’d like more info about Ostara and the Spring Equinox, I love The Traveling Witch’s post on 3 awesome ways to welcome the sun this Ostara, and Moody Moon’s 9 witchy ways to get ready for spring.

Enjoy your celebrations and the wonder of the season, kitten xo

Swooning for OTT wings…

Sophie Dahl rocking this dramatic bright blue liquid liner cat’s eye

Seen on Lisa Eldridge’s blog, what a way to wear blue eyeliner!

I absolutely adore this look and am going to do my own take in the not too distant future using DIP & DRAW eyeliner in Pretty.  A most aptly named colour as it is an extremely pretty, glittery blue!

Younique’s stunning shimmery liquid eyeliner in Pretty

Now kittens, when I say I’m going to do “my take” on this look, you can pretty much guarantee that means I don’t want to look like mutton dressed as lamb, and I think I’m a little too ‘mature’ to get away with this one! That’s why I’m opting for this Pretty liner for a more subtle effect but the glitter still provides excitement and glamour.

In my heyday (about 413 years ago lol!), I don’t I think ever left the house without some sort of nod to my much-loved cat’s eye but now gravity is taking its toll (!) and I’m developing quite pronounced hooded eyes which actually cause me a bit of a difficulty in doing a lush sweep like the one the beautiful Sophie Dahl is sporting above. I find the over-the-top wing can be obscured by a drooping skin fold…oh Goddess, the horror!

My work-around is to go for something a little tamer but equally glam and perhaps add a little glitter to the inner corners of my eyes. I’ve even been known to sport bindis there or sweeping up from the outer lash line. I find my ‘eye jewels’ on eBay for only a couple of dollars and you get heaps so they should last a good long while…after all, this isn’t a day-to-day aspect.

Like the makeup artist has done with Sophie (if you happen to know who that is, please tell me so I can credit them!), I also prefer a nude lip when I’m sporting such attention-grabbing eyes.

A bit off track here but is anyone else having 80’s flashbacks?  …you spin me right round baby, right round…

Do you have problems creating a dramatic cat’s eye look, kittens? Or, are you an absolute gun with this iconic, much-sought after look? If it’s the latter, please share your tips with us all (and come round to my place to remind me how to do it!), and if it’s not your forte, feel free to ask questions below.

Love, light & blessings xo

Katie

Magickal Carpet Ride

Harnessing the power of essential oils & crystals for your witchy woo-woo car make-over!

If you’re anything like me, there’s a very good chance your vehicle  could do with a mighty fine make-over (shame I don’t have any advice to offer on sorting out those little dings and scratches…) And again, if like me you’re a little allergic to domestic duties, perhaps the whole sordid affair would be a little less repugnant if we jazzed it up with a little witchy woo-woo!

Enter the Magickal Carpet Ride Ritual to not only spruce up your vehicle, but also help you create a mobile sacred space. I do hope you find something you like in these ideas for eco-friendly car maintenance and travelling in enchanted style.

Did you know that with doTERRA’s help, you can make your own natural, chemical-free window cleaner, air freshener, carpet and upholstery stain remover, tyre cleaner, and interior protectant, just to name a few? Well you do now! Take a sneak peak below at how easy it is to make a few of these cleaner

Prepare your chariot…

Window Cleaner

About 120mls of vinegar, a spray bottle and a few drops of Lemon (or another favourite citrus oil, perhaps Tangerine, Grapefruit, Bergamot or the invigorating Citrus Bliss®) and voila! You’re set for cleaning even the dirtiest windows…challenge accepted!

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

You will need rubbing alcohol and white vinegar, your favourite essential oil(s), a glass spray bottle, and a sponge or dish towel.

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle with a fine mist option. You’ll want to use equal parts rubbing alcohol and white vinegar before adding 4-8 drops of your essential oil goodness. If using citrus oils, store your cleaner in a glass spray bottle so it doesn’t eat away at the plastic (unfortunately learned through my own sad experience…sob!)

Now before you go ahead with this little slice of wizardry, you should be aware that the odour is a little overpowering when first applied, so this is best done in an open space or with windows wide open. Rest assured, once the concoction dries you will only be left with the heavenly scent of your chosen oils.  Before getting down to business be sure to test the brew on an inconspicuous space first – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

OK, so now we’re ready to get the job done! Spray your potion generously and allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes but do not let it dry. Scrub vigorously with a sponge or clean towel, then allow to dry (this will be hastened by the rubbing alcohol). For really stubborn stains, a second dose may be needed.

Tyre Cleaner

Bet you didn’t know you could clean the nastiest of tyres just from ingredients found at home – who woulda thunk it?! To cast this powerful spell, you need baking soda, water, and any yummy-smelling oil/s for getting ready to battle those dirty chunks of rubber! Just 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water makes a great paste to scrub into your tyres. Let it sit for several minutes, then rinse. Your tyres may even thank you!

Interior Protectant

For your dashboard or other plastic/vinyl surfaces, all you need is the multi-talented olive oil and a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Simply rub into the surface, and wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth. Look at it sparkle with delight!

Create a sacred-space within…

I can get a little (oh okay, a LOT!!) stressed out and anxious while cruising around so I find the these little tips and tricks can bring me back to a balanced, centred state and (a semblance!) of sanity.

Commence with a little blessing for your travels before you head off.  This simple little chant should do the trick:

“Bless our journey and keep us from harm
With light of protection and spells and charms
Our path be clear and free from strife
Many more happy adventures left upon my life”

Enhance the zhooshing of the exterior of your magic carpet with a little essential oil love inside. I’m infatuated with my diffuser in Carlotta (that would be my car, kittens!) that attaches to the vent and gently disperses my chosen oil(s) for the day. I like this one for mums (or in remembrance of her when you want to keep her close), or this one just to celebrate love in all its forms. For the sake of transparency, I must tell you that Follow Your Heart, who I linked to about these wonderful little bibelots, just happens to be owned by my little sis. I hope you’ll forgive the nepotism but when she’s sharing such adorable trinkets it’s really my duty to share it with YOU!

To seal the deal, bring some protective crystals on-board to weave their magick! If you already have a gem stash, I’d include:

Amethyst: Ideal for personal protection, repelling physical accidents as well as motion sickness. A powerful protective stone. I’m personally sourcing an amethyst boulder to protect myself and Carlotta!

Turquoise: Dispels negative energy and can be worn to protect against outside influences or pollutants in the atmosphere. 

Snowflake Obsidian: Calming and soothing, it aids in releasing stressful mental patterns.

Yellow Jasper:  Working as a travel amulet, it is considered auspicious as well as guarding when worn through a voyage for a traveller as well as a driver.

Tourmaline: Excellent for removing negativity from others on the road. It’s a guardian stone that pushes off negativity and keeps you safe.

Clear Quartz: Enhances the power of the other crystals while also drawing off negative energy.

If you don’t have these ones at your disposal, I’d highly recommend this Car & Travels Tumbles Set which will help to keep you safe and sound on your adventures. I have a number of these wonderful tumbles sets for a myriad of purposes and can’t recommend them highly enough! In fact, I had an extended trip to the hospital earlier this year (blah!), and I had my Tranquility Tumbles within arm’s length at all times.

So there you go, kittens, a few ideas for an awesomely aromatic magick carpet ride!

Do you have any rituals you perform for driving/travelling? More importantly, do you name your cars?! I’d love to hear about it!

Love, light & blessings

Katie

Winter Solstice: A time for renewal

✨ Happy Winter Solstice, kittens ✨

Celebrated by various cultures around the world, you can join in the festivities by spending time with loved ones, feasting, singing, dancing and fires (bonfires etc, kittens – arson isn’t called for!). Sounds like my kinda celebration!
Many blessings for this special day xo


Welcome to Ladylike Magick!

ladylike magick - goddess pampering and sacred self-care for an enchanted, magical life

Hello and welcome to my quiet place on the internet where we can dwell in the magick of Goddess pampering and living a life of enchantment.

Ladylike Magick was born from a lifelong passion for sacred self-care combined with my love for Younique makeup and skincare, Jamberry Nails and doTERRA Essential Oils, and how I bring these enchanting elements into my life.

Posts won’t be limited to these bewitching elements only, as I’ll be sharing a range of things that bring me aesthetic or self-caring joy.

From makeup and manicure ideas to delicious diffuser blends, you’re guaranteed to see cats and sloths (my spirit animals!), tips I have found helpful to develop a self-loving attitude, and quirky and whimsical ideas to (hopefully!) take delight in.

I would love to get to know you, so please contact me via the comments section below, Facebook or Instagram. As well as my Ladylike Magick Page on Facebook, I also have a secret group for VIP’s that you are most welcome to join – just let me know and I’ll send you an invitation.

I hope you enjoy your time here and come back to visit often.

Love & light

Katie xo

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