I’ve been interested in domestic witchcraft for years and have been magickally fortifying my living spaces since I was a neophyte in the Craft. The one place I never flexed my magickal muscles, however, was the kitchen. I was always too intimidated. Then I attended a workshop at this year’s Pagan Pride taught by Dawn Hunt, founder of Cucina Aurora. Her fun and upbeat introduction to kitchen witchery was just what I needed to light my culinary candle and to brush away the cobwebs of fear.
Following Dawn’s example I purchased a cute black apron that has “witch” bedazzled in red across the chest. This apron has become my ritual robe for performing kitchen witchery. I also bought a small pumpkin spice-scented, magickal housewarming candle that I light before performing any kitchen magick. Now I have a little ritual I perform before baking or cooking. I begin by making sure my kitchen is clean. That’s a given in my OCD world. I wash my hands and happily slide into my apron. Then I light the candle and say a quick prayer to Hestia. I ask Her to inspire me with Her sacred light and to help me prepare food that is both nourishing and delightful. When performing longer kitchen rituals I will cast a whole circle and invite the spirit of the elements, as well.
Ritualizing my work in the kitchen has done many things for me. It has given me structure, which has boosted my confidence. Now when I prepare food it always feels meaningful and fun. Working in the kitchen has changed from a domestic chore into a time for personal expression. I love spending time in the kitchen now and it seems like everything that I produce is touched with a bit of magick and joy, even if I do make a few mistakes. :{ As my confidence in the kitchen grows I hope to become bolder with recipes, learning to branch out and experiment a little. This is a whole new, delicious path that I’ve embarked on and I can’t wait to see where it leads me.
Coming out of the broom closet the first time was easy. I was a sophomore in college, young, brazen, and drunk off my newfound independence. I didn’t worry about harassment or discrimination. As a young, black, woman I ate that kind of stuff for breakfast and was genuinely unafraid. Of course, I had little to lose back then – no professional affiliations, no job that couldn’t easily be replaced, and my familial relationships were tenuous at best. Things have changed over the years and I have experienced the fear and pain of being harassed on the job. I have been told I am going to hell by my supervisor. I have been asked if my religion is “official” by human resources. And I’ve seen the apprehension and confusion in co-workers’ eyes as my pentagram fell out of my shirt. So I have learned to play it cautious and feel out my environment before I decide when and how to come out.
Pentacles & Pavement 