Page 40 - The Flickering Cauldron Magazine - June 2022

can use the water to clean your outdoor altar after it has basked itself in Sun or Moon light.
Additionally, you can always add more magical herbs and flowers to the ones already growing there!
The ideas are endless, make it personal to you, so it will always be a place you can relax, enjoy or meditate.
Some more info on witchy herbs...
For many witches, growing herbs is more than just a hobby; it is a religious experience. Working in a garden is a powerful way to attune with the Earth and honour the gods and goddesses.
Witches have used herbs for sacred rituals and workings for centuries, and growing them yourself, you will know exactly where your herbs came from and under what conditions they were grown, especially when using them for spiritual purposes.
In addition, when growing your own herbs, you can give them a bit of extra energy whilst growing, to give a boost when using them for magical workings.
First, you’ll have to decide which herbs you want to grow. Healers might grow Aloe for salves, Coneflower (echinacea) for tonics, or Comfrey for poultices.
“Kitchen Witches,” who prefer more domestic-style magic performed in the kitchen rather than elaborate rituals, might prefer Mugwort/Nettles for divination teas, Basil for love potions, or Licorice to add to sauces to bring peace to a troubled home.
We will go over what herbs to what in another article!
If you have limited space, don’t worry, the great thing about some herbs is that they can be grown in small containers or even on the kitchen windowsills (info in April's magazine edition).
Just make sure that they have enough sunlight and water. Here are just a few to choose from the most versatile herbs safe for ritual, culinary and medicinal uses:
Bay, Catnip, Chamomile, Fennel, Lavender, Mint, Mullein, Pot Marigold, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.
Garden Allotment Q&A
Thank you, everyone that sent in your questions last month,
How often should I water my garden/ plants & flowers?
This is, of course, one of the most frequently asked questions about any type of gardening. From vegetable gardens to succulents, how much and how often to water can be challenging to determine.
The bad news is that there is not a uniform answer that is going to work for every gardener, and you cannot simply decide you are going to water once a week on Sundays and leave it at that.
How often you need to water your garden will depend on a variety of factors, including the climate where you live, the time of year, the amount of rainfall you receive, the type of soil you have, where your plants are located in your garden, and whether your plants are in containers or the ground.
Even when you think you have it all figured out, it will change on you, because your soil is going to dry out faster some weeks than it does other weeks.
For example, your soil is going to dry out a lot faster during hot, dry months than it will during colder months.
You will also find that some plants in your garden need water more often than others.
For most of your plants, stick your finger about one inch into the soil. If the soil is dry, it is time to water deeply. If the soil still feels moist, wait until it feels dry.
If you really have a hard time knowing when to water your garden, plant some leafy green lettuces between your vegetables or in your flowerbed. When the lettuce leaves start to wilt, it is time to water.
40 | The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Flickering Magical Garden