HERB PROFILE ~ Lemon Balm

 Hello again my herbal friends,

I hope you are all keeping well and ready to do a mini-deep-dive into another herb with me - this time it is the wonderfully scented LEMON BALM....

Lemon Balm drying on my patio.

BOTANIC NAME: Melissa officinalis.
AKA: Honeybee
GENDER: Feminine (Cold)
ELEMENT: Water
DEITY: Artemis, Diana, Hecate
PLANET: Jupiter (and sometimes Venus & Moon)
CRYSTAL: Citrine

Lemon Balm is noted for it's calming affect on the brain, but also for helping the mind stay focused.

FOLKLORE: Lemon Balm was used to keep the sacred honeybees cultivated at the Temple of Artemis happy and returning home... hence the name Honeybee..

ALLERGIES: If you have issues with the mint family of plants, then I would give this one a miss too..

MEDICINAL USES:
Lemon Balm is good for stomach issues, it soothes away tension - which forms in the gut.  Can be used in a tea, tincture and decoction to take internally - or an oil infusion to use topically.
Lemon balm is good for shingles / chicken pox / herpes 2 zoster viruses.  It is used as a mild nervine, which helps you to relax and is also good for hormone support.
It has anti-inflammatory properties, so it is good for upper respiratory infections and sore throats.

WITCHCRAFT USES:
Lemon balm is used in spells and rituals which are focused on emotional healing, purification and attracting positivity.
It is a herb of Love, Light and Renewal.
It is said to keep evil away, ushers in health and love, boosts memory and interaction with the spirit world.

Lemon balm can be dried and used in herbal sachets/pillows, in incense blends, in bath bombs or just loose leaf for any ritual that you wan to enhance in a positive way.

As always I have put it in my plant grimoire

LEMON BALM TINCTURE:

Requirements:
1 Jar with a plastic lid
100% proof Vodka
Lemon Balm (fresh or dried)
Chopstick or a knife

Method :
Cut up the lemon balm and fill the jar 3/4 of the way up (you can push it down a bit to get more in there).
Fill with Vodka to around 1/2 inch (1 cm) from the top of the jar.
Remove any air bubbles with the chopstick (or knife) and make sure that the plant material is under the fluid - top up if necessary.
Put the lid on and label your tincture with the name and the date.
Place in a dark cupboard for 8 weeks.
Shake twice a day for a week.
Shake 1 - 2 times a week after that.

After 8 weeks, strain and store into a dark glass bottle (hopefully one with a dropper).

Dosage:
ADULT: 1-5 drops in a glass of water each day (start slow until you can tolerate it)
Increase to a full dropper nearer to winter to keep your immune system healthy.
CHILD: 1-2 drops in a glass of water each day.

GARDENING:

Lemon balm likes full sun with plenty of water (but very good drainage - she doesn't like soggy feet..) Can be grown in partial shade too.
Make sure you grow it in a pot because being of the mint family, it will spread 
throughout your garden very quickly - unless of course, that is what you want.

Loves a good feed in Spring and Summer, and the bees love it when it flowers.

I hope you enjoyed that mini-deep-dive into the lovely
lemon balm - join me again next time as I take another mini-deep-dive into either
a herb, flower or tree that is in my garden.

Until then, stay safe - take care & many blessings to you.

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profile - SAGE

 Hello my lovelies,

I hope you are all enjoying this Herbal Profile series this week whilst I am on holidays ~ I hope it gives you an insight into what I have been doing over the past few weeks ~ getting to know herbs and flowers that I have growing in my garden.  This is going to be the last one for the week, as it is a herb that I am working with whilst on holidays.  Today I bring you the wonderfully wise SAGE.

BOTANIC NAME ~ Salvia Officinalis / Salvia spp.

AKA ~ Common Sage, Garden Sage.

GENDER ~ Male (Hot).

PLANET ~ Jupiter & Moon.

DEITY ~ Jupiter, Venus, Artemis, Diana, Huggeia.

CRYSTAL ~ Clear Quartz.

NOTED ~ For its wisdom - hence the saying "wise old sage". Sage is well named coming from the Latin salvere, to save.

Used by Native American Indians in smudging ceremonies.

FOLKLORE ~ The Chinese drank sage tea as often as possible, and their records show how high a value was placed on the health giving properties - 4lb of china tea was exchanged for 1lb of sage by the merchants of the time.

Sage was used in the Middle Ages to treat many maladies including fevers, liver disease and epilepsy.  It was a common belief that sage strengthened one's memory.

USES ~ Sage can be used for any culinary purpose and is usually mixed with Rosemary and Thyme to be put on meats, pies, baked goods etc.  In a tea, it improves digestion, supports cognitive function and helps with anxiety.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Sage is used for Protection, Purification, Wisdom, Longevity & Health, and Prosperity.

Add to healing and prosperity sachets, incenses and amulets.

Sage is used to cleanse a magical space via burning the herb.

It is used to ease grief from the loss of a loved one.

Burn a black candle that has been dressed with sage essential oil for cleansing negative energies from your home.

White Sage was the most common sage used by Witches for these purposes, but due to the unethical over harvesting of white sage, it has now become very hard to get and very expensive.  I have had mine for years and use it sparingly (see picture to the right) I find normal garden sage is just as powerful.

Yes - I did another entry into my little book too...

(My writing is not getting any neater LOL)

GARDENERS ~ Sage needs an alkaline soil, so put plenty of dolomite into the soil and throughout the topsoil when planting.  Sage loves hot sun and dryness so it will give you a sturdy little bush in no time.  She doesn't like wet feet - so make sure drainage is excellent.  She can be a bit like a spoilt child at times and can turn up toes overnight without any apparent reason if the weather or the soil condition is not to her liking.  Talk to her gently, whisper how lovely she is, keep an eye on her needs, and she will love you back.

So this ends my week of blogs on Herbal Profiles.  I will be doing more as I do them, just not all in one week hahaha.... I hope you have enjoyed this brief interlude into the flowers and herbs in my garden and what they are used for.

Until next time, please take care (especially as we are in the Silly Season...),

Blessings to you all.

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profile ~ YARROW

 Hello again for the fourth time this week (can you tell I am on holidays???).  

Today I am bringing you another herbal profile - this is another plant that I have growing in my garden, and I am currently drying - it is YARROW.

BOTANIC NAME ~ Achillea millefolium

AKA ~ Herbal Militaris, The Soldier's herb, Seven year's love, sanguinary, thousand seal, woundwort, stench weed, ladies mantle, milfoil, field hops and many, many more..

GENDER ~ Female (cold).

ELEMENT ~ Water.

PLANET ~ Mars & Venus.

DEITY ~ Achilles, Venus, Quan-Yin.

CRYSTAL ~ Bloodstone.

NOTED ~ For its healing properties both internally and externally.  It is a herb of peace and friendship.

FOLKLORE ~ It was used on battlefields during times of war and conflict to stop wounds from bleeding out.  The Druids used yarrow stems to divine the weather for each coming season, and according to the ancient writings, they were more accurate than those of our satellite pictures today. Used by Chiron the Centaur to cure the heel wound of Achilles

USES ~ Internally it has a calming affect and can also increase perspiration.  Yarrow tea can be taken to relieve all bodily weaknesses caused by infectious diseases like colds and flu, or any other prolonged debilitating illness, it is often mixed with other herbs to speed up its work.  Externally it is an antiseptic and speeds up wound healing.  Can be used in oils and salves for a healing balm.  Great for men who cut themselves shaving - just go out to the herb garden, grab some Yarrow leaf and press it firmly against the spot - the bleeding will stop.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ It is used in workings for Healing, Courage, Friendship, Psychic abilities, Hex breaking, Love, Clairvoyance, Exorcism and keeping negative energies at bay.

Used in Love sachets and marriage charms.

If worn as an amulet it will ward off negativity.

A tea of Yarrow drunk before divination will enhance one's powers of perception.

Can be added to incense blends to keep evil at bay.

FOR GARDENERS ~ it is a great thing to mix Yarrow and Comfrey into your compost bin to speed up the compost activation.  All you need is a few leaves chopped up and mixed in to your compost.  Yarrow will also enhance the flavour, strength and health of any other herb gown near it (but beware - it spreads like the mint family does, so be careful where you put it in your garden).  I have a white variety (as seen in these pictures) growing by my Sage and WOW - that sage (& Yarrow) is potent..  I would love to find the pink or red variety to grow as well - but I haven't seen any for sale yet.

YES - I did another entry into my little book of Mischief,

even has a little secret addition:

Yarrow pressed onto the page from my garden..

Yarrow has to be one of my favourites in the garden, not only is it handy to have, but it looks pretty with its feathery leaves and stems of flowers in the spring and summer.

So there you have it - a run down on the wonderful YARROW.

Join me next time when I will be looking into another herb from my witches garden.

Until then, take care of yourself and those you love,

Blessings to you all.

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profiles ~ ROSEMARY

 Hello there you mighty bunch of lovely people,

Today I am doing a herb profile on ROSEMARY....

BOTANIC NAME ~ Rosemarinus officinalis

AKA ~ Dew of the sea, Sea dew, Rosmaris, Rosemarine, Rosemarie, Guardrobe, Libanotis.

GENDER ~ Male (Hot).

ELEMENT ~ Fire.

PLANET ~ Sun.

DEITY ~ Jupiter & Hecate.

CRYSTAL ~ Aventurine.

NOTED ~ For remembrance, for it's unique taste and smell, as a "clear all" for your health.

FOLKLORE ~ Rosemary evokes sweet remembrance, and is often used at funerals, also ANZAC day parades (Australia) to remember those who fell in the wars.  It is believed that it grows where the sea can be seen, where the righteous abide, or where a woman rules the house.

USES ~ Rosemary is an all purpose herb which can be used in all sorts of culinary dishes from seasoning meats, to adding to bread, stews, soups and seasonings.  It makes a wonderful tonic and is great for both hair and skin.  Using a Rosemary toner will tighten up your skin and heal it of any acne nor skin irritations.  Rosemary can be made into an oil and put into salves, skin creams, soaps, shampoos and conditioners.  The parts used are the leaves ~ dried, powdered and fresh.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Can be used to cleanse your work or ritual area.

(Smoke stick like in the picture here -------->)

It is used for purification, love, protection, to improve the intellectual aspects.

Add to all purification workings, bath sachets, love incenses, protection incenses.

Wear a sprig of Rosemary to aid memory, use in Sea rituals or in sachets to ensure sage passage whilst travelling.

Use Rosemary soap to wash hands before a ritual.

Burn a Rosemary & Juniper mix as a healing/recuperation aid.

Use in baths to sooth the body.

Drink Rosemary Tea to help your liver function, and open up the mind for meditation.

Again here is what I wrote in my book with my scruffy writing LOL (Hopefully one day my writing will be neat and tidy....but don't hold your breath haha).

Rosemary is very easy to grow and is always a handy herb to have on hand.  I have two plants growing, one in my front garden, and one in a pot out in my back garden - it grows well in either the ground or a pot, so it's easy to grow if you don't have a yard, or if you live in an apartment- just grow some on your window sill or balcony if you have one.  It loves a good prune every now and again, but be sure to only take about a quarter of the plant so as not to kill it.  It also loves a good soak of SEASOL fertiliser every now and again.

AND as always, please consult your medical practitioner before you use ANY herbal remedy as they may have contraindications to any medications you may be taking.

I hope you enjoyed this little delve into Rosemary.

Let me know in the comments below how you use Rosemary - what is your favourite thing to do with it (be it culinary or Witchy..)

Until next time, please take care of yourselves and each other.

Blessings to you all,

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profiles ~ Chamomile

 Hello my lovelies,

Here I am again with another Herbal Profile from the plants in my garden ~ this time it is the beautiful calming CHAMOMILE...

Roman Chamomile

BOTANIC NAME: Anthemis nobilis.

AKA: Maythen, Manzanilla, Whig plant, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, Ground Apple, Chamaimelon, Camamyle, Camomile.

GENDER: Male (Hot).

ELEMENT: Water.

PLANET: Sun.

DEITY: Ra, Helios, Apollo, Balder, Cernunnos.

NOTED ~ For it's calmative, purification and meditative states.

FOLKLORE ~ Egyptian women mixed it with rose petals to apply it to their skin for a youthful appeal.  Cooks used to soak rancid meat in to mask the odour (way before modern food preservation techniques).  In the Middle Ages they use to scatter the flower on the floor to repel vermin and pests, plus as to serve as a natural deodoriser. 

About my 4th harvest of 2025

USES ~ Make into a tea for a good night's sleep. Make into an infusion to cleanse your house (windows, door frames, floors) by adding the infusion to a bucket of water.  You can make a hair rinse (infusion same as cleaning for your house) or add powdered chamomile to your shampoo mix. You can soak it in milk to add to baked goods.

Plant near other plants to dispel pests.

Drying it on paper

ALLERGIES ~ If you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, marigold, or any plants related to the Asteraceae or Compositea species ~ best avoid this one.

If you are pregnant ~ then consult your medical practitioner before using any herbal remedy.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Use in prosperity charms to draw in money.  Add to incenses to bring on restful states for meditation, it induces sleep if burned.

Used for purification, love, evil eye protection, strength in difficult times.

Here is the excerpt in my book - not a really good picture because of the shadow in my room and the fact that I did a drawing on the other side of the page which sort of buckled the paper a bit...hence why I have taken to drawing on a piece of paper, cutting it out and sticking it in my book...

Again - please don't mind my scribble hahaha..

I keep mine in a jar so that I can use it when I need to (for tea, or tea blends, for using in incenses, oils, washes etc).

I also have an deck of cards called "The Green Witch's Deck of Magical Herbalism" by Arin Murphy-Hiscock, which has the most beautiful cards of all the herbs and flowers that a Green Witch would use. Each card has a load of information as to what it is used magically for - but also the booklet has a lot more.

I am finding them handy as I research the information for my own purposes.

I use it to find a plant to work with for the week - when I say "work with" it's more like a get to know in depth - though I feel like I have only skimmed the surface with these plants as I go - there is much, much more to know about them.

So this is CHAMOMILE, I am sure you are all familiar with it, or have used it in one capacity or another.  Maybe I have told you something you didn't know ~ maybe not.

AND - if you have any further information on the wonderful Chamomile, I would be only too happy to receive that in the comments.

Until next time take care,

Blessing to you all,

Annette )O(

Herbal Profiles ~ Cornflower

 Hello my Magical Unicorns,

I came up with this brilliant idea a month ago about doing herbal profiles for plants that I have growing in my garden.  I thought I would draw a picture, put all the correspondences in, both Muggle and Witchy, and all at the same time build up my apothecary stock.

I decided to work one week with each flower, plant, herb etc and build up a relationship with said plant, dry them or have them on my Altar, put them in oils, use them in teas etc,, looking up in my reference books all the details of them.

Then I decided (quite recently) - Maybe I should put them on my blog for all to see!!  Now mind you, as my writing is not that neat in my book (I will show pictures of it anyway), I have decided to write all the correspondences down in text (so you don't have to read my awful writing).

So my first offering is the humble CORNFLOWER:

BOTANIC NAME: Centaurea cyanus.

AKA: Bachelor's Buttons.

Gender: Female (Cold).

Element(s): Air and Earth.

Planet: Venus & Saturn.

Deity: Venus, Brigid.

Crystal: Blue Sapphire.

NOTED ~ for its calmness, serenity, peace, tranquility and openness.  It's a real beauty of the natural world. It is a symbol of hope.

FOLKLORE ~ They were said to be worn by unmarried young men in love ~ they would wear them in their lapels and if the flower faded quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned.  If it lasted, then the man was in luck and could pursue the lady in question.

                                                                                    

  

USES ~ Used in traditional medicines, the dried flower can help reduce swelling, it helps with menstrual cramps, yeast infections, and many other conditions.

You can make a tea with either fresh or dried flowers (has a spicy flavour similar to Cloves), you can add the petals to a salad.

You can also make a tincture from the flowers by immersing 1/2 jar of dried petals in 80-100 proof vodka for 6-8 weeks in a dark cupboard.

This tincture can then be strained and used as a pick-me-up when your moods are down and you need self love.

ALLERGIES ~ If you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, marigold, or any plants related to the Asteraceae or Compositea species ~ best avoid this one.

If you are pregnant ~ then consult your medical practitioner before using any herbal remedy.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Sprinkle petals in your right shoe to draw in love.  It is used to draw love to yourself. Use Cornflower to enhance psychic awakening.  It helps access self knowledge and enhances meditation or divination sessions (if drunk as a tea). Use it in incense blends. Make ink out of the blue petals to write in your Grimoire. Can be used to dye eggs or materials.  Use in workings that require LOVE, carry a sachet with Cornflower in to invite love to YOU...

This is my book that I am writing my herbal profiles in - yeah - my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired

So there you have it, my little delve into this beautiful Cornflower.  I love watching these come 

up in the garden each year in Spring, their flowers always remind me of fairy wings, which always brings a smile to my face - they are so cheery.

I hope you will love this series that I am about to embark on, I was going to do video's on 

YouTube, but I am still very camera shy.

Until next time, take care my loves,

Blessings to you all 

)O( Annette

Witchcraft Series ~ Altar Cloths, and how to make your own!!!

Hello my little Henbanes,

Today I have uploaded a video regarding making your own Altar cloths instead of buying ready made/printed ones from your metaphysical stores for an exuberant price.

It's very easy - honestly, if I can do it - you can!!

So all you little witches who would love an Altar cloth and don't know where to start - check this out!!

Catch you all next time & many blessings to you!!

Annette )O( xxx

BELTANE in Australia 2025....

Bealtaine Blessings to all my Witches, Wizards, Ghouls, Goblins and Fae Folk in the Southern Hemisphere...(even though this year it is actually on the 8th November - but I am getting in early hahaha!!)..

I know I had a rant about it being called Bealtaine in Australia seeing that is the Celtic word for MAY - and it's November.... but I have caved in under the pressure and am still calling it Bealtaine..

Bealtaine/Beltane/Beltaine is celebrating Spring's arrival with modern and traditional rituals.

Feasts, Fires and Abundance encapsulates the energy of this season - even though due to fire restrictions in Australia, we cannot have our bonfires to celebrate (like they do in the Northern Hemisphere).  

Here are a few ways we in Australia can celebrate:

Handfasting - a time to celebrate commitments and partnerships (or renew them).

Candle Leaping - instead of bonfire leaping - place a lit candle in a cauldron and leap over it for good luck, fertility and purification.

Incense Leaping - same thing with the cauldron, put a bunch of herbs relating to your intention - like purification or cleansing, releasing negative energies etc., light it so it smokes. Jump over the smoke and envision the smoke cleansing, purifying or whatever your intention was, and releasing it to the universe.

Cleansing Rituals - cleaning your home with herbal/floral imbued water (ie., chamomile brewed in water) to cleanse your home of any negative energies.

Altar Cleansing - cleanse your altar for the season and add spring colours like red, yellow, orange, gold and green. Add in herbs, flowers and candles, plus any Deities that you honour at this time.

Rituals - Perform a ritual to honour the power of female energy through meditation and affirmation.

Kitchen Witchery - bake a cake or make a feast for family and friends (or invited guests).

Nature - be in nature and give thanks to the land spirits for all that you have, take time, breathe and be enveloped by the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Give an offering to the land spirits as a way of saying thanks for your abundance.

So whatever you are doing, whichever day (1st or 8th November) you may be celebrating, may you have a Blessed time....

ALSO: Samhain Blessings to all our Northern Hemisphere folk too.

                                                        AND Happy Halloween to all!!       

Blessings to you all,

Annette )O(

Witchcraft Series ~ Making a Poppet....

Hello My Beautiful Witches, Goblins and Ghouls,

I hope you are all keeping well...

Today I share a wee glimpse of me making my poppet on the YouTube Channel (See below):

I know it is not a very in-depth look at the Poppet, but if I went into the history of them it would have turned into an epic hour long video - and honestly, I don't have that much time these days to do epic videos!!  Plus I don't feel comfortable in doing videos yet - I know, it's been a year of doing them - you would think I would be used to it by now... BUT NO!!  I am such a shy person it takes a great effort for me to get in front of them camera, plus I always stuff up the voice overs - just a confidence issue I guess!!

I see so many beautiful channels on YouTube with lovely witches sharing their content so confidently and their aesthetics are perfect - I am just not that type of a witch hahaha - mine is more blunders and chaotic with moments of forgetfulness........but that is who I am!!

So for a mere 4'ish minutes, I bring you my making of my Poppet...

I hope you enjoy it!

Until Next Time ~ Many Blessings to you all....

Annette )O( xxx

Vlog - 23 July to 2nd Aug 2025

Hi My lovelies,

My latest video is up on YouTube....

Don't let the thumbnail scare you to death - it's all good, not scary at all - YouTube just wouldn't let me change it...

Enjoy...

Imbolc Blessings to you all

Annette )O( xxx

Gloomy's Garden Vlog # 19 - First week of Winter

Hello my little Winter Wonders,

It has been the first week of Winter - according to the Gregorian (Christian) Calendar - and my goodness, did it come in cold all of a sudden or what!!

We had to put heaters on and break out the long sleeves, sweaters and jackets this week - plus put the electric blankets on!!

I feel it's going to be a very cold Winter this year - cold enough for snow??? We will see...

So here is my first Video for Winter...

What is happening in your neck of the woods at the moment?  Are you in Winter or Summer?

What is happening in your garden?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video.

Have a great week ahead,

Take care,

Annette )O( xxx

Gloomy's Garden & Witchery - Garden Vlog # 17 (20th 24th May)

Hello Everyone,

Just following through with another gardening video for my third week of my holidays - it can be viewed here on my YouTube Channel:

Don't forget to like and subscribe as this really helps my channel grow, and just like a garden, I am planting the seeds in hope that the internet gods will be kind to me and grow my channel into a flourishing community of like minded individuals who cherish Mother Earth in ALL her glory.

So tell your gardening or witchy friends about my channel, hell - tell your neighbour, your grocer or even your pool guy hahaha..... just kidding, I really do want to grow this channel so I can keep making videos - my channel isn't monetised, I am not in it for that - it's just to show you all what I do in my garden and witchcraft practice, plus my herbal remedies, my sewing and crochet projects and any other things that I can come up with along the way - it's a Journey, and I hope you will come along with me on it!!

Anyway, I have one more week of holidays left and if I do not win x lotto, I will have to go back to work on the 2nd June.

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.

Blessings,

Annette )O( xxx

Witch Vlog # 7 - Samhain (Southern Hemisphere)

Hello my Magickal Unicorns,

It is coming up to Samhain this week (April 30th - May 1st), so I decided to do an Altar cleaning and repurposing it for the Samhain "End of Summer" season.

I do not talk in this one as I have a toothache/sore gum infection at the moment - which is giving me the heebie-jeebies I can tell you.  I am doing everything I can to get rid of it, but it will take time because I don't use "normal" pharmaceutical medicines, I use herbal remedies - which takes a bit longer but is more acceptable for my body.

Anyway - enough of me griping about my gob!!

I hope you enjoy the video 😁

As always,

Blessings to you all

)O( xxx

Gloomy's Garden - Vlog # 14 - Easter

Hello my lovelies,

HAPPY EASTER if you are celebrating..

I have another Garden Vlog Catch-up thingy video on my YouTube channel...

I hope you will enjoy it!!

Catch you next week,

Annette )O( xxx

Witch Vlog # 6 My Mabon/Autumn Equinox Weekend.

Hello My Magickal Unicorns,

Better late than never - I have uploaded my Mabon/Autumn Equinox video to my YouTube Channel - I hope you enjoy it...    

Many Blessings to you all in the Southern Hemisphere, for the Autumnal Season.

Annette )O( xxx

Autumn in South Australia 2025

Hello my little Magickal Unicorns, 

Well here it is the 15th of March and we are supposed to be in Autumn now. 

Mabon is upon us next Friday (21st - is usually when I celebrate), and nobody has told the weather that it is no longer summer. 

We have 39 degrees Celsius today, so I am sitting in my witchy room under the fan - trying desperately to keep cool. I'm not a fan of the heat. I used to be when I was younger - pre going through menopause. But now I love the cooler months (still not liking the heart of winter when it is too cold hahaha).

Spring is my ultimate favourite season - when everything starts to burst forward with life. Secondly is Autumn (if one should ever get an Autumn that is) then I guess I would have to then take Winter over Summer. 

I find the heat of Summer drains the energy out of me - most days all I can do outside is water my gardens.... and then.... collapse!!! For me, it is easier to keep warm than it is to keep cool - yes we can put the air-conditioner on, but that dries the air out and causes breathing difficulties (though it is nice at night when it is still in the high 20's and you need to sleep). 

Just a quick catch-up - So this year - 2025 - is there any signs of Autumn yet? 

Yes there are - even though most of my garden is still quite green (other than the plants that have died in the extreme heat we have had), some of the leaves are starting to turn yellow. The trees are a bit confused though as they are starting to bud!! 

We have not had any rain for 4 months now, so I lost a lot of plants even though I have watered sometimes twice a day to keep them alive. 

Some of my produce I grew this year was disappointing - small and bitter. And everything in my top garden beds just turned up toes and died there maybe something wrong with the soil up there, so I am going to do some testing and amending of soil, plus put in some green manure to grow over winter - just so those beds will be ready for Spring planting. 

My greenhouse is still WAY TOO HOT to start any seeds off yet - it's going to be late planting this year.  

On Sunday there will be another Gloomy's Garden Vlog coming out with a little tour of my garden and all its issues.... I hope you enjoy a sneak peak into my garden world. 

PLUS - hopefully, if all the stars align, I will have a witchcraft video out for you the very next weekend to do with Mabon...

My Autumn Altar 2025

Until then - I am just about to go and process my pomegranates (which we harvested a couple of weeks ago and had so many that we have fed 6 families with them), so I can make some apple & pomegranate jam.  Plus I am hoping to save some of the peels to dry them out for tea making purposes.

I hope all is well wherever you are.

Have a blessed week ahead, thanks for catching up with me today!! 

Annette )O( xxx

Witch Vlog # 5 - Altar Cleansing Spray & Altar Cloths

Greetings Everyone, I hope you are all keeping well, I have just uploaded another Witch Vlog to my YouTube channel for those of you who are interested in Altar Cleansing Spray and finding out about my Altar cloths - enjoy!!

Witch Vlog #4 The Un-Boxing of The Healthy Witch Oracle Deck.

Hi My Lovelies,

Here is my latest video - it's an oracle deck unboxing.

I hope you like it. Take care and many blessings!!
Annette

Witch Vlog # 3 Lughnasadh Weekend - No speaking

Just a little video about my Lughnasadh weekend - this is a non verbal video, so all you have playing is my hubby's music whilst I put little subtitles on here and there.
I hope you enjoy it...
Blessings to you all, Annette )O( xxx

Witch Vlog # 2 Lughnasadh - now available on YouTube