Samhain Bath Salts

“To everything, turn! Turn! Turn!”

Here we are with another bath salts video! This craft comes from the Llewellyn’s Essentials book, Samhain. This is not my original recipe. Mostly because I don’t like Vetiver and am really unsure why I even own Vetiver–and yet I have TWO BOTTLES of it in my collection! D:

Anyway.

I think if I were going to make a bath salts for the season, I would use cinnamon, clove, ginger, and orange; though, I do like the camphor in this. But, as we did with the divination potion, let’s break down the essential oils used in this blend to understand their purpose for existing (including Vetiver. It has a purpose…it has to).

Basil. Basil is good for brining harmony and balance. It was considered a romantic herb in Italy and, therefore, used as a component of love spells and charms. It also is a mood lifter, which is appropriate as we head into the Darkness of the Winter months when many people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). It also is one of the herbs or essential oil fragrances used awakening your higher awareness and opening up your understanding, clearing the mind, allowing contact to spirits and spirit beings–definitely a boon to your Samhain or Beltane practices! The veil is thin between this life and the afterlife.

Camphor. Camphor, too, is an uplifting scent, assisting with lightening and brightening a low mood. It also causes a sense of liberation or freedom and is a noted ingredient in things like Vick’s Vapor Rub. Spiritually speaking, camphor has been used as a soul cleanser or purifier; it is the guardian of rebirth and offers spiritual protection–also a very good thing during the time of thinning veils!

Vetiver. I give vetiver a hard time. Because it smells like alfalfa to me and I have bad memories associated with that scent, so it smells terrible to me. This is my personal feeling about vetiver. It really does have some excellent benefits, however. It’s actually good for combating some of the symptoms of ADHD and anxiety; it is an anti-inflammatory; can be used to cool and sooth sunburn (though, I have found better oils for this, personally); and can help in the healing of acne and scarring–including stretchmarks! So, it really is useful. Because I don’t like the scent, however, I have found a number of other essential oils that smell better and have the same functions and properties. It, too, has grounding properties and offers protection from negativity. Also, it’s a mood-lifter.

So, this entire bath salts package is meant to be an uplifting and relaxing salt soak. If I wanted to keep this bath salts intact, but swap out vetiver, I would use a few drops of Helichrysum, which offers awareness, calm, and inspires creativity and intuitive processes. Also, it’s an anti-inflammatory and has an earthy aroma (Vetiver is an earthy aroma, but smells more exotic and grassy and very strong; Helichrysum is a sweeter and lighter aroma).

So, that’s it! That’s my post for the Samhain Salt Bath! I know there’s one for Yule, as well. I made it last year and it was glorious! I can’t wait to share that one with you in December!

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Blessed be, my Witchlettes!

Mabon Bath Salts

Look! I’m actually FANCY!

Mabon is a Sabbat that celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of autumn and the second harvest. This year, it falls on September 22. Mabon, similarly to Lughnasadh, is a time of Thanksgiving and gratitude. What better way to get into the spirit of giving thanks than by thanking yourself for surviving the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that has been 2020 and taking a ritual bath!

Honestly, I just like using bath salts whenever I can. They’re easy to make and it’s so relaxing to use them. This one is a two-parter, so you’ll need two containers to make it work.

You’ll need dried chamomile, sage, and rosemary; sea salt, baking soda, and sandalwood essential oil. How much you want to use is up to you. Standard ratios are as follows: 1:1:1:1 on the dried plants to water (1 T each, 1 cup water) and 1/2c sea salt, 1 T baking soda, and about 5-6 drops sandalwood.

You’re going to put your herbs and water in a pot and simmer them for about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, let them cool.

In the meantime, mix your sea salt and baking soda together, then add your essential oil and mix thoroughly. Put into a shatter-proof container (or live dangerously, like I do, and use a mason jar). I use a 4oz mason jar for these and pack the salt mixture into them. when you use it for your bath, you’ll use approximately half of the jar.

Once the decoction has cooled, strain it using either a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. You should be able to fill a 4oz jar with the liquid. When you go to draw your bath, pour in your salt first and dissolve it in the water, then add 2oz of your decoction and blend it into the water as well. Climb into your tub and relax and focus on the many things you have to be thankful for.

You can make it more of a ritual, if you would like–light candles, cast a magic circle, whatever you’d like to do. I tend to keep my baths simple. Spend as much time as you require soaking in the energy of Mabon and the Equinox.

Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed be.