Tag: DIY

Pendulum Work & GRAND OPENING

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
Yeah, I’m not sure, either

Happy (U.S.) Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for the support of all of you who have been watching my videos and reading my blogs! There are some changes afoot, namely, I’ll be redirecting from http://kwos.food.blog to https://kwos-food.com! That’s right, I have my own domain!

Even more exciting, at least for me, is the Grand Opening of The Witchery, my very own shop for all things KWOS and Witchery! Currently, I have anointing oils and loose incenses for the sabbats (except Ostara because I don’t have some of the things I need for it), 10-packs of 33mm charcoal disks, and the simple KWOS-brand Pendulum Board used in today’s video! If you’d like to download the printable pendulum board, it’s $1.00–but you know what else you can get for $1.00? Access to my discord channel by supporting me on Patreon! And for just $5/mo, you can also get access to exclusive Patreon-only content (like a video that features Cameraman Ken, released earlier this morning)! There will be exclusive discounts for Patreon supporters, as well.

Eventually, the store will also have custom altar cloths (specific to the sabbats) which are handmade by me; custom, physical pendulum boards, KWOS attire (such as aprons and oven mits), and much more.

But enough about the excitement that is this new chapter of KWOS and more about pendulums and pendulum boards!

For me, pendulums have always had an odd place in my heard. Growing up in a very fundamentalist environment, I was always taught such things were bad. So, imagine my surprise when I went to my first metaphysical shop to get essential oils for a project I was working on, when the crystal featured in this video nearly leapt of the rack at me!

I could feel its vibrations. I could hear it calling to me. When started sifting through the crystals, it was quivering. When I brushed against it, I felt a surge of electricity rush through me and I knew it was The One. It is my favorite pendulum (noted by the fact it is not one of the missing other two), and it has never steered me wrong. Ornery as it may be (like its manipulator), it gives the answers it believes is correct and best to the questions asked.

It’s pants at locating missing items, though. Note the still-missing other two crystals.

To use the pendulum board, print it off and place it on a flat surface (any flat surface will do). Ground and center yourself, focusing your intentions. When you are ready, hold your pendulum out from your body and say, “Show me a Yes.” Allow the pendulum to move in whatever manner it has selected to designate yes. Follow that desire with, “Show me a No,” and allow it to do so. This way, you will be prepared just in case your pendulum decides to be ornery and not follow the notations on the pendulum board.

Now, hold your pendulum over the center of the pendulum board and focus your intention. Ask your yes/no question and allow the pendulum to move where it needs. You will notice there are two Yes, two No, two Maybe, and two Uncertain on the board. Each has a significance.

Yes – Bottom = This is a new path that you must go down (Yes, don’t be scared) // Top = Time to push forward with this (Yes!!)

No – Right = Have strength and don’t give up (No, right now…) // Left = Let it go, it no longer serves you (No.)

Unknown – Bottom Right = It’s time to try some manifestation to make things happen (Affirmations, visualizations, etc) // Upper Left = Practice gratitude and review lessons previously learned (You’re missing something important; reflect)

Maybe – Bottom Left = Only you can inspire action and create options (This is completely in your hands) // Top Right = More needs to be released in order to find clarity (You aren’t sure what you want, perhaps there’s trauma you need to address?)

If you’re looking for more probing questions, I would recommend a more detailed pendulum board. Many resemble spirit boards with letters and numbers on them for the crystal to spell out answers for you. I will, eventually, offer this type in my shop, as well. You would use them in the same way, writing down the letters/numbers the pendulum points to.

I hope you found this video and post useful! Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think! Also, feel free to share this with others. Have a blessed Thanksgiving (if you’re in the U.S.) and we’ll be back with more next week!

Blessed be.

Samhain Bath Salts

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
“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!

Don’t forget to pop over to my Patreon and consider supporting me in making these videos and blog posts for you every week! Especially check out and respond to this post about Halloween!

Blessed be, my Witchlettes!

DIY HE “Enchanted” Laundry Detergent

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
Hooray!

It’s been an interesting past few weeks. I made sure to have a backlog of videos while Cameraman Ken was being a caretaker for a friend and her kids–however, he’s still not finished with that assignment and I am a little ball of stress! So, you get a video of me making High-Efficiency Enchanted Laundry Soap!

I actually really like making my own laundry soap. I don’t break out when I use my own stuff. The first time I made this, I didn’t use the right kind of bar soap, so it isn’t quite as effective as it could be. And, after a few uses, I decided I didn’t like the scent profile I chose.

So, what do I mean when I say “Enchanted” laundry soap? There are several ways to approach this and all of them really come down to this: Intention. You can craft a spell to recite over your detergent; you can imbue it as you mix with your own energies; you can simply set the intention when you start the process; you can use the “magical” properties of the essential oils as the only enchantment. It’s really up to you. As you can see in the video, I just imbue as I stir.

Examples of essential oils and their properties include:

  • Peppermint – purification, healing, peace
  • Eucalyptus – protection, fresh energy, healing, purification
  • Lavender – love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, peace
  • Lemon – cleansing, spiritual opening, purification
  • Lime – purification, protection, calm, tranquility, love
  • Pine – new beginnings, prosperity, success, strength, grounding, growth, cleansing, purification, repelling negativity
  • Ylang Ylang – peace, love, calm
  • Patchouli – propserity, love, grounding, spirituality

These are just some examples. Each of these also have mundane properties. Peppermint and Eucalyptus are both used as air fresheners, pest deterrents, and antibacterial/germicides. Pine is good for surface cleansers because it kills yeast spores, E. coli, and other household germs; combine with Thyme, which is powerful against salmonella, and you have a nice-smelling surface cleanser. When I wash my floors, I look at both the mundane and magickal properties of my oils and decide what it is I need and want for my home. Typically, I end up using a blend of Pine, Patchouli, and Ylang Ylang (an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic). Floor cleaner is a make-as-needed item. Just mix a quarter cup of Apple Cider Vinegar and about 16 total drops of EOs into one gallon of water, then go to town on your floors.

So, there you have it! This will also save you money in the long-run–and reduce the amount of waste we put out into the environment. As a pagan Christian, I feel it is my responsibility to love my fellow human to the best of my abilities and preserve the environment to the best of my abilities. Black Lives Matter. Climate Change is Real. Where a Mask. Wash Your Damn Hands.

Incense for Mabon

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
I’m very proud of myself.

Mabon is coming up quickly and I’ve been trying to make some little tokens for the sabbat (even though it is not one of the sabbats I, personally, celebrate). I love incense, so it made sense for me to make this wonderful, loose incense for you as a way of demonstrating some of the things you can incorporate into your Autumnal practice.

The book I used for this video is simply called Mabon. There is a good history of the roots of Mabon and how you can celebrate it in the modern age. It also gives recipes, crafts, rituals, correspondence, prayers, etc. One of the recipes in it is for this incense.

You will need dried marigold (calendula), mint, and sage. I used rubbed sage for this because I use that in cooking. Since I do not have the appropriate environment in which to grow sage properly, I tend to use rubbed sage where I can, instead of sage that you’d find in bundles. Once I have a bit of earth and can plant my garden the way I want, I’ll harvest and dry my own sage. Regardless, use whatever sage you’d like in this. It will still smell amazing.

Make sure that when you go to burn this, you have a charcoal round. I did not have any (they’re in storage), and it does not burn well on it’s own. It needs help. But, it still smells really good, so you have that to look forward to!

This incense can be used for Mabon rituals, or around Thanksgiving to help cultivate a sense of thankfulness and gratitude, or any time of year, really. It’s a delicate scent and works well to relax and open your heart to give thanks and show gratitude for what the Universe has blessed you with during the year into this Second Harvest.

I hope you enjoy this incense. Let me know in the comments how yours turned out!

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
I’m not saying it was aliens…

Merry meet!

I love making these videos as much as I love making the food videos! These ones are way more relaxed. In this video, we’re going to make a really fantastic all-purpose cleaner. You’ll need a 16oz spray bottle and some funnels. Here’s a list of everything else:

1/2c apple cider or distilled white vinegar
1 T water (I used distilled)
10 drops of essential oils/essential oil blend (mine was 4 lemon, 3 lavender, 2 pine, 1 Peppermint)
2 T baking soda
about 1-1/4c Distilled water to top off

You’re going to put your liquids into the container first. Your vinegar, oils, and water, then gently shake them. Then you’re going to add your baking soda S L O W L Y. Ask me how I know to do it slowly. Because I’m a dunderhead and didn’t and there was a bit of an explosion because this was filmed early in the morning before my coffee had a chance to hit my brain and say, “Hey! You! The girl who aced chemistry. This is basic acid-base reaction…”

Once you’ve slowly added your baking soda, top the mix off with the water and give it a gentle shake. It’s now ready for use!

You can make this “enchanted” either by imbuing it with your intentions or by using essential oils that have spiritual properties. I, personally, use the ones I use because I know their spiritual properties, as well as their cleaning properties and I like the smell of the blend.

As I said, this is my go-to all-purpose cleaner. On my floors, I use 1/4c. ACV and 16 drops of essential oils/blend to a gallon of water. Again, I choose my oils based on their spiritual and cleaning properties. I love washing my floors and I know my cats aren’t going to get sick from the floor wash! Cameraman Ken wasn’t too enamoured with my homemade dish soap, so I’ll have to find another recipe for him and try again. I do like my dry laundry soap, though I need to make more and re-enchant that. I suppose that could be another video!

Blessed be, my Witchlettes!

Projects for Lughnasadh

Posted on by Th3D0ct0r
I’m wearing catears. That have snakes on them. I love them.

I’m back with another Lughnasadh video! We’re making “First Harvest” Potpourri (dry) and Habanero Jelly!

Cameraman Ken (aka The Husbeast) lost his sense of smell through (chronic sinusitis). So, he enjoys foods that have spice, but more importantly, flavor. I have hot sauces sitting on my table that would make mere mortals cry (they do me!), but they are very flavorful and add just enough heat to enhance whatever it is we’re putting them in.

It is important to note that the jelly is not Keto-friendly. It is made with 4.5 cups of sugar. This is not something you can just swap out to Swerve or Truvia or Monkfruit. That isn’t to say that you can’t make low-carb jams and jellies. This recipe, specifically, cannot be modified because of the type of pectin it uses. Admittedly, I don’t know much about pectin because when I make preserves, I don’t use it. My fruit preserves are made with sugar and the natural sugars of the fruits. In the future, I may try to make a Keto-friendly preserves recipe, but today is not that day. Please, don’t use a sugar substitute for this: It will not set up.

Also, yes, I maced myself again cooking the habaneros. You’d think I’d learn by now. That’s why I’m an entertainer and not an actual chef! You get to laugh at my dumbass!

On to the First Harvest Potpourri! I forgot I was making it, which is why my apples ended up desiccated. You need to pre-heat your oven to 200F and if you’re going to use both racks, check them after about 45 minutes and switch the baking sheets around. They shouldn’t be burnt (like mine); they should be dried nicely. Should take about 90 minutes. Check on them. The oranges may take a bit longer. You want the fruit to be dry enough that it won’t rot while sitting out.

…which is funny because…

Potpourri literally means “a pot of rotten.”

For this, I used two red apples and two medium oranges, 4 fresh cinnamon sticks, a small package of star anise, and a bunch of whole cloves. I sliced the apples using a mandolin and had Cameraman Ken slice the oranges. You want these to be thinly sliced–1/8th inch is about where I was with them. Spread them in a single layer on however many baking sheets you need. You’ll want to cover the sheets with parchment paper. Probably should have mentioned that first. Anyway! You don’t have to do anything to the fruits, just check to make sure they’re not burnt.

I put my apples into a baggie and crunched them to pieces to make them fit better into containers. Cameraman Ken cut up the oranges for me and broke my cinnamon sticks. I added the star anise and the cloves and shook up the bag. I had enough potpourri to make two 4oz jars for the guys upstairs (gave them a jar of jelly, too), plus two small bowls of potpourri. One is on my altar, the other is on my desk in the bedroom. It’s strong when close to it, but it’s a nice, subtle scent when you enter the apartment.

The potpourri will be good for about a month. Before you toss it, however, put it into a pot of water on your stovetop and simmer it til the scent is gone. Just make sure you keep enough water in it so it doesn’t burn onto your pot. If you have a small crockpot, you could also put it in the crock, on low, and let it simmer. It’s a wonderful way to get the last little bit of scent from your potpourri! AND! It should be good til right around the next Sabbat: Mabon (the Autumnal Equinox), which is September 22.

Have a happy, safe, and blessed Lughnasadh!

Blessed be.