Magical Brews 
by Blayze

What is a Magical Brew 
A magical brew can be one liquid magically charged for a specific purpose, or a combination of many ingredients blended together, combining the inherent attributes of each into one magical goal.  When most people think of a magical brew, the image that springs to mind is that of the Wyrd Sisters of Macbeth, old hags standing around giant cauldrons, tossing in exotic ingredients like eye of newt and toe of frog and chanting "Double double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble". Chanting is often one of the ways that a spell is cast into a magical brew, but more often than not, the ingredients consists of ordinary items that can be found in most kitchens. The brew can be nothing more than a glass of water or it can be an alcoholic punch, a herbal tea or a milkshake. 
Natural Magic 
Magical brews fall into the categories of kitchen witchery and natural magic. They are very effective, yet very simple to create. In most cases the simpler the brew the better, and as the magic can be released by drinking the brew, taste and appearance can be essential to the overall blending of the spell. 
The simplest magical brew is Water. By its very nature it is spiritual. It is one of the five elements. It represents among other things, emotions, lunar aspects, healing, insight and the West. When water is charged through the raised and directed energies from specifically coloured light, visualisation or chanting, for example, it becomes part of the spell. When the water is drunk, poured upon the ground, asperged or bathed in, the magic is released and activated. 
There are spiritual attributes in almost every liquid, herb, fruit, vegetable and spice. They all relate to one of the five elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. By combining these elements, a spiritual experience is created. When these ingredients are magically charged they become even more powerful as the spiritual or magical vibrations of the ingredient are enhanced. 
The Use of Magical Brews 
Brews can be used as part of rituals, if the ritual is for a sabbat then the brew could reflect the celebration, using the fruits and colours appropriate to the season, this especially applies to the harvest festivals. Brews can also replace the wine, mead or ale in cakes and ale. A brew empowered by the group within the circle makes a wonderful substitution and libation. Appropriate rituals for this may be at a handfasting, where a loving cup is filled with a lovers brew for the couple, or the cup of the dead which is passed around during some Samhain rituals. 
Magical brews can also be used as offerings to deities. There are many deities associated with brewing. You may wish to honour a deity with a specific brew or to invoke a specific deity depending on what you are making. 
SpellCraft 
A simple way to charge a brew, including plain water, is to combine ingredients and stir the liquid. As you stir you are raising energy. Concentrate and direct that energy into the cup or bowl, keeping the goal of your spell firm in your mind. You could see the energy filling the vessel as an appropriate coloured light that matches the goal of your spell, or if the brew is bubbly, see sparks of effervescent magic merging with the brew. It will all depend on the spell being cast and what feels appropriate to the caster and as always that the spell and the caster's actions bring harm to none. 
To focus and concentrate the energy and lend power to the spell, you can use numerological correspondences to add specific amounts of ingredients to the brew, or to stir the brew a specific number of times. Colour can play an important role as well. You could use appropriate coloured fruits or liquids or even food colouring to assist in creating the right brew for the spell. If the brew was for a fire festival, appropriate colours would be red and orange, and fruits such as oranges and spices such as cinnamon could be used. 
If you are working in a kitchen, then make the kitchen your temple. Make sure it is clean and that all tools are set aside for your magical working. You can have a pot of boiling water on the stove and throw herbs into it such as basil and sage. A bubbling pot pourri to purify your working space. Light candles and create your atmosphere. 
Following is an easy outline for making a magical brew. It will work for a solitary person or for a group.
1	Define the goal of the spell.
2	Once the desired outcome is established then work out what the best ingredients would be that relate to the outcome.
3	Gather all tools and ingredients needed
As there is magic to be worked it is better to do this within a circle or sacred space, to contain the energies to be raised and to protect from outside energies.
4	Before starting bless and consecrate all objects and ingredients to be used. There are many methods of the doing this and it can be done on each individual item or on all the items at once. This depends on personal preference. It is wise to make sure that there is no negative energy attached to your tools and ingredients.
5	Blend the base ingredients in a bowl. As you stir you are raising energy that will carry your visualised goal into the brew. You can raise and direct additional energy by chanting as you stir. You can write your own appropriate chant and an example appears below.

Flower, fruiting vine and grain
Hearth and hop and leaf and vein
Stir the cauldron, root and seed
Spin the magic, make it seethe

(sealant)
Deosil brine and deosil briar
bring to us our heart's desire x 3

6	The bowl is then passed around the circle for each person to stir. The chant can be continued by each person or the group as a whole. (Remember that each person should be well aware of what the desired outcome is so they can visualise the appropriate goal.) In a small group each person may like to say a short prayer or effective words over the bowl and the chanting can be used when the whole group is empowering the brew.
7	When everyone has stirred the brew, the bowl is then placed in the centre of the circle with everyone standing around it. They have raised energy individually and now is the time to raise it as a group. Have everyone stand around and maybe start stamping their feet or clap or drum. Start chanting the rune over the bowl. Feel the energy being raised. Make the chant and rhythm increase in speed. When it has reached its height all the energy is then channelled into the brew. It can be visualised as a stream of coloured light if that makes it easier for the group.
8	At this point everyone places their hands around the edge of the bowl and concentrates the energy and goal into the brew. Those that cant reach the bowl place their hands on the back of the person in front and channel the energy through them. Continue until the bowl is filled with the energy. Sometimes the brew will sparkle or begin to bubble.
9	The brew is then ladled out to each person to drink. As they drink, the magic is released. This is the key to the spell. Of course, this would only be appropriate if the spell is for the group. If the spell is for an individual, say for a healing, then that person will drink the brew. Or if it is for a sabbat then it is placed on the altar until it is time to drink it. It will really depend on what the brew is for. The brew can also be poured out on the ground to release the energy, it can be bathed in or it can be asperged on a particular object or person, maybe the asperger can be herbs that are appropriate to the theme of the spell. 

As with all magic work, there is a need to ground the excess energy. This can be done by eating, by placing hands on the earth or by whatever means each person normally grounds. 

The Coca-Cola Spell 
Any liquid can be made into the base for a spell. Coca-cola is a classic example. It contains sugar which represents earth and energy. It can be used to spark energy within and add life to your magical goal. It is bright and bubbly and represents the sweet things in life. As the colour is brown which represents new undertakings, your spell could be for effervescent new undertakings that connect you to the earth. It is simple to create spells from objects and ingredients that are around us. It just takes some research and imagination. 
Of course the spell will be more personal if you are preparing the ingredients yourself, but store bought items can work just as well. 

Mead 
A good example of using store bought items for magic, is Mead. I'm sure many of us would like to have the time and space to brew our own mead, beer and wine, but for most that is not practical. All that is required with store bought drinks is to give them a little burst of cleansing energy before use. 
Mead, with its main ingredient being honey, is viewed by many as the drink of the gods. It is the world’s oldest fermented drink and there are several basic types. 
Mead is a honey wine, the honey being used as the food for the yeast instead of grapes or other fruits. Honey Mead is the most basic, and from it all other meads are created. Herbs, spices or fruits can be added whilst the mead is being made or added when you are about to consume it, as in hot mulled mead. 
Melomel is a mead to which fruit or fruit juice is added, Pyment is a mead which also contains grape wines or grapes. Metheglin is mead made with herbs and spices. Hyppocras is mead made with herbs, spices and fruits. 
Honey is viewed by many cultures as being heavenly, divine or food of the gods. It was the main sweetener is cooking, brewing and medicine before the advent of readily available refined sugar. By eating or drinking honey we internalise that bit of the divine and allow it to be revitalised within us. 

Example Brews:

Elderflower Faery Spyder

Elderflower Cordial
Soda Water
Lemonade
Elderflower and Vanilla ice-cream

All of the ingredients are aligned with the element of water. Elder represents transition, in this case a transition to wholeness and peace, with the vanilla bringing productivity and the lemon bringing freshness. So the sparkling, foaming brew will align you with the new year and all of the promise it brings.

Peppery Pep-up Potion

Vegetable juice
Tomato juice
Lemon Basil
Pepper
Tobasco
Sliced green chili
Sliced yellow cherry tomatoes
Celery to stir

This is a fiery brew that will sharpen your awareness and insight and bring a renewal of healthful energy.

Sparkling Summer Refresher

Apple juice
Cranberry Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate Seeds
Mint
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Ginger Ale
Ginger & Lemongrass Cordial
Honey

(Base: Berries are steeped in cordial and honey and warmed slightly before use)

This brew is a celebration of Summer with a bittersweet twist that reminds us that the nights are growing longer. The purpose of this brew is to become with seasonal cycles and changes that are happening around us, to understand and absorb them on a deep level.

Some examples of Magical Brews used in Rituals

Applegrove Midsummer Ritual 2004 by Blayze

HPS:	Welcome to Midsummer. We celebrate the longest day and the height of the Sun's power. In honour of this we will make a Midsummer Brew filled with the herbs of the Fae and herbs of second sight.  We will drink and dance to find the seer within us that the Mystery of Midsummer be made real.

All to make brew by tying up the herbs in bunches and steeping them in cauldron over the brazier.

Brew Chant:

Apple, Thyme, Honey and Bay 
We stir thee up on Midsummers Day
Apple, Thyme, Honey and Bay
Lend us your power to dance with the Fae

Cup is filled from the cauldron and passed around for all to drink.

HPS: 	Let the dancing begin!

* 	This brew was created as an offering to the Fae as well as being the catalyst for opening visions and evoking the Seer for the ritual.

PAN 8th Anniversary Full Moon Ritual by Blayze

Meditation
HPS asks those gathered to contemplate upon the last month and why they are here. When each person is ready they are to move to the centre of the circle and pour a small amount of water from the jug into the bowl as a libation. They are then to return to their place in the circle and face outwards to indicate they are done. As people are finishing Fire, Water and Air choose three maidens and robe them in White and girdle them with two moon cords. Three mirrors and Eight cups are in the centre arranged around the bowl. There is also a veil a crown and some anointing oil for the moon priestess to wear and a funnel and bottle.

Howl / Priestesses of the Moon / Drawing Down The Moon
HPS Calls forward the three moon maidens and instructs them to anoint, veil and crown the moon priestess in readiness for the drawing down of the moon.

Whilst this is happening the HPS indicates to those assembled that they should come in closer and form a circle around the priestesses. When all is ready The HP asks the moon maidens to focus the powers of the moon into the bowl using the mirrors. The HPS instructs the participants to follow her in the howl to provide the energy that the HP will use to draw down the moon. The howl is to reach its peak after the drawing and before the goddess speaks.

All to begin hum. (Similar to howl - to be released at the end of the Drawing Down the Moon)

The HP invokes upon the moon priestess 

	I invoke thee and call upon thee, Mighty Mother of us all...

The Goddess speaks

	I am She who rides the night skies …

Goddess to invoke 8 blessings upon the waters to symbolise the 8 years of rituals.
The Goddess takes up a cup from the table and fills it with water from the bowl. She speaks one line of blessing for each cup and passes it, alternating between the HPS and the HP. They in turn give it to a participant in the circle to hold until they are called.

	A tide for conception my blessing owed
	A tide for the growing alliance bestowed
	A tide for the changing of habit and form
	A tide for the gift of harmony born.
	A tide for uniting the dark and the light
	A tide for the worshipful howl in the night
	A tide for the spiral without and within
	A tide for embracing thy magical kin

The 9th gift
The Goddess sends the moon maidens and the HP and HPS back to their places within the circle and calls forward the holders of the eight blessings. She announces that the eight blessings shall be combined to form the ninth gift. She indicates to each of the cup bearers in turn to pour their water into the bottle then sends them back to the circle.

Anointing
The Goddess walks around the circle anointing each person with some of the waters from the bottle giving small blessings as she goes. She then returns to the centre and the HPS comes forward. She presents the bottle to the HPS. The Goddess moves to the altar and sits in front of it facing into the circle.  The HPS holds up the bottle facing The Goddess by the altar and speaks.

	Thanks be for this gift! 
	All hail the moon!
	All hail the moon!
	All hail the moon!

*		In this ritual the water is charged originally by the energies of the moon. The bowl is between the HP and the Moon Priestess (Goddess) during the DDTM. It is also empowered by the energies of the howl that is building simultaneously. The water is then blessed by the Goddess 8 times with a different purpose for each blessing. Each blessing is then combined with the final outcome being a bottle of charged and blessed water to be used in subsequent rituals for the year.

Full Moon – Winter Inspiration Brew by Jo Dunster

Brew Ingredients

Air: cloves, vanilla
Fire: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg
Water: 	lemon juice, oranges
Earth: honey, thyme

Winter Inspiration Brew
The High Priestess Moves to the centre of the circle and asks for the four quarter callers to join her in the centre.

Welcome all to this Full Moon night. Tonight is probably the coldest moon of the year, being the one directly after the Winter Solstice and so we are going to make a little winter magic. 
Have you ever sat by a warm fire on a cold night with a hot drink and just let your mind wander. Winter is a time of rest, and a time to be close to ones family friends and home. Winter is a fallow time when the land sleeps and dreams of things to come. It is at this time that we also make our plans, dream our dreams and find the inspiration for those things we would bring to life in the Spring.
Tonight we come together as a group to create and empower a magick brew of winter inspiration. Warm and comforting yet spicy and delicious. 
You will note that I hold four pouches. These contain the ingredients for our brew tonight. I am going to split you up into small elemental groups and team you with a quarter caller to take those ingredients and create a simple chant to empower them with the energy of their element and the magick of winter. 
When your group has its chant, return and gather around the cauldron. You will perform for us your chant and add your ingredients to the pot. 
Once we are done our cord dancers will bind it all together. Then we will let it steep for a while before drinking it during cakes and ale.

The High Priestess moves around the circle and breaks up the group.

Those standing in the circle between Water and Fire you are the Fire clan. The Fire clan will empower the spices, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Those between Fire and Earth you are the Earth clan. The clan of Earth will take the sweetness of honey and the soothing thyme. 
Those between Earth and Air become the Air clan. You will take the aromatics, the strongly scented vanilla and cloves. Use these sparingly
Those between Air and Water you are the Water clan. The clan of Water will take the juices of lemon and oranges to add to our pot.
Go! to your quarters and and make your magick!

The Clans split up and create their chant. When all have returned each group takes it in turn to teach and perform their chant. The ingredients are added to the pot.
The High Priestess Gathers together the cord dancers and gets all the others to clap and chant along. The dance begins.
(Repeat till peak)
Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Bubbling in the cauldron deep
Weave the magic we desire
Let the power cook and steep.

When the dance stops the High Priestess holds the ladle above her and says

Mother of the velvet night
Goddess of the silvered moon
No wand of wood, no sacred knife
Tonight we wield a magick spoon!

The High Priestess taps the cauldron three times and the Cauldron keeper places the lid on the cauldron.
The Cauldron Keeper speaks.

This needs to cook,  to steep. You may not drink it yet. Go celebrate your moon. Come back when it is ready.

Dance

The High Priestess and High Priest both hold their hands above the cauldron.

HP and HPS:	
Lady of the moon you have blessed us this night
Let us drink deeply of your winter inspiration.
Let us dream the wonderous things we shall make manifest.
Let family and freinds be ever close.
And may there always be Beauty and strength, 
Power and compassion, 
Honor and humility, 
Mirth and reverence within us.
So mote it be!
Everyone is allowed to serve their own juice and chat amongst themselves. The High Priestess and High Priest crumble a little biscuit on the ground and pour a little brew in libation. 

Full Moon – Winter Dreaming by Jo Dunster , Reese Malcom

HP:	Winter is moving into spring.Although we know the cold and dark times are still with us, there are hints of change.In the lengthening of the days, the early bloom of wattle... buds of sunshine and green leaves in the frosty landscape.But although many of us long for spring, let us celebrate the last Winter Moon.The cold makes us want to sleep and to dream and as our dreams are their most vivid and remembered just before the dawn,so are the last dreams of Winter before the Spring.

We are witches and our dreams can hold messages, clarity and magic so tonight we embrace the last of Winter's sleep at the Full of the Moon.

Tonight we will create a talisman of dreams, a small vial of herbed and blessed water for you to use to aid in your own dream journeys over the next month.

But before we create our talismans let us cleanse and consecrate the waters we shall bless this night.

Cleansing of the waters

HP gathers everyone around and leads them in a cleansing of the waters. The HP gathers everyone into a circle and leads them in a chant. 

Charge the pool and
Dance the well
Cleanse the water
For our spell

Blessing of the waters

HP and HPS ask people to form 6 groups and give each group a jar of herbed water to charge the pool, Ask each group to go and create a chant / song or poem to cleanse and add purpose to the herbed water that they add to the waters in the pool.

The herbs are:

Mugwort for Dreaming
Chamomile for Sleep
Rosemary for Memory
Sage for Wisdom
Lavender for Peace
Sandalwood for Protection

HP Gathers everyone into a circle with the HPS in the center near the pool.

HPS Calls each group to step forward and perform their piece then step back into the circle.

Calling for the blessing of the Goddess

After each group have completed their pieces HP leads everyone in the circle to walk slowly around the pool and clap or stomp rhythmically or hum, whilst HPS calls down a blessing.

HPS:	Mistress of dreams
Cast your shining eye
to the depths of the sleeping waters
You who sail the sky
You who see into the hearts of your hidden children
Close our eyes in sleep
Open our minds to the last of Winter's dreaming
Bring to us the wisdom that lies beyond the veil
So that when the dawn breaks
We shall know thee!

The HPS places a quartz crystal in the water.

HP brings everyone to the centre at the end to touch the pool.

Each person takes a vial and fills it then sits and contemplates their dream