Every single one of us has built up our own spells and rituals as we grow into our craft, but one of the things we all seem to be inundated with is the "first of the month" ritual. Just a single scroll on any social media will show everyone blowing cinnamon in their doorway, but did you know there is WAY more than just that?
Here we will chat about the simmer pot! More first of the month rituals (or habits) will be published over time.
A simmer pot is a great way to infuse your whole home with the energy of herbs and intention. I personally have a separate pot that I use for simmer pots, so I do not have to worry about cross contamination or issues with herbs. This is excellent for homes with allergen concerns, or for those that cook for company often!
No stove top or it's just way too hot to leave your stove on for hours? No worries! You can create smaller simmer pots in wax melters or oil burners! Just note, they don't have nearly as high of heat, so it can take a lot longer for your herbs to infuse into the water.
The first of the month is an important time in a witch's schedule. Its a time to start a new cycle, release the old and bring in the new. It's a great time to clean, cleanse, ward, protect and call in the energy and abundance you want/need!
A simmer pot starts with your base. In my case, I choose spring water. This is what I drink on a normal basis, and it is filled with minerals and a connection to two elements I connect with well: Water (my main element) and Earth. I suggest to use filtered water at a minimum, but distilled or even tap can do in a pinch.
You can do a simmer pot at any time, but here are a few suggestions for the first of the month.
- Salt: cleansing, grounding.
- Honey: prosperity, healing, binding & sweeten a spell/ritual.
- Star Anise: represents the Pentacle, protection, luck, psychic awareness, purification and family bonds.
- Cinnamon: prosperity & abundance, success & power, spiritual connection/awareness, protection, good luck and wealth.
- Clove: (full pods only) protection, attracts prosperity & abundance, drives away hostility and negativity, purifies.
- Chamomile: purification, protection, sleep & relaxation, warding, protection against magickal attacks, quiets the mind.
- Jasmine: aura cleansing, confidence boost, relaxation, spiritual awakening, healing and balance.
- Coffee: protection, banishing, speeds spell work, boosts power, clears blockages, boosts energy and fosters connection
- Palo Santo: remove obstacles, attract good fortune, clear negativity, raise vibration, attracts positive energy.
- Rosemary: protection, warding, cleansing, safeguard relationships and promotes growth.
- Peppermint: purification, enhance the energy of spells and rituals, rids negativity and uplifts the energy of a space.
- Basil: luck, money, purification, banishment, protect against evil and remove spirits.
- Bay Leaf: Write your intention on it and add to the simmer pot. Victory, success, protection, purification, ward off negativity.
Uncommon additions, but they are ones I LOVE to add!
- Blue Cornflower: abundance, psychic awareness & focus for abilities, love, healing.
- Agrimony: shield & protect, reversals, break jinx/hex, return to sender, remove obstacles, dispel negativity.
- Boneset: protection, uncrossing, exorcism, anti-sorcery.
- Lady's Mantle: transmutation, strengthens workings, emotional healing, 3rd eye cleansing, represents the Divine Feminine.
- Allspice: fiery protection, courage
Are you in a pickle and just don't have a huge apothecary at your disposal? Don't panic! Tea's are packed with fantastic herb and floral selections, and a lot of them are blended for a specific time of year. A local brewer here in Wilmington is a favourite of mine. If you're looking for a new tea provider, you need to look at Snowshoe's Workshop! I have used a lot of her tea blends for spell work, ritual baths and simmer pots. Try the Wolfsnacht chai, violet retrograde and the mulled temptation. Tell her I sent you!
Herb blends that you use to season your food can be fantastic to use too! One of my absolute favorite is Italian seasoning blends. This is a fantastic way to get a cheap mix of herbs that are really heavy for prosperity and financial success. Pumpkin and apple pie spice blend is also fantastic, especially towards the Fall season. Not only will you be steeping your home in prosperity and abundance magick, but your house will smell incredible.
Want to learn what to do with the water from your simmer pot, and what to do with the material from it? Stay tuned and I'll post another blog soon!
While this is a pretty sizable list, this is not the be-all end-all. What herbs do you enjoy using for simmer pots?
