Spell Casting For The Rest Of Us

By Ginnie Nightingale

"There is a chant in our family that has been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. I know the words by heart, as did my mother, as did her mother before her. I taught them to my daughter and my granddaughters happily recite them as they play. I do not know where the chant originated, nor do I understand the compulsion that each and every female on my mother's side has had to pass it along to the next generation. But I do think the words must be magical, if for no other reason than that they bind us together, we mothers of the same blood line, to something special and unique that only we share. And to the notion that dreams really can come true. And to the possibility of magic."

Inside this book...

* How ancient spell casters passed their secrets down to their descendants.
* Why history hid the truth about natural magic and the abilities we all have within us,
* How to create a magical work space hidden in plain sight!
* Why simple 5-minute Kitchen Witch spells can be as effective as complicated cauldron spells
* Why it is absolutely essential to make a sacrifice when you spell cast!
* How to use passion and emotion to energize your spells
* The secret ingredients you must put in (and leave out of) your spells
* Why spell casting and religion do not conflict, despite what others would have you believe!
* How to use the energy of common herbs in your magical "recipes"
* How to work with the phases of the moon to boost your spells
* How to quickly cast an assortment of life-changing spells, including glamming spells (yes, they exist!), prosperity spells, friendship, protection, love and soul mate spells
* How to discover your true life's work and begin living it and earning an income from it immediately!
* Stories of how real people got amazing, though totally unexpected, results through spell casting

Spell Casting For The Rest Of Us is about "making things happen". It is about magic, powerful magic, and simple, but powerful spells that can change your life. Ginnie Nightingale is a documented 11th-great-granddaughter of a persecuted Salem witch. Most of the legends, spells and stories in this book were passed along to her by her grandmother. Her purpose in writing this book was to prove to you, the reader (and possible skeptic) that anything, even magic, is entirely possible!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ginnie Nightingale
• Release date: Oct 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310328183

Ginnie Nightingale

Ginnie Nightingale is a member of several genealogical associations and is the documented 11th-great-granddaughter of a persecuted Salem witch. Many of the spells and stories in her books were passed along to her by her grandmother. "There is a chant in our family that has been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. I know the words by heart, as did my mother, as did her mother before her. I taught them to my daughter and my granddaughters happily recite them as they play. I do not know where the chant originated, nor do I understand the compulsion that each and every female on my mother's side has had to pass it along to the next generation. But I do think the words must be magical, if for no other reason than that they bind us together, we mothers of the same blood line, to something special and unique that only we share. And to the notion that dreams really can come true. And to the possibility of magic."

Book preview

Kitchen Witch Magic

Spell Casting For The Rest of Us

Ginnie Nightingale

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved

Nightingale Publishing

ASIN: B00O9N49CY

The information in this book should be used for educational and philosophical purposes only and should not replace the diagnosis or treatment of any physical or mental health concern by a competent physician or psychiatrist. Nor should it be used as a substitute for a consultation with a competent health care provider or financial planner. The publisher and author are in no way liable for the misuse of the material contained in this book.

Dedication

For my grandmother, Nanny, my beautiful daughter and granddaughters, and my 11th great-grandmother, Frances Alcock Hutchins, who was accused of witchcraft and imprisoned during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 - Spell Casting, A Family Tradition

* The Kitchen Witch

* Witches In Your Family Tree

* Your Rightful Place As A Spell Caster

Chapter 2 - What Is That Magic That You Do So Well?

* The First Spell Casters

* The Science Behind The Magic

* The Passion Behind The Magic

* The Spirituality Behind The Magic

* Six Sacred Rules For Magical Living

Chapter 3 - The Bewitching Work Space

* How To Create A Magical Kitchen

* It's Elemental, My Dear

* Use Color To Calm Or Invigorate The Energy

* Add A Bit Of Charm & History

* Above All, Make It Comfortable

Chapter 4 - Tools Of The Spell Caster

* Hocus, Pocus, These Things Help You Focus!

* Yes, You Will Need A Cauldron

* The Magic Wand

* The Witch's Broom

* Let Music Be Your Muse

* Your Hearth

* Your Altar Basket

* Your Personal Book Of Shadows

Chapter 5 - The Spell Caster's Pharmacy

* Essential Utensils

* Mother Nature's Magic Ingredients

* Tinctures & Essential Oils

* Candles

* Incense

* Symbols

* Talismans, Totems & Miniatures

* Spirit Varnish

* Other Ingredients

Chapter 6 - Six Powerful Ingredients For Successful Spells

* Ingredient No. 1, Secrecy

* Ingredient No. 2, Self-Awareness

* Ingredient No. 3, Details

* Ingredient No. 4, Positive Wanting

* Ingredient No. 5, The Power Of Three

* Ingredient No. 6, Words & Incantations

Chapter 7 - Six Bitter ingredients That Will Thwart Your Magic

* Bitter Ingredient No. 1, Hatred

* Bitter Ingredient No. 2, Limitation

* Bitter Ingredient No. 3, Guilt

* Bitter Ingredient No. 4, Control

* Bitter Ingredient No. 5, Coincidence

* Bitter Ingredient No. 6, Fearful Thinking

Chapter 8 - 5-Minute Magic!

* The Kitchen Witch Way

* All It Takes Is Three Simple Steps

* How The Moon Affects Your Magic

* 9 Quick Kitchen Witch Spells To Practice

* When You Don't Get What You Want

Chapter 9 - Advanced Spells For The Cosmic Cook

* Beauty & Sensuality

* Passion & Romance

* Success In Your Life's Work

* Wealth & Prosperity

* Meaningful Relationships

Chapter 10 - Cook Books For The Soul

* The Mysterious Voynich Manuscript

* Religious Texts & Inspirational Books

* Reference Books

* Other Spell Books

Chapter 11 - Resources For The Spell Caster

* Kitchen Witch Doll Pattern & Instructions

* Moon Calendars (2014 thru 2018)

* Feng Shui Bagua Map

* Energy Color Wheel

AFTERWORD - Your Legacy, What Will You Leave To The Ages?

"When Winter's moon is high and blue,

And hoarfrost grows from the valley dew,

Come near to me, my deary, do,

And I'll brew for you a cosmic stew."

There is a chant in our family that has been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. I know the words by heart, as did my mother, as did her mother before her. I taught them to my daughter and my granddaughters happily recite them as they play. I do not know where the chant originated, nor do I understand the compulsion that each and every female on my mother's side has had to pass it along to the next generation. But I do think the words must be magical, if for no other reason than that they bind us together, we mothers of the same blood line, to something special and unique that only we share. And to the notion that dreams really can come true. And to the possibility of magic.

INTRODUCTION

I am not a witch. Not if you think of a witch as someone who is a member of Wicca, or who considers herself a goddess, or who enjoys dancing naked around a Eucalyptus tree under a full moon. Not that there is anything wrong with any of that. Of course there isn't. There is a lot to be said for belonging to something that you passionately believe in, and for dancing naked. And I do follow the witch's rede, simply because it works. But I do not really consider myself a witch. I am a spell caster, which means I know how to use my human emotions and my knowledge about the vibrational energy of the Universe to make things happen.

This book is about making things happen. It is spell casting for the rest of us, for those of us who can't quite make a commitment to a coven or embrace witch culture or who have neither the time, nor the inclination, to go to a lot of trouble cooking up elaborate spells.

I think of it this way. If you are hungry you have two choices. You can go to your kitchen and make yourself a sandwich. A little peanut butter, some jelly, and your done. The whole thing takes, maybe, five minutes. Or you can spend an hour or more preparing an elaborate dish that requires several steps, exotic ingredients, candlelight and rare wine. The second meal will definitely be a joy to your senses and leave you feeling flushed with satisfaction (and maybe a little drunk), but the primary goal of both meals, which is to satisfy your hunger, will be accomplished by either.

Kitchen Witch magic is like that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's not fancy but it gets the job done. By using just two or three ingredients and following a few simple, but extremely important rules, after reading this book you should be able to create cosmic dishes that will attract your heart's desires without going to all the time and trouble it takes to cook up a masterpiece. Unless you enjoy cooking up masterpieces. If so, my next book, Advanced Spell Casting For The Rest Of Us will be just for you. The techniques I describe in that book might even make your spells more potent. But, then again, they might not. As for me, I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and I'm a bit lazy when it comes to cooking. If you don't believe me, just ask my husband.

This book is about making miracles. Your miracles. It's purpose is to prove to you, the reader (and possible skeptic) that anything, even magic, is entirely possible. So go pour yourself a cup of herbal tea and put that skepticism on your highest closet shelf where you can't see it. Don't worry, you can always go back for it later. But you probably won't want to. Because everything you think you know about magic is about to be turned upside down!

Chapter 1

Spell Casting, A Family Tradition

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.~J. B. Priestly

When I was a little girl, I loved visiting my grandmother's townhouse in Richmond, Virginia. It was like something from another era. In fact, it was from another era, the Victorian era. Nanny, as I called her, was the third generation to live in that house. Her grandfather had it built for her grandmother right after they were married in the late 1800's.

Like all the generations of children before me, I loved playing hide and seek in that house, with all its nooks and crannies. And I loved sitting on the porch swing listening to Nanny's stories about her childhood. On hot summer nights I would plant myself on that wooden swing and refuse to budge until the ice cream man came down the street. Back then, my only problem was trying to decide whether I wanted a chocolate or vanilla cone, and I'm not talking about the prepackaged nonsense that passes for ice cream today. Oh, no! I'm talking about real ice cream that had to be scooped out of ice cold bins! But I digress.

My absolute favorite room in my grandmother's house was her kitchen. It boasted a black double-oven cook stove from the early 1920s and a giant hulk of a refrigerator that had once been called an ice box. Her big farm sink with bright copper faucets sparkled under a sunny window that overlooked an herb garden that seemed to flourish year around, in spite of our cool Virginia winters. And, in her butler's pantry, on the very top shelf, sat mysterious little jars and pots with hand drawn symbols on them.

In the middle of Nanny's kitchen stood a large butcher block table where we would sit whenever we made gingerbread cookies, minced pies and any other goodies I could dream up. Overhead, an iron pot rack, laden with copper pots and jello molds, hung on a wrought iron chain. And, in the very center of that pot rack, a little witch rode her broom and gazed down on us with beady black eyes as we worked.

The Kitchen Witch

I was around six years old when I noticed that there always seemed to be rolled up pieces of paper sticking out of the little witch's apron pocket. One day I asked my grandmother about it and she shared with me a story that has been in our family for generations, the story of Sangrid and the first Kitchen Witch.

Sangrid & The Kitchen Witch

In the olden days, my grandmother said, "spell casting was as normal as apple pie! In fact, our people thought of it as nothing more than a way to use the natural gifts we had been given by our Creator. Even our kings didn't mind our spell casting because they grew rich from the taxes they collected from our work.

But as time went by, she said, frowning, "The kings became greedy. They raised our taxes higher and higher, saying they needed the money to defend us from outsiders who would come to destroy us. But they lied. No outsiders ever came. The kings did nothing for our people except take more and more from us. In any case, we didn't need or want their help. We could take care of ourselves!

Then, one day, a terrible king took the throne. He was even greedier than the ones before him. He wanted his subjects completely under his control. When he found out that he couldn't control us, he began to fear us and our abilities. So he declared that spell casting was a sin and ordered everyone to worship God as only he said they should.

Nanny shook her head. "But spell casting had been part of our family for generations and it was hard to stop. Some of our people decided to follow the old ways, anyway, at great personal risk to themselves and their loved ones. They suffered terrible punishments for doing so. Others, fearing for their lives, gave up the old ways entirely. Much of their knowledge was lost.

"But others of us adapted. We grew smarter and devised clever ways to hide our craft. We learned how to disguise the recipes that held our secret formulas and we passed along our knowledge to only a few whom we could trust. Meanwhile, as our king grew rich, other kings and queens all over Europe took note and followed his example. And the lives of our people were changed forever.

"It was your 15th-great-grandmother who first got the idea of using a doll to hide spell casting. Her name was Sangrid and she grew up with her father and grandparents in the hills of Scotland.

"Sangrid was an adventurous little girl who loved playing in the woods and marshlands near her home. She would spend hours there drawing pictures of all the flowers and plants and making notes about the magic they held. She adored animals, too, and made friends with the sheep and the cows and pigs at nearby farms, as well as with the wild animals who lived in the forest.

"Sangrid had few human playmates. The townspeople thought she was odd and forbade their children to have anything to do with her. Of course, that didn't bother Sangrid. She had no interest in playing with them, either! She would much rather seek out a friendly squirrel to play hide-and-seek with, or share a picnic lunch with the mother owl that nested in the big oak tree behind her house. And, sometimes, when the moon was full, she would sneak to the edge of the woods to offer a hungry fox or stray wolf a piece of corn cake from her fingertips. You see, Sangrid loved all of Mother Nature's creatures.

When she came of age, at around thirteen, her grandmother told her their family history and about the awful persecutions that had happened in England. She called it the burning times" and told how members of their very own clan had been burned at the stake for doing such innocent things as making healing poultices and praying over crops. The townspeople had called them witches!

"Sangrid was just a baby when her own mother was taken away. Her father searched for his beloved wife, in vain, but finally, fearing for his baby daughter's life, he whisked Sangrid and her grandparents away in the middle of the night on a ship bound for Scotland.

In the village where they settled, Papa, as Sangrid called her father, became a successful toy maker. His colorful dolls and marionettes were so beautiful that people came from all over the countryside to marvel at the exquisite toys hanging in his shop. But then Papa became very sick. Fearing that he might die and leave the family to starve, he begged Sangrid's grandmother for a healing, but she was reluctant. She knew that the best healing spell of all would be one that he could see and focus on all day long, but she worried that putting such a spell in plain sight would capture the attention of the nosy magistrate and put them all in danger. How she must have trembled when she thought of the gallows in their own village where witches" were still being hung.

"Then Sangrid had an idea! Spotting one of her Papa's unfinished dolls, she took it down from the rafters and quickly made a little dress for it, complete with a tiny pocket in its apron. That night, she worked quickly to gather herbs and charms, and, after making a sacrifice and writing a prayer for Papa's healing on a piece of parchment, she rolled everything up and tied it all together with a piece of willow string. Then she tucked the spell into the doll's little pocket and hung it back up in Papa's shop where he could see it.

"The next morning, Sangrid told her father about the doll and the secret spell in its pocket. Over the next few days, whenever the doll would catch his eye, Papa would think about the spell and imagine how wonderful he would feel when he was healthy again. And, gradually, his fever went away and he began to regain his strength.

Thus was born the Kitchen Witch, Nanny chuckled, "and none of the townsfolk were ever the wiser.

Over the years, as new generations of daughters were born to our family, they, too, were entrusted with the story of Sangrid and the Kitchen Witch. Many didn't care, caught up in the excitement and lure of their times. Sadly, their daughters would never know this wonderful secret. But others were fascinated by the story and took the legend to heart, even carrying it with them to the New World and the Caribbean Islands where it was rumored to have been turned into voodoo dolls by those who practice the dark magic!

At this point in telling the story, my grandmother would always pause and lean close. Her hazel eyes boring into my green ones, she would whisper, But our family has never, ever used a Kitchen Witch for dark magic. To do so would bring terrible misfortune on us all! Do you understand? To which I would always solemnly nod.

So that is how the legend of the Kitchen Witch was handed down to me by my grandmother, as it had been passed to her through many generations. The story of how a simple little doll has been used, for hundreds of years, to hide spell casting.

As a 6-year-old hearing that story for the first time, I was immediately filled with wonder and decided to test the Kitchen Witch's powers at my first opportunity. When my grandmother wasn't looking I drew a crude picture of my heart's desire on a piece of paper, folded it up and climbed on top of her butcher block table. Standing on tippy toes, I tucked the paper into the Kitchen Witch's pocket.

Afterward, as children do, I went on to other things and forgot all about my spell. But a few weeks later, much to my surprise, my mother, who had always been firm about not having messy animals in our house, suddenly decided to let me adopt a dog, and the dog we ended up getting looked a whole lot like the speckled puppy I had drawn on the paper I had tucked into the Kitchen Witch's pocket! Needless to say, I have been hooked on Kitchen Witch magic ever since.

I later discovered there was a long tradition of spell casting in our family. My grandmother enjoyed mixing up enchantments for the brokenhearted who showed up on her doorstep and she made herbal remedies for friends and neighbors. One incident, in particular, stands out in my memory.

It happened at a church picnic. As I played nearby, my grandmother and the other ladies set out the food and chatted about how much everyone looked forward to the highlight of the day—a big dance, complete with music to be provided by a popular gospel band. When the lead singer suddenly announced that she had come down with an excruciating headache and might have to cancel the show, you can imagine everyone's disappointment! A frantic search for pain relievers revealed that no one had as much as an aspirin to give the singer until my grandmother spotted a certain tree and instructed one of the boys to take a knife and remove a piece of bark from it way down low near the root. After boiling the freshly-harvested bark into a tea, my grandmother gave it to the singer with instructions to sip it slowly and imagine the pain as a fog lifting from the top of your head. The singer did, and less than an hour later she was belting out Gospel songs at the top of her lungs.

In the old days, a simple herbal remedy like the one my grandmother cooked up to save the church dance might well have landed her in a hanging tree. Thankfully, times and attitudes have changed. Every day, new discoveries are being made that prove that what we once thought of as the stuff of witchcraft actually had its basis in science. We stare for hours on end at enchanted screens where tiny actors perform endlessly for our amusement. We think nothing of traveling through the sky in silver winged vessels that once would have been described as demons. And magic