THE CELEBRATION OF CYCLES

The Witch’s Cauldron By Adriane Campbell

The Day of the Dead, also known as Día De Los Muertos, has always been one of the most important tradition celebrations and is celebrated from October 31st–November 2nd. The Day of the Dead is ancestral and earth aligned when the veil is thinnest. It is a time to remember and connect to our deceased ancestors, guides, and loved ones. It is a time of communication and clarity. We speak to them and feel their lively energy wherever they are on the astral plane.

This is not only a day of honoring the deceased, but it is also a moment of honoring life, for time does not exist in this moment. We honor the past, the present, and the future in a full circle rotating through to the core of the Earth. We honor and celebrate the lives and memories of those who are not with us physically, allowing the magic of the thin veil to carry their messages to us. It is a celebration of both life and death.

There are so many rituals that can be done during this time. Many people select to make offerings in their home or at cemeteries to honor the dead. Many bring offerings such as food, drinks, or personal items for an opportunity to seek guidance. Some make Day of the Dead sugar skulls and mark on it the name of the one being celebrated.

The traditional flower associated with this day is the Marigold. With its sweet aroma, it engulfs the senses and opens the soul to the day of connection. Marigold allows the thinking mind to release and welcoming the experience.

With so much death, celebration, and life cycles, one of my favorite Day of the Dead rituals is a bath ritual. Bath rituals have been used for cleansing and recharging the body and aura for centuries. It is how I typically prepare myself for witchcraft and magic work.

In a ritual bath all five elements are represented. The four elements typically discussed are earth, air, water, and fire. The fifth element discussed here is yourself. It is necessary to understand the magic that you hold and the power of your intention. The energy that you hold is so powerful and is one of the main reasons why I always encourage individuals to do their own “spellwork”. In the Day of the Dead bath ritual, I also enhance the incantational brew with herbs that honor the ancestors and holiday. Herbs can infuse the magic of the celebration to your inner magic.

As we discussed previously, Marigold is an herb of the sun that I personally use on a regular basis and has very strong ties to the Day of the Dead. Being that Marigold is an herb of the sun it offers a fiery energy like the fire necromancy used on this holiday. This herb magic is warming and gently nurtures us into a livelier temperament as we enter the dark of winter. Not only is this herb used to release any negative energy, but it can also be used in commemoration magic for the deceased, as an offering to your ancestors who are no longer on this plane.

Passionflower is associated with the element of water and works to gently flow through the body for releasing. It also aids in elevating into higher consciousness which allow stagnant energies to be released harmoniously. The channel is then opening to let go of any fear or block that you are ready to release. Because of this, it assists with the release of the ego while providing more clarity and allows you to delve deeper into your own gifts that you brought with you into this lifetime. The thinking mind is lessened while your mind’s eye provides you with visions of truth. It is an excellent herb to use when communicating and connecting with those who are no longer walking this Earth. �

Day of the Dead Bath Ritual

¼ cup Calendula (Marigold)

¼ cup Passionflower

1 cup Epsom Salt

2-3 handfuls of unrefined sea salt or Himalayan crystal salt

Favorite Incense Candle(s)

Mix the above ingredients thoroughly. I do recommend putting the mixture into a large muslin bag to make the clean-up easier. Try to make sure that you will not be disturbed for at least an hour. Now cleanse your bathtub and try to avoid any cleansers with harm chemicals. Take a shower and thoroughly cleanse your body.

Begin to run your bathwater at your desired temperature and add the magical mixture to the bath so it can melt and steep. As the tub is filling carefully begin to burn your candle(s) and incense. The bath will be the element of water, the incense smoke represents air, the candle flame is fire, and the herbs you will cleanse in are of the Earth. Then your intentions and personal magic will be the fifth element. Once the bath is ready submerse yourself into the magical body of water.

At this time begin to set your intentions. Ask for the cleansing and releasing to take place and for your ancestors to come forth with any information that they wish to give you. Honor them. Think of the memories that you have and allow them to play in your mind’s eye. Speak with them. This is a personal time so simply follow your heart and be free to express and let go of what you need to release. There is no wrong way or one way to do this. It is your time. You can speak out loud or silently. This includes you!

It is recommended that you air dry when you get out of the tub and if possible do not shower or bathe for 24 hours after the ritual. Carefully extinguish your candles and discard the muslin bag or herbs. You can take some time to journal your experience and record anything that came up during this time. Now allow the rest of your experience to unfold.

Enjoy the magic of you!

Adriane

Adriane Campbell is a solitary witch who works with plant spirits and herbs, believing everyone and everything is very much alive—a single blade of grass is just as alive as we are. Adriane uses the energies of living plants to invoke their magic. She creates ceremonial items and concoctions to aid spiritual growth, and has a passion for teaching individuals how to do their own spell work as she understands the powerful magic of personal intention. She doesn’t categorize herself as a particular type of witch, but rather embraces every aspect of herself and the Craft. She welcomes everyone to free their inner witch and surf their water of truth. www.moonstonedalchemy.com | moonstonedalchemy@gmail.com