Witching Hour
musing on darkness + a fire cider recipe
What came first: lightness or darkness? In our modern western society, we typically equate darkness with the end of a cycle. Think: death, finality, the closing door. Lightness, in contrast, is seen as a new start, the beginning, or a clean slate. But this association we hold has not always been so.
In Celtic tradition, the holy days that dot the wheel of the year all commence in the evening. This was because the “start” of a day was traditionally marked by sundown, not sunrise. Many sources point to Samhain, aka modern day Halloween, as being the start of the celtic new year. Samhain is the midpoint of Autumn, and the turning point of our descent into Winter. It’s a dark time. Yet, it is from this darkness that we can have a day, a holiday, or even a new year begin. It’s a subtle shift of perspective but it makes a big impact - we begin to view darkness as the start of something new, like the darkness of the womb - fertile and mysterious. How then does that shift alter how we view the liminal spaces of life that can often feel dark and scary? After all, it’s a spiralling cycle - there is no true start or end. The light paves the way for darkness, and the dark makes way for light in the eternal dance of balance.
A few years ago my partner was trying to listen to the Otherworld podcast (a podcast of the paranormal) with me, but after one episode I shut it down, not wanting to take anything spooky into my consciousness. It’s incredibly important to be choosey with what we allow in. Sometimes our systems can’t digest certain things, and sometimes they can. I have since felt safer to explore some of the topics in that podcast and have really enjoyed diving deeper into the supernatural. I bring this up because an episode about my favourite cemetery in my little town recently dropped, which is both fun and terrifying. If you live in Victoria and want a spooky hit, here you go.
We all have some array of ghosts that haunt us from time to time - whether that be actual ghosts or ghosts from our past, traumas, unresolved emotions, etc. - and thats ok! Like the basis of taoism, we exist as both beings of light and beings of shadow. This time of year reminds me of that and presents an invitation to slow down and take a look into the dark. Because, if we refuse to look under the bed, so to speak, those things we don’t want to see will find a way to haunt us.
We were having a discussion about insomnia the other day at school, and this is where my mind went. When we lie awake at night, unable to rest, it’s really like a haunting. There is something below the surface that is bubbling up, yearning for attention. Often it’s something from our past that hasn’t fully been let go of that finds a way to grab us when the lights go out. My inclination is that these “ghosts” need to be seen in the dark. It’s the time when they are ready to be met. It’s almost like we need to get on their schedule in order to greet them and then send them on their merry way in order for us to get a sense of peace.
All that is to say, there are also times to practice boundaries and we have to be careful with what we bring into our consciousness. I’m not trying to tell you to go invoke some supernatural evils just for fun - I do believe there are times in our lives when we are susceptible to dark forces and those are the times to practice personal protection. But, if you feel ready to face something that feels scary or unknown then now might be the time to make friends with that shadow. That’s what this descent into darkness is all about - being willing to shake hands with fear. A past yoga teacher of mine loved to tell us that “fear is just excitement without breath”. I think about that all the time. In this case, we can view the “breath” as our attention. When we’re willing to take a closer look, and face something we’ve been hiding from, we’re essentially holding a candle up to it. Bringing light into the dark, which serves to disarms whatever power that darkness has over you. Sometimes things are scarier when we can’t really see them, and shadows certainly can play tricks on us.
The herbal nugget in this newsletter will be an invitation to make fire cider. For those unfamiliar, fire cider is an oxymel, which means it’s a medicinal mixture comprising of vinegar and honey. It’s a classic for this time of year as it supports our immune system and wards off sickness. It’s the perfect project to dive into to make you feel like a kitchen witch, mixing spells up in a big deep cauldron. It’s also a great time to make a batch because it will be ready just in time for Christmas if you want to give a diy gift this year. Fire cider is a personal and ever evolving combination of things. I encourage complete freedom to play, experiment, and trust your gut on the recipe. There are only a few things you truly need:
ACV
honey
A large jar or vessel for the infusing process
Time & Trust
Everything else is interchangeable and totally up to you! Just fill your jar with whatever you choose and then top with apple cider vinegar until everything is submerged. Let it then sit for ~4-8 weeks, shaking daily. Once done, strain the mixture (pro tip: save the left over vegetables & herbs for a bone broth!), and then add honey to taste. Here’s what I put in mine this year for inspiration:
garlic
red onion
ginger
orange
pomegranate
apple (cut horizontally to reveal a 5 pointed star ☆, for added witch energy)
jalapeño pepper
cinnamon
rosemary
rose hips
rose petals
hawthorn berries & one thorn (a spell for added protection)
In closing, please enjoy this new autumnal release from my dear friend, Evan Cheadle. May we all find the magic and mystery in the dark!