Cottage Witchery (4 page)

Hex signs are symbols intended to bestow good luck, wealth, or protection. These striking geometric designs were produced with the belief that they would ward off bad luck and preserve peace, love, and prosperity in the home. Families chose their hex signs based on the colors, design, and the meaning. Some popular symbols included:

tulip
: faith

stars:
five points represent protection and good luck; eight points
represent the wheel of the year

hearts
: love

a distelfink
(a stylized representation of the goldfinch): good luck and good fortune

the double rosette or six-pointed star:
for protection; this was especially well liked. This “star” actually looks more like an open flower and is sometimes referred to as a
hexefus
.

According to my teenage kids, who are all taking German in school, this word means “witch's foot.” Another fun bit of folk magick trivia is the German word for six,
sechs
, sounds like hex, and it is thought that this is how the hex sign got its name.

It's believed the hex sign originated in Europe. It has been used for protection and decoration on barns and in homes as folk art. This type of artwork was also featured on early furniture and family papers in America. When my mother-in-law gave us a copy of my husband's ancestors' papers, who had emmigrated from Germany, the family register was illustrated with six-pointed rosette-stars surrounded by circles—in other words, hex signs.

Hex signs have really become popular as a decorative item in the last few decades. There are dozens of magickal patterns and colors to choose from. The colors also play an important role in the sign. Red is for intense emotions, passion, and strength. White is for purity and is the typical background color. Yellow is for creativity and the sun. Blue is for protection, and green is for prosperity. Black is for defense and to tie all of the magick together.

Popular designs include a welcome with the two distelfinks and various pointed stars and scallops, all with separate magickal meanings. Interestingly enough, hex signs were historically thought to have warded off Witches. It's sort of ironic that many Witches today enjoy having hex signs to decorate their homes with. Sometimes magick is where you least expect it.

That's the thing about magic;

you've got to know it's still here, all around us,

or it just stays invisible for you.

Charles de Lint

A Magickal Cottage All Your Own

No matter where you live, in the city or a rural area, cottage witchery can successfully be employed to create a little enchantment in your home. But you need to be creative. For example, if you can't decorate the outside of your door, then common sense tells us to work around the inside of the doors. Are you worried that a wreath or hex sign may be stolen from your apartment's front door? Well, then, hang it on the inside! Many apartments have a deck, patio area, or even a little fire escape. Set a few pots of flowers or herbs out there; see what you can conjure up. How about a few houseplants on the windowsill? Use your imagination! Don't be afraid to take the material that is presented here and adapt it to make it uniquely your own.

Cottage witchery is about finding modern and charming ways to creatively turn the place where you live into one of comfort, happiness, beauty, and magick. Cottage witchery embraces a magickal style and atmosphere in the home that is happy, humble, and definitely hands-on. It isn't about little wood sprites that dance merrily around a cottage, snuggled into an enchanted forest.

This is real life. You
can
turn your dreams into reality, right now and wherever you happen to live. Go ahead, turn the page and let's add a few more touches of whimsical enchantment into your life and into your home.

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Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one;

stronger than magician ever spoke,

or spirit ever answered to,
in the strongest conjuration.

Charles Dickens

2

Natural Magick
All Around the Home

We've begun our cottage witchery by focusing on the heart of the magickal home and by concentrating on the enchanting entrances to your residences. Now that we are on a roll, let's take a look at how to incorporate natural magick all around the house.

Bringing the Outdoors In

The quickest way to add a bit of natural magick to your place is by bringing the outdoors in and decorating your magickal home with the warmth, beauty, and simplicity of nature. By using nature as our inspiration, we can soften the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors. You can start the transformation by adding greenery: plants in all shapes and sizes. Live plants add a healthy energy and vibration to the magickal home. Pick out something easy to care for and set the plant in a nice sunny spot. (There will be more information on magickal houseplants in chapter 6.)

To further introduce the four elements, maybe you could gather some fresh herbs like lavender, rosemary, or sage together and hang them up to dry. Their herbal aromas would invoke the element of air. What about one of those little fountain kits? The sound of running water would be great for encouraging relaxation, and you would be bringing the element of water into your house or apartment. For the element of earth, display some pretty, smooth pebbles in a wooden or ceramic bowl. If you added a few creamy-colored candles to this arrangement, you'd have all the representations of the elements on hand and in your room, ready to work magick with.

Incorporating cottage witchery into your home's décor means that you look for accent pieces that signify something special to you. Forget a slick, expensive, or modern look. And don't let yourself become overwhelmed at the thought of magickal redecorating. This is not a reality decorating show and you do have more than forty-eight hours in which to transform your home. So relax and enjoy yourself. When brainstorming for possible ideas, think of objects valued for their magickal or emotional appeal instead of how much cash you'll have to spend.

Check garage sales and flea markets. I once found a great old watering can at a flea market. I paid much less for it than I would have at an antique shop. It looks great in the living room next to the wood-burning stove. Rummage through your parents' or grandparents' attics and sheds. What time-worn pieces can you find that add a little history or subtle magick to your place?

For example, in my living room there is a large and worn antique picket fence gate hanging on the wall. Now, I will confess that I had seen this “look” in a slick gardening magazine and thought it would look great in our house, but I had no idea where I could affordably find one. I had the idea that not only would it bring a garden style into the living room but I could also enchant the gate for protection.

When I showed the magazine photo to my husband, he agreed with me that it would be a great accent piece for the room. Then he got very quiet and stared off into the distance, which frustrated me as I figured he probably wasn't paying any attention to a word I had just said.

“Got an idea,” he announced. He dropped a distracted kiss on the top of my head and told me that he'd be back later. He was out the door like a shot and I could only sit and wonder what in the world had gotten into him. About an hour later he pulled up in the driveway and called one of our teenage sons to help him unload something out of the back of the truck. Curious, I wandered outside to discover a sturdy picket fence gate. The white paint was peeling in places. It was more than a little dirty and was covered in spider webs. But underneath the grime, it had the worn look I had been dreaming of.

“Where did you find that?” I asked him.

He informed me that it had been hanging in his grandmother's shed for years, gathering dust. He checked with his folks and they didn't mind if he took it—actually I think they thought he was a little strange wanting an old, dirty gate. But one man's trash is another man's treasure. So we carried our “treasure” into the backyard, sprayed it off with a hose, and sent those spiders scrambling into the garden. Then we took a wire brush to the wood to remove any flaking paint.

Ends up the gate was built by my husband's late grandfather for his wife many years ago. We estimated the gate to be around eighty years old. Once the gate was dry, my husband made a few minor repairs and we mounted it to the living room wall. His family was amazed at how well it cleaned up. In truth, it worked out really well for everyone. I got my gate to add to the garden theme and to enchant for our family's protection, and he acquired a wonderful memento of his grandparents.

The whole thrill of junking is that
you just know the next table will have
what you've been looking for all your life.

Mary Randolph Carter

From Mundane to Magickal

If you have that “scavenger gene” and like to hunt for bargains, check out tag sales, garage sales, and local flea markets. Try a few antique stores. Check with friends and relatives, see if they have any older pieces that they want to get rid of or sell. An old sideboard or rustic table would make a great altar. How about an ornamental wooden shelf for a wall altar? Come on, use your imagination! Once you've found your treasure, take it home and, if necessary, clean it up. Then enchant the piece for good luck or to bring protection.

a protection charm to shut out negativity

Here is the protection charm that I used for our antique gate.

Covered in grime and dust, I now make you brand new,

I enchant you with protection, my need is true.

By the powers of earth, air, fire, and water,

Shut out all harm, and keep in love and laughter.

Don't be afraid to adapt this charm to suit what treasure you have found. Remember the salvaged cauldron that I mentioned in the opening of the first chapter? It was old and rusted when I found it, but it was still sound. A little steel wool, elbow grease, and a can of black rust-proof spray paint and it was as good as new. You could adapt the following charm to consecrate furniture, a shelf, or to empower an old cauldron made new for magickal purposes. Take a look at the opening line of this next charm and change it to suit the item.

a transformation charm

Place your hands on the revamped item. Picture the four natural elements of earth, air, fire, and water swirling around you in a multicolored ring and into the piece. Then repeat this charm three times:

Forgotten and dusty/rusted, I now make you brand-new.

Transform from mundane to magick, my need is true.

By the powers of earth, air, fire, and water,

I will conjure up love, good luck, health, and laughter.

If you wish, you may add this closing line:

By the powers of earth and sea,

As I will it, so must it be.

What do you have laying around your place that could be transformed into a new magickal accessory? I bet that if you dig around, you'll find something that you could personalize or freshen up. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective to add a touch of enchantment into your life.

With color one obtains an energy

that seems to stem from witchcraft.

Henri Matisse

Colorful Ideas for Adding
Magick to Your Home

Any Witch worth their broomstick knows about the power and possibilities of color magick. The fastest way to add magick all around the home is with the clever use of color. It's also the most striking and inexpensive way to change the feel of a room. Try breaking out a can of paint. Take a trip to the fabric store and choose an enchanting pattern and hue to add a little pizzazz into your rooms. Whip up some new pillows or fan out a pretty throw or afghan. Change the color of your bed linens or sew up a new duvet cover.

Freshening up your rooms with color can turn a bland, ordinary room into one with magickal personality and charm. Get inspired by a favorite print or poster on which you could base your color scheme. Neutrals are all the rage right now, and there is something to be said for introducing some natural and earthy tones into your home. Color trends may come and go, but trust your instincts.

Start with your favorite color and see where this leads you. For example, if you love green today, odds are that you'll still enjoy it years from now. If you like softer colors, then keep your shades softer and more pastel—if you have a thing for green, then you'd be looking at mint or a quiet apple green. If you like deep and dramatic tones and shades, then go for a richer, more vibrant tone of green, such as mossy green or even a forest green.

Most importantly, remember to follow your heart and your own taste. What colors are you drawn to? Which ones soothe or excite? What colors seem to complement your personality? This will give you plenty to think about for a while. And we can really take this bright idea a step further and take a look at your astrological signs and their coordinating elemental colors, because color magick isn't just for candles, you know.

the elements, astrology, and color

Take, for example, whether you are an earth sign such as a Virgo, Capricorn, or Taurus. These folks are practical and down-to-earth, organized and sensual. Earth signs love material comforts: soft, lived-in fabrics, lots of different textures, and earthy colors. Natural looking wood finishes, hardwood floors, and the texture of brickwork or stone. The deep, earthy tones of brown, bronze, copper, and green will suit you right down to the ground and help you feel that connection to nature that you crave.

If your astrological sign is a watery one such as Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, then you are a sensitive soul. Water signs are emotional, intuitive, and easily influenced by their home environment. Try creating calm and peaceful rooms with the oceanic shades of blue and sea greens, purple and indigo. These watery tones ought to alleviate stress and lift your spirits. Add bleached out or pale, whitewashed furniture and fill up a pretty glass bowl with seashells. Add a small aquarium and bring some colorful fish into the room.