Witchcraft practice for the emergence of spring Witchcraft has long been associated with nature and the changing of seasons. While many may think of witchcraft as dark and mysterious, there are also practices that focus on the celebration and welcoming of spring. These practices aim to harness the energy of the changing season and encourage growth and renewal. One common practice for the emergence of spring is creating an altar dedicated to the season. This altar is typically adorned with symbols of spring, such as flowers, fresh herbs, and colorful eggs. It serves as a focal point for rituals and ceremonies, and can be a place to meditate or perform spells.
It serves as a focal point for rituals and ceremonies, and can be a place to meditate or perform spells. Another popular practice is the creation of a springtime ritual or spell. This can involve a variety of actions, such as lighting candles, reciting incantations, or setting intentions for the season ahead.
Witch Hazels: A Promise That Spring is on the Way
Witch hazel has a long history of medicinal use. Native Americans used the leaves and bark as a poultice or tea to reduce inflammation and fever. Today, witch hazel is used in cosmetics, and a lotion of the extract and alcohol is marketed as a first aid for abrasions and skin irritations.
Forked stems of this plant have been used as "divining rods," too. The stems are said to dip down when held over underground water, thereby locating the site of a future well, a practice known as "water witching."
Witch hazel is a genus of deciduous slow-growing small trees and shrubs native to Asia, the eastern United States and Mexico. There are five species and nearly 100 cultivars, all of which are multi-stemmed. Most are upright with broad-spreading, open canopies and have great value in lighting up an otherwise drab, dormant landscape.
Depending on the species or cultivar, they have bright yellow, apricot to orange or red flowers that last about one month. Each bloom has four wispy petals radiating outward. The petals vary in length according to species. Individual flowers may not be showy, yet because they are arranged in clusters by the hundreds along branches and twigs, their effect is mesmerizing.
Witch hazels need a chilling time below 45 degrees before they flower and may bloom earlier in a mild winter. Their flowers are adapted to winter cold, averting freeze damage by closing when temperatures drop.
They thrive in well-drained organic-rich acidic soil. They prefer partial shade but can tolerate full sun if they receive adequate water, especially during periods of drought. Plants grown in full sun will exhibit denser foliage and flower more heavily than those grown in shade.
A U.S. native, vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis), is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8 and grows along stream banks in Missouri and Arkansas. Its yellow to reddish and deeply fragrant flowers are the smallest but most profuse of all the witch hazels. Flowers bloom in January, sometimes by Christmas in mild winters. More shrubby that other species and maturing at 6 to 10 feet in height, vernal witch hazel colonizes and, with its attractive golden fall foliage, can be massed as a screen or unpruned hedge.
There are two Asian witch hazel species, both hardy in USDA Zones 5-8, that bloom in February-March. They include Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis) and Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica). Both have classic spidery witch hazel flowers, but H. mollis is the most fragrant witch hazel, while H. japonica boasts superb fall foliage.
These species have been bred with our native witch hazels to create plants that add greatly to the home landscape. In the 1940s, crosses or hybrids of the Asian species, found in Boston's Arnold Arboretum and in Europe, were classified as a separate species, Hamamelis x intermedia (USDA Zones 5-8).
Whether you're choosing a witch hazel for fragrance, floral impact or fall foliage, there are cultivars suited for each use. Cultivars have also been selected for losing their leaves before the flowers appear, one of the less desired traits of native species. Some recommended cultivars include:
'Arnold Promise': vase-shaped, with fragrant light yellow, late-winter blooms, and red and yellow fall color. Grows 15-20 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide. Introduced by the Arnold Arboretum.
'Jelena': Belgian cultivar, more horizontal in habit with early to midwinter copper-orange flowers and good orange-red fall foliage. Grows 15 feet tall and wide.
'Diane': Belgian cultivar, late winter bloom of deep red flowers fading to copper and vivid red, yellow and orange fall color. Grows 10 feet tall and wide.
'Pallida': Early flowering with soft yellow, very fragrant blooms and yellow fall color. An RHS selection, grows 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
'New Year's Gold' and 'Orange Sunrise': Both cultivars of H. vernalis that lose their leaves before they flower in the fall.
Native to the woodland understory of the eastern United States, the common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8. Its spice-scented yellow flowers begin blooming in October and November, and some cultivars bloom into March.The common witch hazel is the only Pennsylvania shrub or tree to bloom in late autumn. Often classified as a shrub because of its multiple stems, it can grow 15-20 (rarely 30) feet in height with a spreading vase shape. It is best used as a small tree in the landscape, sited in partial shade near a home or in a shrub border.
Witch hazels are perfect for a modest-sized garden and their tree-like habit allows for underplanting of choice groundcovers, bulbs and shade-loving perennials. Be sure to site them where you can enjoy their flowers from inside a warm house or up close in a part of the garden where you can appreciate their subtle beauty. Whether used as a specimen or grouped for effect, low-maintenance witch hazels are a delight in the fall and winter landscape and a promise that spring will come again.
The Easter bunny we know today may have come from German immigrants to America, who called this magic, egg-laying hare, the Osterhase or Easter Hare. The custom was first recorded in the 17th century in Germany. This is also the time that people engaged in ‘spring cleaning’ of not only their home, farms and barns, but of unwanted or outmoded attitudes or mindsets. Out with the old, in the with the new.
Witchcraft practitioners often believe that the energy of spring is particularly potent for manifesting desires and bringing about positive change. In addition to rituals and spells, many witches incorporate the use of herbs and plants into their practice for the emergence of spring. This can include creating herbal sachets or teas, using plants for smudging or purification rituals, or even planting seeds as a symbol of new beginnings. Overall, the main idea behind witchcraft practice for the emergence of spring is to harness the energy of the changing season and use it to bring about growth, renewal, and positive change. Whether through rituals, spells, or working with nature, witches aim to align themselves with the natural world and celebrate the cycle of life..
Reviews for "Embracing the Renewal of Spring: Witchcraft Spells for Positive Change"
1. Mark - 2 stars - I was really excited to try out "Witchcraft practice for the emergence of spring" as I've always been interested in learning more about witchcraft. However, I was severely disappointed. The book lacked clear instructions and guidance on how to actually practice witchcraft. It felt more like a historical account of witchcraft rather than a practical guide on how to practice it. I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Witchcraft practice for the emergence of spring" to be a complete waste of time and money. The content was poorly organized and lacked any depth or useful information. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without proper explanation or context. The exercises and rituals suggested were vague and did not provide any real guidance. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine and useful resource on witchcraft.
3. Alex - 2 stars - As someone who is relatively new to witchcraft, I was hoping that "Witchcraft practice for the emergence of spring" would provide me with a solid foundation and practical techniques. However, I found the book to be overly complicated and difficult to understand. The language used was unnecessarily complex, making it hard for a beginner like me to grasp the concepts. I was left feeling discouraged and confused rather than empowered.