Hey, I've been looking to follow my patron into being a Hearth Witch, see how that goes. I have "Magical Housekeeping" by Tess Whitehurstand "The Magical Household" by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington to start off with, but I always think real people's experience trumps what I might expect in books.
So what do you guys have in terms of advice, where to start, what a hearth witch does, etc. I am all ears :) Book recommendations and links are fine too.
I have read Magical Housekeeping and it was a wonderful resource. There are things I do to make my space magickal and inviting.
-Plants are a must- they clean the air, and many of them are useful such as aloe vera or any herbs (you can dry the excess, many tutorials online)
-Keeping the place clean- I try to use products that are more on the natural side (e.g. infused vinegar water for all-purpose cleaning, essential oils, baking soda, lemon juice) to clean. I sweep with intent, I wash away negativity with floor washes (spells incorporated).
-Learn about the spiritual properties of ingredients and use them when you cook. You can learn by simply googling 'spiritual properties of _______'
-I incorporate a lot of wood in my home- quality wooden furniture (most second-hand), my TV sits on a wooden coffee table as opposed to a metal stand, my coasters are made of wood, I have a wooden tray I place decor items on, and I have wooden salad bowls. You can come up with all ways of bringing that to your home.
-Decorate with candles, crystals, pillows/throw blankets, etc. These things can have intent behind them whether you choose the colours of what you are trying to manifest, or crystals that correspond with what your needs are. Salt lamps are great. Unique one-of-a-kind art work is ideal rather than a print. Could even be something that speaks to you spiritually.
-Always have a well stocked tea cupboard. I always have lavender, chamomile, peppermint. Works great if you need those herbs for spells, or a tea party :).
-I like to put a bit of mystery to the place as well. I have little fairies I placed throughout my home, and a fairy tale book in the living room. I like little fairies to be around my plants. It's a little quirky for some.
-Take joy in mundane tasks because they have spirit and passion put in them. I used to hate sweeping but when I do now I am relxaed because I am getting rid of negative energies. When I dust I do the same. Mopping is a daily thing in my kitchen as well.
-Invite people over or allow your family to enjoy your labour. A lot of people really enjoy coming to my place and they cannot put their finger on it. That's how I know I have done my work.
Books
Supermarket Magick by Michael Furie
Sabbats by Edain McCoy
Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery: Everyday Magic, Spells, and Recipes Kris Bradley
The best book I've ever read on the Hearth path is "Hearth Witch: The Eight Paths of of Magic Book 1" by Anna Franklin.
I have heard her speak and she is fantastic, as far as I can tell, she was actually the first person to coin the term Hearth Witch and has written several fantastic books on the path.
