Magick and Modern Appliances

Many practitioners of magick fantasize about having a home or some room in their home designed like the stereotypical witch�s cottage or wizard�s lab.  We like to think of bundles of herbs hanging from the ceiling, countless jars of ingredients, and a cauldron sitting over a fire.  While I admit the idea has its appeal, I really do believe that if the old wise men and women of the past could give up their fifty pound cauldrons for a slow cooker and trying to boil and cook things over an open fire for a microwave or electric oven, they would in a heart beat.  Above all, I think the witches of the past were among the most practical of folk, adapting more to the resources and situations available to them rather than trying to cultivate an appearance of mystery and mysticism.

I doubt that many magical practitioners look to appliances in the modern household as facilitators of magick.  Although a tasty margarita can be a wonderful thing, few people would look at a blender and consider it a vessel for a magical spell.  We have this idea that modern electrical appliances are not �traditional,� that such modern inventions could not possibly assist us in performing spells like the shamans and kitchen witches of the past.

Well, I have to say that some of my most effective spells have involved modern appliances � they really do work.  Below, I�ve complied a list of some ways your average household appliances can prove themselves as useful for spell working as any athame, goblet, or wand.

Blender/Food Processor: When we are preparing and performing spells, we mix a lot of stuff, so it comes as no surprise that these appliances are magically useful.  For blending herbs, soft resins, magical powders, and magical oils, blenders and food processors can be so much easier and cleaner than mixing bowls and mortars and pestles.  Having the mixture contained in a lidded container keeps herbs from scattering across the counter and powders from dusting your cloths and hair.  Take care when trying to mix harder woods and resins when using these appliances, though.  

Ceiling Fan:  Ceiling fans, or any fan for that matter, are wonderful magical tools.  I use my ceiling fan in the same spirit as a set of prayer flags.  In Buddhism, prayers and images are written on to flags of specific colors so that these �spells� can be �cast� or sent out every time the wind blows through them.  I like to tape spells written on a piece of paper to the top side of fan blades to send the spell though my home.  It�s a nice, discreet way to cast spells for household prosperity and harmony.  Just remember to dust off the fan blades before you attach the spell.

Coffee Maker:  To me coffee is a magical substance, so it really seemed normal for me to begin casting my first modern appliance spells with this machine.  Coffee, as a magical herb, is associated with Mercury and Uranus.  It is great for spells involving abundance, productivity, learning, and energy.  I have also used it to act as a stimulant for other spells, in the same fashion as ginger or dragon�s blood.  My favorite coffee spell for abundance and prosperity is to add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the coffee grounds prior to brewing.  Once the coffee is done, I�ll take a small square of chocolate and inscribe on it a word associated with the spell, such as money, happiness, or abundance.  I put the piece of chocolate in the coffee and stir until it dissolves.  This is the magical way I start my day each weekend!

Electric Kettle: I use a regular kettle at home, but at work, I have an electric one for my office.  I like to make magical teas while I am at work to help me through the day.  One way I make my kettle more magical is to put a piece of quartz in it while I boil the water for tea.  You can pretty much use any quartz based stone, so long as it�s not a dyed color.  You also have to be careful for gypsum based stones, like celenite, that dissolve when exposed to water.  

Freezer/Refrigerator: One of the fastest acting spells I have ever cast involved my freezer.  The refrigerator and freezer is a wonderful tool for keeping things quiet and peaceful around the house. I have neighbors who have a tendency to play really loud music � so loud, it�s like I have the band playing in my apartment.  Normally, I try to never cast spells when I am in a bad mood, but one day, I was so fed up with the loud music, I cast this spell:  On a sheet of paper, write the work �quiet� three times while thinking the word in your head (okay , I had to shout it in my head).  Fold the paper three times, and then seal it in red wax.  Finally, toss it in the freezer.  Within five minutes of me doing this, the music was turned down, and it really hasn�t gotten too loud since then.

Garbage Disposal: The garbage disposal and the toilet are wonderful tools for banishing.  For example, let�s say that you want to eliminate a negative feeling or obstacle.  Write the name of the thing you want to banish on a piece of paper in black ink.  Standing over the sink, tear up the piece of paper while visualizing the problem leaving your life and being replaced with something positive. Turn on the water, then turn on the disposal and watch your problems get shredded and washed down the sink.

Slow Cooker: The slow cooker really is the modern cauldron. You can pretty much use it for stirring any spell, but here is an easy way to make your stews and soups more magical.  After you put in the ingredients for whatever you are making, write a work associated with your spell on a bay leaf in food coloring or vegetable oil. You may want to put in something like love, money, or happiness. If the recipe is sufficiently robust, you may get away with putting in up to three leaves.  Let the spell leaves simmer for the duration, but take them out before serving.  If you are making a dessert or something for which a bay leaf just won�t work, try writing the spell on a stick of cinnamon.  

Toilet: See garbage disposal.

Vacuum: The vacuum probably is the one modern appliance that has made its way into magical use.  Like the besom or broom, it is a tool of cleansing.  To make your daily vacuuming more magical, add herbs associated with your magical intentions to the bag.  For cleansing, try mint, dried lemon rind, lavender, or parsley. For prosperity and love, try cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and/or cloves.  Additionally, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the outside of the vacuum bag if you want your magic to be extra fragrant.

All my appliences are ran by fairies and pixie dust. lol

And a computer is a must in today's world for witchy web working. And also for computer spells for the techno pagan.  (ebay)

Honestly, I use my washing machine too as a magickal tool because when I wash our clothes I visualise all the "dirt" washing away and the clothes being imbued with a pure, white energy. Sometimes I add just a teensy-weensy pinch of dried holy basil for cleansing and cinnamon/sugar for love in a spritzer bottle and put it in the dry cycle.

My cellphone goes with me everywhere and I set up the wallpaper I have designed with the Celtic triskele and me+hubby which reminds me of everything that is important to me in life is there right with me. When I am tense I see the picture and calm down.

Really, we always argue whether science is a boon or a curse, but I think it is just what we use it for that makes it a boon or a curse. Alfred Nobel didnt make dynamite for the purpose it is being used for and the Nobel Peace Prize confirms that.

I agree, Masira.  I use my computer more than anything else in my magic work, from researching aspects of the craft, to finding info on correspondences  to housing a copy of my BOS.

The shower is a great negativity washing tool.

I like using the toilet as a banishing implement.  I read the book "the Shipping News" and there was a scene in there where a woman takes the ashes of her dead brother (who caused her no small issue in her life) and dumped them into the outhouse pit, then turned around and peed on them.  The way it was done was sort of a ritual.  I have actually used the idea with the ashes of a piece of paper with issues written on it.  

I have an electric bean grinder that I use only to grind and blend herbs for magick work.  Be it for infusions into tinctures, or to make a medicinal tea or meat rubs for magickal kitchen Witchery meals or the like.  Super easy to clean and faster processing for a busy Witch on the go like me.  

This is excelent!! I use many appliences in my workings.

A mortor and pestel are nice for some thngs. But I use a coffee bean grinder for my herbs. The one I have allows me to ajust the size of the grinds. This is great for when I have alot of herbs that are dry and ready to be placed in jars. I can get finer ground herb mixes for incense as will. Just don't but resins in it!!

Stacey this is a great peace!! I'll be adding this to my printed ODSS. Which is now 3 hugh binders!!

Thanks, Indeshadows!  I admit to beign guilty of downloading stuff from the site to take home and read (I don't have internet access).  One day, I would like to go through and print out this material as well.

I love to try and find interesting methods for spells.  It's great to hear how everyone uses the stuff around their house.  The coffee and bean grinder idea is great.

Though I have never thought of my coffee maker as a potential spell maker, I guess that it is.  I always start the day by making coffee and then as its brewing, I think or visualize all the days tasks and worries.

Hey Seamonster! You know that is an old African trick    - turning your back and peeing on the object. Witch bottles or wangas often contain pee too.

Alice27! I would ask Caffeina (the found goddess of coffee) to bring me calm and energy

It's such a nice idea to find magick in our daily lives and everything we do and make a ritual of drinking a simple cup of java.