The Real Witches’ Garden: Spells, Herbs, Plants and Magical Spaces Outdoors. Kate West

As you finish this last step, say:

       ‘Blessed Be.’

       Now take the water in its vessel and, holding it in both hands, say:

       ‘I call upon the Goddess and the God to bless and consecrate this water, may they nourish and care for this place, even as this water nourishes these plants.’

       Sprinkle a little onto all the plants in your space and then say:

       ‘Blessed Be.’

       Next take the wine, or fruit juice, hold it up to the Goddess and the God and say:

       ‘May the Lord and Lady bless and consecrate this wine. May they continue to guard, guide and protect me, even as they do so for the earth and all that lives upon it. Blessed Be.’

       Take a sip of the wine and pour a little on the earth. Don’t pour it too close to a growing plant, as it won’t drink fruit juice or alcohol! If you are doing this for an indoor area, you might like to take a drop or two on the tips of your fingers and just transfer it to the soil. Thank the Goddess and the God by saying:

       ‘I give thanks to the Goddess and the God for being with me. May I ever walk in their ways. Blessed Be.’

      Lastly, remain and contemplate your space, perhaps finishing the rest of the drink.

      CONTINUING CARE

      Unlike the Sacred Space described in the preceding chapter, there are no particular times when you are more likely to use your area of contemplation. It could be daily, monthly or whenever you feel the need. As a result you will not have a lunar- or calendar-driven reminder to tend it. As I use mine nearly every day, it is a simple matter to take a look around and tend to any small jobs there each time I visit it. This way there’s rarely much that needs attention. If your visits are likely to be less frequent you may need to set yourself a regular date on which to check if there are things which need tidying, watering, weeding, pruning, etc. However, in common with the Sacred Space you should always remember to call upon the Goddess and the God when working on the area, and let them guide you and aid your efforts.

      USING THE SPACE

      Having created a quiet and tranquil part of your garden there is no limit to the ways you might use it. As mentioned before it can simply be a place where you go to take a few breaths of air and to set yourself up for the day. It might be a place of refuge where you leave behind the hectic technological world, a sanctuary from TV, the phone and the computer! Mine is a place where I remind myself daily that the Goddess and the God are all around us and that the earth is the true home of the Craft. But there are other, more formal things you can do.

      Meditation and pathworking are two techniques Witches use to draw closer to the Goddess and the God, and to seek the answers to questions. Meditation is a technique of stilling the mind by focussing on a single item or concept, and a space dedicated to the Gods is an excellent place for this. Pathworking is a form of guided meditation whereby you follow a story to a deity or destination where you are given the opportunity to ask a question and receive guidance; again your area is ideal for this.

      An area dedicated to the Goddess and the God is special in its own right and, if private enough, a place to perform a self-blessing. The Rite of Self-Blessing can be performed whenever you feel tired, frustrated or just in need of a lift of the spirits. Those of you who have read my other books may already be familiar with a version of it, but for those of you who haven’t, please read on.

       Take a small bowl with some water into your area. Bless the water by drawing an invoking Pentagram