Magical Missive: A Warming Potion
Warming Potion Miracles,
November gets chilly even for us in Texas so today I thought I would share with you a potion for warming and for cleansing that can also be used in cooking. (This entire month is dedicated to the magic of food and kitchen witchery in the Sacred Artists group so I thought giving you all an edible potion would be fun too)!
Some of you will recognize this as a twist on Fire Cider – an apple-cider based tonic that is made by many an herbalist during the cold months of the year and valued for its warming, cleansing, and immune-system building properties. Do take care though: Fire Cider is POTENT stuff and its taste is not what everyone would describe as good – although it is definitely pungent and effective.
Fire Cider is similar in nature to another very traditional magical potion: Four Thieves or simply Thieves Vinegar. Both are vinegar-based potions that have physical healing properties as well as magical properties of protection and Warming Potion. The connection between protection and warmth is quite ancient.
Fire has long been seen and utilized as an element that can confer protection on people, animals, and dwellings. Spicy ingredients like onions, ginger, and peppers are called for in protection rites world over and as you will see, we make use of them here as well. Using herb and spice filled vinegars to protect from both disease and evil-eye type conditions or, as my people say, bad ju-ju, dates back to at least the early Middle Ages and is no doubt even older than that. And, beyond all that this is an easy potion to make, relying on the magic that already lives in your kitchen.
Bri’s Fire Cider Recipe:
Ingredients
1 medium to large ginger root peeled
1 small yellow onion
1 small tumeric root
1 medium horseradish root
13 cloves of garlic
1 bunch fresh parsley or cilantro
3 springs of Rosemary
1 medium beet peeled
3 Chipotle peppers dried
1/2 a lemon
Instructions
Roughly chop all ingredients except for the dried peppers.
Fill a quart sized mason jar with the peppers and then all of the chopped ingredients.
Cover all ingredients with Apple Cider Vinegar.
Cover the jar with wax paper and the lid and allow to sit for at least 4 weeks.
After 4 weeks has passed strain the ingredients out of the liquid and add honey to the Fire Cide potion to taste.
How to use it:
Take a healthy sip of Fire Cider first thing in the morning either straight or diluted in warm water to keep all your innards running smoothly and to build up a healthy immune system.
If you start feeling sick, sip your Fire Cider throughout the day, little sips, all day long, until you start to feel better.
If working with Fire Cider straight up is too much for you, consider including it in condiments like ketchup or (my favorite) salad dressing.
To make a Fire Cider based salad dressing mix:
2 tablespoons of Fire cider
1 teaspoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of whole grain mustard
black pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients, add a bit of maple syrup or more honey if you like and use as a salad dressing.
My hope is that your Fire Cider potion making will keep you and yours warm, healthy, and safe throughout the season!
Love and Magic,
Bri