How glorious is it, at that very first moment, when fall shows up at your doorstep? You know that feeling. The rush of crisp air, out of nowhere, greeting you with a hello that is somehow both enthusiastic and seductive. It’s bright and bold and yet has a deeper layer of come-hither invitation, beckoning you outdoors, where a gleeful shiver of excitement begins tickling your spine as the stirring wind whispers golden secrets in your ear and toys with your hair. That feeling. The one we wait for all year long.

Twirling in the joy of being outdoors now, so scented, colorful … it’s entirely exuberant. And then, a second gift: the rush of comfort when you arrive home after that premiere encounter with autumn. Ahhh. The candlelit coziness of a warm lair that beckons a bit of rest, with all the quiet comforts of your enchanted home. What better environment for your fall beauty rituals, to restore and rejuvenate? After all, summer was quite the blast! But we have some repairs to do, no? A bit of sun-parched skin sloughing, a dreamy soak, and some feeding of the skin—and the soul—is in order.

Our Triple Goddess of Beauty in this pumpkin-spiced season are the harvest darlings hazelnut, date, and apple. I’m mad about this trio together for so many reasons! Our star hazelnut is really quite overlooked in beauty, but is so potent. These pretty little solar orbs are packed with flavor and rich in vitamin E, making them effective both topically and internally for firm, glowing, hydrated skin. They also allow us to tap into higher wisdom and creativity. And then there is our delightful date. Presented as offerings to both the gods and the departed, dates are tokens of strength and spirituality. They make excellent low-glycemic natural sweeteners rich in vitamins and minerals, and support fresh skin with antioxidants. When used directly on the skin, dates impart a plush softness and sheen. And then, there is our classic apple. She is a daily ritual in my world, as a sacred symbol of both Freya and Aphrodite. Apples are abundant, classically autumnal, and Venus-ruled bringers of love, health, and peace. In ancient Egypt they were believed to bestow the gift of eternal youth upon the gods, and I cannot argue this. These lush ladies provide vitamins A, B, and C, as well as UV protection, and they help rebuild cells, reduce wrinkles, and keep you vibrant from head to toe. So you see, we have a divine trio on our side! Joining them are a few more fall luxuries: the buttery almond, so wise and wealthy. Rich in more of that skin-loving healer vitamin E, almonds help repair fine lines while bestowing beautifying fats. Then there is sweet maple, another low-glycemic, mineral-rich sweetener that also reduces inflammation in sensitive skin, banishes blemishes, and hydrates. The magic of the sacred tree is of course present, with love and money magic enhanced by Jupiter. Our season is topped off by none other than … who else? Pumpkin! The seeds, that is. These are my seasonal secret weapon! Rich in zinc, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E, these little darlings actually help skin repair its collagen, and they are excellent for acne and other inflammatory conditions, like psoriasis and eczema. They encourage cellular renewal, protect against damage, keep skin firm, and even promote hair growth.

Conjure these for your next ritual, bringing forth all the magic of autumn at fall equinox, Samhain, or how about that flirty Libra new moon? I see you soaking by candlelight, potions on, and delicately nibbling a sweet treat. Are you ready, mes amours? Now, to prepare for all this gorgeousness, you’ll want to make a petite potion base: a sweet and luscious apple-date paste, ripe with precious nutrients and delivered in a creamy, sensual swirl of autumnal joy. Begin by warming ⅓ cup of unsweetened almond milk in a saucepan. Place 8 pitted dates in a shallow bowl, then gently pour the warmed milk over them, and soak for 20 minutes. You may wish to press the dates down into the milk with the back of a spoon to completely submerge them. Pour the mixture into a food processor and add ¼ cup of finely chopped red apple. Pulse it all until it is smooth. If needed, add a small amount of almond milk to create a creamy texture. You’ll be dividing it equally between the facial and exfoliant recipes below. Both topical potions go on so gently that you might mistake them for being inactive … but oh no—they’re softly powerful! Though I must warn you, they’re so fabulously ripe with harvest goodness that they cannot contain themselves—literally. By this, mignonettes, I mean that they are rather … juicy. They’re not neat and tidy to use but rather an earthy, highly sensual experience. And like all good romps, they require a bit of cleanup, so do give your sink and bath a good rinse afterward. Totally worth it. You’ll glow as if you’d just had an entirely different sort of ritual …

Le Bois Sauvage

Facial Exfoliant and Masque Conjures 2 to 4 treatments

1 tablespoon apple-date paste
(or half of what was made with the recipe above)
2 tablespoons hazelnut flour
1 teaspoon almond oil

This could not be simpler! In a pretty bowl, combine half your apple-date paste with the hazelnut flour and almond oil. Mix together in a clockwise motion until blended. Apply to dry skin in a thin layer, and massage in circular motions to lift away old cells and get circulation going in your skin. Next, apply a second layer, as thick as you can manage—it goes on like a gommage—and allow that to rest on your face for at least 10 minutes, though I leave it on longer for maximum benefits. Remove with a damp cloth, followed by a thorough rinse with cool water. Pat dry. You can follow with your beauty oil of choice here, though you will not need much, if any. A refreshed, relaxed radiance awaits!

Beauty Witch Secret: This recipe makes more than you think, but it actually freezes well, so by all means save it for your next seasonal beauty ritual!

L’ Offrande Body

Exfoliant Conjures 2 treatments

1 tablespoon apple-date paste
(or half of what was made with the recipe above)
½ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup almond oil
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Another potion that’s almost too simple to conjure! Take the remaining apple-date paste and combine it with the coconut sugar and almond oil. Add the cinnamon if you like—yes, it is active, though not irritating, as the ratio of soothing ingredients here is high. If you have highly sensitive skin, though, please test it first. You may wish to add more coconut sugar, making it thicker and more crumbly, depending on the texture you desire. (As is, the potion is fairly oily, but I actually love it this way! The glow on my skin after rinsing is divine.) When you’re ready to use it, apply in circular motions neck to toes, massaging and raking your fingers toward the heart. Rinse and pat dry.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding cinnamon here is a little sorcery to rev circulation, add a sexy scent, and fortify with fire magic. Try it!

Doux Délice

Beauty Bite Conjures 12 pieces

1 cup hazelnuts
⅓ cup slivered raw almonds
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
½ cup apple, chopped
½ tablespoon cinnamon
¼ cup maple syrup
10 pitted dates
1.5 ounces dark chocolate (optional)

Note: This recipe makes half a baking sheet; double it for a full sheet. These are madly delicious!

Combine hazelnuts, apple, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon in a food processor, and pulse until the hazelnuts are coarsely ground and the mixture holds together when pressed with your fingertips. Transfer to a mixing bowl and fold in the pumpkin seeds and almonds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then press down the mixture with your fingers, creating
a thin, even layer. You can clean up the edges by evening them with a butter knife.

Now, this bit is up to you, but why ever not? Take 1.5 ounces of a high-quality dark chocolate bar—go for 70% pure cacao at least—and give the recipe a bit more pizzazz! Simply break the bar into small pieces, toss it into a saucepan, and melt it on a low flame until you get a syrupy ganache, or about 5 to 7 minutes. It’s important not to overcook. Just get it to a place where you can spoon it into a nice drizzle lightly over the top of the nut mixture. It will get messy, but who cares? It will taste extra amazing. (My fave chocolate bars are Lily’s and Hu, both fairly easily found and with vegan and sugar-free versions, which are delish!) At this point, you have two options: You can pop it in the freezer for a good two hours to solidify, which will keep the recipe raw, or you can bake it at 350°F for 25 minutes. I opted for the raw version, and it’s absolutely heavenly, but … fragile. It breaks. It crumbles. It flat-out refuses to pose prettily in photos.

So, your call. If you bake it, you’ll get more of a chewy-crunchy granola bar texture that may be easier to deal with. If you decide to enjoy it raw, slice it into squares or triangles after it comes out of the freezer. If you’re baking it, slice it before it goes into the oven. Both versions freeze well and will last several weeks, but I highly doubt there will be any need—this delightful, beautifying treat is just too good.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding the chocolate here (especially a good, clean cacao bar) amps up the potency and fire power with strength, passion, and charm!

When the heat of summer casts her voluptuous spell of brilliant light, we are bathed in golden riches of outstretched solar waves, radiating with an almost ferocious intensity. But what is intrinsically a time of immense cosmic power can be received as an overpowering force— perhaps all this sunshine is too much for some, who prefer the cool and quiet dark of a late midsummer night to conjure their desires. Yet these long days are the peak of vitality, abundance, and celebration. What if, instead of wilting in the heat, we chose to see things from another perspective? Better yet, to feel from a different level, one that allows us to elevate above the clouds, entwine with the flowers, and float between the worlds?

The other “light” of summer is air, mes chérs. Though the elemental reign of fire holds court, it is the wind which carries a luscious breeze through our collective spirit. Air is ruled by Mercury, that charming chatterbox that opens doors … why not let him open our minds right now, weaving a spider’s web of thoughts through our daydreams? Dare to imagine conjuring spun-silk masterpieces, creating the architecture of your wildest desires.

My offerings to you this season are a pink chiffon facial, a

perfumed hair mist, and a whipped cream cocktail—all designed to inspire flights of fancy! I see you twirling, spinning, and dancing with soft delirium, feathery light as the gossamer wings of a creature only you can imagine.

And because day turns to night (as it should), one dazzling star shines here: the fetchingly fragrant, slightly mysterious plumeria. Plumeria, or frangipani, has long been revered as a Venusian flower of love, with an intoxicating scent that seems to effortlessly call forth beauty magic with the ample charms of its regent. Plumeria simply adores your skin! It has a unique ability to bind cells together, providing structure to them, which translates to lifting and firming the skin. It also softens, balances oil, and stimulates the oh-so-important cellular growth, all while soothing and healing a parched, sun-kissed visage. A naturally potent aphrodisiac, plumeria’s perfume also soothes, calms, and reduces stress to aid beauty sleep. When added to the cauldron for hair care, it strengthens follicles, promotes hair growth, hydrates, and provides UV protection.

Concoct and adore these under the precious new moons of summer, on any gentle Sunday, or whenever your secret stories beckon …

Rêve Crémeux Beauty Cocktail

Conjures 2 to 4 cocktails
½ cup fresh plum, chopped
½ cup fresh raspberries
¼ cup coconut milk
Squeeze of tangerine
Champagne or soda water

Pop the raspberries and plum into a high-speed blender, add the coconut milk, and blend until completely smooth and creamy. (Note that vortex-style blenders will always work best with all produce, eliminating the chunky bits and odd particles!) Pour into a cocktail shaker, add a squeeze of tangerine to taste, ice if you like, then shake until blended. Pour into gorgeous cocktail glasses, filling only halfway up. Add the champagne or soda, then top with a dollop of coconut cream. Raise your glass to all good things coming to fruition in these sun-soaked days of summer! This drink is a delight of silky, creamy, whipped delirium infused with a bright fruit flavor that’s both decadent and light. Santé!

Tangerine Fiery and protective tangerine supports collagen production and cellular renewal while bringing forth love and prosperity.

Champagne The “wine of kings” is actually quite the beauty secret—and my personal favorite libation! Loaded with antioxidants, celebratory champagne helps promote even skin tone and cleanses with natural antibacterial powers.

Beauty Witch Secret: Oh yes, it does make a smashing smoothie, too … just omit all things bubbly. You can do wonders with this: Add a cold herbal tea, a banana, a few spoonfuls of cooked quinoa, cacao nibs … the sunny, starry sky is the limit!

Mousseline Rose

Facial

Facial Conjures approximately 3 treatments
1 8-ounce can organic coconut milk, chilled
1 tablespoon rose water
3 tablespoons almond flour, finely ground
3 fresh raspberries

Plan ahead by placing t

refrigerator for about an hour. This will allow the solid cream to separate from the liquid. Spoon the cream into a large bowl, and set aside the liquid for later. In a separate bowl, combine two tablespoons only of the coconut cream with the almond flour and rose water. Drop in the raspberries. Then, using a hand mixer or immersion (or “stick”) blender, pulse until you have a fluffy, whipped consistency. Add more almond flour to reach a desired texture, if needed. Fold in the plumeria, inviting her beauty to your ritual soirée.

Massage in a circular motion onto clean skin to remove the dulling surface layer of cells, then let the masque set for 10 to 20 minutes. Breathe in the sensuous aroma and decadent touch of this blend. Rinse well with cool water, pat dry. Your skin will be glowing and your spirit uplifted!

You can spoon the remainder into an airtight jar and keep refrigerated until you are ready to use.

Coconut Ruled by the moon and water, coconut

heightens your intuition and psychic abilities as it provides beauty fats for supple skin. Its creamy, soft consistency adds sensual richness to your potions.

Rose Though the rose appears delicate, it’s actually one of the oldest symbols of strength. A flower of Venus and sacred to both Freya and Hathor, it’s been revered for its beauty magic, as well as its love, luck, divination, healing, protection, and psychic enhancement abilities. Rose is active yet soothing, targeting fine lines and wrinkles with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Raspberry Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, raspberry prevents the destruction of skin cells, wards off premature aging, and helps maintain water balance in skin. It is healing to eczema and psoriasis, and protects against UV damage. Ruled by Venus and water, it brings forth happiness, love, and protection.

Almond Rich in calcium and vitamin E, almond milk is beautifying and strengthening, with added magic of money, luck, and healing. As a very gentle exfoliant, it sloughs away dead skin without irritation. Ruled by air, it gives potions a lightness of energy surrounding the intellect, reminding you to ease up on the kind of worrying that wreaks havoc on your face.

Beauty Witch Secret: If you have any coconut cream or milk left over, enjoy! Splash them into a warm bath, add several drops of plumeria, apply your potions, pour your cocktail … and lose yourself in a spellbound spa!

Plumes Parfumées

Scented Hair Mist Conjures approximately 2 ounces
1½ ounces rose water
3 drops raspberry seed oil
3 drops sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
6 drops plumeria essential oil

This is almost too simple! Just combine all ingredients in a glass sprayer bottle—though it must be a pretty one—and blend by shaking vigorously to blend the aloe into the potion. Give it the magic touch with a final clockwise swirl, cap it, and mist your dry or damp hair whenever you like! A light coating is all you need to detangle, hydrate, calm frizz, protect from UV damage, and impart celestial shine. This works well on all hair textures and is light enough for fine hair.

Beauty Witch Secret: This little mystical mist can refresh and illuminate sleepy strands, so do pop one in your bag for whenever you need a lift. Psst: It does double duty as a body mist!

Aloe Known as the “medicine plant,” lunar aloe carries the magic of protection and luck. It contains anti-inflammatory hormones, which have a firming, depuffing effect on the skin.

In the damp thickets of spring’s newly naked earth, a supersonic network of sorcery whispers its ancient odes, as strange and beautiful contours begin to appear—from tiny white fairy rings to wild-hued mini monoliths—and one of nature’s most powerful offerings comes out to play: the magical, mysterious mushroom.

These bewitching oddities hold us in their sway, inspiring both adoration and fear for the potency they bring. Like most magical things, they can heal as well as harm.

Tripped-out surrealistic wanderings and plant medicine aside, what role do mushrooms play in beauty? I’m so glad you asked. Get ready for the latest addition to your beauty rituals: Here come the fabulous fungi …

Adaptogen mushrooms have been pillars of the holistic world for many moons and have become trendy beauty buzzwords of late, but that’s because these treasures hold intense regenerative powers, mes amours. They’re the very essence of spring renewal, youthful vitality, and longevity, as they amplify your beauty magnetism head to toe, inside and out, by accelerating cellular turnover, managing stress, and strengthening the immune system. Whereas herbs require use in cycles to be effective, adaptogens can be taken daily and long-term, because they act in a manner similar to a thermostat: When you have too little or too much, they adjust accordingly. Internally, this translates to lowered stress and quelled anxiety (adieu, fine lines!), better beauty sleep, and a sharper (sexier) brain. And speaking of sexy, adding mmm-mm mycelium to your rituals amps up your drive and your pleasure.

Now when it comes to anointing your heavenly body with champignons charmants, the starry sky is the limit! All mushrooms contain polysaccharides, which keep skin hydrated and retain that moisture by protecting your natural skin barrier. This prevents the dryness that causes and intensifies fine lines and wrinkles. Pair that with mushrooms’ other superpowers, and you’ve got one seriously impressive new cohort.

In all my years (centuries?) of including mushrooms among my retinue of wellness advisers, I have come to simplify things out

of necessity in a madly busy life—and here I pass along one of my absolute favorite things to keep on hand: a powdered blend of medicinal, adaptogen mushrooms that hits all the notes. It takes the hassle (not to mention the expense) out of stockpiling a million different things and the tedium out of measuring minuscule bits of ingredients to create what I need. Though there are many varieties of mushroom delights and all contain potent antioxidants, I like using a combination of these rock stars:

Chaga

Chaga strengthens the immune system, stabilizes blood pressure and blood sugar, aids digestion, and boasts impressive antioxidant properties, all wrapped up in UV protection. It can prevent early signs of aging such as dullness, wrinkles, and sagging, since it repairs cells and can reduce the existing signs of damage. Plus, it helps hair growth.

Lion’s Mane

Though it’s known primarily for supporting cognitive function, brain health, and memory, it also increases collagen and elastin production. And as its name suggests, this dandy stimulates hair follicles for gorgeous growth.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps provides long-lasting, stable energy, plus increased stamina, endurance, and sexual vitality. Mushrooms in this genus also keep skin energized and glowing by stimulating blood flow and increasing hydration, collagen, and elastin production. And they soothe and heal redness and other skin irritations, nourish the scalp, and promote hair growth.

Reishi

Ravishing reishi relieves stress and promotes restful beauty sleep. Deeply hydrating and detoxifying, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits help fight against premature aging, redness, irritation, and damage. It helps your body synthesize ceramide, which makes up the protective layer of your skin, plus it promotes elasticity, fades scarring, and reduces hair loss.

Turkey Tail

This treasure gives a potent immune boost and aids gorgeousness with prebiotics and healthy digestion, resulting in a healthy glow. Turkey tail also manages stress, enhances mood, and supports emotional wellbeing.

Shiitake

These babies are prized for their ability to protect your immune system and keep you healthy. Their blend of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory magic helps prevent the breakdown of cells, protect skin from harmful bacteria, aid in recovery, reduce redness, and depuff. Shiitake promotes overall balanced, brightened, and calm skin.

For a sourcing reference, I’ve been sticking with Om Master Blend Mushroom Powder, an organic combination of ten mushroom species plus my beloved super adaptogen, ashwagandha (an evergreen shrub). It is easily found online, in health food shops, and even some groceries.

So, mignonettes, gather your goodies and prepare to conjure seductive sorcery! I love concocting these potions beneath the first brand new moon of spring to draw in the season and set the vibration high for the months ahead. Whatever you’ve been hatching over the winter now has wings … so allow your wishes to soar through the skies of the new astrological year and bring your heart’s desire straight to you. You’ll be ready—and more gorgeous and full of life than the world can even handle.

AWAKEN THE SENSES

Facial

Conjures 1 to 2 treatments

1 teaspoon mushroom blend powder (such as Om Master Blend)
2 tablespoons oat flour
¼ cup chia seed oil
¼ cup almond milk

In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until well blended, adding more almond milk as needed to reach a desired consistency. (I like it best when it’s somewhere between a mousse and melty ice cream.) Apply to a cleansed face in a circular motion, lifting away dead skin cells and revving circulation.

Apply a second layer—don’t forget the neck, décolleté, and even the backs of your hands—and allow it to set while you lounge about. Let it work its magic for 10 to 20 minutes, then remove with a warm, wet face cloth. Rinse well. Pat dry and follow with your best beauty oils and sunscreen if you’re headed outside.

This one has the most delicious scent! Its creamy texture feels entirely decadent to apply, and, oh, the results—firmed, lifted, smooth, and glowing!

Joining our marvelous mycelium, of course, are a few other divine friends:

Oat

Venusian oats contain not only her beauty magic but a generous dollop of abundance as well. Ground into flour, oats provide a gentle yet thorough manual exfoliation while soothing and calming skin. Oats are also humectant, drawing moisture into skin.

Chia

Rich in omega-3 oils, chia is a powerhouse moisturizer for even very dry and irritated skin, quenching it and healing seasonal shifts to your visage.

I love it for coming out of the cold, harsh months and reviving your whole body!

Almond

In its creamy form as a dairy alternative with a high nutrient content, almond is rich in calcium and vitamin E. Beautifying and strengthening, it carries added magic for money, luck, and healing.

Beauty Witch Secret: Speaking of best beauty oils, did you know that my Bouclier de Freya contains mushroom peptides? Oh yes. The best. And did you know that adding a few drops of her to your masque will amp up the results amazingly? Oui.

FOCUS POCUS LATTE

Beauty Brew
Conjures 2 servings

1 teaspoon loose chai tea blend
1 teaspoon mushroom blend powder 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder
1½ cups spring water
½ cup almond milk

Begin by heating the water to a near boil. While it heats, add the chai tea, mushroom blend, and cacao to a French press or heat-safe container. Add the hot water, stir, and allow the blend to steep for 3 to 5 minutes while you warm the almond milk. Press or strain the brew, then pour into the warmed milk. (Got a frother? Fantastic! Froth the milk first.)

Add a bit of non-refined sweetener if desired, such as maple syrup, stevia, pure monkfruit, or coconut nectar. Sip it slowly, drinking in the magic. Visualize and feel your desires—the fire in the blend will help you to get them out into the world.

A version of this concoction appears in my book, The Beauty Witch’s Secrets, and I love it as a creamy latte. It gives energy and mental clarity, sans the jitters of coffee … though if you wish to add coffee into the mix, feel free—you’ll need way less and you’ll still feel sated.

On its own, it has an amazing ability to balance, energize, and brighten your mood. It also staves off the mid-morning or afternoon cravings for something carbs-y and sugary, which do not do your beauty any justice whatsoever. Instead, this brew makes you feel so good, your body naturally relaxes into a feline state, and your face lights up!

Chai

Spicy chai tea in its pure form (not the commercial sugary blend) increases circulation for glowing skin, and it contains antioxidants to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It holds the magic of fire.

Cacao

High in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, fiery cacao is a superior beauty food blessed with the enchantments of a mood-elevating aphrodisiac. This love food increases blood flow and serotonin levels, enhancing mood and stirring sexual desire.

Beauty Witch Secret: I just adore adding seasonal treats to my brew— do try it! Cinnamon, cloves, chili pepper, lavender, rose, saffron … I could go on forever. See what you’re drawn to. Chances are, it’s what you need.

NOUVELLE PEAU

Body Oil
Conjures approximately 3 ounces 2½ ounces chia seed oil

1 teaspoon mushroom blend powder
1 teaspoon carrot seed oil or extract
6 drops jasmine oil

Fetch a stunning potion bottle, one with a good stopper, and let the conjuring begin! Carefully pour the chia seed oil into the vessel (I use a mini funnel), then add the mushroom powder. Give it a good swirl to combine. If you can get something very thin in there to mix it, like a toothpick or a straw, that will help. Next, add in the carrot seed extract and the jasmine, and give it another swirl. Let the mixture rest overnight in the energy of the new moon, then allow it to greet the first rays of morning light. I love adding a few crystals and flowers for even more beauty magic. (Here, I’ve used citrine and dried jasmine buds.) For extra potency, let your mixture steep until the full moon, then use it liberally all over your body. If you simply cannot wait, use it right away.

As long as the mushroom powder has dissolved, it will be ready to go!

Glide it along your flesh for a deliriously sensual experience of pure beauty.

Carrot Seed

Fiery carrots are lusty bringers of sexual desire. Mars-ruled, they contain active age-delay properties. The seed oil provides a natural sunscreen, is loaded with antioxidants, and amps up circulation, which gives the skin a healthy glow.

Jasmine

Called the Queen of the Night, sensual jasmine is an intoxicating aphrodisiac that knows a thing or two about beauty. Yielding a brilliant oil for reducing fine lines and strengthening skin’s elasticity, jasmine also helps fade scars and hyperpigmentation.

Beauty Witch Secret: If you can get your paws on it, carrot root oil or extract is full of vitamin A and does wonders as a natural retinol.

With winter’s fist icy breath comes a sensual exhale of stillness. Amid the swirl of sparkle that heralds the holiday season, the possibilities are endless, really, for stress to wind up tight and let loose on our heavenly bodies—if we let it. Those external lashings are always available to us, should we choose to be vulnerable … but why would we? Let’s reclaim our power now, shall we, before things get ridiculous. Remember that subtle little breath of quiet that you first felt as the skies darkened and the air turned frosty? That’s what we want. Oh, but how to get there, when the outside world is absolutely spinning round and overstimulation gets the best of us? Toss in some emotional balderdash and we’re done for, no? Not on my watch. Once again, beauty rituals to the rescue!

Thoughts of the Renaissance, for me, instantly crystalize into one sublime visual: Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. The iconic image of our beloved girly goddess forever in our hearts and minds, fresh and new, full of grace and feminine allure. You can bet she’s not concerned about all the little nonsenses that annoy others. She’s a goddess, after all. And when you really look at them, most things in the day-to-day theater of life are actually … nonsense. Let them all fall away, then. Reclaim your magic. And do it with a Mona Lisa smile.

The true beauty of winter lies in her duality: She’s a season of spirit, of rest and renewal, and yet she’s also a time of planning.

I always speak of this, but how often do we truly use these immense—albeit understated—cosmic gifts? Think Renaissance. Rebirth.

We go underground early on, the way our lovely Persephone does, to heal and hide a bit, though we do it with Venusian charms. Bathing and anointing our sacred flesh with treasures of the earth and sea, feeding our beauty from within, all in sorceress style, with love and languor—this is what gets us through the long winter and the holiday hoopla with élan, mes amis! This is what makes for some seriously potent practical magic. Put beauty rituals into practice, have potions at the ready, and you are golden, I promise.

Now, once you fully embrace your inner Aphrodite, take those Capricorn vibes by the literal horns and create a plan for your rebirth out into the world. Spring will make her entrance before you know it, so get it together now. Blend that goddess glam with action and draft focused blueprints for the future. Then you’ll have the magic combo for making them real!

And when you feel uncertain, just close your eyes and see her:

The Birth of Venus.

She never fails to inspire.

And so we arrive at our winter potions, with the divine inspiration that whispered to me. “Spiced roses,” she cooed. Mmm. Merci, ma déesse.

These delights begin with a voluptuous blending of classic winter spices with delicate petals of Venus, which then mingle with a few plant-powered classics. The result? A delicious trio of treats to restore and beautify you inside and out. (Oh, and the gifts of clove will help guide you through that Jupiter retrograde this winter!)

Huile D’Amour
Body Oil

Conjures approximately three ounces
2½ ounces pure avocado oil
2 heaping tablespoons fresh or dried rose petals
1 slice persimmon, fresh or dried
3 strawberries
1 stick cinnamon
6 whole cloves
2 cardamom pods
6 drops rose absolute

At the new moon, place the fruits and spices in a gorgeous bottle. Gently pour the oil into the bottle, covering the mixture. Add the rose absolute. Place the stopper on the bottle, and allow the magic to happen overnight. The next day or evening, inhale the scent and massage liberally onto your skin. You can strain the potion if you like, of course. I prefer to keep it as is, simply for the beauty and intensity. If you’re using fresh fruit, you may wish to remove the pieces after a few days—the oil should preserve it, but it’s best to check on it to ensure it all stays fresh. If you have sensitive skin, test first, but the whole spices are actually quite gentle and not intense like an essential oil would be, so you receive all the benefits and magic without irritation.

Avocado
Rich and sensual, avocado oil has long been associated with beauty and love magic. Ripe with good fats, this Venusian gem is an excellent moisturizer high in vitamin E, fighting the signs of aging and feeding your skin while soothing inflammation and breakouts. It’s also a noted aphrodisiac.

Rose
Though the rose appears delicate, it’s actually one of the oldest symbols of strength. A flower of Venus and sacred to both Freya and Hathor, it’s been revered for its beauty magic, as well as its love, luck, divination, healing, protection, and psychic enhancement abilities. Rose is active yet soothing, targeting fine lines and wrinkles with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Rosehip
Rosehips contain high levels of vitamin C, stimulating new collagen and repairing skin while protecting against UV damage, making them a fabulous choice for elixirs as well as skin care. They possess all the magic of the rose itself but have a little extra charge of sexuality.

Persimmon
Venus-ruled, these plump fruits increase collagen and elastin production, ease fine lines, tighten, brighten, and give a spellbinding glow. They’re ruled by water and carry enhanced protection magic as well as that radiant energy of happiness.

Strawberry
This gorgeous offering of Venus brings you glowing skin! It balances, nourishes, and fortifies with abundant vitamin C, well known for its collagen production prowess. And strawberries are pure pleasure in every way, including the love and beauty magic they’re known for.

Cinnamon
Amorous cinnamon ignites the fires of both love and money, while cleansing and increasing circulation to both your skin and scalp. The increased blood flow brings life to the skin for a glowing radiance; for hair, it stimulates new growth. Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, blood-sugar-lowering, and warming properties to strengthen and beautify from the inside out.

Clove
Decadently spicy, Jupiter-ruled clove oil kills bacteria and clarifies skin while conjuring love, money, and protection magic.

Cardamom
Sensual and warm, zesty cardamom boosts circulation, contains potent antioxidants, helps with weight loss and maintenance, quells anxiety, fights disease, treats skin allergies, and improves the complexion. It’s a gift of Venus, infused with the magic of love, lust, beauty, and protection.

Beauty Witch Secret: Add a splash of Huile d’amour into your bath for an even more indulgent ritual.

Bain d’Venus
Bath & Exfoliant

Conjures 2 treatments
1 cup pure sea salt (Celtic or Sel La Mer are the best; look for the gray color) ¼ to ⅓ cup Huile d’amour body oil
1 teaspoon dried rose petals (optional)

This could not be easier. Mix your divine body oil into the salt, give it a good clockwise stir, and you’re ready to go. Massage onto damp skin using circular motions then sweeping strokes toward the heart. Rinse and pat dry. Even better? Sink down into a bath and relax. Your skin will be soft and slinky, so no need for additional moisture … however, another light stroke of Huile d’amour never hurt anyone…

Beauty Witch Secret: Add a pinch of sel la fleur, a decadent salt with an indulgent, violet flavor used in cooking. Here, it’s a little extra sprinkle of magic, as violets are ruled by Venus. It’s said that if you pick the first violet of spring, your wish will be granted. So add that to your plans, yes?

Spiced Roses
Brew Conjures two servings

1½ cups water
1 teaspoon rose petals
1 teaspoon rose hips
3 cardamom pods
3 strawberries
3 slices fresh persimmon Another delightfully simple concoction!

In a small cauldron (also known as a saucepan) place all ingredients together. Heat on a low flame, allowing the brew to simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off heat, and let the brew rest for 5 minutes. Strain and sip. It is absolutely delish! The fruits impart a gorgeous sweetness alone, but feel free to add sweetener if you desire—just use a low-glycemic variety. I like raw coconut nectar paired with fruit the best, as it has a lovely taste and is mineral rich. Drink your magic!

Beauty Witch Secret: This brew is fabulous on its own, warm or cold. It’s a sexy yet restorative blend that literally brings you back to life … but … you could also create a foxy cocktail by adding wine—red for solar power, white for lunar. Better yet, try a blend, no? Make a magical rosé!

In the autumn dusk, as she moves through the garden of sensory delights, a distinctively familiar pleasure stirs. The newly crisp air is whispering of treasures to be found, spells to be cast. With the velvet green beneath her feet gone, there is a soft yet firm earth revealed in the coolness that rises to touch her skin. Should she don her cloak? Her boots? No, not yet. She greets the coming darkness with her limbs free, her flesh bared, to revel in this most delicious invitation that nature has extended. With night-blooming flowers encircling her path and the sounds of twilight creatures rustling, she is enchanted by the sheer sorcery of it all—the fleetingly fantastic magic of right now.

Fall arrives exactly when she means to. She appears resplendent in the lush abundance that summer so graciously offered, with a sparkle in her eye and a divine plan for the new season. She readies us, really, for manifesting wishes and dreams, creating riches in all areas of life, and embracing the turning of the wheel as we replenish and fortify our beauty. Carrying the Virgo thirst for wellness with her, she dances easily into Libra, anointed with the perfumed air of Venus herself. Here she really works her magic—and insists we join her! As such, I have conjured a few absolutely stunning potions for you to lavish upon yourself from head to toe and, as always, from inside out. Embrace this potent energy, mes chères, and turn up your starlight! You do want to slink into Scorpio at your most alluring, yes? Not to mention our glorious Samhain!

Our superstars for autumn are just beyond gorgeous: Venusian apple takes center stage because of her beloved place in fall faves and her immense beauty benefits. Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate both mature and acne-prone skin brilliantly, apple helps shed dull dead skin to reveal a fresh new layer. It is also high in nutrients and antioxidants, crucial to maintaining youthful skin and a dewy glow both topically and internally. Lusty vanilla appears in many of my conjurings for her unique gifts: Rich in copper, the fruits of this sacred vine help promote collagen and elastin production. It soothes, protects from environmental stresses, and carries an enchanted scent with a warm sweetness. Nutmeg is here for more autumnal bliss and some major additions to your allure; I always feel this potent little spice gets overlooked. Fiery and ruled by lucky Jupiter, nutmeg prevents hair loss and encourages new growth while keeping tresses shiny. Antibacterial and antimicrobial, it also works wonders on oily skin, imparts a healthy glow, and even fights wrinkles. It is also highly valued for its ability to open up our psychic awareness—an extra boost now as the veil thins!

Joining our Triple Goddess of Beauty this season are a few more ultra- glam guests: Earthly, divinely sexy oak moss brings faerie chic bathed in forest magic, with a depth of richness and solar gifts of vitality, protection, luck, healing, and money. My beloved sunflower bestows exuberant

life force and creation energy as he grants wisdom, joy, and good health. Rich in linoleic acid, it helps build and maintain a healthy skin barrier, since ours thins as we age. This light, non-clogging oil contains vitamin E, which prevents damage to skin cells and protects from UV rays, preventing wrinkles while nourishing further with vitamins A, C, and D. Cedarwood stimulates hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp and has a natural thickening ability. A tree of purification, it also holds healing and money magic. I find it even has a grounding effect, locked inside the wisdom of the forest. Comely jasmine is another fave! The queen of the night is an intoxicating aphrodisiac that knows a thing or two about beauty. A brilliant oil for reducing fine lines and strengthening skin’s elasticity, jasmine also helps fade scars and hyperpigmentation. It strengthens the scalp and roots for healthy new growth, while imparting a gloriously protective shine to the length of your tresses. And abundant almond makes a guest appearance here in his creamy form as a dairy alternative with a high nutrient content. Rich in calcium and vitamin E, almond milk is beautifying and strengthening, with added magic of money, luck, and healing.

Be sure to clearly hold a visual in your mind and a feeling in your being as you conjure and use these nectars—one of riches, luck, and love, with the stamina to create them all on the earthly plane.

To prepare for making the potions, chop one or two organic apples depending on their size (a cidery-sweet variety works best, like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) and pop it all in a high-speed blender with one tablespoon of pure water. Pulse until completely smooth.

You may just want to make extra of our elixir—so fabulous for soirées!

Please note: Organic apple and vanilla powder are used in these recipes and can be purchased online. They are both budget-friendly, easy, and very effective in harnessing the power of these gifts in beauty potions and elixirs. And they are fabulous to bake with!

THE NIGHT FAERIE

Anointing Oil
Conjures about 2.5 ounces

2 ounces sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
6 drops cedarwood essential oil
4 drops oak moss extract
3 drops jasmine essential oil
2 drops nutmeg essential oil
1 vanilla bean, sliced lengthwise and opened

The first new moon of autumn would be the time to conjure this one. It occurs on October 2 (2:49 p.m. EST) during a solar eclipse.

In a stunning glass bottle, combine

all ingredients. You can scrape the tiny seeds from the vanilla bean, but I quite like the aesthetic beauty of it through the glass—hence opening the pod and allowing the seeds to mingle with the air while leaving it relatively intact. Give it all a good clockwise swirl and set it out in the new moonlight. If you are using a dark-colored glass vessel, you can leave it to absorb both solar and lunar rays. If your glass is clear or lightly colored, bring it in each morning and set it out again at nighttime. Keep this ritual going until the full moon for the greatest potency. Anoint your body, altar, mirror, personal objects … whatever you wish. Always shake well before using to activate both the ingredients and the magic.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding a few citrine crystals to your potion wildly amps up the power of this potion, adding solar vibes galore!

THE MUSE

Hair Masque
Conjures 1 to 3 treatments

1 cup apple puree
¼ cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
6 drops jasmine essential oil
3 drops nutmeg essential oil

Once more, so simple! Combine all the ingredients in a gorgeous bowl, stir clockwise until fully blended, then apply to dry hair, from scalp to ends. This one is thick (and can indeed include a few appley clumps) so carefully massage well, paying particular attention to the ends of hair.

Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then wash well with a light, nutritive shampoo. Apply a daily conditioner just on the outer layer and ends for a minute, then rinse well.

Your hair will emerge newly soft, shiny, and fluffy! The scent is heavenly, and this masque is a needed treat you are giving your sun-parched tresses. Use this weekly if you like.

Beauty Witch Secret: Did I mention you can save a little and use it as a face masque while your hair is sitting? It’s an amazing potion for delicate, dehydrated skin. You will glow.

DÉLICE À LA CRÈME

Elixir
Per serving

½ cup apple
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

This one simply shouts “full moon!” though it can be conjured and enjoyed whenever, really. It has a distinctively autumnal feel, with a heady scent and kick of spice. Blend it all in at high speed, pour it into a lovely glass, sprinkle with nutmeg, and garnish with a few apple slices. This one is so creamy and delish! On its own, it wows as a beauty elixir; however, there are a few secrets to its use …

Beauty Witch Secret: This saucerful of seduction can easily become a smoothie by adding a clean, skin-loving protein—my choices would always be chia-seed gel or cooked quinoa. You may want to add a touch of low or nonglycemic sweetening to the mix by way of pure stevia or monk fruit. Just be sure to check the package, as often those products are cut with chemicals. A few dates or a drizzle of coconut nectar would be a lovely alternative. Oh, and warmed! This is stellar as a heated brew on a chilly eve beneath the moonlit sky. Last, but not least … would I add a shot of cognac? Oh yes, I would. You know me too well, darlings.

Featured Image: Diana and Her Nymphs Bathing (1778-87), by Angelica Kauffmann. Wikimedia Commo

Is there anything more glorious than a bath? It’s sheer delight that beckons.

As you slowly sink down into silken, warm waters that caress your heavenly body in heady scent, with full immersion into the delights of sacred sensuality, the body and spirit become one. The ritual bath is, of course, a witch’s rite to cleanse, prepare, and receive visions … but let’s take it a step further, shall we? Much as the boudoir can be a place for inviting in more than just sleep and carnal adventures, so can the bath be a place that is elevated above mere function (magical though it may be) to an unequalled yet often untapped area of your home: a chamber of escape.

Oh yes. This, mes amies, is a blank canvas for you! Set out a springtime design to create your bath area as a refuge for one of your most private pleasures—reading, of course! What better excuse for a long, languorous soak than to disappear for a spell into a book from your cherished library?

Now you could, I suppose, be reading something of a nonfiction variety. Perhaps a biographical account of someone truly great or inspiringly fabulous. A self-help sort of thing?

Maybe. Romantic poetry? Getting warmer. Though a clothing-optional romp with Byron is always a good idea, my money is on the gold standard of bathtub browsing: the novel. Mmm … can’t you just feel it? The suggestion alone is intoxicating. Preferably one written forever ago that sweeps you away into vignettes of impossible beauty, with a story that transforms your entire being on a deep cellular level. The kind that you carry with you, always—sometimes literally! Of course, there are many gorgeous modern tales to be told, and if you are a serial soaker I would suggest a lively blend of both new and classic. Though reading is mentally stimulating, I cannot think of anything more relaxing on an energetic level. Besides, the brain is sexy. Feeding your mind ensures clever conversation as surely as it opens your creative and existential worlds. And again, let’s push the boundaries a bit. Let us elevate this quiet time to goddess level by entwining inner and outer vision, with potion infusions for coming alive in this season of new beginnings. Let’s take our refuge straight up with a twist by combining a timeless ritual of indulgence with that of tending our beauty.

One of my all-time favorite rituals is to luxuriate in a scented bath while employing a facial potion and sipping a beauty cocktail. It’s not only a head-to-toe glamorizer, but it’s actually (gasp!) rather practical, no? Who says a bombshell can’t multitask. Now add in a mesmerizing read, and you just got in the fast lane of the feminine divine.

As an offering to the season of renewal, I’ve conjured the Triple Goddess of brainy beauty for you, with three pleasurable potions to soothe and feed your body, infuse your face with radiance, and boost your mental acumen … all while whisking you away to a lush and lyrical oasis.

A little dose of healing magic is added with thyme for any seasonal congestion, also excellent for revving circulation to the skin and treating acne or inflammations.

Begin with making a rose hip and thyme tea infusion. Bring one cup of water to a near boil on the stove. When it is hot, combine one tablespoon each of rosehips and thyme (fresh is preferred) in a glass jar, and allow the blend to steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain, cool, and reserve for potions.

Beauty Witch Secret: Make this brew in a large batch for drinking throughout the day cold, warmed as an evening sip, and for adding to beauty cocktails—just multiply the ingredients according to what size vessel you have. Store in a lidded glass container and refrigerate.

Let’s first craft our beauty cocktail, as we employ a little sorceress secret: Most elixirs, brews, and tonics can be used as a facial masque by reserving a bit of the blended potion prior to adding sweetener. It’s a fabulous little trick and connects you more deeply with beauty magic. My offering this season beguiles and refreshes with the piquant-sweet pairing of the fresh, juicy first strawberries of spring with the herbal earthiness of thyme. Along with a few fabulous friends, a gorgeous,

high-vibration libation is yours! It feeds your beauty and your brain, cleanses, fortifies, and protects, all while enjoying a decadent soak with your most cherished tome. Yes, you can add a splash of spirits if you like—a good gin, dry white wine, or your favorite cordial (I adore St-Germain or Génépy) will complement the flavors nicely. Alternatively, you can add a few tablespoons of cooked quinoa or chia seed gel before blending for a more substantial sip, and add it to your rotation of smoothies. Just be sure to blend very well … no one wants to attempt a glamorous soak while navigating a chunky mess of a drink!

DARE TO DREAM

Beauty Cocktail
Conjures one cocktail

½ cup rosehip and thyme tea
½ cup strawberries
3 white grapes
½ teaspoon lion’s mane powder
Low or non-glycemic sweetener to taste (pure stevia or monk fruit work well, just check the ingredients for erythritol or other chemical additives)

In a bullet-style blender, combine tea with strawberries and pulse until completely smooth. Reserve two tablespoons for your facial and set aside. To the remaining mixture, add the rest of the ingredients and pulse again. Pour into a gorgeous cocktail glass, garnish with fresh strawberries, grapes, or a sprig of thyme, and drink in the magic!

Rose Hips These Venusian treasures are empowered with age-well benefits galore. They contain high levels of vitamin C, stimulating new collagen and repairing skin while protecting against UV damage, making them a fabulous choice for elixirs as well as skin care. They possess all the magic of the rose itself but have a little extra charge of sexuality.

Thyme A revered Venusian witches’ herb, thyme possesses the magic of love, psychic awareness, purification, healing

powers, and courage. These scented sprigs are potent both in their energy and their health benefits. Believe it or not, their tiny leaves hold an enormous amount of nutrients, including a saucy measure of iron! A bit of this will fortify the beautifying power of your potions and delay the signs of aging.

Strawberry This gorgeous gift of Venus conjures formidable love and beauty magic while bringing you glowing skin, removing excess oil, and nourishing with abundant vitamin C—well known for its collagen-production prowess.

Grape Grapes are water fruits that hold the magic of both fertility and prosperity, making them fabulous consorts when it comes to creative endeavors. What’s more, they have beauty benefits to spare: rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, they promote new cellular growth, reduce fine lines, increase elasticity, restore collagen, impart sheen, and provide UV protection. Red grapes are ruled by the sun, white by the moon.

Lion’s Mane This proud puff of a mushroom is a rock star adaptogen you need to know: It combats fatigue, lowers blood pressure, regulates blood sugar, and protects your liver and kidneys. It also has been proven to slow the aging process by boosting cellular and cognitive functions, and is excellent for sharpening the memory. Also, it contains a bit of big cat magic!

LE GRAND ÉVASION

Exfoliant and Bath Soak
Conjures 1 to 2 treatments

1 cup Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
¼ cup rosehip and thyme tea blend
¼ cup grapeseed oil
6 drops lavender essential oil

In another fetching bowl, combine all ingredients. You can adjust the oil as you like it, as some prefer more of a granita-esque texture, and some prefer a more liquid feel—either way it works beautifully. Massage into damp skin in circular

motions, then raking with your fingers from your limbs toward your heart. This creates an energetic awakening as you boost your circulation, slough away dead skin, and hydrate your skin all over. Don’t forget your sweet feet and as much of your back as you can safely reach. Then sink down into the bath and allow the potion to dissolve into the water. Now relax as you soak, savoring every minute of a delightful bath and a delicious tale …

Himalayan Pink Salt A highly effective exfoliant, this salt contains high levels of vital trace minerals that soothe and fortify. Seek the more costly versions, though, as the levels of purity and efficacy are far greater.

Lavender Lunar-ruled lavender soothes, calms anxiety, and brings peace. It makes a fantastic skin treatment thanks to its gentle but potent antibacterial powers.

PEAU DE PRINTEMPS

Facial Exfoliant and Masque
Conjures 1 to 2 treatments

2 tablespoons strawberry-tea blend
2 tablespoons almond flour
3 drops lavender essential oil
¼ cup grapeseed oil

Mix all ingredients together in a small, beautiful bowl until fully blended and smooth. You can adjust the consistency to your liking by adding additional oil or even a bit of spring water. Apply to a cleansed face, neck, and décolleté, massaging in circular motions to gently but effectively exfoliate. Apply a second layer of masque if you like, and allow it to

Leave it on for at least 10 minutes, though it can sit longer if you wish. Remove by first submerging a washcloth into warm water and pressing the cloth onto your face. Then carefully remove the masque with the warm cloth, followed by a good rinse. Pat dry, then apply your favorite mist and serum. Your face will positively glow with radiance!

Almond This magical treat boasts broad-spectrum beauty benefits, most notably repairing collagen, preventing moisture loss, and lightening troublesome dark spots and circles. It gives the magic of healing while attracting money and abundance. The finely ground flour acts as a velvety soft masque base with surprising powers of exfoliation!

February’s Astro Beauty and Wellness forecast is here!

We think of February as a dreary, rather dull month, and yet, there are the very first signs of new life! We celebrate the sabbat of Imbolc, Aquarian energies, a New Moon to be managed, Mars and Venus in their usual tango, a twist from Juno, an efficacious Full Moon, a Lunar New Year…and, of course, Venus’ Day, all swirling with glorious potions and Beauty Witch wisdom.

Speaking of the Lunar New Year, we enter the Year of The Dragon! How amazing is that? For more Dragon fabulousness, check out Alise’s Beauty of The Dragon feature, straight from the velvet gloss pages of Enchanted Living!

Your monthly cosmic beauty and wellness guide, with plant-powered bewitching recipes and sorceress secrets. 

With the splendor of autumn a bittersweet memory and the whirl of holidays nestled in their sugarplum beds, winter takes it upon herself to settle into our bones and, uninvited, burrows even deeper into our spirits.

There is a sigh of reprieve, yes, but also a yearning, a mad ache. Stillness is a sword, really: powerful, protective, and yet that blade …

When the cold wind that blows through your heart becomes too much to bear, you must ask yourself: Why am I disconnected? It’s all too easy really to detach from the body at this time of year, and yet our flesh and bones is where our power lies. Is it witchcraft? Oh, who knows. I say it’s more of a universal truth of the feminine divine. Find your way back to yourself, and you reclaim that divinity.

The way home, every single time, mes amours, is through beauty. The ritual and the potions. Inside and out.

Beneath too many layers of wool, the air that bites, and the far too fleeting sunlight lies that gorgeous creature who was lolling about half-dressed just a few months back, blissful and wild. You haven’t been lost, only perhaps forgotten. Your whole being needs care right now and all the way through to those damp spring days, to stay strong and beautiful.

Winter is the time of rest, but it is also a prime time for plotting. What buds in spring has everything to do with what we seed now, and that requires us to be in our light, our power. I say it’s time to reclaim that. We can begin with the simple pleasure of conjuring a few beauty potions in the warmth of home, surrounded by an energy of nurturing and love. As you conjure, keep a strong visual of what you would like to see appear from the ground in a few months, and what you need to create that. Even more important, feel how it feels to have it! One of the first things that will likely come to you is a smile—then you know you’re on the right track. Entwine that vibe with intentions of beauty, love, potency. This will give a great energy to your potions and ensure your success.

My wish for you is to feel fed and protected, but also vibrant and full of the returning light. I’ve called in a few of my winter loves to lend a hand, all expertly watched over by Freyja as these potions were concocted.

Vanilla is on hand as one of my signature ingredients. This gorgeous and lusty Venusian vine is one of my all-time favorite cohorts. Heavenly scented, vanilla is rich in copper to promote collagen and elastin production and has noted aphrodisiac powers.

She is joined here by another one of my loves, so especially exalted this time of year: pomegranate. With fire and Mercury at the helm, pomegranates are great bringers of money, while their abundance of juicy seeds denotes their creative and fertility magic. They symbolize the blood of life and therefore have a special place in youthful beauty potions, both internal and topical. Here, we use an extract that helps strengthen the proteins that form collagen and elastin and are full of fatty acids that lock moisture in and keep debris out. Pomegranate is also rich in vitamin C, which also helps stimulate collagen and can lighten age spots.

Cardamom helps with weight loss and maintenance, quells anxiety, fights disease, treats skin allergies, and improves complexion with antioxidant superpowers. It is a gift of Venus, infused with the magic of love, lust, beauty, and protection.

Cinnamon brings love and money magic, alongside a heightened sense of psychic awareness. This lovely fall and winter favorite is loaded with antioxidants and boasts anti-inflammatory benefits, sure to keep you well during the changing seasons.

Solar-powered walnuts are filled with protection magic and a wealth of beauty benefits, including minerals, iron, folate, and calcium.

Avocado oil is always my cold and dry weather savior for the rich, nutritive nectar that deeply moisturizes and cloaks the skin in the lush gifts of Venus.

And not to forget lovely maple, a low-glycemic, mineral-rich sweetener that also reduces inflammation in sensitive skin, banishes blemishes, and hydrates. The magic of the tree is of course present, with love and money magic enhanced by Jupiter.

THE ICE QUEEN

Facial Exfoliant & Masque

The first of my potions for this season will set you right again! First, let’s just mention her scent. From the winter forest comes her hidden treasure: a waft from the revered maple, blended with the rich sensuality of walnut flour, gifting a sublime ritual of the face that immediately gets you out of any cold weather grump and straight to heaven. It smells entirely edible, and it is. So when you’re treating your beautiful visage to the gifts of the earth, do enjoy the pleasure of every second. You’ll feel as if you are indulging—and you are—but not in the way that saps your beauty (read “sugary carbohydrates”). The results? Breathtaking. Your skin will thank you over and over again as your confidence soars and your energy returns. I especially love this on a new moon, but feel free to enjoy it anytime your skin or spirit needs a lift.

Conjures two treatments
2 tablespoons walnut flour
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon avocado oil
1 teaspoon pomegranate extract
Pinch cinnamon

*Please note: Cinnamon is highly active yet safe for even sensitive skin, especially in such small increments. It will bring a bit of rosy glow, but if you are in fear, please omit.

Beauty Witch Secret: A lovely addition to this blend, should you like, is a dollop of coconut crème, which I suggest for all three potions. The crème adds beauty fats, plus the magic of coconut for heightened spirituality, psychic awareness, and cleansing.

THE COLD MOON

Exfoliant & Bath Soak

Next, let’s get into a full moon soak that you can escape to all winter. This soak can be enjoyed any time, but it is wildly potent on the night of a peak lunation. It restores, revives, moisturizes, and manages to add potency while soothing your soul.

Conjures one treatment
½ cup Celtic salt
1 teaspoon pomegranate extract
1 to 2 tablespoons avocado oil
Seeds of one vanilla bean
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch cardamom

In another beautiful bowl, combine the Celtic salt with the other ingredients.

If you haven’t seeded a vanilla bean, here goes.

You’re going to want to master this process if you haven’t already—the vanilla bean is one of nature’s most glorious treats. Place the bean on a cutting board, and with a sharp knife—be careful, évidemment!—slice it lengthwise. Carefully open the pod to reveal the tiny black seeds within. Take the tip of the knife and scrape the seeds into your potion. Make sure to get all the precious magic.

Now stir the mixture in the bowl clockwise, and get ready. Massage into clean skin in circular motions, then in raking motions toward the heart. You can either shower it off or, much better, settle into a glorious bath to soak in her light.

Beauty Witch Secret: Add a container of coconut milk to your bath to enhance the ritual. This adds a sexy creaminess, immense silky moisture from beauty fats, and the watery, lunar magic of coconut.

HOT NIGHTS

Beauty Brew

And to spice up an otherwise perhaps too cozy winter’s night, let’s conjure this brew to ignite passion, be it your own lust for life or an adventure under the covers with a saucy friend. This one is warm and wicked, just as I intended …

Serves Two
1 cup coconut milk
Seeds of one vanilla bean
½ teaspoon cinnamon
3 cardamom pods, crushed
Pure maple syrup to taste

In a saucepan, scrape the seeds into the milk, add the cinnamon and crushed pods, and gently warm on a low flame. When it’s hot—be careful not to boil—strain and add maple syrup to taste. It’s fabulous.

Beauty Witch Secret: Why not add a splash of spirits? Bourbon, cognac, or even a nice whiskey will take this one even deeper. It’s winter. Get warm.

Welcome to the new calendar year! Your January Astro Beauty and wellness forecast is here!

We open the gilded gates of the new year with a push from Capricorn, abundant Jupiter lusciousness, the moons that set the stage for the new year, planets stationed direct…plus gorgeous potions for you!

00:00 January & Capricorn Vibes!
02:41 Capricorn Tarot
04:21 Jupiter!
08:18 The Moons Set The Tone
13:13 New Moon in Capricorn
16:50 NEW MOON POTION: The Witch Beckons
18:16 Mercury Enters Capricorn
18:58 Sun Enters Aquarius
20:22 Pluto Direct in Aquarius
21:29 Venus In Capricorn
22:37 Full Wolf Moon in Leo
24:00 FULL MOON POTION: Essence Vitale
25:30 Uranus Direct in Taurus

00:00 Venus in Scorpio
06:08 Sagittarius Season!
08:24 Planetary Happenings
09:51 Sag Tarot
11:50 New Moon in Sagittarius
15:49 NEW MOON POTION: Crystal Snowflake Elixir
16:35 A Word on Retrogrades/Mercury Retrograde
19:32 Capricorn Season Is On!
21:22 Yule/Winter Solstice
22:45 Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
24:20 Full Moon in Cancer
27:38 FULL MOON POTION: Warming Yuletide Bath
28:32 Venus in Sag
29:58 Jupiter Direct