Kitchen Witchery: A Compendium of Oils, Unguents, Incense, Tinctures, and Comestibles

by Marilyn F. Daniel

Psychic 4 parts Lemongrass + 3 parts Bay + 1 part Cinnamon Come and See Me Oil 5 drops Patchouli oil + 2 drops Cinnamon oil + Olive oil base. Over the years, Wiccan High Priestess Marilyn Daniel has collected hundreds of recipes for her craft. Responding to repeated requests for her secrets, she has compiled them here for the first time in this comprehensive reference of more than 400 magical tips and recipes - covering everything from beauty treatments to healing salves to tasty treats. In addition to advice for buying, storing, and blending essential oils (always stir clockwise), Marilyn reveals her secrets for making incense, bath salts, soaps, ointments, potpourri, ink, and more. Readers will learn how to make a Tuberose Bouquet for attracting love and Air Oil for clear thinking and overcoming addiction, as well as how to incorporate their pets into spellcraft. Kitchen Witchery includes a wide variety of cookies, breads, wines, and other magical foods, and Marilyn serves up her famous recipes for goodies like Sabbat Cakes and Wiccan Handfasting Cake, and drinks such as Nettle Ale and the Milk of Isis. And should a witch find herself in the middle of a recipe with a missing ingredient, she can find a worthy substitute in the extensive list provided. Kitchen Witchery also includes a helpful reference list of magical correspondences and a glossary of herbs and their folk names.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Wicca, Magic, Paganism

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[J.P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book thinking that it would be a unique addition to my collection. I was absolutely appalled, however, when I realized that it was almost completely plagiarized. Ms. Daniel stole nearly every word in her book from Scott Cunningham's encyclopedias, and not just the recipes. All of the explanations and intro text were copied verbatim from his books as well. Ms. Daniel should be very, very ashamed of herself.

[Briar 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely more of a reference book. I am hoping by reading it and seeing words and associations enough they will stick better over time. I’ve owned this book for many years but mostly just referenced it. Happy to have gone through it better finally.

I realize it’s made up of other authors works so I knocked the rating down. I want to note that many online posts, books, etc have repeated the associations and recipes by Cunningham, etc and as younger generations are reading newer works and bypassing him and others they are still getting his information. I’m not sure how to feel about it. I still think the book is good for reference but I realize it’s problematic.

[Nyx Vera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of this book is straight-up Cunningham's Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews, but re-worded slightly so that it doesn't flag as plagiarism. Given the publication date, I'm assuming this was done manually, rather than by one of the many pieces of software that do it now, but it's a sentence-by-sentence re-wording, and honestly, some of those algorithms word things more elegantly.

I'm honestly amazed if Llewellyn (or the Cunningham estate) hasn't sued Weiser books over this book's publication.

[Dimka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who works in Hoodoo or loves to cook would find this book helpful. Her receipes are easy to follow & you can make substitutions as necessary. Also a good book to use as a guideline for making your own receipes.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has a good collection of formulas, but as others have mentioned, much of it is copied verbatim from other works (particularly Scott Cunningham). I mean technically, it does say in the description that it's a "compilation", but that's a fairly thin way to disguise blatant plagiarism.

[Tamika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of information and recipes and knowledge to even create your own but sometimes I felt it was lacking a little more detail when learning to do something. Very good at giving you warnings and I appreciated that!

[Luminea · Rating 1 out of 5]

When this book was first published I was excited to add it to my collection until I cracked it open and realized that it is a compilation of other authors' writing, recipes, correspondences, spells, etc., mainly Scott Cunningham whose work I greatly admire. Please don't support plagiarism by reading this book. Check out Scott Cunningham and Patricia Telesco's kitchen witch books instead.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of recipes for and instructions for tinctures, body-care stuff, etc. Some food recipes, but no magical associations, spells, or intentions attached to them.

[Tariah Moondragon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very handy to have all your favorite plagiarized recipes under one book cover. This book is it!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read