The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home - Arin Murphy-Hiscock 2018
Building a Needfire
Your Home As a Sacred Space
The sacred fire also manifested in the form of bonfires, sometimes called needfires. The needfire was a custom by which a bonfire was kindled for a specific spiritual purpose. The exact purpose depends on which culture is kindling the fire. Some of these fires were required to be lit by the friction method (rubbing two sticks together or some variation thereof); others required a certain number of people to build them, or a certain combination of woods, or to be lit at a certain time of day. Often, the bonfire had to be the only fire burning within a certain distance; if another flame burned within its specified boundary, the power of the needfire would be rendered ineffective. Sometimes, this bonfire would serve as the source from which all the previously extinguished home fires were relit, or to produce smoke through which cattle or other livestock would be driven in order to protect them from illness. The practice of building and lighting a needfire or bonfire underlines the folk belief in the ability of fire to purify or bless, an extension of its innate sanctity.
Making a Cauldron-Based Needfire
Not everyone has the acreage or the fuel (or can obtain a permit) to build an outdoor bonfire. As most modern homes don’t have a fireplace, and many towns have bylaws about building a fire in your backyard (if you have one), this is an excellent way to create a small, time-defined sacred fire.
Make sure your cauldron will be strong enough to withstand intense heat. If your cauldron, or the vessel you use as a cauldron, is not made of cast iron or a material designed to withstand intense heat, do not use it for this task. The heat will cause materials such as ceramics or glass to shatter. If you have a fireplace, you can put your cauldron on the hearth while you burn the needfire. Otherwise, place a heatproof trivet, pad, or stone under the cauldron and make sure the cauldron sits securely on it. Never put the cauldron on a wooden or fabric-covered surface.
While rubbing alcohol is specified in the following list of supplies because it is inexpensive and easily found, you can use any high-percentage alcohol available in liquor stores, such as ethanol (grain alcohol, such as Everclear) or liquors like vodka or brandy. These make lovely offerings to a deity or spirit. Remember, the higher the percentage of alcohol in the liquor, the hotter the fire, so plan accordingly. Make sure your room is ventilated; while this fire does not produce toxic gases or smoke, it does get very, very hot.
You will need:
✵ Epsom salts
✵ Rubbing alcohol
✵ Blend of herbs and resins (your choice)
✵ Heatproof trivet or pad, or a flat stone
✵ Long-handled match
✵ Large bag of sand or earth
✵ Lid for the cauldron (make sure it is heavy)
✵ Fire extinguisher (CO2 or dry chemical)
1. Measure out equal parts of Epsom salts and alcohol. Place the salts in the bottom of the cauldron and pour the alcohol over them.
2. Pour the herbal mixture into the cauldron. Place the cauldron on the heatproof trivet or stone.
3. Light the long-handled match and touch it to the mixture. It will burst into almost silent flame, the tops of the flames leaping above the cauldron. The fire will burn until the alcohol has been consumed. Throughout the fire, but more so when the flames begin to die away, you will hear tiny pops and sizzles as the salt cracks in the heat and the herbs and resins are consumed by the flames.
4. Do not even think about adding more alcohol into the cauldron while the flames are burning! Keep the alcohol/salt proportion equal until you are confident about handling the resulting fire; then and only then may you tweak the proportions. Never pour a large amount of alcohol over the salts; the resulting flames can be several feet high and can cause major damage to you or your house. Be safe and use common sense.
5. The fire will die away within a few minutes, but keep your sand, lid, and fire extinguisher handy in case you need them to put out the fire.
I cannot stress how dangerous this activity can be if you do not approach it with respect and common sense. There is a reason the last three items are on the supply list: the heavy lid is to smother the flames if they get out of hand, and the bag of sand or earth is to pour over the fire if you need to douse it immediately. The suggested fire extinguisher is there as further backup. Do not leap over this fire or ever leave it unattended. Also watch your sleeves and hair, and make sure you set the cauldron away from anything flammable, such as curtains.
The Epsom salts soak up some of the alcohol and keep the fire burning in a more stable fashion. The flames will consume the herbs and resins you added, making this a lovely way to make an offering or to cleanse a room. This is also a wonderful way to scry (which means to perceive by gazing into something) or meditate by watching the flames. The fire dies away within a handful of minutes, depending on how much alcohol is in the cauldron.
Note: Instead of adding herbs directly to the salt, you can steep your selected herbs or flowers in the alcohol you plan to use. Steep them for at least 2 weeks, then strain and bottle the alcohol. Label it clearly and do not use it for any other purpose.