Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen - Scott Cunningham 1990

Introduction

Food is magic. Its power over us is undeniable. From the sweet, rich lure of a freshly baked brownie to an exquisitely steamed artichoke, food continues to seduce us.

Food is life. We can’t continue to live without its magic. Food, however, also harbors energies. When we eat, our bodies absorb those energies, just as they absorb vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, and other nutrients. Though we may not be aware of any effect other than a sated appetite, the food has subtly changed us.

In times of scarcity as well as plenty, peoples around the world have subjected food to religious reverence. Rice in Asia; fruit throughout Europe; grains in Africa; pomegranates and beer in the Near East; acorns and pine nuts in the American Southwest; bananas and coconuts in the Pacific; vegetables in tropical America—these foods have all played significant roles in religous and magical rituals.

Sacred meals are shared with the goddesses and gods (or their priestesses and priests). Today, eating with others is still an act of energy sharing, bonding, and trust.

The magic of the hunt and the sacredness of gathering rituals in fields and groves are still remembered by a few isolated peoples. Most of us now, however, buy presliced bread, gather our fruits and vegetables from gleaming counters, and hunt in refrigerated cases.

As we’ve lost the knowledge of the old magics, so too have we forgotten the mystic lore of food. But timeless energies still vibrate within our meals. They wait for us to sense and to use them.

Lengthy magical spells aren’t required, though a simple ritual is necessary to boost the food’s effectiveness. If you have little knowledge of magic, follow the instructions presented in this book. You’ll soon discover its power.^*

I’ve tried to speak to all tastes in writing this practical food magic manual. It isn’t strictly vegetarian, nor is it concerned solely with healthy or organic food. You’ll find the magic of wine, sugar, and hotcross buns here, along with that of seaweed, carrots, and tofu. This book has something for everyone.

Eating is a merging with the earth. It is a life-affirmimg act. Ritually preparing and eating specific foods is an effective method of enhancing and improving our lives.

It’s also fun. Magic pretzels? Sacred chocolate? Passionate pickles? They’re all part of the magic of food, and the spells to create them begin in your own kitchen.