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

Introduction to Magical Food Diets
Magical food diets

Foods with similar energies should be eaten together to gain the greatest effect. The combination of their energies has a far greater possibility of manifesting desired change than does eating a single food only occasionally. Therefore, I’ve devised several magical diets, each designed to create a different change within yourself and your life. This information is based on extensive research and personal experimentation.

Don’t misunderstand: these aren’t diets as most people understand them. Except for one, they aren’t designed to create weight loss (what the Brits call “slimming”). And they certainly aren’t all-inclusive. In most cases, these foods shouldn’t be eaten to the exclusion of all others. The best practice is to simply add some of them to each meal.

Though there are some recipes here, I haven’t included those that can be found in any good cookbook. Some of these foods don’t have to be cooked and, indeed, they are most effective when eaten in a raw state. Your personal tastes will determine the form in which you eat these foods.

When using this section, remember these things:

All meals and snacks can be magical; but this doesn’t mean that they must be. Still, it’s best to include at least one of the suggested foods in every meal.

Cook and eat with visualization and with firm, solid purpose.

Use in moderation. I’ve listed salt for grounding, sugar for love, chocolate for money, and beer for purification. Is this license to overload your body with these substances and foods? No. Good health is the best starting point for all magical rituals and for personal transformation. “Binging” is anti-magical.

Eat balanced meals. Nutritional guidelines are in a state of flux at the time of this writing, but your daily meals should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy products. If you’re working on manifesting money, don’t plan magical meals consisting solely of banana cream pie, candy, marzipan, and chocolate ice cream, even though these foods are suffused with money energies. If none of the nonsweetened foods in the “Money” chapter appeal to you, have a regular meal and make the dessert magical.

Eat foods that you enjoy. Piling your plate with steamed broccoli and brussels sprouts for protection is fine—unless you detest these foods. If you truly don’t enjoy certain foods, they’ll be ineffective magical tools precisely because of your lack of interest in them. This will result in the diet’s failure.

Attune with all food before eating. Even if every dish doesn’t fit into your magical diet, sense the food’s energies and prepare yourself to absorb them. This is one of the side effects of prayer before meals (though you need not pray): it thanks the provider of the food and prepares the diner’s body to receive the food.

Consult your physician or an alternative health practitioner before making drastic changes in your diet, and before fasting or embarking on any weight-loss program. This is just common sense.

Avoid foods that cause allergic reactions. There’s no reason to brave an outbreak of hives just to gain the magical properties of strawberries. Substitute a dish with similar energies.

Write up a weekly diet plan. This makes it easier to determine how the foods linked with your need will fit into your meals. You can deviate from this, of course.

Do not use any magical diet in conjunction with an outside weight-loss program. The two usually don’t mix. Weight-loss programs are designed for one reason: to drop pounds. Magical diets are designed for many other purposes.

Use one diet at a time. Concentrate on creating changes step by step. You can, of course, eat foods listed in other diets. Simply don’t empower them, and they’ll have little magical effect.

Don’t switch diets from one day to the next. Allow the diet a proper amount of time to manifest your needed change. This might occur in a few days, a week, or a month.

Finally, give something back. Those of us who view food as a ritual tool acknowledge its sacredness. We regularly donate food to local charities. Not only does it give us a good feeling, it also helps those who, at present, can’t eat without our assistance. The most needed items usually include: peanut butter, canned beans and corn, full-strength (not condensed) canned soup, powdered milk, and other nonperishable, easily prepared foods. Check your local social service agencies for the location of nearby food banks and assistance organizations.

On with the diets!