http://www.witchinghourfarm.com/

Witching Hour Farm & Folklore, Bethel, OH (2025)

10/20/2025

As Libra season draws to a close, I often find myself gathering rosehips from the wild hedges after the first frosts. We may not be there just yet, but this morning felt pretty darn close!

Roses, ruled by Venus, mirror Libra’s beauty, grace, and love of harmony. But by this time in the year, their blossoms have faded, leaving behind bright red fruits, full of nourishment and strength. The rose teaches that beauty and boundaries can coexist: her thorns protect what is tender, her hips sustain what is fading.

Historically, rose bushes were planted as living boundaries, protecting gardens and marking sacred space. I like to think of them as guardians of balance, much like Libra itself, reminding us that true harmony isn’t about pleasing everyone but about honoring where we begin and where we end.

This season, as the air cools and the light softens, I’m reflecting on what boundaries allow me to thrive and what I can let fall away.

10/08/2025

Join me next Saturday, October 18, at the Magical Apothecary Festival from 3-7 p.m. where I’ll be slingin tea and tellin tales.

This FREE event is a whimsical celebration that brings together potion makers, herbalists, and enthusiasts of the mystical arts in a vibrant display of ancient wisdom and modern creativity.

Held in a charming farm setting, the festival invites visitors to explore a world where the boundaries between magic and nature blur. Attendees can wander through booths brimming with herbs, enchanted elixirs, mystical art, and handcrafted remedies, each promising to unlock a unique experience or healing benefit.

Workshops offer insights into the art of potion making, while storytelling sessions delve into the lore and legends of magic. Live demonstrations, and music add to the enchanting atmosphere, making the Magical Apothecary Festival a captivating event for anyone curious about the wonders of the natural and mystical
worlds.

Schedule
3-7pm Soup Station (bowls by donation)
5pm Folktales with Emily from Witching Hour Farm
6pm Make a Magical Elixir with Gracious Farm

October 18, 2025
3pm -7pm
Gracious Farm
6176 State Route 132
Goshen, OH 45122

09/21/2025

Your girl is really getting out and about this fall and I hope to see you at one (or more) of our upcoming events!!!

Next up is a day-long Silent Retreat hosted by on October 11 in Augusta, KY. With mindful movement, journaling, art, nature immersion, a nourishing meal, and restorative sound bath at the waters edge, it’s the perfect way to experience the wonder of this transitional and transformational time of year. I’ll be bringing along a special tea brew just for the occasion (plus this happens to mark a milestone birthday for me), so be sure to join us. Snag a ticket asap for this one!

On October 18 I’ll be at Gracious Farms for their Magical Apothecary Festival as a storyteller and vendor. The event runs from 3-7pm but I’ll be sharing some botanical folktales at 5pm, so be sure to time out your visit to hear them!

On October 25 I’ll be traveling to West Point, KY for the Kentucky Folklore Festival. The fun begins at noon, but I’ll be presenting “Where the Plants Still Speak: Herbal Lore from the Holler to the Hearth” at 1:15pm! for more details.

November 5 I’ll be back at for Witch’s Tea from 6:30-8! Join us for an enchanted evening filled with delightful tea, treats, and a few of my favorite witch stories. This one is a ticketed event, so be sure to snag one before they disappear!

Looking ahead—mark your calendars for a special Winter Solstice event here at Witching Hour on December 13, but more details on that to come.

09/21/2025

As someone with quite a bit of Virgo in their astrological chart, many of the attributes and correspondences that are associated with this particular sign really resonate—but I am especially fond of its connection to the planet Mercury.

In Roman myth, Mercury (the Roman form of Hermes) is the quick, clever messenger of the gods. With his winged sandals and staff, the caduceus, he can travel anywhere—across the sky, over the earth, and even down into the Underworld. Because of this gift, the gods often send him on errands that cross boundaries: carrying messages between Olympus and mortals, guiding travelers, and leading souls of the dead to Hades. Mercury is a guardian of thresholds and movement, able to slip easily between realms, which is why he’s linked to communication, commerce, and liminal spaces.

I credit this influence largely to why I am so drawn to the path of the Hedge Witch today and the ways we communicate and traverse through wild, unknown spaces at the edges of society.

From a medical astrology/astroherbalism viewpoint, Mercury governs communication, intellect, movement, adaptability, and the nervous system. Herbs aligned with Mercury tend to share qualities that reflect these themes—fast-moving, stimulating, aromatic, and often nervine or respiratory in nature.

They move swiftly, clearing the channels of communication in both body and mind, and carry that quick, aromatic nature that mirrors the airy, intellectual, and mercurial spirit.

08/18/2025

Leo season is drawing to a close this week, and with it, we shift from the fiery heart of summer toward Virgo’s earthy “back to school” refinement. But before you sharpen up those Ticonderoga’s, let’s honor one of Leo’s shining plant allies: Calendula (Calendula officinalis).

Leo is ruled by the Sun and governs the heart, blood, and circulation. It’s a sign of vitality, warmth, and radiance. Calendula, with its golden blossoms, reflects this energy perfectly.

Calendula helps move stagnant blood and lymph, and is a gentle cardiovascular tonic, supporting healthy flow and reducing inflammation (keeping that fiery Leo energy rolling instead of overheating or stagnating).

On an energetic level, Calendula uplifts the spirit, brings light to heavy moods, and helps us embody Leo’s natural radiance in a sustainable way.

As Leo season ends, it’s a good time to ask: How have I tended to my inner fire this summer? Have I honored both the joy of shining brightly and the need for balance and rest? Calendula plays the long game as a prolific grower with a lengthy growing season (as noted in this excerpt taken from A Lyle Herball), and reminds us that vitality is not just about burning hot, but about glowing steadily.

08/17/2025

Personal growth is often rooted in the exercise of building resilience in uncertainty and trusting your inner compass to guide you towards a life that feels fulfilling.

I’ve been working through a set of journal prompts and tarot card spreads this week as I continue to navigate the transitions in my own life that I’ve found helpful, and thought I’d share them in hopes that it may be timely for you as well.

May you always stay curious and find joy in your journey 🖤

07/25/2025

MULLEIN | WITCH’S CANDLES

I’ve been spending a lot of time with mullein this week, harvesting the tall stalks from around the land and preparing them for something special I’m planning this October. If all goes well, I’ll have a bundle of “witch’s candles” ready to share at a few events, along with stories about their deep roots in folklore and fire. I thought I’d take a moment to share some of what I love about this plant’s more luminous past.

The first known literary reference to plant stalks being used as a torch appears in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica, written in the 1st century CE. In this incredibly influential Greek pharmacopeia, Dioscorides describes a tall, hollow, plant stalk being dipped in tallow and used as a lamp wick or torch, an early documented mention of its use in this way.

This aligns with what we know from folk practices across Europe, where the dried stalks of mullein (Verbascum thapsus) were commonly used as torches or candlewicks, sometimes called “hag’s tapers,” or “witch’s candles”.

The idea likely predates written records and has even earlier roots in oral traditions. But Dioscorides’ work is the first surviving written text that associates a mullein-like plant with light or flame in a functional way, rather than purely symbolic, way.

The name “witch’s candles” (along with related terms like witch’s tapers or hag’s tapers) for mullein comes from European folk traditions, especially in England, Scotland, Germany, and other parts of Northern and Central Europe. These names reflect both the plant’s torch-like form and its associations with magic, protection, and the supernatural.

In American folk magic (especially Appalachian traditions derived from British settlers), mullein retained its protective and fiery symbolism. It was used in ritual candles, carried for protection, or placed near the hearth.

I’m so looking forward to weaving these tales into my fall offerings. There’s something really powerful about holding a plant that once lit the way for our ancestors, whether for flame, medicine, or magic.

07/20/2025

Cancer is a water sign ruled by the Moon, associated with the emotional body and the physical systems that nourish, protect, and sustain life. It governs the breasts, stomach, womb, and the fluids of the body—all organs and tissues tied to nourishment, digestion, and emotional memory.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a revered tonic primarily used in Ayurvedic medicine, and it shares a deep affinity with these same systems. Cooling, moistening, and tonifying, it is particularly supportive to the reproductive system, digestive tract, and lymphatic flow, offering both physical and emotional nourishment.

For the breasts and womb, shatavari helps regulate hormones, enhance fertility, and soothe inflammation, making it a key ally for those experiencing PMS, perimenopause, or depletion from caregiving or overwork.

For the stomach and digestion, it calms excess heat and acidity, supports mucosal health, and promotes a gentle, restorative digestion.

Energetically, the Moon governs fluid balance and our emotional tides. Shatavari supports hydration and tissue integrity, while also offering grounding for the nervous system, helping to soften anxiety and restore emotional resilience.

During Cancer season, shatavari invites us to slow down, replenish, and care for the systems that carry and hold us. It’s lunar medicine in root form—protective, nourishing, and deeply restorative.

07/19/2025

When the summer heat settles in, staying hydrated becomes more than just a wellness goal, especially for those of us managing health conditions where hydration plays a vital role in feeling our best. I’m always on the lookout for delicious, herbal-inspired ways to keep my fluids up, and this trio of mocktails has become a seasonal favorite.

Each one brings its own refreshing charm, blending tangy fruits, soothing herbs, and hydrating ingredients to keep you cool, nourished, and connected to the flavors of the season.

Whether you’re sipping on the zesty Lemon Ginger Switchel, savoring the floral fizz of the Blueberry Lavender Spritz, or indulging in the sweet tang of the Strawberry Basil Shrub, these summer mocktails offers more than refreshment—they’re small rituals of care, connection, and seasonal pleasure. Hydration doesn’t have to feel like a chore! It can be a sensory invitation to slow down, listen to our bodies, and celebrate the gifts of summer one sip at a time.

Check out our blog, Rooted Rhythms, for the full recipe for each drink on our website!

I hope you’ll give each one a try and let me know which one is your fave!

Witching Hour Farm & Folklore

10/20/2025

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