News: Health, Vikings, Occult, History, Witchcraft,

"Studies Reveal "Smudging" Eliminates Dangerous Bacteria in the Air" - story at EWAO: http://www.ewao.com/a/1-studies-uncover-the-medicinal-smoke-from-herbal-smudging-rituals-eliminates-dangerous-bacteria

"This ancient liquor popular among Vikings may be the answer to antibiotic resistance" - story at Business Insider UK: http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-honey-based-mead-may-curb-antibiotic-resistance-say-makers-2015-6?r=US

"W.B Yeats’s obsession with the occult celebrated with a major new exhibition" - story at Irish News: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wb-yeatss-obsession-with-the-occult-celebrated-with-a-major-new-exhibition-31297771.html

"There's a secret society of journalists who try to sneak a certain phrase into their stories" - story about the Order of the Occult Hand at Business Insider UK: http://uk.businessinsider.com/there-is-a-secret-society-of-journalists-who-try-to-sneak-a-certain-phrase-into-their-stories-2015-6?r=US

"Prevention of Witch Hunt Cannot Remain on Paper" - story at The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/Prevention-of-Witch-Hunt-Cannot-Remain-on-Paper/2015/06/11/article2859769.ece

"How Satan went viral: Interactive map shows where the Salem witch trials spread - and pinpoints the source of hysteria to a local reverend" - story at Mailonline: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3119165/How-Satan-went-viral-Map-reveals-Salem-witch-trials-spread-pinpoints-source-hysteria-local-reverend.html

The picture at the top shows three sage sticks for smudgingwhich can be ordered via Amazon.

Festival of the Week: Mead Day

In the USA, tomorrow is National Mead Day. Personally, I think mead is such a lovely drink it should be celebrated all over the world - so let's make Saturday, August 6 International Mead Day. And I'm also very happy to choose Mead Day as The Bad Witch's Festival of the Week!

I'm sure most people who read my blog are familiar with mead, but just in case you've never tried it, here is the description courtesy of Wikipedia:

"Mead ( /ˈmiːd/, meed; archaic and dialectal 'medd'; from Old English 'meodu'), also called honey wine, is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water... Depending on local traditions and specific recipes, it may be flavoured with spices, fruit, or hops... Mead is known from many sources of ancient history throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia, although archaeological evidence of it is ambiguous. Its origins are lost in prehistory."

Mead is probably the oldest alcoholic drink and has all sorts of magical connotations. It is supposed to be an aphrodisiac, boost fertility and, according to Norse folklore, the amount of mead a couple drank on their honeymoon (a term that allegedly comes from the tradition of drinking honey wine after a wedding) could help them choose the sex of their children.

Personally I think mead is a great drink for any celebration, not just weddings. Happy Mead Day!

The picture shows Ninemaidens Traditional Mead from Cornwall. You can order it via the website http://www.cornwallsolar.co.uk/ninemaidens/index.htm

Usual warning stuff: Do not drink if you are under age. Do not drink too much. Never drink and drive.

Links and previous related posts

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/events/mead-day

http://www.cornwallsolar.co.uk/ninemaidens/index.htm

http://www.lurgashall.co.uk/

http://www.fallenangelbrewery.com/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead

http://www.shedrums.com/history_and_magic_of_mead.htm

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/06/taste-of-honey.html
http://www.kentbee.com/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/13/wildlife.endangeredspecies
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/first-bumblees-of-spring.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/bees-and-hollyhocks.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/09/buddleia-for-bees-butterflies-and.html
https://www.jenreviews.com/honey/

Magical mead

I was watching the BBC's adaptation of Lark Rise to Candleford last night. In it, the Lark Rise matriarch Queenie Turrill, played by Linda Bassett, brews a luck potion from mead.

We didn't get to see how effective the potion was in the episode because much of it gets spilt before it is drunk, but mead is said to have many magical properties - particularly associated with love and good fortune in marriage.

Mead is made from honey, water and yeast, although it is sometimes flavoured with fruit juices, and tastes like a rich wine.

The term 'honeymoon' comes from the ancient tradition of drinking mead at weddings. It was supposed to be a potent aphrodisiac and boost fertility as well as increasing the chances that the first child would be a son.

With Valentines Day approaching, why not get a bottle or two? You could also have a go at making your own, although it won't be ready for drinking in time for this February 14.

Here are some links on the history and magic of mead, mead recipes and where to buy mead:
www.wyrdwords.vispa.com/heathenry/mead/index.html
www.empathys.co.uk/197.html

www.kernowharvest.co.uk/subprod/ninemaidens-cornish-mead-0001484.aspx