Homespun Spa Magick for the Dark of the Moon

Running a small business and going into the second half of a pregnancy, it's all too easy to forget about taking good care of my body.  We're fast approaching the New Moon and it's time again to hit the proverbial reset button.  So, today I decided to indulge in a bit of witchy DIY spa goodness.

My hair has been a bit brittle and unruly so, first stop was the back yard to cut some aloe vera.  Most of us are familiar with this spiky succulent's power to soothe a sunburn but, it is also most effective in taming frizz and adding shine to troubled tresses.  I mixed the fresh-squeezed gel with a spoonful of coconut oil and a few drops each of sandalwood and rosemary.  The blend was the consistency of what I imagine would be ectoplasm: super slimy and rather unwieldy at first.  But, it worked itself through my dry locks with surprising ease once I passed a comb through the mess.  A quick clip at the nape to let it set and I was off to the next beauty ritual.

Lavender and chamomile are a classic combination for Magickal works of peace and healing.  They also serve as a soothing facial steam.  I'm super sensitive and prone to breakouts so, their gentle effect is perfect for me.  I sprinkled about a tablespoon of each dried herb into a wide bowl and added hot water.  I sat leaning over the bowl for about 40 seconds with a fresh towel draped over my head to trap the vapor.  The floral steam opens pores and prepares the skin for treatments, masques or moisturizers.  Then I set the bowl in the fridge to cool so that I could use the infused water as a toner, later on.

I whipped up a nourishing facial masque of raw honey, yogurt and oatmeal.  It was a simple blend of cooked and cooled oats with a spoonful each of the other two ingredients.  It may be applied to the face with a clean fan brush or - in a pinch - the back of a tablespoon.  I relaxed for 10 to 15 minutes and let them work their wonders.  Honey is particularly powerful when used in love, attraction and seduction spells.  It also happens to be an excellent antibacterial agent to deeply cleanse skin without over-drying.

After rinsing off the decadent masque, I stepped into a warm Queen's Bath and lounged in the luxuriant scent of island fruits and flowers.  I may decide after all this pampering that my husband and I are due for a date night...

Incidentally, the aforementioned gooey hair slime rinsed out quite easily.  It left my locks shiny, soft and much better-behaved.  The ends are so smooth it looks like I've just had a trim!

Finally, the chilled herbal toner came out of the fridge and braced my freshly pampered face.  It was lovely to pat around the eyes, and feel the tired puffiness soothed away.  An excellent punctuation to my Magickally home-spun luxury retreat.

I highly recommend an at-home self-care ritual of your own choosing, either at the dark of the moon or any time you feel the need, to dispel the stress and fatigue that accumulates each month.  It's a great reminder that we must give some loving kindness to ourselves as well as to others.  Enjoy!

For quick reference, here are the recipes I used:

Hair Masque
* 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
* 1 Tbsp coconut oil
* 8 drops sandalwood oil in jojoba
* 3 drops rosemary oil

Facial Steam and Toner
* 1 Tbsp dried lavender flowers
* 1 Tbsp dried chamomile flowers
* 1 cup hot water

Nourishing Facial Masque
* 1/2 cup cooked and cooled oatmeal
* 1 Tbsp plain yogurt
* 1 Tbsp raw honey

- Nui