Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen is a delightful, practical, and magical guide to kitchen witchcraft, blending food, spirituality, and magic in an accessible way. Unlike books that focus on ceremonial rituals or complex spellcasting, this book highlights how every meal can be a spell, every ingredient a magical tool, and every kitchen a sacred space.
Written in Cunningham’s warm, engaging style, this book is perfect for those who love cooking and want to incorporate Wicca or magic into their everyday meals. Whether you’re a seasoned witch or a beginner, this book offers a unique perspective on the magic of food and how to use it for healing, love, prosperity, and protection.
Overview of the Book
This book serves as both a cookbook and a magical reference, covering:
✅ The spiritual and magical properties of different foods
✅ How to infuse meals with magical intent
✅ Kitchen spells and rituals for different goals
✅ A glossary of magical correspondences for foods, herbs, and spices
1. The Magic of Food
Cunningham starts by explaining how food carries magical energy, stating:
“Food isn’t just nourishment for the body; it’s nourishment for the soul and spirit. Every bite we take carries energy that can affect our mood, health, and magical intent.”
This section introduces:
- The concept of food as magic
- How to prepare meals with intention
- The connection between Wicca, nature, and cooking
2. The Kitchen as a Sacred Space
The book emphasizes the kitchen as a magical place, providing tips on:
- Blessing your kitchen and cooking tools
- Using herbs, oils, and spices for magical purposes
- Turning everyday cooking into spellwork
Cunningham writes:
“Your kitchen is a temple, your tools are sacred objects, and your meals are offerings to yourself and the divine.”
3. Magical Properties of Foods
One of the best parts of the book is its comprehensive guide to the magical correspondences of foods. Cunningham categorizes foods by their spiritual effects, such as:
- Love Foods – Apples, strawberries, chocolate, cinnamon
- Prosperity Foods – Corn, rice, basil, honey
- Protection Foods – Garlic, onions, black pepper, rosemary
- Healing Foods – Lemon, ginger, mint, nuts
This section functions like a magical cookbook, allowing readers to choose ingredients based on their intentions.
4. Cooking with Magical Intent
Cunningham offers practical ways to turn cooking into a spell, including:
- Visualizing your intent while stirring
- Chanting or singing while preparing food
- Arranging food in specific patterns for magical symbolism
He reminds us:
“A spell doesn’t have to be an elaborate ritual—sometimes, a simple meal prepared with love and purpose is just as powerful.”
5. Kitchen Spells and Rituals
The book includes easy-to-follow spells that use food as the main ingredient. Some examples are:
- A love-attracting drink using strawberries and honey
- A protection soup made with garlic and rosemary
- A prosperity-enhancing rice dish with saffron and cinnamon
Each recipe is accompanied by a short ritual or affirmation, making cooking feel magical and intentional.
6. Seasonal and Sabbat Cooking
Cunningham also explores seasonal and Sabbat-based cooking, providing:
- Recipes for Samhain, Yule, Ostara, and other Wiccan celebrations
- Suggestions for honoring the seasons through food
- How to align meals with the cycles of nature
He encourages practitioners to:
“Eat with the seasons, and you will always be in harmony with the Earth’s energy.”
Strengths of the Book
1. Practical and Easy to Use
One of the best things about this book is that it’s highly accessible. You don’t need fancy tools or ingredients—just a kitchen, a few herbs, and a desire to create magic through food.
A reviewer wrote:
“I love how this book turns everyday cooking into magic. It makes Wicca feel like a natural, daily practice.”
2. Great for Beginners and Experienced Witches
Whether you’re new to Wicca or a seasoned practitioner, this book is full of useful tips. Beginners will appreciate:
✅ Simple techniques for adding magic to meals
✅ Basic food correspondences for spellwork
✅ Step-by-step guidance for magical cooking
Experienced witches will enjoy:
✅ Advanced ingredient correspondences
✅ Inspiration for Sabbat feasts and ritual meals
✅ A deeper connection to food and nature
3. Encourages Creativity and Intuition
Rather than giving rigid rules, Cunningham encourages readers to experiment with their own recipes and magical techniques. He writes:
“Magic is personal—your intuition will tell you what works best for you.”
This makes the book incredibly adaptable to different dietary preferences, traditions, and lifestyles.
4. Makes Everyday Life More Magical
Many books focus on rituals that require special tools, ingredients, or ceremonies, but this book shows that magic can be as simple as making a cup of tea or baking bread with intention.
A reader commented:
“After reading this book, I started seeing my kitchen as my sacred space, and every meal I make feels like a spell.”
5. Beautifully Connects Wicca to Nature and Nourishment
Cunningham emphasizes that food is a gift from the Earth, making this book a great resource for green witches and nature-based practitioners.
His philosophy can be summed up in this quote:
“When we eat with gratitude and awareness, we align ourselves with the cycles of life and the energy of the universe.”
Weaknesses of the Book
1. Lacks Detailed Recipes
While the book provides general guidance on magical cooking, it doesn’t contain many full recipes. Instead, it focuses on ingredient correspondences and techniques. Some readers might wish for more structured recipes to follow.
A reviewer noted:
“I love the magical correspondences, but I was hoping for more actual recipes with step-by-step instructions.”
2. No Illustrations or Photos
The book does not include any images, which could have enhanced the experience. Some readers might find it difficult to visualize certain techniques without pictures.
One reader wrote:
“It would be amazing if there were illustrations of kitchen altars, food arrangements, or magical symbols.”
3. Not for Those Seeking Historical or Cultural Context
This book focuses on modern Wiccan kitchen magic, without delving into historical, cultural, or folk traditions of food-based magic. If you’re looking for a historical study of kitchen witchcraft, this book won’t provide that depth.
A reviewer commented:
“This is a great book for Wiccan cooking, but I wish it included more history on traditional food magic practices.”
Personal Experience and Perspective
When I first picked up Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen, I was looking for ways to bring more magic into my everyday life. This book helped me see cooking as a spiritual act rather than just a routine task.
One of my favorite takeaways from the book is stirring intentions into food. Now, when I make tea, I stir clockwise for abundance and gratitude or counterclockwise to remove negativity. It’s a small change, but it makes my everyday life feel more magical.
While I do wish it contained more structured recipes, I love how it encourages personal creativity. Now, I feel confident designing my own magical meals based on intuition and ingredient correspondences.
Conclusion: A Delightful Guide to Kitchen Magic
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen is a fun, inspiring, and practical guide to magical cooking, perfect for anyone who wants to infuse their meals with intention and energy.
Recommended for:
✅ Kitchen witches and food lovers
✅ Beginners looking for an easy way to practice magic
✅ Green witches and nature-based practitioners
✅ Anyone wanting to make their everyday meals more spiritual
Not ideal for:
❌ Those looking for structured recipes or meal plans
❌ People who prefer ceremonial or ritual-based Wicca
❌ Readers wanting historical or cultural studies on food magic