Zero Waste Witchcraft: Citrus Peels

As we enter the colder months we also enter citrus season, so before you toss your peels into the compost, let’s take a look at citrus peels and a few ways we can store and use them for magick.

Dry and store them

Either peel them with a peeler for thin slices or peel as you normally would and then chop them into a small dice. Spread them out on a baking sheet and put in an oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (or a dehydrator, if you have one of those). The smaller and thinner the dice of these, the faster they dry out. I try to check them every 30-45 minutes and flip or toss them every now and again. A small dice may take as little as 30 minutes. You want them to come out crispy - but not burnt.

What to do with dried peels:

• Teas

• Baths

• Oils

• Cleansing products

• Spell bags

• Potpurri/Simmer pots

• Candle Magick (better if ground into more of a powder)

Peel Candles

Speaking of candle magick, you can double the zero-waste here by recycling leftover candle wax to make candles. These could make great spell candles, devotional offering candles to deities, or candles to create a specific energy. For example, if you’re hosting a dinner party or a coven gathering and you want to make sure the energy stays calm, focused, or whatever property you wish to enhance. Plus they make quite the enchanting table ambiance!

Associations:

• Orange: Ruled by the sun. Used for divination, love, luck, joy, prosperity.

• Grapefruit: Ruled by the sun. Used for healing, cleansing, protection, purification.

• Lime: Ruled by the sun. Used for healing, love, protection.

• Lemon: Ruled by the sun/moon*. Used for clarity, calm, friendship, love, purification.

*When we say that something is “ruled” by a planet, what does that mean? In Ancient Greece this association was sympatheia, corresponding energies. Of course color association is taken into account, but so are the plant or herbs properties, such as if the plant is cooling or warming, brittle or soft, sour or sweet. The associations are based on the similar qualities and the sympatheia of astrology and botany. This can be helpful because for example any sun-based plant or herb can be used or strengthened by solar magick.