Hello Coven, 

You know I love a bit of kitchen witchery and as it is PANCAKE DAY aka shrove Tuesday here in the UK, where many of us slather our pancakes with sugar and Lemon juice, yum! I thought I’d better spread the word about the magickal properties of lemons so we may have a few in abundance over the next few days…

“Wait, Emma, what on earth is pancake day aka Shrove Tuesday?!” I hear you cry..well dear coven *Ahem* Let me explain for the rest of Global readers (sorry, I am always really shocked at how many of you read this waffle internationally, it really makes my heart so happy!): 

What is Pancake Day and what is a simple pancake recipe: 

“Close British pancake layers” is marked with CC0 1.0.

Shrove Tuesday, called Pancake Day in the UK, is the feast day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and while it’s celebrated across the Christian world, it has particularly deep roots in British history and culture. Like, really deep, as here I am talking about it on a witch blog but I digress….The name comes from the old English word “shrive,” meaning to confess, as medieval Christians would go to church to be cleansed of their sins before the 40-day fasting period of Lent. Yes, that sounds as fun as it actually is for those not from a catholic country. The tradition of eating pancakes arose from the practical need to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before they were given up for Lent, and this custom has been documented in England since at least the 16th century. It’s basically one last fatty hurrah before we historically had to give up joy for 40days. Eurgh.  Britain is also home to unique traditions like the Olney Pancake Race in Buckinghamshire, which has been running since 1445, and the now-lost folk practice of “Shroving,” where children would go door-to-door singing for food…based on the current government’s efforts to basically bully anyone not rich this practice may very well be making a come back as HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE OF EGGS? (Actually, Americans you win that battle, I’m pretty sure a box of 6 eggs costs like a kidney or something over there according to social media..ekkk I am so sorry) Elsewhere in the world, the same day is known as Mardi Gras in France and New Orleans ( a dream of mine to go, omg I NEED to go to New Orleans!) Fastnacht in Germany, and Pączki Day in Poland, each with its own distinctive foods and festivities, but the British version remains one of the oldest … .and a lil extra tit bit for you, pancakes are made from the same recipe of yorkshire puddings…now yorkshire puddings need their own very post as they are sacred foods indeed. 

“British Style Pancakes 1” by LearningLark is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

British pancakes, unlike the fluffy American pancakes, are thin, large, and closer to a French crêpe. The recipe itself is wonderfully simple: you’ll need plain flour, eggs, milk, a pinch of salt, and a little butter for frying . Some cooks like to add a splash of liqueur like Grand Marnier for a hint of orange, but this is entirely optional . 

I’ll use the good ol Bbc’s recipe for reference, as I measure by heart rather than follow recipes: 

• 100g plain flour
• 2 large eggs
• 300ml milk

The secret to a perfect, tender pancake lies in resting the batter. You’ve got to treat her right, coven….After whisking everything into a smooth, thin consistency (like single cream), you should cover it and let it sit for at least 15–30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax. This makes the pancakes much more delicate and less likely to be chewy. To cook, simply heat a non-stick pan with a knob of butter or oil, pour in a ladleful of batter, and swirl it to coat the base. Cook for about a minute until golden, then flip—flamboyantly or carefully, it’s up to you! I personally always go for the drama…and then stack them on a plate, keep them warm, and serve immediately with your favourite toppings…a simple squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a generous sprinkle of caster sugar…or nutella, fruit or whatever you fancy really..

Anyway, back to Lemons and how we can use them for Magick, baby! 

“sliced lemons” by _Libby_ is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The Magickal Uses for Lemons 

Oh yes, Lemons are more than just a bright and zesty fruit found in your kitchen. In witchcraft, they hold a powerful place, embodying purification, protection, and spiritual cleansing. Their vibrant energy and symbolic associations with the sun make them a versatile tool in many magickal practices. Here are some fabulous examples of Lemon magick in action! 

1. Purification and Cleansing Rituals

• Cleansing Spaces: Lemons are commonly used to cleanse spaces of negative energy. You can slice a lemon and place the pieces in different corners of your home to absorb negativity. Once the lemon slices start to dry out or rot, it’s a sign that they’ve absorbed negative energy, and they should be discarded away from your home. You can also make yourself a fabulous cleansing spray by boiling a lemon wedge and putting it into a spray bottle…if you want something more fancy then check out Ajs amazing cleansing spray here (It’s my personal fave recipe)  Think about it, how many cleaning products are lemon scented? Lemon is THAT girl when it comes to cleansing darling! 
• Cleansing Objects: If you’ve recently acquired a new magical tool or object and want to cleanse it of any residual energy, rubbing it with a lemon slice or washing it in lemon water can do the trick…just make sure that the tool won’t be impacted by the lemon juice! Always do a wee spot test, ok coven? I’ve made many a mistake in my time by not testing things first….
• Spiritual Baths: Adding lemon juice or slices to your bathwater can help cleanse your aura. This practice is particularly effective when you’re feeling weighed down by stress or negative emotions. The fresh, citrus scent is also invigorating, providing both a spiritual and physical uplift. Check our post here on cleansing including ritual baths.

2. Protection Magic

• Lemon and Salt Protection Spell: One common protection spell involves cutting a lemon into four wedges and placing them in a dish with salt. This setup is believed to absorb negative energy and protect your home from harm. The dish should be placed near the entrance of your home or in any area where you feel protection is needed. 
• Carrying a Lemon for Protection: In some traditions, carrying a small lemon or a lemon charm with you acts as a protective talisman. The lemon absorbs any negativity directed your way, keeping you safe from harm. Just Don’t leave a fresh in your bag and forget about it…it can get icky.
• Ward Off Evil: Hanging lemons in doorways or windows is another protective practice. This is said to ward off evil spirits or malicious intentions, ensuring that your space remains safe and secure.

“Lemons” by DeSegura89 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

3. Love and Attraction Spells

• Lemon Love Spell: Lemons are often used in love spells due to their ability to attract positive energy and sweeten relationships. One traditional spell involves writing your name and the name of your desired partner on a piece of paper, folding it, and placing it between two lemon halves. You then tie the lemon together with a red string, symbolizing the bond between you and your partner, and bury it under a tree or in a garden to let the relationship grow.
• Enhancing Relationships: Adding lemon zest or slices to love potions or charm bags can amplify their effectiveness. The bright and uplifting energy of the lemon enhances the positivity and attraction within the relationship.

4. Hex Breaking and Banishing

• Breaking Curses: Lemons are powerful in breaking curses or hexes (see below for more baneful magick). One method involves cutting a lemon in half and rubbing the cut side over your body while visualising the curse being absorbed into the fruit. Once done, dispose of the lemon far away from your home to remove the curse from your life. Bye bye negativity!
• Banishing Negativity: To banish negative people or energies from your life, you can perform a simple spell using a lemon and black candle. Write the name of the person or the negative situation on a piece of paper, insert it into the lemon, and then burn the black candle next to it. As the candle burns, visualise the negativity being drawn into the lemon. Dispose of the lemon afterwards to finalise the banishment.

“A lemon dropped into a jar [étude 7]” by p_v a l d i v i e s o is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

5. Boosting Energy and Clarity

• Meditation and Focus: Placing a lemon on your altar or workspace can help boost your focus and energy during rituals or meditation sessions. The citrus scent is known to stimulate the mind, clear away mental fog, and enhance clarity, making it a great tool for those needing a boost in concentration. I mean who doesn’t love to smell a lemon now and then? Just ask Yolanda Hadid, she loves ’em!
• Energy Boosting Elixir: Drinking lemon water before or after a ritual can help refresh your energy and cleanse your system. This is particularly beneficial after intense magical work that may leave you feeling drained. Especially if you use moon water.

6. Prosperity and Abundance Spells

• Drawing Wealth: Lemons can also be used in spells to attract wealth and abundance. A common practice involves placing a bowl of fresh lemons on your altar or in your kitchen, symbolising the drawing in of prosperity. You can also sprinkle lemon juice around your wallet or purse to keep your finances flowing positively.
• Lemon and Cinnamon Prosperity Spell: Combine lemon with cinnamon, a spice associated with wealth, for a powerful prosperity spell. You can create a sachet with dried lemon peel and cinnamon sticks to carry with you, or use lemon and cinnamon in a floor wash to attract abundance into your home. I like to have lemon in my water first thing followed by cinnamon in my coffee..some of us need all the prosperity we can get, just sayin.

7. Divination and Dream Magic

• Dream Magic: Lemons can also be used in dream magic. Placing lemon slices under your pillow is believed to help with dream recall and provide clarity in interpreting dreams. The citrus scent helps to invigorate the senses and can also protect against nightmares. Again, make sure NOT to ruin your sheets. If nervous, use a lemon scented essential oil instead.
• Divination: In divination practices, lemons can be used as a scrying tool. For instance, some practitioners squeeze lemon juice into a bowl of water and observe the patterns or movements in the water to receive messages or insights. I’ve done it a few times and I really like working with it!

“A Splash of Lemon COLLEGE STUFF” by Sam Fox Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

8. Healing and Health Magic

• Healing Spells: Lemons are associated with vitality and health, making them a popular ingredient in healing spells. You can create a healing charm by placing lemon peels in a sachet with other healing herbs, or by using lemon juice in a ritual bath to cleanse and revitalise your body.
• Fighting Illness: In folk magic, lemons are often used to fight illness by drawing out the sickness from the body. This can involve rubbing a lemon over the body and then discarding it, similar to how it’s used in curse-breaking rituals…they are also much nicer smelling than onions which are also really good for this!
• Lemon Water: Adding lemon to your water everyday can have amazing health benefits and if mixed with moon water, can be a great way to get way to absorb your intentions and manifestations. 

Resume this image: 

9. Hexing and Baneful Magick 

Now, onto the gritty stuff. Lemons are not just for cleansing and protecting—they are absolute wonders when it comes to hexing and baneful magick. That bright, acidic juice? That’s pure aggression in liquid form, darling. The sourness alone makes it perfect for spoiling someone’s energy, and when you combine that with intention, you’ve got yourself a recipe for righteous justice. Here are some of my favourite ways to use lemons when someone absolutely deserves it.

And before I hear it….I have said a million times on this blog – I am NOT a wiccan, I don’t believe in the power of three, please for the love of Hecate shut up about that rule when you are here as it’s actually quite offensive to presume every witch does follow the wiccan path as it’s a completely different practice to what I and millions of other witches practice. No offence to wiccans, I am sure they get annoyed about it too…but I am not love and light only, ok? They vex, I hex. Anyway, rant over…THANK YOU and happy hexing <3 

• Sour Jar (The Lemon Hex): This is my go-to for when someone needs a taste of their own medicine. Take a lemon and cut it in half. On a small piece of paper, write the name of the person who has wronged you and what they did. If you want to be extra specific about what they deserve, write that too. Stuff the paper inside the lemon, then add some sharp, nasty things—black peppercorns for burning, chilli flakes for that extra sting, rusty nails, broken glass, vinegar, anything that feels right. Put the two halves back together, seal the whole thing with black wax or tape, and stab it with pins or black thorns. As you do this, curse them out loud. Tell them exactly what they deserve. Shake it, scream at it, really put your energy into it. Then hide that lemon somewhere they will never find it, and let it rot. As it decays, so will their power over you, and so will their happiness. Just make sure you dispose of it far from your home when you’re done.
• Freezer Burn (To Put Someone on Ice): If you need someone to just STOP—stop bothering you, stop gossiping, stop existing in your orbit—lemons can help with that too. Take a lemon and write the person’s name on it, or stuff a name paper inside a slit you cut into the skin. Place it in a freezer bag, fill it with water, and stick it in the back of your freezer. As they freeze, their actions toward you will freeze too. They’ll lose momentum, lose interest, and eventually just fade away. This is perfect for toxic exes, meddling in-laws, or that coworker who just won’t quit. If you ever want to release them, just thaw the lemon and throw it away, but honestly? Some people deserve to stay on ice forever.
• Lemon Sour Poison (For Rude People): This is a simple but effective little piece of folk magic. If you have to interact with someone who is consistently nasty to you such a neighbour, a boss, a family member just cut a lemon in half and rub it along your doorframe or on the threshold of your home before they arrive. As you do it, whisper exactly what you think of them and tell them their sour attitude is not welcome here. When they step over that threshold, their negativity will be neutralized. They’ll either behave themselves or feel so uncomfortable they’ll leave quickly. Either way, you win.
• Return to Sender (Lemon Reversal): If you know someone has sent a hex or bad energy your way, grab a lemon and stud it with black-headed pins. As you push each pin in, name the person and command that whatever they sent you returns to them threefold. Roll the lemon between your hands, visualising their energy being pulled out of your aura and into the fruit. Then throw it into running water such a river, a stream, or even flushing it down the toilet (be careful of plumbing!) and watch it go. The water carries it back to them, and they get to deal with the mess they tried to make for you.

Remember, my darlings, hexing isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s certainly not for minor inconveniences. Someone cut you off in traffic? Let it go. Someone looked at you wrong? Breathe, my darling little ball of rage! But when someone truly, deliberately hurts you or someone you love? When they cross a line that cannot be uncrossed? That’s when you reach for the lemon, you tap into that sour, acidic rage, and you give them exactly what they deserve. Magick is a tool, and sometimes justice requires a little sharp edge. So go forth, hex responsibly, and always, always, ALWAYS dispose of your materials far from home. Blessed be, or whatever, now go cause some delicious chaos.

If you want more info on the baneful stuff then please check out my gal and fellow stoke on trent native, Deb Aka Chaotic Death Witch 

So as you can tell Lemons are a powerful and versatile tool in witchcraft, offering a wide range of uses from protection and purification to love and prosperity spells. Their bright energy and strong associations with the sun and cleansing make them a staple in many magical practices. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your journey, incorporating lemons into your witchcraft can bring a refreshing and potent energy to your rituals and spells.

Want More Witchy Wonders?

Book a tarot reading, a 1 to 1 or workshop with me, Emma! Just email emma@emfluence.co.uk and we’ll take it from there. (P.S. My actual witchcraft shop is launching so soon—stay tuned!)

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Until next time, Coven – all the love  Ems x X

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Header image: “lemons” by ms.Tea is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

Links and Resources:

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml
• https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Pancake-Day/
• https://www.olney-pancake.org.uk/history-of-the-race/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shrove-Tuesday
• https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-mardi-gras-or-fat-tuesday-701622
• https://www.the-paul.com/paczki-day-guide/
• https://www.wightpedia.org.uk/s/shroving/