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This is my second Tamed Wild subscription box, and I’m just as happy with this one as I was with the first!
This month’s box spotlights connecting with your inner Kitchen Witch, maintaining good health, and a Midwinter Ritual to appease the fates, specifically, Decima (Lachesis in Greek) – the weaver of destiny.
November’s box contained:
Silver Pentagram Amulet & Chain (beautiful, but see note below)
Elderberry Syrup Ingredient Blend (details on brewing this concoction below)
Amber Bottle & Label (perfect for Elderberry syrup)
Wild Kitchen Recipe Booklet v.2 (so many amazing recipes for wellness!)
Forget Me Not Planter Kit (Forget-me-nots symbolize eternal devotion)
Faux Crystal Teaspoon (Omg – so adorable)
Honey Sticks (Yum! for sweetening the Elderberry syrup)
Enchantment Ritual for the Winter Solstice (focus is on Decima, the middle sister and weaver of destiny)
Included was a recipe for Elderberry syrup, which was as fun to make as it was enlightening. Elderberries are the dark purple berry from the European elder tree and can be used to combat cold and flu symptoms.[i]
Concoting this recipe made me nostalgic for The Walking Dead Season 4, Episodes 1-3, when an illness breaks out in the community of survivors who are living in in an abandoned prison, and Hershel, the former veterinarian, concocts an elderberry tea that ends up saving lives.
Whether Hershel’s brew would have actually been effective against the illness that ravaged the survivors is uncertain. The idea is that Elderberry syrup has medicinal properties that have been shown to ease symptoms and strenghten the immune system.
The recipe book details how to make the Elderberry syrup and recommends taking it when “you feel under the weather or anytime you want to boost your immune system.” The package contains dried Elderberries, dried ginger, and cinnamon chips. I love cinnamon and ginger and use them often. But if I’m being honest, I’ve never used Elderberries in this way before. So, when the brew began to boil, I was surprised that it didn’t smell as good as I thought it would. The Elderberries gave the entire concoction what my husband referred to as a “stinky feet” smell. It didn’t last very long, but it did surprise us while the mixture was boiling.
The recipe also suggests adding brandy or Vodka to increase shelf life, which I added after the boil, before straining and adding honey. A quick taste told me that my Elderberry syrup was sharp (probably from the Vodka), spicy, and slightly sweet. I’m looking forward to testing it out this winter when I’m feeling unwell.
Also contained in this box is a Midwinter Ritual to appease the middle sister of the Fates, Decima. The Ritual Card details the steps to take when practicing this ritual and includes integrating the charms that came with the previous boxes, including the pentagram charm in this month’s box. It even details when and how to use the forget-me-nots as an offering to Decima.
I am definitely looking forward to doing this ritual on December 21st!
My only gripe about this box was the pentagram amulet and chain. They came separetly, and the idea is to thread the amulet onto the chain. However, the ring at the end of the amulet is too small to thread the chain through. The “Ritual Tools” card suggests using a pair of pliers to open the ring so the chain can fit through, but I didn’t have pliers that could work for this. In the end, I did purchase a pair of jewelry pliers and was able to get the pentagram amulet on the chain, and I love it!
I can’t wait to see what’s to come in December!
This post is not sponsored by Tamed Wild.
*Elderberry syrup should bot be used as a replacement for a flu shot and is not a proven cure for COVID-19.
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