Witch Watch: A spell to save a marriage

Redford Observer, April 3, 1975 (enlarge)

And one to hook a man. The second one is a far merrier spell and I almost think that Gundella was telling the young lady Kathy that she was wasting her time with the guy she was in love with. Because anybody who tried to recite that love spell seven times a day for three weeks would probably give up on day three or four.

As for the spell to save a marriage: at least there's booze involved. I've always wanted to try mead. Actually, I did once at the Nain Rouge Parade when they were passing out free samples but it was by a craft company and I think that they were jazzing it up to be something that it wasn't. Plus, I don't even recall what it tasted like and only remember the cost for a 12 ounce bottle was in the $10 range. Too rich for me. But what Gundella suggests for couples new and old is to renew their love with honey mead as a second honeymoon of sorts. The word derives from the Viking tradition of newlyweds drinking mead for 30 days after their wedding. If you can't love somebody when you're both drunk for a month then it's probably not ever going to happen.

The recipe seems easy enough:

ANCIENT HONEY MEAD

In a cauldron or large pot, put two cups of honey, a half-cup of brown sugar, the juice and grated rink of one lemon, one egg (slightly beaten), and two pinches each of powdered mace, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, dried rosemary and catnip. Cover with four quarts of water and simmer for one hour. Cook to lukewarm and add one cake of yeast. Place in a small crock and age for one month. Strain and bottle.