Julia Halina Hadas's Blog, page 10
June 4, 2020
Lunar Lemonade
A Tom Collins variation for the Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius.
With the aromatics of mint and rosemary, and a tad of bitter Earl Grey, this refreshing spiked lemonade will help attune you to the energies of the 6/5 Lunar eclipse, while keep you grounded and cleansed. A calming, revitalizing beverage, packed with herbs magically aligned to the energy of Moon, Sun, Sagittarius, and Gemini.
As if 2020 hasn’t been energetically packed enough, we are blessed with the extra energy of a Lunar eclipse today June 5, reaching its maximum right after 12pm PST. An afternoon eclipse, in fiery Sag and airy Gemini, calls for a nice refreshing drink, don’t you think?
The Syrup
An Earl Grey simple syrup with Rosemary and Saffron
Given all the astrological energies at hand, a beverage that is going to attune us to the energy of the eclipse better also keep us clear-headed and grounded! Luckily, the key ingredient of this eclipse is the bergamot citrus. However, bergamot isn’t that easy to get ahold of (at least for me!), so how do we get the energy of bergamot into the syrup/cocktail? Well, luckily, Bergamot is a popular ingredient in Earl Grey Tea. And it also happens to add some kickass tea flavor to the Tom Collins! Add in a bit of saffron for strength, joy, and solar energy, and some mind-purifying rosemary, and you have a lovely deep syrup to use in any lemonade! And one magically packed with Moon, Sag, Gemini, and Sun energy all at once.
Ingredients
1 large rosemary sprig
2-3 saffron threads
1 Earl Grey tea bag
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup hot water
Instructions: Set water to boil. Place rosemary, saffron, and tea into a glass jar. If desired, take moment to tune into the energy or aromas of these ingredients, or to visualize the sun and moon. When done, pour the boiling water over the ingredients and cover. Let it steep, like a tea, for about 5 or so minutes. Pour in sugar, and stir. If possible, let it refrigerate for a few hours to cool and infuse more flavors. After 24 hours, strain out ingredients and keep for up to about 2 weeks.
The Cocktail
With clarity inducing bergamot, purifying rosemary, and the grounding base of gin, this Tom Collins variation is sure to hit the spot on the afternoon of the lunar eclipse. Carefuly chosen with herbs associated with the Moon in Sagittarius and the Sun in Gemini, this spiked sparkling lemonade cocktail will both tune you into the celestial energies, while countering their potentially negative energies. The added clearing energy of bergamot and its vessel of earl grey tea adds a slight bitter, Arnold palmer-esque note. Sip on this cocktail to induce clarity, to psychically attune to the celestial energies of the lunar eclipse, while grounding and clearing away the negative affects.
Lunar Lemonade featuring cards from the *beautiful* Barbieri Zodiac Oracle
Ingredients
Spearmint, 5-7 small leaves
2 Rosemary sprigs (one for muddling, one for garnish)
1 oz Earl Grey Rosemary Syrup (from above) or simple syrup
1.5 oz fresh lemon juice
1.5 oz gin
.5 oz aloe liqueur (optional, but recommended for smooth moon flavor)
4 dashes rosewater (optional)
2 oz soda water
Instructions: Grab your mint leaves and rosemary in your hand, allowing your senses to be captivated by their aroma. Close your eyes and take a moment, connecting to their clarifying and mentally-enhancing energies tingling in your hands. You can imagine a bright light growing in your hand, too. Drop the herbs into the bottom of a Boston shaker, or tall glass, and add your syrup. *It is your choice if you want to shake this cocktail, or build it in a glass. I only shake it to break up more of the rosemary, but a Tom Collins is traditionally built.* Muddle the herbs, consciously imagining their essence spreading. Add ice, lemon, gin, aloe, and rose water, and if you are using a Boston shaker – shake well to break up the rosemary. You can imagine shaking away any energetic debris or confusion. When the shaker is chilled, double strain into a collins glass over ice. Top with Soda water and garnish with rosemary sprig and/or mint.
Mocktail Version
Thanks to the syrup, and the deliciousness of lemonade, this cocktail actually makes a delicious mocktail. All you need to do, is to remove the alcohol, and build in a smaller glass. In fact, it is simply delicious and I high recommend it!
Works Cited
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen. Llewellyn Publications, 1990.
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications, 1985.
Kynes, Sandra. Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences: A Comprehensive Cross-Referenced Resource for Pagans & Wiccans. Llewellyn, 2013.
Kynes, Sandra. Plant Magic: A Year of Green Wisdom for Pagans & Wiccans. Llewellyn Publications, 2017.
Morrison, Dorothy. Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living. Llewellyn Publications, 2009.
Regan, Gary. The Bartender’s Bible: 1001 Mixed Drinks and Everything You Need to Know to Set up Your Bar. HarperCollins, 1991.
August 19, 2018
The Witch’s Brew: Jupiter, Gin & Juice
Feeling the expansive energy of this past week?
Jupiter, Scorpio, Neptune, and Pisces cards from Barbara Moore's Barbieri Zodiac Cards.
This past Saturday Aug 18, Jupiter and Neptune sync’d up (also known as a trine) in Scorpio and Pisces. What does this mean? Well - it means we have a lot of exciting creative, spiritual energy going on: lots of growth and projects! Which also means, you might feel overwhelmed, or grow a bit lazy, in response.
So, when Jack Ashina from Jack of Wands challenged me to make a cocktail for this occasion, I was eager to accept!
Let me present~
Jupiter, Gin, & Juice
An herbal, berry punch-esq drink, topped with bubbly water. Astrologically associated with the Jupiter/Scorpio and Neptune/Pisces energy of this trine, plus a touch of grounding energy to balance out the negative effects.
1-2 blackberries (muddled)
Jasmine Infused gin
Pomegranate saffron syrup
Plenty of Lemon - to add a nice citrus bite
A tad of anise liqueur
-> add ice to shaker, shake
-> double stain, add ice to collins glass
Top with soda water
Garnish with lemon circles to represent the rings of Jupiter, and a star anise!
I hope this trine had a positive effect for all you! And remember to come by Bar 41 in Oakland, weekend 12-6 to try my weekly mystical beverages 
On the Cusp: The Leo
"The Leo" Cocktail, featuring the Leo card from Barbara Moore's Barbieri Zodiac Oracle.
Surprise! There are not only ONE, but ~2~ cocktails this weekend! (Jupiter Trine Cocktail blog coming soooooooon).
Why? Perhaps because in the spirit of a true Leo, I feel the need to celebrate myself. But also, this is the first of many astrological cocktails to come - each featured in its season. (Are you ready Virgos? You’re up next!).
So, how do we create a cocktail that is as bold, loving, spicy, and maybe a bit as extra, as a Leo would be?
The Leo
A warm, juicy cocktail with hints of nut, spice and floral notes. Served in a coupe glass of course, to give that Leo extra-ness.
Rosemary & Saffron Infused Simple
Hazelnut infused bourbon
Lemon
Orange juice
Rosemary saffron simple
Lavender bitters
Black walnut bitters
A dash of cinnamon (use sparingly!)
The whiskey sour is a classic cocktail, and as a bourbon lover I decided this would be the perfect base for a cocktail highlighting the summer harvest time and its bold flavors. Changing up the recipe with some of the herbal associations of Leo, and adding a few bitters - you end up with a spicy, yet refreshing cocktail as a Leo might be.
P.S. Stay tuned for the Virgo Cocktail - will be available in season, weekends 12-6 at Bar 41 Oakland!
August 2, 2018
The Witch’s Brew: First Harvest Cocktail
The First Harvest
An Old Fashioned-Inspired cocktail for Lammas
The first of August kicks off the harvest season with Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh) - the first harvest. All the seeds that were sown back in spring are finally in the first wave of harvest (both literally and metaphorically)! Fields, once barren, now glow gold with wheat and grain, and we begin to see the signs that our hard work is paying off, and success is on its way.
A time of celebration, Lammas is a great time (like any other) to enjoy a nice, hard-earned libation! I’m down for an excuse to drink, are you?
So what kind of beverage works best for the energy of Lughnasadh?
Since Lammas is Saxon for “loaf-mass”, I thought that a grain-based spirit like whiskey bourbon would be perfect for such a cocktail! And what better classic cocktail to use for inspiration than an old-fashioned?
(The) First Harvest: an herbal old-fashioned with subtle floral notes, and smooth-as-honey mouthfeel
1 1/2 ounces chamomile & hazelnut home-infused bourbon (or you can choose other herbs!)
1/2 ounce apple liqueur - apples are perfect for a harvest cocktail!
1/2 ounce honey syrup (1:1 parts honey and water)
4 dashes of lavender bitters
Extra:
1/4 ounce favorite sweet amaro of your choice
2 dashes of New Orleans bitters (to add more depth and flavor)
Many herbs are available at this time - one of the wonders of the harvest season! Chamomile, lavender, and hawthorn are just a few. Since August is the Celtic month of Hazel, I chose to throw some hazelnuts and chamomile into bourbon and let them sit for a while, but you can do any arrangement of herbs you desire! A few days later, just strain out the herbs and you have infused whiskey!
