“Communication Breakdown”: A Blue Lagoon Variation
“Communication Breakdown”, and blue lagoon variation featuring the Throat Chakra card from The Psychic Tarot for the Heart oracle deck by John Holland
As if four planets in retrograde, an active eclipse season, and the turn towards summer heat wasn’t enough, Mercury Retrograde is right around the corner and we can already feel its impact. A time when communication and technology run amuck, Mercury Retrograde has grown in infamy in recent years. But don’t worry – this throat chakra-inspired Blue Lagoon variation, packed with clearing and calming sage, soothing peppermint, and communication-enhancing chamomile, is the perfect inspired beverage to keep you cool, calm, and collected in the summer heat.
The Syrup
Chamomile, Peppermint, & Sage
Energetic Inspiration: Communication, Healing, Purification
A simple, yet communication-potent tea-infused syrup. Packed with the herbal goodness of sage, peppermint, and chamomile, this calming, minty, & magically-aligned communication syrup is at the heart of this cocktail. (In fact, if you are going for a delicious mocktail, simply add this syrup to lemonade and add blue food coloring for that throat-chakra umph). Jupiter-associated Sage often invites purification, wise words, and healing, while peppermint has long been known to help soothe sore throats. Add in calming chamomile, and you have a syrup aligned for cool communication, purification, and balance, that you can add to this cocktail, to iced tea, lemonade, or even as a sweetener to your favorite tea!
Ingredients
1 chamomile tea bag
1/2 tablespoon dried peppermint, or peppermint tea bag
5-7 medium-sized sage leaves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water
Instructions: Set water to boil. Place tea, sage, and dried peppermint in a mason jar. Take a second to pray over the herbs (for magical intention setting), imagining their energy opening up, as though a light growing is inside of them. When you feel an energetic buzzing, withdraw your hands, and pour now-ready hot water over the herbs. Let the herbs steep for about 5 minutes, covering the jar slightly. Then stir in sugar, cover the jar, and place in the fridge to help cool down. The syrup is ready to use once cooled, or you can let it sit for 24 hours for extra infusion. Strain before use.
The Cocktail
Energetic Alignment: Communication, Purification, Friendship
With its enticing hue and balanced taste, this modified blue lagoon cocktail is just the summer beverage needed to smooth the ride of mercury retrograde. Mercury- and Venus-aligned elderflower helps inspire loving communication, healing, and cleansing, while the addition of fresh, opening mint has long been associated with cleansing and invoking mental acuity and expression. And of course, the key ingredient responsible for the lovely color, Blue Curacao, inspires the loving and spiritual vibrations of the orange citrus. Add in some critical citrus juice and the syrup above, and you have delicious cocktail inspired by clear communication and self-expression. Served over chilling crushed ice, and the magical energies of mint, sage, elder and more, this refreshing libation is packed with throat chakra herbal potency.
Ingredients
7 leaves mint
1/2 oz syrup (listed above)
1.5 oz lemon juice
1 oz vodka
1/4 oz blue curaçao
1/4 elderflower liqueur
Crushed ice (for serving)
“Communication Breakdown”, and blue lagoon variation featuring the Throat Chakra card from The Psychic Tarot for the Heart oracle deck by John Holland
Instructions: In a shaker, place mint leaves, syrup, lemon juice, vodka, blue curaçao, and elder flower liqueur. Add ice and shake firmly, so that the mint broken up, and the flavor thereby enhanced. (You can also slap the mint before putting it in the cocktail, to express and awaken the oils). As you shake, visualize any communication blockages breaking away. Then strain the cocktail into a hurricane glass over crushed ice. Adorn with lemon slice and mint sprig.
Crystalline Energy Bonus
Whether you are looking to promote communication, self-expression, or smooth over communications during Mercury Retrograde, here are some of my favorite potent crystals to work with!
Amazonite: Connecting the heart and the throat chakra, Amazonite promotes clear communication of one’s feelings. It is particularly useful in communicating one’s personal truth to set clear boundaries. This will be a great energetic companion for this drink, for someone who’s voice and feelings tends to be “run over” by others.
Angelite: Angelite, like the name may suggest, is a wonderful stone for communicating with angels and imbuing a calming frequency (which will be GREAT for mercury retrograde). However, it is particularly useful for communicating gently, with diplomacy.
Blue Lace Agate – Associated with the throat chakra, blue lace agate is a powerful communication stone. Tuning you into your higherself, this stone will help you not only keep calm and relaxed, but also communicate with mental clarity amidst the communicative chaos and emotions that may arise at this time.
To work with the crystal energy, intention is always key! You can hold the crystal, and visualize a blue light (like the color of this drink!) expanding and growing stronger in your throat, vibrating with the crystal. If you are laying down, you can lay the crystal right on your throat, or simply hold the crystal in your left hand a few minutes each day with the intention of enhancing calm, truthful communication and diplomacy.
Disclaimer: All drinks and variations by WitchCraft Cocktails are inspired by energetic and witchcraft themes for fun and craft cocktail enjoyment, but make no claims as far as healing potency.
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.
