Natural Egg Dyes

 COLOR

HERB

TYPE OF MAGICK

RUNE

 Green

Colts-foot, bracken,
for a pale green: spinach leaves

growth, prosperity

Fehu

Yellow green

Carrot tops,
for a green-gold: yellow delicious apple peels

fertility, new beginning

Berkana

 Yellow

Tumeric,
for a light yellow: orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seeds or ground cumin

sun, energy, vitality

Sowulo

 Orange

Yellow onion skins

sun, energy, vitality

 Sowulo

Rust

Onion skin

strength

Uruz

 Red

Madder root
for a pale red: fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries

sacred eggs

Sowulo

Pink

Madder root

love, affection

Gebo

Blue

 Blueberries

protection

Thurisaz, Algiz

Bright blue

Red cabbage leaves

Spirit, Sky Father

Tyr, Mannaz, Ansuz

 Beige to brown

strong brewed coffee, for a reddish brown: limes, deep brown: pecan or walnut shells

  Earth, Mother Goddess

 Berkana, Laguz

To dye the perfect eggs the natural way, here's what to do:

1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.

2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.

3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)

4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.

Decorations:

Use small leaves from fresh or dried herbs like flat parsley, rue, thyme or fern. Press the leaves against the egg and wrap securely with a section of old nylon stocking. Do this before putting in the dyebath. After dyeing, rinse these eggs in clear water before unwrapping.The area under the leaves will have little or no dye if done properly.

Glue dried, pressed flowers, sequins, crepe paper, or similar flat decorations to the eggs. Use your imagination.

Create designs with markers, stickers, paints. NOTE: Drawing designs with crayons won't work here as the waxy crayons will melt off in the boiling process.


References: Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions by Pauline Campanelli, The Rune Mysteries by Nigel Jackson and Silver RavenWolf

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