TatteredWitch

 Covered patio. I had been an almost-meditator for what seems like my entire adult life.  In the early years, I was so picky about where and when (seems like all of the universe had to be aligned 'just so' in order for me to even try)... later came littles.... then back to wanting perfect conditions... on and on and around and around it went. I meditated, but no matter how I longed to create a steady habit , I could only manage like three days in a row, then I'd be off for a couple of days, meditate again, then not for a week or more.... sigh.   It seemed impossible to make it a real practice. Outdoor sacred space. This summer it all changed.  Madd and I wanted to make a sitting area in the den so  I rearranged some of the furniture-- shuffled around a few tables, got rid of some stuff that had been in the large cupboard for years and years, brought in my little wicker sofa that had been living next to the pond (for meditating)....  things came togethe...

 I sat down at my table a few days ago,  and saw a little note  laying there-- "well-being spell jar" it said.  I don't remember writing it, but I've had creating a spell jar on my mind, since seeing that little scrap of paper. This morning when I went downstairs, I was feeling quite happy with the world, saw the note again, and figured it was an excellent time to make a Happiness jar. Being super conscious of my thoughts and feelings has been my focus lately, and with a heart and mind turning toward All The Best Things, I made my list: "Happiness Requirements:" What, truly, do I require for me to be Happy? - Shelter. - Food.  ( Zacatecas Enchiladas come to mind.  Mmmmmm .) - Survival Resources.  (pet food, warmth, electricity, internet, good automobile, gasoline...) Yes.  - Love. - Beautiful things around me. Now we're gettin' somewhere. - Tea. - Toys. - Sparkles. (Joy, excitement, fun, bubbling forth.) - Inspiration. - Connection.  (to The ...

This post was originally published on Ordinary Life Magic in December of 2009. I made girly gift baskets last year for holiday gifts — one of my favorite things (and the first time I had done it) was lotion bars. How is it that I had lived my life without lotion bars? This recipe is called “simple”, and it really is… nothing could be easier. All you need for this one is equal parts of cocoa butter, oil (olive, sunflower, apricot, canola – whatever you like), and beeswax. I don’t bother with essential oils for this recipe – the smell of the cocoa butter is so strong that it would just over-power, anyway, and I believe it’s a waste of the oils. (I am tempted to try peppermint, though.) Add one part of each to your pan - I had a seven ounce jar of cocoa butter, so I used a tad over 3/4 cup of olive oil, and the same for beeswax - and melt them in your pan, stirring to blend. As this recipe is curable if it’s too soft or too hard, I pour a single bar into a mold, then let ...

 In our gardens we house many lovely rose bushes-- and while we enjoy their beauty outside very much, it also means happiness that these beauties need to be trimmed and loved to keep shining their glory. Roses mean Love in all sorts of grand ways to many people-- the Victorians were quite serious about their Language of Flowers... Floriography. In folklore and Herbal Craft, roses have long been used in love mixtures, owing to the flower's associations with the emotions. Rosewater is added to love baths. A rosewater saturated cloth laid to the temples will relieve headache pain. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals. Roses planted in the garden attract faeries, and are said to grow best when stolen*. Our gardens at the moment are bursting with these beauties, so what to do, except to bring their magic indoors? A Recipe for Love , then. Red roses symbolize love and respect. Burgandy means simple pleasures. Orange and Coral -...