neighbourhood witch

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. ...

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall."

So here is to being filled, my friends. ♥

HOW THE HECK DOES GOOGLE WAVE EVEN WORK!?!?!?!

Yesterday afternoon's project was time consuming but something I'd never done before: making an ointment! My sister helped me, doing the hard part -- chopping the wax!

The recipe comes from Homemade: How to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally. It was pretty easy to follow, despite the fact that I don't have a double boiler and had to improvise!

It called for light olive oil, fresh calendula (marigold) petals, beeswax, and vitamin E oil. I wanted to find beeswax in granules, but the store only had blocks, so the most ridiculous part of the whole affair was attempting to chop bits off the large block of wax. Next time I need beeswax, I am definitely going to look until I can find it already chopped or in granules. We have marigolds growing in front of our house, so I just went out and cut blossoms off for use in this ointment.

Basically we put the olive oil and the calendula petals in a double boiler for two hours. Following that the liquid is strained, returned to heat, and the beeswax added. Once it's all liquid you take it off the heat and beat it until it becomes thick and creamy, at which point you squish a capsule of vitamin E into it as a preservative and then pour or spoon the mixture into whatever container you're going to keep it in. Pretty easy!

I'm very excited to have made my own ointment. I definitely need to purchase a double boiler, and probably a few things like spoons and such for use only in making medicinal things. I can't wait to experiment further! Next up I plan to try a different all-purpose formula listed in the book.

I have to tell you, I dread shopping for Mr Zombi. It's not because he doesn't like things -- he loves lots of things! It's mostly because I always stress out about my presents needing to be perfect. He never tells me what he wants, so I have to guess. I think he thinks that makes it more fun, but for me, it just makes it super stressful. In any case, I always shop for him at the last minute because I agonize in my head about what to get, what to get, what to get until I look up and it's TIME TO GET SOMETHING NOW. Last year for his birthday I bought him a small singing bowl from India, and for Christmas among other small things -- like a packet of incense and a wee lucky Buddha -- I purchased a small sculpture, made by artisans from the Shona tribes of Zimbabwe. It is really beautiful and it went well with other African art he had, and I was really proud of myself. I've been trying to figure out how on Earth I could top that, but so far I came up blank.

In any case, his birthday is Friday, so it's obvious that I'm running behind. It's Wednesday, for goodness' sake!
I don't think what I purchased today will come in the mail on time, but should come soon. It will definitely be here before we leave for New Orleans, so it's all good, I think.

This year I bought him a hand-carved gourd, fair-trade imported from Peru. In Andean culture, gourd carving is a tradition handed down generation after generation and a tool to record traditions, rituals, myths and celebrations. This artform is not only beautiful but also a form of storytelling -- it has been used in communities to record Andean celebrations, oral traditions, myths, rituals, and weddings. Archeologists in Peru have discovered gourds carved as much as 4,000 years ago! With a fascinating history and tradition like this behind it, I thought this gift would be a perfect choice. Mr Zombi loves learning about other cultures and collecting various kinds of art. He already has many African carved masks and statuary, but he doesn't have anything like this.

I really enjoy buying things from the Rainforest Site because not only do they often have such interesting and diverse things available, but they also donate the proceedings from their sales to efforts to save acres in the rainforests. This land preservation is paid for by site sponsors and carried out by The Nature Conservancy, The Rainforest Conservation Fund, The World Parks Endowment, and Rainforest2Reef. These organizations work to preserve rainforest land in Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay and other locations worldwide. Purchasing this present for Mr Zombi will give or help 2290.0 sq. ft. of land. It's something I can feel good about giving, and it's a detail I know he'll appreciate.

With flu season upon us and the swine flu scares that have been going on, a lot of people are looking for things they can do to help prevent getting sick. There are a number of nutrients that are fundamental to immunity. Vitamin C and its synergistic antioxidants like vitamin E, NAC, selenium, and beta carotene are just a few. Others include zinc and vitamin D. Even friendly flora that helps maintain digestive competence is plain common sense. And thankfully, there are many other nutrients that can help your immune system in times of need. No nutrient guarantees protection from Swine flu or any other illness. On the other hand, lacking immune support nutrients is like going into battle with a neon target on your forehead.

This is a photo of some of the things I keep at home during this time of year to help me fight off seasonal colds, influenza, and other wintery ailments. The tea packets pictured are by the company Yogi Tea. Here's a rundown of the ones I'm using this time of year...

Cold Season - A blend of ginger and other herbs supports nasal and bronchial function, while eucalyptus aids free breathing.
Breathe Deep - This tea contains thyme, eucalyptus and other herbs that support the mucous membranes.
Echinacea Immune Support - Three varieties of echinacea give a full range of herbal immune system support. Astragalus and organic mullein aid respiratory function.
Throat Comfort - People at work ask me if I have a packet of this with me all the time! Contains slippery elm bark and mullein help relieve minor irritation.

I'm also taking two packets of Emergen-C every morning. I've been doing this for years and I have to say, it's helped a lot! Each packet contains 1,000mg of vitamin C, as well as a host of other great vitamins including B1, B2, B6 and B12.

Also pictured are extra supplements of vitamin D and vitamin B12, along with a bottle of elderberry syrup. Research shows that beginning elderberry supplementation as soon as flu symptoms appear can provide significant defense.

I finally got around to decorating my altars & spaces with autumn-y things. I have a strange attachment to maize; I really, seriously love it, so I figured it would be a nice & colourful choice to have sitting about. This photo is of the "main" altar-y space, where typically I do offerings and whatnot.

I also messed about with my ancestor space but unfortunately, I had a bit of an accident with candle wax, so I need to give it a good cleaning as soon as I figure out how to get candle wax out of fabric. Oops!

Here is a view of the space from further away -- and here's the best view of the ancestor space I have for now. Darn that candle wax! Speaking of, it's time for me to say daily prayers & give libation. That's pretty much what I've been up to lately, that & I have a friend discussing a possible curse with me. We've not decided yet how to proceed -- tarot readings are in order.

Not really doing much at the moment, mostly just school. Mr Zombi and I will be spending Samhain in New Orleans, so I'm not even really planning for Samhain.

I did receive the Deviant Moon tarot deck in the mail recently -- it's gorgeous. I can't wait to start working with it! The images are very interesting and dark.

Apparently, according to Mr Zombi, I was talking in my sleep about how someone was going to take my red blanket from me and I really didn't want them to. I was, he says, VERY upset about this.

I do not remember this dream at all. O_o

Tealights are great because their burning time is relatively short, they are easy to find, and they're inexpensive. They are also useful if you want to do the same spell for several days in a row, but you're a busy person and you don't want to leave a burning candle unattended.

When I do work, whether it's for myself or for a client, tealight petition magic is often one of the first ways I consider when thinking about the best way to get something done. You can add whatever type of herb or oil to a tealight, and when it burns out it seals inside itself all the material, making it easy to dispose of. All that's necessary for simple tealight petition work are:

• a tealight
• something to burn it in
• a piece of paper & a pen
• herbs or oil, etc of your choice
• a little bit of time

That's it! I usually burn my tealights in a glass holder meant for a votive candle, because I feel pretty good about leaving the little candle burning down in the bottom of a big glass cup.

First and foremost, I gather my materials together. If I need to reference what herbs are best for what purpose, I usually turn to Cat Yronwode's Hoodoo Herb & Root Magic book, but you can use a simple google search to find that kind of information if you need it, too. I take the little wax candle out of its metal cup, setting it to the side.

Once I've made sure I have what I need, I'll take a minute to sit down and write out what it is I'm after. A little piece of paper is best, because you're going to be folding it up and sticking it under the candle while it burns. An example of this: Let's say I want to do well in my studies. I'll write my full name on my little piece of paper, and then I'll turn it 90 degrees and write what I want over the top of it, covering my name with my desire. So I'd write "first name middle name last name", turn the paper 90 degrees, and then write something like, "Focus & understanding in my studies -- the ability to retain what I learn", or somesuch. I'll fold this up and stick it in the bottom of the little metal cup. Sometimes this doesn't work out because the paper is too big and takes up too much space in my cup -- that's okay. If you don't want to put the paper down into the cup, just set it to the side. You can burn it in the flame later.

That done, I'll put a pinch of herb into the bottom of the cup on top of the paper. For my examples, I'm going to mention herbs that are commonly found in kitchens. Since I'm after success in this example, I'll put a pinch of allspice in my cup, along with a little basil. Both those, by the way, are also useful in matters of luck and money. A bit of cinnamon helps speed my luck along and provide a little protection, and mint can be used for mental strength and clarity. Obviously, the herbs you use will vary by your purpose.

You don't have to anoint the candle with oil, but I like to. We call this "dressing" the candle, by the way. Because I make my own Has no Hanna, I'd use that for this example -- all purpose luck, etc -- it would be a good choice. You can experiment with oil making or look around online or in your city for pagan shops that sell oils. I tend to apply the oil with one fingertip to a tealight, and I start with top, to which I apply the oil in a clockwise fashion. Tealights are so small that I don't really bother with more ceremonial or ritualistic ways of dressing them, but if you're interested in knowing how I dress larger candles, feel free to ask. Once the top is dressed, I'll do the same thing around the sides of the candle, and then to the bottom. As you do this, concentrate on what it is you want. This should be a thoughtful process.

When the candle is dressed with oil, I usually tip it on its side in the cup and roll its edge in whatever herbs are inside. This prevents mess, and the oil will help powdered herbs and such stick to the wax of the candle. Once I've done that, I'll pop the tealight back into its metal cup, and put it into the holder I'm using the burn it. If the paper is inside, we're pretty much done -- just pause, say out loud whatever it is you want, add a little prayer if you believe in deities and want their assistance, and light the candle! Let it burn itself out undisturbed.

If your paper is not in the little metal cup, go ahead and light your candle and stick it in the holder. Now take your paper and once again, say out loud whatever it is you want. We say things aloud to "announce" them to the universe, or to make them more "real". Once you've said your piece, hold the corner of the paper to the candle's flame. Allow the whole paper to be consumed by the fire in whatever manner is the safest and most appropriate to you. That done, let the candle burn itself out.

Domestic Witch is having a great giveaway in honor of their 100th follower! The winner of this "Queen of Cups" giveaway will get some lovely goodies, so check it out here!

It's also a great blog (: