As many of you know last year we lost our business due to Hurricane Matthew. We re-branded and even though we can't attend the festivals as we normally would like to due to the loss of our Vardo, we are still making our jewelry and selling online. This past weekend was the kick off to festival season and many of our friends attended Festival of Legends this past weekend and will be attending Mayfaire next weekend. Ironically, we had another run in with the river this week. There wasn't a huge amount of rain all at one time yet the Neuse decided that we needed to see her power again.
As I sit typing this my videos of the swollen river are uploading to YouTube. I'm reminded of the chants from last year, "Water is life" and here I am realizing that it is also death. Water plays a huge role in magic. Water can be used in spells for love, friendship, healing, sleep and fertility. The Chalice is often used to represent water on the pagan altar. I draw upon the element of water often in my spell work. As a Piscean, water is near and dear to my heart. I have a healthy respect for water and after two near drowning experiences I tend to keep my distance, while always offering her respect.
I embraced her completely in this tarot card project I worked on where I represented the Star card.
The Star - Female Mystique Tarot
Many of the stones I work with in my wire weaving also represent water. Some of those stones are Amethyst, Aquamarine, Azurite, Celestite, Chrysocolla, Coral, Mother-of-pearl, Lapis lazuli, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Pearl, Blue and Pink Tourmaline, Sapphire, Selenite, and Sodalite. As we were walking the property to survey the damage I found a few river rocks that I plan to use in my jewelry. I plan to call upon the river energy to bless and protect the stones (and the wearer). I will have these up in on the site soon. I can't wait to share them with you.
I'll end with a few photos from the flooding we're having now.
This is the far side of the property. There shouldn't be water here.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
I turned around to take a photo of the house so you can see how close the water is to the house. It is about 100 feet from us on the side. The tree line behind the house obscures the view so I couldn't show you that. It is about 25 feed behind the house right now.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
This is the boat ramp downtown Seven Springs. The river has taken over the bank and part of the parking lot.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
This is the Main Street bridge. Still in the boat ramp parking lot. You can't see the part where you back your boat trailer up to put the boat in the water.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
Next we stop at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. This is the overlook shot. I take a lot of pictures here. It doesn't really show the impact of the flood water, but it was a beautiful shot.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
More of the Neuse River.
Photo Credit Renee Sosanna Olson
Respect the water energy, she brings life and death.
No walk through a witch's yard would be complete without the witch's garden. Some put rosemary by the garden gate, some do so much more. There is much more to magic than just spells. There is an energy around it. Bring some color into your life and and music. After all witches just wanna have fun.
Here's a few of my favorite garden flowers and their magical properties. (Properties sourced from witcheslore.com)
As the days warm up, I'm finding myself itching to be outdoors more. I work a 9-5 and then run BaubleSmith with the hubby so getting free time is pretty limited. Still, I like to be able to go outside from time to time. We are in the process of looking for a new house, so we're actually looking for a place that we can spend time outside without being carried away by the mosquitoes. A back deck/porch that is enclosed would be amazing. I'll need a wooded area as well, just a place to dig in the ground a bit and do ... you know, witchy stuff.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
On the property we have now, we have access to a stream that feeds into a larger river, perfect for cleansing spells or memory clearing spells. Just toss those fears (figurative) into the river and watch them roll down the stream and leave your mind for good. We also have about four acres that are completely wooded. The outside is lined with Hawthorne and Devil's Walking stick. I couldn't be more protected from negativity than I am here. It is indeed, our safe harbor from all things that attack.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
As Spring begins to come alive in the north, it is a great time to start adding some of these trees/plants to your area to help you not only spend more time outside with nature but also to add a bit of magic to your space.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Here's a few I have on my property:
Hawthorn is associated with love, marriage, health, fertility, chastity, protection and death. Rosemary is associated with fidelity, enhancing memory, to dispel jealousy and to keep away nightmares. Rose of Sharon is associate with protection against negativity and evil, improves psychic ability and attracts good spirits. Cedar is associated with cleansing and creating ritual spaces, longevity and power. Honeysuckle is associated with money, desire and fidelity.
Finding magical plants to empower your natural area is easy to do with containers as well. If you have a deck or even an open space next to a window you can create a nice little herb garden to brighten up your space. So what do you have growing in your space? How are you connecting with nature as the days warm up? Feel free to share in the comments!
I'm taking a step away from politics and family this week. I thought I would show you what I captured with my macro lens this weekend. <3 I hope you enjoy
Here it is, the middle of February and I have my windows open. I have on a short sleeve shirt and am outside taking photos of my budding plants. The weather certainly has gone a bit haywire from just a few years ago. We're expected to reach 79 degrees today. Unseasonably warm for eastern North Carolina. But, far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth. So I went out side with my new macro lens to test out some close ups with my camera. Here's what I ended up with.
Wow. It has been an entire year of this series. I'm not sure I'll be continuing it next year on a weekly basis. We'll see how it goes. I will be focusing on getting my craft together, both magical and mundane. Here's a look back at some of my favorite pictures of the year.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Elijah Olson
Photo Credit - Elijah Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Its been a fantastic year, thanks for tagging along. Wishing you health, wealth and well being.
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