Storing your various water types can be a challenge. To keep moon water fully charged for example, you'll need to store it in a closed container in a dark space. It can be pulled out and poured into a glass for drinking or in a bowl to add to a bath but the container must be put back in a dark space and exposed to as little sunlight as possible.  Some even create unique bottles to store their ritual water. Here is a bottle I created for my moon water.

So I sit here today looking at the world from an entirely difference perspective. My mind thinks about all the plans I had in place at this point and realizes that things don't always go as planned. I think about what is around me here.  Here in this physical place.  Here in on this land.  Where my feet touch the dirt. I found this house while driving here on a house hunting trip some 11 years ago. Spotted a sign next to a road and literally only walk around the outside of the fence before deciding to buy it.  That was before the dogs or the deities.

The house ended up being part of a town that through research I found out was founded by my ancestors. The riverbanks there at Seven Springs held in my family for some time.  I learned that just 1/2 mile down the road, a cousin who was raised with me like a brother lost his life.  The house sits at a cross roads. We bought the house though the lot was small via email and phone from California without ever stepping inside. From the first day we were visited by spirits.  Though the years the house has changed. We have changed. Our focus, our drive and even our own personae has changed. Changed for the better.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

I had thought I would be saying farewell to these walls and this land. You see, everything isn't sunshine and roses here. We have a rough political system. We could use more opportunity. I see roads with dead ends that have pretty awful memories for me. Reminders of a less than perfect childhood filled with anger and mostly pain. I was looking forward to moving away from those daily reminders of things I would prefer to forget. It turns out that sometimes you have no choice but to face demons head on.

You have to stand up and claim your post. Your land. You have to walk in and say, this is my space. No one else has power here. This is my energy and my life. You have the power to allow others in or out. You are control. You are the magic and you are the power.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

I always joked to others that one day, a long time from now, kids would talk about that old crazy witch down by the river.  They would tell stories of sneaking through my yard or seeing me out in the illuminated in the light of the full moon burying something, probably a jar! I'll be a river witch, sitting on the banks collecting mosses and frogs.   Even thinking of myself as a river witch makes me a little uncomfortable. Though a Pisces through and through, water in my face is not something I fancy. I believe my fellow witches out there can attest to how a dunkin witch is a witch having a very bad day.  (reference)

So what is all this about? What is this crazy old river witch talking about?  Only time will tell, deary. Only time will tell.


Till next time.... 

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.