SHARING THURSDAY - MintFaery

 Good morning, everyone!

Saturday mornings are my relaxed mornings. I don't wake up uber early if I can help it. I also usually take my coffee and Belvita cookies to the sofa with the laptop until the LT battery needs charged. This is my YouTube time.

Last saturday, the video I'm sharing today popped up in my feed. I've followed MintFaery for a couple of years. She's fun and practical. Just watching her will bring a smile.

This time (from 2019) she was talking about an altar option with a mermaid/ healing vibe with items she picked up at the Dollar Tree. 

She inspired me to look at items more from a magical purpose/ intent rather than just seasonal. I hope you enjoy her video and subscribe.

Blessings

~Rain

TUESDAY TOOLS - The Altar

Still in need of a few things, but clean and presentable. This is a 2-shelf glass table I bought at Best Buy two years ago after having the studio completed. Glass, though man-made, is a composite of rock... sand, really. What can be more natural than rock, except for maybe wood.

When designing the studio (I did the floor plan myself thanks to Home Economics in the 10th grade) I knew I wanted my altar facing East. I have a beautiful 36" x 48" sliding pane window. Most days I receive an abundance of light first thing in the morning to bless the altar and the items  upon the space.

Below the table, I have an old steamer trunk that was my mothers. In fact, the jar on the back left is filled with dried roses from the day I sent her on her new-life journey, though I don't believe she has traveled far. I feel her with me often. I keep my larger, less -used items in the trunk. Everything else I keep in my vintage wardrobe. I'll be showing that lovely find soon.

SACRED SPACE - New Indoor Space

As we approach the Turning of the Wheel, I am ready for the rebirth. I am almost completely moved into the new office/ studio. All of my witchy goodness has a permanent home. The new metal and glass altar sits beneath the East facing window. Below the table is a large steamer trunk to house my supplies. The steamer trunk belonged to my mom and has house various things over the years.

Next to my altar I have a new bookcase to house my massive book collection. I will be able to find things and have all my research books at my finger tips (rather than in a separate room of the house).

Finally, my antique wardrobe to house the most often used supplies. This was a treasure find at a consignment auction last year. Although everything else in the space is white, I chose to leave this in the original state though at some point I may recast and replace the decorative pieces that have broken or are gone all together.

I had hoped to have this all in place by Mabon but a fall the day before delayed my progress. But everything is here now, to stay.

How did you celebrate Mabon? Have you changed your altar to coincide with the season? I'd love to hear from you.

Blessings!
~Rain

A New Year

How was your Samhain? If you were lucky, like my friend Deborah Blake, you had snow on the ground for ritual. I know it's not exactly the weather we want for the biggest ritual of the season, but if the weather cooperates, I don't think there's anything quite so peaceful as a dark sky full of stars above and a blanket of snow beneath... and stillness all around. It's like the polar opposite of a raging thunderstorm for me.

For my Samhain, I had neither. What I did manage to do was finally get my altar the way I wanted it. Well except for the lack of candles. I can not believe with all the candles I have in this house - and in my ritual cabinet - I didn't have a single Yellow or Gold. :: shakes head in disbelief ::: But otherwise, I finally have a permanent altar. I've warned hubby NOTHING gets put on it.

So tomorrow when I go on a Quilt Shop Hop I'm going to buy the candle colors I need - at least two sets. I want to have a set I can use for a temporary altar. Hubby is gone 3 weeks at a time and home 3 weeks. It's part of his job as a river boat captain we've lived with for years. When he's gone, I can get up in the morning and visit the bedroom altar. But when he's home, he likes to sleep in at least til 8 and I'm an early riser. So I'm putting together a altar box I can keep in the living room and use a TV tray in front of the big East facing picture window.

As the holiday candles hit the shelves, now is the time to pick up the Gold and Silver candles in particular. With Halloween behind us, now is also the time to pick up the black and orange ones going on clearance. Learning from my own lesson, it's one of the things I'll stress in The Organized Witch.

As soon as I have those candles in place, I'll post a pic of my altar. I'd love to hear about yours. Is it traditional or is it more eclectic with things that mean something to you personally?