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?

The Drum

For the past 3 or 4 years, I've been in search of a drum. I wasn't sure what style I wanted, but I knew the sound had to be rich, like the sound of horse's hooves pounding across the hard, packed earth. Whenever I came across drums in stores or vendor booths, I'd touch one or two but nothing pulled to me... until Saturday.

After all the craziness around here I decided to take the day off and head for a pow wow being held in Hardy AR, about an hour south of me. I hadn't been to one in several years. Just the thought of making contact with Mother Earth and feeling the vibrations of the host drum around me was all the incentive I needed. Pow wow's are also a great place to pick up supplies such as sage, cedar and sweet grass. All three items came home with me as well as 2 pairs of earrings. But my most precious purchase of the day was my drum.

At first I thought it was part of a display at the vendor booth for the only thing the gentleman had was a wide variety of cases with silver and turquoise jewelry. But I kept going back and forth until I noticed a young man tapping one of them... this one... so I stopped to talk with him. He told me the top was bull skin and had a richer tone than the other one he had, which was made of elk. As he made contact with the drumstick to the head of the drum, I felt the pull and asked how much.

When a vendor smiles and tells you the price is dependent on the type of mood he is in, you know you're going to buy something. He told me what the drum sold for, but the price he shot me was lower. He also included the drumstick and gave me choice of any of the three he had on hand. I chose the dark purple and chocolate cowhide braid. He was also kind enough to accept a check - something vendors seldom do because the cash is their travel money for the weekend.

As soon as I touched the instrument, I felt the electricity travel through my body, bringing me to tears. The drum had come home.

I look forward to many hours honoring the God and Goddess with it's beautiful music, for I know however I play it, it will sing with love.

Many Blessings

Rain

I'm so Excited!!!

Even though I didn't have the time to go anywhere on Sat. night, hubby lovingly encouraged I attend a local auction with him. "We won't stay late, I promise. But you really will be happy you went." So, I took time out from packing for a road trip to go. Five feet in the door, he gave something a kick. I looked down to see a large cast iron cauldron. Squeeee!!!!! This puppy will hold about 8 gallons. The entitites were with me as I bid. I got it for an awesome price and I'm so excited. Guess that means I need to get the sacred space cleared. hehe

What have you added to your 'magic closet' recently?

Creative Blessings!
Rain