Dec 31, 2018

Witches For a New Year

"Come here, my bird! I will give you the dangerous black night to stretch your wings in, and poisonous berries to feed on, and a nest made of bones and thorns, perched high up in danger where no one can climb to it." 
That's why we become witches: to show our scorn of pretending life's a safe business, to satisfy our passion for adventure. It's not malice, or wickedness - well perhaps it is wickedness, for most women love that - but certainly not malice, not wanting to plague cattle and make horrid children spout up pins and - what is it? - "blight the genial bed." Of course, given the power, one may go in for that sort of thing, either in self-defence, or just out of playfulness. But it's a poor twopenny housewifely kind of witchcraft, black magic is, and white magic is no better. One doesn't become a witch to run round being harmful, or to run round being helpful either, a district visitor on a broomstick. It's to escape all that - to have a life of one's own, not an existence doled out to you by others...  
Excerpt from Lolly Willowes, by Syliva Townsend Warner

I think a great deal about my existence at the end of each calendar year. Whether my presence has helped or hindered others. How I might have added to the joy of the world, or where I might have washed entire universes away with my tears. I used to be very hard on myself. As the last days of December slipped away I would replay a list of my faults and failures. All the things I could have done better. The ways I should have been wealthier, healthier, wiser, or more loving. Though the unkind voice might still slither in at times, I'm done with tearing myself apart. It serves no good purpose. I'd rather take a look at what I've done well, and how I might slip into the current of those successes and swim toward the things that bring me more satisfaction and a sweeter life.

There were times this year, in moments of pain or fear, I spoke curses and blights that made me ashamed and I did my best to take them back as soon as possible. Curses can be useful but carry a weight with them that can bear down even the lightest spirit if used haphazardly, and I've learned that my own agony is not lessened by inviting pain on others.

I've come to a uneasy truce with a brain that is changing as it ages. No more multitasking, or trying to balance several spinning dishes in the air at once. I work better these days when I focus on one task at a time. I have discovered that jumping and wiggling makes my body really happy. Not running, or swimming, or biking. Jumping. I have learned that there is, sadly, such a thing as too much coffee. I know now that sunrises and sunsets - as many as I can glimpse - are an absolute necessity and not something I'm willing to go too long without seeing. We get too used to living indoors, I think. The woods miss us.


I have discovered that I'm not willing to be still. To be obedient or nice. I have very little interest in what others want for me or from me (though for those I love, there is little I wouldn't do). There are places I want to go, places I've waited to see, and I'm not content to wait for the right time to go, or the right person to go with me anymore. I've had my heart torn apart a hundred times and it always grows back in some funny sort of way, so there no longer seems to be much to lose. I am planning adventures that I will actually take this coming year, one way or another.

Life is not a safe business. And it's not long lasting. Even my beloved grandfather would have happily kicked around many years more than the 99.9 he was allotted if he'd had the lungs to let him keep going. I imagine my year ahead and it is all about how I will create a life of my own - one I can be proud of, blush at, and cackle loudly while recalling my journeys. I will satisfy my passions and my thirst for adventure. I will make magic and grow wicked things and revel in the roses as well as their thorns.

I'm wishing you a fierce 2019. Wild in all the ways you want it to be. Kind and soft as you like. Brilliant, love-filled, and so full of laughter that you have sore cheeks most days. May it be magic.

Happy New Year





photos courtesy of unsplash.com

Oct 28, 2018

The Great October Book Giveaway - The Magic of Aidan Wachter

The lucky folks receiving Six Ways are:

Nichola
Jason
Lisa T.

Thank you again for joining me this year - you've made my autumn extra glorious!

************************************

The kind of weather that only deep October brings moved into the valley last night, winds tearing leaves from the trees and sending them spinning in fiery-coloured tornadoes. It rained lightly, but more moisture is on its way. I'm looking worriedly at the Halloween forecast, but the last days of October are always a roll of the dice. And in the end, the truly devoted creatures are out haunting the streets on the 31st no matter the temperature.

The month's completion brings us not only a parade of costumed revelers (and whatever celebrations we get up to ourselves) but for the past several years I've tucked my October festivities away with a final gift from my wonderful friend Aidan Wachter.

Aidan is a talismanic artist, author, dirt sorcerer, and an all-around fantastic human being. He is in the process of revising how he creates and releases his talismans to the world and is nearly ready to pull back the curtain on his shop again. While re-working his artistic process, caring for a small farm with his amazing partner, and hopping from interview to interview, Aidan found some time to sign a few copies of his first book and send them along for you.

Six Ways: Approaches and Entries for Practical Magic is an exceptional read. Offering solid methods for personal work, ritual ideas, and laying out how the author has formed and molded his own praxis over many years, Six Ways is an absolute gem. Whether you are new to magical practice or have been working your own system for ages, you will be sure to find something to inspire you in this book. It is compact in size but vast in scope - I've read it twice and have several dozen sticky flags all over it. It's also peppered with Aidan's wit and humour, which makes it wildly fun to settle in with, too.



Be sure keep up with Aidan online or subscribe to his newsletter in order to hear when his shop re-opens and he begins to release his wild magic once more.

I have three copies of this fabulous read to slip into your hands as October fades away and the Wild Host rides us into the November chill. Please leave a comment before 9pm Pacific on Thursday November 1st. Alternately, you can use the "make contact" form above if the Blogger comment platform isn't playing nice. You can get your name in the hat a second time if you want to share a link to this giveaway or any of Aidan's wonderful work. Just pop back around to let me know and I'll make sure you get entered again. As always, please ensure that there is an email attached to your comment or account in some way so I can get in touch with you if your name is pulled.

Thank you again for joining in the autumn fun with me this month. Every year I get so much joy out of sharing the wonders I find, and it makes it all the more festive that you get such a kick out of playing along. I believe that in the end, I will have sent out a total of twenty packages of October cheer this month and it wouldn't be nearly as grand without the generosity and kindness of some of the artists and authors who help me pass along their work in this yearly celebration.

I hope the last days of this magical month are exceptionally good to you.


Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.



I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

Oct 22, 2018

The Great October Book Giveaway - A Life Enchanted

Edited Oct 26/18


The following folks are taking home books:

Earth Works - Heidi and Misty F.

Italian Folk Magic - Shell

The Enchanted Life - mxtodis


*******************

The days of October slip by too briskly each year and I find myself caught in a whirlwind of activity, trying to eke out as many sweet and magical moments as I can before the month expires. I have been to a spooky corn maze, lingered by bonfires, perused fall markets, nibbled warm cinnamon-dusted doughnuts (purchased to keep my cold hands warm, as much as for the taste), and am still planning a selection of Halloween-themed jaunts as we race toward that bewitching evening.

But I also understand that the enchantment doesn't end when October does. It lingers in our daily lives, in the wonder of nature and the seasons beyond our doors, through the tides of our years. It is in our stories, our family lore, our personal practices. It is in how we make a home and feed ourselves (and others). It flows through our gifts and celebrations and is something to be acknowledged, sought, cultivated.

When you stop believing in magic, in the wonder around every corner, when you stop leaving a plate out for ancestors or St. Nicholas, if there is no joy in gardening or mending or singing charms...when a feather is just a feather and flowers no longer heal...then you are in trouble.

This year three books came out that were good reminders that enchantment can be found everywhere - even in the places it can be difficult to look. These books speak of family, folklore, strength and healing. They offer personal stories and more worldly tales. There are recipes and ceremonies and spells to weave. There is deep wisdom here, and I'm wildly happy to get to share them with you.



Take a closer look at these beauties here:

Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time by H. Byron Ballard

"Earthwork" is a word used to describe a constructed bank of dirt, often raised in ancient cultures as a means of defense. Earth Works is a book of essays and rituals for a time of deep cultural change, a shift that author Byron Ballard calls "Tower Time." The first part of the book explores scenarios in these chaotic times and suggests possible reframing to understand the historic underpinnings and the long-term effects on both the planet and its inhabitants.

The second part of the book--called Berms--consists of tried-and-true rituals and ceremonies for communities, small groups and individuals to improve resilience and face inevitable change with courage, consideration and humor. 


Ballard has decades of ritual experience and brings that understanding to the practical and esoteric considerations of making ceremony both personal and powerful. You will find ideas here and inspiration--and something like hope.



Italian Folk Magic by Mary-Grace Fuhrun


Italian Folk Magic is a fascinating journey through the magical, folkloric, and healing traditions of Italy with an emphasis on the practical. The reader learns uniquely Italian methods of magical protection and divination and spells for love, sex, control, and revenge.

The book contains magical and religious rituals and prayers and explores divination techniques, crafting, blessing rituals, witchcraft, and, of course, the evil eye, known as malocchio in Italian—the author explains what it is, where it comes from, and, crucially, how to get rid of it.

This book can help Italians regain their magical heritage, but Italian folk magic is a beautiful, powerful, and effective magical tradition that is accessible to anyone who wants to learn it.


The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday by Sharon Blackie


Enchantment. By Dr. Sharon Blackie’s definition, a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world, a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life. Enchantment is a natural, spontaneous human tendency ― one we possess as children, but lose, through social and cultural pressures, as we grow older. It is an attitude of mind which can be cultivated: the enchanted life is possible for anyone. It is intuitive, embraces wonder, and fully engages the mythic imagination ― but it is also deeply embodied in ecology, grounded in place and community.

Taking as her starting point the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales, and folk culture, Dr. Sharon Blackie offers a set of practical and grounded tools for enchanting our lives and the places we live, so leading to a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world. To live this way is to be challenged, to be awakened, to be gripped and shaken to the core by the extraordinary which lies at the heart of the ordinary.


I have two copies of Earth Works, signed and gifted directly from the exceptional Byron Ballard, and one copy each of Italian Folk Magic and The Enchanted Life to give away. You have until Friday, the 26th of October at 9pm Pacific to get your name in the hat. Leave a comment or send me off an entry via the "make contact" form at the top of the page. If you want better odds, feel free to share this giveaway or the authors' books/pages around and then swing back and let me know and I'll enter you a second time. (And you are always welcome to let me know what book you prefer if you win. I try to match the names drawn with preferences, whenever possible.)

I've had so much fun this month, and it's not quite through yet! Let's see what else October has for us, shall we?


Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.


I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

Oct 16, 2018

The Great October Fetch Giveaway

Edited October 21/18

The person welcoming home Jade is... RheaWhite!

Do follow Polly in her assorted haunts on the web to see more of her divine art.

As for me, I've had house guests, corn mazes, and too much autumn fun this weekend, and now I'm off to dream of popcorn balls and candy apples... You'll have to wait just a few hours longer for the next giveaway - it will be posted tomorrow morning (October 22nd)!

 ********************************


Bring me all of your dreams, 
You dreamer, 
Bring me all your 
Heart melodies 
That I may wrap them 
In a blue cloud-cloth 
Away from the too-rough fingers 
Of the world.

The Dream Keeper, Langston Hughes


This next giveaway is something very special, and one of my favourites for the past three years. The extraordinary Polly Lind has created an enchanting creature for a very lucky someone to adopt. Polly is a fabric artist living and practicing her art in New Zealand. She creates designs centered around folklore, nature, spiritual practices, and whatever moves her own creative spirit.

This year, Polly introduces us to Miss Jade Islington Hawthorn.

"Jade Islington Hawthorn was born during that time of awake and sleep, where your deepest wishes and dreams are hidden.

Her power resides in the elusive place, where dream memories slip from our minds, as we rise into the waking world. Jade has abilities to help you find the way through the realms of the dreamtime both sleeping and awake. And she will guide you when you are ready to manifest your dreams into this world.

In her bag she carries white sleep sand that she acquired from the sandman, she has maps of both the waking and dream realms, as well as a tarot deck that she uses as a guide to see your deepest dreams.
she has a dream journal, a key, a letter from home, a lace parasol to shield you from the falling nightmares"


"Miss Jade Islington Hawthorn is a hare Fetch, She stands at 21 inches tall, and is wearing a white dress and socks, white, silver, black and gray satin boots and white hooded cloak. she has a lace parasol umbrella, a kete bag (woven bag) with cloud and a silver key attached. In her bag is a rolled up map, and a folded map in a white pouch. a bottle of white glitter dream-sand, a deck of major arcana tarot cards a dream journal and a letter from home. and an authenticity certificate."


Miss Jade is singular and extra special because Polly is no longer taking custom orders for the Fetches (or Faeries or Poppets) she makes. Instead she will be creating her own creatures twice a year or whenever the spirit moves her. Do keep up with her on social media or at her website to hear news of her creations!

You can find Polly here:

www.Pollylind.com
On Instagram
On Pinterest
On Twitter
On Tumbler
Facebook Page
Patreon

This ghostly dream-guide will find her forever home on Sunday, October 21st. Your comment counts as your entry or you can use the "make contact" form if you prefer or if Blogger is giving you a hard time with comments. Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you if you win. If you would like a second entry, please feel free to share Polly's work (any of her links/sites) on your social media or blog and then pop back here and comment again. I'll put your name in the hat a second time.



Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.


I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

Oct 11, 2018

The Great October Graphic Arts Giveaway

Update October 16/18

The following folks are getting something lovely in their trick or treat bag:

Ravenous - Issue I - cartermaryd

Ravenous - Issue II - Debra N.

Pam Wishbow pack - Melody S.

Pam Wishbow pack - Noreen S.

Trickster - NG

Yay for you all! I'll send an email along to collect your mailing address.


And the next giveaway begins now...

*****************************

This month of revels was originally centered around books, and only books. Nonfiction tomes, primarily, which reflected my interests and some of the wandering directions of this blog (mostly herbalism, witchcraft, and folkore). While bound stacks of paper make my heart sing, traditional books are not the only published material to speak of those topics that spin my mind into whirlwinds of glee. There are a great number of graphic artists that tackle the mystery and otherworldliness of nature and the occult.

This year I searched for wonder and wildness in unusual places, and I found it. Not just in my own woods and odd heart, but in the creative visions of some astonishingly magical people. Let me introduce you...


The first artist I'd love for you to meet is Pam Wishbow. Pam is an illustrator who is owned by cats and has a mod witchy vibe - she feels very much like an aunt who has a tea-leaf-reading parlour but who can also clear spooks from an old manse and break any zombie love spell you might be under. She offers the most wonderful selection of art, from her own graphic zines to small oracle decks, and cool little charm packs that seem quaint at first but can give you pause as you discover what is really haunting you (hint: it's not your dead grandfather).


The next item I have for you is, in fact, a book. But it's a special sort of reading experience. Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection, was curated and edited (as well as illustrated in one story) by Cartoonist Matt Dembicki. Matt searched out storytellers from First Nations communities that were willing to share their tales and write for this anthology. Native American artists were also employed for many of the 24 legends which dig into the trickster lore that exists in so many cultures. The collection is visually gorgeous, with rich tales that will pull at the mischievous spirit in you.


The graphic arts are home not only to illustration, of course. Photography and design are just as comfortable in this crowd. A new magazine to hit the witchcraft scene this year is Ravenous, a stunning 'zine' by Ravenous Media. Dripping with sumptuous photographs, and elegant layouts (check out their Instagram feed to get a feel for their style) the first two volumes are more art-book than glossy mag.

From the site:
Ravenous zine is a printed magazine for women* to connect with the wild within. through visual art, feature articles, and interviews, with an emphasis on activism & self care, it explores the archetype of the wild woman as put forth by Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her iconic work, Women WHo Run With the Wolves.

The zine is populist & Earth focused, yet it contains a highly stylized woodsy, dark aesthetic that mirror the wild, earthy, feral elements of femininity that are absent from modern mainstream culture. At its core, it's about reconnecting to our wild nature by gathering in circles, participating in activism, cooking and making crafts. it's a manual for face-to-face, in person gatherings in this age of social media and physical disconnection.
*I would like to add that this magazine is for any women who identify as women and/or anyone who finds femininity enchanting.


For this Graphic Arts giveaway I have up for grabs:

Two gift packs from Pam Wishbow that include her art zine "Give," (which is a double-sided publication that includes "Hunt," by artist Leigh Luna) as well as a hex-breaker charm and your own 'house ghost' card.

One copy of Trickster: Native American Tales.

One copy of Ravenous Zine, Volume I: Craft.
One copy of Ravenous Zine, Volume II: Sisterhood

My small post here hardly does these artists' work any justice, so please do follow the links to get a better look at their amazing projects and art.

Five names will be pulled from the hat on October 16th at 9pm Pacific. You can let me know in your comment, or your entry via the "make contact" form up top, which item(s) you prefer and I'll see if I can match the winners to their fave choices. Please ensure that your comment includes a way for me to contact you if you win!

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.


I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop


Oct 5, 2018

The Great October Herbal Giveaway

October 11/18

The folks taking home herbals this month are:

Liz D - Botanical Folktales 

Mel - Southern Folk Medicine

Sharon from October Tea Society - Blackthorn's Botanical Magic

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to enter. If your name wasn't drawn this time, don't fret...the next giveaway is ready for you!

****************************************

When I was around eight years old I went camping with my grandparents. It was the height of summer and I excitedly ran through an open grassy expanse of land that was dotted with red clover...and bees. I inadvertently stepped on one poor creature and it stung my foot. I limped back to the campsite, tears streaming down my face, and my grandfather attempted to get the stinger out, to no avail. My grandmother took one of the potatoes we were going to be having for dinner, cut it in half and placed it over the wound. Within minutes the sharp pain had lessened and the stinger came right out. That was the moment I discovered that plants were magic.

A few years later my grandmother would teach me about gardening (weeding first, which I never enjoyed until much later in life), and the joy of growing my own food. Aside from the potato miracle of my youth, there weren't too many other folk cures that I can recall in my short number of years with her, except that a cup of orange pekoe tea made everything better (as did ginger-ale). There was always a sugar bowl on her counter (even though she would rarely let us near it), a box of Borax in the entryway, and a kitchen witch hanging in her window. I knew that there were uses beyond the mundane for these things. I wish I'd had her around longer to ask more questions of, but she gave me enough of a start with gardening to encourage a lifetime love of growing things and wild curiosity of herbal medicine and magic.

I bought three books this year that speak to the wonder of plants, their history and lore, and their potent personalities. And of course I picked up a copy of each for you too.



The first book is the absolutely enchanting Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland by Lisa Schneidau.
I’ve written a collection of folk tales with a difference: all the stories involve trees and plants. 
Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland is a story journey through the growing year, with folk tales of the land and the wild trees and plants that surround us through the seasons, in countryside, town and city. 
A lot has been written about modern and historical British plant folklore. Most of this is fragmented: for example, we know that the elder tree has always been associated with witchcraft, or that nettles should be grasped by the stem. These are interesting connections, but they are not stories. It’s my search for these stories that has led to this project.

The next book is one I have been so excited to get my hands on, since the wonderful Amy, of Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends, first announced it. I've been working with essential oils in my small apothecary for almost ten years, and I'm always thrilled to learn more about oils I adore, and to have an introduction to a handful of oils I've not used before. I love the lore, recipes and myriad uses laid out for each entry in this delightful collection!

Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn.
Here is the first contemporary guide to the transformative powers of essential oils for use in spellcraft and the cultivation of ritual power. From rose-scented rosaries to the lingering aroma of frankincense, and the cleansing energy of white sage, Amy Blackthorn— the woman behind Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends —will take you on a journey beyond the soothing, healing power of scents into their hidden realms and their use in prayer, meditation, and shamanic journeying. One of the very first of its kind, this book includes:
  • The rich history and lore of scent-related magic
  • Over 135 essential oil recipes and craft projects
  • An explanation of how magical aromatherapy can enhance divination with tarot and runes
  • Practical information regarding the purchasing, blending, and storing of essential oils

The final book I gathered up for you is Southern Folk Medicine by Phyllis D. Light. There is a healthy emphasis on medicine in this book, with wonderful personal stories, history, and folklore of the Appalachian peoples. 
This book is the first to describe the history, folklore, assessment methods, and remedies of Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine—the only system of folk medicine, other than Native American, that developed in the United States. One of the system’s last active practitioners, Phyllis D. Light has studied and worked with herbs, foods, and other healing techniques for more than thirty years. In everyday language, she explains how Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine was passed down orally through the generations by herbalists and healers who cared for people in their communities with the natural tools on hand.

Any of these tomes would be a treasured addition to your bookshelves. There is deep wonder here and a true appreciation of nature and its magic, mystery, and healing touch.

You have until Thursday, October 11th at 9pm Pacific to drop your name in the witch's hat, via a comment (and be sure I have a way to contact you if you win) or send off an entry with the "make contact" tab above. You can let me know which book you prefer and I will do my best to pair winners with their choices, if possible.




Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.


I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

Oct 1, 2018

The Great October Tarot Giveaway

October 5/18

Thank you so much for the incredible response to this first giveaway! I wish I could pass something along to all of you (do swing back around this month and drop your name in the hat again) but I pulled four names from the official October cauldron, and the winners are:

The Nomad Tarot - Jennifer from Sparrow Tree Journal

Antique Anatomy Tarot - Anne D.

The Magician candle - Conjured Cardea

The Empress candle - Johanna

I'll send a note off to you asap!

And the next giveaway starts...now!

*****************************


When I first picked up a tarot deck I was nervous. I grew up feeling as though I wasn't at all intelligent and that notion gave me pause when I looked at a stack of 78 images that had layers of meanings to commit to memory. I dove in, despite my concern, and I fell in love with the cards and never looked back. (I also learned that reading is much more than rote memorization, and traditional interpretations are just one part of a tarot practice.)

Some readers believe that there's a benefit to starting out with a deck rich in imagery. I have always gravitated toward detailed cards that kept with the Waite-Smith themes. I especially enjoyed having the Minor Arcana sketched out for me. It wasn't until I took a class with Camelia Elias and opened my first Tarot de Marseille deck that I learned to appreciate cards where the artist left the suits to figure themselves out, without an added story line.

The two striking tarot decks I bought this year are both artist-produced projects, and are as different as they are beautiful. The Major Arcanas are simple yet compelling and offer just enough detail for those of us who still get giddy over symbolism. However, in these decks there is little excess information in the Minor Arcana - they get straight to the point (but in such eye-catching ways).

I am really pleased to start this magical month of giveaways off with these two artists!


The first deck I have for you is the fifth anniversary reprint of The Nomad Tarot, by artist Jennifer Dranttel. In her words:
The Nomad Tarot is a modern, nature-based interpretation of the traditional 78-card Tarot Deck. Featuring striking white-and-navy linework illustrations and indigo shibori-covered card backs, this deck combines Pacific-Northwest flavored imagery with elements of Norse mythology, Native American totems, herbology, botany, alchemy, and the Kaballah. 
The 22 Major Arcana cards feature lush, highly symbolic unique imagery, and the Minor Arcana are illustrated as "pip" cards in suits representing the four elements: earth (crystals), fire (moths), water (shells), and air (feathers). All illustrations are hand-drawn, and card layouts and text generated digitally.

The second artist featured is Claire Goodchild of Black and the Moon. If you were around a few years back then you might have spotted one of the editions of Claire's Oracle of Oddities deck that I passed along to a lucky visitor. This year she tackled an entire tarot deck and has given us the Antique Anatomy Tarot. This is her Ephemera Edition and gives a special nod to old time apothecaries.

"It’s no surprise that I love all things that fall into the oddities category and I have wanted to create something inspired by a Victorian Apothecary for so long. 
People would go to their local pharmacy for all kinds of ailments, including magical needs and even minor surgery!"

And if the deck wasn't amazing enough, Claire was inspired to add two vigil candles, dressed with specific cards, to her collection. I knew you would swoon over them, so I picked up one of each for you too.

The Magician, according to Claire, speaks to manifesting, creativity and spiritual power. The Empress is all about abundance, beauty and fulfillment.

Is your trick-or-treat bag ready?

I've got one deck each of The Nomad Tarot and The Antique Anatomy Tarot to give away (please note: these decks do not come with books - these are cards only). I also have one each of Claire's tarot-kissed candles. You can feel free to mention in the comments which one of the four prizes you prefer and I'll do my best to match up names with their choices as much as possible.

This draw is open until Friday, October 5th at 9pm Pacific time. You may enter by either leaving a comment below, or contacting me via the "make contact" form (third tab in from the left, at the top of the page). I need to have a way to contact you if I draw your name, so please ensure your linked comment takes me to your contact info, or leave your email with your entry in a safe manner (for example: Jen (at) someplace (dot) com).

If you'd like a leg up on the competition, please feel free to share this post on your favourite social media site and then pop back and let me know in a separate comment that you've spread the love around, and I'll toss your name in the witch's hat a second time.

Welcome back, autumn friends. 



*All photos in this post are property of, copyrighted to, and linked back to their respective websites and artists and are used only for the purpose of displaying the items purchased for the giveaway.



Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

Sep 30, 2018

The Delight of Decay on an October Eve


I moved my coffee mug around my desk all day, placing it so that it captured the late September sunlight that crept out between the rains. I didn't just want the caffeine this day. I wanted the golden light filling me, the blessedly cool air flowing over me, and the clicking and barking of the crows by the river echoing through my bones. There is no stopping the flood current of autumn now and I for one am wading out into the incoming tide, delirious under flame-leafed trees and the wanton scent of the land as it begins turn toward decay.

I am ready for this time of year. I am welcoming the picturesque death and rot. I wore my nerves thin on heat and smoke and wildfires this summer. Now I'm reveling in ridiculous gourds, tomatoes flaunting their multicoloured heirloom-ness, and the haunting songs of geese flying overhead. Dress me in apples and call me Pomona.


If you've been around Rue and Hyssop in the early autumn you'll know that there's a foolish amount of fun that unfolds each year in the month of October. I've grown a small garden here in the blog-verse over the past nine years and I like to share my harvest with those that stroll by my neck of the woods. When I'm out wandering and I pick up something that makes me especially happy, I grab an extra copy for one of you. I also encounter wondrous creatures who create enchantment and wish to share it, and I'm lucky enough to get to pass those gifts on to you too.

There has been, in the past three years especially, a moment's pause whenever October approaches. There is a part of me that wonders if this conviviality that I throw myself into is appropriate in a world where there is so much unrest, pain, and political and social discontent. There are protests to attend, politicians to contact, and injustices to call out. I believe in those things, in standing up, in caring for each other, in saying "no more." I also believe that sometimes we could really use some peace, some joy, a friendly moment with another human with no expectations.

I'd like to think that the October silliness I engage in each year gives folks something small to grin about. I hope that it introduces people to authors and artists they may not have stumbled across. I know that the people that get something cool in their mailbox from the festivities aren't unhappy they came by to toss their name in the hat, and I am always tired-but-smiling at the end of the month. So I think that until it feels really off-colour to pass along some joy each October I'm going to continue doing it as long as I am able (which I hope is a long time). This blog, even in its quieter state the past few years, has been a true delight for me. I've met wonderful people, made incredible friends, and grown my strange, thorny heart so many sizes since beginning this journey.

For those who know the routine by now, grab a cup of your favourite autumn-spiced beverage and put your feet up. If you are new around here, welcome. It's easy to get the hang of things, and everyone is very friendly. (Mind the one grumpy cat though. She blows raspberries instead of hissing but she will still swat at you if you get too close.)

Can you feel the excitement as the last hours of September slip away? Have you caught the intoxicating scents of woodsmoke, ripe apples, or the slow withering of the final summer flowers?

Let's do this October thing again.


PS - if you are not into giveaways then I'll catch you in November - no worries. I'd like to say that I'll drop off a bewitching autumn post here for your reading pleasure but this month is also the beginning of a big work project for me each year, so I won't make any promises I can't keep.

PPS - Rebecca from Kings Road Apothecary sent out a very helpful post, Self Care in Triggering Times that is brimming with ideas to ease your heart and body in these days of troubling news and media. If you are having a difficult time, please take care of yourself, call a friend, and/or ask for help. 

Aug 18, 2018

Pumpkins, Protection, and a Mad, Mad August

Summer 'Dog-Days' are from mid-July to mid-August. Our ancestors noticed Canicula, the Roman dog star, was in conjunction with the Sun - attributing mad dogs, irritable shedding snakes, and all sorts of vile behavior to Dog Days. Ponds stagnate, poison-ivy thrives, and the fetid air maddens us now with gnats, hungry mosquitoes, and flies; all of us enveloped in a humid miasmic cloud that hangs over these hills.

-Linda Ours Rago, Blackberry Cove Herbal, Traditional Appalachian Herbalism


I counted eight pumpkins, and felt a flutter of excitement in my belly. There were years when I wouldn't grow them because my allotted garden space was minimal and pumpkins were impractical - the plants took up too much room and their many fruits were more than I could use. But as the years raced by I arrived at this magical age when I realized that what was practical was less important than what brought me joy. I decided that life is too short not to grow pumpkins.

The tomatoes that were in my basket a moment ago are as crimson as the sun in its attempt to shine through the wildfire smoke. How many suns and moons have burned red this summer...I've lost count now. The wind changed direction and blew a thick haze into town this morning, like fog rolling in off the ocean. It settled in, right to the ground, and I can barely see the neighbour's house across the road. I'm covered in falling ash as I pick my way through the garden beds, examining the crops and tugging at invading grasses.

I've been having my breakfast in a cornfield since the beginning of August. It somehow seems right that the first day of the golden month would mark my appearance in the middle of an acre of corn, crawling through rows on my hands and knees, talking to the plants and the birds who watch this strange creature moving through the field. My farmer friend is losing her battle with weeds this year. Black nightshade, and a few other vigorous self-sowers, took over the spaces between the cornstalks and some of her successive plantings are being dwarfed by the invaders. She can't keep up so I've volunteered my first hour or two at daybreak, until my back gives out or until the sun rises too high and hot - whichever happens first. Then I wander back down the hill into my day, stopping at the small help-yourself farm stand to buy eggs for my breakfast.


In the last week we've come through another eclipse, a half dozen planets in retrograde, and meteors streaking across the night sky. In my area there are forest fires, large festivals luring the masses into our small towns, and hundred-degree days which, when all stirred up in the cauldron of The Valley, serves up its own sort of madness. I've had trouble getting enough sleep, have found my brain a bit foggy, and, courtesy of the smoke, I'm waking each day with squeaky lungs and a sore throat. These dog days are wearing on me, but I'm making my way through them with as much easy living and small, meaningful magics as possible.

Though we now identify the 'dog days' as the most stifling weeks of summer, most folks understand that the phrase originated with the yearly reappearance of the dog star, Sirius, which some ancient peoples associated with calamity and ill luck. The length of these days of discomfort (and possible devilry) could be anywhere from three to six weeks and could start as early as the beginning of July or run into late August.

Here in The Valley, we are weary from the smoke and ash of wildfires (though thankful that the flames did not swallow peoples homes like they have in previous years). The creeks are dry and the hillsides brittle, and we could sorely use some rain. Our dog days are not over yet. But we do what we can to keep our spirits up. It's a good time to keep up with your spiritual work too, refreshing the wards on your home and land. I keep my altars fed and watered, the spirits I work with honoured (even on the days when I'm too tired to think of ritual or libations), and there are a few protections that have been employed, both to thwart the 'mad-dog' energy and to shield from some of the more criminal activity that increases in our area during the tourist season.


Your favourite floor wash recipe is a wonderful helper for stagnant energy (and can only benefit the house after a dusty summer). If you are feeling 'bitten' by the summer blues or working to bump up your spiritual safeguards, tossing some dried, crushed-to-powder eggshells in your mop water might be in order (if you are unsure about this practice, research Cascarilla and the folklore associated with eggs). I keep any broom-straws that shed from my working broom and I will add one to my mop bucket when cleaning with floor washes to prevent any unwanted guests treading over my floor.

If you are not against calling on saints (or in this case, saints who are also angels) then Saint Michael can be petitioned for protection. Some practices involve hanging or tucking his image over your front door (slipping a small prayer card behind the lintel can be an inconspicuous way of doing this). There are also various amulet-type charms such as equal armed crosses fashioned from particular trees (rowan crosses with red thread, for example) that can be enlisted for their protections on homes or persons. I like to make use of what the land around me offers up. Last year I listened to an insistent prodding to twine some late-season raspberry canes into a delightfully prickly swag that lives over my door. It has been a wonderful guardian ally for my home.

The land is beginning to pull back its energy, no longer bursting outward in fireworks of colour and lushness but plodding along through scorching sun and the floating soot from wildfires. There are signs, in the tansy and goldenrod nodding on the roadsides, the deepening hours of darkness, and the quail families coming together now, legions of them running down the road or pecking and scratching through the underbrush, that speak to cooler days and the deep amber light that late summer brings.

I'm hoping for an early autumn this year - rains and winds to quench the fires and dry land. The charms or protections you weave now will see you into new seasons, and you can add to them with the next tide's harvests or found treasures (a door wreath or swag is perfect for this sort of work).


How have you fared this summer? Were the balmy months friendly to you, or did you wilt and melt and find solace in shade or swimming holes? The weather man reports that the heat has not had its last run at us. The hundred-degree afternoons should be finished now, but the days still linger in the nineties and we are yet moving very slowly during the mid-day hours.

I'm wishing you so many more pleasant days of summer - less madness and more ease. And if you are one of us who attempt to court the fall days in with apples and home-grown pumpkins, who tempt the cool breezes to come soon, then I wish you all the brisk mornings and crisp nights you desire.



Witch Notes: Further Reading

This beautiful post, from Hecate Demeter on her August days.

A good look at spiritual house cleansing with plenty of floor wash ideas, from New World Witchery.

Spiritual Cleansing, Draja Mickaharic

Protection & Reversal Magic, Jason Miller

Communing With the Spirits, Martin Coleman
*Though this may seem like a strange recommendation, it references ancestral spirits (which some of us work with in our homes) and charms and such for keeping trickster spirits away.




All photos mine except the photo of the night sky, courtesy of Robert V. Ruggiero via Unsplash.