The Great October Book Giveaway - Folk Magic

So many thanks to everyone who joined me for the October festivities this year! I had a wonderful time and am thrilled that folks still want to play along each year. I've drawn the last names (Aly, Gay, Shelby, and Mara have all been sent emails) and I'm wrapping up the final books to head out to their new homes.

I hope these last two months of the year are good to you and yours. Stay well and safe, and thank you again for gathering around the fire with me.

xoxo Jen

______________________

The salt shaker was on its side, little pebbles of the stuff scattered around it. Without thinking I pressed my fingers into the crystals and then flicked them over my left shoulder. Then I laughed and whispered "sorry, sweet devil," as I also happen to have a soft spot for the fellow, which that particular action was meant to thwart. There were a number of times while cleaning, that I did something which might seem strange to others but was unconscious or natural to me. Singing charms while sweeping. Drawing symbols on the doors with saliva or blessed water. Tucking a coin somewhere. Muttering a piece of a psalm. None of it on its own would be considered 'magic' necessarily. But all together, these actions weave together an enchantment to keep my living space safe and healthy.

My grandmother was not a witch. She was a 'good Christian woman' who raised seven children, grew roses like no one else, and kept my grandfather mostly in line. She could also heal a bee sting with a potato, cure whatever ailed you with food from her kitchen, and keep away pests and unwanted solicitors from her door with an ever-present box of Borax. I have never had any doubt that she was magic. 

Folk magic is, just as the term implies, the magic of the common 'folk' in a family, an area, or a culture. In many cases the people employing those charms, ways, or songs might not label it as magic. They may consider it a gift from their land or their god(s), a gift passed through a familial line, or simply a learned skill. It was most often what was done to protect a family or home, heal what was harmed, and bring things or people closer (or push them away). Folk magic was, and oftentimes still is, a tool of practicality or necessity. 

It is so much more than this, of course. And that is why I am leaving it to these next brilliant authors to introduce us to their studies, practices, and experiences of folk magic. I know you'll learn a great deal from them.

I have four books that present folk magic in beautiful, fascinating, practical (and sometimes painful) ways. Once you've read these books, you'll surely spot magic everywhere, and want to dig into your own familial and cultural history to track it down even further.

Our first book is one that will keep you busy, but the time spent here will bring nothing but rewards. New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic, by Cory Thomas Hutcheson of New World Witchery fame is, frankly, jaw-dropping. It is part history book, part enchanting folktale, a good helping of spellwork, a smidgeon of a recipe collection, plus a wink of devilish fun. It's as though the author took a basket out into the woods and rooted out the treasures of what magic was, and is, and could be, and brought them back just for us. 

Magic in plain sight, the witch's flight, friendly spirits and unfriendly (baneful) magic. Tricksters and devils, healing and love, and how to launch a good defense. Creatures, cryptids, spell containers and charms. I don't know that there is any topic that Cory doesn't at least give us a glance at, and he is quick to recommend further reading for those things that excite our interest. What impresses me most, though, is that there is a genuine effort to bring awareness to the places where the pursuit of magic can harm others - racism, cultural appropriation, sexism, and indifference to physical ability/ableness. There are also sections called "Singing Bones" where we are introduced to healers, witches, and magical folk in history. There is no question that those who were considered 'other' were not usually looked kindly upon in days of old. I'm glad some of these people get their names honoured in this book.

There is a strong sense that the place of magic shapes the form of magic. - C.T. Hutcheson

Fever Tree: Charms Against Fever in Appalachian Folk Magic  by Rebecca Beyer of Blood and Spicebush is a book that very much speaks to a place and form of magic. Appalachian healing traditions are a spellbinding example of how folk magic from one area can be similar to folk magic in another place, yet maintain the distinct flavour of the bio-region it was practiced in. The fever spoken of in the title is not a simple rising of body temperature due to an internal battle of our immune system. In the early days of communal-living people, fever was looked at as sentient and able to manifest. It brought sickness and disease. It was therefore crucial that it be prevented from laying hold, and there were a number of folks trained in ways help and heal, if it did. 

Rebecca introduces us to a host of people doing the good work of ridding contagion, from blood stoppers and granny women to charm doctors and burn whisperers. We are made acquainted with methods and ingredients that were employed by healers, as well as magical actions (or in some case, inaction) that were mean to chase fever away. If you've ever had an interest in folk healing, or specifically the Appalachian region, this book is a must-read! 

"Folk medicine does not stand still in time," says Beyer in this riveting study, "and today, this living tradition continues to grow and change as the people who heal with their hands continue to make and use the medicines of the mountains." 

This compact but captivating book is part of the Law of Contagion Series published by Three Hands Press and is a limited edition publication (there were only 400 copies printed). Do grab one while you can!

Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience: A Crucible at the Crossroads, by Via Hedera is our next selection, and one that I think belongs on everyone's bookshelf. I wish it were ten times the length that it is, because the author's writing and research pulls you directly into the stream of folk magic in North America (specifically the USA) and takes you into the hidden eddies to show you where charms mingle with tricks, and where family/ancestors, festivals, and local flora and fauna all have made a place for themselves in these practices. Most importantly, Via pages through the history books and offers up carefully selected gems, all through the unique lens of her own multicultural experience. 

There isn't a voice like Via's in the folk magic community, because there is no one else like Via. "I speak as a witch who seeks to promote the magical traditions of my ancestors and the witchery they brought here; from Africa, from Europe, from Asia, from Turtle Island - because for some Americans, like me, this is who we are and all we know."

This is necessary reading for anyone interested in folk magic. There is no 'one source' for magic - no one owns it - and Via shows us how these practices have melted together in the cauldron of North America, carried here by people from afar, as well as cultivated on this soil long before others arrived here. You'd do yourself a kindness by reading Via's blog as well, and I am hoping she will do us a kindness by publishing more books!

The charms we know today are most often hold-overs from those who came before us. We can trace their worries and daily fears through their common superstitions. We can view the world through their experiences when we tap into the charms they too utilized. Magic like this is an heirloom, one we ought to treasure for the simple lesson to be learned. - Via Hedera

Roots, Branches & Spirits: The Folkways and Witchery of Appalachia, by H. Byron Ballard is another collection of magical heirlooms and practical magic that I know you will love. I was utterly entranced by the author's storytelling. The rich tapestry of their particular area of the Appalachians, the history and the heartache, and the deep magic that runs through the mountains and the people there. Reading this book feels like sitting on a porch with an old friend who is imparting tales and wisdom they learned over their lifetime.

"This land is a holdover to another time: one of kindred bonds that are almost unbreakable, where blood feuds can transcend generations, and where old women carry secret knowledge." While there are important stories of place here, there is also a good sharing of recipes (receipts), herb lore, charms, and even a few ghostly tales. What better to curl up with during the long nights ahead?

If you haven't met and read our authors already, they each have truly excellent blogs and writings available that you will enjoy. Simply click through the links on their names above and you'll find them! A very special thanks this time around to Cory Hutcheson and Byron Ballard who are generously donating their autographed books to you!

This last game of trick-or-treat will run the month out - you will have until midnight on November 1st to get your name in the hat. Please make sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win (your email or social media tag). As always, you can let me know which book you'd prefer and I'll do my best to make that happen. And if you want to improve your chances, you can share this giveaway with your friends on social media and then let me know you did, and I'll put your name in the hat again. I'll draw the winning names when I awaken on All Souls morn (November 2nd).

Thank you so much for playing along this year! It has been quiet here of late, but I couldn't imagine not having these October games. I'm so glad you joined me around the bonfire and I hope you'll find some good reading at your side as autumn moves toward winter. Happy reading!

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, Instagram, 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 Hys

The Great October Book Giveaway - Historical, Ancestral, and Folkloric Magic

Thank you so much to all who were keen to start off this magical month with me! The next giveaway is now live, and as for the books here...they are going home with:

 Honoring Your Ancestors - Jennifer

 Southern Cunning - Heidi

 The Sleepy Hollow folklore books - Thistle

 Congratulations!

October has found us again. I am here, in my charming valley in the north west, snuggled in with fuzzy slippers and extra blankets pulled out of the wardrobe. September ended in near-constant rain and October arrived this morning with snow on the hilltops and ice on my car's window. I feel somewhat ill prepared for meeting the cold so soon, and I have been looking warily at the yard and gardens and noting the impossible number of tasks that might have been taken care of before the chill arrived. But there are better things to attend to than winter preparation. We have an entire month of harvest and haunts to celebrate!

Each year as I wander through social media, read websites and blogs, and listen to podcasts, I come across awesome authors, books that capture my attention, and card decks that tempt me to take them home. When I find something that catches my heart (or other bits) I try to grab a second copy to pass along to someone else. It's my small way of saying thank you to those who pop by my little spot on the interwebs here, or the kind folks who like, comment, or interact with me on social media. (Plus, I've always had a mad love of mail, paper, and packages, so this gives me an excuse to revel in those delights.)

For those who come back every year to celebrate this magical month with me, hello again old friends! And to those of you who are just finding this strange and celebratory place for the first time - welcome! Let's open the first chapter of this month and see where our story begins...

We start this delicious month off with a handful of books brimming with history, folklore, and ancestral veneration. Having just returned from several days in the history-and-legend-rich land of the Hudson River Valley I'm eager to share books that speak to connections with our past. What came before may seem to only have a tenuous connection with the here and now, but the past is still very relevant, and spending some time studying it can be a helpful and potent addition to our own journeys and practices.

Our first selection is Honoring Your Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration, a truly beautiful book from Mallorie Vaudoise about connecting and working with your ancestors. It includes important topics like healing ancestral trauma and choosing to interact with ancestors not of your bloodline, as well as touching on various spirits and saints. I have not encountered such a rich and thorough examination of this topic before, and I know you'll really enjoy diving into this important work too.

From the publisher:

"Ancestor veneration is one of the most widespread spiritual practices in the world. This book shares the important distinctions between working with blood ancestors, lineage ancestors, and affinity ancestors while helping you recognize the signs that your ancestors are responding to your petitions and offerings. You will also explore important topics like mediumship and ancestral trauma so you can be sure to develop a veneration practice that's uplifting and affirming for you."

Next is the wonderful Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon. I am endlessly fascinated by the deep magic that wells up under the land and spills out for those locals who are keen to listen for it, seek, and find it. Bioregional witchcraft is your witchcraft - it is the whispers of the trees in your town, the movement of the waterways that nourish you, and the stories of the place you lay your head. Getting to know your own local legends and history is invaluable when building a meaningful magical practice. Aaron digs deeply into the stories and important superstitions of the southern states where he makes his home, and the result is bewitching.

From the publisher:

"Southern Cunning is a journey through the folklore of the American South and a look at the power these stories hold for modern witches. Through the lens of folklore, animism, and bioregionalism the book shows how to bring rituals in folklore into the modern day and presents a uniquely American approach to witchcraft born out of the land and practical application."

My last selection is a haunting pair of books directly from Sleepy Hollow. I picked up two tomes during my visit, on the local folklore and legends of New Amsterdam and the Hudson River area:

Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley - Johnathan Kruk
The Historically Annotated Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving and Henry John Steiner

Both of these books are fantastically chock full of history and lore, and the annotated Sleepy Hollow has the added bonus of being Washington Irving's original ghostly rider story with the addition of a flurry of footnotes relating the historical accuracy that Irving's colourful tale sometimes chooses to ignore.

I have one copy of each book to give away (the Sleepy Hollow books come as a pair), and the three winning names will be drawn on Saturday, October 5th at 9pm Pacific. You can state in your comment which book you'd prefer and I'll do my best to arrange the winners with their chosen books but I cannot promise that will always work out


The important-but-tedious bits:

We are running simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around  (either a particular giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you shared some October love, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" button on the top of the blog.

All mail will go out within three business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in most of North America) to five weeks (if you are in the EU).

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, Instagram, 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.

Riding Goats into May - A Nod to Walpurgisnacht

The wind has been howling at the windows for three days, and although the sun has done its best to shine in between spring rains its heat cannot compete with the biting cold that the tempests have blown in. I don't mind the last gasps of winter, the final shake of Frau Holle's feather blanket that resulted in rain-snow-hail this past weekend. In my mind and dreams the Wild Hunt is riding a frenzied race across the skies to the peak of the Harz to celebrate winter's end and the coming of summer. I need a fast goat who likes altitude, because I want to go too.

We have arrived in the season of lush festivity. And let's face it, in days of old if you made it through the winter without succumbing to disease or starvation there was definitely something to celebrate. Feasting on spring greens and shoots, lighting bonfires to chase off the winter and to cense your livestock, jumping brooms and fires (and jumping each other - it's a very fertile time of year after all), were some of the activities that folks embraced as the days grew long.

The last day of April marked Hexennacht, when it was said that witches rode to their sabbath at the Brocken in the Harz mountains of Germany. The saint Walpurga/Walburga who was called upon to aid in protection from witchcraft was canonized on May 1st, conveniently overlapping her eve with the night of the witches. Walpurisnacht (Walpurga's night) became both the time when witches were out on their revels and when people would employ protections for their homes and livestock to keep them safe from witchcraft. It's a wicked merry-go-round, isn't it?

If May dawned and you made it home from the mountains or your woodland frolicking, then you might bathe yourself in the morning dew to ensure youthfulness for another year. You could find yourself spinning ribbon around a maypole with village folk, guising or dancing in a parade through the streets, or preparing to lead your cattle between two bonfires to bless them with vitality.

There are more stories of folk practices and debaucherous frolicking than I have time to tell while the hours of April slip away, but I wanted to share a few words from others here - snippets from people and books I enjoy that speak to the spirit of this celebratory time. I'll be out by the fire tonight (if the wind cooperates) and I'll lift a glass to see the Old Woman of winter off. If you hear me howling, send a howl back. I know you're out there bringing in the May in your own way.

Bernard Zuber

"Some call it Walpurgisnacht or Beltane or May Day, and the days of observance may shift minutely, but the general celebration remains the same. It is a grand day of festivity and rejoicing, an ode to vanquishing the dark and looking forward to a green and glorious future. It is a time for joyous feasting and the encouragement of growth, a time for lovers and life.

In Blacktree, however, we see Hexennacht as a night when witches fly to their own gatherings and revels. On this night, we also acknowledge and honor our genus loci and other land spirits. For us, Hexennacht is literally a night of witches; it says so right in the name. On this night, we howl at the moon, wild in our power and in love with our very nature as witches. We connect deeply with the land and spirits around us."

Besom, Stang & Sword, Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire

"Although officially sanctioned by the church as the feast of Saints Philip and James, May Day celebrations in England smothered religious veneration with fertility rites suggested by flowers and fires. The notorious lecher, King Henry VIII, took great pleasure in his court's floral masquerades and the sexual license of Mayings. The common people had fun with setting up maypoles, lighting bonfires, playing football, running races, morris dancing, and flirting. Villagers were sent into the woods where they would cut down a maypole (that most obviously phallic symbol) to erect in front of the parish church, and many young couples, it appears, got "lost" for the night in the woods to enjoy semi-clandestine love."

Ritual in Early Modern Europe, Edward Muir

"Beltane rituals are still held. Traditionally bonfires are lit. To heal infertility, people creep through bonfires, jump over them, and run between them. Once upon a time, they also made love amongst the bonfires, although to avail yourself of this power you may have to build private, personal fires."

Beltane Bonfire Spell, The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, Judika Illes

"Walpurgisnacht" by Albert Welti 1897

"A Munich vesper from the fourteenth century mentioned a Brockelsburg as being an abode of nocturnal ghosts and witches. Such "buck mountains," "hay mountains," or "heathen caps," where the last heathen festivals took place, were found throughout Europe. The most famous of these is the Brocken, in the Harz mountains of Germany. The "witches" usually gathered there on Walpurgis night. They danced the last winter snows away in "participation mystique." In the sagas they danced so vigorously that they danced through the soles of their shoes."

Witchcraft Medicine, Muller-Ebeling, Ratsch, Storl

Bernard Zuber

This charm may well be the 'vesper' spoken of above. I've included a small snippet here if you are the sort to quake at witches flying overhead and want a few words of protection to whisper as you drift off to dream. (I'll try not to wake you as I streak by on my goat.)

May the supreme Numen divinium,

may the holy sanctus spritius,

may the sacred sanctus dominus,

again protect me this night

from the evil creatures that roam the darkness

and I sign myself

against the black ones and the white ones

whom people call the Good ones

and who leave from Brockelsberg

- excerpt from a 14th-15th century charm,
published in Lecouteux's Phantom Armies of the Night

I wish you wildness and firelight. Frenzied joy and good feasting. Kisses and dances and all the merrymaking you desire. May your earth and home and family be fruitful.

Happy Witches' Night. Happy May!

Blessing the Seeds and the Blossoming Year

There is a world I had forgotten. Beyond snow and ice, frigid temperatures and howling wind. That world has been slowly slipping into this one, and over my winter-ravaged spirit, thawing even the most cold-bitten parts of me. The vernal equinox arrived in the northern hemisphere four weeks ago heralding a bright new season, but the warmth of spring has taken its time settling in. The sun that lights up our valley shares space with fast-moving clouds, cold rain, and blustery winds. The eternal early-spring dance twirls on.

Spring rain coaxes out a different perfume from the earth than autumn rain does. The last time my valley was blessed with precipitation that wasn't snow, it was late November and the land had concluded its sickly-sweet dance of dying and rot, putting that haunting season to bed barren and still. The rain returned at the dawn of this month and the earth is rising to meet it, flushing with the sharp medicinal bouquet of greens and yellows. The buds on the trees are growing fat (and in a very few instances, popping open), and the grasses are pushing up from under last year's leaf compost. This is not the sugary scent of spring bulbs and blossoms - that will come soon. This is the hint of ginger and citrus, the pleasant balm of sunlight-awakened earth, that is the first welcome home sign of spring's return.

I am still stirring from my long winter's slumber, stretching and yawning. I've begun walking with my umbrella by the river as the Canada geese pair off and gorge themselves on the new grass on the path. The sheep have lambed at the small farm beneath the hill and the little ones race around their mothers. Crows soar past carrying nesting material in their beaks. The last of the snow melted away from the shadowy corners of my yard only two weeks ago, and now I'm keenly aware of how much work I have in order to clean up all the garden beds for the new growing year. It will move fast now that the cold season has finally loosed its grip.

This year I am making more of an effort to watch the moon and charting the astrological signs so I might put the age-old wisdom of well-timed planting to good use. I have my trusty Old Farmer's Almanac and a journal to mark this year's experiments, successes, and inevitable failures. My peas and lettuces went into the ground under the waxing moon in Cancer last Friday, and I'm hoping to get some spring flowers in today or tomorrow while the moon is lingering in Libra. (I've long planted under the particular moon phases, but I've never been especially vigilant about planting under specific signs.)

If you too want to give your crops a leg up, why not try to correspond your planting and tending to the moon's movement through the constellations? Here's a quick and easy list for reference, or you can always pop over to the Farmer's Almanac site and check in on their moon planting calendar each month.

ARIES (head & face): Dry and barren. Never plant. Best sign for plowing, tilling and cultivating.

TAURUS (neck): Earthy and moist. Plant here to withstand a drought. Excellent for root crops and okay for crops above the ground and flowers. 

GEMINI (arms): Airy, dry and barren. Destroy weeds, kill trees and prepare soil.

CANCER (breast): Watery and very fruitful. Plant here to withstand a drought. Excellent for above and below-ground crops. Time to graft. 

LEO (head): Fiery, dry and barren. Never plant; destroy weeds, kill trees and prepare soil. 

VIRGO (bowels): Earthy, dry and barren. Destroy weeds, kill trees and prepare soil. 

LIBRA (balance): Airy, moist and semi fruitful. Excellent for flowers (beauty) and okay for above-ground crops. 

SCORPIO (loins): Watery and fruitful. Excellent for above ground crops and flowers. Okay for below-ground crops. Time to graft. 

SAGITTARIUS (thighs): Fiery, dry, and barren. Destroy weeds and kill trees. 

CAPRICORN (knees): Earthy, moist and productive. Good for root crops and okay for above ground crops. Root cuttings and make grafts. 

AQUARIUS (legs): Airy, dry and barren. Destroy weeds and kill trees. 

PISCES (feet): Watery and fruitful. Plant here to withstand a drought. Excellent for below ground crops and okay for above ground crops. Root cuttings and make grafts.  

If charting the moon's course isn't enough magic for you, there are a variety of folk charms, historical customs, or familial traditions that you can employ while preparing your gardens for the new growing season. 

* Ask the elders around you what practices were their favourites for successful growing. My 86 year old friend swears that you must bury a fish beneath your tomatoes and pumpkins for the best possible harvest (I prefer to use a good quality fish fertilizer).

* If you created a corn or wheat dolly last summer or autumn you can put it to bed in the garden or field now to re-plant the spirit of that fetish back in to the earth. Some folks will burn or bury their dolly upon creating a new one each year. You may have your own charms or magics to tuck in your garden as the growing season begins. Perhaps you've written out petitions of things you'd like to come to you slow and steady as the spring progresses, or you may bury a coin or two with the beans in the hopes of 'growing' your bank account. 

Wildlife-safe, biodegradable or retrievable offerings to the land can be made at the start of your growing season and/or throughout the year. I routinely share local wine with my gardens and their good spirits, and chocolate-free cookies or cake make their way into a specific corner of the perennial garden to keep myself on the sweeter side of the mischievous creatures that wander by that shade-dappled place full of strange, flickering lights in the dark, and odd volunteer plants.

* There are a number of seed-sowing charms and songs.  The Consecration of the Seed from the Carmina Gadelica is a beautiful example. Children's gardening songs are easily found - often creatively crafted to the tunes of older songs a child has learned. I create my own as I move through each variety I'm planting. It's a delightful trance to be in, singing or chanting to the seeds as you tuck them into the earth, wishing them fruition.

The old saying "one for the rook and one for the crow, one to die and one to grow" has many incarnations and is found all over North America and abroad. Being generous with your seeding was wise as it meant more chance of germination, especially when planting seeds near the surface of the earth where hungry critters could nibble them up. In a similar bent, "two for the devil and one for the garden" speaks to successive sowings of plants that might be finicky about sprouting. Sometimes this is temperature related (sowing too early) or might be a result of sub-par seed stock, or simply a crop that takes its sweet time germinating.

* Special days, hours, or time markers that have meaning can be worked into your planting rituals. In different regions, towns, or even spiritual communities there are sometimes special days/times that signal optimal planting opportunities. Perhaps you always plant a certain flower or herb on a beloved's birthday. In my valley we consider the May holiday weekend the safe-zone to begin planting crops that are less cold-hardy. Good Friday was once considered a beneficial day to plant as the devil was thought to be powerless on this date. (Of course, this is going to depend on your climate.)

Sowing above-ground crops as the day dawns or as the hands on the clock work their way up (from 6 to 12) might be how you symbolize your wish for the plants to grow tall and strong, and planting root crops in the waning hours of the day or when the clock hands are moving downward may bring to mind healthy tubers reaching deep into the earth.

However  you bless or begin to plant this year's gardens or patio pots or wee windowsill terrariums, I am wishing you the utmost joy as you step into spring and the blossoming year!

Sweet month thy pleasures bids thee be

The fairest child of spring

And every hour that comes with thee

Comes some new joy to bring

The trees still deepen in their bloom

Grass greens the meadow lands

And flowers with every morning come

As dropt by fairey hands

- John Clare, The Shepherd's Calendar, "April"

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

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...

photo pamwishbow.etsy.com

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.

Instagram photograph @ravenouszine

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

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