Category: MidGardening Witchery

Letting the ancestors decorate the Covenstead

Posted on by runa

In the last few years, my partner and I have felt the gentle tug toward older traditions, especially as winter begins. We’ve leaned in harder to the unique cultural aspects that our ancestors loved. These pops of echoes throughout the covenstead honor stories told by grandparents, snippets of folklore tucked between recipes and holiday rituals. On the surface it looks like our house is full of garden gnomes. And it is. 

Over the years here at Villa Westwyk, our cozy cottage has begun to be filled with images, statues, and decor of (Jule) Nisse (Tomte), aka what Americans know as gnomes, or what those in Iceland call the Yule Lads (Jólasveinar). The latter have names like Spoon Licker, Door Slammer, and Window Peeper, so you know they are put in the trickster spirit column. But none of the pranks they do are completely harmful, but more a reminder that the spirit of the Land needs tending and nurturing.

Found throughout Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, these small, mischievous household guardians from our Northern European ancestors have become a charming theme for our winter Solstice observances, and we’ve employed them as part of our regular warding and protection magic. The gradual inclusion of these symbols of gratitude for the simple things in winter – As we began to decorate the covenstead for Yule, the theme of these holiday tricksters bring a blend of generosity, humor, and just a pinch of chaos, which aligns well with the PNW’s moody, moss-draped December.

Growing up both of my partner and I were taught about these protectors of farms and families, hosting a beard much like my partner bears.That such energy would follow us here to the landscapes of evergreen forests is not surprising. Our covenstead, soft with rain and wrapped in fog, already feel like the natural habitat of the energy that tomte & nisse hold. They are after all, creatures who thrive in places where the boundary between the everyday and the enchanted is thin. The Yule Lads, who in Iceland descend from the mountains one by one each night, would find no shortage of dramatic ridges and misty foothills to wander here. You can almost imagine them stepping out from behind a cedar trunk with a half-eaten cookie and a grin. They remind us that winter magic lives in the handmade and the thoughtful. They were like tiny elfish guardians, ensuring the well-being of land, livestock, home, and community through long, dark winters. Their presence mirrors a worldview where the home and Land are sacred, alive with unseen watchers. 

However, you do not want to disrespect these spirits. Like other Land spirits across the world, these mini-santa-claus characters are highlighted in the time between Dec. 12th and December 24th, coinciding with many of the global cultures’ winter festivals. They can be as prickly as the Yule Cat, the pet of the ogress Grýla, who is said to be the mother of said Yule Lads. Don’t disrespect them or you won’t be seeing a mysteriously placed pinecone on your windowsill, but maybe a broken window, which is especially not fun when it’s winter. The lore about their naughtiness was that the pranks were spurred by misbehaving children in the household (sound familiar?) Well behaved children meant the Yule Lad milked the goat as opposed to stealing the milk. And good children received small tokens and treats for their efforts. When the Yule Lads are helpful, they would like to be acknowledged for that help. So traditional celebrations, offerings, and poems of gratitude fill the winter nights in their honor. 

We’ve rekindled and reinterpreted this ancestral customs of the Yule Lads as winter offers simple, low-pressure ways to bring the tradition into modern life. Ancestors may have left out a small bowl of porridge or cookies (sound familiar?); and today it’s a lighted candle in the window, a little brew from the cupboard, left as an offering in gratitude for the home and the Land that shelters us. The GrandWitchling likes to check to see if “someone” has taken a sip. Honoring traditions doesn’t require strict accuracy or elaborate ceremony. What matters is the spirit of the custom. For us it’s about respect for the unseen energy everywhere that is channeled to safeguard the home and protect all its inhabitants. In a region where winter stretches long and the nights fall early, these small rituals offer warmth and a sense of continuity. And if what matters is held in the vessel of an impish gnome, I’m even more about it because, let’s have fun and joy where we can get it, yes? 

Blessed Frau Holle Day!

Posted on by runa

What January 6th Means For The Creative Crone

For many a years my family leaned into our Mediterranean heritage and celebrated La Befana and gathered round the table with some good Lasagna on Jan. 6. This date is the 12th day of Yule. But in recent years, we’ve been leaning into our Germanic kindred traditions of Frau Holle day. As I talk with my fellow Witches during this time of year, I recognize not many Western Practitioners may know much about who this figure is. I thought I’d share a little bit about that and give you all a little Kitchen Witchery to perhaps play with yourself.

Frau Holle, much like her Italian counterpart, La Befana, is a holiday Witch. In some communities throughout the Alps range, you will see her accompanying the more demonic creatures during Krampusnacht . Her origin stems from the winter goddess Mother Perchta (sometimes written Berchta). She’s also known by the names Hulda or Holle. This last one is how I was introduced to her. All the cleaning that leads up to winter celebrations (e.g. Xmas) is necessary otherwise Frau Holle will think you lazy and not bless you with her light. Lore has it that she sneaks into your home at night like a grizzled Dolores Umbridge checking your baseboards for dust and such. If you don’t pass the white glove test, well…let’s just say the coal in your stockings might just be set afire.

She was around long before Xtianity came to Northern Europe. She’s associated with nature and fertility and as she is connected with cycles of death and rebirth, she is celebrated in winter. Those in charge of hearth and home, especially where women were concerned, had the closest relationship with her. She is said to be the goddess who looks after children who have passed on. In some lore, she is the one that prompts you to create a cozy nest during the coldest time of the year. The word Hygge and Hulda sound very close when you say them as a native Northern European might.

She is venerated during Twelfth night, as well as again in the beginning of Spring (Wonnenacht/Walpurgisnacht). She’s petitioned to help us get through the winter, and then thanked profusely once we’re on the other side of it. She is at the center of the lore around Women’s Christmas, as part of celebrating her, women gifted their sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and friends little small gifts on this day. Some of you may know it from the more Irish tradition of Little Christmas, where the men take on the household duties for the day and the ladies take over the pub (my kind of celebration!).

The Grimm brothers turned this goddess into Mother Hulda in one of their fairy tales. In their story she’s a magical being who tests two stepsisters, rewarding the kind and hardworking one with gold and prosperity while punishing the lazy and cruel one.They did include some of the mythological associations long connected with Frau Holle like shaking out the featherbed, which symbolizes snowfall and her ability to control the winter weather. They also included jumping into the well and golden apples and spinning. They represent the descent into the underworld, as well as industriousness and domestic skills.

I like Frau Holle Day, because it’s like a small pick-me-up after the come down of Winter Solstice and New Year’s celebrations. In the years when things have been hectic there’s still time to celebrate. It can allow you to celebrate with anyone you haven’t been able to catch up with during the Solstice proper. Also, any place that I can connect with Divine Feminine, I’m there. This patriarchal world can be weary. The 2024 Holidaze, for yours truly, have been peppered heavily with workload and illness for me. As Frau Holle day arrives, I’m finally feeling better.

Since I live so close to the ocean, my freezer is filled with good Pacific seafood directly procured right from the fishing families of my community. I’ll be making a version of Cioppino. Yes, yes, we’re back to that American-Italian influence from my old neighborhood and my other Mediterranean ancestors, as well as the Slavic lands line the Adriatic Sea. Of course our Nordic ancestors had the food of the North Sea. Therefore, this type of dish connects and honors them as well. Cioppino, which basically means “chip in, chip in!” is some Kitchen Witchery that is near and dear to my heart. I’m all about using up what you have and creating goodness from it, especially if you can add Magic, too. Frau Holle Day Sea Stew will use up many of the things in my freezer and larder.

Frau Holle Day Sea Stew as written here will focus on the water’s bounty near me – Salmon, Halibut, Black Cod, Dungeness Crab, Spot Prawns, butter clams, and the like. Feel free to add the things to this stew that are closest to you. When I lived in Louisiana, my version of this working included crawfish and catfish (oh, how I miss catfish!), because it was available. If you’re on the east coast you likely have blue crab or cod available. If you’re somewhere in the middle, our rivers and lakes give us lots to make up a Frau Holle Day Sea Stew. If you’re reading this from far away from North America, again, I’m sure you have seafood that is germane to your area that could be used. Local food is the yummiest and freshest, as well as holding its own most powerful energies, and thereby its magical properties. My counsel is to go for that. Find a local fishmonger and let them teach you and help you. They likely have a good source of fish stock which is key to this working.

Do also visit your local bakery and get some good crusty bread to go with this. You can get fancy and serve it in bread bowls. If you bake bread regularly, make a fresh loaf just for this. This recipe will serve about four people. Feel free to divide or multiple the ingredients to make more or less.

This observation is about entering into the deepest part of winter with a focus on enjoying even these harsh times. I also like to look at it as a reminder that a little bit of this and a little bit of that can make a whole meal – this isn’t just about food. Ask yourself in your own life what a little bit of (fill in the blank) and a little bit of (fill in the blank) could enhance your life? Where can you chip in a little extra to your life? What bit of talent, what bit of education, what bit of gumption can you add to the stew of your life and create something new and beautiful? Those are the thoughts to enter into while making this festive meal.

I set up a small altar to Frau Holle in the house – often on the dining room table or the kitchen windowsill – as I’m called. This often includes lighted candle(s) and incense. The candle color echoes the season for me, something white, or blue, or that wonderful PNW gray. As for the incense, it brings a lift. I opt for something that reminds me of sunnier days like lavender or tangerine, or as I’m called. Cedar is a well loved scent in this house, as is sandalwood, so over the years this Jan. 6th celebration has included those. Listen to your gut for which to choose. Understand the correspondences of each incense, and maybe what you may need as you begin 2025.

I may have a short meditation, focused on the energy that Frau Holle represents. Where can I bring in more feminine energy into my life? Where can I create a world where children thrive? Where can I make my hearth and home a sanctuary? Where can I make winter that much lighter, safer, and warmer? I allow the thoughts and any divine downloads to percolate and mull. You can journal if you want, but I tend to focus just on the energy in that moment and let that energy fill my kitchen as I get ready to create this lovely meal.

If you’re interested in the Kitchen Witchery to go with this date, please visit this link on my Patreon. You’ll note that my patrons received this Working last year. They get all my content way ahead of time. So if you love it, consider joining my Digital Covenstead. Come join the circle!

Getting Stung To Day Dream

Posted on by runa

Unraveling the Messages from the Universe

This week, I was stung by an unidentified flying insect. I wasn’t tromping through the land, or harvesting late, or weeding. I was just sitting having an evening snack and drink with kindred.  From the description of those who witnessed the attack, it was as tiny barely a fingernail width, colored mainly black with a pointed lower abdomen and a narrow waist called a petiole. That description matches a western honey bee, that accidentally flew into my elbow and felt I was attacking it. The jury is still out as to what it was that stung me, but it certainly got my attention.

At the moment that it happened, I felt like I was in a weird dream state. Things were so pleasant and then in an instant they were not. For days, my elbow looked like it was missing because of the swelling and hives. I’ll live, and I’m much better. But the discomfort lasts all week. As I treated my sting site, I recalled the weird dream state that happened in the previous years as well. My body and my energy were on high alert, which often brings in my witchy brain asap. This was worth noting and would lead me down an interesting daydreaming path. Like the wasp sting awakened this creative, intuitive, meditative channel of communication between myself and the Universe.

Each year that I have lived here at Villa Westwyk I have been stung. I don’t have an anaphylactic response, but I always get swelling, pain, hives, fatigue, and in some instances, it triggers an asthma attack. To be fair, as a Witch who works closely with the Land, it is a hazard of the job. Because I apply permaculture principles to my Witchcraft practice, I noticed that behavior, as one of its key tenets is to observe and interact. Well, I’m watching me get stung once a year, every year since residing here. And I think I know what’s happening.

Each incident has involved a different flying wasp or bee each time. The first was a bald-faced hornet. They look like the mean thing they are. They are black and white with an almost skeletal appearance. They can be super aggressive. Their sting is very painful. Being stung by a bald-faced hornet was one of the worst stings I’ve experienced, partly because the bugger hit me more than once. I was weeding a section of Land that had been crying out for healing – removing invasive species – and I must have disturbed a nest. I did not return to that section of Land until the following season. The attack site – my wrist and put me on my ass for a few days with my allergic response. It hurt so badly, I had to ice the sting site like once an hour when awake. Sleeping was hard because it just throbbed, burned, ached, and itched incessantly and restfulness was nearly impossible. I did compresses, tinctures, teas, and all kinds of anti-inflammatory treatments. I give bald-faced hornets a wide berth still today. 

The second growing season here I was stung by a bumblebee. That one hurt my feelings the most. I love the chonky bumblebees as they bungee jump from lavender stem to lavender stem. The physical recovery from that was not too bad, and the result was the setting of the rule that all harvesting has to be done before bee hour (around 10 a.m.). But it still wasn’t a cakewalk. Again, I was super sensitive the rest of the season when one of those very loud bumbles bobbed into view. I would immediately leave the area if one was about. I didn’t scream or cry or make a scene. Just a quick about-face away from wherever it was grazing.

Last year the sting came from the asshole of pollinators – the yellowjacket. Yes, yellowjackets are accidental pollinators as they fly from spot to spot in the garden eating the insects you hate to have in your garden like caterpillars and harmful flies. Yellow jackets eat a lot of the insects that like to harm fruit trees, so I want to give them a chance. But even so, they can be triggered to sting quickly, thereby achieving its asshole pollinator label. Yes, yes, even as an animist there are energies in this world I cannot abide. The yellow jacket has been on that list my entire life. Growing up we called yellow jackets sweat bees because they were always about when you were sweating outside in the heat. However, true sweat bees don’t sting and are sometimes called fairy wasps. But, the yellow jacket? Their sting has an intense pain level. 

In the summer of 2023, the whole of the covenstead was infested with yellow jackets. Mr. Troy was stung several times as he played pest control serviceman to root out the massive hive under one of the pine trees not too far from our house. One of our dogs is deathly allergic to insect venom, having been hospitalized early in her life from a bee sting. Yellow jackets, like bald-faced hornets, can sting multiple times and they run in packs. Eradicating such sneaky hives is therefore a must. But not before those little assholes left their mark on both the humans living here. The lesson there was to pay attention more carefully to spaces the yellow jackets are drawn to and to design our landscaping in a manner that helps assist their natural predators – mainly birds like the Western tanagers. We have also heavily planted repelling plants all around the house especially. Plants like lavender, mint, lemongrass, marigolds, and thyme are ones that yellowjackets avoid. Next year we’ll be setting up a predatory pitcher plant bed to also help curb not only the yellowjackets but biting flies. When using our space during wasp season, we keep the yellow jackets occupied with a small offering of ripe watermelon or sliced cucumber placed in a different area from where you’re enjoying the outdoors. Their attention will be on the offering and not on your BBQ chicken and salad.

It’s clearly a trend these annual stings I’m receiving. I can’t help but think this is some kind of message from the Land, the Universe, my beloved dead, Spirit, or all of them. Four years, four stings. Like a fire drill for my spiritual life. I feel like the Universe is grabbing me by the elbow and trying to get my attention. Each incident has made me slow down, prioritize self-care, and remember that life isn’t all about work. After this latest wasp sting, I knew there was so much more to what was going on. Enter my dreamwork practice to the rescue. Dream messages don’t just come at night, Witches. They can come whenever we can switch our brain into that space of receiving messages. Given that understanding, what do these wasp stings annually mean?

In my Dreamwork, wasps, especially, denote social connections – family, friends, coworkers, and even the collective community. Have you seen how wasps work together? Even solitary wasps use other flora and fauna to survive. Looking at where I was stung to lends other clues. The wrist, the shoulder, my neck, and my elbow. The wrist may denote flexibility, adaptability, and certainly connection. But it’s also a super vulnerable part of our anatomy. Raise your hand if you have carpal tunnel, or if the worst part of doing planks is the pain in your wrists. 

The shoulder much like the wrist connects the arm to the body. It also may represent responsibilities ala “carrying the world on her shoulders.” It can symbolize comfort or support. And shoulder can also be about pushing forward – think a football player – or not giving in on the sidewalk to people who don’t move to provide egress. Whereas signs or dream elements that incorporate the neck can mean there’s a throat chakra issue, or an ancestral wound involving the neck (if you know anything about the Witch wound, this is not surprising). Again, the neck connects the head and body and some of the most critical nerves and circulatory systems members are in the neck. It’s the thoroughfare of life in your body.

The elbow is the motivator of hard work when we look at its potential symbolism. Give it some elbow grease, or you must elbow your way to the top – it gives that kind of vibes. It is also a connector between the upper arm and the lower arm. An insect sting on the elbow as a message in dreams or a sign from the Universe tells me that prioritizing pointed connections. An insect sting on my neck says to prioritize critical connections. The responsibility of right relationship is mine to shoulder. And it is critical that I do so in a vulnerable way. 

It might take me a few years to get the message – noted. I’m pretty sure I got it and what I have to do next – besides all the physical mitigation noted above. It’s time for me to spend some time being capricious and pensive. To observe if my connections, my relationships, and my community may need some pointed ‘medicine.’ Perhaps I need to work harder at these connections and take responsibility for where I am not doing so. 

I certainly know that I’m not waiting for next summer for another sting to get to work on these nudges from Divine.

New Moon In Scorpio – Diving Back Into Tasseomancy

Posted on by runa

Tea leaf readings, also known as tasseomancy, have been an outer-edge flirtation in my magical practice. It was some divination I could do as a Witch deep in the broom closet and not many even blinked about it. It was one of my first divinations – outside of dream work, before Runes just spoke to me so clearly. But every autumn I seem to want to cozy up with some appropriate tea – today I used Witch’s Harvest from Night Rituals, which is just what the New Moon in Scorpio called for – Rooibos, which is all about strength, courage, and wisdom. Apple, for health; cinnamon for abundance; and marigold for healing. It’s very flavorful, too. So, as you sip, you connect with the liquid, the tea, as well as your intuition and, if it’s in your practice, ancestors (this practice feels very ancestral to me) (insert Spirit, Guides, or Divinity, as well here). 

I can easily recall my grandmother and aunts talking about it – on my father’s more heathen side, of course. My mind’s eye easily plays little tea-reading sessions inside a tiny kitchen table that could not even begin to seat the amount of people who had to live in that house (1,000 square feet and a partially finished basement and weirdly attached garage for 11 people… what our ancestors went through). Messages like this are why I’m playing around again with my nose down staring at tea-mains inside a cup. 

Additionally, a lovely group of my friends (Witches, all, y’all) surprised me on my birthday with this little set (pictured above). They knew I was giddy about giving this set (with book, of course) a home here on the covenstead. The gift came with a tea reading demonstration and general Q&A session with Ruthie Connel. Yes, that Ruthie. Did you know she’s a whip with a pendulum? Yes, the set came with one of those, too. My friends spoil me so much. Thank you, ‘Chamily!’* 

It’s been a lovely magical pull back into a practice I’ve done for a bit, put down, come back to, put down again… you maybe know the drill. Our practice, our crafts go through cycles just like everything in the Universe. And that’s okay. Now I find myself back in love with this witchy tool. I’ve been practicing pretty much daily since receiving this gift – not always with this mug, mind you, as sometimes I find that I need a more sparse canvas for reading tea leaves. But I love the interaction of this particular set, including the astrologic influences as well as common culture symbols. It reminds me of the Runes’ ‘interactions on my casting cloth. Speaking of Runes, they show up often in my tea readings, which gives it this level-up feeling to the divination. 

We awoke today with the new moon in Scorpio, and I had to swirl that energy into yet another tea reading. Let’s just say it didn’t surprise me when the moon symbol showed up. Working with this energy has provided me with a laser light on what and where I need to expend my energy this season. 

Over on my Patreon, I examine more of what this new moon in Scorpio tea reading said to me. 

In the meantime, I invite you to take the time this late autumn, and even throughout winter, to dedicate yourself to a magical practice you’ve been away from, you would love to explore, and get your Witch on! May we dive into the darkest time of year shining lights on things that bring us joy, knowledge, and comfort. All of this or better. So it is. 

*Chamily = chosen family. Yeah, I made it up. All words are made up. (See: my Mercury return a couple of days ago. Hehe. Mercury is in Sagittarius, what do you expect? 😉 

Justice Is Coming: A Look At Current Dream Trends

Posted on by runa

As a dream interpreter I am privileged to begin to see trends in the collective consciousness via my own and my clients’ dreams. Right now the theme is very clear: Justice is coming. 

When I look at astrology during this time when these dreams are happening, it makes sense that collectively we’d be looking at such things. Personally, I do believe it’s past time. Right now Neptune is in Pisces and for the last decade plus I’ve seen more and more people tuning into their dreams. The emotiveness of Pisces and Neptune’s hold on dreams, allows us to connect more easily, if not more moodily.

However, beyond the current moon in Libra (the moon is transiting here as I post this),  which traditionally has everyone looking at fairness, balance, and justice, I think Uranus in Taurus is helping us get more energized about what is right for our society. Uranus is always pushing against the status quo and is known as the rebel planet. It’s waking up the entire planet. 

To see this influence from Uranus dancing in Taurus, all you have to do is look at what’s going on around you, let alone the current global and national news. Climate change is a constant. Healthcare access and equity. COVID-19 has taught us lots. But how do we raise the importance of such a critical part of human life? The War in Ukraine rages still, more than a year now; yet, that looks young to places like Syria, Yemen, Myanmar. But don’t forget the newest conflict in Sudan. In the United States, how many people were shot today? How many of them were People of the Global Majority? Meanwhile, those lacking housing are pushed out of small camp communities they’ve tried hard to maintain. Most telling from the news yesterday, the Supreme Court is about to hear a case that may put in jeopardy the ruling of more than 19,000 other cases. It’s a biggie. If you haven’t heard about this, read up, friend. And those just seem to be the top seven. There’s so much more push and pull going on. Uranian energy all the way, folx. 

Dreams sending me to this conclusion include more clear-cut “sentencing” in some of the dreams I’m interpreting, but also, more personal justice issues (wronged by a member of your kindred, which can be a friend or family member) or scenes that have clear signs and actions that point to that. These symbols go beyond the commonly known scales or other legalese characters of the ancient Justitia, but include things that many may not know is pointing to some kind of legal recompense. And you thought prunes were just for gut health. 😉

Understanding this it seemed only right to share the information to the collective. How have your dreams been? Are the consequences incoming? Do you see an uptick in Justice symbols in your own dreams or waking life? Uranus is going to be in Taurus until 2026, so let’s all keep an eye out – dream out, perhaps – for more upheaval and push towards Justice.  

If you want to learn more about dream work, consider joining my Patreon, where we work on incorporating it into our Craft practices. Come join the Covenstead and learn about this and other cool witchy shizzle.  

From The Desk of The Writing Witch: Making Magic While I Write

Posted on by runa
The Vernal Equinox in The Witch’s Garden. You can get your spring jackalope garden flag too from https://www.owlkeyme.com/

If you recall back to the beginning of the calendar year, none of us were having much renewal energy. The Cosmic Weather with Mars and Mercury in Retrograde required us to slow the eff down. And things have been slow. But now they are revving up quickly and filled with full-throttle Aries energy.

Yesterday was the Spring Equinox, so this new moon lands at a season change as well. It’s auspicious. It’s powerful. Can’t waste it. Now I have less than seven months to finish this book and it’s coming along well enough. My Leo Rising wants it to be perfect and showy, but the rest of me just wants it done well and completely compelling. But as my son with the Virgo Moon & Rising has taught me: Done is perfect. But getting it done is the real work, yes? 

As I compose (there’s that word of 2023!) this book for Llewellyn, I’m also discovering new Magic, especially where my study of astrology is concerned (belated happy world astrology day, btw!). As I compose my platform to help this book launch into the world, I’m also discovering new Magic, especially where my Permie Witch duties take me. For that I’m making public two things I think will help teach and inspire those beginning or cruising along on the path of the Craft. One is some of the Magic I’ve discovered and curated (2022’s word) as I dive even deeper into Magical Mixology, the other is all about setting and following-through with intentions, especially where I create a sanctuary for myself and my fellow Witches here at Villa Westwyk.

Allow me to start with the intentions. Recognizing that today is the New Moon in Aries – a moon full of new-beginnings, courage, and self-focus energy, the start of the Witch’s and Astrologer’s New Year, my New Moon Intentions are being recorded here. I’m doing this in part because I think it’s important for Witchlings (Grand one included) to see the process that an ol’ Solitary practitioner creates and follow it along. The Full Moon in Aries is about six months from now (9/29/23 @ 0257 hrs PDT). The book needs to be in the hands of my publisher by then. And although I want this draft to be done before the eclipse later this month, all my revisions need to be done and into the publisher by the end of September. So let’s use that Aries energy to get started.  To set intentions on the new moon, I love working with the book New Moon Astrology by Jan Spiller to help form my intentions. Because as Witches we know that words are important and hold power. We want that power to work for us and not against us. Spiller breaks down the energy and focus so easily for you, that even if you’ve not studied Astrology or spell crafting, you’ll get it quickly. 

My New Moon in Aries 3/21/23 Intentions:

  1. I want to easily find myself writing the right words for this book that are a reflection of my true self.
  2. I want to easily find myself making choices that are in the best interest of finishing this book.
  3. I want all fears around my assertively blazing new beginning with my manuscript easily lifted from me.
  4. I want to easily find myself following my own constructive instincts in creating this manuscript.
  5. I want to be filled with strength and boldness in my approach to writing this book.
  6. I want to remain consistently vigilant in the matter of finishing this manuscript. 
  7. I want any survival instincts that are authorally counterproductive and easily lifted from me. 
  8. I want to easily find myself initiating action in regard to writing and finishing this book.

My plan now with these is to visit the intentions at least weekly (hello working with the moon cycles that my Patrons see consistently) to see how I am doing. I may continue to blog on it as the book’s creation progresses. But for sure, we’ll revisit it come September. I encourage you to set some intentions today as well for the next six months, what can you accomplish with the energy of the Aries new moon. 

Now for the Magic In My Cup discovery to share here. Since I’ve begun my second Saturn return, I’m sharing the craft cocktail I made in honor of this return. Although this one will not be found in my book, it gives you a sample of some of what you will find when this book is made public. You can find the link to the potent potion over on my Patreon at the end of this post. Kind of like the Monster At The End of This Book (a favorite book to read to my babies back in the day), but instead it’s a Witch handing you a Pisces In Saturn Cocktail. 

Celebrate Saturn in Pisces here:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/79701391

Happy Spring, Witches! Now go be your truest self and live your best life, Magical One!

Gift Like A Witch: Yuletide Gift Ideas for 2022

Posted on by runa

Witches Are Different; Our Gifts Are Too

Oh, Yule. I love you and then don’t love you. I’ve been trying to get this post out since well before western thanksgiving. Clearly it’s been a struggle. And gift giving is, whether we realize it or not, also about how the act of giving makes the giver feel. I want to feel good about what I an giving, for sure, but I also want to make sure that it’s squee-inducing and sustainable. I know, I don’t want much.

This year the preparation for celebrating the Winter Solstice is finding me feeling very grinchy. I have a book to write and a lot of my creative power goes to that project, so thinking of gift ideas or holiday plans feels overwhelming. These feelings may very well be due to the world being like….well, our world. If you are feeling the same, I’m here to say you’re not alone.  

This time of year it’s easy to feel this way, which could easily lead to stressing out or hurting people’s feelings. And feelings might be hurt not because you didn’t give a gift, but rather because there was no care in the thought of the gift. This is my 57th Yule, I can tell you receiving last-minute gifts from someone comes with the same energy. You’re better off giving a hug and telling the person the truth, then basically giving whatever.

These Bah-Humbug feelings can dip down into our thoughts about how to give gifts with our kindred, a Yule tradition for centuries. My Germanic/Norse ancestors started sharing their bounty with their kindred and community long before the word Christmas was uttered. Gifts were mostly consumables like food or drink, hand-made tokens of affection (think hand-carved into hair comb, or a fur collar for hunting in the snow) or simply spending time together. All good tried-and-true choices. I never dislike receiving a bottle of wine, or chocolate, or anything hand-crafted. 

But I don’t have a lot of time or energy this year, plus resources are tight. So now what? 

Bounty was the word that kept being whispered to me and which pinballed around in my brain every time I sat down to write this post. What bounty could I share with my children, my family, my friends, and my community?  

Outside of my larder, which will still be a source of gifts for friends and family and has been for decades, there are larger things that I think I will be looking at as “gifts” this Yuletide. I’m sharing them here to hopefully inspire you, reader, and others to help cross off your gift-giving lists. 

  1. Change for Climate Change. I do not know anyone who calls themselves a Witch who doesn’t care for our planet and its creatures and who actively works – in a myriad of ways – for its benefit. Climate change is here. And we have to make drastic changes. It’s one of the reasons permaculture called out to me. This is my number one gift-giving idea. From giving to organizations to helping someone change a not so great consumption habit is likely number one on a Witch’s Yule wish list. Organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund, 1000 Gretas, or Climate Foundation can use all the gifts in people’s names they can get. Many organizations can let you give small amounts each month, which makes it easier to gift for those of us on a strict budget. During the gifting season a lot of organizations offer cool trinkets for the donation that you can then gift to your kindred in addition to the donation. For several years now, friends and family have received replacements for less sustainable living solutions from The Viking and I. Everything from reusable sandwich bags, bamboo towels, convenient reusable shopping bags, beeswax wrap, hemp socks, solar powered chargers, and the list goes on and on. There’s a healthier choice for just about every item we use daily out there. Go find it. Lastly, you can plan an outing with your clan to do something restorative (trash clean up, planting trees or community garden) for the environment and have a picnic or support a small local restaurant or food truck afterwards. Memories plus! However you give an offering to Mama Earth to your Witches, you’ll watch the Earth heal together. 
  2. Civic Participation. So many of the Witches in my circle and community deeply wish for a more equitable society. Many of us use our platform to educate folx about those in need of justice and care. I think this is a huge gift. Again donations are always welcome for nonprofit organizations working to create safe spaces for LGBTQA+, women, immigrants, war refugees, and animals. Volunteering with organizations that do that is another way to gift. Those hours add up to a monetary value by the organization and as the volunteer, you can get a tax deduction. No lie. Many organizations will give a certificate of your hours, the worth of that donation, and can dedicate it to another individual. We do that now with Habitat for Humanity, since houselessness is an area that really gets my attention. Look for the local organizations (for me here in the Upper Left USA it’s the Opportunity Council) that work directly with the most vulnerable in our community. Additionally, gifting to candidates who work for the issues important to our community may also be more heartfelt to your kindred. Voting for those candidates that work for our entire community, not just the corporations would be such a great gift for one another. If you told me you voted, I consider it a gift. So, thank you.
  3. Growth Opportunities. When I say this, I don’t mean therapy sessions or scary bungee jumping to overcome fear – although, you do you, Witch!, but something that lets you grow together or even individually. Something that invests in your loved one personally or your relationship. My friend recently got ceramic classes for her and her mother. They are learning something together, taking time out each week to be with one another, and exploring the world together. This is what I mean. How about a gift certificate to your friend’s favorite yoga studio? Maybe you both take a meditation class together? Plan a monthly hike together. Stretch your creative muscles together in a community painting class. My local library has some great classes that provide gardening, painting, and even sailing lessons! Make a plan, stick to it, and what a gift you’ll have in both directions. 
  4. Time Investments. Time is the most precious commodity any of us have. Perhaps gift some regular time with your loved one. A second Friday happy hour together? How about brunch at the end of the month? Go to your favorite plant store together once a month.  Or walk the beach nearby twice a month looking for red sea glass. Saturday card games with good snacks are always fun and low-stress and easy on the budget. Again, flex those creativity muscles and find a way to connect regularly and with grace. What a gift!

So no need to be overwhelmed. Set yourself up with a small bit of time, some tea, your best familiar, and make a list of what truly would feel good to give and has some collective meaning to it. For me, I’m just grateful I finally got this out into the world. But you better believe, I’ll be looking at these four bigger-picture gifts for my best Witches and kindred. 

Happy Yuletide all! Let me know what is your wish or go-to sustainable and heartfelt gift?