Dimanche: Swimming

Woman in a fishtank at Marineland, Florida from Vogue, 1941 via Mid-Century

Vendredi: Shapes Telling Stories

At least when reading tea leaves shapes tell stories.  We’ve looked at geometric and animal shape meanings in the leaves so today, and probably for a few Fridays more, we’ll catch all those miscellaneous shapes in our cup.  From the seeds of trees to harnesses for oxen, we’ve got a lot to cover so let’s get started:

Acorn ~ good health and a run of luck

Airplane ~ unexpected travel; recognition in one’s profession

Anchor ~ success; hope for the future

Armor ~ a knight in armor is a sign of a person trying to avoid contact with the outside world; a reclusive personality

Arrow ~ something major – possibly with negative results – is on the horizon for the petitioner

Axe ~ issues that need immediate attention; cutting ties or addressing addiction

Backpack or book bag ~ the petitioner is carrying – but not sharing – critical knowledge that they need to let go of

Bed ~ the petitioner’s mind is preoccupied as in daydreaming or too much rumination of self

Bell ~ news is on the way to the petitioner and it may be something they have been needed for a while

Boat or ship ~ resolution of a difficult situation or problem; a large ship can indicate the potential to avoid problems

Book ~ open, the book indicates enlightenment; closed, the petition is seeking information they will not find

Boot or shoe ~ the petitioner is being well looked after and kept out of troubling or uncomfortable situation either by someone else or by circumstance

Bottle ~ there are concerns for the petitioners health; whether they are known or unknown depends on the symbol(s) next to or touching the bottle

Bread ~ whether a slice or a loaf of bread is represented in the leaves the meaning is the same: the petitioner is acquisitive and too focused on material things

Bridge ~ a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is drawing near

Bush or hedge ~ the petitioner is blessed with many good friends

That’s a lot to absorb so we’ll leave it here for today.  Next time we’ll look at shapes starting with C through E.  Vendredi heureux ~

Header: Saint Jeanne d’Arc, who was born on this day circa 1412, from a 15^th century manuscript

Jeudi: Weather-Wise

 

An over the top weather event can be one of the most terrifying things a person can experience, particularly if that person is an adult with kids.  And I’m not necessarily talking about cataclysms such as hurricanes, major earthquakes or floods.  Sometimes the seemingly little things are even more worrisome: long droughts, high winds, ice or sand storms, blizzards.  We don’t think about these things the way we think about the really big wallops of weather, but maybe we should.  They can be just as much trouble; arguably perhaps more because they don’t bring the “disaster relief” that more terrible disasters do.

We’ve had quite a bit of nasty weather in my neck of the woods over the last eight weeks.  Far more than normal snow has combined with high, warm winds that bring about a freeze-melt-freeze cycle which is not only irritating but dangerous.  We had one school closure and a number of power outages not to mention worries about falling trees and stable roofs.  It got to a point where it was time to take action, and that is where a little bit of magick was in order.

Throws, as they are known in hoodoo, have been a big part of magickal practice probably since the dawn of time.  Because most workers of magick have been – and probably still are – ordinary people who can’t afford to waste a lot of what they have, sacrificing something to the elements is a powerful way to entreat them to do your bidding.  Thus a stone, water, some herbs, a coin, locks of hair, pieces of clothing and so on were thrown to the wind, over the shoulder, into running water or onto a fire with a thought or a spoken petition for a specific result.  Done with intention, this simple working can be very effective indeed.

So, when the brutal weather got to me, my family and my neighbors, I gathered up my anger and frustration into a rational petition: calm the winds and stop the sleet.  Repeating this like a mantra in my head, I opened my magickal cupboard and grabbed a handful of equal parts dried basil and sage.  I then went out onto my front porch and, calling out my request, let the herbs fly into the miserable breeze.

Basil is an all purpose jinx breaker and is strongly believed, particularly in hoodoo, to remove all evil from any place that it has been.  Sage, of course, has a long history of purifying the air in many magickal disciplines.  Two easy to acquire and familiar herbs, along with concentration and intention, did the trick.  As of this writing those warm, nasty winds are only slightly more than a bad memory.

Be creative, be sincere and, with a little practice, the art of “throws” – which we will revisit on more than one occasion – will become second nature.  Bonne chance ~

Header: In the Wilds of the North by Ivan Shishkin via Old Paint

Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

The weather here in the frozen North is now so cold that all the humidity has quite literally vanished.  This time of year I always long for a bayou plantation, where my skin would bloom like lilacs without having to pile on enough grease to fill a restaurant sized tub of Crisco.

Especially affected in such crunchy climes are face and hands; but hands tend to take the worst of it.  If you’re washing them as frequently as you really should, it seems that constant re-application of hand cream isn’t even enough.  Cuticles in particular take a beating; ripped and torn they are not only sore but open to any infection lurking on that public transportation or supermarket aisle.

Fortunately for your fingers, making effective cuticle oil at home is easy and quick and much less expensive than buying the kind with petroleum and preservatives in them.  As an added bonus, this one includes the antiseptic properties of rosemary and tea tree oils to keep infections at bay.  Here’s what you’ll need:

1 tbsp jojoba oil

1 tbsp almond oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops tea tree oil

10 drops rosemary essential oil

Pour the jojoba and almond oils into a small glass bottle, preferably of a dark color such as blue or brown.  This will help preserve the oils without having to hide the bottle in a cupboard.

Add the essential oils, cap tightly and shake gently to combine.

To use, message a few drops into your cuticles and nails before bedtime.  Be sure to give the bottle a gentle shake before each use.  This oil also does wonders for chapped or splitting heels.

If you wish to make a truly elegant cuticle oil as a gift – or as a special treat for yourself – substitute the expensive but worth it essential oil known as rose otto or rose absolute for the lavender oil in this recipe.  In that case, one or two drops should be plenty.  A votre santé ~

Header: LIFE photograph of Marlene Dietrich c 1954

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

When our family first moved to the frozen North almost twelve years ago my daughters were three and one.  It was over that first winter here that I discovered a disturbing reality about my youngest.  If she caught cold – or something more serious – and developed a fever she would often suffer night terrors.  She would scream at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night and waking her up from her horrifying dreams often took several minutes.  I puzzled over what to do, short of dosing her with too much ibuprofen, and then I hit on a plan.  After stuffing her favorite pillow with a handful of hops, the awful night terrors subsided and – as an added bonus – she began to sleep better when she was well, too.

Hops are an old remedy for nightmares and fitful sleep.  Regardless of what magickal discipline you consult, it is universally believed that a pillow stuffed with hops and slept on nightly will bring sweet dreams and ensure restful sleep.

For moms with young children, a handful of hops in their child’s pillow can also bring a small blessing to Mom: a full night’s sleep.  Don’t forget to make a smaller pillow for travel and/or sleepovers.  The work is worth it for everyone’s well being.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau c 1897

Lundi: Recipes

I don’t know about you but I am so over the holidays.  They're not over me, however, as my refrigerator is still full of leftovers.  That means its time to get creative in the kitchen and make something new out of the old.  Here, then, is one of my favorite easy, all-purpose recipes for using up anything from ham to turkey to roast to you name it.

1 14.5 oz can of petite dice tomatoes

1 pound package of angel hair or other pasta

2 tbsps olive oil

½ medium onion, diced

1 pressed clove garlic

Left over meat of choice, diced or chopped as necessary

About 3 tbsps chopped olives or drained capers

Salt & pepper to taste

Shredded Parmesan cheese

Put a big post of water on the stove to boiling for pasta.

Meanwhile, warm olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat and then add onion.  Once these have clarified, add garlic and cook for two or three minutes.  Add tomatoes and meat of choice and turn down to a simmer.  Allow all ingredients to warm through while pasta cooks per package directions.

When pasta is just about ready add olives or capers to sauce.  Toss cooked pasta in saucepan with sauce.  Serve with crusty French bread.  Bon appetite ~

Header:  In the Kitchen by Theodore Steele c 1911 via Old Paint

Dimanche: Swimming

Waiting for the Sun by David Gray via American Gallery

Happy New Year!