Alaska and the Ren Faire

So I’m in Alaska!
Actually, I’ve been in a Alaska for about 4 weeks now, sorry for not blogging but I don’t have internet at the campground we’re currently staying at >.<

Spring has sprung here in AK. All around Anchorage dandelions, lupine, forget-me-nots and a little white flower I’ve yet to identify are in bloom. Sadly my camera is broken and I’ve yet to get another one so I can’t show you the beauty all around me…yet!

I’ve done a lot since we’ve been here though. I’ve learned to crochet, got a job as a Front Desk receptionist at a local hotel, been out harvesting wild edibles, had close encounters with moose and black bear (and lived), and I’ve been to the Anchorage Renaissance Fair!

I know, it’s a lot for 3…4 weeks, right?

There’s so much to talk about but for now I just want to tell you about the Anchorage Renaissance Festival.

The Three Barons Renaissance Fair is not as big as some of the other fairs I’ve been to but it was very well laid out and each area seems to be designated to the 3 barons – 1 from Italy, 1 from England, and 1 Moorish Baron. There was plenty of entertainment from the Circus of the Damned to the Alchemist’s Magic Show and tons of vendors from blacksmiths (one was a cutie in a kilt) to the local wenches guild to food galore.

I was very impressed.

One of my first stops was at a vendor booth called Hedgewitchery (surprised?). The owner, Brend M. Beck, was a welcoming lady who was dressed as a peasant herbwife and going about her business making tinctures and liniments in the shop window. She was surrounded by dried herbs and her wares – soaps, liniments, salves and teas.

She welcomed us to the fair and to Alaska and we talked about local herbs in the area and how it compared to Tennessee. She then invited me to a class she’s teaching next month on local plants and herbs – I’ll post the information when she gives it to me ^_^

Another vendor I stopped at was The Renaissance Raven (www.renraven.com). Darlene Cullor is a jewelry artist who specializes in creating “Torch & Kiln Fired Enamels, Repousse, and all times of metals: sterling, copper, Brass.” She had so many beautiful pieces, I was depressed at not having much cash on me to buy a leather rose for a hair piece or any of the other jewelry there.

The vendor that I had the most fun with is definitely the International Wenches Guild – Alaska Local chapter. These bawdy and friendly ladies were offering a variety of items from hand-made masks to moss covered fairy houses to beaded jewelry. While I browsed I heard one of the ladies call out to a scalawag passing by teasingly then turn to another wench and state that she had received a hug from him earlier and he was by far one of the cutest young men here at the fair.

I got a card from them and want to share its statement:

What is the wenches guild? – a loose (not necessarily literally) yet powerful confederation of women who share beliefs:

• ·         A wench is not afraid to stand on her own
• ·         A wench is beautiful, regardless of size, shape, or color
• ·         A wench is unafraid to use body, brains and brawn to get what she wants
• ·         A wench doesn’t need anyone to tell her how to live, love, look or dress

For more information, or if you think you or someone you know might be a wench, go to www.wench.org.

I did as the card bid, thinking I might be a wench too, and learned that the guild is actually quite large. To become a member there is a $43 fee for lifetime membership plus $4.30 shipping for the items they send you – a pin with their motto, a booklet, a certificate to verify you are a certifiable wench to be framed, and cards that offer 1 free kiss to be given to skalawags and other kissable men. I think this is very cute and plan to become a wench as soon as I get the funds together.

In all the fair was wonderful and I look forward to next year when, hopefully, I’ll have more time and money to spend. I did notice a lack of gypsy fortune tellers…maybe I’ll have to correct this ^_~

H is for Herbalism

Herbalism or Herbology is a passion of mine.
I am currently studying to be an Herbalist with the Herbal Healer Academy.

For me, Herbalism is a calling. I've learned so much about the world, my body, medicine, sustainable living, my health and the health of my family since I started studying herbs, their properties, and how to use them. Its an on-going study that can be started at so many different directions - local herbs, herbs for women, herbs for family, herbal first-aid, herbs for prevention or treatment of dis-ease and cancer, herbs for children, cooking, cleaning, relaxing, colds, flus, viruses, headaches...the list goes on and on. And learning about it can be strangely addictive, making my own herbal remedies is wholly gratifying, and being able to have an herbal remedy on hand when a friend or the child of a friend has a problem makes me feel like I've done something useful and am truly on the right path in life.

Herbalism in witchcraft?
For some this is a fine line. The creation of a lavender infused balm for the sun burns on my nieces and nephews can look a lot like the witch of old stirring magical ingredients collected from mountain and glen to give to those who dare to ask for a remedy.
For me, what makes the difference is faith and belief and desire. I can make a simple tea to relieve stress or I could call upon the soothing blessing of Mother Goddess or cast a cleansing circle as I blend the herbs, heat the water, create the infusion and chant before I take the first sip. The first, simply making tea, isn't witchcraft...so what's the difference? The ritual, the spellcraft, the intent, the actions taken in the creation.

Even still, herbalism walks well on the path of witchery. Witches have long used herbs and natural medicines in their works. Herbs are Mother Nature's children just as much as we are and we can work very well together.

Bubble Bubble Boil and...

This witch is cooking up some trouble...in the bathroom?

I'm getting ready for th ebig move from TN to Alaska next week (Tuesday to be precise) and today I'm making all the organic hygeine products I will need for 1-2 months.

 My shampoo. I'm actually making it in a plastic container, this pic is from the last batch I made and I'm using it because the bottle is prettier, lol.
My shampoo consists of 1/2 castille soap and 1/2 other liquid ingredients that consist of freshly brewed herbal tisane (usually a blend of chamomile, lavender and other calming scents as I love a good calming cleansing bath or shower), a few drops of tea tree essential oil, 1 capsule of Vitamin E oil and maybe a few drops of lavender eo...if I can find where I put it.
I'm making enough for me and some extra for Lady and a friend of mine...so sad to be leaving them for such a long times :(

This is my witch hazel and tea tree oil blend that I use for everything from bug bites to acne to piercings to...everything skin related excepting sun burns or burns (for that I use aloe and lavender eo).

I also prepared some unrefined organic coconut oil that I use instead of lotion form its HUGE gallon tub to a smaller container (and gave the rest to Lady as I can't take it over the boarder as it is a food product).
I will also be making a couple of bars of soap - I'm actually almost completely out of my organic soap base so...I'll prolly have to give it up for a lil while and use something like Dove - ew I know but cheaper than my base and something my mom-in-law is willing to buy for me without a fit about my 'hippy ways'. LOL

-takes a deeep breath-
So I'm packing like mad and having to step back now and then to relax and remind myself that this is an adventure. no one is making me do this. i am happy.
I've also been burning up as we keep hitting record highs right now and I've yet to prepare summer clothes to wear. So...I found a great way to relax and refresh
Spearmint tisane!

My husband's grandmother planted spearmint in her garden 4-5 years ago and every year it comes back with a vengeance to take over her flower beds (she didn't know that it did this when she bought it) so she says come and get it or I'm just gonna mow it down.
I of course grabbed a handful yesterday and thanked the Goddess for her bounty in my time of need ^_^

I hope everyone is having a blessed spring day!
Love and Light
Dawn

Pagan Blog Prompt: Illness

Today's Pagan Blog Prompt
How do you deal with illness?
Does being sick hinder your magic work?
Do you employ magic to make yourself healthy again?
What about others? Do you work magic to heal other people?

I deal with a cold with a big mug of tea (usually chamomile and lavender or some other herbal), a lot of naps, and, depending on the congestion, a few drops of tea tree oil in a bowl of hot water to inhale the steam.

I don't tend to do magic when I'm sick. I just don't have the energy.

When other people are sick, and are open to it, I'll do some magic for them. I've done small things like bless tea, make pillow satchets, and send energy with candle magick. On other occasions I've done full cleansing with body massage using lavender oil.

With each healing spell or exercise I've done I've always incorporated oils and herbs that have healing properties. I find that my energy with theirs works wonders. The few people I've done healing magick for have had varying experiences form a brief moment of comfort to feeling almost completely better by the next day. I think a lot of it depends on the illness and the receptiveness of the person I'm doing the magick for.

Pagan Living

I found Pagan Living and was pleasantly surprised by the free magazine's organization and the number of articles available that I sincerely enjoyed. I'm a subscriber now and wanted to recommend it to you all as well.

It was available monthly but the owner, Tenae, decided to push it to a quarterly magazine in order to provide more quality while giving herself time to work on other projects such as her blog. I think this is a great idea.

The current issue includes information about Ostara and Beltane including some great recipes and gift ideas. I loved the article about Lavender, it's my favorite herb and perfect for magickal and mundane use.

Pagan Blog Prompts: Magical Herbs

Pagan Blog Prompts asks Do you use herbs in your magickal practice? Do you grow them or purchase them from someone else?

Yes I do use herbs in my practice. I make balms and salves for healing, bath products for beauty, healing, prosperity and more.
I wildcraft, grow and purchase my herbs.

Wildcrafting herbs is something I only recommend if you are 110% positive the herb you are gathering in the wild is one you are familiar with. Also, do not over-harvest an area. I tend to only harvest a very small amount of any herb (usually violets, violas (Johnny Jump-ups)) unless circumstances note otherwise (wild dandelions, clover and plantain are herbs I'm not overly worried about over harvesting as they grow plentifully in my area).

Herbs I've grown include roses, basil and mint.
I use roses a lot in my magickal and mundane practices.

When purchasing herbs I tend to stick to farmers markets and organic markets (Like Good Foods Coop, Earth Fare and Fresh Market) and go to main stream grocery stores only if necessary.