THE PATH INTO THE FAERIE FOREST

 

Let us enter the wild green world together, my friends, the faerie forests where the great trees speak to us, the moss soft underfoot, the light pure and gentle. Come frolic with me in our planet’s wild green worlds, the woods and the forests; and call forth the beings who dwell within them: the faeries, the witches, the elves, and those deities who choose to make these magical places their home. 

For the past few years I have been wandering the forests and magical places around the country…drawing inspiration and guidance from the  ancient ones deep within those enchanted places.  Kristin (my daughter and creative partner) and I have put our heads and imaginations together and have recently began to create a new, even more magical, line of Spirit Dolls. 

I will be unveiling them here, and in our Etsy store, in just a couple weeks. 

Each of these new enchanted Spirit Dolls will hold their own unique energy, healing power, and wisdom. Their exquisite connection to other realms will enable us to likewise experience those connections, to receive insights and answers. To gain understanding. To accept love. To heal. ❤️

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’

 

December 24, 2020

‘Twas the night before Christmas, up north at the lake,

Not a creature was stirring, not a soul was awake.

Papa and I were glum and alone...

We prayed that the Coronavirus soon would be gone.

We thought of the grand boys, home in their beds,

While visions of nerf-guns danced in their heads,

Tasso and Leo and Tommy, so dear,

Oh, how I miss them, I sniffed with a tear.

Then Papa decided to set out some poles,

To catch a big fish, that was his goal,

But, also to take his mind off the boys,

To forget how lonely it was without noise.

Down at the pier, Papa cast out his lure,

Crossing his fingers, and hoping to score.

A Bass would be good, or a Muskie, might,

Then he sat down to wait, enjoying the night.

The moon in the sky, shone down on the snow,

And the stars how they twinkled, oh, how they glowed.

As I gazed out the window...I yelped, with a fright!

For there on the lawn, the most preposterous sight...

An animal party, a band so faire,

A badger, a fox, and a big black bear.

They huddled together, out there by the wood,

And, I saw in that moment, perhaps they were good.

They looked up and saw me, and gave a small bow,

Then started to dance, as space would allow.

They all had an instrument, and knew how to play,

Jolly Yuletide music, to honor the day.

I couldn’t believe it, there was magic all right,

A droll little band, out there in the night.

Snowflakes were falling, a full moon, too,

A Christmas miracle, I knew it was true.

Just about then, Papa came up the stairs,

Carrying a bucket and all of his wares,

Startled to see that big wooly bear,

And all of his cohorts, frolicking there.

The spell was then broken, the animals fled,

Except that big bear, ‘Grrrrrrrrowl’, he said.

Papa dropped his bucket, quickly backing away,

And, out jumped a Muskie, his prize of the day!

‘Old Gray’ was a legend ‘round Presque Isle Lake,

Fishermen told stories of his smooth getaways,

Now Papa had hooked him, it was quite a snare,

Only to lose him, right there to that bear.

The black bear leaned over, he grabbed for the fish,

Before it could wiggle away, as it wished.

But, slippery and slimy, Old Gray seemed to know,

He could escape fate, if he didn’t move slow.

A flop to the ground, then a flip to the pier,

Old Gray seemed determined to get out of there.

He maneuvered his way to the edge of the stair,

Then, took a huge leap, up high in the air.

As he headed straight down, back into the lake,

I saw him twist ‘round, and give a sly wink,

And I heard that fish laugh, as he dove out of sight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

IRIS OF THE RAINBOWS: A Tribute Spirit Doll For 2020

 I have struggled with creating a meaningful Spirit Doll for 2020. I wanted her/him to bring hope and healing to these turbulent times, as well as joy and magic. 

Finally, I present, ‘Iris of the Rainbows’, the first in a series of Art/Spirit Dolls created especially for 2020.

‘Blue skies and rain are the realm of Iris, The Rainbow Faerie. She dwells at the meeting of air (the element of the mind) and water (the element of emotion). She sits, rainbow-hued wings outspread, suspended in midair, partially wrapped in her deep-sky draperies and crowned with Iris blossoms. The fiery faery archers tip their arrows in her potent handful of iridescent light, firing their arrows, they send polychromatic rays into the storm, bringing light to dismal skies and darkened hearts.

Beneath the Rainbow Faerie, the amphibious creatures of a wet earth crouch. The faery frog maiden peers out from her shelter at the storm wracked world, while the sun is dimly seen above Iris’s head. Sturdy pot-bellied gnomes, their toes rooted in the earth, all-most especially, Iris herself- are fully absorbed in the task of reclaiming the bright sky from the dark storm.

In her hand, the light of heaven’s bow looks a fragile thing, yet it is the light of hope, the promise of healing and joy to come, and that is one of the most powerful things there is.

Iris tells us that light is breaking through our present darkness, and that hope is a powerful factor in speeding up this process. She does not promise us that the storm is over, nor does she say that it will never storm again, but she does say that there is brightness and beauty here. She also tells us that there is something to be gained by this passage through the storm. And, the sooner we learn what it is, the sooner the storm will end.

As always, a passage through the storm is a time of potential growth, a time to allow the dead wood of our past to be blown away to make room for the green shoots of new growth. It is useful to ask ourselves at this point, what we still need to release, and to look after protecting and nurturing the seeds we have planted. 

Iris reminds us, in these difficult times, to remember our aspirations, to consider who it is we are trying to become, and to hold those images surrounded by her prismatic light in our minds as we pass through this time of darkness. All times of hardship offer us the challenge to grow, or to diminish. The choice is ours...but, Iris is ready to lighten our path if we accept her offering into our hearts. No storm, no darkness lasts forever.’

*(some descriptions of this spirit doll from Brian Froud’s The Faeries Oracle’

* Iris of the Rainbows is, of course, for sale in our Etsy store. Www.rhinestonegypsy.etsy.com  (Creative credit also goes to my artist partner, Kristin Gannon, who helps make each and every doll.)

THE FAERY GODMOTHER

*Faery GodMother: Faery Grace. Unconditional Love. Protection.

Gifts. Talents. Grace. 

......................................................................................................................

*The Faery Godmother is here to bring a little magic into your life. She might give you a bit of faery dust to brighten your mood, or perhaps a little grace to help you on your way. She’s responsible for those little inconspicuous miracles that make life a little bit nicer. She will bestow gifts upon you and sometimes gives you a choice when you thought you didn’t have one. The Faery Godmother loves you not because you deserve it or don’t deserve it, but because you exist, that is reason enough for her. It is simple. She is the giver of grace and useful lessons. She tries not to interfere very much and instead gives you a touch of faery grace so that you learn a wee bit faster.

Think of her as your personal guardian angel’s assistant. She takes care of those things your guardian angel might forget about.

The Faery Godmother turns up when good things are happening to you, especially good things that you feel you don’t deserve. That is her lesson. It’s not about being worthy, it’s about giving and receiving unconditionally and she wants you to know that. Take that lesson to heart and teach it to others. 

*(some descriptions of this Spirit Doll from Brian Froud's The Faeries' Oracle)

...........................................................................................................................

* The Faery Godmother is made of salvaged, recycled, tattered fabrics, textiles, laces, ribbons, jewels, beads, buttons, furs, feathers, twigs and stones. Her face is hand formed, hand painted polymer clay

*The Faery Godmother is 15" L, comes with her own stand, or can be hung on the wall

*The Faery Godmother is available for purchase in our Etsy shop

CAMPFIRE MAGIC

"Moonlight. Fireflies. Wolves. Star gazing. Stillness. Lovemaking. Dreaming. Magic.
I am in love with the night."

Memories are made sitting around a campfire telling stories, singing songs, or making s'mores!  We knew we wanted ours to be a cozy space for entertaining......

Our landscaper used various sized boulders gathered from our woods to create the fire pit circle and the wall surrounding the area. He even found some beautiful flat boulders he incorporated for built in seating! He then filled in the space with huge colorful flagstones.

We are thrilled with the result!  It is cozy and comfortable as well as stunningly beautiful!

THE FAERY GODMOTHER

Our newest Gypsy Doll is 'The Faery Godmother'.

The Faery Godmother gives us grace to help us along our way. It might be a little touch of faery dust to lift a mood, or it might be a conspicuous miracle....or it might be anything in between. She protects us from ill will and plain stupidity of others. She protects us from our own mistakes.  She un tangles snarls in our psyches and bestows gifts upon us-whatever she feels we need. Sometimes she gives us choices when we thought we had none.

Grace is the good fortune of the Universe even when we don't deserve it. In fact, deserving or not deserving is not the issue. We are-and therefore, we are loved. It is that simple.

The Faery Godmother is the giver of Grace, and occasionally of useful lessons. She tries not to interfere  with our learning process, but she adds that little touch of faery grace that helps us to learn a little faster sometimes. Quite often she acts in our lives through the hands and hearts of others.

The Faery Godmother is the only faery to wear a crown of stars. flowers, and branches, which says a lot about her.

The Faery Godmother glows through us as we perform loving and appropriate kindnesses for others and develop our capacity for unconditional love.

-Taken from Brian Froud's 'The Faeries Oracle"

THE DARK MAGIC OF ALL HALLOWS EVE

Come with me All Hallow's night

We'll frighten everyone in sight

Such pranks for once, are justified

And fun and frolic amplified.

 Samhain, All Hallos Eve, Halloween, Dia de los Muertos (which falls on October 31st) is deep Autumn. Crispy-cold evenings with leaves blowing underfoot and the smell of woodsmoke. Long dark nights with clouds scattering overhead. Chilly mornings that lift damp fingers to a veiled sun.

Samhain is a time of change-for letting go of the old and making way for the new. For many who practice earth-based traditions, it is the turning point of the year, the dark half of the wheel, a time to reach through the veil and communicate with the otherworld.

It is a time for going within to the darkness, into our shadows, and meeting ourselves and those who have gone before....remembering that death is just a phase of our journey.

To celebrate this magical season, we carve jack-o-lanterns and make pumpkin bread from our garden pumpkins. We decorate our home with dried leaves, apples,  pumpkins, Indian Corn, masks, and witches (lots of witches)! We burn spicy-scented candles and take time for reflection in their flickering light.

MAY DAY MAGIC

Like Candlemas, Lammas, and Halloween, May Day is one of the corner days which fall between solar festivals of the year (the equinoxes and soltices). The ancient Celts called this holiday Beltane and began celebrating at sunset on April 30th. It marked the beginning of summer, time to move with the flocks up to greener pastures.

Like Halloween, this is a night where witches, faeries, and ghosts wander freely. The veil between the worlds is thin. Many ancient tales tell of faerie sightings on May 1st.

When my children were young, we celebrated May Day by making fresh flower bouquets from the blooming wild flowers and herbs in my garden and whatever we could scrounge up in the woods. Often the lilac bushes were in bloom and we added sprigs of those lovely fragrant posies as well. We made one for each of our nearby relatives and our favorite neighbors....20 pots or more we tied up in shimmering ribbons. 

Then, following May Day ritual lore, we would deliver the flowers to the doorsteps of our family and friends, ring their bell, and run away giggling-thrilled with our secret gift.

The kids are all grown and gone from home now...and we haven't celebrated May Day this way in many years. But, those sweet, magical memories fill me up and make me smile every May1st.

HONOR OUR EARTH

On this EARTH DAY I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy the riches of nature and consider what you can do to help preserve our Mother Earth. I thought it might be fun to share a passage from my book about cultivating a 'Fairy Garden' in hopes of sustaining a wee bit of wild life in your own back yard.

"I agree, as many gardeners do, with the legendary Pan: that leaving a patch of earth untilled, unplanted, and untouched will allow the magical flowers to grow as they please, and the insects, wildlife, and the fairies will claim it as their home. So many things that are out of place in the sophistication of a formal bed will thrive here to charm us with their blossoms, as well as their lore.

Shakespeare tells us of oxlips, roses, violets, woodbine, and eglantine, the lovely name for sweetbrier. Cuckooflowers, ground flax, harebells, mallow, and stitchwort are some of the lesser know wildings that also might be a part of this magical garden....

And, if you visit this sacred spot and a tiny green bug alights upon your shoulder, it just might be that diminutive elf we've talked about, come from another realm to whisper words of wisdom-a prayer for non-believers: Learn to work in harmony with our blessed planet, and it will sustain and nourish us..."
.....................................................................
*click the title of this post and it will take you to my book, "Creating Fairy Garden Fragrances", which is for sale in my etsy shop.

THE WITCHES' SPELL

"Hoity-toity! Hop-o'-my thumb!
Tweedledee and Tweedledum!
All hobgoblins come to me,
Over the mountains, over the sea:
Come in a hurry, come in a crowd,
Flying, chatting, shrieking loud;
I and my broomstick fidget and call---
Come, hobgoblins, we want you all!!
I have a pot of mischievous brew..."
Ruth Bedford

I love everything about Fall: warm fuzzy sweaters, crisp, sweet fallen leaves, carved pumpkins, fantastical Halloween outfits, and tart apple pies. I adore the rich autumn colors: bittersweet, warm forest green, and deep burgundy. I spent a glorious day yesterday putting away all my summer decor, and turning my home into an autumn wonderland. Garlands of glittered leaves, pumpkins of all sizes,  gourds and lovely indian corn. And...WITCHES everywhere! A universal creature of which fairy tales are written, and spells are spun, the witches might be my favorite part of fall. I feel a special kinship with these magical wise women and have been collecting them for years. I have wooden, resin, clay, cloth and paper mache witches. They gather in the nooks and crannies of my home, where I allow them to work their magic. You can almost hear them cackle in warm spirited salutation, "Come at my summons-come to me".