September 28th, 2014

I love pottery! Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go over to a craft fair which was also selling raku pots that you could glaze and fire yourself. After picking up some organic soap, I got a little mini pot which I thought looked like a Japanese tea ceremony cup. I glazed it purple on the outside and green on the inside, and then sat and made friends with a really nice family there visiting their daughter. We got coffee together, and then I headed back to the courtyard where they were doing the firing.

This is my pot after I glazed it, but before it got fired.

This is the kiln. The pottery gets heated to 1800⁰ F.

After about an hour, the pottery is removed from the kiln while it's still red-hot.

The ceramic pieces get put inside garbage cans full of wood shavings. The lids are clamped on, and the heat of the ceramic sets the shavings on fire, generating a ton of smoke. The smoke finishes the chemical reactions in the glaze, giving the pieces their signature blend of colors, crackle, and iridescence.

My finished pot. These are not food safe, but can be used to hold water.

One woman, a craft shop regular, had numerous pieces she had made that she was glazing. This one came out rather black on the other side, and she wasn't happy with it, so she gave it to me because I thought it was gorgeous. Just look at the butterflies! So pretty.

I've added my bowl/cup/pot(?) to my altar, and to be honest, I'm super happy with how it looks. I hadn't been sure when I moved into my dorm if I'd be able to have anything really like a permanent altar since I didn't know what my roommate's attitude would be, but I think she's just accepted that I like shiny things and hasn't even questioned why half of my dresser is covered in crystals and has a chalice and a picture of pretty fairies.

It's so cute! Not sure yet how much seasonal decoration I'll be doing. I had to leave most of my usual things at home, so it'll require some ingenuity, certainly, but at least for Samhain, I'm sure there's plenty of places to get gourds or pumpkins around here.

My other vase I set on top of my microwave with my mask, because I'm a designer in training. Even microwaves need to look attractive, and if they have something vaguely theatrical or occult about them, well, so much the better.

If you've never done raku and you get the chance, I really recommend it. It's an ancient Japanese art form that combines all the elements in a manner which is really primal in its nature. The earthy clay, airy smoke, blazing fire, and water to cleanse the finished product are all united by human creative spirit. It's truly a serene art form, and the results are as unpredictable as the elements which go into its creation.

March 31st, 2013

I was reading a book today about the Japanese Tea Ceremony, called (somewhat obviously) The Book of Tea. To illustrate a point, the author, Okakura Tenshin, related a traditional Japanese parable. I so enjoyed it that I thought I'd share it here:

The Taming of the Harp

Once in the hoary ages in the Ravine of Lungmen stood a Kiri tree, a veritable king of the forest. It reared its head to talk to the stars; its roots struck deep into the earth, mingling their bronzed coils with those of the silver dragon that slept beneath. And it came to pass that a mighty wizard made from this tree a wondrous harp, whose stubborn spirit should be tamed but by the greatest of musicians. For long the instrument was treasured by the Emperor of China, but all in vain were the efforts of those who in turn tried to draw melody from the strings. In response to their utmost strivings there came from the harp but harsh notes of disdain, ill-according with the songs they fain would sing. The harp refused to recognize a master.
At last came Peiwoh, the prince of harpists. With tender hand he caressed the harp as one might seek to soothe an unruly horse, and softly touched the chords. He sang of nature and the seasons, of high mountains and flowing waters, and all the memories of the tree awoke! Once more the sweet breath of spring played amidst its branches. The young cataracts, as they danced down the ravine, laughed to the budding flowers. Anon were heard the dreamy voices of summer with its myriad insects, the gentle pattering of rain, the wail of the cuckoo. Hark! a tiger roars - the valley answers again. It is autumn; in the desert night, sharp like a sword gleams the moon upon the frosted grass. Now winter reigns, and through the snow-filled air swirl flocks of swans and rattling hailstones beat upon the boughs with fierce delight. 
Then Peiwoh changed the key and sang of love. The forest swayed like an ardent swan deep lost in thought. On high, like a haughty maiden, swept a cloud bright and fair; but passing, trailed long shadows on the ground, black like despair. Again the mode was changed; Peiwoh sang of war, of clashing steel and trampling steeds. And in the harp rose the tempest of Lungmen, the dragon rode the lightning, the thundering avalanche crashed through the hills. In ecstacy the Celestial monarch asked Peiwoh wherein lay the secret of his victory. 
"Sire," he replied, "others have failed because they sang but of themselves. I left the harp to choose its theme, and knew not truly whether the harp had been Peiwoh or Peiwoh were the harp."

I liked the story for a couple of reasons: the evocative language and beautiful description of nature, and that moral that those who do best are those who are humble. I also thought (did anyone else do the same?) that the description of the tree in that first paragraph could be easily employed as the basis for a grounding and centering meditation. Maybe that's just the nerd Pagan in me. ;D

August 6th, 2012

After leaving for Hazelnut's house Friday afternoon, I returned yesterday around 7:00. On Friday, I got acquainted with Hazelnut's new familiar, Gypsy, a black kitten who they found abandoned in a park. She's absolutely adorable, although her wee little claws sure are sharp! We also made meringue cookies, some of which we decided to take on Saturday to share. Saturday morning, we stopped at a Subway restaurant to get lunch, already in our costumes. The expression on the employee's face was priceless. Then we drove to the festival park, getting there early to sign in as volunteers.

There wasn't a great deal for us to help with, so instead, we spent the day exploring the vendor's tents, watching the Swords of Valour perform their sword fights - they're quite a hilarious group, actually - and spending a large portion of the money we brought. It will never cease to amaze me how blatantly Pagan the Faery Fest is: it seemed like everyone had a pentacle necklace, a Triple Goddess tattoo, a dancing Goddess necklace, or some combination of the three. And even those who didn't often reflected one or more of the themes in their wares.

We found a vendor from OakMoon Crafts selling beautiful sets of embroidered towels, wash cloths, Books of Shadows, shirts, and more, with the embroidery including fantasy dragons and faeries for non-Pagans, and pentacles, Sabbat imagery, and Triple Goddess signs for those who were. I was really tempted to take home a Lammas washcloth, but somehow I wasn't sure that my parents would approve. That was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though. One huge tent had a vast variety of goods, ranging from fox and raccoon tails to delicate beaded jewelry. Hazelnut found a perfect ceramic cauldron for $3, as well as a lovely brass chalice. I got myself a pouch to hold stones and herbs in. Speaking of stones, there were at least three places specializing in semi-precious varieties, which I took a particular interest in exploring. I ended up with a piece of emerald calcite and fluorite. Also on day one, I purchased a small besom, as my previous one was... lacking, to put it kindly, as well as a snail-shell water vial. We chased giant bubbles around for a while, enjoyed some wonderful music, and were about to head around again when a huge storm blew in, closing the Fest a few hours early. In the meantime, Hazelnut and I headed back to her house, where we relaxed for the evening. Sunday morning, it was back to the Faery Fest. Because of Saturday's storm, some of the vendors had had trouble with their tents, so Hazelnut and I helped get things in order. We also gave Meadowynn and the Faery Queen a hand with the tea parties, where little faery girls could listen to stories, eat some cookies, and enjoy blueberry lemonade. Later, I had a chance to hit up some more stone vendors, and used the last of my cash on pieces of unakite, red jasper, malachite, sodalite, and bloodstone. Finally, may I just say that some of the costumes we saw were spectacular. There were whole hosts of faeries, Green Men, pirates, and other sprite-ly beings who had really gone all out.

April 15th, 2012

First, a personal update: last night marked the final performance of my high school's spring musical, so I should be home a great deal more now to write up my blog posts. Huzzah!

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In other news, I shall continue my monthly saga of the Celtic tree months. Today begins the month of Willow, called Saille (Sahl-yeh) by the Celts. The Willow belongs to the genus Salix (from Latin sal-, meaning near, and -lis, meaning water), which includes approximately 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs. They grow in moist soil, are found primarily in the northern hemisphere, and are extremely cross fertile, meaning that both natural and cultivated hybrids are common. The most popular example of such is the Weeping Willow, which is a cross between the Peking Willow from China and the White Willow from Europe. All Willows have sap heavily charged with salicylic acid (similar to the active ingredient in aspirin, and used in many acne treatments), and the roots are typically stoloniferous, or runner-producing. Indeed, the roots of the willow are extremely tough, and in some varieties will happily grow even from parts of the plant well above the ground. With regard to flowers, the willow produces catkins that are both male and female, and are generally purple or orange.
The Willow is prevalent in mythology and legend from across the globe. In Japan, the tree is associated with ghosts, and the Japanese believe that wherever one grows, a ghost may appear. Similarly, the Willow is frequently planted in or near European graveyards, and in China, the branches of the Willow are employed during the Qingming, or "tomb-sweeping", festival. At this time, the god of the underworld allows the dead to return temporarily, and as these spirits may not always be welcome, the Willow is said to ward them off. Some Christian churches in northern Europe use Willow branches instead of palms on Palm Sunday, and in Wicca, the Willow is mentioned in the Rede as being one of the Nine Sacred Woods, and is used to guide the dead to the Summerland. It is also common in rites of fertility. In ancient Greece, for example, willow leaves were placed in the beds of infertile women, which was believed to call mystical snakes from the underworld to cure them. In later times, the association was switched, and willow was used to drive snakes away. Today, a pregnant woman may place an article of clothing under a willow tree, and if that night even a single leaf falls on the cloth, the woman will be granted an easy childbirth by the spirit of the Willow. The tree is also sacred to poets, as the wind whistling through the branches is said to inspire the mind.
Because of its connection to the dead, Willow is commonly associated with the element Spirit. Burn Willow to help ease the spirit of the deceased, and use it to bring new energy to the elderly or sick. Since the tree deals with the cycles of life, change, and will, it can be employed in magick dealing with those things. It is also associated with the element Water, and is an excellent wood to use in making a water-dowsing rod. Further, it is tied to feminine energy, and can be employed in love spells, or spells to aid in womanly matters. According to tradition, willow bark is to be used to bind sacred and/or magickal objects together. A besom, for instance, will traditionally have an Ash handle and Birch twigs for the broom, bound with Willow. It is also a popular wood in carving wands and talismans.
Willow bark is edible, and is frequently made into teas to reduce rheumatism, indigestion, and whooping cough. To make a willow decoction, useful for soothing inflamed tonsils or gums, soak three teaspoons of willow bark in cold water for two to five hours, before boiling. Then strain, and drink a glass daily.

Green Tea Ceremony

Since I was just writing about tea, I thought I would throw in an intriguing connection to the Japanese culture, which has a very specific ritual for making, pouring, and drinking tea. This is called the Way of the Tea, or "chadou" (literally "tea-ism"), and involves a particular preparation of powdered green tea. The specifics of the ritual change depending on the time of year. The colder months, November to April, have different utensils, mannerisms, etc. from the warmer months, May to October. Also, there are two kinds of tea that can be made: thick and thin. Thick tea requires about three times more powder than thin tea, and therefore is kneaded into the water with the tea whisk (see picture), as opposed to the thin tea method, where the powder is simply whisked in quickly. Thin tea is served individually in a small bowl, while thick tea is served to several people in a slightly larger one. Interesting stuff, no? I was curious if the ceremony had any connection to Shintoism, but I'm not seeing anything right off the bat. If anyone has any further information, please, let me know!

February 8th, 2012

2000 BCE - Here, eat this root.
1000 BCE - That root is heathen; here, say this prayer.
1850 CE - That prayer is superstitious; here, drink this potion.
1940 CE - That potion is snake oil; here, swallow this pill.
1985 CE - That pill is ineffective; here, take this antibiotic.
2000 CE - That antibiotic does not work anymore; HERE, EAT THIS ROOT.

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One of the places Hazelnut and I visited last weekend was a winter market. A lovely woman was there who, among chakra blankets and natural crystal candle-holders, was giving free samples of hibiscus tea. The tea also came with an informative packet talking about different types of tea and their properties. Therefore, on behalf of www.alternativesmarthealth.com, today I'd like to share some unorthodox uses for tea.

• To clean carpets. Sprinkle dry, used green tea leaves on a musty carpet and let sit for ten minutes. Then vacuum up the leaves.
• To shine wooden floors. After cleaning the floor as per the norm, rub a bit of black tea brew into the wood and let air dry. Be careful, however, not to use too much water, as this can be damaging to the wood.
• To polish furniture. Dip a soft clothe in a strong-brewed tea and wipe down scratched tables, chairs, etc. The tannins in the tea will re-color light or scratched areas.
• To clean mirrors and windows. To remove greasy and/or stubborn fingerprints from glass, rub a damp teabag over the area or fill a spray bottle with tea and spritz.
  
• To clean toilet bowls. Leave tea leaves in the bowl for a few hours, flush, and scrub the bowl with a brush.
• To soothe a sunburn. Sponge sunburned areas or areas with other mild burns with cooled chamomile tea. Do not use this if the skin is broken.
• To soothe tired eyes. Warm, wet teabags can reduce puffiness and pain in tired eyes. Just place one over each eye, sit back, and relax.
• To soothe bleeding gums. After getting a tooth pulled (or if an older child looses a tooth), try biting down on a cold, wet teabag, as the tannic acid in the tea helps the blood to clot.
• To shine dry hair. Rinse hair with unsweetened tea and leave to dry for a while. Then, rinse again with water.
• To soothe acne. Wash face with green tea, because of it's mild antiseptic properties, or with calendula flower tea, as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide.
• To tenderize meat. Marinade tough meat in black tea to increase tenderness.
• As a compost additive. Pouring strong tea in a compost bin increases the decomposition process, and encourages the growth of friendly bacteria.
• To help houseplants. On occasion, use brewed tea instead of water for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as ferns. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter adds nutrients to the soil, as does spreading tea leaves in with the mulch.
• To dye fabrics. Green and black tea can both be used to dye fabric, as well as paper, to create a beige, antiqued look.

For the record, I have used none of these, and cannot vouch for their effectiveness. Just thought I'd share. Additionally, these might be that much more effective if you empowered the tea for your intent before using it..... ;)

January 21st, 2012

The Celts divided the year into 13 months based off the lunar cycles. Each month then corresponded with a tree. Today marks the beginning of the Rowan Month. Rowan - of which common names include Witch Wood, Thor's Helper, and Rune Tree - is actually a member of the Rose family, growing up to 50 feet in height, with white flowers in May and red berries in winter. It thrives in poor (or overworked) soil where other species will not grow, and has been found across Europe near ancient settlements and stone circles. The word "Rowan" supposedly comes from Old Norse: "Raun", the Norse word for the tree. Another possible origin is from the Finnish Goddess Rauni, who came down to earth and took on the form of the Rowan tree.
Rowan has long been considered a magickal wood, being utilized by the Celts for astral travel, personal power, and success. Norse people used the wood as staves for protection, and a small branch with runes carved into it could protect its bearer from harm. Similarly, the Celts further believed in Rowan's protective qualities, and so wore necklaces made from the berries, and placed branches of the plant around livestock and in the home. In some countries, Rowan has been planted in graveyards to help the dead move on, and many old coffins are made of Rowan wood. Other legends tell of fairies who flock to the trees, and that to do one damage is to invoke the wrath of the Fey. In Ireland, the fairies were said to live in the Forest of Dooros, where they did nothing but eat the berries of the Rowan, brought from Fairyland.
Today, while magickal properties of the past are still applicable, some more recent uses of the wood connect it with the masculine divine and with the element of fire. It is likewise used for healing, courage, and fertility.
Unlike the plants I have talked about in the past, Rowan is non-poisonous. Although the berries contain a possible carcinogen, this is easily neutralized by cooking. They contain high levels of Vitamin C and are natural, mild laxatives. The berries are made into jams, pies, wine, and tea. The tea of the Rowan berry helps to solve problems with the urinary tract. The bark is also used medicinally to treat problems with the blood and stomach.

Elemental Tea Set

Okay, I adore this wee little elemental tea set. They're all food safe, and hand painted. They can be purchased on-line, but as Blogger has decided to be mean, I will have to add the link at the bottom of the post, under the picture.













http://www.thepointyhat.com/Elemental-Tea-Set_p_658.html