Month: September 2019

#50QuickQuestions2019 Just for Fun (non) VR to The Hermit’s Cave

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Simon over at The Hermit’s Cave created a new hashtag today, and it’s my favorite type of quizzes to do, which is random question posts.   So, I grabbed it to answer and here we go….

PineBox

The Questions

1. Have you ever changed your clothes while in a vehicle?

Yes.  I lived in my car for a while in my teens and I have done just about everything you CAN do in a car in the whole day-to-day life aspect, including eating, bathing, sex, changing clothes, sleeping, etc.

2. What do you want to do before you die?

I had trouble with this one.   One more visit to the rainforests.  It doesn’t matter how many times I go… one more.

3. Are you single?

Nope.  I belong to Gideon.  We’re going on over 11.5 years now.

4. What’s one thing you will not eat?

Live insects.  Live anything that moves, really.  I have an issue with the wiggle-in-the-mouth thing.

5. What color is your underwear?

Dark gray for today.

6. When is the last time you went out of England?

Never been to England, but out of my own country?  Last Tuesday, because I cross into Canada twice a week for work.

7. Who was your last received call?

UW Medical Center.   Most of my communication with others is through texts.  I don’t get many phone calls from people I know other than my mother.

8. Have you ever drank milk straight out of the carton?

Yes.  I don’t these days, but back when I was living alone or living in the car?  Yep.  Although… I never realized it was an actual skill until watching Becca’s responses.

9. What was your last holiday?

I’m guessing this is the UK meaning of “holiday”, which means vacation.  That would be a visit to my mother’s in the spring.  I left all of my work except my phone at home and deliberately focused on rest and restoration while I was there.

10. Can you hula hoop?

Yes, I can.

11. Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yep.  I have.  And I’m going to plead the 5th under the risk of incriminating myself.  LOL

12. Ever skinny dipped?

Yep.  In lakes, canals, and the ocean… I’ve never skinny dipped in a swimming pool tho.

13. Have you sang karaoke?

Once upon a time… yes.

14. Was today better than yesterday?

A bit busier today than yesterday, so not really?  But it’s not bad either.

15. Is anybody getting on your nerves?

Not at this moment.

16. Do you talk to yourself?

Yes.  Not that I can physically talk anymore, but my mouth still works even if my voice doesn’t.

17. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

That would be Gideon, and that’s a HELL yes.   If we’re talking about just a peck-on-the-cheek?  That would be my sister, and of course I would.

18. How many languages can you speak?

None of them anymore.  I’m fluent in English.  I’m semi-fluent in Korean and French.  I can mostly understand spoken Vietnamese.   I can semi-understand spoken Japanese, and spoken or written Italian and Spanish.

19. Ever waxed your eyebrows?

I have not.

20. Earrings or Necklace?

Necklace, because if I had to give up my collar I’d be really upset.

20. What’s the last gift you received?

Gideon sent me a pair of labradorite hearts to take with me on my trip.

21. Are you mad at anybody?

Not that I can think of at the moment, so I guess that’s a no.

22. Ever receive detention?

As in when in school?  Yes, a few times.  Usually for sleeping in class.

23. Ever cried listening to music?

Yes.  Absolutely.  Some music just touches me that way.

24. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?

Yes.  Well, yes and no.  It depends on what I’m doing, where I’m communicating, and who I’m communicating with.

25. What are you doing tonight?

Prepping orders to ship out tomorrow and spending time with Gideon.

26. What time is it?

Nearly 2pm

27. Are you loud?

Not anymore.  LOL   No, I’ve never been a loud person.  Although I have been told that I’m very good at projecting energy, which I suppose is a kind of “loud”.

28. What are you looking forward to?

Sleeping. Samhain. January.

29. Do you watch Family Guy regularly?

Yep.  I love Stewie. He’s a little evil genius.

30. Have you ever watched a little kids show?

Yes.  Both as a kid and as an adult. Sometimes they’re just fun.

31. What does your last inbox text say?

“DEBIT – $10.84 Purchase Visa G…”

32. Zodiac sign?

Taurus sun sign, Scorpio moon sign

33. Are you wearing socks?

No.  In fact I go barefoot as often as I can.

33. Were you born during the last century?

Um…. well, I was born in 1988.  So yes?

34. What is your religion?

Buddhist Pagan.  Buddhist like an adjective, Pagan as a noun.

35. What’s something you have nightmares about?

Aside from my ex?  I sometimes have nightmares about not finishing high school, getting lost in the high school I went to, and/or losing my class schedule/locker combination/etc in school and missing classes because of it.

36. Have you ever been on a rollercoaster?

I have been on many rollercoasters.  I love rollercoasters.

37. Do you care what others think about you?

Sometimes. Strangers, not so much.

38. What do you do all the time in a car?

Listen to music and/or an audiobook.  It helps me stay awake.

39. Do you trust people easily?

No?   Maybe.  Mmmm…. No, I don’t think so.

40. Do you watch football?

I do not.  I’m not into sports.

41. Where was the last place you went shopping?

Walmart (for cat litter and to pick up prescriptions)

42. Favorite football team?

I don’t have one, cuz I don’t watch football.

43. Do you watch the Olympics?

Only the gymnastics really, and sometimes ice skating.

44. Last bar you went to?

The Pine Box (in Seattle)

45. Do you have a favorite number?

Thirteen

46. Are you multitasking right now?

Yep.  I’m answering these questions, working on making earrings for tomorrow’s orders, and watching YouTube.

47. Do you believe in love at first sight?

I do.  I think it’s extremely rare, and that people mistake infatuation for it on a regular basis…  but, yes I do.

48. Do you believe in karma?

Absolutely.  I believe in balance.  I believe the universe requires balance and rectifies imbalance.   And thus, Karma is born.

49. How is the weather today?

Very nice.  Overcast.  67 degF.  A little damp.   Perfect, really.

50. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?

I don’t do stupid shit with my cell phone.  It costs too much to replace.  That said… I have dropped it on concrete a few times.

 

Trial By Fire… The Aftermath

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty seconds, and focused on moving forward after struggle or loss.   This is an interesting topic for today, because the card that I’d drawn before meditation is a fitting correlation to this subject.

The guided meditation spoke of there being two different types of people that are displayed best by children.  There are those that build a sandcastle, then cry when the sea comes to tear it down and wash it away.  Then, there are those that watch the sea come to wash it away and begin to build again once it has retreated.

There is also a third type, though.   My type.    When the sea came to steal my sandcastles?  I cheered.  I thought it was the most AWESOME part of the entire process, that reclaiming by the sea.   And even now?  I have the same reaction.  I may not cheer… but inside I am dancing and laughing as I see the sea drag through the sand that’s been sculpted with such care.

I’m not sure -why- I have this reaction, but it is very much something that comes with within.   Perhaps that is why I do not find the Tower card so intimidating.

Today’s draw is the Six of Oak (Pentacles), which is a representation of harmony, vitality, and cooperation (as well as “humanity issues” and limitations) in the area of resources, finances, manifestation, and the physical world.

I usually see the Six of Pentacles in the tarot as a bountiful harvest card. It’s all about what comes after the five. Fives are filled with tests, struggles, and strife… and yet, when we get to the six, the storm is over, light shows on the horizon, and there is now bounty to be had and harmony to savor.

And that is what I see in this card.  I see a tree that has been through much, with dried bark and broken parts.  And yet, it has weathered the storm and still grows.  It produces leaves and nuts, offering its nourishment to the world.

This message is one of hope and encouragement for the trip that’s now looming on the horizon.  It speaks of the struggle I will no doubt go through (considering where I’m going and who I will be visiting), but it speaks as well of the time after.  It speaks of the light on the horizon at the end of the storm, and my resilience to get through the hard times and come out the other side still strong and resourceful.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

#BackupDecks (non) VR to The Hermit’s Cave

/ Twist the Leaf / 3 Comments

I’ve been sitting on this post for quite some time, because originally?  I wanted to do pictures of all of these decks.  But it turned out that the pictures were just becoming a HUGE pain in the ass, so I revised the idea and will be sure to add links to each deck so that you can see what they are, but I’m not going to bother taking pictures of them all.

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Luna (upper right corner) assisting me in sorting and organizing my decks to be stored in my trunks.

The original theme for this post was created by Simon over at The Hermit’s Cave, where he did a video a few months ago about his backup decks. I had thought that I don’t often purchase back-up decks until I started writing this post. Now? Lets just say it started out with a few decks that I have done so because the deck was just TOO important to me to risk ever being without… and then kind of shifted from there.

In fact, I only have…. hm, three?  No, four, I think.  That is to say, back up decks that are very literally and very much bought -as- back up decks.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Cards – I have the original 1970s version that was given to me as a child as my very first divination deck, and then I also have an old 1920s version that I picked up more recently.

Sasuraibito Tarot – This one is because I already owned a copy and was then gifted a copy by Z a few months after I’d already bought it for myself.  I held onto the second one because I really like the deck so… why not?

Tarot of the Hidden Realm – I’ve mentioned this deck many, many times.  I connected to it from the moment it came out of the box and that connection has only gotten stronger over time. I have a second copy of this deck (and TWO extra guidebooks for it) because I love it so much.

Tyldwick Tarot – I have two of this deck for the same reason as the Tarot of the Hidden realm.  It’s because I love it so much.   And, because it speaks to me in a way I’ve not found any other deck has ever spoken to me before, and I find that it communicates well with ALL of the various Fae themed decks I have.

And, soon to be added, the Stolen Child Tarot, which has quickly stolen second place right behind Tarot of the Hidden Realm as my all time favorite deck.

deck01

The trunks where I home the majority of my decks.  These are located in my bedroom on the far side of the bed beneath the windows.

Aside from those mentioned above, I also have a few that I have two decks for, but it is because I have done some kind of alteration to the deck that has significantly changed how I use it or how it reads, and yet still wanted to retain one for myself in its original format as well.   These include….

Arthur Rackham Oracle – Essentially, I took both decks and picked out the best artwork for each card, added in the cards from both decks that were different, and thus created a giant deck.   With the repeat cards that were left over, I then trimmed them down to just the image and use them as an intuitive oracle deck.

Fairy Lights Tarot – Both of the versions of these I have trimmed, but in different ways.   The first one, I trimmed off just the sides of the deck.  This is because some of the cards fit together to make panoramic views of a larger picture and the side borders made fitting them together impossible.  The second deck I have trimmed down to just the images, and use them as an intuitive oracle deck.

John Bauer Tarot – I have an un-modified version.   And then I have one that I’ve removed all the borders and text, cutting them down to just the images and edging them in multiple colors to match the artwork on each card.  Like the others in this group of decks, I use the trimmed down version as an intuitive oracle deck.

Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot – I have three versions of this one.  I have an un-modified full size deck, I have the mini pocket size of this deck, and I have a third one that I have trimmed down to just the images to use as an intuitive oracle deck.

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The interior of one of the trunks prior to finishing filling it up.

Ok, so then there’s a third category here… because I also have a handful of decks that I have more than one of that are not back ups, but different versions of the same deck.  These would include…

1971 Rider Waite Deck; plus a newer “mini deck” size copy of it.

Centennial Smith Waite – I have three versions of this one.  That includes the borderless edition, the edition with borders, and the tarot-in-a-tin pocket size.

Earthly Souls and Spirits Oracle – I have this one in both the large 2nd edition format, which I use as center focal cards for wheel spreads sometimes, as well as the tarot-sized 3rd edition of the deck.

Good Tarot – I have the official mass-market copy, and a mini bootlegged copy from China.

Halloween Tarot –  For this one, I have it in the full sized version, as well as in the tarot-in-a-tin pocket version.

Luminous Void – I would probably not have both sizes of this deck, but I bought the original size before the smaller “shuffle size” came out. The shuffle size is a bit easier to handle and I really struggle with the larger cards of the original deck, so I bought the ‘shuffle size’ and now have both.

Morgan Greer – Like some of the others in this section of the list, I have this deck in the full sized version, as well as in the tarot-in-a-tin pocket version.

Mystic Faerie Tarot – I have both the bordered edition, as well as the borderless edition.

Radiant Rider Waite Tarot – I have three versions of this deck, which includes the standard full sized edition, a standard full sized edition in Chinese, and a tarot-in-a-tin pocket edition.

Roots and Wings Oracle – I love this oracle and have been loving it for a while.  I originally bought the full sized version, and then later ordered the mini size in a tin when she released it earlier this year.

Sun and Moon Tarot – I have it in the full sized version, as well as in the tarot-in-a-tin pocket version.

Universal Waite Tarot – Again, I have it in the full sized version, as well as in the tarot-in-a-tin pocket version.

Universe Has Your Back – I have the official mass-market copy, and a mini bootlegged copy from China.

Wild Unknown Tarot – I have the official mass-market copy, and a mini bootlegged copy from China that I plan on coloring in to see if I can connect better to the cards with them colored.

Wildwood Tarot – I have two official mass-market copies of this deck (one that’s trimmed and one that isn’t), as well as a mini bootlegged copy from China.

Witches Tarot – I have the original 1989 mass market edition, and I have a mini bootlegged copy from China.

Okay so… I think that’s all of them.  I’ve considered picking up a second copy of the Llewellyn Tarot, as I am planning on trimming the one I have down to just the images, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet.

 

Valuing the Trusted

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and forty seconds long, and focused on taking time to enjoy life instead of allowing life to push you ever forward in a state of overwhelm.

I think everyone has those times when life is overwhelming and you forget to pay attention to the little joys and small pleasures.  One of my favorite ways to get in touch with those little joys is to take my sister to a toy store.

We never went to toy stores as a kid, and this has become a HUGE fascination for her as an adult.  Take her in a toy store, and he face lights up like Christmas.  She can spend hours (yes, literally hours) going through the aisles playing with all the different toys and chatting about everything she sees.    She never spends a penny, but for her?  It’s like taking her to an amusement park.    And in taking her, she draws me into the silliness and fun that, if I’m honest, I have a difficult time connecting to on my own.

In today’s meditation, it talks about how focusing on those moments of joy and enjoyment are apart of what makes life worth living.   And its true.  Without the shimmer of light to dazzle us now and then, life can begin to feel very plain and drab.  It’s important, when that twinkle appears, that you take a minute to enjoy it and appreciate its presence.

Today’s draw is the Three of Brine (Cups), which is a representation of small gains, harmonious unions, small groups, and communication in the area of the emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity.  This can come across in many ways such as successful collaborations, friendship and comradery, community celebration… or on the negative side, the “three’s a crowd syndrome”.

When I look at today’s card I see community and friendship.   The three stingray-children that gather together have their heads dipped in a display of the depth of sharing they have with each other.   The one facing forward displays that his heart is exposed, which to me expresses not just that he wears his “heart on his sleeve” but that he feels safe being vulnerable and exposed in this environment and with these people.

This card speaks to me today of remembering who is important and who is ‘safe’ in your life to share those inner most parts of you that, when exposed, leave you vulnerable.  It’s about knowing who to trust, and cherishing those relationships.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

Rest Before Battle

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on monitoring your emotions to check in with yourself and how you are  doing throughout the day.  It spoke on how when you don’t keep in touch with your emotions, this is when the emotional upsets and outbursts start to get out of hand.

I’ve never had a problem with checking in with my emotions, primarily because I spent so much time walling them off throughout much of my life.

In order to cage your emotions like that, it requires a constant vigilance. Funny enough, the meditation’s title was “Gatekeeping”, and that’s a very apt name for the kind of constant policing I’ve done with my emotions throughout my life.

I can see how lack of awareness of your emotions and what stirs them up could be a problem, though.

Today’s draw is the Four of Zephyrs (Four of Swords) which traditionally is a representation of stability, rest, recuperation, and ease in the area of the mind, thoughts, communication, and instinct.

This is the exact impression I got of this card when I drew it this morning.  I saw the eggs, untouched and safe in their nest, and the spirits watching over the eggs to ensure they are cared for.

The egg is a time of gestation, which is something that happens naturally when you take some time to yourself to rest and recuperate.  As you turn inward, you grow, just like the embryo inside the shell grows.  And when it is time to break free, our soul stretches in the say way the baby chick stretches out from the shell for the first time.

I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to rest today, but I understand the message that is conveyed in having drawn this card.   With the trip so close upon me, now is not a time for freaking out and expending energy on stress and worry.  It’s a time to rest, restore, and in doing so prepare for what is coming.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

Making “Florida Water” at Home

/ Twist the Leaf / 8 Comments

Right, so my mother did not call this “florida water”, but I’ve looked at a LOT of Florida Water recipes, and it’s essentially the same thing with a few tweaks.  This version is my mother’s recipe for what she has always called her “Energy Cleanser” or “Energy Spray”.

I thought you might be interested, since you’d asked about spell craft.  This is an example of spell craft, although I will be doing a separate post to go into a better explanation of what that is and how it works later on.

As my mother’s name suggests, this is used for cleansing energy of an area or thing.  It can be used to wipe down furniture or items, to wash your hands, to spray in the air or on items, etc.  My mother uses it on EVERYTHING.   My sister and I are not usually so liberal with it, though, and so we only make enough to fill a 2 liter jar at a time.

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What You Need:

Orange Peel, Rose Hips, Cedar Shavings, Rosemary, Garden Sage, Cinnamon, Lavender, Cloves, Sweet Grass, Star Anise, Ylang Ylang essential oil, and an air-tight jar.  Mason jars work, as will any other type of glass bottle or jar as long as it can create an air-tight seal even when turned upside down or shaken.  Many of these items can be substituted for their essential oils if you don’t want to forage and/or grow what you need.  I simply prefer the growing and foraging method.

You will also need a CLEAR alcohol of at least 80-proof.  I have used rubbing alcohol, everclear, and vodka in the past.   This batch is made with vodka, as it’s what I had on hand at the moment.

You’ll notice in my ingredients pictured above, I’m missing Star Anise.  That is because they were OUT where I normally source the magickal herbs that I’m not either ethically sourcing through nature or growing myself.  Thus, I will be adding it to the jar a bit later.

Once you have all that you need, clean your jar well  inside and out, then dry thoroughly.  Once dry, add all of the ingredients to the jar except the alcohol. I usually add the loose smaller ingredients first, but you can do this in any order that works for you.   As you add them to the jar, introduce them to your intention in using them and, while doing so, set your intentions energetically with each ingredient.

Each of my ingredients are introduced with the following intentions….

  • Lavender – energy purification, peace, and protection
  • Clove – repel negative influences, psychic protection, raising positive energy, and silencing gossip
  • Sweet Grass – energy purification, healing, attracting positive energy, and good fortune
  • Garden Sage – energy purification, wish fulfillment, and creating sacred space
  • Rosemary – energy purification, and warding off negative energy
  • Cedar Chips – banishing and warding of negative energy, creating sacred space
  • Cinnamon – grounding, protection, and success
  • Rosehips – attracting good health, attracting abundance, and promoting peace and harmony
  • Orange Peel – fostering positive energy, protection, hex breaking, and abundance
  • Star Anise (to come) – good luck, protection, calming energies, and increasing intuition
  • Ylang Ylang – clearing of and protection from negative energy, inviting in soothing energies, and nurturing the inner spirit

As you can see from the list above, each of the ingredients has its own purposes, but also works together with others in the jar to create a blend of primarily protective and cleansing properties.

Florida WaterOnce everything has been added to the jar, the alcohol you’ve chosen to use is then added and the container is filled up to its rim then sealed.   After sealing, this is a good time to give it a good vigorous shake to make sure your jar is air tight, as well as to get everything inside the jar mixed together.

Place the jar in a cool, dark place to set for three months.  It is usually a good idea to use a sharpie marker and write on the jar when the mixture was made and how long it needs to sit for, that way you do not forget. I prefer to do this making during the full moon as a part of my full moon ritual, so that I can include that burst of energy into the making.  I have made this mixture during this last full moon so that it will be ready to be opened for the new year, which is a tradition in our family.

It needs to be stored in a cool, dark place in order to protect the contents from degrading due to light.  But, be sure to pull it out each month at the full moon to set out in the moonlight after dark, but also be sure that you put it back in a cool, dark place before daylight.

Once opened, you want to strain the liquid inside through a fine mesh (or cotton cloth) to remove all the little bits of debris inside.  You can then tie up the contents in a biodegradable bit of cheesecloth and bury them to return them to degrade in the earth.   Strain the liquid a second time to ensure it is well cleaned, then transfer to a clean jar.

For use, you add 1 part mixture to (at least) 4 parts distilled water.   DO NOT use this mixture without diluting it by at least a 1:4 ratio or more.  It is very strong and needs dilution to be safe for your skin, pets, etc.   I personally use a 1:10 ratio just to be sure it is safe for Miss Luna to be around.  In my case, I fill a glass spray bottle with the diluted mixture and use it to clean surfaces before spell crafting, as well as to spray on my hands prior to tarot readings.

The remaining undiluted mixture can be stored in a cool, dark place until it’s needed.  As long as it is undiluted and sealed in an air-tight glass container, it will have an indefinite shelf life.