Who Were the Witches?

Many many years ago I was given a copy of this song by a friend and posted it on my web-site Natural touch doula{no longer live}

Some time later the woman who wrote the song contacted me and asked if I would add her name, and I was thrilled to be able to give proper credit.

Of course now I am re-posting her song, and can’t remember her name for the life of me, other then that her first name was Bonnie{I think?}

So in the meantime while I dig through my back-end for her proper name, please enjoy her loverly song~

Who are the witches, where did they come from?

Maybe your great, great grandmother was one

Witches were wise, wise women they say

And there’s a little witch in every woman today

There’s a little witch in every woman today

Witches knew all about flowers and trees

How to use all the bark and the roots and the leaves

When people grew weary from hard working days

Witches made them feel better in so many ways

Chorus

Women had babies and witches were there

To help and to feed them and give them some care

And witches knew stories of how life began

Don’t you wish you could be one? Well maybe you can

Chorus

Some people thought that the witches were bad

Some people were scared of the power they had

The power to heal and to give and to cure

It’s not something to fear it’s a treasure to share…

Song By:Bonnie Lockheart-thanks for the help!

Inspirations…

Recently I went to pick up one item from my favorite local bead store Bead Freaks, and as usual I got to chatting with the super friendly owner about her travels and business and somehow managed to come home with more loot then I had intended-as usual!

I took some shots of the store and mentioned to Kayla that I think of her bead store as one of the best kept secrets here in Vancouver, and it has everything to do with her–she is friendly, knowledgeable and actually travels to get her beads most of which are semi-precious and of amazing quality-oh and did I mention the prices–they are extremely well priced.

I shop here for most of my special pieces, because I know that the quality will be so good and that they were hand picked and brought back here by someone who knows what they are looking for and loves stones as much as I do!

My next inspiration is a little more international so to speak, as it is about a great store I discovered about a year ago whilst browsing around on Etsy I discovered a beautiful little shoppe called “For Strange Women” and ordered some of their Moss and Ivy oil it came in a cute box and I absolutely love it–not to mention all of the other beautiful and unique items for sale at their store….

I find that there are so many people doing such amazing and beautiful things with their lives in the world, and if I am truthful it used to overwhelm me.

I often would feel as though I was not doing enough and worry that I needed to be doing more, but something changed inside me over the years, and I am not sure exactly when, perhaps it has to do with time, and growing older, but I find now that it creates great joy and inspiration inside of me.

Now when I see people doing and creating what they love, I  get a different feeling, I get excited and fill up with bubbly joy, it is exhilarating, and bountiful and fills me up.

But it was not always this way, and often I need to remind myself to not be so hard on myself,  it can be a constant battle to remember that I am doing beautiful things and creating joy in the world–my kids remind me of that every day~

It also reminds me of the first part of the poem Wild geese by one of my favorite poets Mary Oliver.

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Mary Oliver

Spring Love……

Blogger Award!

My first Blogger Award from "As Within"

Last night I discovered that I was given a Blogging award and I had no idea! The e-mail went into my spam box.

I am thrilled, and happy to join in the fun because according to the rules I  now get to pass it on.

Here are the rules of the award:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

SO…..Thank you, thank As Within for my first Blog award!

Seven random things about myself:

1. I hated the color pink until I had a daughter-now I love it.

2. My favorite food is chocolate.

3. Two of my four tattoos are of butterflies.

4. I adore gospel music–it makes me crazy happy!

5. My first imaginary friend was a wolf.

6. I grew up on a goat farm, until I was 9.

7. I had many, many bad perms and then realized when I was 15 or so, that my hair is actually naturally curly!

Now for the best part of this honor–passing it on. This was harder then I thought it would be, not because I could not find any Blogs  love, but because there were too many! I had a really hard time narrowing it down.

(If any of you have already received this award, please do not feel obligated to re post.)

Here they are- in no particular order:

1. The Hermitage
2. Ink on my Fingers
3. Bread and Honey
4. Witch of Forest grove
5.Walking the Hedge
6.Cabinet of Curiosities
7.Glowbug Girl
8.Silver Apples of the Moon
9.Ricks Turning Point
10.BeeCause Pollination project
11.Such pretty Things
12.Bamboletta Dolls for little ones
13. Message from the Muse
14.The Birth Tree
15.Cheerio Road

Lastly I am off to let these Bloggers Know that I have passed this award onto them!

Blessings!

Nikiah

Hag Stones, Talismans, and Bones of the Earth

Stones are full of memories. They are the bones of the earth and carriers of stories and  myth.

Stones have been fashioned into sacred buildings, standing stones, fetishes, talismans and  objects of power for time immemorial.

Beautiful stones are carried home in the pockets of children and adults the world over, serving as reminders of where we have been, what we have seen, and often protecting us on our travels.

Stones often also serve as  signposts or markers on the land, and I believe a doorway to the ancient world.

In fact thousands of years after they were created, we can observe the markings and creations on stones created by the ancient in our modern era.

To think that past has literally reached out to us, and pulled us into it’s lore and myth simply from markings on stone makes them very powerful indeed!

Some stones have become well known like Hag Stones for instance.

 

Hag Stones are special because they have naturally formed holes through them and are rare to find, they are often called witch stones, or eye stones.

It was once common practice for people to hang a line of tied hag stones above their front door  to keep misfortune and troublesome spirits away.

Farmers used hag stones to keep their animals safe and fishermen used them to protect their boats from storms and as charms to help secure large catches of fish.

Small Hag Stones were also said to have been worn as talismans for good luck, and to keep bad dreams away.

In spellcraft it is said that rubbing a hag stone clockwise and saying an incantation will bring the user good fortune.

Hag Stones are also believed to ward off the dead, and is a favorite talisman by Cunning Folk to dispel the evil eye.

Hag stones are often thought of as doorways, or a key to the doorway, into the fairy kingdom.

Last week I found this great web-site about making Hag stone charms at Eco Enchantments, pay a visit the page is great!

Yes I really truly do love stones, the bones of the earth~

This past year I have been pouring over old and new books alike, to learn more about amulets and talismans used in ancient times. I am fascinated by the meaning and power of using such objects in shamanism and for spiritual uses all around the world.

It is with this in mind that I make most of my creations, for both myself, and for those I make custom creations for.

Last week-end I made a joyful and yet powerful piece for a priestess and it’s beauty was so breathtaking, even I could not take my eyes off of it.

When she placed the necklace on, it on it came alive and looked as if she had been wearing it forever, the stones sung and hummed and told her their story, {it was a private story for her ears only}, but I know it was powerful, for she smiled so much!

Nikiah

 

New Celtic Triscale Drum in the store.

Today I added this new drum to the site and I am so happy with it!

Painting on skin can be tricky business and this one was no exception, but knowing that I could play with getting it perfect it forever prompted me to stop-{for now} and get it it up!

The Triple Spiral or Triscale is an ancient symbol that is found all over England and Ireland, the most famous one can be found at Newgrange.

I uploaded the drum this morning to Red Moon Keeper, but still need to take some photos of the back and handle which is covered in black deer leather.