The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings; now for October eves! – Humbert Wolfe

As last year drew to a close, the internet was rife with memes pertaining to how 2020 was “one heck of a decade” (language softened as I generally strive to keep things family-friendly around here).

Zero arguments about that on this end.

In much the same vein, the season that just wrapped up, summer 2021, felt like a whole year crammed into just three months.

However, even with a plethora of different challenges and stresses, this summer held a certain unmistakable charm.

Yes, we experienced heatwaves (our town hit at least 47C in early July, with the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada occurring in a tiny community called Lytton, which is about a three-hour drive from our house; heartbreaking, a wildfire would utterly decimate Lytton mere days later), drought conditions, serious medical issues, the sudden passing of a family member on my paternal side, an ongoing surge in Covid-19 numbers in our region, and multiple forest fire evacuation alerts, but summer was still summer.

Sizzlingly hot, thrillingly gorgeous, and highly unforgettable.

Amidst the challenging elements of this summer, there was hope, positivity, and abundant loveliness (to say nothing of inspiration) as well.

My Summerween birthday back in July stands out as my favourite experience + memory from the season that just was.

What was your favourite part of summer (or winter, if you’re south of the equator) 2021?

As much as I love autumn with every fibre of my being, I do not generally wish summer a speedy demise (especially since I am not exactly in a mad rush to experience another 6 – 7 months of snowy weather again ).

This time around, however, pragmatism held that fall’s return would greatly benefit the brutal provincewide wildfire situation.

Thus, as August took its final breath and September arrived, I found myself grateful to start parting ways with summer.

And here we are, a few brief days in this exquisitely lovely chapter of the year. When leaves sunburned from summer’s pulsating heat drift like autumnal fairies to the ground, pumpkins grin from porches near and far, and the season of the witch is upon us.

I am ready. So incredibly, appreciatively, excitedly ready for October and all of autumn.

No matter what transpires in each of our lives, the annual cycle of the seasons is fundamentally unchanging.

Seasons come and go, painting our lives with new memories and the gift of treasured traditions alike. They are a rare constant in a world that has quite the penchant for changing on a dime.

In one final nod to the latest season to conclude, I present to you, sweet friends, the Summer 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me.

A link love post featuring online content that caught my eye during the past three months, coupled with a peek into what has been transpiring in my own life lately.

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

–DIY Crescent Moon Wreath: The sky is the limit when it comes to the creative ways in which one can make a wreath.

To my mind, few versions are as enchantingly gorgeous as this breathtaking DIY crescent moon wreath.

Naturally, one need not be of a witchy or Pagan persuasion to whip up a beautiful crescent moon wreath of their own. This is a craft project that can easily be enjoyed by one and all, and which would make for a phenomenal gift to bestow upon someone special in your life.

(And speaking of wreaths, I am really digging the same blogger’s (Debbie’s) creative Dollar Tree Placemat Wreath project idea as well.)

–How to Use the Tarot to Get Through Hard Times: Whether you are new to card slinging, have been working with tarot for years or decades now, or have yet to do a single spread, this handy, thoughtful list of dos and don’ts is a great way to help use your cards during life’s rougher patches.

–How to Use Witchcraft to Help Your Loved Ones: While it is natural for many of us to focus some (or even all) of our witchy workings and energy on our own needs/desires/purposes, it can be hugely beneficial to extend our practice to helping others in our lives as well.

This post lays out a handful of practical, useful ways to do just that. And it may, in the process, inspire you to come up with other approaches that would suit both your own witchery and the needs of your loved ones.

(From the same blog, as we embrace autumn’s return, I highly recommend their recipe for the Witchiest Pumpkin Spice (Blend) Ever.)

–Pagan Music: Our Top 25 Pagan and Witchy Songs for Rituals, Spells, and More: Like many of us, I adore a wide range of music and am always keen to discover new-to-me artists and groups whose tunes jive with my musical tastes.

I am also continually on the lookout for excellent Pagan and witchery-related music, so was tickled pink to see a terrific roundup of 25 songs that fall under that header appear on Other Worldly Oracle this summer.

If witchy/Pagan tunes are your cup of tea, swing on by and savour the beautiful, inspiring music on this instant playlist.

(Another post on the same site that stood out for me as of late is their wonderful Beginner’s Guide to Using Oracle Cards.)

–Spellcasting Series: Basics of Spellcrafting: In-depth, informative, and immensely helpful for new witches/Wiccans or those looking to further/expand their spellcrafting skills, this stellar post from Willow at The Flying Hedge is a must-read for anyone who involves spellwork in their witchery practices.

–The Ultimate Guide To Self Care (From a Witch): One of many lessons/reminders that the pandemic has driven home all the more for a lot of us is just how vitally important self care is.

I am a huge advocate of self-care and while, admittedly, I don’t always excel at practicing what I preach, I have gotten somewhat better at prioritizing self-care in recent years.

The insight and advice on self-care laid out in this in-depth exploration of the topic by none other than the Penniless Pagan is a must-read for witches, Wiccans, and Pagans everywhere.

And, objectively, a good degree of what the author covers in this helpful post is applicable to non-witchy/Pagan folks as well (as self-care is 100% for everyone on earth!).

–Why “Good Vibes Only” Culture is Toxic: While I tend to naturally lean on the optimistic side of things, I am also a stark realist who has been through her fair share of tough times and knows all too well that life is not always a bed of roses.

As a result, I have long seen the concept of “good vibes only” as being one that (sincerely well-intentioned as it may be at times) misses the mark. And which, in some instances, invalidates the broader spectrum of experiences/emotions/pain/trauma/healing inherent to being a multifaceted human being.

Thus, I was especially happy to see one of my all-time favourite websites, Loner Wolf, explore some of the reasons why focusing solely on good vibes is not actually as beneficial or helpful (to ourselves or others) as it may seem at first glance.

Card making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

–Crafts to Use Up Leftover Yarn: Even those crafters who do not knit or crochet often find that yarn makes it way into some of their projects. If you have leftover yarn that you would like to use up hanging around your crafty space, why not bring it to life all the more with one of these delightful project ideas?

–15 Tips and Tricks that Will Help You Creatively Organize Your Craft Supplies: Useful, implementable ideas abound in this example-filled post that is here to aid you in organizing your craft space + supplies all the more.

In doing so, you can spend less time shifting piles or hunting for what you need and more time creating awesome new works of art.

–50+ Fall Saying for Crafters and DIY Projects: Whether you are looking for card sentiments, scrapbook layout titles, messages to stitch, prints to design, home decoration projects, captions for your social media shares, or myriad other creative purposes, this handy list of 50+ charming fall sayings is well worth bookmarking and returning to autumn after autumn.

–How to Make Shooting Star Favour Pouches: Ideal for birthdays, graduation, Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day, baby showers, weddings, anniversary, the Pagan sabbats, stargazing or meteorite shower watching parties, and many other occasions, these eye-catchingly fantastic favour pouches are sure to delight those lucky folks who receive one.

–Loaded Envelope Tutorial (from Graphic 45): Loaded envelopes are an awesome way to expand your paper crafting routine, creating in the process a gorgeous work of art to display in your home or give as a gift (including for holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).

The sky is the limit in terms of themes, embellishments, uses, etc for loaded envelopes (and the similar type of project known as loaded pockets).

If you would like to try your hand a making one (or are simply looking for some fab inspiration for your next loaded envelope) this lovely tutorial from the Graphic 45 blog has you covered.

–Ten Ways to Use Washi Tape: The uses for washi tape are just about limitless! With so many gorgeous, fun, and unique designs out there, it is easy to see why over the past several years washi has both grow in global popularity and become a common part of many crafter’s stashes.

If you are hunting for some cool ways to use washi that goes beyond “just” including it on cards, layouts, tags and the like, this post from Bottle Branch delivers ten clever ideas that are apt to appeal to crafters and non-crafters alike (as anyone can, of course, use and enjoy washi tape).

–30 Fall-Inspired Embroidery Patterns and Kits to Get You into the Autumnal Spirit: Earlier this month I shared a selection of 50 Awesome Mabon Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for the Fall Equinox and have been delighting in seeing other peoples’ seasonal craft project roundup posts as well.

One in particular that recently nabbed my attention is Sara’s list of swoon-worthy fall embroidery patterns and kits that you can currently purchase from various online sellers.

If you are an autumn adoring needleworker, then this post is sure to set your heart aflutter and may just lead to your next stitchery project.

What’s Shaking in My Life and On My Radar

Alrighty, we have covered some of the less-than-ideal elements of summer 2021 earlier in this post, so let’s take a gander now at a few of the more positive things that transpired this time around on my end between Litha and Mabon.

Firstly, I just have to say how much I enjoyed the topics that I blogged about here this summer.

Even though some weeks I honestly did not think that my health would accommodate creating a new post, somehow, even if it meant writing until nearly midnight on Sunday evening (our weeks start on Monday here in Canada).

It was an act of love, self-care, and defiance (of my body) all rolled into one.

In exactly the same way that the handful of days when crafting was possible for me were as well.

With fall looming, I upped my usual autumn/harvest season sabbats/Thanksgiving/Halloween crafting levels and revelled in every cardstock, ink, and hot glue-filled moment of it!

This is, after all, the ultimate season for #MakeHalloween365 and I can scarcely wait to share even more of my latest seasonal makes here with all of you.

The nanosecond I began eligible to do so, I received my second Covid-19 vaccine.

This transpired in August and while I did feel a touch rougher than with my first shot (think a mild two-day-long flu with a low-grade fever), that was an infinitesimally small price to pay for the blessing of being as vaccinated as one can be at present here in this country.

And moreover, to do what I personally believe is the socially and ethically responsible thing in terms of helping to try and stamp out Covid-19.

Even though Tony and I are both fully vaccinated now, we continue to enact every possible safety measure in the face of the ongoing global pandemic and will keep doing so for as long as this devastating illness persists.

Please note: If your views about C-19 vaccinations differ from mine, I respect that point and ask that you please do the same with my views and not come at me in the comments. We each have to approach and handle these incredibly challenging times in the ways that align most with our beliefs, health, and personal values. For me, getting fully vaccinated does that. For you, it may not. We are all different.

As my mom is fully vaccinated as well, we were able to share a number of fantastic visits with her this summer.

Indeed, she remains the only relative so far that I have been able to interact with in person since prior to when the pandemic took hold in a major way (aka, March 2020) here in Canada.

She was the sole guest at our house on both mine and Tony’s birthdays this summer, and was able to provide immense help to us during the long, uncertain weeks when the very real threat of a wildfire reaching our neighbourhood loomed over our heads.

Mercifully, that did not happen.

I will not soon forget, however, the sizzling hot days my mom and I spent hosing down the house and yard, as falling wildfire ash tumbled down from the sky to the point that it looked like a heavy snowfall.

Setting our sights now on the autumn months, we hope to spend lots more time with my mom and the three of us are counting down the seconds until Halloween returns (we plan to celebrate it together, as per usual ).

This summer was not easy, but it could, of course, have been a lot harder or more heartbreaking.

I thank every star in the universe that such was not the case and remain realistically optimistic that certain areas of our lives will improve over the course of the final months of this year.

After all, hope is free and limitless. So why not, I figure, throw it around like confetti?

And now, on with a handful of assorted links from across the good, ol’ interwebz that stood out for me this summer.

–Apparently the Brontës All Died So Early Because They Spent Their Lives Drinking Graveyard Water: Talk about an attention-grabbing headline – especially if you’re a fellow taphophile or fan of these immensely talented ladies.

This article details a potential cause (or at least a notable contributing factor) in the deaths not only of the Brontë sisters, but of their brother, Patrick, as well.

The explanation of contaminated water from a local graveyard (and possibly from privies in the area, too) is wholly plausible. And is nothing if not in keeping with the death-centred sentiments of the Brontës and the era they briefly called their own.

–Can the Garden Save Us? How the Power of Nature Can Change Life As We Know It: While not, for all intents, a gardener myself (a point, I find, that often surprises people to learn), I am a keen student and ceaseless lover + respecter of nature.

As such, the points put forth in this insightful article from Veranda really resonated with me. For they tap into the collective connection to cultivating green life that is inherent to our survival as a species – and as a planet.

–Free Hocus Pocus Printable Quote Prints: No other Halloween movie – and, if we’re being frank, few movies in general – holds such a special or beloved spot in my heart as Hocus Pocus.

I watch Hocus Pocus multiple times and year and always keep an eye open (subtle nod to “Book” intended) for Hocus Pocus-related items. Most, naturally, have a price tag attached to them, but a handful are available for free online.

I just about started jumping around alla Sarah Sanderson upon recently discovering this post that houses a fantastic series of free Hocus Pocus quote prints that you can download and display all October (or, if you’re HP obsessed like me, all year) long.

–How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Oven: For many of us, few vegetables are more intertwined with late summer and early fall than freshly harvested corn on the cob.

Whether you pick ears of sweetcorn yourself or snap them up from a local produce stand, farmer’s market, or grocery store, if you adore this versatile yellow veggie, you are definitely going to want to give oven roasting your corn on the cob a try. The end results are spectacularly tasty!

–How to Make Dandelion Lotion Bars with Dandelion Oil: Though dandelion season has come to close in many areas, for those who are still experiencing the presence of this lovely sunshine hued plant and are keen to utilize them in a fresh, practical way, homemade dandelion lotion bars may just be the answer.

(Note: While not an overly common allergy, some people are indeed allergic to dandelions. Therefore, you will want to proceed with caution and do a small skin exposure test on an area such as the inside of your wrist if you are unsure how your skin will react to dandelions.)

–Mary Simon Named as Canada’s First Indigenous Governor General: This summer witnessed a historic milestone here in Canada when Mary Simon was appointed as our country’s first Indigenous Governor General.

Simon is Canada’s 30^th Governor General to date, stepping into the position after many years in politics, including an appointment in the 1990s as Canada’s first Inuk ambassador (she was ambassador to Denmark) and being involved with the creation of Nunavut during the same decade.

I am thrilled that a First Nations person is currently holding this important position in our country and hope that Mary will be the first of many others who follow in her trailblazing footsteps.

–Oldest Living Ranger in the National Parks Service Celebrates Her 100^th Birthday: Relatively few of us are blessed to make it to our 100^th year and fewer still have yet to retire by that age.

Not so for the venerable Betty Reid Soskin, who joined the US National Parks Service just fifteen years ago, at the age of 85.

An inspiration to all of us the world over for many reasons (including her work with the Civil Rights Movement), Betty is proof that for some lucky individuals, age may indeed be just a number!  

It’s fall, y’all!

Admittedly, not too many Canadians tend to say the classic Southern contraction of “y’all”. I hope you will permit me the use of it here, however, given how well “y’all” partners with the word “fall” and how fun they are to say together.

On this side of the equator, fall is here and I am as giddy as a kitty in a field of catnip over that fact.

Both online and off, I will be immersing myself in my favourite season with limitless gusto and glee.

I hope that if you are a fan of autumn time as well, you will join me in doing the same. And that, even if this chapter of the year isn’t your personal fave, it will still house plenty of enjoyable, terrific times for you as well.

Little more than a month now stands between us and Halloween + Samhain. I will be blogging up a storm throughout October, most of which will relate to those two events (and/or fall in general).

It is such a special, meaningful joy to savour the year’s third act with all of you.

Thank you so much for being here and on social media (Instagram very much included) with me.

I cherish each of you and as Canadian Thanksgiving returns on the second Monday in October, you will be amongst the blessings I count with unending gratitude.

Have an awesome tail end of September, everyone – and be sure to tune in here on October 1^st, as I will be sharing a delightful ghost-themed Halloween project to help kick off the spookiest and most enchantingly wonderful month of the year.

Which of the links highlighted above leapt out at you? What elements of October’s return are filling your own heart with happiness?

The post Summer 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. — Henry James

This week is the first of summer. A season that, while not always the easiest to bear unless one lives for the heat, is utterly and completely gorgeous.

I can relate to the estimable Mr. James’ words – though might personally swap “fall afternoon” in for summer.

Though, that said, I have a deeply rooted love of summer and find many positives in the languid days of scorching sun, verdancy aplenty, outdoor living, and nights of enveloping, bathtub-like warmth that makes one feel extra glad for the blessing that is life.

Before we get too far into the season of ice cream cones and sandcastles, however, let’s pull up a folding camping chair (or a comfy hammock) and sink into enjoying some of the most inspiring, informative, or just plain interesting links that crossed my path during the spring of 2021.

(As well as the lowdown on some of what’s been transpiring in my own life over the course of the season that just was.)

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

–DIY Crescent Moon Incense Burner: From fellow Canadian witch, Breawna, comes this lovely, wonderfully easy to follow along with video that shows you how to make a crescent moon-shaped incense burner with a mere handful of basic crafting supplies. The end result is both beautiful and functional, and would make for a fantastic homemade gift to boot!

–DIY Magickal Slow Cooker Candles: No matter the season, candles are a mainstay in our home and in my witchy workings. Big or small, scented or unscented, white or coloured, handmade or store-bought, candles are always welcome under our roof.

I love finding new ways to make or utilize candles, and while we don’t currently own a slow cooker/crockpot/Instant Pot, should one enter our lives again, I’m delighted to have this awesome DIY tutorial for making magickal candles in a slow cooker at the ready.

Should you have a slower cooker, and enjoy creating your own candles, this looks like a really fun and rewarding DIY project to whip up.

–Do Something Witchy Everyday: The message that drives this post is one that aligns greatly with my own practices, which often centre far less on OTT or complex workings and rituals, and much more on feasible, enjoyable, and diverse forms of everyday witchcraft.

If you’ve been looking to up your witchy workings or just need some ideas for meaningful ways to connect (all the more) with your witchy daily, swing by this I, Medusa post written by Anna Mist and be inspired.

–How to Officiate a Handfasting Step-by-Step: In many parts of the world, mid-spring to early fall is seen as wedding season, as nuptials proliferate during the sunny months.

If you’re fortunate to be in the position of being able to officiate a handfasting ceremony, or are looking to find someone to officiate your own handfasting/Pagan wedding, this informative post on the subject from the beloved witchery blog Moody Moons is just the ticket.

–How Spirituality Benefits Highly Sensitive People: Spirituality is a profoundly personal and important element of many peoples’ lives, and while certainly, by no means, the sole domain of highly sensitive individuals, those who identify as such often find immense benefit, comfort, and meaning in their spiritual journey.

This look at the subject was recently shared on the superb HSP-focused website, The Highly Sensitive Refuge. It resonated with me, just as I suspect it will with many of my fellow spiritually inclined HSPs and empaths.

–The 25 Most Important Witchcraft Books Ever Published: Whether you concur entirely with the list of entries on this engaging post from Jason Mankey (himself a renowned Pagan author) or not, chances are you will appreciate the significance and importance of each witchery related title highlighted therein.

I definitely did and, in the process, really appreciated the fact that Mankey arranged his list chronologically, thus further helping readers to understand all the more just how influential these books have been on multiple generations of witches over the years.

–20 Powerful Herbs for Protection: Like many a magickally inclined soul, I do my fair share of protection and guarding work. I’m a trusting person, but am far from naïve and I know that there are many forces at play in the world that we can use some extra protection against.

If protection magick strikes a chord with you as well, this helpful look at 20 Powerful Herbs for Protection is an excellent resource on the subject that feels all the more at home as we embrace the fresh greenery-filled season that is summer.

Card Making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

–Crocheted Succulents Free Pattern: For those who are fortunate to possess crocheting skills, this free pattern for eye-catchingly wonderful crocheted succulents is bound to find favour – especially if also have a green thumb, enjoy green witchery, or simply swoon at the sight of succulents.

–DIY (Paper Crafting) Jewelry Box Tutorial: As someone with an immense fondness for jewelry, it may come as no surprise that I’m also rather partial to jewelry boxes that can house my beloved wee collection of beads, baubles, and brooches.

The idea of creating one’s own jewelry box is really appealing to me, so when Graphic 45 recently shared a handy tutorial detailing just that, I bookmarked it for myself and knew I wanted to share it here with all of you as well.

Beyond serving “just” as a jewelry box, this project could be used to store any number of small items, from thimbles to dried flowers, crystals to marbles – and can be customized to your heart’s content, depending on the materials that you employ.

(And speaking of Graphic 45, I really like this beautiful summertime perfect beach-themed mini album that was shared on their blog a few days ago.)

–DIY Terracotta Essential Oil Diffuser & Car Air Freshener: My recent Litha season post, 15 Essential Oils That Are Perfect the Summer Solstice, has put me in even more of an essential oil mood than usual (which, given my passion for this subject, is saying a lot! ).

Combine essential oils with a fun DIY project and I’m there faster than you can say “take a whiff!”

If these are topics that tickle your fancy (not to mention your olfactory sense) as well, be sure to check out Cintia’s fantastic tutorial on how to make your very own DIY terracotta essential oil diffuser and car air freshener.

–DIY Summer Wreath from a Straw Hat: A sizable smile spread across my face the moment I spied Patti’s wonderful tutorial for making a strikingly pretty summer wreath from a straw hat.

Like many who experienced the 1980s and early 90s firsthand, I well remember when decorative straw hat home décor was having a serious moment.

Indeed, straw hat wreaths hung both in my family’s home and in those of multiple relatives for many years. I even had one in my own bedroom for a few years during my early childhood.

It’s fantastic to see this charming way of dressing up classic straw hats finding favour again (I suspect that the recent trend for #cottagecore and similar aesthetics is doing its part on that front).

If you’re keen to rekindle a trend or to experience straw hat home décor for the first time, follow Patti’s lead and adore your home with an attractive DIY straw hat wreath.

–Easy DIY Earrings You Can Make on a Budget: Fun fact, I’ve been creating handmade jewelry since I was a child and had a fun little side business selling handmade nickel-free jewelry for a time during my teens and early adult years.

While the arson fire that we experienced back in 2016 completely destroyed my stash of jewelry making supplies, my love of this endlessly versatile (not to mention, practical) art form has never left me.

Little by little, I’ve gathered a few jewelry making materials again and hope to continue to do so as time goes on.

One needn’t have a plethora of supplies (or a lavish budget) to create wonderful handmade jewelry. A few basic items, some inspiration, and a desire are usually all it takes to do just that – as the more than 40 projects highlighted in this terrific post over on the Mod Podge blog amply demonstrate.

–How to Setup a Portable Craft Space: As awesome as it would be for every crafter to have a large, roomy space in which to craft to their heart’s content, the fact of the matter is that for many of us that simply isn’t feasible.

Naturally, lack of space for a big craft room shouldn’t prevent one from getting their creativity on all the same.

And by the same token, sometimes even those with their own craft rooms, shed sheds, etc enjoy having a portable crafting station elsewhere in their home (say in the family room or den, for example).

If you’ve been curious about how to set up a portable craft space that can be placed wherever is most convenient/functional for you in your house, I highly suggest checking out Bea Valiant’s great photo-filled post on how to do just that.

–Zippered Pouch Tutorial (Using Scrapbook Paper): Ever looked at some of your favourite papers or cardstocks and thought that they’d look fabulous as a zippered pouch?

Whether the answer to that question is yes or no, chances are you’ll be intrigued and inspired by this lovely tutorial shared by Split Coast Stamper member Betty Traciak which shows you how to do just that.

Just think of the endless possibilities, from gifts to practical storage, holiday and home décor to an instant conversation starter at your next crop!

What’s Shaking in My Life and On My Radar

Where to begin?

I’ve thought about this portion of this very blog post many times over the course of the past several weeks. In a sense, there is a lot I want to say, and yet perhaps even more that I would prefer to keep to myself for the time being.

As those of you who follow me on Instagram may have noticed, I have not been on IG (which is my primary social media platform) much at all in recent weeks.

There have been various reasons for that, with two in particular accounting for the lion’s share of why this has been the case.

First and foremost, in recent months I have been dealing with some perplexing and challenging new medical issues that are (true to form a lot of the time when it comes to my health) proving very difficult to unearth answers/diagnoses for.

At present, I am not going to go into specifics publicly about these issues – especially until I have some solid answers as to what it is that I am actually contending with.

On top of the physical issues themselves, this newest medical battle (for those readers who may not know, I have been a multi-chronic illness fighter of more than a dozen different chronic medical conditions for twenty years now) – and the frustration, stress, and uncertainty that comes with fighting tirelessly for a diagnosis – is having a substantial impact on my mental health.

Between the physical and mental challenges, what little (personal) time I have been able to carve out online has mostly been devoting to blogging.

Thus far, much to my surprise at times, I have been able to keep up with my usual pace of at least one blog post here per week. While I accept that either by choice or circumstances, there may be times when that isn’t feasible, I hope/plan to continue on at that pace this summer.

Compounding matters and much to my great unhappiness, the severity of what I am dealing with on the health front at the moment has meant that my initial plans of launching my ASMR YouTube channel this spring didn’t even come close to happening.

I am fully committed to this long-held dream and will do everything in my power to create content and get that channel off the ground as soon as I realistically can.

At this point, I don’t know when exactly that will be. I really hope it can happen in 2021.

If not though, I will just keep trying even harder for it to happen the following year (and will continue to keep you informed here and on SM as to when that exciting event occurs).

The second primary reason is a lot more positive. Long story short, several weeks ago now, my husband and I put in a bid on a contract job to create the ecommerce website for a local outdoor goods store here in town and were very fortunate to win that bid.

This project is labour heavy for both of us and on a very tight deadline. As such we’ve been devoting a great deal of time over the past couple of months to this job.

It isn’t complete quite yet, but is definitely getting a lot closer. Very exciting!

Aside from those two points, which are, I’m the first to say, quite different from one another, some of what’s been happening around these parts include…

Having central air installed in our house. We live in one of the hottest regions in all of Canada (case in point, multiple days next week are forecasted to reach highs of 40 – 44C/104 – 111F) and have struggled a fair bit to live in a house without this feature since moving into our current abode in early 2018.

Thankfully, the installation went smoothly, quickly, and without any complications.

As anyone who has had central air installed in recent years will no doubt tell you, this is not an inexpensive job at all – which is the main reason it didn’t happen right out of the gate when we moved in.

Tony and I feel that the cost is well worth it though for the quality of life and health benefits it brings not only to us, but to our precious dog (Annie) as well, and know we made the right choice in having central air installed in our house.

By pure coincidence, on the very same day that installation happened, I received my first Covid-19 vaccine.

I registered for it as soon as my age bracket (those under 40) became eligible to do so and was told I’d receive an email prior to the end of May informing of when and where I could book my first shot.

In the final days of the month, I did indeed get that email and then proceeded to book the first slot on the first date that was available to me.

Not being the world’s healthiest person, I was a tad concerned regarding how my body might handle the vaccine. I am (very!) happy to report that aside from a minorly sore arm and a bit of lethargy for about 72 hours afterwards, I didn’t experience any issues (let alone serious ones) from the shot.

I was told by the nurse who administered my Covid vaccine that I should be contacted by the provincial health system in about 6 – 8 weeks regarding when I can book my second shot.

It is such a positive feeling to know that I am partially vaccinated and that in getting my shot, I am continuing to do everything I can to not contract nor, moreover, risk spreading this terrible illness.

So, assuming all goes to plan, I should get my second shot in the later weeks of summer and will thus be vaccinated in full by the time my very favourite chapter of the year (autumn) rolls around once more.

We’ve just covered a lot of ground and as I don’t want to keep you here reading until fall does in fact return, without further ado, let me jump right into sharing some of the various links that stood out for me during the spring of 2021.

–Exquisitely Designed 2,000-Year-Old Roman Shoe Discovered in a Well: Boasting skilled handiwork and a design that would put it seriously on-trend to this day, it’s hard not to stare and marvel at the beauty of this exceedingly rare archaeological find.  

–How to Compliment Someone Without Mentioning Their Looks: As much as many people enjoy receiving positive words about their appearance, not everyone is equally comfortable with these kinds of comments and, moreover, there are countless other things to complement most folks on besides “just” their physical appearance.

This Wit & Delight entry explores the subject of non-physical appearance focused compliments and provides an array of terrific suggestions for what to say instead.

–Listen to Random Radio Stations from Around the World: At the end of the 1970s, British new wave/synth-pop group the Buggles made the line “video killed the radio star” an instant classic with their eponymously named song.

By the dawn of the twenty-first century, one could easily state that the internet had, in turn, usurped the video star (at least as far as the music industry is concerned).

However, while fewer of us may tune into the radio daily than we once did, this world-changing form of media is, in truth and very happily, far from dead.

If you’re in the mood to sample a station (or dozens of stations) from around the world, then make your way across the world map on this website until you find one that is a – *cough, cough* – hit with you.

–9 Things to Try if You Hate Social Media But Don’t Actually Want to Quit: Whether you loath SM or just find yourself feeling seriously burned out or “over it” at times, the practical and supportive tips in this post are ones that stand to benefit just about everyone who opts to engage with social media.

–Plants Might Be Helping Each Other More Than Thought: The world plants and the profoundly interconnected relationships shared between many species fascinates me greatly. For all we know on this subject, there are untold volumes more that remain to be discovered – as this captivating look at how certain plants may in fact help, not compete, with one another demonstrates.

(Another Phys.Org post that recently caught my attention was this fascinating story about the recent discovery of a 3,000 Year Old Shark Attack Victim.)

–What Would a Truly Wild Ireland Look Like?: Once, in a time now long past, I called Ireland home for the span of a couple years.

Make no mistakes, Ireland is everything and more you imagine it to be and is a country with an extraordinary past that deserves our respect and research alike.

Like many corners of the globe, Ireland – for all of its pastoral farmlands, rolling hills, and windswept shoreline – is not quite as wild a country as it once was.

This thought-provoking BBC post by Chris Baraniuk asks us to imagine what a truly wild Ireland might look like and explores the feasibility of rewilding the landscape of this majestic nation to a greater degree.

–Why a Clutter Free Life is an Intentional Life: I am not a minimalist, nor am I a maximalist. I can exist quite contently with very little or with a fair bit more, but no matter what volume of belongings fill my home, I cannot abide by clutter.

I weed out clutter at every turn, thankful that organizing and (possession) purging are both tasks I sincerely enjoy.

Having long believed and experienced (the fact) that a clutter-free life feels, and is, all the more intentionally lived, this lovely post on the subject reverberated with me.

Its message is one most of us can connect with, especially if we also find our lives, minds, and spirits tend to feel and work their best when clutter is kept as low as possible.

Summer Lovin’

In the late hours of a July night so warm it gave furnaces everywhere a run for there money – and which would break into a rapturously loud storm before dawn had broke – I came into the world nearly thirty-seven years ago now.

And while there is no hard and fast rule that says a person has to love the season into which they were born, I adore mine with even more fiery passion than that of the sun which fuels the vibrancy of summer itself.

I am a lover of all seasons though. Each is a kindred spirit, a treasured friend, a vital element of life itself.

Summer is wild and outgoing. It beckons us with notes of Coppertone, grilled foods, fresh-cut lawns, and the siren’s song of sultry, unforgettable warmth.

In summer, I find, it is often easier to forget our troubles. Or, if we cannot banish them from our mind entirely, at least (it becomes) a touch easier to navigate their waters.

I would venture to call summer the most chill of season. It is laidback and cool. Enigmatic, yet wildly and wonderfully familiar.

Summer begins in a sea of green life and concludes with the first lag of the harvest season.

In many parts of the globe, summer bridges the chilly portions of the year, has an inherent air of playfulness to it, and will be yearned for something fierce when – to quote the classic holiday season song Good King Wenceslas – snow lays round about, deep and crisp and even.

At the moment, the world is beginning, in some respects to rebound from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This heartbreaking illness is still with us though, still causing new cases to develop daily, still impacting countless areas of our lives.

Like most people, I hope dearly that by this time next year, the pandemic will be over. The realist in me might not place any bets on that being the case, but my optimistic side holds onto hope with gusto.

Just as I hope mightily that at least some of the medical challenges I am currently experiencing personally will be less of an issue by this time next year. (Fingers firmly crossed!)

No matter what obstacles, curveballs, or stresses life throws my way, that fact autumn is now less than three months away injects some serious happiness into my days and makes getting through difficult times more tolerable.

Summer doesn’t too shabby a job of that either. From Canada Day on July 1st to my birthday later that month, Lammas in early August to simple everyday warm weather pleasure, this is a positive and life-affirming chapter of the year that gives many of us a lot to enjoy and feel grateful for.

So, my dear friends, let us tackle whatever summer may hold, make the most of these sizzling hot days, do our best to overcome difficult times, and know that, no matter what (north of the equator), summer always leads to fall’s return.

If that isn’t worth raising a glass of ice cold lemonade to, I don’t know what is!

Happy summer, everyone! May you have a safe, sunny, and seriously enjoyable season!

The post Spring 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

What a radically different place the planet was when the inaugural edition of this quarterly link love blog post appeared.

Most of us were already aware that a massive worldwide threat was upon us, but we had little idea just how severe and far reaching the pandemic’s impact would be. Just as we were only starting to get an inkling of the ways in which it would impact both our own individual lives and society as a collective whole.

One year on, while the vaccine is starting to have a positive impact in terms of seeing a decrease in global case numbers, the pandemic is certainly not over yet and it remains anyone’s guess as to when that incredible day will come.

Of course, even when it does, the trauma and lasting impact of the pandemic will still be felt through many facets of society – and in the lives of many, if not most, of us who were able to make it through this immensely challenging time.

Events like this do not happen in a vacuum and do not fade with the sunrise on the first day after they’ve officially ended.

They are felt and remembered for years, decades, lifetimes, multiple generations.

When the time comes, we will need to collectively band together and support one another with healing, grief and trauma processing, and life rebuilding.

Will everyone pitch in or even acknowledge as much? Sadly, naturally, no.

Yet just as a good many of us have done our best to help out our fellow humans in the past year or so by taking measures such as self-isolating, social distancing, wearing masks, sticking to our bubbles, and so forth, likewise, I tend to think, we will collectively help one another to move ahead in a post-Covid-19 world.

Time of great difficulty are often likened to winter. An apt and understandable comparison, given the inherent harshness of the year’s coldest, darkest, and often most unforgiving chapter.

As this presence of this post denotes, the literal season of winter has, in the Northern Hemisphere, drawn to a close once more.

Sure, some areas still have snow and ice, and sporting bare feet or arms this early on might be jumping the gun a tad, but thanks to the Spring Equinox on Saturday, winter is officially over.

This winter was long, both literally and figurative. It began in our area back in mid-October and hasn’t entirely given up the ghost yet. When all is said and done, its duration will span somewhere in the realm of half a year.

I’m grateful that generally, speaking I really enjoy winter. It (like autumn) appeals to my introverted soul and is often the season in which I am most productive, my mind feels the sharpest, and I can revel in the serene, even sacred coziness of the snowy months.

Spring is usually very short-lived around these parts. Going from temps well below freezing to ones in the 30s Celsius within a matter of weeks is almost par for the course around our neck of the Western Canadian woods.

As a result, in some respects, I feel like spring is the season I’m least acquainted with. Yet that is not to say, of course, that we don’t experience spring (we do) or that I don’t know and love this regenerative, beautiful chapter of the year (I definitely do!).

Simply that its brevity is usually a given and that, much as with autumn, we must strive as best we can to celebrate, honour, and delight in these mild, life renewing days for the brief span that they are upon us.

Right here and now, let’s keep on celebrating spring’s rebirth while we also take a gander at some of the witchy, crafting, and otherwise interesting/inspiring links from around the web that caught my eye over the course of this latest winter.

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

–Black Pagan Community Leaders: A wonderful post that highlights some of today’s most engaging, informative, and inspiring Black Pagan voices.

–Dice Magic: Using Dice for Spellcraft and Divination: By far one of the most common elements of countless games the world over, the humble dice can also be used in a magickal/spiritual context as well.

If you’re keen to weave working, or divining (astragalomancy), with dice into your practice, be sure to check out Sidney Eileen’s detailed and highly engaging recent post on the subject.

–Eight Ways to Stay Witchy (and Sane) When Sick With Covid-19: While I hope to the stars above that none of you will need to avail of the advice detailed in this personal account of one magickal soul’s recent battle with Covid-19, if you do experience the virus as well, you may find this page to be of both comfort and help.

–40 Self Love Affirmations That Feel Like a Deep Breath: This supportive, beautiful list is a must-read for everyone and anyone who engages in the vital act of self-love (which, ideally, should be all of us!)

–How to Make a Floral Wreath for Ostara: The YouTube channel Magical Crafting is one of my all-time favourites on this platform. Not only are the creator’s projects witchy/Pagan, beautiful, and easy to follow along with if you want to replicate them yourself, but her soothing voice and skillfully presented videos make this channel a true must-watch in my books.

While Ostara is now underway, this wreath project might be one to bookmark for next year’s Spring Equinox or you may wish to make it now and enjoy it straight on until summer, connecting with the revitalizing energy and beauty of Ostara all season long.

–Walking the Path of Infertility and 5 Spiritual Tools to Help: Infertility is something that impacts millions around the world and as such is, of course, far from unknown amongst Pagans and witches.

Yet despite the prevalence of infertility coupled with the heartbreak, stress, challenges, and, sometimes, miracles that transpire daily for many souls, this topic is discussed surprisingly little in our community.

All the more reason then why this supportive post is a much-needed and welcome spiritually focused look a subject and experience that touches untold numbers of lives (my own included).

–Witch, You Vex Me: Jason Mankey injects his telltale wit and insight into this look at various elements of the modern Pagan/witchy world that routinely cause him to sharply raise an eyebrow – and, I would venture to say, likely let out an exasperated sigh every now and then, too.

Card Making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

–DIY Crescent Moon Ring (Holder) Dish: Elegant, easy to make, and super handy to boot, this lovely DIY ring holder is so pretty, you might want to make a second one to use simply as home décor.

–DIY Dollar Store Beehives: Like many of us, I’m a creative soul on a tight budget. I mean really, really, you-might-not-actually-belief-me-if-I-told-you-just-how-tight budget.

Which is all the more reason then why I adore dollar store craft projects. It is incredible + inspiring what some folks can dream up with inexpensive items and a serious dose of imagination.

One of the most charming dollar store DIYs to cross my path lately is this cuter-than-cute dollar store beehive project.

It would be perfect as part of your seasonal décor, left out all year, included on an altar, used as a centrepiece, or to give as a bee-utiful gift.

–Furever Friends Home Décor Shaker Project: My lovely friend – and uber-talented crafter – Jennifer Snyder recently posted a tutorial for this pawsatively adorable pet themed home décor shaker project which is just too sweet and inspiring not share here.

–How to Make Your Own DIY Twisted Candles: Get the lux, cooler-than-cool look of twisted candles sans the often steep ticket price of store-bought versions with this helpful how-to post from Genevieve at Blue Augustine.

–How to Sew Mesh Produce Bags: A welcome alternative to the sea of plastic bags that call many produce departments home, these lightweight DIY mesh bags are an awesome way to reduce waste and carry your fresh fruit and veggies home in something that you can reuse time and time again.

–Layout Featuring Paper Pleating Tutorial: Over on the Graphic 45 blog, this elegantly pretty project recently caught my eye.

I adore pleating, but haven’t seen it used on scrapbook pages all that often in recent years (back in the late 90s/early 2000s it was a bit more common, including on some of Anna Griffin’s projects).

I’m all in favour of changing that and hope this lovely pleated page will inspire you to incorporate more of this classic folding (or scoring) technique into some of your papercrafting makes as well.

–Make a DIY Witch Hat in Any Size: Costume, home décor, sacred space adornment, Halloween decoration, or legit daily headwear, if so inclined. There is no shortage of uses for, and reasons to wear, a witch hat!

This helpful sewing tutorial guides you through how to make an iconic pointed witch’s hat with relatively few supplies and tools, and which is not so advanced to beyond the skills of many beginner level sewers.

What’s Shaking in My Life and On My Radar

Much as the stirrings of spring are busily getting underway, so too am I beginning the behind-the-scenes work on creating my recently announced ASMR YouTube channel.

It is my aim, all things willing, to have my first ASMR content up at some point this spring. With each step I take that brings this important dream of mine closer to reality, the more my heart sings with joy.

As for the season that just was, however, in many respects, things were (in relation to the current state of the world) life as usual.

We had a lengthy, snowy winter, which saw its coldest snap in February, care of an arctic front that stuck around for over two weeks.

March arrived gently, but eagerly at the same time. A mix of ongoing winter weather interspersed with milder temperatures and some of the first rain we’d seen since last fall.

Each holiday – be it national or Pagan – that came and went with the winter weeks was spent at home. Low-key, meaningful occurrences steeped in tradition, hope, and happiness.

I am grateful for the presence of Ostara this week. It is such a sweet, happy, beautiful sabbat. (If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out my recent post: 35 Wonderful Ostara Crafts, DIY Projects, and Decor Ideas for the Spring Equinox.)

Then, next up on the Wheel of the Year, we will embrace the warmth, passion, and ancient soul of Beltane as May begins, before winding our way to Litha (the Summer Solstice) about seven weeks beyond that point.

I’m really looking forward to embracing spring, continuing to prepare for the launch of my ASMR channel, working to grow my recently launched #MakeHalloween365 crafting community hashtag, and sharing lots of fun, inspiring new content here with all of you throughout the next three months.

For the moment though, let’s take a gander at a few things that caught my eye online during the toque-and-mitts season that just was.

–DIY Infused Vinegar Fabric Softener: I have extremely sensitive skin and have long needed to avoid most commercially prepared laundry products. Thankfully, there are a couple of store-bought detergents that my skin can presently handle. However, for things like dryer sheets or fabric softener, homemade versions using natural, chemical-free ingredients are usually my go-to choice.

This lovely, super easy DIY vinegar fabric softener calls for vinegar and the scent inclusion ingredient(s) of your choosing, and is a far sight kinder to one’s skin and pocketbook alike than most mass produced options on the market.

–15 Things You Could Do Instead of Comparing Yourself to Others: The pitfalls, stresses, and anxieties of comparing oneself to others are hard to avoid. And, for many of us, have become all the more so since the meteoric rise of social media.

I am not immune to falling under the potentially negative siren’s call of comparison myself. In fact, I was doing so more than my usual amount (in recent years) as 2021 got underway, which made the timing of this post crossing my path especially welcome.

I hope that it will help you as well if you’ve also been sizing yourself up against others a bit too much lately or have a tendency to do so in general.

–Historic (US) Mansions Left to Wrack and Ruin: In the Fall 2020 edition of this post series, I shared about an extraordinary historical American home that had sat largely untouched for decades and was delighted to see by your comments that I was far from alone in being utterly captivated by this story.

While most are not quite the (relatively) intact time capsules that particular home is, the large, beautiful houses highlighted in this post are instantly captivating as well and sure to appeal to many of my fellow fans of abandoned properties.

–Listen to Forests Around the World: This tranquil website allows you to listen to uploaded recordings that were made in various forests around the globe at the click of a mouse.

Whether you do so for relaxation, fun, or just sheer curiosity, if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself instantly hooked on this creative way to connect with parts of the planet that you might otherwise never hear sounds from.

–Scientists Recreate Voice of 3,000 Year Old Mummy: While in the field of archeological research the act and art of recreating the faces of the deceased has been well established for quite some time now, bringing voices of the past into the 21^st century is a rather new undertaking.

Recently, scientists have done just that with an identified mummy who was laid to rest three millennia ago and while we can’t know for certain that it’s an exact duplication of the deceased actual vocal notes, the concept behind this emerging field is one that may develop further and someday be common practise.

–The C. 1910 Photographs of Christina Broom: These gripping Edwardian images capture a vivid, earnest sense of the suffragette era they document, as seen quite literally through the lens of a woman of that period. A time that had one foot in the past, and the other striding boldly towards the unstoppable future.

Lean into the natural optimism of spring

It is impossible to know if, in another year’s time, the world will still be held tightly in the merciless grips of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Like virtually all of us, I hope with every fibre of my being that this global nightmare will be over by then.

Yet, as the past year has driven home time and time again, we simply to do not know how long or how far-reaching this pandemic may prove to be.

Spring is the season of renewal and rebirth. It has an ingrained lightness and joie de vivre imbued in its DNA.

As spring 2021 enters our lives, I am opting to focus on those kinds of positives, instead of worrying unduly on what may or may not lie ahead for the world in another year.

I am deeply mindful of these things, but am choosing not to let the great unknown that is the future rob me of whatever positives I can experience in the present moment (and I wholeheartedly encourage you to do the same).

Much like last year, this spring will be both similar and different from the others throughout my lifetime.

As things sit now, we don’t have any travel plans, family birthdays and other special events are likely to be observed sans gathering together, we will continue to limit exposure to the external world, and are certainly not hanging our masks up anytime soon.

Yet, at the same time, there will be a bevy of gorgeous blooms, the earthy, uplifting scents of a world bouncing back to life, and the comforting familiarity of sunshine to delight in throughout the next three months.

Spring is a hopeful time of the year. One that has a powerful, welcome ability to lift our spirits and keep the flames of our own internal hopes – whatever they may be – burning brightly.

Not, come to think of it, unlike that aforementioned sunshine, which helps to banish winter’s chill, grow gardens, and let – sooner or later – those aforementioned bare toes and arms feel the fresh air on our skin again (sans the risk of frostbite!).

Whatever this spring holds in store for us as individuals and as a planet, we will bravely face it head on.

And with a sizable amount of luck, and a great many vaccines given out, maybe, just maybe, come next spring the pandemic will be over. Here’s to hoping!!!

From the bottom of my heart, dear friends, I wish you each a safe, beautiful, sweet, sunny, and tremendously blessed spring.  

The post Winter 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.