Stitching September Away

 I have an update on the Goddess of the Month hand embroidery project I started in January of this year. I am currently working on the September Goddess, Kali and also finishing up the July goddess, Isis. I finished the stitching on the August goddess, Ariadne but I haven’t washed off the stitch and wash product yet. This month has been quite busy for me and some days I just run out of steam. Here is a look at the progress on Kali.

I am using DMC floss 995 for the skin, she is a multi armed goddess with images of her ranging from 4 arms to 10 arms. For my Kali design I chose 6 arms. If you aren’t familiar with Kali here is a simple image.

  On another note this week after Cardiac Rehab I found a surprise in my mailbox, the long awaited issue of Sage Woman magazine. It was about 18 months between issues due to the pandemic. Recently on the Sage Woman facebook page it was announced the issue was ready to ship so the anticipation of it’s arrival made my day.  Sadly enough Sage Woman is going to 2 issues a year instead of 4, I have a sinking feeling issue 100 is going to be the last, I hope I am wrong I have been reading this magazine since the first issue.

The cover art is just beautiful.  For my October goddess of the month embroidery I am considering Baba Yaga or Persephone as the next piece to embroider.  It takes me nearly as long to decide on the next goddess as it does to stitch them.  

While I am working out in cardiac rehab on the Nu-Step machine my mind is going over all my ideas of designs and colors of floss and lately thinking will I continue this goddess a month project in 2022.  I have tossed around a few ideas, one is inviting others to join me either in embroidering their own or working in a medium of choice.  Another idea is if someone wants to send me a goddess they have designed for me to stitch.  I have had a few people ask this in the past so it could be a nice way to showcase someone's art in embroidery and crediting the design to them. Well just ideas floating in my head for now I'll keep you posted.

Happy Autumn Equinox and a Blessed Mabon to All

 

The Wheel of the Year Turns to Autumn

 The Wheel of the Year is once again turning, bringing a change of season and perhaps changes to your own life.  We are on the way to the Autumn Equinox aka Mabon.  The Autumn Equinox 2021 in Northern Hemisphere will be at 3:20 PM on Wednesday, September 22. In the days after the autumnal equinox, the Sun begins to rise later and nightfall comes sooner. This ends with the Winter Solstice, when days start to grow longer and nights shorter.

As any practicing witch can tell you, the equinox is a powerful time energetically; the start of autumn, specifically, marks the point at which the light begins to wane. For pagans, equinoxes are particularly significant events, and the autumnal equinox—also referred to as Mabon by neo-Pagans—is somewhat equivalent to Thanksgiving. This is an important time to give thanks to Mother Goddess and the earth for her gifts. 

 This year, the Harvest Moon happens on Monday, September 20 two days before the autumnal equinox. I can already feel the energy and magic in the air.  Here are a few ways to celebrate Autumn Equinox/Mabon:

Spend time outside immersed in nature and her gifts. Take this time to find a connection to Gaia, the goddess of the earth and nature incarnate. Consider casting a protective circle, creating an altar outside, or leaving an offering of apples, milk, honey or bread for the faeries and elements.

Cleansing yourself by burning protective cleansing herbs like sage, mugwort, and cedar is a good way to use the Autumn Equinox energy.  

With each passing day, nighttime arrives a little earlier and lingers into our waking hours. With this gift of environmental down-time. This is a time for meditation and rest. A time to ask difficult questions and listen deeply for what arises. Get curious as you dive into the darkness you may consider the following contemplation questions either in meditation or in journaling:

What has been my personal harvest this year, what has grown into full expression and brought me joy? Begin each sentence with I celebrate…

What seeds of insight will I collect and re-plant in the next season? I nourish…

Where am I creating struggle or holding on? How can I conserve energy by releasing any unnecessary effort in this cycle? I release…

Am I holding any latent anger towards myself or others? How can I liberate myself from it? I forgive

Do I feel guilty for any of my thoughts, words, or actions? How can I make a conscious change? I resolve…

If my body were to speak, what would it say to me? I hear…

I know throughout the season I will be reflecting on some of these things as I continue to regain my health and make a few changes in my own life.

Colors of the season: brown (family, hearth, home, stability and family)
Orange (balance, action, warmth)
Red (action, change, passion, protection)
Yellow (creativity, happiness)

Crystals and Stones of the Season:

Stones for the Root Chakra to bring in Earth’s energy: red jasper, red garnet, red cornelian, obsidian
Stones for abundance and prosperity: amber (also protection), bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, flourite, yellow and orange calcite, jade, topaz, smoky quartz

Flowers & Trees of the Season:
 
Chrysanthemums (protection)
Marigold (healing and protection)
 
Ash Tree (protection, prosperity)
Maple (abundance, balance)
Oak (health, fertility and protection)

Foods of the season: apples, barley, breads, carrots, corn, squash, potatoes, nuts, oats onions wheat, parsnips, pears, cranberries, figs, pumpkin, wild mushrooms, pomegranate, chestnuts, cider, wine, mead, beer.  Apples are known as a symbol of the Divine, wisdom and guidance.

A few Goddesses of the Season: 

Demeter-Greek Goddess of harvest and agriculture, rules over the fertility of the Earth-mother of Persephone. (Greek) Upon the kidnapping of Persephone by Hades, lord of the Underworld, they were able to get her back, but not before she ate pomegranate seeds that bound her to Hades for 4 months out of the year. In these four months Demeter dries up the earth and all the crops (winter) in her grief, until the first signs of spring when she returns.
 
Symbol: grain
Goddess of plants that feeds us
Offerings: honeycombs, unspun wool, unpressed grapes uncooked grain.
 
Persephone-Greek Goddess of the Underworld and goddess of the spring. Mother Demeter mourned her kidnapping by Hades, creating Winter. (Greek)
Symbol-pomegranate
This is the time she returns to the underworld until spring
 
Hestia or Vesta- Goddess of the hearth-she represents unity of family, spiritual center of the home and community. The hearth is the center of the home for taking care of a family, older sister Demeter and Hera. (Greek/Roman) 

Some New Crafty Books for Fall and Stitching Update

 I just pre-ordered 3 new craft books set to release in the Autumn 2 in October and 1 in November. The Crocheting Witch and Fiber Magick are fiber/needle arts. The Witchcrafting Handbook includes crafts, recipes, and creative projects for you and your home.

As a practitioner of Stitch Craft I am looking forward to these 3 books. The first book The Crocheting Witch by RJ Montgomery is described as A quick reference for people specifically looking to incorporate crochet into their craft, The Crocheting Witch is a guide to using different types of stitch pattern, materials, herbal and essential-oil infusions, beads, and charms to create a variety of crocheted crafts.

The Fiber Magick book by Opal Luna is described as it provides many ways to enhance your magick through fiber arts. Discover the tools of the trade, the power of color, and a variety of weaving, braiding, and knotting methods. Learn how to use sigils, deities, and correspondences in your practice. I believe this is similar to how I incorporate magical intentions to the things I create by adding a bit of spell work or chanting my intention for the person I am making the item for.

The Witchcrafting Handbook by Helena Garcia is described as a new book to help you witch-craft your way to a more magical life, with creative projects for you and your home. Over 70 projects for stylish witches to make at home.

The last crafts book for Witches I purchased was Sew Witchy by Raechel Henderson, I bought it in March 2020 right before I became ill. Other crafting books for witches I have on my shelf are:

Witchy Crafts by Lexa Olick

Witch Crafts by Willow Polson

The Crafty Witch by Willow Polson

Magical Needlework by Dorothy Morrison

Recently I added 2 embroidery books to my witch crafty shelves:

Magical Stitches by Christi Johnson

Embroidery Now by Jennifer Cardenas Riggs (not necessarily pagan centered)

My progress on the July goddess of the Month embroidery was stalled for a few weeks so once again I am playing catch up. The July goddess is Isis and I am currently working on the wings.  

I would like to have the stitching completed soon but illness and heart surgery, cardiac rehab has pretty much taken up most of my energy so I don’t stitch daily and when I do stitch it isn’t for very long.  

Cardiac Rehab is Underway

 Last week I began Cardiac Rehab at the Advent Health Wellness Center , why I am in Cardiac rehab on my July 21st I had two stents put into my heart artery to clear a blockage, there are two blockages in my carotid arteries but before they can put in stents a neurosurgeon has to sign off on the procedure so for now I will see how the blood thinners work.

The week before I started the rehab  I went for the initial evaluation where height and weight Blood Pressure and a few simple exercises were used for evaluation so a plan can be made and the doctor could sign off on it before I got started.  The exercise was simple, do as many dumbbell curls as I could in 30 seconds-15, get up and sit down in a chair for 30 seconds-11 and walk 8 feet back to the starting point. All the while wearing a heart monitor, which I wear during my sessions.  

The first day I arrived at Noon and before I knew it I was hooked up to a little heart monitor that I wore in a pouch around my neck.  Blood pressure was checked and then it was onto this beast of a machine.

Which wasn’t a beast at all, it is a recumbent cross trainer and for thirty odd minutes I did a mix of legs/arms, just arms and then just legs.  I forgot to bring my little notebook to log what I am doing but I do remember.  I managed 15 minutes arms and legs moving together, than 9 minutes just moving the arms back and forth, and then 11 minutes just legs,  I was just starting to sweat when it was time to stop.   I am sure I am going to feel it later today and tomorrow but that’s fine with me just moving more in a monitored environment has given me a confidence boost, I realize last week when I did a 30 minute walk at the park how nervous I was walking. 

On the days I don't have a session at the Wellness Center for rehab I will take a walk in one of the local parks to keep the momentum of movement so that once I am working out on a regular schedule again I will have worked through those beginning aches and pains.

I found a new to me magazine Saturday when I was checking out at the local Earth Fare store. I came home and read it cover to cover. I liked it so much I subscribed to it.

Reading, The New Moon and Walking About

 

For me this New Moon has me trying hard to regain my health and recover from the latest surgery.  I begin cardiac rehab on Wednesday August 11th at Noon, I am really looking forward to getting in some movement.  I have been taking short walks when my energy allows and hopefully the rehab will have me back to taking my daily morning walks again soon. 

In the down time when I am not working on hand embroidery I have been reading a two older books of Goddesses for each day.  I have deepened my journey on the goddess path this year.  I recently read Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz  and Entering Hekate's Garden by Cindi Brannen, I enjoyed both of them.

While taking a short walk today at Silver Springs State Park I snapped a few photos along the way.

It was a clear and sunny morning with several kayaks on the water, there were a few flowering trees in bloom and the crystal clear springs had some lively fish unfortunately I missed them jumping out of the water.

After my walk I stopped at Earth Fare to pick up a few veggies and a new to me magazine that I happily subscribed to after reading it.

I love the magazine has two different covers, I nearly bought two issues thinking one was an older issue when I checked the binding to see the issue number they were both the same, then I realized it was a flip cover.  

Update on what I have been doing and Lughnasadh Blessings to You.

 Much has happened in the last few months, my health and energy has been like a rollercoaster ride with no end in sight.

July began with me turning 66 on the 1st and a tropical storm brewing in the air. The Florida hurricane season began June 1st with the usual afternoon rain showers then turned heavier as tropical storms brewed in the Gulf and Atlantic. We have had rain every day this month and one day out of the last 10 was rain free. Such is the weather in semi tropical climate.

On the health front my appointment with the cardiologist was on the morning of my birthday and the news wasn’t too great. I have obstructions in both the left and right carotid arteries which will need stents most likely, also in an artery to my heart. I am currently waiting for the surgeon’s office to call with appointment details which I should hear from them by the end of this week. The other concern is raising my heart rate which has been in the upper 40’s for nearly a year, to start one of my blood pressure medications has been reduced again this time from 50 mg once a day to 25 mg daily. I really dislike when they mess around with my BP medications because of the past problems with spiking blood pressure. I do monitor my blood pressure at home daily so I can be on top of it.

Next up this week is the mammogram and bone density test on Tuesday, and blood work a two days later for my general doctor. Then I’m really hoping all the testing is done for a while.

For my birthday my son and daughter in law took me out to lunch to celebrate, lunch was at a favorite Italian restaurant, the food was very good and the company lovely. On Saturday my sister and great niece Tessa took me out to lunch and brought along a birthday cake along with a chocolate edible candle.

I just love the sunflowers on this cake, I sent the remainder of the cake home with my sister, her husband has a sweet tooth so I know it would be appreciated and so much better then sending home a slice. I don’t eat cake very often so the slice I had was enough. It was funny to have the cake after I told my son NO cake this year, if anything just a few cupcakes, my son loves cake, so after lunch we each chose a piece of cake for dessert and brought it home, we had such a variety we cut a small piece of each and enjoy carrot cake, orange creamcicle cake and my choice NY Cheesecake plain. Believe me when I say those cakes tasted great and it was so much better to have a bite of each then an entire slice. My great niece Tessa is 8 years old and picked out the perfect gifts for me, a lovely straw hat, blue beach towel and a tote bag with art work from one of my favorites Leoma Lovegrove.

The 7 Moons red blend wine was purchased by me for the bottle I want to find the dark red blends as well, I don’t usually drink but lately I have been wanting to try wine again.

A few new oracle decks have been added to my growing collection, these are Goddess centered decks. This first deck The Earth Craft Oracle with art by Danielle Boodoo-Fortune is a lovely woman of color deck, and the cards are so colorful. I love her artwork, the deck is written by Juliet Diaz and Lorriane Anderson

 

This African Goddess Affirmations deck by Abiola Abrams was a gift to me by a friend it’s another wonderful woman of color decks. Each card has the name of the goddess and a brief affirmation.

The third deck is an older deck given to my by a friend recently the Goddess Inspiration Oracle is by Kris Waldherr who also created the Goddess Tarot.

Okay here is the update: I had 2 stents put in the heart artery a long one and a short one, they can't do the carotid until a neuro or vascular surgeon signs off on it. This is a rule with Medicare and most insurance companies, apparently there was a missed step like a consultation before I was set to have the stents so I would know about it, but the doctors office just set me up for the surgery so they dropped the ball and I would have been prepared to know I wasn't having the carotids done. They are hoping the blood thinners will be enough blah blah blah. So now I am on Plavix (again) for 6 months to a year. I have to do nothing for 2 days no driving just rest and then no real activity or lifting for a week.

Then on July 27th I arrived at the cardiologist office and they couldn't find my name on the appointment list so I pull out my little next visit card and ooops I had the right date, right time, WRONG month. Well it did seem to be rather a quick follow up visit. LOL one of my senior moment brain pauses.

On the upside of things the cardiac rehab center called and my first visit is on August 5th that answered one of my questions I had for my doctor.

I am still working on my goddess a month hand embroidery and finally caught up and am working on the July Goddess Isis, Below is the start of the Goddess Isis for July began stitching on the evening of July 2nd so I am back on track with my months.

  The inspiration for this goddess are the figurine and the altar image by Katherine Skaggs, I like the texture of the clothing when stitched. So far I chose DMC 820 royal blue very dark. I am going to use a variegated floss for the wings in shades of oranges and yellows, I had thought to use metallic thread in gold but I just think it would be too much for the piece.

I will post all of the stitched goddess pieces on another post, I tire very easily and sitting at my desk takes a lot out of me.  

I wish all of you a warm and wonderful Lughnasadh.