Samhain Kits

 


So I am doing things a little differently for Samhain.
Instead of making up a bunch of kits to put in the shop… I decided that I am only going to do pre-orders for kits this year.

There are two kits to choose from. A smaller and a larger one.  Each kit comes with a special surprise bonus gift valued at $10.00

Small Samhain kit
Includes:
3 Spell dusts
A bag of Graveyard dirt
Mojo Bag
2oz All Hallows Eve Oil
2 herb bags filled with herbs associated with Samhain 
A wooden pendulum
Sea salt
Small lavender smudge
A blank decorative spell scroll for writing your own spell upon
And 1 votive candle

The price for this kit is $32.98 +10.95 for medium flat rate shipping
Normally all of these items would cost you more than $45 for everything so you would be saving more than $13.00 on this kit (not counting the value of the bonus gift)
Please order 5 days to one week ahead of whenever you need this kit, this does not include shipping time so you would need to add shipping time to that. This allows me enough time to put the kit together and get it to the post office.

Large Samhain kit
Includes:
3 spell dusts
Sigil powder 1oz
Bag of Graveyard dirt
Bag of orange/Red dessert sand
Mojo bag
2 oz of All Hallows Eve oil
4 herb bags filled with herbs associated with Samhain
An ouija board
Wooden pendulum
Pentacle necklace
Sea salt
1 votive candle
Large Lavender smudge stick
A blank decorative spell scroll for writing your own spell upon

The price for this kit is $64.98 +10.95 for medium flat rate shipping
Normally  all these items would cost you more than $85 for everything so you would be saving more than $20.00 on this kit (not counting the value of the bonus gift)

A 6x5 blank book can be added to either kit for an additional $15.98 or purchased on its own for the same price. You would pick a color scheme and theme for the cover of the book. For shipping the book alone without any other items it will be shipped in a small flat rate box for $5.95

Medium flat rate boxes arrive in 2-3 days from shipping date according to the usps website, but I would allow 3-5 days just to be on the safe side.


The veil between worlds start to thin around the early middle of Oct and are thinnest on Samhain eve (Oct 31st) which is the best time to commune with spirits and perform any kind of divination. It ends being as thin around the early middle of November.
This is also a great time for showing respect for the dead. I may write a longer blog on this subject at some point.


Any of my other divination, protection, cleansing, and banishing items are also useful during this time of year. Keep an eye out for sales on these things during the next few weeks.

Any of the items above can be purchased individually at the regular retail price unless otherwise stated.

To order, please email me at Lotus_Moon@hotmail.com
Tell me which kit you would like to purchase.
Inform me of any other items you are purchasing if you are purchasing more than just a kit or a book. This helps keep your shipping costs low since if I can fit it in the medium flat rate box there will be no additional shipping costs. For the book it will be shipped in a small flat rate box unless added to one of the two kits for combined shipping.

If you are purchasing a book, please include an idea of what you would like the cover to look like, whether you want it to have a theme or not (i.e you may want it to have a Halloween/Samhain theme, a tree of life with real leaves on it, an element theme, etc) If you are having problems coming up with a theme let me know and I can try my best to help.

I will then E-mail you back an invoice for where to go to pay for the items if you are paying via PayPal.
I do accept most major credit cards with a 5% fee added to the total price for those of you who do not have PayPal. If you are wanting to just pay with a credit card I would need the type of credit card you are paying with and your credit card information to input for the payment transaction.
Those are the only two payment methods I currently accept.


Please let me know if you have any questions on any of my items.

Midsummer

Lore

Midsummer, usually around June 21 or 22, the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still.” The travels of the sun were marked and recorded.

This holiday is most commonly known as “Litha” (the ancient Germanic name for Summer) This day is also known as the Summer Solstice and Midsummer. It is  the time in which the Sun God is at his strongest.  It is a time for the Sun God and The Green Man, which to some is one and the same due to old depictions of the Sun God being depicted as The Green man back when Paganism and Christianity were merging.

In some traditions, Litha or Midsummer is a time at which there is a battle between light and dark. The Oak King is seen as the ruler of the year between winter solstice and summer solstice, and the Holly King from summer to winter. At each solstice they battle for power, and while the Oak King may be in charge of things at the beginning of June, by the end of Midsummer he is defeated by the Holly King.

The celebration of Midsummer has dated back to ancient times.
This day has great meaning to most everyone for various reasons. For those who practice Faerie Magik, this is an especially meaningful day, because it is said that the faeries and the forest creatures come out to celebrate this wonderful day.
A large feast is usually held. There would be lots of music and dancing, lots of drinking, and of course love making. Midsummer is celebrated with bonfires and is a time to honor the space between earth and the heavens.

During this time is the best time to gather and dry your wild crafted or garden herbs.

Write down your wishes and toss them into a well, spring, or cauldron. This can be done by writing it on a piece of paper or meditating on your wish while holding a stone, flower, or feather and then throwing it into the water.
Offerings are also placed in water and thrown into the fire.

The rituals of Midsummer celebrate the verdant Earth in high summer, abundance, fertility, and all the riches of Nature in full bloom. This is a great time of strong magic and empowerment. It is a wonderful time for communication with the spirits of Nature. At Litha, the veils between the worlds are thin; the portals between worlds and realms beyond are more open than during other times of the year. This is an excellent time for rites of divination.

I am listing some things that correspond with this holiday/season; so that if you need, you can use as reference when celebrating this wonderful time of year.

~Correspondences~

~Customs
Bonfires, singing, feasting, coming together to celebrate and perform rituals, cutting
divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, going into the woods to gather herbs, ferns and flowers. Handfastings, weddings,  and making love (this is a great time for fertility) leaping between two fires,  women walking naked through gardens to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables, honor the Mother’s fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.

~Colors associated with Midsummer
Yellow, white, red, blue, green, tan, orange, and gold

~Gemstones
Any green, gold, red, yellow, and some blue stones.
Such as Emerald, Carnilion, Citron, Amber, Jade, Tigers Eye, Lapis lazuli, etc.

~Animals/Mythical Beings
Robins, horses, cattle, satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds, and canaries.

~Decoration, Symbols, & Tools
Anything reminiscent of the sun (yellows, reds, oranges), Sun wheel, fresh and dried herbs, potpourri, fruits, summer flowers, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red, yellow or gold flowers, love/fertility amulets, seashells, feather/flower door wreaths,  fire, circles of stone, sun dials, bird feathers, and Witches’ ladder.

~Rituals/Magicks and ways to celebrate

Nature spirit/fey communion, planet healing, divination, love & protection magicks.
Rededication of faith, rites of inspiration. Animal Protection and Marriage & Vow Renewal.
Go for a hike, go to the beach, a spring, a lake, a well.. Hold a bonfire party, Hold a barbecue, Share your garden's harvest with friends, Herbs can be dried over the ritual fire if you're celebrating outdoors. Use mirrors, reflective crystal balls, or metal ornaments to capture the light of the Sun or the flames of the fire. Make amulets (simple charms) of protection out of herbs such as rue and rowan. If you make new amulets each year you can dispose of the old in the midsummer fire.

 
~Foods
Mead, honey, fresh fruits and veggies, lemonade, lemons, oranges, cookies and cakes decorated to honor the Sun,  summer squash, cantaloupe, carrots and carrot juice, and of course plenty of ale.

Not authentic but quick way to have something similar to mead. Even if the recipe is cheating a bit, its still a delicious drink nonetheless.
First heat 1 part water with 1 part wildflower or your choice of honey  until the mixture is smooth and the honey’s completely incorporated. (wildflower being the best choice but any honey will do that you like best)
Sprinkle some fresh rose petals into the mixture and let it cool. (orange or lemon slices could also be added to the mixture for added flavor)
Strain the mixture (optional).
Mix 2 parts honey water with 1 part grain alcohol and serve chilled over ice. Alternatively, mix 1 part honey water with 1 part vodka.

~Herbs
basil, elder, pine, St. John’s wort, thyme, yarrow, frankincense, lavender, lily, anise, mugwort, chamomile, daisy, rose, calendula, sunflower, wild rose (red or yellow being best), oak blossoms, ginger, and spices, cinquefoil, fennel, mistletoe, hemp, larkspur, nettle, wisteria, vervain, rue, fern, wormwood,heather, oak & holly trees.

Midsummer Fire Oil

I have concocted an oil for this special time of year.
Midsummer oil smells that of pine forests, with bay, and orange to add to the sweet spicy scent. There are many herbs and flowers added to this oil that all correspond to Midsummer and the fire element. A citron stone and a few herbs, flowers, and resins were added to the bottle for added potency. A Tibetan silver energy sun charm adorns the outside of the bottle on a red ribbon. The charm may be removed and charged with the oil, and then worn for added benefit.

This oil comes in a 4oz round corked bottle and is $11.95 + shipping.

A Spell Dust that may also be used as an incense was also made.
Midsummer Fire Spell Dust can be used in the bonfire, heated on charcoal disks, placed on the altar, tossed for wishes and use in rituals. It can be sprinkled around your sacred circle, along with many other uses.

There is a long list of herbs that went into the making of this blend. It smells strongly of pine and orange. The blend produces a very pungent smoke that is both sweet, woody, and herby.
Even without lighting it, the dust has quite a wonderful and complex smell to it.

Vials are 1/2 an inch wide and 3 inches long (not including the length of the glass ball)
The glass ball is sealed to the vial with candle wax. Wax can be removed to get to the herbs inside the vials.
This Spell Dust Vial is $2.00 each + shipping.

I have a special going on right now on my herb vials and spell dusts where if you buy 5 you get 1 herb vial free. If you buy 10 you get either 2 herb vials or 1 spell dust free with your order. There are plenty of herbs available that have to do with Midsummer, love, and other magicks done during this time of year.
This deal only lasts till June 23rd so don’t miss out on this great special before it ends!

April Update

I have been busy the past little while going out into the forests, desert, and other places in nature to gather things.
I have gathered all the pollen I can for now, all the buds have gone away to make way for leaves. I snatched up some balm of Gilead buds, fern, moss, tree thorns, pine cones of all sizes, and various other things. I was lucky enough to find and dig up with the roots some wild catnip, mullein, and western mugwort. They are sitting happily in my garden now where I care for them. I never take more than I plan to use and leave offerings in return.
I currently also have a dead snake that I found near a river that I carefully collected. It will be cleaned up and it’s bones will be used for various things later. It will be awhile before I can use the bones but worth the wait. A friend of mine is going to clean them for me and the method in which he does it will take awhile.

In the desert many things were seen including three baby big horned owls. Many natural crystals and two kinds of sand were collected.

 
The baby owls are in the hole third from the left. There was no way to get a closer picture sadly from where I was.

 
 

On another adventure, close to a river and a pond I came across a mother goose and her eggs.

Obviously in nesting she had shed a lot of feathers, some of which were larger and further away from the nest. So now I have a handful of goose feathers along with one or two duck feathers.

In the midst of the several forest and desert outings (you had better believe I have many more planned) I also finished a painting “Dracula’s Castle” on 9x12 canvas, done in acrylic paints. Picture is of Dracula's Castle at sunset.
The painting is available for purchase. If interested please send me a message for the details.

I found some interesting branches that I plan to turn into wands and possibly other things depending on how much is used for what. Some of them have some really interesting twists to them which is part of the reason I grabbed them. I think I need better tools before tackling those though.

I have also been working on some talismans, sigils, seals and things of that nature. The talismans are drawn onto tea stained paper. 
You cant really see the roots but both drawings have roots. The one on the right is of a tree with seals, oghams, and runes. Its not quite finished yet but its in the making. The one on the left is the start of a talisman. Both the tree and the mushroom represent the person, inside influences, outside influences, and so on. The mushroom will have seals and symbols put on it soon. The talismans are custom made for the needs of that person.

I am deciding on which oils to make next. Obviously an oil for Litha, the Summer Solstice, being on the list. I will most likely be making a kit as well for Litha.

I was thinking about making a starter kit filled with many different kinds of herbs, woods, stones, and other things one would need for various practices. I would most likely have a few variations to it.  Possibly allow for some customization. I do not have one put together right now but if this is something you want or need in the near future please let me know.

I have not gotten much feedback as of yet on the treasure hunt idea so that is being put on hold for now. I will most likely bring it up again at a later date. Possibly sometime during the Summer.

Anyways, time for me to get back to my crafting.
~Lotus

Mardi Gras Event Preparation

I have been very busy the past couple of days in preparation for Mardi Gras.
Since I have been asked to be apart of the Mardi Gras Voodoo Ball @ the Powerhouse in Boise, Idaho. I will have my products set up in a booth for sale there in collaboration with products from other local practitioners. It has been a very busy past couple of days and will continue to be so until after Mardi Gras, since I am working on more than a handful of new products to put up on the booth at the party. I am not going to say what it is I have been making since it is a secret. If you want to know you will have to come down and see for yourself.
There will be tarot, rune, and other types of readings. Belly dancers, there will be a Dance of the Dead, and a Zombie raising! Spells, potions, beads, costumes, masks. It is suggested that you dress up but its not required. Lots of entertainment and drink specials.
It is definantly worth coming down to check it out if you are in the Boise Idaho area. There is no cover but it is a 21+ event.

I should mention that all sales will be cash only since we will not have the use of a credit card machine for our booth. No large bills please as we want to have sales be as close to exact change as possible. We will not be keeping much change on hand for breaking bills. I do not know if there will be an atm inside the powerhouse or not, so I would advise bringing extra cash with you if you plan to purchase any of our wares.
You never know what might catch your eye and its always better to come prepared.
Come down for Mardi Gras @ the Powerhouse @ 621 S. 17th downtown in Boise ID on Tues, March 8th! Party starts at 8pm and ends at 2am. There is parking.

Some of the new items I will be posting up online in my shop later. Some of the items I may not be if they sell out and I cannot make more right away. If you want first choice I suggest getting down there because I can only take future orders on a few of the new items. Don't miss out on the fun if you live in the area.
If you have any questions about the event feel free to ask and I will do my best to get back to you before then.
~Lotus