November Sale & Show
Wow, I can't believe its September, …um, October,….I
mean November already. Sorry this newsletter is a little late. I had
no inspiration in September. Then a conversation inspired me so I
had a subject for the newsletter. Then the dark moons kept happening
during busy weeks. I really meant to get this out before Halloween.
Better late than never I guess.
I'm having a hard time figuring out who I am now and
what direction to go. I've been through so much that I'm not the same,
and yet I still procrastinate and let things slide. I'm working on
it. Just be patient and I'll get these out more regularily.
I guess I'll just have to offer Free Shipping
to make up for it. That's right, free shipping on any order from
Infinite Flame and Naked Soaps.
Valid until November 30, 2014. Oh, I forgot about Cyber Monday, guess
I'll extend it to December 1.
Saturday November 29 is Small Business Saturday!
I will be at the Body n' Soul Wellness Expo at Gibraltar
Trade Center in Mt. Clemens Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, I know
on Black Friday you'll be at all the big chain stores getting awesome
bargins. So with all the money you save there, come shop at a small
business on Saturday and keep some of that money in Michigan. EVERY
booth in Gibraltar is a small business (well, most of them. At the
Body n' Soul some booths are bigger companies. But you get my point).
What I Have Been Working On
I finally started making incense. I have made
Sandalwood Rose, Witch's Brew, Vetiver Jasmine, and just put
out to dry today Patchouli Lilac. They were a big hit at the
last Holistic Show. I hope to have at least 2 more scents by the next
show. I will get them online but maybe not until next year as I want
more choices when I add them to the website.
I have had some jewelry ideas but haven't made
them yet. I made 5 new necklaces for the last show and 3 sold! No
new candles yet either, still working on the energy in my house
to be sure they work as good as the previous candles. I have all the
pendulums I've made online and
ready to find homes. I have added a Pendulum
Archive to the site to show off all the pendulums I've sold and
made for myself or as gifts.
Many people have asked me about doing tarot readings
so I have decided to start doing phone readings. I do not want
to do them at shows as 1. there are already many talented readers
at the shows and B. when I'm at the shows I want to sell product
and talk to the people who stop by my tables. If you are someone who
lives close enough I will consider a live reading but for the most
part the readings will be by phone. I am working on fees and schedule,
I will send a special newsletter to announce details (really, I will,
honest).
And if you don't believe I'll get the newsletter out,
well then you can just follow me on Facebook
or Twitter,
smarty-pants! Actually, those are the better ways to keep up with
what's new. Now that I can take pictures on the tablet and upload
them easier than my camera, I post more often about new products.
I have announced new incense and followers got to see the new necklaces
before the show. On Twitter I am doing Tarot Tuesday,
where I will draw a card that gives advice for the next week. I have
seen other readers announce on Facebook when they are available for
readings, so I am considering doing the same. You need to follow
Infinite Flame, not my personal page, for the announcements.
I may tweet tarot times too (say that 5 times fast! Hee hee).
Alter Your Life With an Altar
Back in September, a friend's sister called me about
setting up an altar. She wanted to know where she could order stuff
to go on an altar so she could set one up. In the course of the conversation
we discovered she had enough to set up the altar without shelling
out a single dime. So I wondered, how many people think they need
fancy expensive stuff in order to set up an altar. Most of mine started
with stuff I had on hand.
To set up an altar, first you must decide what
the altar is for. I have two dedicated to Goddesses, another for
prosperity in my feng shui prosperity corner of my house, a recent
one with shaman/native American items, and for a year after he died,
I had one set up to honor Brian's memory much like those in Mexico.
Then decide on where it will be in your house.
Do you want it viewable to guests in your house, or more private.
Is there an area in your house that relates to the subject of the
altar, like in feng shui. Find a spot that won't be disturbed and
if you plan on burning candles be sure it is fire safe (no curtains
or drafts).
Last, set it up! Usually you start with a clean
cloth, a color that relates to the subject or white. Then place the
items you want on it. A book or person might say something like "always
put the candle in the center" or "the deity's statue must
be to the left", but honestly, its your altar, set it
up as you want. You can always move stuff around, in fact that
is encouraged. An altar should be cleaned and changed regularily.
Even if all you do is rearrange it. It keeps the energy flowing.
As I stated before, you don't have to go out and buy
gold plated stuff or fancy candle holders. Use personal items that
relate. When you are shopping, keep an eye for anything that fits.
If you really want gold plated stuff and can afford it, then get that.
The God or Goddess or Energy the altar is dedicated to is not going
to care if the items were free or over $100. It's the effort
you put into it, your personal energy that makes it effective.
Some examples:
This is my Brigit altar. The image of Brigit
is a Christmas angel I had for years before making this altar. Since
red is associated with Brigit and she was wearing red, it worked for
me. I added the sword and the intention that it was Her. The cauldron
represents Brigit's well. The anvil I got on clearance at JoAnn's
in the jewelry making section. The cloth is the newest addition, again
on clearance at JoAnn's after St. Patrick's Day. Before that I used
a red cloth.
This is the spot of my main Goddess altar. Brigit
occupies it winter to spring, bringing inspiration as this is the
time I am most productive in my crafts. It is behind the front door
of my house, on a big video cabinet. The cloth covers my old stereo
system (yes, it's a record player). I don't know why I keep it except
to elevate my altar! The crystal candlesticks stay, for Brigit I put
green tapers.
This is my newest altar. My parent's gave me the big
Native American doll for Christmas last year. I had her on the floor
but wanted to put her where she would be safer. The cloth I got in
the remnants at JoAnn's (before I got the doll or the idea for this,
I just liked it). I added the items I used in the Shaman class I took:
stones that I had with me during journeys, the toy drum I used in
drum circles, the mask I created for ceremony (sitting on a wolf that
was Brian's, ever since I made the mask it has rested on this wolf).
There are lion items that represent my totem animal. A Native American
doll I've had since I was a kid. When we made the Shaman Candle, I
poured mine into the square container and that sits on it too. The
tarnished silver stand is engraved with animals on the inside, when
I took the shaman class, I started keeping the stones I used on it.
To me it fits because the animals represent totems. The newest piece
is the wand from Tailsiman Treasures.
This altar sits on a table that was my parent's. Inside
it I keep my magickal candles and some decor items when not on display.
This is my Rhiannon altar, it is in my bedroom.
The others are in the living room. Since my magickal name is Rhiannon,
I felt this one was more personal so I didn't want it viewable to
just anybody. Storm gave me the name, and the cloth with horses plus
the piece of driftwood are gifts from her. The black & white egg
and white horse were used during my High priestess ceremony. The big
Pegasus was given to me many years ago by a friend, I lost touch with
her not long after but she is now back in my life. The black horse
is Black Beauty, a promotional item from when we owned the video store.
The painted plate and picture of Rhiannon were gifts from Alicia back
when we made candles. Everything else is horse stuff I had, plus stones
and crystals I felt needed to be on the altar.
This one sits on a jewelry cabinet. My staff leans
against it.
My Hecate altar has changed the most. The dark
purple cloth has a beautiful embroidery done in black that doesn't
show up in the picture, given to me by Storm and perfect for this
Goddess. Dark purple amethyst and fluorites. Keys that I picked up
on clearance or sale at Michael's. The purple glass bowl I found at
the garage sale at Gibraltar, only $1! The mirror I found at the recycle
center in Novi years ago, it has been on this altar ever since. Purple
flowers from Christmas gifts. Hecate occupies this spot Spring to
Fall. I even found towels with keys at JoAnn's last year. Black or
purple tapers.
The best part is the figurine. Ever since I recognized
my Goddess was Hecate, I searched for an image of Her. Sacred Source
has some beautiful reproductions of Greek statuary of Her. I had thought
that was what I would get, when I had the money. But then I saw the
image Jessica Galbreth did of Hecate on a card. I bought it
right away and put that card on the altar. I love that image, that
is the Hecate I know. It was on the altar for several years and I
gave up on getting the expensive Greek image, I liked this one even
if it was only a card. Then, two Christmas's ago, my brother got me
the figurine from Earth Lore. So this is a prime example of not needing
to spend a bunch of money up front to build an altar. Let it grow
and progress, sometimes what you think you want isn't the best item
for it. The right items for your altar will show up at the right time.
~~~~Rhiannon Rose @--^--
