Today I posted a new video that I hope we all can learn from. It can be viewed on our Cynnamon Charmed facebook page or here . Ok, so Tuesday I posted a video on how to make your own smudge sticks. After that video I hung the sticks that I demonstrated making for you guys on my drying rope and left them there for the past couple days. Today I glanced over to check on them and noticed that as they were drying they were shrinking more than I had expected and the rope that I tied them with was already getting too loose. So, I decided this was a good time to show you all that this can happen and how to correct it when it's caught early enough. Just a reminder to take every opportunity to learn and to grow....Blessed Be!
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One might think that the end of Summer would be a slow period for a gardener. Most of our crops are harvested and we have prepared them for storage. But around here, late Summer and early Fall are very busy. It is true, that most of my garden is now out. I have a few okra, cucumber and jalapeno plants that are still producing thanks to the cooler than normal August we have had. I have pulled out all my tomatoes, zucchini, etc. and now I begin some of the prep work for my next years garden. My youngest daughter and I shoveled out over 50 - 5 gallon buckets of manure and shavings from our chicken run. Since chicken manure is very high in nitrogen it needs at least the Winter to compost down and become fertilizer for our next year crop. So all this is added to the garden along with a bunch of wood ash from trees that had fallen on our property due to storms this year. The ash is also good for our soil. I then till all this in to the previous soil. I continue tilling the soil over the Fall and into Winter about once every month so that everything is composted down well by Spring. I can't always till very far into Winter because of the frozen ground but that is ok.
Yesterday I worked on sorting out what herbs I would leave outside to Winter and which ones I would bring indoors to keep fresh herbs growing around here year around. Some of these herbs are also annuals in our area so they wouldn't survive if I left them out anyways. I am always at odds on whether to leave out my rosemary, oregano or my sage. Some say that with proper mulching they do just fine in Missouri Winters, while others say they do not. The past few years we have had milder than average temperatures here and I fear we are due for a harsh Winter this year. Therefore, I was tempted to bring all my plants inside, just in case. However, that is not realistic so I decided to bring one of each inside and leave at least one of each out to experiment with how they do. The exception to this was my basil and stevia. They both came in since they don't have a chance of survival. i do realize we still have some growing season left for herbs outdoors. However, with other chores soon pressing, I don't want to miss the chance or be rushed in trying to get my herbs inside. Here very soon I will be battling leaves so much so that it will be hard to see where my plants are even at in the yard. At that time there are fountains and ponds to drain and cover, chicken coops to insulate, chicken runs to tarp over, wood to stack, chimneys to clean, garlic to plant, last minute pruning, and on, and on, and on. I am hoping for one more good harvest of herbs off my outdoor plants for the year which will be plenty to get me and Cynnamon Charmed through til next year. I love the Fall. The trees are so beautiful and the weather perfect. However, it is difficult to let go of that fertile ground and sun warming feel that carries us through Spring and Summer. You see, hear, and feel the life in everything around you. We know that Mother Earth is completing another cycle of life and will soon be entering into her crone stage. I find this stage beautiful and important as well. We need the rest and the focus on our inner beings to be able to be born anew next Spring....but it's hard to let go when you love nothing more than walking barefoot on warm grass. So, I settle and try to preserve some of that life by bring it inside just as I do with myself. I nurture it through Winter just enough to get it through those long months in order to return it home to the soil next year where it is meant to thrive. Love and Light y'all )O(
Come on over to Cynnamon Charmed's Facebook page and watch my video on how to make smudge sticks at home. OR..... take a look at the ones that I am making and that will be available soon in the Cynnamon Charmed store. Blessed Be!
Last week we got to talk a lot about herbs and about the health benefits of going back to what Mother Nature has provided us since the beginning of creation, in order to be physically and mentally strong. We are going to finish up this 3 part series with the benefits of herbs spiritually. Most of us have some sort of desire to feel connected to the source, to know what is beyond Earth and what lies after life. We have developed some sort of belief system for ourselves that brings us peace and fulfillment just as our ancestors before us had done. I want you to think about a question for just a moment. Really think about this and form an answer in your mind….”Who said herbs have a spiritual purpose?” Look it up for a quick answer online and you’ll be hard pressed to find one. As with many things, it’s about having faith. Many of the beliefs we have come from folk lore or mythology. Others are based on the proof that we see in the work the herb has on the physical body and so we attribute the same effect to the spiritual self. It is well said that believing is seeing and when we see it works we stick to it. But we have to experiment with herbs first to find out what works for us. For example, there are many protection herbs but which will you use? What works well for you? Now that is a personal choice not a scientific one. We know that we can connect to a higher consciousness through meditation, dreaming, etc. Ancient people learned how to use herbs to get to those states easier and purposefully through, among other things, hallucinogenic herbs. These types of experimentations and the results of them which date back hundreds of years have been passed down over the years and tried, tested and used over and over again. Through this type of experimentation hard lessons were learned. For example, not all herbs are safe. Among a few baneful herbs is belladonna, hemlock, wolf’s bane, henbane, etc. Many of these were used in the early versions of witch’s flying ointments. When we listen to tales of things like witch’s flying to rituals people think of them like they see them played out on a movie screen, as images of witches flying across the air on brooms. In reality, they most likely were induced with a hallucinogenic that allowed their mind to travel to another astral plane. So when we hear stories we have to carefully decipher the true meaning of what is being told. Just like many of the herbs used in spirituality are refereed to under odd names that many people stick their nose up at. When a recipe called for a cat’s foot, a wrinkled old woman didn’t go and amputate a limb from her beloved kitty. That was the folk name for ground ivy. Some others include: blood as dragons blood, devil’s oatmeal as parsley, poor man’s treacle as garlic, etc….the list goes on and on. Therefore, reading and understanding ancient writing related to herbs and spirituality can be a grueling process without the right information. In mythology we begin seeing a connection between deity and herbs. Through this connection we can use herbs as offerings when working with specific deity or when requesting specific things. In believing that all things created by Mother Earth are alive we then believe that each thing contains its own unique energy. Therefore, by incorporating the herbs into our work we are bringing in another level of energy and allowing the Earth element to assistant as well. After much searching, I found a great piece for you all that explains the herbal/spiritual connection in far greater detail than I could at http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/herblore.htm. So to try and sum up a very vast topic, spirituality is a hugely personal experience, just as the use of herbs within our spiritual journey. We use what works for us. There are herbs that are known to be used for this or that but in their place a handful of other things can be substituted at will. It’s all about what makes YOU connect spiritually. When you think of love do you envision red roses or is it a pine cone? There are universal perceptions that most of us have but nothing is set in absolute stone. At Cynnamon Charmed we strive to created herbal blends, smudge sprays, etc. that are absolutely unique to us. We use things that are positively tested and proved effective for our friends and family over and over again. Many of the ingredients are staples that have been known in folk lore or mythology to have specific connections while others may seem completely odd ball. However, in addition to the herbs we offer, we also offer our own energy in the growing, harvesting and production of the final product. We know the importance of our intention and the importance of respecting the tool the entire way through the process. So even when you may not have the knowledge or the ability to go out and find what you need to make your spiritual journey magickal, you can count on us to do the work for you and bring you a quality product time and time again. Cynnamon Charmed Shop- for all your herbal needs Yesterday we talked about how going back to nature in the way we live and nurture our bodies benefits us physically. Today, we will discuss it mentally…..
When we make a healthy selection or prepare a meal from food that we know we consciously selected for nutrition, we are telling ourselves mentally that we are worth it. Here’s the thing, the biggest hurtle we have in weight loss, eating healthy, quitting smoking, etc. is the mental aspect. We start out with some superhero will power and then in a moment of weakness we cave in. This is when our mental weaknesses have their fun in our mind. They tell us we aren’t good enough, strong enough or capable of succeeding. In the moment our bodies are going through physical withdraw, our mind then turns on us as well and we give in to what has been harming us the whole time. Why? It’s so much easier! Well, it’s easier at that moment. We can suddenly go back to mindless eating, smoking a pack of cigarettes, etc. However, once that rush leaves, we are left with the feelings of yet another failure. Trouble is that with those of us already suffering from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem etc. this is a state of mind that we try to avoid because we know it can lead to a major downward spiral. Here is some advice I can offer, every day that you chose you, you become more confident. As your health changes and your body changes so does your mind. When you feel good about yourself and what you are doing it makes it easier to continue. I am NOT saying you won’t slip up. The key is not to tear yourself up over it. Learn from it. Say ok, this is what happened, I am smarter today then I was yesterday about what triggers me and get back up and start again. It’s the persistence that pays off. With all the healthier choices that I have made for myself, I still have struggles mentally. I have terrible anxiety, which leads to very poor sleep and I have a history of panic attacks. For over 10 years I was on prescription medications for all the above, as well as depression. Over the course of those years, my dosages kept rising until they could no longer, then I would be switched to a new medication because my body stopped responding to the previous. In switching, there was a LOT of trial and error which would leave me with nausea or mentally weak for months at a time until finding a new prescription that would work for a while. Today…..I no longer take prescription medications. In my education in herbs, I experimented and tested things on myself to a point where I am now able to use them as needed. I carry a roller ball in my purse with essential oil blends that I have created for myself and on days I know will be extremely difficult I wear a diffuser necklace with essential oils that have been proven to work for me. Sure, I still have a “bad” day on very rare occasions BUT I had those before as well. Now, I am not telling you to stop your medication and start experimenting with herbs cold turkey. I am saying that herbs have incredible healing benefits. I was able to completely give up my medications after a long time of trial and error but not everyone can. That doesn’t mean you can’t supplement or use in addition to. I am saying to question, research and take your health back into your own hands instead of just relying mindlessly on others for your fix. No one knows your body as well as you do. As always, use under the supervision of your doctor because some can have side effects when used in conjunction with prescriptions. Ok, so let’s talk about my favorite ways to use herbs for mental health. I already mentioned using them as an essential oil but we can also use them straight out of our garden and this can be a cheaper option since purchasing quality essential oils is very expensive and can be a bit intimidating to those who aren’t sure where or what to look for. My favorite way to use fresh or dried herbs is in teas. I love teas and there are some fantastic places online to order quality herbal teas from if you don’t want to make your own. One of my favorites is an Etsy shop I discovered called Sunshine Cottage. However, I will warn you that you need to go in knowing what ingredients you are searching out in a tea. Many great, especially smaller scale, suppliers won’t make claims about their teas involving health benefits because of fear of being sued. Another great way to use herbs for this purpose is aromatherapy and this doesn’t have to always be in the form of an essential oil to reap benefits from it. A dream pillow is a great way to do this as well. I am currently designing our first dream pillow that will be available in our shop in September. They will contain an inner pocket that can hold herbs of choice that will allow you to breathe in their aroma while you sleep. Lavender would be an excellent one to start off trying. Continuing along the lines of aromatherapy, there is a line of products that that we carry in the shop: our Artesian Soaps. While these were primarily marketed for their spiritual uses, you can read all about their other benefits in the product descriptions. My family uses these three soaps interchangeably depending on the time of day that they shower. Sun King in the morning and Moonlight Magick in the evening but then Aphrodite Dreams can be used anytime and is more of an everyday go to bar if you have to pick just one. They all contain a mixture of essential oils as well as dried herbs. All three are handmade by me with careful consideration being made for the potency of each ingredient benefits within a particular time frame. This is why I make smaller batches of 20-30 bars rather than large ones. I have no use for a bar of soap that has no benefit because of expired and ineffective essential oils or ingredients. We want only the best for our family and for yours. Oh, and this is a good place to mention the only essential oils that I use on myself or in any of the products in the Cynnamon Charmed shop are those from Eden’s Garden or occasionally DoTerra. I would feel comfortable using Young Living as well; I just don’t have a need at this time to do so. There are lots of different companies out there making claims for purity and the best essential oils. I am also an individual who looks for a great deal when possible….HOWEVER, essential oils are not a time to skimp. You absolutely get what you pay for. However, you also need to be aware that just because it’s expensive don’t mean it’s better all the time. So, if you are looking toward trying essential oils and want me to refer you to someplace, I would feel confident referring you to any of the three companies listed above. There may be others out there but I stick with what I know and what I have experience with and that is these. I am going to go ahead and give you the weekend to ponder the benefits of herbs for our mental and physical well-being. Do some further online research and take a look at the following links and attached images…. Then we will pick back up on Monday with Herbal Uses in Spirituality. Blessed Be )O( Moonlight Magick, Sun King, Aphrodite Dreams- our 3 Artesian Soap Bars for aromatherapy Sunshine Cottage - excellent teas Eden's Garden- favorite essential oil supplier In the beginning of creation, we were given plant life as one of our main resources. At that time everything we actually needed to survive was supplied, we just needed to learn how to use it. Water was collected from safe sources or made safe to drink. Animals were cooked to kill pathogens that could harm us. And plants were experimented with for nourishment, medicine and spirituality. Incredible knowledge was gained due solely to experimentation, to the extent that you know there had to be great successes as well as horrific failures. Fortunately for us, our ancestors done that daunting task for us and left us with some great knowledge of what they found. However, at some point, like always, man got greedy and wanted to make more, better, and make money off it. Fast forward to today and we have evolved farther and farther away from what nature provided and are now arrogant enough to think we can duplicate and make ourselves something that only the universe is really capable of. It’s no wonder that we are as unhealthy as a collective whole. Our food, our nourishment, our medicine, etc. has been tampered with so much that it no longer resembles what was intended to be.
Although, we cannot do much to combat the effects that time and man has had on the environment in which our resources thrive, we can still do our best to return to the source when we feel our body needing healing. I am talking about healing of all kinds: physically, mentally and spiritually. Physically Now I do not have a PhD, but I can tell you that many physically troubling issues can be solved with diet. I am not talking about counting calories, or going on some crazy cave man diet of raw meat. I am referring to just going back to the source and eating what Mother Earth provides us before man interferes with her creation. Fruit straight of the trees or vines, vegetables straight out of the ground or plant, and meats from animals that have been allowed to graze and live naturally. I, myself, lost over 70 lbs. last year doing this alone. I didn’t count calories or go to the gym. I simply made myself aware of what I was putting into my body and stopped putting in things that were processed into nothing but junk. Sure, some convenience is lost but I believe we make time for things that we value and we should value our own health over all else. We all know that obesity is a leading cause in many other health problems and many of these just create domino effects of problems of their own. My husband is a prime example of what I am referring to here. At 40 years old his cholesterol is super high, triglyceride levels are so bad they have doubled his medication, and may be referring him to a lipid specialist soon. He has been incredibly skeptical and critical of any advice up until now. He’s always been the type who could quickly drop 20-40 lbs. if the doctor told him he needed to just by starving himself and then quickly put it back on later after his next checkup. He has an addiction for nicotine and food and claims he will “die a happy man”. I feel that the years of abuse he has done to his body are now, at this age, finally catching up to him. I think this happens to lots of people who think they are bullet proof while they are young until some major health crisis leaves them reeling and wondering where their youthful body went. When in all actuality, it was declining the whole time. Sure, we all get old but we can do so feeling good and do it gracefully. We can do so knowing that we done all we could to care for this sacred vessel we were allowed to borrow for a short time. It always makes me go back and question: “why must we always abuse the wonderful things that we are given?” And don’t think that the damage is already done and so it’s hopeless to try now. Our bodies are absolutely amazing in their ability to heal themselves. As a previous smoker with asthma (yeah, I know….pretty stupid), I can tell you that I haven’t used an inhaler since I stopped smoking. I can feel a huge difference in my breathing on a daily basis. When I smoked, every time I got sick, it would turn into a long drawn out chest cold or pneumonia. These types of reoccurring illnesses are gone now along with those cigarettes. After losing those 70 lbs., I have more energy than I ever had. My feet and joints don’t ache like they did carrying around all that extra weight. My complexion is better now that I am not sweating grease and artificial ingredients out of my pores. Granted, I am not saying you have to be perfect. For all I have done to improve my health, I still have my vices. Personally, I am still struggling to give up my Splenda and Diet Coke but we are all a work in progress, right? So, in eating right for a healthier body, we can look further than just the obvious fruits, veggies, etc. that we discussed here. We can harvest, or buy (responsibly) herbs that have incredible healing properties for specific purposes, as well. I want you all to look at the images here and see how each of these plants has the ability to heal us. I’ll leave you to ponder on that today and we will pick up here tomorrow……Love and Light )O( The big Solar Eclipse is coming on Monday, and while many of us took off work to celebrate, others will be a spectator from our offices. There are lots of ways to still feel connected to the great things happening in the universe that day. This day is a time of renewal. A time when the Earth, Sun, and Moon put their differences aside and are able to be in total alignment… so why can’t we? We can choose to use this time to let go of the things that are no longer serving us well and make changes for a better future.
Regardless of where you are at, close your eyes during this eclipse and feel your connection to the energies at play. Meditate, if you can...With our bodies being confused by the darkness, this is the perfect time to take advantage of the more alert third eye. Sit out a jar of water to charge during this event so that you may use it for workings in the future. It could even be a great time to clear and recharge your crystals. Just relax, be in the moment and be sure to take time to connect with what is going on on a deeper level. And…..I’m excited to tell you all that the Oak King Smudge Spray will contain our own collected Solar Eclipse water for the 2017 Yule season on all orders made from November 15-December 30. This will be an amazing addition to your Yule ritual or celebration. Here in Independence, MO, where I will charge our water, we are lucky enough to be right inside the line of totality for this eclipse. Keep an eye out for a product reminder in a couple months or you can preorder in the shop now by checking out with the Oak King Smudge Spray and in the comment box or a personal message let me know that it is a preorder and when you'd like it to ship. These will only be available while supplies last. Love and Light! Today our kids went back to school and we are all trying to get back into that routine after the late nights of summer. My two youngest have both had troubles with night terrors and over active imaginations since very young. I created a smudge spray just for them and other kids like them to help them feel like they have a weapon in their bed at night when they are most vulnerable feeling. Together we read about the different stones and when we found that malachite is a highly protective stone of children and a great one to calm fear and bad dreams. They LOVED that idea that there was a stone specifically to protect them. Because of this, I thought it very important to incorporate that stone in this product. In addition, we added a mixture of herbs with different protective properties, like nettle and mints. In addition, since the kids love to be their own “superhero” we added some yarrow for a little boost of courage. As with any superhero’s weapon….the kids understand that this isn’t a toy but it does make them feel confident and that helps them get to sleep faster so they can be rested for those long school days. SO MOTE IT BE…GONE! SMUDGE SPRAY 4 oz. mister bottle – shake well and spray IN STOCK in our shop New to the shop are our very own handmade Poppets / Voodoo Doll. No two dolls are the same! Each one is completely unique. More dolls coming soon to the shop but this one just made the first posting. Poppet / Voodoo Doll This is a 12” minimum doll in cotton with poly-fil. The poly-fil is mixed with our Protection herbal blend giving it protective energy and making it smell wonderful. When the heart is sewn into place I place 2 Amethyst chips and 1 Quartz chip inside to bring love within the heart and then I fill it full with the Protective herbal blend to , again, protect. Unique to my dolls, you will find a pocket on their backs. This pocket is so that the person using them can add other herbs, crystals, or personal items to personalize or bring certain energy to the doll. My thought was this: Say the doll is your personal poppet and you need to do healing, to the pocket you may add healing herbs and gemstones. For a while, you may use the doll to do work related to that healing. However, when you are finished you could discard those items (in the way you see fit based on your own tradition) and then maybe replace with ones for love or money to use the doll for another purpose later on. The back of the head is also bare so that the person could, if they choose, pin a picture to it of who the doll represents. 3 pins (not pictured) will be included with purchase of doll. Pictures of the doll and creation process in this description are specific to this doll! ( To see the full list pf pictures available you need to see the listing on ETSY )Look at the last picture to see what thread options are available in the Personalization kit. This doll symbolically: (this is what I see but you may see something completely different and that is JUST as valid here)
Because I believe in personalization of these dolls, I am offering mine with personalization kits. This kit will contain an embroidery needle and 3 embroidery threads of your choice in color. This is so that, upon arrival, you can personalize these with markings of your own, by your own hand, and putting your own energy and intention into it. I could easily offer these as pre- personalized poppets but I feel that I would be missing the mark by doing that and you would be getting less than you deserve. Even if you have never sewn a thing, it’s about the intention, not the final product. It’s about putting some of yourself into your tool. To help you this kit will also include a quick and easy guide for a basic stitch you can choose to use in customizing your doll. When it comes to these dolls there are many different thoughts of use or beliefs on how and why they are used. You are more than capable of making those decisions for yourself but let me share some of my own ideas and thoughts. For myself, I have a single doll I use as a personal poppet. She is completely personalized to me. She is red showing me as a Leo and my fire element yet she is marked in many areas with green because of my Earth element, Taurus, ascendant. On her feet are skulls showing that I walk the path of my ancestors and my heart is white (showing purity) but covered with black moon and stars (showing that they live within my heart/ or I hold them close to the heart), as well as the yin/yang aspect of the black/white. You will find my sun sign symbols embroidered into it. She is not perfect in her making, nor as am I. She looks as though she is falling apart at the seams, in some areas, and like only threads may be holding her together in others. Down to the core, there are many times I feel that same way. I have drawn on my tattoos to mark her body the same way as my own. And I even have 2 pink C-section scars and 1 blue for each of my children. The point here, is just how personal you can make these and the more personal the better they are for symbolizing and representing yourself. Ultimately, these are used to focus our energy. For example: maybe, I am focusing on mending a broken heart. So I write out my intentions and I pin it to the heart of my doll to focus my energy to that space. In addition, I add to her pocket, gemstones that bring love and peaceful energy as well as the Love Herbal Blend. These dolls are, again, a tool to help us focus and direct energy and they are very valuable when used correctly. Now, I have another doll that I use for other people. This doll is more generic in its design but I can personalize its pocket with something personal of that person for things like healing. Hollywood has shown these dolls primarily for evil for many years, giving them a bad rap. The truth is that the magick they contain comes from the practitioner directing it. As always, please use caution with any sprays, salves or anything containing herbs, herbal extracts or essential oils. Some of these are not safe around pregnant women or animals so do your research before using. Cynnamon Charmed handcrafts unique items to enrich people’s lives on a spiritual level. Please note that these blends have been tried and tested highly successful within the work of multiple individuals over time. However, we cannot guarantee the outcome of any of our products because creating the blend is only half the work. As a practitioner you have to create the desired outcome for yourself, as well, through visualization, meditation, ritual and spell work. The law requires that I say that I sell these products only as Curios and I make no claims in regard to them. These items are for entertainment purposes only. When purchasing my products you are verifying you an adult who is 18 years or older and are, therefore, responsible for yourself, your actions and any results from your actions. Cynnamon Charmed will not be held responsible for injury, reactions, misuse or mishandling of any product we sell. Our products are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Always use essential oils under supervision of your doctor. The content/photos in our shop are copyright to Cynnamon Charmed. They are not to be used without my prior written permission. All rights reserved. Due to the unique nature of the products we sell, all sales are final. CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR SHOP!!!! I don't supply many things in my shop that are not made by myself. However, there are a few things I want to offer that I feel are staples of our workings and I wouldn't want you to have to search out elsewhere in order to work with the products that I do offer handmade.
Here at Cynnamon Charmed, I felt it was important to have a flat rate shipping. The way that works, is that no matter how much, or what it is that you order, your shipping costs are a flat $5. For those bargain shoppers out there, like myself, the best way to take advantage of that is to do all your shopping at one time and at that one place. Since I understand this, I wanted to make sure that when people come to my shop and place an order, many of the accessories to the things they would order from me is also available. This way, it's a one stop shop and they don't have to pay shipping charges elsewhere for small items. With that all being said, we now offer a limited supply of accessories such as bottles, candles, charcoal disks and charms. Come check out these new postings at the Cynnamon Charmed Shop. |
Keri Nichol
Founder, Artist, Herbalist, and Writer Archives
August 2018
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