Instagram

While watching a couple YouTube videos last night I decided to create an Instagram account for the blog. I will likely be creating a YouTube channel as well in the future specifically to document my Grimoire progress. However, if you wish to follow the blog on Instagram, you can find me at www.instagram.com/flyingthehedge

Hope to see you guys there!

Atlanta Pagan Pride 2016

Over the weekend my husband and I attended our very first Atlanta Pagan Pride Festival! Years ago we went to a North Georgia Solitaries festival and it ended with my husband having a foul taste in his mouth. We were told the class we were going to was on ghosts but some how or another ended up in a sex magic class. Yeah...not something my very prude husband needed to be a part of. He was extremely uncomfortable and it turned him off from going to other festivals for quite sometime. Honestly, it made him react poorly to witchcraft and paganism in general. However, I believe as time has passed he has become open once again, at least to understanding what I am doing and why.

Anyway, Saturday was an absolute blast! We got there early in the morning so it was still nice and cool. We shopped around at some of the 42+ vendors attending the event. I ended up buying a sea glass necklace first thing. I'm not even into wearing much jewelry, but this piece spoke to me; well, more like yelled...from across the parking lot...with a megaphone. I couldn't NOT buy it.

Pretty beautiful right? I've enjoyed wearing it thus far and the feeling of calm it gives me.

We walked around some more, saw some people I went to college with who were selling their artwork, pulled some batteries out of a dying smoke detector (well my husband did), drank some hot chocolate, and bought a really great grapefruit bath bomb. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of said bath bomb before I used it. I'll explain why this got used the night I bought it in just a few minutes.

After shopping for a bit we attended a Druid Magic class. It was supposed to be on talismans, potions, and herb usage, but due to the teacher's recent move, most of his belongings were still in boxes. Instead, he taught us a visualization technique that combines the three elements of the druids, sky, land, and sea, to bring forth change within your self. Each of these elements corresponds with a different aspect (emotion, physical, and mind), color (white/light blue, green, and dark blue), and shape (square, circle, and triangle). Now none of these are in order. I honestly can't remember which go together other than ocean is emotion and is dark blue while land is physical and green. Anyway. you envision beams of light transecting through your body before having them rotate to form circles then spheres of protective energy. Depending on your goals you either bring them within yourself or use them as a protective "skin." It was quite interesting. I love that the method could be adapted to work as a protective shield, something extremely valuable while hedge riding.

Finally we participated in the auction, which not only raised money for the event, but also the community. I ended up purchasing a purple besom to hang in my bathroom for $10. Excellent deal considering it is hand made. Unfortunately the druid class ran over so I miss the beginning of the auction and some pretty cool items. I'm happy nonetheless with my wonderful besom.

I am so glad I was able to attend this year and so look forward to attending next year. They said this was the largest turn out yet, and I hope next year is even better!

So, why did I use the bath bomb Saturday night? Well, my husband and I went out with my best friend and her new husband (they got married last week in secret), to dinner and then go karting. Well, in the first 2 minutes of go karting my husband decided he didn't like losing to me so he attempted to push me out of his way and in the process spun me out into the other cars. I was hit by a couple other drivers and flung around like a rag doll within the kart. I ended up with a mild concussion, bruising on my back, leg, and knee, whip lash, and some cuts. I had to be pulled from the kart and could barely walk for 2 days. It was terrible. Sometimes he sucks the fun out of everything. Needless to say I am banged up and sore, but doing fine. No broken bones and the concussion has gotten significantly better. No need to worry.

So yes, that was my wonderful and dramatic weekend! How was yours?

Box of Shadows Review: October

So last month I was looking through Cratejoy, a site that basically complies all the monthly crates you can order in one spot, when I found an entire section for witches and pagans. Needless to say I was overjoyed. I have been trying to order a Sabbat Box for years now to no avail. I have yet to make it off the waiting list so finding there are other options available was great news. In comes the Box of Shadows.

This particular box has three levels: The Initiate, The Priestess, and The Supreme. Kind of reminds me of AHS: Coven. Each varies in price and offers a differing array of items. The Initiate, the box I ended up ordering, comes with an incense and herb or gemstone of the month, a smudge stick, a bundle of 5 undressed candles, and up to three surprise worship items. The Priestess and Supreme offer the same basics, but you get more surprise worship items (up to 4 or 5), and both the herb and gemstone of the month.

I ordered my box last month and had somewhat forgotten about it until it arrived yesterday. I'm not going to lie, I had a truly terrible day yesterday so seeing this little beauty show up was a blessing. It immediately changed my mood and actually got my husband and I talking about my spirituality. We are going to Atlanta Pagan Pride this Saturday and I am hesitant because my husband tends to unconsciously look down upon my spirituality. The box sparked a pretty good conversation where he, for the first time, seemed pretty open to what I had to tell him. Anyway, this is a conversation for another time.

On to the box!

My lovely box on my table. I have to say, taking a picture before opening it was hard. I just wanted to dive right in.

Upon first opening it the smell of cinnamon, cloves, and mugwort flooded the room. I knew instantly this was a box I was going to enjoy.

The box included cinnamon incense, a Samhain candle, mugwort, a bundle of sage, 5 beautiful candles, a ritual bath mix that smells AMAZING, and a selenite wand. I think I am most excited about the Samhain candle and the ritual bath mix.

I am VERY satisfied with my first box and look forward to seeing what comes in November!

Even the cats were excited over this box. I had to immediately hide the mugwort because Thanatos was trying to rip open the bag. For those of you who don't know, mugwort is similar to catnip. Keep it away from them.

5 Things To Do This Mabon

Recipe: Old Fashion Fig Preserves

For those of you who don't know, we have a fig tree in our backyard. Figs are probably one of my favorite fruits. They are only available at the end of the summer for a few short weeks, and this year our tree has been producing nonstop. In fact, it has been producing some of the largest figs I have ever seen. Last year the tree produced just a few small figs, so I was expecting much the same this year. However, due to the amount of rain we have received, the tree was able to produce more than I have been able to eat. Normally I don't share my figs, but this year I was giving them away I had so many. I've also let several dozen go to the bees. I just can't eat them all. And that is when it dawned on me; why not make fig preserves?! And that is exactly what I did.

Over the weekend I went to the store, bought some sugar and canning jars, and set to work. This recipe takes roughly 3 hours to cook and another hour to can it all, but it is well worth it.

Ingredients:
     4 cups whole or halved figs
     2 cups of sugar
     1 cup of water
     4 lemon slices, seeds removed
     4 half-pint jars

Directions:

1. Gently rinse figs and drain. Remove the stems. You may leave the figs whole or cut them in half as I did.
2. In a large, heavy pot, add the water, sugar, and figs. Bring to a boil then reduce temperature to low. Allow to cook for about 3 hours or until very thick. Stir occasionally. DO NOT leave the pot unattended.
3. Ladle hot preserves into hot, sterile jars. Place a lemon slice on top of preserves then seal.
4. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. If not processing in the water bath preserves will last up to 1 month in the fridge.

Unfortunately, I didn't think ahead to take pictures of the cooking process for the blog, but I do have beautiful after photos. Looks tasty, doesn't it?

Fig preserves are great on toast, crackers, scones, cookies (as in thumbprint cookies), or just paired with cheese and olives.

I hope you enjoy it!