'Rooted' n working to depathologise....HALTSS a bit of a chow down....

I have been told by numerous people in life, 'you're rooted'. Some justified this by using fancy medical language (which has a place, as we all do). As I travel along the path of mending and de-pathologising some of the aspects of my emotions and spirit that have led to this, creativity is a lifeline. It, and earth n water in various forms, have been a path to an identity beyond and into gentler namings. The above piece has held me through some crazy making spaces, keep a stichin' girl...

If you've been told the same, don't believe it's a bad thing. We can open our beautifull hearts, even if it hurts at times, lean into feeling and vulnerability. Its no easy road, but where authenticity touches, so does injoyment and belly laughs shared. We lapse, we make mistakes, but aaahhh the sweet honeycomb taste of small victories. Yesterday a garden bed of a mix of seeds sprinkled, which have been slowly exposed to sunlight and wind, had their first day unprotected with the elements, and did fine. We are alike those seeds...

On a more structural no BS level I recently came across as acronym that I'm finding usefull in my journeying when I feel off, it's HALTSS, and is a series of grounded question /s posed. Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Stressed, Sick? How can we nourish these spaces specifically? It's pretty clear, thus memorable, but here we go with a couple of examples.... 

My sleep has been disturbed since reducing anti-psychotic medications over a year ago (Note that tapering psychiatric (or any other) pharma medications, like tai chi, is best done super slow) and I hadn't realized the impacts this was having. Until I received 3 nights of decent rest, and worked with regaining more of a rhythm by very short pharma in combo with herb teas potently brewed. Work in progress, but being tired can make the world turn to shit, basically. Technical term, but if you've experienced sleep deprivation you'll get it. It's basically been used as a form of torture during war times, literally. It can be creatively worked with short term, for sure, artists and mothers have been doing it for eons, but longer term eek. Rest, deep and peacefull....just reading it makes me feel calmer eh? 

I'm all for nana naps...

Anger. Generally I'm a pretty gentle spirit, mayhaps because of that, one of the most challenging emotions for me is this firey feeling. It can do damage, yet is crucial to express safely and release when it comes. Issues in the tissues as the saying goes, what we can't allow to flow out can manifest as dis-ease. Its when it's directed at someone that it becomes a weapon, that usually requires a cooling off period. Currently music is my tool (and kitchen boogies) that pops up in nearly every area of HALTSS as a strategy. Bluetooth headphones are my friends in the now, not everyone nearby wants my DJing. Journalling, getting to say all those things we hold back on and censor, safely can clear em without soul wounding. Another work in progress. Retreat, walk away, put those headphones on, move, pick up a pen girl....

That's probably enough rambling examples from me, gives you an idea or two and possibly more info than you hoped for, but this is how we learn. From each other, folk to folk.....

Thanks for reading....

May loneliness not be your friend, but we all have our moments...working on all-one-ness...

Blessings and good vibes...

 

 

You're 'Rooted' the reframe in Witchin Stitchin.....

As the moon builds, the stitches and patches are growing... 

It began as an experiment with using an embroidery hoop, after free styling, with a touch o puckering going down. It would appear there's a reason these simple gadgets have been used for some 100's o years by embroiderers n stitch makers, crafting became easier to a degree, dare I say, flatter too. Which in turn means you can work other pieces alongside and onto....

The word that came, within this re-frame was 'Rooted'. It's kinda slang for well, pretty fucked, and indeed is used this way. That said it's also a term for connection to the Great Mother of us all, beneath our feet, that grounds and centers us into incarnation. Betwixt sky and earth we walk, sing, dance, play, work, indeed grow n such.... 

My base fabric was a Plant Echo using leaves from the Farm, land stewarded by Dianamum with and by George, her fella. The reference wasn't lost on me, we are all from the wombyn who come before us in lineage, literally. As I put down the fabric piece, bigger than the hoop by far, I began to lay out other bits n bobs upon, pinning, shuffling, tacking and sewing through. All upon a fab n sturdy table top gifted by the lovely Annie, trestle legs from Miles. Beloved life partner of 7 years, shifting into friendship, he has entered this piece inevitably as a massive part of story journey in the now. Patches cut from his cooking apron to get the length right n practical, and a rust painting experiment where he channeled a Zen calligrapher. Sister patches to those sent and gifted to dear friends. Windfall foundling leaves prints and local colours from the Yaegl country where Mushcat and me now reside....

We are becoming Rooted here. Dropping in with love to our new home as we explore land and community. Integrating how we have ended up where we find ourselves, literally and metaphorically. Now feeling it was meant to be thus, bigger picture thing....

Blessings n good vibes, chloeopal

Gifting ourselves soul nourishments.....

Sometimes we hold off on gifting ourselves soul nourishments, perhaps whilst what is needed clarifies, like sediment dropping in water....

Today in these wee hours, I went to a box that contains my craftings of a textile nature, and decisively lifted out the shawl that I hand dyed and stitched some months ago now. Reverantly, feeling a bit like a naughty child too, I wrapped around me the piece that I had earmarked for well, something 'special'. It came to me like a whisper, the idea. It's for you...to wear...to wrap around this bodyhome....

Now seated here, cat Nomad upon my lap, purring merrily, it feels good, and right. We both are injoying its Eucalyptyness in a way a bought item could rarely story. That confirmed it for me, this feeling is a touch of magic. Like the first unfurled bundle that offered up colours that stay to eyes open and curious. That skirt the prints of leaves echoed upon that I wore to threadbareness...

For the next 3 weeks n on, I will lovingly wear this cloak as a journey map. Soul highvis wear. Less oh & s or fluro, more maintaining sanity vibe. It's my mantra to continue the crafts that created it, whether I get saves on my Pinterest or not. If my Etsy store has 1 piece or pages. It's really not relevant, except if'n it brings passers by such as yourself an iota o da joy I receive. It's a life call. To dye n stitch, garden, cook, herbalise, love n laugh. Practice what I consider my witchery in honour of it's existance. Cos without it I'd be pickled in a bottle full time, or blue as indigo in not such a beautyway.

The world of fast fashion is all about appearances, shallow and destructive to the planet in it's practices. It bores me, basically with it's lack of connection to anything I consider 'real'. How can I criticise tho, without creating some other tangent and maintain any sense of authenticity? So, as I continue along an ambling paced path, I will dig my heels in deeper. Immerse more....dive deeper....

 

May you also be open to whatever nourishes your soul in the now, wee hours or otherwise ;).

Blessings n good vibes

Thread doodles experimenting n' you just never know what'll come out o' the cauldron.....

Around about 4pm, I can find myself twitchy for something to occupy the beverage part of my brain. Don't own a tv, no Netfix. So, in the spirit o crafting, I have begun some 'thread doodles'. Playfully using simple stitches, they're a way for the hands to dance stuff away. Whilst in the same breath, practicality wise, exploring how to reinforce buttonholes sturdily....

 I do love a story, tis true. It's part of what I enjoy about plant echoes, foundling preloved fabrics, remembering leaves n nuts origins, in place n time. The combination of stitching with ecodye, acknowledges n creates a layering. Said example being the case of thread doodles. Some o the leave used to colour these, were from a tree I helped plant. Now in spirit, due to latter day renovations by latter day dwellers. The leaves didn't actually print super clear n neato mosquito, but their vibe is present. A resonance from that tree who is no more....

Also, I unfurled them hot, after 2 hours cooking, not awaiting overnight cooling, because I had a visit from a mate from high school and I wanted to share it with Soph. She lives in a land, relatively, far far away and rarely gets to see what I've literally been immersed in. Now when I look at them I will think to, and of her...

 

Several stories emerged from the cauldron this brewing. Another piece popped in was a baby blanket, once the comforter n warmer of my cousin, Clea. Sewn together by her mum Marian for her, from a piece of woolen blanket, edged with Liberty fabric and colourfull Indian cotton. Evocative in my lineage, both. 

Now I'll be honest, I'm not a scientific or mathematical type, like my bro. My dyeing is slightly feral round the edges at times. Accuracy n finite measurements, nope not really. Splash o iron potion, soak leaves till ready to go ahead. I do jot some things in my diary, when I remember, mordant begun dates, leaves harvested this date, began soaking here. An example is today's leaves were from a variety of windfalls, some familiar trees, others not. Some printed, others didn't. Variables. It's just my way....

Back to the blanket. I didn't mordant the cotton edges n backing, thought I'd just see what happened. I used some of that ex-Lemon scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) and wasn't sure what the result would be. Great shapes, blacks, greys n browns. The cotton got leaf prints, mayhap from the sheer previous use n age of the piece? 

There were wrinkles n wrunkles, know the feeling!

Clarissa Pinkola Estes has on her study wall, words along the lines of "Perfection is the enemy of done". Sometimes you just have to begin n see what happens! Take the above photo, it's not perfection, questionable it's Instagram worthy, yet it illustrates the story. As she speaks of herself as a writer, I could also be that skeleton at the typewriter, gone before the work is begun. Mayhap waiting for the aha moment of the perfect blog post! That's not to say I don't devote myself to developing skill n mastery in that which I choose to engage with, I do, and have. I simply believe there's a place for process based intentional living. 'She'll be right' n 'give it a go'....

As the Moon wanes, the cauldron brew I used today was over a month old. Possibly preserved by it's vinegar content, yet black as the night. So, I ended up with a pretty witchy crew of pieces! Not the clear reds and oranges on cream backgrounds of some previous batches, but beautiful all, in their own ways. 

 

Go the diversity! It's gonna happen anyways (I hope) may as well go with and injoy it. In creating and culture, conformity has never been a favorite. Best sign off for now, before I get on said soap box....

 

Creativity, Soul work, Self care and Nourishment are my Allies n' Mend...

Plant echoes n witchin stitchin are a solid part of my practice....

After making n sharing a series o handy sized medicine type pouches, a wise woman suggested a talisman bearing one to go round the neck. So small it twas, an excellent way to use up off cuts, and the Eucalyptus leaf n nut details oh my!! It's barely left my body. The contents working their vibes day n night in the now...

As I plaited together the strands that form the necklace, I whispered words of invocation over the threads. Calling in nourishment, abundance, nurturing, connection to Gawdess within, the Elements to be present, in gratitude... 

Oracle cards are another part of my daily practice. Bit of a deck gatherer! You know when you get whacked with a card that just makes your solar plexis go ouch! Well, I do, often it's like ummm, ok, I'll pull another n reframe. Sometimes things get better, others, worse....

I was playing n pondering one night, with some statements n questions, around what I hear that others don't. Feeling that in times of distress, or being triggered, a gentle touch is called for. Hence they became kinda affirmation like....

Crafting with a friend they became simple, clear, visual reminders. I began with a circular shape (noice to hold), added words n then the odd light hearted graphic. Basically, having fun with them whilst touching on serious themes, some of which that have arisen in my developing meditations ( day 25 ) and the life that contains them...

For example, I had an aha moment in meditation, where I could see quite clearly that what I hear is actually outside of my energy body / aura. So? I hear you reply. For me, this created a sense of space between. Much like you might experience with a challenging person in ordinary reality. You can then, hopefully, choose when, if and how to engage. This affirmed the card, 'I allow in only that which nourishes, respects and honours my Soul'...

Another aha moment came after 3 days of no choice but to r n r, largely involving bed. This affirmed the card, 'Doona therapy and naps are just fine'. Indeedy!

As the moon waxes to full, a shawl n daily practices growing......

As I ambled along the road under the full moonlight from my beloveds Van, back to the Nook, there was a glow of feeling like the day was ending well. He had played 'Moon River' on guitar skillfully, after a months acts of practice n devotion, I gave harmonica a decent go. A combo of these approaches, worked alright eh. Conscious, focused intention, blended with jumping on in and doing....

The leap of faith, or trust, aka giving it a shot....

The witchin' stitchin' piece I'm working on, a patchwork shawl or cloak, now whispered n sung with and to, began here. As a number of blank squares. Plant echoes layered upon their soft canvas. She is slowly taking form, and I hope whomever ends up enfolding them selves, feels some vibe of this. To ease their travails n travels both...

 

In parallel, growing commitments to daily practices again, based on building grounding roots into Earth and Sky, the core of inner light. Only then, moving into acts of clearing and protection. Simple, yet potent reframe offered  up by Alicia Fronczek, of Sova Lumina......

For me at this time, the experiment includes working at being the witness or neutral observer of that which I spirit hear. Which seems rather pissed about it all. Backlash. Two steps into deepening peace, embodiment, in-joyment, then hit back reactivity, to change and evolution, which can leave me in devastation's landscape. It's a ride, but one I feel to choose to continue, like those hand stitched seams joining squares together.......

A rocking  wise witchy podcast to nourish whilst stitching: 'Ask a Hag'