December Picks with a local flavour

I wanted to feature a few of my favourite finds that had a local flavour to start the December blog off.  Many of these are sourced from the midlands UK, particularly Nottingham.
They are not all strictly Fantasy based but I have picked them for their enchanting qualities, stunning colour or for their suitability as Gifts.
In this international world of consumerism it's important to fly the flag for Britain once in a while.  We have  many exceptional artists, designer makers in this country and sometimes it's easy to get lost amongst so many great artisans and websites worldwide.

Earthangelarts

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51669447/mystical-white-hare-art-print?ref=em

AnnaCliftonJewellery

          http://www.etsy.com/listing/51191032/crystal-set-mendhi-pendant-style-2

EloiseRenouf

       http://www.etsy.com/listing/62562717/texture-leaf-stems-dark-limited-edition

Cathward

                                http://www.etsy.com/listing/47961910/hare-print-7-x-5-inch

AlixH2010

             http://www.etsy.com/listing/59800932/labradorite-silver-and-crystal-necklace

Katebroughton

                    http://www.etsy.com/listing/62388082/six-birds-of-christmas-card-set

Missbelluk

               http://www.etsy.com/listing/60014279/baggy-knitted-hat-by-missbell-in-grey-uk

Magicflyingboot    

http://www.etsy.com/listing/6659556/folded-paper-dragon-10x7-print-in-white

DayzeeLove

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49095878/green-and-purple-skeleton-leaf-glass

Hope you liked my selection showcasing some local talent - be sure to keep an eye out for more inspiration over the next few weeks :)

The Christmas sale and whats to come

We are now well into the pre Christmas sale period and I'm doing my bit with a handful of special offers.  Its Black Friday- Cyber Monday weekend at Etsy where most shops will be offering reduced items or free shipping in some cases.  Its worth taking a look as everything is either handmade or vintage so you won't find any of these gift ideas in the shops...and you can stay in where it's cosy and warm.
It's been snowing here so it's perfect window shopping time and hopefully finding a few bargains time too.

For the Etsy sale in my shop and to get 15% off everything until late Monday use coupon code spiraletsy15

After my sale I will be showcasing some of my favourite finds in both shop sites and to get you into the Christmas mood, some of my favourite fragrances, recipes and anything else that catches my eye.

Oh keep your eyes peeled for more offers in the run up to Christmas - and I will be doing a fair on the 11th of December in Allestree Derby for any of you who are local.  Its for World Cancer Research and Father Christmas will be paying a visit too.  Take a look at my facebook page for more details.

****Special Offer !****

A Free Lip Balm of your choice from either my Folksy shop or Etsy when you spend £20 or $31 in Etsy or over. To take advantage of this offer just quote the code BL1120 in an email after you have purchased.
Why not buy some Christmas pressies then keep the lip balm for yourself :)

Coming soon ...the start of my Alchemy blog series and Christmas gift ideas blog xhttp://www.folksy.com/items/1041069-Garden-Nymph-Bath-Bomb-Gift-Set-with-peppermint-and-lavender?shop=yes    oh the offers ends on Dec 10th

Alchemy- the pursuit of wisdom - My Etsy Treasury for November

'Alchemy - the pursuit of wisdom' by spiralmoonfantasy

The Hyle Triangle Desig... TigerHouseArt $14.00	Alchemy Necklace CMandMJewelry $29.99	ALCHEMY Artisan Perfume... BlackBaccara $18.00
Tiamat - Winged serpent... CorvidDelights $18.00	Banish and Cast Out . R... whitemagic $6.95	Personification of Alch... indigolights $20.00
Sacred Geometry Keychai... merrypranxter $6.00	Brahms Alchemy Book of ... Brahmsbookwork... $349.00	Alchemy, Gold Acrylic a... thepinkmartini $15.00
Alchemy Apothecary work... DreamingPhoeni... $100.00	Organic Alchemy Chakra ... OrganicBrew $6.00	G alchemy alphabet char... zouavejewelry $35.00
The Alchemist Gothic Al... MykaJelina $9.99	Hummingbird Necklace - ... ChristineDoman... $26.00	Alchemy - Leather Journ... Kreativlink $48.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Samhain and Autumn - Hearth and Home

The Hedgewitch Diaries




As autumn is now upon us I decided to reflect on some of the things that makes this time of year so special. As I walked around the shops and absorbed the array of Halloween images from pumpkins to costumes I started to think about the true origins of Samhain (pronounced Sow -in) and wondered weather we had lost something, a part of ourselves, in the evolution and translation of this remarkable and somewhat misunderstood Sabbat.

The first thing to note is that Halloween marks the end of the year, so is the Celtic equivalent of the western new year ( May 1st in the southern hemisphere). It dates back thousands of years pre-dating Christianity to a time when nature was at the forefront of daily life. A time and place where people had the utmost respect for and understanding of their natural surroundings on both a physical and esoteric level.

It is believed that Samhain marks the time of year when the the veil between our world and the other world is at it's thinnest, when the ancient peoples of Europe celebrated their ancestors. Particular attention was shown to those dead who had passed on that previous year...and so began a tradition that has endured ...a deep connection with the other world. But as with most traditions and myth it has mutated and become rife with misunderstanding, fear and trouble making. It's sad to see how Halloween is used today as an excuse to scare people particularly when the Celts used it as a time of reflection and of planning for the year ahead. It was a time to clear out the old and the ancients would turn to their ancestors for guidance and inspiration for the future.

It is no surprise however that many people today still use this connections with the other world and seek advice from beyond the grave whether it be to find out who they will marry or to gain some personal insight from a tarot reading.

But Autumn or Fall is so much more than this...

Home And Hearth :- It is a time of great abundance not only through experience of the past year but from the wealth of food that had been gathered during the harvest...and our ancestors certainly knew how to celebrate with not only one but two Sabbats, Lammas in August and Mabon in September when day and night are equal.

They prepared for winter in very much the same way as we do for Christmas stocking up on the grains and fruit that would have sustained them through the cold winter months...

but why wait until Christmas to celebrate with food...

I often use this time of year to not only prepare the garden for next year but to catch up with friends and family. It's a great time for celebrating food - to cook up a feast and invite people into your home, try new recipes or make preserves.

With such an array of colour and food it's sometimes hard to imagine how we allow ourselves to dwell on the oncoming winter and deepening gloom. I find that it's therapeutic to fill my house with food, candles and laughter, start a new course or take long walks on crisp autumn days... so don't wait for Christmas, eat and be merry and have a very happy Halloween. )0(



Sources for Blog :-

Witch - A Magical Journey - Fiona Horne

Everything Witchcraft - Marian Singer

The World Atlas Of Divination - John Matthews

The Living Wisdom Of Trees - Fred Hageneder

The Encyclopedia Of Magic And Witchcraft - Greenwood

Celtic Wisdom - Andy Baggot

Natural Magic - Pamela J Ball

new look website

Be sure to check out my new look to the website at www.amandanield.co.uk- another way to purchase art and using the convienience of paypal.

Welcome to the new look blog

The face of the Spiral Moon blog is changing to introduce more gadgets and pics. In october I am introducing a more "magazine look" to the blog which will mean lots of info about myth, lore and the things that inspire me to create...including the hedgewitch diaries, fantasy art or writing, local myth and general new age topics and oddities. Watch out for the updates in the run up to Halloween...)0(