Today is Jolabokaflod, a celebration that originated in Iceland but has spread to become a global sensation! In the World War II era, when many things were rationed and scarce, there was still access to paper in Iceland. Thus, for holiday gift giving, Icelanders turned to books. It is now a cultural tradition to gift books to loved ones on Christmas Eve and spend a cozy evening at home, reading with hot drinks, chocolate, and perhaps a fire. Now that the rest of the globe has caught wind of ...
The winter is a time of rest and sleep. Animals all over the world hibernate at this time. The cold winter nights creep quickly toward the day, and frozen nights keep all huddled tightly in their beds. And yet at this time of year was one of the greatest ancient festivals: Saturnalia, which lasted from December 17 to the 23rd. Saturnalia was a celebration of the god Saturn, and with it came parties, gifts, and carnivals. In modern times, this has become our holiday season, with Christmas and ...
By this time of year, the berries on holly—a traditional symbol of winter celebrations—will have turned red. Having been raised in Millville, New Jersey, (one of) the holly capital(s) of the US, I chose holly as one of the two plants on my personal totem. Two majestic holly trees flanked the entrance to the driveway of the home in which I grew up. Holly has a rather slow growth rate; those two trees had been there for approximately fifty years. In Celtic mythology, holly is revered ...
We all deserve self-love. Generate true self-appreciation with this magical potion. You will need: 7 drops rose essential oil 7 drops geranium essential oil 7 drops amber oil 1 cup rose water 7 small rose quartz stones An 8-ounce spray bottle Combine all of the ingredients into the spray bottle and decorate it with your name and the symbol for Venus. Activate the potion by shaking the bottle and seeking to love yourself. Spray the air, and anoint the mirrors and windows of your home ...