Giving Tuesday and Everyday

As some of you may have noticed, the last weekend in November - aka post Thanksgiving - is a MAJOR shopping weekend for the holidays.  It's major not only for small business' like mine and makers but also for people like you that love to shop!

With all that said, our culture has become a bit, obsessed if you will, with buying and purchasing.  And just as much as I LOVE shopping.  I also love GIVING. 

So this year I wanted to give BIG back to a cause that has truly gained much traction and focus, not from our crappy media but from people all over the world that have sided with the Native Americans the are speaking for mother earth.   Stopping the Dakota Access Pipeline is huge, not sure for the residents of North Dakota and the surrounding region but for many average Americans that live in the four states that it would cross.

Thus, I decided that 25% (which is a big chunk of money) from my sales would go to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  Honestly I've never donated such a large amount and it felt amazing - that YOU helped in that cause and that deep down I feel that they will stop the evil and greedy companies that want to desecrate the land.  

Today is known as Giving Tuesday, if you weren't able to shop with me these past several days, I hope that you will take a moment and donate what you can to your favorite charity.  IT really is a big day for nonprofit organizations that work so hard everyday to speak for the unspoken, to help those in need. 

Because this time of year is all about love and celebrating new life. 

All Souls Day and Samhain

Happy Samhain! It is still considered 'Halloween' by many Celts and Pagans.  As the day officially began when the sun sets.  There is a sense of intensity of life and the passage of death.  One of the aspects I most appreciate about the Celtic belief system is the way they honor death and believe it is part of the cycle we all must go through.  Death is one stage in our grand journey, and was more celebrated than mourned.  As it meant the soul was moving to a stage where they no longer worry about hunger, sickness or the other ills of life. 

Perhaps that is why death and the Otherworld hold such a fascination to me.  I'm a true believer in the afterlife, in karma and many other parallel worlds that exist while we are in this plane of existence.  I also feel it is why certain objects can possess the energy of the departed. When I studied cultural anthropology, the thread of commonality through several large civilizations in guiding their dead through through the afterlife with weapons and jewelry as well as clay earthenware is profound. 

I've often said that when I pass to the next world, I want to be put on a boat and set sail aflame as the Vikings once did.  Death is not easy for those who are left living but if we change our perception of what it means, perhaps we can let go off our loved ones more easily.

Meditative Guide to Find Your Spirit Animal

Bast OOAK necklace, skull from a cat found in the wild.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Finding your spirit animal and learning about their strengths and weaknesses can help guide you in your life.  It has in my own, the beaver is the builder of dreams and has helped me build my own career and business.  The owl has deep insight and immense hearing, the cat is curious and patiently awaits to pounce. 

Here is a simple meditative guide I've used to find my spirit animal:

1. Find a quiet place to be alone, you'll need about 10-15 minutes to yourself.  Turn off any distractions.

2. Sit in a comfortable position or lay down. 

3. Center your mind, or quiet your mind.  Let go of your days worries and cares.  If a thought enters your mind, honor it then let it go.

4. Now picture a clearing in the woods, with a large tree.  It is an old tree and at it's base there is a dark opening, near the tree trunks.  Continue to focus on the tree and the stillness of the forest. 

5. When your spirit animal is ready, it will come from out of the dark opening of the tree.  Many times your animal will surprise you, it can be unexpected.  And also it can be your spirit animal for what you are going through in this time of your life.  Honor that animal and research it's qualities - positive and negative. 

Once you've found your spirit animal, obtain talismans or create ones that embody your totem.  So that you can call upon them when you need guidance, strength or any of the other amazing qualities of that animal. 

One of my totem animals, the Crow which I ran into quite often in the Pacific NW. 

You'll notice that once you open yourself up to your third eye (your inner teacher and guide) you become more centered, aware and cautious in your decisions.  You begin to listen to the cues. 

I hope this blog post and guide helps you in your life.  It's amazing what the effects of meditation and quiet time can do for your energy and soul.

Stay lovely -
Lisette

My Favorite Fall Rituals

I'm quite certain that many people love the fall because it's our entrance to our favorite holidays and our love of deep rooted rituals. 

The air is cooler, the leaves change to magnificent colors (if you're on the east coast) and we have the closing to the official end of the year - Samhain, the pagan holiday and truly what is now Halloween. 

The cauldron of brunswick stew.  My husbands families tradition of marking the fall season.

With that said I wanted to share with you some of my favorite Fall rituals.  Some are cliche and others are what I personally do to mark this season:

1.  Watch all of these movies, possibly several times: Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, Beetlejuice, Coraline, Pan's Labyrinth, Legend, Nightmare before Christmas, Willow, Witches, Clue, The Lost Boys, Interview with a Vampire and of course the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Can you tell I love fantasy movies?

2.  Decorate my entire house inside and out with not only Halloween themed decorations but Autumn colored items and fabrics.  I add additional candles to the living room, bedroom, kitchen...um everywhere!

3.  Make squash soup, spaghetti squash 'pasta', pumpkin cookies, pumpkin everything! It's the season of hearty meals. 

A housewarming gift to consecrate our new home, some of which I will use to mark Lammas/Lughnasadh.

4.  Perform a sabbath ritual, provide offerings and prayers to my gods as well as my ancestors.  Many religions perform seasonal rituals and it has been this way for ages; especially for people that live in agricultural communities.  From burning of the crops to provide fertilization of the next season to offering gifts to ancestors at churches. 

5.  And finally, holding a bonfire and roasting s'mores.  when my husband and I finally purchased a fire pit I was SO excited to sit outside by the fire and warm my hands and drink a beer or mulled wine. 

I hope you celebrate the season in your own way and enjoy the changes and joy of how our earth regenerates; could you imagine if it didn't?

For every season, turn, turn, turn...

Even though it isn't officially Autumn, it seems that just the fact that it's September feels like a shift in color, clothing and feelings.

Many changes are happening and it seems like it really hit just within the past several weeks.  My studio is now in my home, my schedule has changed AND my beloved intern is moving onto a new city and opportunity.  I'm quite sad, yet very happy for Ashton.  She has only been with me for a year but I've come to love having her in the studio helping me.  Honestly it wasn't just that she was helping me crank out work but that we felt like a team, that there was someone else there to share ideas and thoughts with. 

As you may gather, being a jeweler and a small business owner, it can get a bit lonely at times, and me being the social butterfly that I am - I love to flutter my wings and commiserate with others. 

Thus, this month I'll cherish every minute having her in the studio with me and give her a special send off.  Ashton will be moving to the grand city of Chicago to begin working with another talented jeweler.  I'll keep you posted and share with you of my studio happenings - SO STAY TUNED AND STAY LOVELY!

xoxo
Lisette

Moving Along

Gosh it's been a hot minute since I've blogged hasn't it? I can explain....I'm in the throes of moving my home and studio!

It's exciting but as you can imagine, a bit stressful and overwhelming.  Yet I could not be happier about this move.  My husband and I are purchasing our first home! And what's even better is my studio will be there as well. 

With that said, I am sad that I've moved out of Art Avenue in Uptown Greenville.  There have been so many amazing moments and memories in that studio.  I had my first exhibition there, my first fashion show...so many firsts!  But it's time to move on.  I've always been resistant to moving, as I did so much while growing up as an Army brat. Thus in my later years I like to stay put for longer periods of time. 

Next week on Monday, we will sign the papers and MOVE! Ahh, I'm dreading it but looking forward to it, if that makes sense.  Finally, no pesky neighbors, our own back yard, our own home! I do feel this is the final stage in adulting.  haha. 

So stay tuned, I'll be posting photos on social media of the new studio and digs. 

Stay lovely friends!
xoxo
Lisette