thequietplaceproject

Pagan A-Z: C is for Colour

I find myself deeply affected by colour. Colour has the power to change my mood, my feelings, my energy levels, my appetite and many more of my physical, emotional and mental functions. I decided to explore this phenomenon this week and to experiment a bit to learn more about the power of colour.

Listography

Top 5 Phrases That Drive Me Crazy

Imbolc Blessings!

This year, February 4th is the Pagan festival of Imbolc. This is a cross-quarter day; halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The word "Imbolc" comes from an old Irish word "Oimelc" which means "ewes' milk" as this is the time of the first newborn spring lambs. We celebrate the awakening of spring, the first stirrings of Mother Earth and the growing power of the sun. This is a time of inspiration, purification and cleansing, and preparation for growth and renewal. Imbolc  I wish all my readers Imbolc blessings! 

Pagan A-Z: C is for Circle

Have you ever wondered why pagans always seem to stand in circles? Or why the ancient ones built stone circles? 

These circles are the pagans' sacred space. They are the pagans' church, temple or holy place. The place where they can worship, perform rituals and become closer to their deities.


In this post I will explain how to cast a circle for yourself, and give you a circle etiquette guide so you will know what to do if you attend a public pagan ritual, or if you are invited to a pagan ritual, such as a religious festival celebration, or a handfasting (pagan marriage ceremony). 

Rainbow Coloured Pencils Storage

Artist Julio Radesca designed this beautiful and ingenius 'interactive display case' for coloured pencils named 'Lambda' after the Greek letter used to denote wavelength.

Knitting and Knots

Check out these beautiful knitted knot pillows from Birkiland! The NotKnot pillows are knitted from Icelandic wool into long, filled cylinders which are then tied into four different knot designs and are available in a choice of ten colours for $128.57 each.

Turk's Head in gray

Tree Music

If Trees Could Sing...

Let There Be Light!

With the pagan festival of Imbolc almost upon us, I'm feeling warmed by the growing length of days and more than ready to embrace the extra light these afford us. Of course there's still often a need for artificial light in the evenings, and even sometimes during the days in this grey part of the world I call home. Here are my favourite discoveries of light from around the internet.

Enlightened Design

Nepa lamp by Giles Godwin Brown is a play on the traditional angle-poise desk lamp. It folds against or away from the wall for versatility.

Pagan A-Z: B is for (Saint) Brigid

Brigid - Christian Saint, Pagan Goddess

Coming up in around a week's time is the Pagan festival of Imbolc, and the Christian festival of Saint Brigid. After reading about both Saint Brigid and the pagan Goddess Brigid I had a real lightbulb moment. 

Pagan A-Z: B is for Beginners' Guide to Paganism

Since I am often asked basic questions about paganism, I thought it might be helpful to answer some of those that I am asked most often, in easy, layman's terms. 

Pagan A-Z: A is for Art Affirmations

Affirmations


An affirmation is a declared statement of truth. The idea behind affirmations is that you use the power of positive thinking to draw a positive outcome from the universe. For example, let's say you want to improve your self-image. You make a statement as if what you WISH was true IS already true... so you might say 'I am beautiful.' This affirmation can then be used as a mantra (spoken out loud) or as a meditation (spoken in your head), repeated over and over, with the idea that if you are told something often enough, you believe it to be true... and if you believe something to be true, you can make it so. 


I've never really got on very well with this kind of practice. Firstly, I feel like an idiot chanting mantras out loud to myself, and secondly using affirmations in this way always makes me feel too much like I'm trying to convince myself that they're true, and I never seem able to get past that feeling. 


However, I've recently discovered a way to make affirmations using art that really works for me, and I'd like to share this method with you here. 

The Art Journal

What is an art journal?


Art journalling is all about fun, play, getting your creative funk on (yes you do have one, even if you don't know where it is yet) and art therapy. There are no rules. But here are some ideas to help get you started.

Pagan A-Z: A is for Air

The Pagan Blog Project

This blog post is my first in a series written as part of the Pagan Blog Project. Through this project I will dedicate a post every Friday on a pagan subject prompted by a letter of the alphabet. Not surprisingly, the first letter is 'A'.

Air

Physics, God and Me: Part 2

Following on from my earlier post Physics, God and Me: Part 1 where I explained how my search for 'god' led me to study physics, we have seen HUGE developments in our understanding of the universe and of sub-atomic physics over the last few years. However, we are still in the process of exploring the 4% of our universe that we are familiar with. The more we find out it would seem, the more we find out about stuff we know nothing about. Dark matter and dark energy still account for an estimated 96% of our universe and these are aptly named. We are still pretty much in the dark about them.

Paper Capers

Highlighting some of my favourite paper-related items from around the web this week.


Christmas tree bookself

from Home Trend and Design via All Things Paper

Physics, God and Me: Part 1

Yesterday, physicists and science enthusiasts worldwide tuned in to the live webcast at CERN awaiting news about the Higgs Boson, known by some as 'the God particle'. So what's it all about, who are these people and why are scientists looking for 'God'? 

How to boost your love life

The heart: symbol of love 

Old Pallets

This video shows how, with a little imagination, you can turn any old rubbish into a thing of beauty. Watch out though, it's VERY quick; you might have to hit that pause button more than once. Be inspired:

Make it easy on yourself

Special gifts for special needs

Grey hand warmers / fingerle... TheFeminineTou... $22.00

Waterproof QR Code Your Medi... privateidsus $45.00

Walker Wheechair Bag Tote Ge... ThreadedNeedle... $25.00

Tell Me About Yourself Award

Thanks to Kate at http://kateonthinice.wordpress.com/ for giving me this 'Tell Me About Yourself' Award. To be worthy of acceptance, I must now tell you seven secrets about me, so here goes:

The Heat Is On

Hotting up


Okifolki turned four weeks old yesterday and I'm really getting into the swing of running a business. I must admit, it's been far busier than I ever expected for the first month. Things are warming up nicely! Today I cranked up the wood burner for the first time this winter and it's cosy and toasty here at the Bowmans' abode now. With advent starting tomorrow, the season's festivities are just around the corner and the heat is on!! 

DIY: Monogram Wall Art

Homemade presents are a great idea at times like these when 99% of us are feeling the pinch. They needn't be scrappy or look cheap, although you can make something for practically nothing. Take a look at this wall art that I've made for my parents this year (Mummy and Daddy - if you're reading this, sorry to spoil the surprise!).

Listography

I have been introduced to the delights of Listography by Kate at Kate Takes 5. For anyone addicted to lists, like me  (I have even been known to write a list of lists.), Listography is a real internet gem. And so I am pleased to join in her Listography linky this week and respond with my own first Listography list: 

Remembrance Sunday

For The Fallen

Deer Moon Deer

Full Moon


As I write, it is Thursday 10th November, night of the full moon. Every moon of the year is given a name which varies around the world from culture to culture. This one is known as 'The Mourning Moon', 'The Snow Moon', 'The Fog Moon' and by some as 'The Deer Moon'. At this time of year the deer are fattened and about to start the rut, the breeding season. This makes it the ideal time to hunt for them. (See this article for more in-depth information on how the moon affects deer http://www.deer-library.com/artman/publish/article_32.shtml .)

I make. You smile.

Hello and welcome to OKIFOLKI's first blog post!

Who am I?


My name is Sally and I work full time at OKIFOLKI, my online shop, making and selling Handcrafted Happiness – gifts to refresh your spirit for everyone who wants to give or receive more happiness.