ahermitswanderings

[ahermitswanderings]

Saturdays.

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This year I am thankful.

2019 was a huge year for me. We added a third cat to the family who fits in so well. I got to quit a job that was taking advantage of me and learn that no one owes me anything and I owe no one anything. My fiance and I realized what was not working for us, and it was our environment. We were close to his family and they are beautiful, amazing people, but California did not provide a comfort that we needed. We always knew we wanted to leave, but we never knew where we would go. In August, we found ourselves 1,300 miles away in Texas. Every day we wake up grateful and happy to be here.

Since the move, a lot has changed. He got a job he loves, I got a job I dont love but it helped me learn to tough it out. But Ive been able to stretch my roots and find what Im supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing. I was so stressed back at home it was never an option to explore myself.

2019 has been the best year of my life. There were a few scary moments where I was like what the fuck am I doing, is this really where I should spend my resources? Ignoring the doubt helped me find my power.

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Broke open the geode I bought at the witchy shop in Dallas. Technically my fiance broke it open for me but I supervised him 😏

Theres something so special about witnessing something break into the world. These pieces had never seen the sun or felt air running through its inner caves.

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Fuzzy autumn witch

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Tea quote with my favourite tea sniffer.

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Revisiting my goth childhood bedroom. Not proud that my mattress was on the floor lol

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Don't forget to stop and smell the roses (ie., dont forget to stop and look for signs from the universe).

I believe the universe is always communicating with us and we are all capable of receiving its messages. And the best way to know what the universe is saying, is to learn correspondences and symbolism.

Luckily, the universe can be really straightforward too. :) The day that I found these two joined leaves, I was having a shit day. My fiance and I had been fighting, enough that I had been crying at work and just wanted to go home and be away from everyone (but hey, crying and wanting isolation is also me on a normal day). I had gone on my lunch break and sat in my truck asking for a sign that we would get through this tough time. I headed inside not long after. As soon as I got to the front door of the building, I saw something flutter to the ground. And it was these two beautiful joined leaves, that looked really healthy to be falling off a tree in windless conditions.

Sometimes a sign is so simple that you question it, but sometimes its so simple that its all you need.

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Taken at Carbon Canyon Regional Park, California.

I had no idea before visiting this park, that we could see coastal redwoods without having to travel up North (8+ hours drive away). This redwood grove was so magical... and hidden (just how I like it). It was a great trip because we had a -lot- of rainfall compared to prior seasons and the grassy hills were looking lush and full and so green... it was a very blessed little walk. But then we saw these trees and were surprised they were so tall compared to the others near it.

Once we made it inside the grove... the trees were so dense and it was silent for a moment and then the wind blew...and we heard the trees' branches knocking against each other like a windchime. It was like the trees were talking directly to us.

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Stacked rocks, also known as cairns.

I had no idea what this was when I came across it on a hike in San Bernadino forest but that didn't stop it from giving off a very eerily calm energy.

A cairn is a stack of rocks that can be used as a path marker, a memorial, or for pagan uses. Similar to knot magic, each rock stacked would correspond to a magical number. Each stone stacked gives special energy directed at your intention.

Some like to use a glue or sap to stick the stones together, but imho, its best to restack as needed, to recharge the spell and keep the magic flowing to your goal.

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Water, the giver of life.

These are pictures of a few gorgeous, purifying, healing bodies of water I visited while I lived in California. I (regrettably) never did any major spells while at these glorious spots, but I always took time to just listen to the duality of water. Power and peace within one element.

Next time you visit running water, appreciate it. Take note of the magical, ancient resource that is in front of you.

-Find a nearby rock or leaf and hold it in your hand. Let that rock represent something you want to rid your life of. Toss it into the water and watch it leave.

-Sit in silence and listen to the bubbling creek near you and envision it cleansing you of any negativity.

-Take a tiny bottle and fill it with some water for use in spells, similar to how you would use moon water. Just keep in mind running water and stagnant water would have different uses. And please dont drink it :)

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Waste not, want not. Do you know any uses for (partial) butterfly wings?

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My baby loving her hibiscus

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Finished product :)

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Despite living in our new state for over a month now, I havent really found the right set up for my altar and Im missing this old one of mine. This was my first altar that felt right, like it had its own energy. I could walk up to it and get in the right mindset...is it weird to miss altars?

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A few abandoned projects (various patterns found on Google)