Grimoire's Sneak Peek

Madame Z has chosen the September Stone of the Month. In recognition of September bringing the start of Autumn, she has selected Autumn Jasper as her spotlight stone. Be sure to catch her post next week!

We now have holiday bibs for sale in both shops. Look for 'My 1st Festivus', '1st Halloween', and '1st Grinchmas' bibs at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com.

 

Meanwhile at ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com you will find 'My 1st Christmas', '1st Yule', and '1st Hanukkah' bibs.

 

Staff Wedding

Congratulations to my former worker Aaron and his lovely lady, photographer Melissa, on their marriage this past week. They are both very special people to me and I couldn't be happier for them! The hubby and I were privileged to be included in the celebration. It was a fun Scottish affair complete with bagpipes and kilts. The flower girl, who is also their daughter and the inspiration for my inappropriate baby bibs, wore a custom made bib just for the occasion. (I want to take this opportunity to thank her parents for having a sense of humor and for being as twisted a I am.)

 After the wedding, Hubby and I headed north for a couple days of camping. It was nice to get away and to visit with family who live up there. While we were gone, a good friend checked in on the 'staff', but they did not seem to notice we were gone.

It's so nice to be loved.

Fun with Veggies

The Hubby and I decided to try something different this year and signed up for a CSA. In addition to our regular weekly pick up, members are given the opportunity to go out to the farm and pick extras for canning and freezing. Well, we grabbed a couple 5 gallon buckets and took a trip out to the farm earlier this week. Upon on our return home, no one was more excited to see our little harvest than Grimmie, who then spent the next hour playing with a bean he managed to snag out of one of the buckets.

At one point he even tried to coax Madame Z into playing with his new found toy, but she just didn't understand the appeal.

 

Since I have been up to my eyeballs in zucchini, peppers and green beans, there has not been a lot of creating new items for the shops going on. However, in between washing, chopping, bagging and freezing the veggies, I did manage to list a couple new holiday themed baby bibs. These are not exactly traditional holiday bibs so they are listed in the Raven Heart Designs ETSY shop with the inappropriate bibs (although they really are not inappropriate).

 

 

Hopefully the Christmas and Hanukkah bibs for the Raven's Mystic Moon shop are finished before it's time to can tomatoes!

 

Madame Z's Corner: Moonstone

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Stones that include metals should not be placed in water because of the risk of rust. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

This month's featured stone is Moonstone. Moonstone, also known as hecatolite, is associated with the Goddess Hecate and is considered a woman's stone. It is believed to promote hormonal balance and fertility, to relieve menstrual pain and PMS symptoms, to ensure easy pregnancy and delivery, and to be helpful for menopausal women. It is thought to promote feminine characteristics in women and to allow men the freedom to express their feminine side. Moonstone is believed to encourage a 'zest for life' feeling and youthful attitude, even into old age. It is also thought to bring inner harmony, to stimulate love, and to diminish anxiety. Believed to stimulate inner reflection, it is considered an ideal stone for past life regressions. Rainbow moonstone is thought to bring vitality and joy, and also to be capable of aligning all chakras while keeping one grounded. In addition to rainbow, moonstone also can be found in white, blue, beige, gray, brown, peach, and black.

Physically, moonstone is considered beneficial for the lymphatic and immune systems. It is also thought to help alleviate thyroid issues, to aid digestion, and to have a positive effect on the glands.

Magically, moonstone is associated with wish granting, protection during travel, and divination.

Moonstone is also believed to promote dreaming, to cleanse negative energy, and is associated with psychic ability. Other associations include: children. peace, love, comfort, long life, and the Goddess.

Moonstone should be charged by the light of the moon. If used for menstrual issues, cleansing and charging should take place after each menstrual cycle. The chakras associated with moonstone are the third eye, crown, and sacral.