OH SO HAPPILY FACTUAL!

Esta mañana consideré la posibilidad de modificar mi pedido en Amazon. Sacar uno de los tres cepillos para cepillado de la piel en seco, como nuevo hábito de higiene a diario para ayudar al más grande de nuestros órganos que es la piel a desintoxicar mejor, producir más vitamina D cuando se expone al sol, estimular el sistema linfático, facilitar la comunicación entre las células nerviosas que tenemos densamente empaquetadas en la piel y nuestro cerebro, y cambiarlo por un libro como mi propio regalo de cumpleaños. 

Abrí el cofre donde guardo ideas y tesoros para cuando llegue la ocasión de darles forma, y releyendo algunos de los pasajes de libros como "Los misterios de la mujer" por M. Ester Harding o "If Women Rose Rooted. The Journey to Authenticity and Belonging" por Sharon Blackie, me he dado cuenta, igual como me di cuenta el otro día de que ya no me gusta el color azul para vestir por serio, apagado, neutro, contenido, inexpresivo y poco o nada alegre, que no me apetece nada ahora mismo leer este tipo de cosas... y de que me he vuelto tan fáctica (factual from En. 'fact' hecho) en toda esta andadura.

- So, my choice: Dear Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz, I'm ordering your book from Amazon as my birthday present Xx <3 I just wanted to make sure that the soo helpful GIFT #1 - Depletions and Digestion Free Book Chapter is from the book titled "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifesyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the ROOT CAUSE" and not from the new one, "HASHIMOTO'S PROTOCOL. A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back". It includes, for example, Table 5 - Goitrogenic Foods and Table 6 - Goitrogen Effects on Thyroid, as well as your sooo valuable Personal experience with TPOAb and selenium at the end of the chapter. 

https://www.amazon.es/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796

- Originally shared by http://kellygolightly.com/hashimotosandaip/ . Thanks to the modern-day audrey hepburns of the world, celebrating the art of living a colorful life. 

April 4 is my birthday, and I'm ordering "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifesyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the ROOT CAUSE" by Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz, who is a wonderful person, as my own birthday present. Thank you so much, Kelly, for sharing your personal experience and cheers to the modern-day audrey hepburns of the world, celebrating the art of living a colorful life. In heartfelt gratitude Xx

¡Oh Tan Felizmente Fáctica! Así llego a mis 40. ;)

What Is Intuition?

At some point growing up I adopted the belief that to be spiritual was to be un-intellectual. That intuition, even though it sounded lovely, wasn’t grounded or practical. And even though I was always a sensitive and dreamy kid, at a young age I was set to prove that I too could be smart, rational, based in physical reality, and above all, “realistic.”

And so it wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I started to believe in faeries. It wasn’t until I become an adult that I started talking to trees in earnest. It wasn’t until I experienced chronic illness and understood, for the first time, that I existed on many levels (and that healing, true healing, happened on every single one of those levels) that I saw a layer of magic within the world that was real, tangible. It wasn’t until this point in my life that I realized— the world, this world that I live in, is animated by sentience and consciousness. And so anything is possible.

I learned how to eat flowers in the spring. I unlearned my incredulous Northeastern disbelief, and lost myself in a forest of leaves. And I found the piece I had always been missing: that to be spiritual is not to be able to connect to some far flung star. It is to become a part of the earth once more. That intuition doesn’t exist in the ethereal heights, but down in soil, at the roots, ankle deep in the ocean at the source of the spring.

When I finally connected to my own earth intuition, the knowing that lives in my connection to the living world, untold doors began to open before me.And I stopped looking for the portal to understanding my life path because, suddenly, it was right before me. Over my years of teaching and seeing clients I've connected with so many folks who have a similar ache, a yearning to re-open the gateways of their own intuition and reconnect to the magic of living right here on earth.

And so I decided to create a free video series to help you open the gate.

Join me for the Opening Earth Intuition mini-course!

Learn how to harness the gifts of your own intuitive abilities and become receptive to the vibrant guidance of the natural world. Throughout the course I’ll be offering specific tips, tricks and exercises, with a whole lot of personal stories and inspiration along the way.

I’m excited to connect with you there!

In heartfelt belief,

Asia

p.s. Share this course with a friend who is looking to take the next step in cultivating their own magic

You are officially registered!

Welcome to Opening Earth Intuition, Samanta!

I'm so delighted that you are joining me (Asia Suler of One Willow Apothecaries) for this richly inspirational video series.

Intuition is our inner north star. It is the lines of a poem we will never forget, the compass that will never lead us astray. And we can learn how to access the truly life-changing guidance of our intuition by simply reopening the most ancient relationship of all: our connection to the earth.

In this mini course, you are going to learn how to harness the gifts of your own intuitive abilities and become receptive to the vibrant guidance of the natural world. Get ready for specific tips, tricks, and exercises. And a whole lot of inspiration along the way.

Because, as human beings, this is our birthright, and the plants and all the elements of nature are ready to welcome you and all your unique gifts back into the fold.

So let’s get started! In this first video we go into the nuts and bolts of intuition. All my life I’ve heard people talk about intuition without going deeply into what it truly is. In this video I talk about intuition from a place of groundedness, tangibility, and human history, with exercises to start accessing it yourself.

All my life I’ve heard people talk about intuition without going deeply into what it truly is. In this video I talk about intuition from a place of groundedness, tangibility, and human history, with exercises to start accessing it yourself.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a reply below to let me know how this jives with what you feel or know about intuition. What did you think about this idea of intuition when you were growing up? I’d love to hear about your experience.

1. What is Intuition?
2. Cultivating Earth Intuition
3. Plant Communication
4. Dadirri Days

Samanta says:

March 30, 2017 at 8:58 am

Dear Asia, I love this enchanting video beyond words. Bless you for reminding us to cultivate our animal soil-based Earth Intuition. Your insights brought me to tears. In heartfelt gratitude

Reply

Asia says:

March 30, 2017 at 3:37 pm

Thank you for being here Samanta <3 Much gratitude for your presence

Working out at home

Having spent all our savings in therapies, treatments, supplements, orthomolecular nutrition and so on, and not knowing if I will ever be able to come back to my workplace as a secondary teacher due to my electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), I guess I now have to start thinking about working out at home in order to have an income, because although my only income is a tiny income, every little bit helps a lot in the mouse house. That and dreaming of winning the lottery or receiving an unexpected inheritance.

Healing Pixie Hollow Kitchen Magic

2 cucharadas soperas aceite de coco (o más), 1 diente de ajo picado, 1/2 cebolla picada, champiñones, jenjibre rallado, zanahorias, colirrábano, boniato, cúrcuma en polvo, 4 tazas de caldo de huesos (o agua), sal rosa, pimienta negra, zumo limón, 1 manzana, 1 calabacín, colágeno. Cocer hasta que esté tierno, añadir 1 yema cruda de huevo, crema ecológica de coco para cocinar (opcional), batir y servir. Magia! ✨

2 Tbsp coconut oil, 1 clove garlic minced, 1/2 onion chopped, 1 cup mushrooms sliced, 3 inches ginger root minced, 2 carrots peeled and chopped, 1/4 celeriac peeled and chopped, 1 sweet potato peeled and chopped, turmeric powder, 4 cups bone broth (or water), 1 tsp pink salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, juice from 1 lemon, 1 apple chopped, 1 squash chopped and collagen. Simmer for 25 minutes or until soft. Add one raw egg yolk. Add some organic coconut cream for cooking (optional). Blend all ingredients and serve. Magic! ✨

Blend of:

http://www.amymyersmd.com/2014/04/crockpot-tom-kha-thai-coconut-soup/

http://www.amymyersmd.com/recipe/ginger-pear-soup/

http://www.amymyersmd.com/recipe/ginger-meyer-lemon-baked-porridge/

http://empoweredsustenance.com/raw-eggs-safe/  (Must-Read Article) ***

originally shared by https://wellnessmama.com/2220/hollandaise-sauce/

{Our bodies are made of the plants and animals that we have eaten since time memorial.} 

- Iris Nabalo

Avra Palabra

Shhh... Be Still and Listen.

What we truly like eventually becomes our one and only narrow-soulful need in life, what doesn't feel good on the inside is not the path leading to the soul-home.

You will be called home, one way or another, sooner or later, willingly or not, yes or yes.

[There is an internal landscape,

a geography of the soul;

we search for its outlines all our lives;

those who are lucky enough to find it

ease like water over a stone,

onto its fluids contours,

and are home.] - Josephine Hart

As a homey hearthy hearty witch who likes tending the sacred fire in the elfsmial kitchen and old timey stories, working out of my home feels like exile. But working out at my home. But A PROFESSION RUN FROM THE HOME as seen in the famous fairy tale "The Shoemaker and the Elves". But a SOULPRENEUR or the rise of the Artist/Owner who redefines "success" on her own terms and creates a business and a life that feels good on the inside, not just good on the outside, and helps heal the world together while having fun. My work is a game, a very serious game. Play is Sacred. Art is Sacred. Soul is Sacred. For a witch, her home or vital space is her natural workplace, and she practices her trade and art of witchcraft sustained by the communion with the household spirits that dwell the home, "the house forms a protective cocoon, one that is sacred and magical" (p.48, "The Tradition of Household Spirits", by French scholar Claude Lecouteux) like a colorful, beaded needle felted leaf that softly embraces 'earthstar daughter', She-With a Luminous Soul. See, she loves to play with colors, with the softness of wool. She likes the sparkle of beads. She knows magic, she sees fairies, she plays with possibilities and her smile is full of wonder and her eyes are big and starry. I am held. I am special. I am magic.

Avra Kehdabra♥ - I Will Create What I Speak. I Do As I Say. I Walk My Talk.

Avra Palabra @avrapalabra

[In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit.

Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and oozy smell,

nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat:

it was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort.]

- The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Journey"

#ElCaminoEsElDestino #LaBellezaEsUnEstadoDeÁnimo

Shamans, Wizards, Völvur, Wicces and Witches

While wizards are remembered mainly in the public consciousness today as men, the best examples we have from history for this type of staff were carried by women. Women held a very powerful role in the realm of magic in all Teutonic cultures, but it lingered on longer among the Norse due to their comparatively late conversion to Christianity.

Seeresses, called Völva (Völvur, plural), were essentially female shamanic wizards who wandered about offering their services to their communities. Not only have they been described in ancient sources as carrying magical staffs, but several of their staffs have been discovered on archaeological sites.

The Norse Völva is related to the Anglo-Saxon “Wicce,” (pronounced witch-uh), which is, of course, the origin of the modern word “witch.” This figure came in male and female form, with the male witches being called Wiccas (pronounced the same way, and not pronounced like the modern neo-pagan religion which appropriated the word).

I’ll be a bit repetitive here to avoid confusion. I’m not saying that European witches were shamans as such, but that they retained elements of shamanism that lingered on in their practice.

Just as the archetypal wizard uses his staff as his axis between the worlds, the witch archetype, as it has been passed down to us in the folk tradition, depicts the witch figure as tied closely to the hearth which was another axis, or portal, between the spiritual realms. The witch is also depicted strongly as associated with her broomstick, which is not unlike the wizard or völva’s staff.

The broom acts as the symbol of the world tree axis between the worlds and is therefore a gateway to inter-world travel. Just as the shaman goes into trance to spirit journey, the witch is depicted as mounting her broomstick for her own astral travels. Another key characteristic of shamanism, shape-shifting, also features prominently in witch trial accusations. - Carolyn Emerick

https://hubpages.com/education/The-Question-of-European-Shamanism

How To Needle Felt Animals - Armature and Wrapping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wydNaixJhP4&feature=youtu.be

https://www.facebook.com/Sarafina-Fiber-Art-303460479715306/

http://www.sarafinafiberart.com/Fox-Supply-Pack-p/supply-pack-fox.htm

Needle Felted Sleepy Mice

Message in a bottle

I knew Alice Savage Art through the Medicine Dolls by Spiritweaver Julia Inglis of Sacred Familiar http://sacredfamiliar.com/ #StagWoman

alicesavage: If you follow me since a long time, you may remember my Cosmic Cats. I used to needle felt these magical creatures a few years ago, until the tendonitis stopped me.
After the appearance of the issue with food, I am doing deep inner child work, and, well, my inner child loves to make these apparently 😄

This pink cosmic cat has a heart of frankincense and lavender, she is patiently handmade by felting the wool with a special needle, and she carries Opalite, Amethyst, Green Aventurine, Yellow Calcite and Citrine on her.
You can swipe to see the different details and size reference.
Inner Child and me would be very happy if she found some other Child who needs a magical friend, so if you think you would like her, it's 69$ USD, with international tracked shipping included.
With a sea of love, from my inner child to yours 💟

(Not suited for kids due to the small parts!)

.
#handmade #needlefelted #needlefelting #felt #fiberart #magic#crystalhealing #love #sweetness #cats #catslove #cosmic #healing

Professional Needle Felting Tutorial

Estoy Emocionada, sí! ya sabes! <3 Se me ha ocurrido en el balcón que quizá no tengo que esperar a ver cuándo encarta en mi camino un tutorial de fieltro con lana Xisqueta teñida a mano y con tintes 100% naturales por la artesana Lina Ratia en las montañas del Cadí-Moixeró.. y que a lo mejor, aunque no sea perfecto, hay tutoriales. Y hay. Y claro, Encuentro lo que Busco. Porque Busco lo que me Llama. Y lo que Encuentro Es.... FANTASTICO!!!! Es Mágico!!! Me Encantaaaaa!!!! A mí me gustaría hacer medicine dolls, kitchen witches, etc

#Laneras #DehesaLanayMerineando#tirandodelhilodelasustentabilidad #LaMontañadeCáceres #TheHouseholdTradition #BloodandBelonging

https://www.goteo.org/project/laneras

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkQSwUg5J5A

https://www.sarafinafiberart.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Sarafina-Fiber-Art-303460479715306/

Turn Your Bedroom Into A Cozy, Artistic, Magical Place of Power

1. Hang some dreamy firefly lights. You may not want to keep them on all through the night, but stringing some lights adds a feminine, fairytale quality to your bed.

2. Hang a wall tapestry. A tapestry can transport your bed to any location. Beachside, in the mountains, outside in the stars… it will definitely change the mood of your bedroom. Tapestries are a great way to decorate when you’re living somewhere temporary like a dorm.

3. Hang some sheets over your bed and make your own canopy bed. Make your bed feel and look like a magical cocoon by hanging sheer sheets over it. You can drape some lights in them too (as long as they won’t start a fire!).

http://www.gurl.com/2016/05/29/simple-inexpensive-ways-to-make-your-bed-feel-luxurious-comfortable-magical/

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=28946671

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=33488834

https://www.etsy.com/es/market/firefly_lights?show_panel=true

https://www.amazon.es/guirnaldas-luminosas/b?ie=UTF8&node=2844365031

https://www.amazon.es/Algod%C3%B3n-Blanco-Hadas-Cadena-Luces/dp/B00J5BFX16

https://www.amazon.es/Rattan-Colorido-Hadas-Cadena-Luces/dp/B00J5BNTEE

European Household Magic

En el Día de la Mujer Trabajadora <3

#herbwife #homedweller #earthworking #firealchemy #TheSacredFire #TheSacredHearth #fireandsmoke #HouseholdSpirits #TheTraditionofHouseholdSpirits #HouseholdMagic #Ancestors #AncestralLore #TheFae #Threshold #HouseElvesPixiesFairiesWitches #TheHouseElf #TheKitchenWitch #KitchenWitchcraft #HedgeWitchcraft #FolkLore #HERBlore #HERitage

Many European folk beliefs and traditions are widespread from Britain clear to Russia. They simply have some variation, different names, etc. Obviously each culture is unique, but they are also related.

In her “European Mythology,” premier scholar on European folk tradition, Jacqueline Simpson, says that European folk custom is “pretty consistent throughout Europe, despite political and linguistic barriers” (p8). Therefore this article discusses folk beliefs and customs related to the European household that are found throughout Indo-European cultures.

A cauldron over a fire in William Blake's illustrations to his mythical "Europe, a Prophecy," first published in 1794.

The old European worldview originating in paganism, but continuing on under Christianity in some cases into the 20^th century, was a magical one. People believed that spirits interacted with them and interceded in their lives for good and for ill. For most people in the past, life revolved around the homestead, and so it shouldn't be surprising that certain spirits, deities, beliefs, and rituals evolved around the home

{In the earliest times, it may be that the priest class held the secret of fire, tending eternal flames in temples in many ancient cultures.}

Thatched croft house in South Lochboisdale, Scotland. Photo by Tom Richardson, WikiCommons.

The Sacred Fire

Fire is one of the most primitive spiritual symbols of mankind because it was so essential to our survival. The concept of a sacred fire is found worldwide, but especially in colder Northern climates. The Celts are famous for their fire festivals at key times of the year, such as Beltane (May Day) and Samhain (Halloween). However, virtually all other European peoples also had fire festivals and often at the same times of year, including the Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic groups.

In the earliest times, it may be that the priest class held the secret of fire, which is why a tradition of eternal flames tended to in temples is found in many ancient cultures from Greece to Ireland. In fact, the Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, by James MacKillop, mentions several important places where fire is relevant in Celtic myth.

One story that reveals an ancient memory of fire is recorded in the Irish mytho-history, the Lebor Gabala (Book of Invasion). The ancient text says that a chief druid called Mide lit the very first fire in Ireland at Uisnach. This same fire is said to have burned continuously for seven years and torches lit from it were carried to light the hearth fires of all the chiefs in Ireland (p235).

Celtic Blackhouses kept large peat fire in the center of the home.The smoke dissipates out through the thatched roof without a chimney. Photo by Nessy-Pic on WikiCommons.

{As time moved on and fire became a part of normal life it became associated with women and the home.}

So, it seems clear that in very primitive eras when the “magic” of fire was not well understood, it was associated with “magicians” such as the druids.

But, as time moved on and fire became a part of normal life, it began to develop an association with women and the home. Often sacred eternal flames were tended to by female priestesses, such as the Greek Vestal Virgins who guarded the sacred fire of Vesta. It is well known that the Irish Catholic Saint Brigid was adapted from the pagan goddess, also called Brigid. The goddess Brigid was associated with fire, and an eternal flame was kept by Saint Brigid's devotees, the nuns of Kildare, well into the Christian era.

It likely is no coincidence that these so called eternal flames were tended to by women. In the traditional European family, the woman's work typically revolved around the homestead while the man was doing more labor intensive work elsewhere. So, the matriarch of the house tended the family hearth fire, which was essential for the livelihood of the home.

This is precisely why the imagery of the cauldron over a fire is synonymous with the archetype of the female witch. These were everyday use items in the household, the worldview of the day believed in magic, and the hearth was associated with strong spiritual connotations.

A druid performing a sacred ritual involving fire and smoke for the Celtic Queen Maeve. Art by Stephen Reed, 1904

Household Deities

There are two main types of household deities, and the first is generally known as the Hearth Goddess. She's usually a deity associated with the domestic sphere, women's issues, and honored at the house fire. The Norse Frigga, German Holle, Greek Hestia, Roman Vesta, Slavic Mokosh, and Celtic Brigid are some of the most well-known European goddesses found in this category.

Some hearth goddesses are associated overtly with fire, such as Brigid and Vesta, while others are associated with domesticity in general. Women’s work that was done around the homestead was often overseen by the hearth goddess. This work did not have the negative connotation that is sometimes applied to the term “women's work” today. The work done by women was just as crucial as that done by men. Just as women often lacked physical strength necessary for the hard labor chores done by their husbands, the large hands of men often were less adept at work requiring intricate fingering, such as processing raw fibers into yarn and textiles.

"Frigga and the Beldame" by Harry George Theaker, 1920

{The work done by women was just as crucial as that done by men.}

Without textiles, the family is not clothed and the beds have no blankets, as well as the myriad of other uses that made fabric a household necessity. Spinning and weaving could also provide an income source, so it was every bit as valuable to the household as any other chore. It is very common to see domestic goddesses depicted with a spinning wheel, and we see this in the Norse Frigga, German Holle, and Slavic Mokosh. It has been noted that pagan goddesses often lived on in folk belief and fairy tales, albeit diminished from their former role of goddess. The Lowland Scots fairy tale called Habitrot depicts a fairy godmother type figure associated with spinning who appears to be a vestige of a pre-Christian domestic goddess.

Frigga, by Helen Stratton, 1915

The House Elf

The other type of household deity is typically the male guardian of the property. Known as tutelary spirits, these guardians are thought to have originated as the male ancestor who first owned the property and whose spirit lingered on to guard it. In time, this evolved into the house elf tradition which lingers on profoundly in Teutonic culture from Scandinavia and Germany to England and Lowland Scotland.

I wrote another article about the mischievous side of these spirits (When Brownies Turn Bad) which contained a great deal of information on them, so I won’t go into too much detail here. But it is worth pointing out that these domestic spirits were thought to be tied to the luck and well-being of the household and family.

They were honored and propitiated with offerings of food, and in return they brought good fortune and prosperity by helping with the chores around the homestead. This would often be farm chores, but they might help with a profession run from the home as seen in the famous fairy tale “The Shoemaker and the Elves.”

{Domestic spirits were thought to be tied to the luck and well-being of the household and family.}

Art by Jenny Nyström

The House Snake

Another domestic tutelary deity seen in parts of Northern Europe, especially in Germanic areas, was the house snake. Unlike the house elf, which was a spirit, this deity was a living corporeal snake that lived in the family home, somewhat like a pet. It is not clear if this custom hearkens back to very ancient serpent worship tradition, as those tend to be seen more frequently in warmer climates.

My best guess was that the snakes were kept for the same reason cats were domesticated – vermin control. Snakes and cats kill rodents which carry disease. Less rodents means higher likelihood of a healthy family in those days, as well as healthy livestock which directly translated into prosperity.

So, it makes sense that in the context of a superstitious society which viewed their world in terms of magic, that a snake in the home could be seen as a symbol of good fortune which attributed it with spiritual value.

A snake in the home of a European family. Ernest Griset, circa 1870s.

Places of Power in the Home

We have already discussed the hearth as a part of the house which held spiritual significance. This seems to be greatly influenced by its connection with fire. But, the hearth is also symbolically connected to women, and women were the sex who were generally considered to be the carriers of magical tradition in the home.

There are still lingering vestiges of hearth and kitchen imagery in modern traditions. The “kitchen witch” is a common motif in German households, and one finds little figurines of witches on brooms in many German kitchens. On the Eve of the first day of May, Germans celebrate Walpurgisnacht, a holiday with strong associations to witchcraft. This festival is typically celebrated with bonfires… not unlike the Celtic fire festival of Beltane, held at the same time.

{The “kitchen witch” is still a common motif in German households.}

Ukranian peasant's house by Ilya Repin, 1880

The Sacred Hearth

We see the hearth make an appearance in modern day Christmas lore, as well. It is well known that much of the Santa Claus lore developed in America, however, it was heavily influenced by Old World traditions.

There is a lot of debate on which figures influenced Santa Claus. My opinion is that he is an amalgam of many influences, and thus it would take a separate article to suss that out. Suffice to say that it seems clear that the house elf custom is one of those influences. Cookies and milk are left out for Santa in the same way that house elves were propitiated by leaving food out for them – their favorite being grain based food (cereals, baked goods, etc) and milk.

The fact that Santa arrives through the chimney into the hearth is another clue that he is a modern figure with ancient origins. Since we don’t always have traditional appliances in our homes today it can be easy to forget that the chimney would typically have been connected to the main fireplace in the home.

Unlike today’s fireplaces meant for cozy evenings in front of the telly, in a modest traditional home very often there was no separate kitchen and living room, but one main living space with a hearth for both heating and cooking in the center. So Santa’s arrival through the chimney is a nod to the ancient idea that the hearth held mystical connotations and was a place of spiritual activity.

It is easy to see the connection between Santa and House Elves in early depictions of "that jolly old elf" - before Santa's modern image was fully developed. By Arthur Rackham.

{The fact that Santa arrives through the chimney into the hearth is another clue that he is a modern figure with ancient origins.}

The Old Hall, Fairies by Moonlight; Spectres & Shades, Brownies and Banshees. By John Anster Fitzgerald, circa 1875

{The house is not only a barrier to the elements, but it also shields its inhabitants from malevolent spiritual forces.}

Doorways for Spirits

French scholar Claude Lecouteux conducted an intensive study on European household spiritual beliefs for his book “The Tradition of Household Spirits.” He states that under common Indo-European belief, “the house forms a protective cocoon, one that is sacred and magical” (p48).

In other words, the house is not only a barrier to the elements, but it also shields its inhabitants from malevolent spiritual forces. This concept relates both to the rituals of house blessings and even to ancient hospitality customs.

Because the walls and roof of a home formed physical barrier that blocked both the physical and supernatural world from entering, openings came to be seen as portals through which spirits could enter the home. As explained above, the chimney was one of these portals, as well as the more obvious doors and windows. Therefore charms, amulets, blessings, and rituals were often placed or recited at doorways and windows.

Only the doorway remains of the Holy Island Church Ruins, Lough Derg, Co. Clare. Photo circa 1880-1914

Threshold Tradition

Another conspicuous place in the home was the threshold. Obviously this is tied to the concept of the door as a portal, but also as an especially sacred part of the entryway. The earliest homes had only one door and no windows. Even chimneys were a later addition, as very early homes let smoke simply escape through thatched roofs.

So the doorway as a sacred place in the home has a very strong and ancient origin. In addition to amulets placed over the door, vows were often sworn over the threshold, offerings to tutelary spirits could be poured over the threshold. And, just as hearth lore has carried on into modern times, we see the sacred nature of the threshold live on in the custom of the bridegroom carrying his new bride across it.

Blessings Charms, and Amulets

Jacqueline Simpson describes the relationship between humans and the spirit world as a sliding scale between malevolent and benevolent. And so folk customs developed as ways to nurture positive relationships with helpful spirits as well as protective rites to ward off evil ones. We discussed the protective tutelary spirits who guarded the home and that they would be propitiated with offerings to encourage future prosperity.

In Germany, a figurine of the Kobold (house elf) was often kept by the hearth. This tradition lives on in the popularity of gnome figurines in German households to this day. The house snake tradition evolved in Scandinavia where it became customary to bury the body of a snake under the threshold for good luck in the home.

Inscriptions beseeching the spiritual realm for blessings and luck are common in households worldwide. Today we see plaques or cross stitch designs that say “Bless This House” quite commonly in people's homes. These signs are still most commonly found above the main doorway and inside the kitchen.

{The iron hearth cricket ties the magic of the hearth with the magic of iron combined with the figure of a protective spirit.}

Protective Abilities of Iron

Certain materials were thought to be protective, especially iron. The concept of iron as a material of power is an ancient one. The art of smithing, like the earlier skill of harnessing fire, was initially seen as quite magical.

It was a skill that the average person lacked, but the wider community came to depend on their smithies for tools and weaponry. Metalworking represents man's dominance over the elements, and as such, iron took on very mystical connotations in the common imagination. It turns up as a protective amulet in fairy lore from Celtic and Anglo Britain clear to Russia.

Therefore, iron became a common protective amulet inside the home. A horseshoe over the door for good luck hangs there more for the material it was made of than for its shape. Simple iron nails could be placed over doorways and windows as well.

Up into modern times it was very common for people to keep figurines made of iron by their hearthsides. The cricket was a common one, and many readers will remember black cast iron crickets on their own grandparents' fireplaces. The iron hearth cricket ties the magic of the hearth with the magic of iron combined with the figure of a protective spirit.

Keep Our Traditions Alive

So many of our traditions have roots so very ancient that their origins trace to times in the very distant past. Sometimes it's easy to think we can't relate to people so primitive that fire was sacred to them.

Yet, we find ourselves repeating some of the same customs that originated with our prehistoric ancestors. These customs tie us to our families, our ancestors, our roots, and cultural past.

Whether we believe they hold magical power or not, or that spirits linger in our midst, why not revive some of these traditions? It's a way to honor our heritage, and inviting in a bit of good luck never hurts.

A modern example of a cast iron cricket for the hearthside.

https://owlcation.com/humanities/European-Household-Magic

Carolyn Emerick  more

Carolyn Emerick writes about history, myth, and folklore of northwestern Europe.

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Bibliography

Leach, Maria. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. New York: Harper Collins, 1972.

Lecouteux, Claude. The Tradition of Household Spirits: Ancestral Lore and Practices. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions, 2000.

MacKillop, James. Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Miller, Joyce. Magic and Witchcraft in Scotland. Musselburgh: Goblinshead, 2004.

Simpson, Jacqueline. European Mythology. London: The Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1987.

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