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In today’s world, we eat but do not taste, we look but we do not see, we listen but do not hear. You are here on this planet to be happy. It is all that is required of you. When you are happy, you become a healing force that powerfully and magnificently heals the planet. If you want to help the world, be happy. Pleasure your senses. Be juicy, sensual and glorious. Taste, touch, smell, hear and explore your universe. Accept yourself exactly as you are and radiance will flow through you to the world. – Denise Linn

Florida water is a traditional offering to the dead in conjure-think hoodoo. Before use of esential oils, the mixture, made with fresh fruit peel, spice & flowers, was sprinkled into fresh water (or “holy” water), creating an anointing water. Used for blessings & purifications the blend has been changed by many through the years. Sometimes I make the water using just essential oils, but I love the old traditional recipe below.nnLightly bruise and add to a glass jar (quart jar is best) :npeels from 3 large oranges peels & 1 large lemon; a handful of coarsely chopped lemongrass; a handful of lavender buds; a handful of cloves & several fresh rosemary sprigs. Top off the jar with a combination of alcohol & rose water, making sure to cover the herbs. Sit in a sunny window for a week, then strain well. Store the resulting concentrate in an appropriate bottle and when you want to use it, just sprinkle anywhere from a few drops to a quarter of a spoonful into a full bowl of water. The smell should be evoke feelings of warm sun and spice, again being heavily influenced by the citrus and clove

I am always going on about vintage patchouli oil & there is definitely a reason for it. If you don’t know what aged Patchouli smells like – don’t expect it to smell like the stereotypical patchouli scent of wet earth, and bad incense. Aged patchouli is soft, musky & sexy…mmmm, mmmmm!nnSandy wiped out my supply of aging oils, especially my desert island box filled with aromatic treasures I have collected for close to 40 year. My stock of 20-30 year old vetivers & patchouli…gone…and there was even a mystical stunning patchouli that was over 30 years old…I used to open the bottle and sniff it like an addict…the memory of it is enough to make me faint! I can’t think about it anymore or I’ll end up throwing myself on the floor in a fit. Luckily a dear supplier of mine has parted with a goodly supply of a 10 year aged select. Yay!nSo how do you age your own, you ask? Take half the patchouli you purchase, label it with date and put it away. Forget that you even have it! Every 6 months or so take a whiff of it. You’ll have something that still smells like patchouli, but is better. But be very careful or you will find yourself like me-hoarding it, talking to it and playing with it constantly.nnAnd speaking of aging… some potions get better with age also! Nadine from New Orleans wrote that she has a 5 year old bottle of Belladonna that is deeper, more sultry & definitely more magickal than ever!

When Mercury is Retrograde… the planet appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. Mercury retrograde can give way to misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations; computer glitches and breakdowns with phones, vehicles, and transportation. On the flip side, intuition is high during these periods, and coincidences can be extraordinary.

Samhain – October 31st… Known as Halloween & the Witches New Year- a day to commune with & remember the dead…the time to celebrate the eternal cycle of reincarnation….nBeen watching my favorite movies this week, starting with The Witches of Eastwick. Has there ever been a better way to start celebrating than with a spooky movie or two, three, or more. I start out with my all time favorite The Witches of Eastwick.nI can’t help but wonder what will rise in the coming year from the mud/ashes of Rebirth? What part of me will die this year? What will be reborn in its place?nAs each year draws to a close, I sit and reflect on who I am, in this moment. And I always end up wondering where certain parts of me have gone. If sacrificing pieces of myself was necessary. Admit it, we have all done that! I love life and everything it has to offer (good and bad). Reflecting back on the year, I am amazed that I still feel a sense of freedom owning very little. I thought that might change as it has now been a year since the hurricane. But as of yet I have not allowed my self to become shackled to anything. Nor have I been tempted. And I have made decisions regarding personal relationships also-to only become attached to those who can handle the brightness of another’s life…who wish to live a wild, chaotic & juicy life. I vow to honor the Gypsy in my soul. Soooo much to contemplate when in Big Pine this January & February.

I knew it would come to this. I have been saying this for years. Finally after millions of researchers dissecting everything we do, eat and more, someone tells us breathing causes cancer? First it was no wine, now red wine only; then no chocolate (boo hoo), then dark chocolate only is now good for you.nIt is not actually breathing which causes cancer it is what we breathe. I have said since the mid 80’s that we walk on poisoned ground, eat “poisoned” (read- too many preservatives!), drink “poisoned” water & breathe poisoned air.nAnyone out there planning to hold their breath?