Equinox 2015: Discount Code

This transitional day has many names including Autumn or Spring Equinox (depending on where you are located in the world), Mabon or Meán Fómhair. No matter the actual name it is a time to deeply breath in this sacred moment as we begin our preparations for the impending shift in the seasonal year when the sun is aligned precisely over the equator.

Early recorded and non-recorded beings on Earth perceived this day as very special and built monolithic sites specifically for it. Our "his" stories tell us tales that these ancient beings were primitive, human and nothing better to do. Well, as usual, I disagree with these histories and prefer alternative her stories with points of view referring to heightened fields of energy, portals to other dimensions and elevated consciousness.

To assist in the transition I am offering a 10% discount on round tins of solid perfume. Use the word Mabon at checkout on the website only. All perfume tins, including the brand new Mellifera & Fleurish are part of this celebratory passage.

If you are in the part of the world, like me, that is moving into darkness and cold, than I suggest the warmer, heavier scents like:

Chaparral

Aumbre

Cimbalom

Q

Figure 5: Bois

Figure 1: Noir

Those of you in the southern hemisphere moving toward the light might want more floral and fresh fragrances like:

Fleurish

Lyra

Gracing the Dawn

Hedera helix

If you are looking for something in between, than Mellifera is a good choice. Personally I don't pay much attention to the season, I prefer to go with my nose and what I desire in the moment. Lately I'm all about Fleurish, I can't get enough.

Take advantage of the special 10% off for 24 hours only. Happy Equinox!

Impending Darkness

The night and day of equal length beckons us in the Northern hemisphere to prepare for the shadow, the season of the dark and cooler temperatures. Called by many names including Mabon, Autumnal Equinox and Meán Fómhair, the pagan holy day of the harvest reminds us to be grateful, assess where we are at and begin our inward journey.

The opening illustration by Gustave Doré depicts Archangel Michael casting out the arrogant angels. During this season we also celebrate Michelmas in honor of St. Michael who defeats Lucifer and St. George who tames the dragon, both of these beinging symbols of conquering our shadow side.

The emblem of the five pointed star, also known as the pentagram, is often used to deepen into this season. If we cut in apple in half through the horizontally we will see the hidden star contained within. This image repeats within our body and in nature, another reminder of our perfect one-ness with the Earth.

Today I poured a Cimbalom round tin for a customer and was reminded of the apple note contained within the fragrance. Then, later in the day, I found myself contemplating Greg's Enchantment print hanging in the hallway of our little woodland cottage. Thus, my fragrance this evening is the heavy jasmine inspired floriental Cimbalom, auspiciously heady pink jasmine flowers have five petals.

Opening image: Archangel Michael casts out the arrogant angels. Illustration by Gustave Doré, 1866.

Chiaroscuro Perfume

The Autumnal Equinox Meán Fómhair is upon us, a time to deeply breath in this sacred moment as we begin our preparations for the impending darkness of the seasonal year. On this blessed day I would like to introduce you to my new fragrance Chiaroscuro, first introduced as a sketch last September titled Jasmine Noir.

"Return often and take me at night, when the lips and skin remember."
~ A snippet from a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy

This fragrance is based on a formula created in 1997 during a perfume class with John Steele in Malibu. That particular perfume contained jasmine, patchouli, spikenard, vanilla, sandalwood, nutmeg, blood orange, mandarin and gingergrass. These basic building blocks were the meager beginnings of Chiaroscuro, which now in the liquid form contains more than thirty different botanical essences, including my precious Mysore sandalwood obtained over ten years ago.

The name for the fragrance was supplied by devoted fan and patron Princess Ellie. Chiaroscuro has its origins in the world of painting. The term comes from Italy, referring to the tonal contrasts suggesting volume and modelling of the subjects depicted. The literal translation of the word is light-dark.1 Pricess Ellie suggested this word because she, as well as other fans, noticed a light and dark aspect to the perfume.

The color harmony for Chiaroscuro is a deep violet. The pouch for the solid and liquid, created by Martha of TwoKnit, mimics the shape of jasmine flowers. 

Today marks the cross road when we transcend from the light and warmth of Summer into the cooler clime and darkness of the new cycle, Chiaroscuro represents the balance of the two seasons. The fragrance is imbued with a bouquet of tinctured jasmine sambac blossoms I have gently gathered and extracted all Summer long. As mentioned above the palette of botanical essences: essential oils, absolutes, c02 extracts and tinctures is vast.

This fragrance is depicted in two parts, the liquid perfume represents the dark/scuro aspect while the solid is the light/chiaro side. As a set Chiaroscuro is a voluptuous and sensual fragrance, sweet and dark, naughty and nice. The sweetness of the jasmine is amplified by lemon myrtle, citron, pepper, gingergrass and ginger contrasted against patchouli, jatamansi (spikenard) and oud. The liquid aspect Scuro, is very dark and dirty while the solid Chiaro is sweet and floral.

This is a fragrance for those who love oriental amber perfumes, jasmine and patchouli. If you pay attention to the evolution on your skin, you are in for a wonderous adventure. Chiaroscuro is a shape shifter, she is both the beauty and the beast from mythical heroic stories. She is the spell caster, anoint and envision what you want to manifest for the next season. Enjoy! A very blessed Autumn or Spring Equinox depending where you are on Mother Earth.

Chiaroscuro is available as both a liquid and solid fragrance.

Images:
Illumination by Greg Spalenka
Beauty and the Beast, by Anne Anderson
Photography Roxana Villa

Related posts:
Dancing with Mabon
Autumn
Jasmine
Topless
Moon Garden

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro

Dancing with Mabon

"A tree of apples–great its bounty!
Like a hostel, vast!
A pretty bush, thick as a fist, of tiny hazelnuts
A green mass of branches,
~ from Dillon, Early Irish Literature

In one of my most cherished books of herbal lore the Autumn Equinox is referred to as Meán Fómhair. I was looking at the index of the book thinking that it would be under the term Mabon.
The reason for this is that my book is specific to Druidic herbal lore and the words Meán Fómhair come from the Druids. Meán Fómhair is one of the eight Celtic holidays in the season wheel, referred to as sabbats.

Whatever words we put to the day, whether Autumn Equinox, Mabon or Meán Fómhair it is a time to deeply breath in this sacred moment as we begin our preparations for the impending darkness of the seasonal year.

By traditional Celtic standards this second harvest festival actually began at sunset yesterday and will end at sunset in the morrow. This creates a three day window to acknowledge the bounty that is produced by the light and warmth of the sun.

Ancient symbols and rituals for this day include:

• The cornucopia, symbol of the wealth of the season and also symbolizes both the male (phallic) and female (receptive).
  
• Death of the Sun god as he retreats into his seasonal sleep.
• Equinimity of the day and night, which inturn refers to male and female.
  
• Color associations are: deep dark reds, yellow and brown.

The word Equinox comes from the latin meaning equal nights. Today the period of daylight is in equal balance to the darkness of the night. As the day and night come into balance, this symbol can also translate into the balance between the male and female aspects as well as the right and left hemispheres of the brain.


I've seen references where the Green Man is also honored on this day. The Green Man represents the spirit of the forest. We pay tribute to the Green Man by acknowledging the trees that dwell in our midst. Here in the Santa Monica Mountains I have been witnessing acorns on the ground from the bounty of the native oaks. Make offerings to our mighty tree friends who so graciously offer us their fruits, shade and wood for our survival. Honor them by becoming conscious of their presence. In our daily, electronic infused busy lives we often forget these mighty dwellers. Infuse them with your love first by stepping into the present moment and acknowledging their presence. We are in the Celtic lunar tree phase of the Vine at the moment, specifically grape. In times of old gifts such as wine and cider were presented to the spirit of the trees and forest as


This is a time to learn and repair those things will facilitate light during the upcoming period of dark as we move toward the fire festival of Samhain. Thanks to a phone call by Beth a few days where she shared her story of an owl telling her to "remember", I too was stirred to remember.
My reminder came in several little events culminating while I wrote about the trees in this post.
Today and this next phase is a great time to journey within. As the ancient Greek inscription perscribes us to "Know Thyself", γνῶθι σεαυτόν gnōthi seauton. The energies are ripe for taking that journey to the core of our essential nature.

Autumn Equinox, Mabon or Meán Fómhair Botanical Perfume

To facilitate the journey to the territory of your own Sibyl consider these herbs and essential oils to accompany the journey. Some of these can be be infused or tinctured to then create your own special potion for the Autumn Equinox.

• Acorn or Oak, Quercus: Here in California the native Chumush people gathered acorns, leeched them and then ground them into flour. Acorn flour is readily available at specialty markets in the Los Angeles area and probably where Oaks are native. The energetic imprint of the acrorn is fertility in all her guises.
• Benzoin, Styrax benzoin or Styrax tonkinensis: Resin from a tree native to Asia. The resin can be easily purchased for tincturing and infusing. The bits can be put into a medicine pouch along with acorns and carried with you. Benzoin is also referred to as "Gum Benjamin" a classic resin utilized for preparing Incense. The resinoid or essential oil has a sweet, balsamic aroma with Vanilla. A few on my books reference the magical uses of Benzoin to be connected with purification and attraction. For aromatherapy purposes I suggest diffusing Benzoin in an aromatherapy burner or using in steam inhalations.
  
• Marigold, Calendula officinalis: Flower heads and petals can be used dried as well as infused and tinctured. Marigold as an essence for botanical perfume exists as a C02 extract. There are some that refer to Marigold as Tagetes: Tagetes bipinata, Tagetes glandulifera or Tagetes minuta, which are available as essential oils and absolutes. I have seen Marigold flowers connected with manifestation.

A few others to consider are:

• Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha
  
• Rose, Rosa
• Sage, Salvia offincinalis

I would also include apples and honey in the list above.

• Apple: A few years ago I was able to obtain some Apple Blossom Absolute to use in the creations of botanical, natural perfumes. I have not seen the material recently. There are plenty of raw materials in the perfumes palette the can assist in creating an impression of apple, those include many of the fruity essences, most especially Roman chamomile essential oil.
• Honey: Both honey and beeswax absolute are available to the natural perfumer. Some have tinctured honey to use in perfume, while others have tinctured comb, propolis and other materia from the hive. One also has beeswax as a component to solid perfume, slaves or lotion.
  

This list above are just a few suggestions on how YOU can make your own potion, most importantly follow your own intuition guides and mindfulness on what to use.

Natural perfumes from Roxana Illuminated Perfume that are appropriate for anointing oneself today and/or utilizing as your scent of the day:

• Q liquid and solid, devoted to the Coastal Live Oak
• Sierra liquid and solid, devoted to the Conifers, the solid has fruity elements and a prosperity accord which was created using magical principals.
• The perfume devoted to Peace liquid or solid
• Rosa liquid perfume
  

All of these contain one or more of the elements listed above.

HAPPY Autumn Equinox, Mabon or Meán Fómhair to you.
Birthday Blessings to my father who turns 83 and my dear friend Susan.

Images:
"Blessings" by Greg Spalenka ©Greg Spalenka
Brain on parchment by Roxana Villa. Old engraving of a Brain which I have utilizing in photoshop. ©Roxana Villa
Q illumination by Greg Spalenka for Roxana Illuminated Perfume. ©Greg Spalenka & Roxana Villa
Photo of Know Yourself Inscription is from GreeceTaxi

Autumnal

Here at the little woodland house of creativity Autumn has made her appearance. Formerly she will reach her mark next Tuesday for Mabon/ The Fall Equinox.

We notice the arrival of the new temperate season of Harvest by the acorns that appear under the California Live Oaks. The weather is still warm most of the time but we have gotten out our sweaters and are not running the air conditioning system. Quite the opposite on the other side of the equator in the Southern hemisphere where Spring is arriving.

Eve has started school again, so the languid energetics of summer have been replaced by more rhythmic systems, at least for Eve and I. Greg, for the most part, remains in his own more languid universe of right brain flow.

The perfume devoted to Peace will release September 21st, this coming Moon-day, which is the International Day of Peace and also coincides with the Equinox the following day. As you may have noticed I have been trending toward releasing my botanical perfumes on significant pagan events like High Celtic Holy days or an analogous association like significant Lunar activity. Although I was brought up Catholic, I am most comfortable unbounded by religious dogma and veer toward more pagan, wiccan and eastern thought patterns.

I have been wearing the new perfume and testing it on family members for the last few days. To my nose, it feels very appropriate for moving into this new season. The overall impression is earthy floral notes layered over warm spicy balsamics with a touch of fruit.

Images: Painting above by Pre Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais , small icon of Peace charm

Autumn

"I rise through the strength of Mi-cha-el, Light of the Sun, Radiance of the Moon, Splendor of Fire, Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea, Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock. Mi-cha-el!"
- St. Patrick

September marks a new season replete with the start of school and many celebrations. The Fall Equinox took place last Friday, September 23rd, marking another seasonal turn in the wheel. This "holy" day is often associated with the gratitude for the bounty of the harvest as well as signaling a time to move inward as the light begins to diminish.
Michaelmas on September 29th is my favorite of all the Autumnal celebrations. I came to know this feast day when my daughter Eve was four, attending a Waldorf School. Michaelmas celebrates courage, the heroes journey and conquering our dark side, symbolized by the battle with the dragon. The stories tell of Archangel Michael coming to the aid of St. George, a brave knight, who slays or tames the dragon. This festival calls forth our inner light as nature goes into her winter sleep. It is the first of a series of seasonal celebrations of light.

Waldorf Education
Michaelmas at a Waldorf School on YouTube