Save the Oaks

The scent of the day is Q, Quercus agrifolia, devoted to the Coastal Live Oak. I started my fragrance line with this botanical perfume. The intention connected with Q is to bring awareness to the native Oaks of California. This path was revealed when a contractor bought the empty lot next to us to build a huge McMansion. We organized our neighborhood to protect the Oaks and the development of the lot.

To my regret, the contractor that we have been wrestling with has come back from the dead. Although the bank foreclosed on his other project, like a horror film, he has returned. We received the letter from the city informing us that another hearing has been set. Good grief, here we go yet again!

I'm feeling quite distraught at the moment. Intending that in the morrow the feisty self will be back, ready to once again organize the neighbors to defend oaks and land. I am calling forth Soverieignty, the Celtic Goddess of the land, to help us. According to the book The Celtic Way of Seeing: "Sovereignty holds the the axis mundi. She is the one who bestows "rulership" to those who are in right relationship with her."1 Thus, please anoint yourselves with Q and appeal to Sovereignty for her assistance.

I took the photo at top on Monday while hiking in Malibu State Park. It is a gigantic Quercus lobata we came across on our adventure through the woods.

1. The Celtic Way of Seeing by Frank MacEowen, page 52.

Scent of the Day: Gold+Green

"Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you”

Intending you all discover that pot of GOLD at the end of your rainbow today. Scent for today can wander into a few areas, but I am settling on Sierra Solid Gold. It's been woven with magic and intentions of prosperity and is a golden yellow in color. GreenWitch and Q are runners up. For me, the day will begin with Aurora since I will be making the solid today, followed by GreenWitch.

“Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter.Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums.
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes... That's the Irish for you!”

Although I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina my ancestry is one quarter Irish, one quarter Spanish and half Italian. I do have a thing for the pagan heritage of the Irish and look forward to one day visiting the land of Éire. Éire is one of the triple Celtic mythological figures that embody Sovereignty, the Goddess of the Land.

Wishing you all the luck of the Irish today and as mentioned above , that you may find that pot of Gold, the holy Grail in your endeavors on this feat.

Maewyn, who was later to become St. Patrick is responsible for converting large numbers of Irish pagans to Christianity. Somehow amidst the celebrations on this day I wonder if someone will mention how many pagans were burned by religious fanatics who had there own ideas of how to follow God. Today I will celebrate all things Green and humbly pay tribute to the all those that persished from following a way of life connected to Mother Earth.

Sovereignty

Today was the final class in the California Native Plant Design series at the Theodore Payne Foundation. I now have a complete landscape design using native plants for the front portion of our lot. I chose plants from the Woodland and Chaparral community since that is where our home is located. The intention for the design is beauty and expand awareness of native flora. Aromatic plants were chosen to be included in the creation of botanical perfumes, especially those in the Californica series.

We began the process by removing the vinca, native to Europe, that covered our front slope. I’m sure that process will continue. This past week we started giving away other non-natives in the garden to neighbors, family and friends. Although we still have lots of work to do before we can start planting, I do intend to have some plants in the ground by April!

The painting above is called Sovereignty, the image came to me during a Beltane meditation.

In 1996 I was part of an initiate circle with about seven other women. We would meet once a month at a loft in downtown LA. The intention was greater awareness. We would meditate, drum, read, study archetypal energies, do ritual and practice mindfulness. Here is an excerpt from one of our handouts, by our facilitator and dear friend Kaitryne:
“The Goddess Sovereignty represents the inherit unity of the King and the Land. She also stands for just and truthful dealings among all peoples. She is the epicenter about which the Arthurian Legends revolve, for she is the Goddess of the land and whatever affects the land causes changes in her. The Goddess of Sovereignty holds a four-sided cup of truth and justice: if three falsehoods are said over it: it will shatter into pieces; but if three truths are said over it: it will reunite. Like the Earth itself, she must be respected.”

Of all the archetypes we studied Sovereignty keeps circling back to me, especially now that I find myself defending the Oak trees in and around my community.

If I were to create a perfume in honor of Sovereignty I would start with a base of earthy and woody notes, possibly: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Mitti, Vetiver, Patchouli. The greenness of Galbanum is a must for its definitive green, fresh earth quality. Where to go from there...hmmm....


Roxana Illuminated Perfume™
The Theodore Payne Foundation
Arthurian Traditions

Sovereignty ©Roxana Villa www.roxanavilla.com