I'm so disappointed! Yesterday, I was supposed to attend a friend's Samhain ritual on the beach but went to the wrong place and by the time we realised it was too late to join them. The house has deteriorated into a mess again and everything is back up in the air, although I've not yet managed to kill off any of my herbs this time so it probably isn't the end of the world.

This week I made two wood and straw poppets, one of someone who has been maliciously causing me endless problems and another to help cure a friend of a long-term case of laryngitis. I know that my friend's laryngitis began to get better the next day and is now all better and I'm just waiting to see if the other was as successful. I have to admit I don't usually use poppets in a negative way but when you've run out of options and patience...

I made the mistake of taking a trip to the garden centre and ending up in the reduced plants section... Now, amongst other things, I've rescued a sorry-looking weeping fig. I'm planning to nurse it back to health and see if it encourages prosperity back into the house. Of course it has dropped lots of its leaves from the shock of the move (fairly common with these and it should be fine) so my partner is going to come home to find I've bought a twig. Never mind, everyone thinks I'm mad already!

I'm feeling especially down today even though I've made a good start on the house and sorted most of my financial issues. I suppose its because I'm feeling a bit taken for granted; not by everyone of course but a few bad apples always seem to sour the barrel. Maybe when I start feeling a bit better about myself in general that will stop happening. Fingers crossed!

Today, I've been braiding leather and using the technique a friend of mine recently taught me to weave wool into baskets. I'm aiming to make something to store all the little nic naks I get attracted to when I'm out and about until I work out what I want to do with them. Its going to have to be pretty big...

I think later on I'll plait all my frustration with everyone into a woollen knot and burn it and see if that helps.

I couldn't believe my luck! I went for a wander around and found myself in a crystal shop. Now, I don't usually go into them, not because I don't like crystals but because I prefer to find my shiny things than buy them. Anyway, I was browsing their fossil display when I noticed something I hadn't seen in ages; there, marked as a 'plant fossil', was a shepherd's crown! Of course I bought it (for a bargain price) and its now in pride of place in my living room.

I've taken a photo of my altar to share with you it its current slightly dilapidated state. I know its much more empty than a lot of people's but most of the things I use tend to have homes around the house anyway. I'm not sure you can see properly but in front of the candles on the left theres currently a piece of petrified wood, a sharks tooth and a poppet carved out of ginger. There are a few more delicate things in the little wooden box too but those vary a fair amount. The basket usually contains a selection of fruit, herbs and nuts; at the minute, that's mainly sage and apples. I'll be restocking that when I buy some new flowers, hopefully later today. Underneath the cloth there are some drawers and shelves to store bigger things on, although currently theres all kinds of stuff under there. I really need to get organised...

The cushions are mainly there so I can take them down to kneel on when I'm working; its too low to stand!

I had to sort out some financial issues today and I was pretty worried about the outcome so I may have gone into overdrive (something which happens a lot when I'm worrying). After a quick tidy up, I decided to bake a honey, nut and cinnamon loaf (honey for sweetness and cinnamon and nuts for prosperity). I love the symbolism of baking bread, the way that you're growing something warm and desirable. When that was finished, I ran myself a hot bath and sprinkled in a handful of basil leaves into the water to represent financial gain. I really enjoy herbal baths so with that and the bread I was all relaxed and ready for bed before I knew it.

This morning before I headed out, I popped a bay leaf into my pocket... and not only did I sort out all my financial issues, I found thirty pounds in small amounts on my way there and back!

Remind me to worry more often...

A Need For Change

Things have been bad for a while. Just a quick look around my house would probably tell you that. There are little piles of socks and unknown fluff on the floor, the houseplants are long-since deceased and there's a leaning tower of dishes where the sink used to be. The garden isn't much better. There are 'weeds' sprouting from practically everywhere, my partner's half-finished projects littered across the path and bits of wood have falled off of the shed to the point where it looks as if I've been playing structural jenga.

I suppose in a way that reflects how I've been recently as a person. Little problems have been cropping up everywhere in little (and not so little) piles until I was almost as buried as the sink. I was starting to think I was going to shrivel up and die under the pressure exactly like my poor plants or find myself tripping up in life like I did on the garden path only to be crushed under the delapidated shed of my problems. Its funny how my immediate surroundings seem to have become a metaphor for me (or maybe I read into it too much).

This couldn't go on.

With the help of some friends, I've made a start on tidying up my house and garden. I'll be replacing the dead houseplants with some shiny new ones and putting out a basket of apples to symbolise my personal healing and welcoming back of better things back into my life. Once I've gotten everything straight, I'll be inviting my lovely friends back round for a visit and indulging in a little bit of a thank-you kitchen witch style.

Here's hoping not all of my posts end up being this long and depressing :D