2022 Shop Small Gift Guide

winter gift giving is a lovely gesture of bringing appreciation and light to the darkness. however it’s also has become a very capitalized and stressful expectation of the season. while i’ve had a lot of complicated feelings around the current state of holidays like Christmas, i try to move away from the standard expectations and let some of these lovely gestures float back into a more fufilling and warming place. some of ways i try to de-capitalize the winter holidays are by celebrating the Winter Solstice, not forcing the gift-giving to happen immediately BY the 25th- allowing the time and space for winter gifts to arrive whenever they do throughout the season- and by prioritizing time with myself and those i love.

but another way to more ethically participate in the Winter festivities is pretty simple: shopping small, independent makers, shops, and artists. it is a a simple thing you can do that produces a great result. not only does shopping small return more money back into the local economy, get cash into actual peoples’ hands (not corporations), and support folks’ dreams - it also helps you find an unique gift that you probably can’t get anywhere else. and it always feels great to receive (and give) something like that.

Here’s some of my favorite makers and items you can shop this holiday season :

please be mindful a lot of these makers (including myself) have a December 15th deadline for orders to arrive for Xmas - but also, why limit yourself to only giving gifts at the very beginning of the winter? we still have a couple dark months ahead of us, why not bring the light deeper into the season, spreading the cheer even further!

Boheme Botanika

www.bohemebotanika.com // @bohemebotanika (instagram)

Amber is a lovely person that i was lucky enough to have spent time living with nearly ten years ago when we were both finding our way in the world. she pours so much care into the earth, her products, and her business in general. she crafts almost all of her products with what she grows and forages in her home in Vermont, and when she can’t use her own plants she sources them from wonderful other sustainable growers. her herbal and folk magic knowledge is amazingly vast and if you’re in the northeast i can’t encourage you enough to sign up for one of her plant walks, classes, or herbal apprenticeship- and if you’re not out that way she has a patreon that is also a great way to learn from her.

the one herbal product i’d like to focus on as one of my FAVORITES is the Hydrating Maple Spray. As someone who lives in an especially dry and unique high altitude climate, my skincare routine has to be unique as well. I’ve found this Maple Spray to do wonders for my skin- especially in the extra dry winter. but this spray is a great product to have regardless of your local climate. it also has a bright quality that really helps wake me up on cold frosty mornings.

Desertshipbuilder

www.desertshipbuilder.com // @desertshipbuilder (instagram)

Audra Knutson is a multi-media artist that i am excited to be able to call a friend. her spacious abstract geometric themes are drawn from her own experience living in the high desert. jewelry, weavings, poetry, and prints can be found on instagram, and often elsewhere in the physical realm around Taos. I was lucky enough to purchase this gorgeous ring by her from Lun + Ojo gallery (Taos, NM) and it is one of my favorites. find more of her work and take some home for yourself online.

Milagro Mavericks Arts

@milagro_mavericks_arts (instagram)

this is another lovely artist that i am lucky enough to be good friends with. Leona works with materials that would often find their way to the garbage bin and transforms them into gorgeous pieces of jewelry. I absolutely treasure my necklace i got from her, and she has lots of styles and colors of leather earrings as well. reach out to her on instagram to purchase or even get yourself a custom piece of your dreams!

Waxleaf

www.etsy.com/shop/waxleaf // @waxleaf (instagram)

while we’re in the jewelry realm- Waxleaf is another wonderful artist that makes amazing nature inspired pieces of wearable art. I got myself a gorgeous pair of these snake earrings last fall for my birthday- but Melissa has so much for you to choose from. bones, coffee beans, teeth, moss, broken vintage jam jars, and pressed flowers all make their way into her gorgeous pieces.

Lisa Giancolors

www.etsy.com/shop/LisaGiancolors // @lisagiancolors (instagram)

I guess i’m pretty lucky to know so many lovely creative folks in the world - and Lisa is definitely one of them. we both met while interning at Tower Hill Botanic Garden and have been friends since. an immensely talented dancer and also tie dyer, Lisa creates intricate, show stopping designs in her tie dye work. I’m lucky enough to have a gorgeous mushroom shirt of my own, but i encourage you to give her a follow and check out her stuff. elevate your tie dye game with one of these amazing peices of wearable art.

Corpus Ritual

corpusritual.com // @corpusritual (instagram)

Jennifer Patterson is a lovely spirit who is kind enough to share their healing experience and expertise with the wider world. I am lucky enough to own a copy of the Power of Breathwork and to have taken a couple online breathwork classes with Jennifer and I can’t tell you how profound my limited experience has been (especially as someone with anxiety) especially because of their trauma informed approach and queer lens. Jennifer also makes wonderful herbal products as well if you’re looking for gentle plant guidance to get you through whatever it is life may be throwing at you.

Mutable Cross

roseblakelock.com // @mutable_cross (instagram)

this past birthday i treated myself to an astrology reading by Rose Blakelock and i can not speak more highly about it! while i may have given the wrong birth time (eek, my bad lol) I truly believe that the universe will get you the messages you need to hear however it can, and what i heard was exactly what i needed. Rose is really affable and i found myself laughing and instantly relaxed in her presence. her insights were unique and resonated immensely with me, but she also offers you the space to disagree or offer more information which allows the person getting the reading to retain their autonomy throughout the entire process. i can’t wait to have another reading tbh. Rose is also a queer friendly astrologer and quite gentle in her approach.

Wilde Ink

www.wildeinkshop.com // @wilde.ink (instagram)

this powerhouse of beauty literally floors me with her dedication to her craft and level of production. based in Taos, NM, Laurel uses her artmaking process as a way to stay in touch with the divine. get her hand carved, nature based and abstract designs on prints, notebooks, clothing, and other fabric goods.

Lynx Leatherworks

@lynxleatherworks (instagram)

this amazing lady crafts all kinds of wonderful leather goods to keep all your belongings (fashionably) in one place. check out her instagram to see what kinds of things she’s crafted up, and DM on instagram if there’s something you like!

Oak Ring Pens

oakringpens.com // @oakringpens (instagram)

i met these lovely folks through the Questa Art Market this past fall and they make some wonderfully gentle and magical illustrations that also adorn their unique pens. this is something i haven’t really seen anywhere else and it’s definitely made an impression on me!

Foggy Memory Boys

foggymemory.com // @foggymemoryboys (instagram)

well, i couldn’t wrap up this list without including my musical friends the Foggy Memory Boys. while you can find them traveling from the southwest to the midwest and beyond sharing their own unique version of New Mexico Bluegrass, you can also grab their album and other merch through their online shop. I’ve been lucky enough to draw up some designs for these folks as well, including their album cover and my favorite piece of merch - their FMB Aprons!

I hope this sparks some enthusiasm for gift giving this winter holiday season and remember to shop small and have patience with folks <3

New Moon in Aquarius Collective Reading

as we enter this Aquarian Lunar Cycle we may feel a streak of rebelliousness. while some are perfectly content to travel the paved roads society lays out for us, there is a fierce and wonderful breed of folks who can’t help but question “why?” they poke and prod at these pathways that were laid without question. asking whomever may pass “why are you doing this? how does it make you feel” and possibly the most heavy of questions : “does this make you feel fulfilled?”

the Aquarius Lunar Cycle brings this inquisitive nature to all of us. while some may be quite comfortable with this quizzical guest, others may be temped to shut the door. each astrological event invites us to to see things with a different point of view. to feel things with a different vibe. to experience an energy- temporarily- that will help us from getting too lost in our own thoughts.

this cycle starts tonight (January 31st) with the New Moon and ends with the following New Moon (in Pisces) on March 1st. we have a whole month to work with a specific goal, focus, and/or energy as we wake up each day. which is my intention with these collective New Moon Readings: to offer you a theme to be aware of as your life unfolds.

for this cycle we are being asked to remember the power of the Emperor. the towering Redwood who watches over the forest kingdom it is rooted to. aptly, this ties into Aquarius’ most beloved trait: being a part of a collective. while any group may do, this water barer thrives when it finds one with a shared passion, focus, and vision for the world. but it is inherently tricky when you bring many individuals to work together. teamwork requires communication, vulnerability, and the capacity to listen to others’ beliefs- which may not match your own.

this is where the teachings of the Emperor can come in.

while the idea of a singular “boss” or “ruler” may immediately bring up unpleasant connotations, please note that there can be many different kinds of leaders. while in our current society we are plagued by monstrous industries that are so gigantic you can never see the man at the top- this is far from the ideal form of leadership. these rulers are so detached from the folks who do the work for them, their customers, and their supporters. these CEOs live in an isolated bubble, lacking the positive teachings of the Emperor, and this can create an inevitable collapse. Which we’ve seen in the histories of Rome, and the French Monarchy.

leadership in smaller groups is a more sustainable model. by removing all the layers of access, the community that the leader is responsible for has more space to share their concerns, vision, and labor. and by having smaller groups the leader has the ability to get to know the individuals they work with. from here, proper leaders can see the strengths, weaknesses, and desires of the folks they are watching over. by having this intimate awareness they can take individual needs into consideration. a true leader can troubleshoot the ways in which the collective can work best together and empower the folks they watch over.

the Redwood’s roots are actually quite shallow compared to the massive height of this towering tree. how can this be? how can such a large being be anchored safely into the ground below? it’s because this tree is not meant to survive on its own. it belongs to a community that keeps it secure. the Redwood’s roots are interwoven into the other plants that live around it, and some of those bushes, trees, and other woody flora do have the immense taproots that the Redwood lacks. it is strength in numbers that keeps the mighty tree grounded. it is through trust, knowing, and leaning on others to provide what they may not have themselves.

reciprocity is key. mutual respect is key. knowing when to ask for help and to provide help is so important.

as you walk through this next month ask yourself if you’d be a good leader. are you someone who would rule with an iron fist, with little flexibility and the inability to access differing points of view? or would you like to take a more holistic approach? would you wish to see yourself as more of a facilitator, a teacher, or captain on a team? how do you rule over your own body? how do you rule over your own life? and if you’re quite harsh, how can you soften a bit and see yourself less as “me vs. them” and more as an individual piece with a role to fill?

how can you cultivate structure in your life in a way that you would like to live by? how can you knock down those dictators that refuse to see your individual power and vision? and could some of those dictators be the voice within yourself?

everyone’s’ individual experience is nuanced and often different from one another. however there are moments where we see a running theme throughout the most differing of stories. it is up to you to glean the bits of information from this collective reading and put them in your pocket for the next 29 days. then as you wander through your own lived experience take a moment to pause, check in, and notice how the stories of Aquarius, the Emperor, and the Redwood appear to help you in your own life.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I have been having ongoing issues with the company that I print my guidebooks through. In the past year every order I’ve made has arrived with most of the books containing scuff marks, dented corners, and imprints on the covers. I have been trying to contact the company several times with no response. I am hoping to find another source to get these books from at some point, but for now I will be offering a 15% discount to account for the slight damages.

thank you all for your understanding & support!

Happy Fall,

h.

2021 guidance card, and musings on the Wild Rose

My Guide card for the year ahead is the Wild Rose
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While it can be all too easy to see this card as relationship bliss, I think it can oversimplify things.
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The suit of Summer (Cups) deals with emotions, and interactions with others outside ourselves. The number two usually indicates two forces, or two entities. Possibly a duality, or opposites combining.
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While the idea of joyous connection often conjures up ideas of lovers it is possible to push the boundaries of a bit further. This can be a connection with any two forces and extended beyond romance to platonic, familial, or even ideal work relationships.
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Wild Rose asks you to take note of what it is you’re happily connected to, and that can be yourself too. How do we nurture and care for these relationships? How to we maintain and show respect to what we love?
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When we find ourselves being overly critical it’s important to take a step back. What is it we enjoy and appreciate? It can be a rebellious act to genuinely come forward with a willingness to connect. And it doesn’t need to feel as cheesy as some “love heals all” saying, too.

wondering about lawns, the Magician card.

I find it interesting that grass is so interwoven with domesticity.
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There is an element of control, of mastery, with the lawn and at times it feels like an overly simple one. With all the ways to connect with plants it can be strange to think that this one, one that is so familiar with so many, has been nearly stripped of all its natural magic in most of its human interactions.
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This matches well with the shadow side of the Magician. This youthful spirit has discovered the simplest elements of magic: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water (illustrated as the four suits of the tarot in the Smith Rider-Waite version). They have an excited energy and the desire to master and utilize these new found tools.
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Like most lawn owners, the Magician is not corrupt, just naive. This desire to break everything down into basic categories, and master the world around us is a human drive. this force can be used for good if we come about it with curiosity and an understanding that everything is more complex than we can imagine. Categories can be helpful as long as we don’t loose sight of the intricacy those classifications may overlook.
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Try not to get caught up in dogma as you begin this exploratory journey (your own or someone else’s). Try to relinquish the desire for control with a fresh interest in what is. You can only become a master when you’re flexible to let everything else show you what it has to offer, not forcing it to fit your agenda.
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While the lawn may be what many think of when they see Grass, try not to forget its wild ancestors that blanketed the plains, nourished the majestic fauna, and created seas of green beings that hold much more knowledge than we ever gave them credit for.

Eight of Summer, Purple Loosestrife

When this card appears you may be feeling stuck and stagnant- something many of us can relate to with the current state of things.
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Loosestrife is often called an ‘Invasive’ a term I once embraced, but have found myself picking apart the actual concept and now view with a more complicated lens.
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This purple plant was introduced to North America where it quickly took hold- something that can happen with enthusiastic flora offered an ideal environment with none of its usual restrictions. This created a situation where Loosestrife was crowding out wetlands, and creating stagnant waterways void of much variation.
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The card asks us to draw attention to what it is that’s making us feel stuck. Outside factors are valid, but are there things within ourselves that are holding us back?
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Habits, expectations, and mindsets can all be harboring factors causing this stagnation. And while it may seem easier to change external ones, if you’re feeling stuck often, perhaps there’s something inward that can be addressed.

familiarity breeds contempt, the Four of Summer

It can be too easy to get caught up in any kind of routine. It can feel challenging to face things we see everyday, the people we surround ourselves with, and motivating ourselves to do routine daily tasks with vigor and enthusiasm.

Sometimes you just want to look at all that and scream. We want to blame it all for the feelings of grey monotony in our lives.

Familiarity can breed contempt.

But we mustn’t forget that we have a role in how we see the world. If we were caught up in an overwhelming slew of changes, we would crave this level of comfort and regularly.

This is the lesson of the Four of Summer (Cups), Desert Sage.

While it is easy to project our discomfort outward, and a change of scenery definitely can be a useful tool, we also can’t underestimate the power of our own thoughts. Examine what you’re dissatisfied with. Is it a thing you may have outgrown and need to move on from? Or are you assuming you’ve experienced every nook and cranny of that experience, and it’s lost it’s power of magic or wonder?

It’s these assumptions and things we “take for granted” that make things feel mundane. Perhaps it’s time to shed those preconceived notions so we can explore these grounded relationships even more.

And if it’s still not for us, yes, let go of it! Thank it for its wisdom, protection, and support. Release it with no resentment.

But we hold the power to change our interaction with what we do and see daily. Own this power within.

it is said that Lemon Balm dispels melancholy...

Lemon Balm is a unassuming little plant, but it’s subtle powers have me absolutely captivated.

It is said that Lemon Balm dispels melancholy, and in my herbal journey I was a bit skeptical of statements like that. However, for me, it holds true.

It’s nothing too earth shattering. No immediate, noticeable charge of electricity. But it does offer a gentle lift, and usually that’s all I need.

I don’t need to be rocketed into elation, but I would like to loosen the hold of despair now and again. So that I can work within that space, that mood, without being consumed.

Ten of Summer (cups) is just that- a delightful feeling of pleasantries. We’ve just been through a myriad of emotions in our journey. We feel tired, exhausted, but full of joy and light from the breadth of experiences and connections we just endured.

Ten of Summer doesn’t have to be all rainbows and puppies. This moment of joy doesn’t have to be that blatant. Listen within, do you feel that glow in your heart? It might be subtle, but if you tend to it, it will only get brighter.

on balance, Temperance

Photo by Hayley Harper

It’s no coincidence that Fall and Libra season begin on the same day. We are being asked to look at the scales within to make sure things are in balance.

But it’s important to understand that sometimes the scales need to be tipped to move their way back to center.

You may be pulled to pacify all that is uncomfortable, but if what you’re siding with does not align with your peace is it truly worth feeding into?

Cattails sit along the water’s edge filtering out the still pond to keep it alive and thriving. Keep a clear mind of what it is you want to see and cultivate in the world. Do what you can to filter out the toxins.

Observing from the sidelines may feel counterproductive, but if you keep your awareness active to what you are observing this act is not purely stillness. You are finding your roots, clinging to the edge, and creating a grounding element within yourself.

From there you can jump into the fray and not get caught up in the shifting world around you. To remain true to Justice in the midst of chaos is Libra’s highest calling. It’s immediate urge to quell unpleasantries is best used with intention and purpose, not for comforting others at the cost of your own values.

You’re just undoing your own work when you try to please what is not serving you. Or your community.

flexibility is such a vague concept, the Hanged Man

As the seasons change and 2020 is still pushing us to uproot what we accepted as “normalcy” the powerful message of the Hanged Man is important to reflect on.

Flexibility can feel like such a vague concept. You can try to roll with whatever life throws at you, but without any idea of what keeps you rooted it’s easy to get washed away. Being flexible doesn’t mean you’re passive, or need to forget your values. Being a doormat is hardly “going with the flow” because you’re actually attaching yourself to someone else’s decisions instead of surrendering to the chance of the greater unknown.

And knowing what keeps you rooted doesn’t mean you stick your heels in the mud at any potential changes that arise. Stubborn behavior is not grounding, it is a resistance to see the multiple pathways that are offered, and potentially limiting yourself through assuming your imagined path is the only one possible.

The Hanged Man asks us to walk the space between those two extremes. It’s being malleable. Some days require a bit more grounding. Some days need a bit more surrender. And knowing yourself is key to interpreting your own compass. As well as accepting you are ever changing. sometimes you need to healthily question your own motives too.

don't fear the Death card

There is nothing to fear when the Death card appears... unless you’re resistant to endings.

While many worry this card is an omen of a literal death, it is actually more metaphorical. It calls upon a need to let something go- or come to a close. Often whatever it may be is deep rooted; a habit we have carried for a long time and leaned on in times of scarcity, hurt, or despair. We may imagine that this trait is just a part of who we are, and we feel reluctant to part with it. But holding on is just limiting our growth and potential.

Learn to let go of what no longer serves us. To no longer fear the mini-deaths we need to live through to keep on living. Take time to revere and thank whatever it is we’re moving on from, for its place in our lives, but know it’s time to part ways. And something we can’t even imagine will suddenly spring up from its place.

planning for the future, Two of Spring

This card.
For whatever reason Crocus, two of Spring, has been a card that keeps occurring for me- often in reverse. I’d look at it, feel a bit confused, and push it out of my mind.
But suddenly, today, it hit me with such clarity I don’t even understand why it was so confusing before.

Two of Spring (wands) is all about that first stage of planning for the future. You’ve been hit with that new inspiration energy and you’re ready to get that head start on some long term goals.

Teamwork can also be another important aspect of this card. The one part I truly grasped more than I think was necessary. While asking for help, and working as a team can be important and valuable aspects when working toward your dreams, you don’t have to wait around for the exact person to appear. Examine your goals and explore what avenues can take you there, and perhaps as you clear all of this up the right help will effortlessly show up.

Only you can know exactly what the right path towards your future can look like. And while it’s constructive to make plans, also be careful not to hold too rigidly to them. Leave space for the unexpected opportunities to arise as well.