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Winter Solstice Kaftan Offering 2020

closed 11/30/2020

$350.00

description

This Offering was inspired by the Sabbath Yule which is a celebration of the Winter Solstice on December 21st 2020 and ends Jan 1st 2021. I’m using the Wheel of the Year as a jumping off point for each offering to honor and deepen our relationship with the seasonal cycles in the Northern hemisphere. Each offering will be available for 2-3 weeks and then will end in time for me to make and ship your garment so that it arrives before that Sabbath. I’m so excited to share a more in depth journey into my life’s work as an herbalist, clothing designer, yogini, and environmentalist. It is my hope that through these offering we will connect more deeply with Gaia together.

The Garment Design: The garment design for this offering is the Boat Long Kaftan in Silk. The neckline style is a rounded finished neck, making it extremely versatile in its simplicity. The Kaftan Design offers lots of space to showcase the eco print of 2 varieties of Eucalyptus and Kinko Leaf. A relaxed sleeve adds even more drape and flow to this sophisticated yet lounge worthy design. The garment is approximately 32 x 48.

Spirits: Please scroll down the entire page to see a more in depth list of all beings involved with the making of this offering, their connection to Yule and their energetic and medicinal properties. The quick list of all involved is Mugwort, Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali, Goddess Lakshmi, Selenite, Smoky Quartz, Silk, Eucalyptus, Reishi, He Shou Wu, Pearl, Tocos, Ashwagandha, Pine Pollen, Astragalus, Flower Essence of Star of Bethlehem, Flower Essence of Rhododendron, Flower Essence of Oak, Indigo, Madder, Yeast, Soda Ash, Iron, Water, Fire, Metal, Air, and Earth. This image is an example of how these energies combine, your Kaftan will be similar, but also unique and One Of A Kind. All Kaftans will be made together in a group and each participant, including you, will be honored and represented during the Ritual of Making.

Ships Dec 14th: My apologies that garments shipped outside the U.S. may not reach you in time for this specific Solstice. There is a chance it could be held by your countries customs office and I have no way of predicting or controlling if this will happen. If you would like your garment to ship quickly once complete please choose EXPRESS Shipping during checkout.

 

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Honoring Each Spirit

I believe that everything has a dynamic life force, personality, vibration, and divinity that deserves respect an autonomy. You, Me, Animals, Plants, Rivers, Minerals, The Stars and Planets, The Sea, The Air, Mycylium, Gods and Goddesses, Celestial Beings, The Elements, Stories, Language, Micro-organisms and all things still undiscovered or simply unseen. It’s my goal to be in right relationships with all Beings by acknowledging the unique knowledge, healing, and vibration their presence brings.

We have always had the ability to commune with the life forces that surround us and it is only in recent human history that we have forgotten. I’m so excited to see more and more people are reactivating these relationships and sharing their journey. It is through this shift in consciousness we will return to a more sustainable and balanced relationship with Gaia. Thank you for joining me in my humble attempt to honor these relationships in my work.

I’m excited to spend this life in a space of learning through apprenticeship, classes, personal practices, and simply holding space for this to come forward or change at any given moment. This is my souls work and spans many incarnations.

Below is a list of all Beings, known to me, who are present during the making of this specific offering. While I will give a brief descriptions of why I have chosen each for this Offering and their unique vibrations, this is mostly about holding space and gratitude for their presence. I would like to apologize to any beings I forget to mention and ask that I will have the humility and ability to see, hear, and feel you as I move forward with these offerings in the future.

The Land

The land on which I currently live and make these offerings is Catawba Indigenous Lands.

Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali, and Goddess Lakshmi

I am currently joining Laura Amazzone in her Goddess Durga and Goddess Kali Sadhanas on each New Moon and Sadhanas to the Goddess Lakshmi on each Full Moon. Because I’m developing a relationship with these goddesses I think it is important to mention that their presence is a part of these offerings. I’ll be sharing more about this in an upcoming Gaia Goddess post so be sure to follow our Newsletter at the bottom of the page if you want to learn more.

Mugwort

Mugwort is the shaman of the plant world, a guide for both plants and animals to understand their own magic, their medicine, their souls. For Me Mugwort is a guide as I make each offering and it reminds me that all beings have a life energy, a “body” of sensitivity and feelings, and a spiritual essence or Self. Mugwort is also a guide for the other beings present to help them navigate their unique gifts to all called to participate in this offering. To learn more about my personal relationship with Mugwort and how they are a part of this process visit here.

Smokey Quartz

The quartz crystal holds and shares ancient earth information. They are here to aid in amplifying the history and voices of each being present. Quartz radiates at a very slow, powerful, and deeply grounded vibration. Put simply, they are our oldest earth ancestors and therefore embody very old magic that brings depth and balance to the offering. Smokey Quartz gently dissolves negative thought patterns, anger, and resentment.

SELENITE

Selenite helps us to be both flexible in our nature but resolute in our decisions.

Silk

On an energetic level one is able to connect with the imperfect beauty created through transformation. I invite you to imagine the hard work of each Silk Worm building it’s cocoon, transforming inside, then emerging to fly away into the night. Then hold space for all the people involved with gathering the silk cocoons, processing and spinning them into thread, then weaving this thread into fabric.

Eucalyptus

The Spirit of Eucalyptus brings fresh energy to a stagnant situation, helps to heal regrets and worries, and gently creates a barrier from others negative energy without attacking or constraining them. The bundle dye process infuses the invigorating yet grounding scent of eucalyptus into the fabric releasing it’s magic to the olfactory sense of smell. All this makes it especially dynamic when added to a garment designed to be worn for Ritual.

YIN

Reishi, He Shou Wu, Pearl, Tocos, Ashwagandha, Pine Pollen, Artagulus

This is a tonic created by Sun Potion crafted to nourish feminine energy and harmonize the whole system. I use it daily and felt called to add it to the water bath during the bundle dyeing process. It balances Immunity, Creative Energy, Hormonal Balance, Mental Clarity, Stress Relief, Cellular Regeneration, Radiance, Healthy Circulation, Emotional Equilibrium, and Libido

Flower Essence of Rhododendron

I have added One Willow Apothecaries Rhododendron Flower essence to the water of the bundle dyeing process to help me locate and unfold my inner strength and ultimate heart, revealing myself as fertile, capable, and grounded in a place of self-sustainability that ultimately incites the growth of those around me.

 

Flower Essence of Star of Bethlehem

I’ve added this flower essence to help us move through the shock of Winter and to be a guiding light through the darkest days of the year. This Flower Essence neutralizes the effects of grief and encourages the positive potential of inner strength.

Flower Essence of Oak

Oak helps us to feel at home in the world whilst maintaining a quiet overview of what is going on around us. It supports us in developing a quiet inner strength so that, like the oak tree, we will not easily be overturned by opposing forces. We become strong and resilient.

From this strong viewpoint we can then watch the world with quiet amusement, seeing, perhaps in amazement, just how seriously many people take themselves. It teaches us not to react against the world, but to act with freedom on the circumstances around us. We are then no longer imprisoned by old reaction patterns that can so often disempower us.

 

Indigo

Indigo, Madder Root, Yeast, Soda Ash, Water

I have added Indigo to the Mabon Offering because it is profoundly calming to the nervous system and it promotes physical and mental Rest. The color created with Vat Indigo balances the heart, stimulates the lungs, Liver, thymus, and lymph system.

Alum

Alum is another mordant used to help the natural plant dyes bond with the plant fibers. Alum offers the energy of connection and vibrates a feeling of preservation and assistance.

Iron

We pre-mordant this Kaftan with iron to help bring out a better print from the Maple Leaf during the bundle dye stage. Iron is often used as a mordant or an assist in natural dyeing. Energetically it helps intensify our qi and build strength. It connects us with the Planet Spirit Mars, the Warrior planet, when the dark wins over the light. It will assist us in forging ahead into the dark side of the seasons.

The Elements

Water, Fire, Metal, Air, and Earth

I would just like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the 5 elements and their crucial roll in making not only this offering, but life as we know it possible.

 

The Ritual of Making

The Process for the yule Offering first starts with cutting and sewing the garment. I have chosen this design for it’s flexibility and the ample surface area for displaying the combined Natural Dye techniques.

After I mordant the garment with Alum and Iron it is ready for eco printing or bundle dyeing. The First Step is to create the Smoky Quartz and Selenite Elixir Bath. This is done by letting a Smokey Quartz Crystal and Selenite Crystals sit in Water over night. This water is then used as the base of the Bundle Dyeing Bath.

The Plant Spirit involved at this stage is the Eucalyptus Leaf. After being layed out on garment and then bundled and tied the garment is added to a pot of water with Reishi, He Shou Wu, Pearl, Tocos, Ashwagandha, Pine Pollen, Artagulus, the Flower Essence Rhododendron, The Flower Essence of Star of Bethlehem, and the Flower Essence of Pine. I will also include your name written on the tag of your Kaftan to add your special medicine to the Ritual Making of these Kaftans. After this part of the process is complete the garment is washed and cleaned of any remaining material. It is then dipped in our 10 year old Indigo Fermentation Vat. It then goes through a final rinse and loving Ritual before making it’s journey to you.

 

 

Meet The Maker

Meet the Maker

I am beyond excited to bring these Special pieces forward. It feels like the culmination of my 40 years earth side, yet I’m still only at the beginning of a very unique body of work. One that brings together many pieces of myself, while still allowing space for this to grow and change as I do. If you have made it this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me. I will be sharing more as these pieces develop.