New Altar Supplies at Feral Strumpet
This month I have introduced lovingly selected altar supplies at both Feralstrumpet.co.uk and Etsy— they join my miniature witch balls. Carefully prepared and selected ritual salts, incenses, sprays as well as fossil and mineral specimens will be on offer.
Today is the New Moon, between two powerful full moons this month. I chose this time to visit one of the sacred spaces on the North Sea near me– the Needle’s Eye at Tarlair, not far from the Pictish hill for of Cleaved Head. This natural arch is part of the Pre-Cambrian shore of the North Sea here, formed over 600 million years ago. It is indeed a place of the jotuns. I visited at high tide to bring in as much sea water as I could carry in order to extract some ritual salt which I’ll offer later this week. My ritual sea salt comes in a tin with a tiny piece of sea glass & a limpet shell spoon.
I have also carefully selected fossils, mineral specimens as well as Witches Stones (Mare stones, Odin Stones or Hag Stones) gleaned on the beaches of North Yorkshire and Scotland.
I have created a Shadow Work incense at the New Moon Eclipse which includes protective Bladderwrack sustainably harvested at the full moon as well as other foraged and ethically sourced resins and herbs. At the coming blue moon I’ll create an Esbat incense as well which I will offer in April.
I’m also proud to be the only shop in the UK and Europe to offer Nicole Piar‘s beautiful Spirit Cats Deck. I regularly use this deck for daily inspiration or to clarify longer Tarot readings. The whimsical, ethereal art work and lively stories on the reverse are soul-gladdening. A must for any esoteric cat lover, and makes a wonderful gift for a witch with many familiars (we all know one!) or a friend or comrade who could use a boost that is neither patronising nor glib, but truly buoyant.
Let’s Call it Self Love Wednesday
20% off everything at feralstrumpet.co.uk for 24 hours with code LOVEDAY18
V Day always has me wistful for its Roman counterpart– Lupercalia– a festival of purging fevers and she wolves. Surely there is something worth celebrating on this day besides cupids and St. Valentine? Let’s call it Self Love Wednesday. (I confess I’d always liked the empty tissue boxes decorated as post boxes on our desktops in grade school, and counting up the hearts afterward. Maybe I just like getting post, even if it comes in a heart-covered tissue box! Won’t you be my Feral Valentine?)
The Feral Gift Guide
We are the niche-est, you and I, so I’ve compiled some super special gift ideas to inspire you. The benefits of shopping small during the holiday season means you can find unique gifts that are as special as the people in your life.
For the Flash Knitter— a custom stitch marker set in their favourite colour. Opt for a simple marker keeper or a beautiful necklace so the set doubles jewellery.
The Mermaid Alias— She will love filling up this scale-embossed locket with all the secrets of the sea.
For the Fairy Gardener— that special someone who is always landscaping for the fey, these fairy flower earrings are perfect.
For the Brewster— She’s pairing porters for the holiday feast and dry-hopping her home brew for NYE. She will love the classic beer bling necklace— an ode to hops and the nuances of proper craft ales.
For the Morbid Librarian— a little bit creepy, a little bit sexy. Help them keep their glasses close enough to never miss them, and look good all the while with a gothic glasses chain.
She’s Gothic Royalty— These Lorena chandelier earrings will not disappoint– perfect in her favourite colour– black, black or black. (other colours available!)
For the Moongazer–They always knows what phase the moon is in– the moonphase necklace is the perfect gift, available in 3 lengths.
For the Metaphysical Card Slinger— the Tarot card reader who has it all (all the decks, that is)–The Tarot necklace.
For the Gauged Goddess: Even if you are not sure what size she wears, these Tesla Mini Hoops thread through tunnels she already owns.
For the Glammed-out Yogi: Serene even in the most extended of inversions, they will love this lotus necklace .
And, lastly, The Crazy Cat Lady– what would the world be without them (us)? Return her endless kindness with these familiar earrings.
Original Gifts Under £15
From stocking stuffers to secret Santa ideas, you’re sure to find a little something that’s perfect & totally original. Check out the Gifts Under £15 Guide.
The Gratitude Sale Starts Thursday
Starting at midnight GMT, receive 20% off everything at feralstrumpet.co.uk and Feralstrumpet on Etsy with coupon code GRATITUDE17. Good until Monday 27/11/17.
I know we are all bombarded with sale messages during this season, and I’ve chosen to thank my loyal customers with my biggest sale of the year during this time. This is my 7th holiday season in the shop and the gratitude I feel for my customers, many of whom have become friends, is great. Know that if you are inspired to shop during this time, choosing small, independent business like mine make a huge difference in a life and I strive to reflect that in the quality of my work, the personal service and attention to detail, right down to the gift wrap of each purchase which includes dried lavender and Scottish heather.
(Please note coupon can’t be used on custom orders and can’t be used retroactively.)
Ode to Mina Harker
The Mina Harker Necklace is one of my oldest designs. Originally, I did not make them to sell, because I made them before I even had a business selling my wares. I made them to wear with black slips and vintage black kimonos back in the day when I went to goth clubs in London. They combined my love of intricate statement jewellery and my extensive collection of broken, and abandoned rosaries.
I named this design after one of my favourite fictional characters, the typist and undead survivor, Mina Harker, that ex-school teacher who traversed the liminal world of the damned, the infected of soul who lived to tell the tale. There have been many Minas in other fictions but perhaps my favourite is The Letters of Mina Harker by Dodie Belamy, where Mina is re-visioned as a sexually active woman living in San Fransisco during the 1980s– she is also the author, speaking. If you have not read it, you should!
This design has had more manifestations and versions than any other– and probably each has been a little painful to let each one go. Most have found fascinating homes with artists, designers and creative visionaries. Here your can see a recent custom design I made for Joey of Scout LA.
