The last few months have brought such a whirlwind of activity that even thinking about it makes me tired. It all started with a change of venue in Mark's jobsite. That's normally not a big deal since it can happen at the drop of a hat, and it's something I've grown accustomed to over the years. But this time, it was different. The good news was that it didn't require packing up and moving again - something I definitely liked. The bad news was that it did require Mark to make a hefty commute into Washington DC everyday. And after living less than a mile from his place of work for the last few years, that meant lots of changes in our household - most of which had to do with our black Lab, Dixie.
You see, Mark had always been close enough to home to check on Dixie when I was gone; in fact, he'd often taken her to work with him. But because of the new location, these conveniences came to a screeching halt. This particular job also promised to be a balls-to-the-wall sort of affair, which meant Mark had to leave the house by 4:00a.m., and probably wouldn't get home 'til around 7:00p.m. So, most of the things I'd grown accustomed to Mark handling - and I have to admit that was damned near everything - were suddenly my responsibility. And if that wasn't enough, it looked like he'd be working seven days a week, which meant that he wouldn't be home to take care of Dixie on weekends while I was handling appearances. [Okay...so I could have boarded Dixie. But because of the length of time my travel schedule usually involves, that simply wouldn't have been right.]
Fortunately, I didn't have a lot of appearances already scheduled, so I didn't have to cancel any. But it sure put a stop to booking any more. ;)
And then...things changed again. Just about the time we got used to Mark's new schedule, he was put on the night shift. And that, Folks, upset everybody's apple cart! For one thing, someone who's never worked nights - someone who, in fact, has always been a "morning person" - simply doesn't know how to sleep when the sun is shining. For another, meal times and menus were turned upside down. Do you serve breakfast or dinner when he gets home? Do you mix him a drink? [It is, after all, five o'clock somewhere. ;)] Or do you just put a glass of orange juice in front of him? There was the matter of removing the phone from the bedroom so it wouldn't wake him when it rang during the day - and a hundred other little details that have to be handled immediately when there's a "day sleeper" in the house. And just about the time we settled into that new routine, things changed yet again: Mark was put back on the day shift.
Think that's about enough change? Well...I certainly did! But the Winds of Change were still blowing. And...damn!...they were on one hell of a roll! How so? Well, the next thing I knew, Mark had been transferred to Atlanta until the end of the year, and things got turned upside down again. We're told that this is just a temporary move, and he is able to come home for a weekend visit every few weeks. But looking at the past few months and everything that's happened, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find out differently. [Hell's bells...at this point, nothing would surprise me! Chuckle!]
In the middle of all this stuff going on with Mark, and the constant revisions to what I'd always considered "normal," other things were happening, too. The Winds of Change somehow found time to stick their pesky, meddlesome fingers into Wicked Witch Studios and create yet another maelstrom. Okay...so I have to admit that I'm probably partially responsible for that little shake-up; it's just that I wasn't expecting it right then! You see...a couple of years ago, I remarked that I needed to "get my Witch back on." That's because I'd been so busy writing and traveling that I had no time to work with my herbs and oils, mix up a powder or potion, or truly enjoy the luxury a hands-on magical practice provides. And it would've been nice if my Muses and the Winds of Change had teamed up right when I'd made the remark - because that's when I was ready. True to their wicked sense of humor, though, they didn't. No siree. They waited until my head was spinning and I was foaming at the mouth from their little "life as you know it shall now cease to exist" game. [For those of you who don't know, Taureans, especially those who sport double Earth aspects, aren't fond of changing designs once the stone carving's begun. ;)] And then...they laid it on me!
Fortunately, this little alteration wasn't all bad. It started out with the Muses hitting me with a new idea: that of elegant poppet pins that could also double as candle inscribing devices. And just about the time I found a reliable - and reasonably priced - pin and bead supplier, I got several requests from retailers who wanted to carry the Dixie Doll dog treats. So I crunched some numbers and made that happen. But the Muses were far from done, and just kept spewing out ideas. I didn't have time to listen and told them as much. [I was, after all, busily creating poppet pins and Dixie Dolls.] But they simply didn't care. So, they poked. They prodded. They even had the audacity to wake me from a very sound - and well deserved, I might add - sleep. And when the latter didn't get my attention, they changed course. They actually sent their message in the form of an email. [Okay...so the email was from a retailer, but the message was obviously theirs.] And at the end of it all? The Hexology line - a series of tiny, two-inch spell jars including Bad JuJu, Cash Flow, Swamp Witch, Witch Doctor, and Charmed Life - was born.
What happened next would have been unbelievable had magic not been at work, for emails from retailers all over the country began pouring in - and all of them were inquiring about carrying the poppet pins, the Dixie Dolls, and...yes!...the Hexology line. The good news is that I've now got the products in 10 stores. And the bad news really isn't bad at all: It's just that I'm busier than a cat covering up shit with trying to keep up with the orders - and I can definitely live with that! [Just a side note to any retailers out there: If you're interested in carrying the products listed above, just shoot me an email at headwitch@earthlink.net, and I'll be happy to send you a price list. ;)]
And speaking of new products...Coventry Creations has come out with an absolutely fabulous new accessory designed for use conjunction with their individual product lines. And there's even one that Jacki Smith and I designed specifically for the Wicked Witch Mojo line! Originally designed to help retailers assist their customers, it's an oracle that tells you precisely what oil, incense and candle are necessary to solve your specific problem. There's no muss, no fuss, no guess work - just the information you need, and all in a deck of cards. What could be better than that?! Well...I'll tell you: This handy little device is now being offered as a kit to non-retailers for personal use as well. That's what! And best of all...the kit includes one of Jacki Smith's hand-made bags. [Both retailers and non-retailers can find more information about the Coventry Magic Oracle - including ordering instructions - at the Coventry Creations website.]
So...what else did I do since our last chat? Well...I packed my bags and hit the road to honor my very limited appearance schedule, of course!
Things kicked off with appearances in Michigan at both Convocation and The Candle Wick Shoppe, and readings at the Boston Tea Room. [Sending grateful thanks to the Convocation staff, The Candle Wick Shoppe staff, and Heatherleigh of the Boston Tea Room, and huge hugs to Jacki, Phoenix and Rebecca for their gracious hospitality!] Then it was off to The Pagan Unity Festival in Burns, Tennessee - blowing kisses to Tish Owen and her staff - where Rachel, the chief cook and bottle washer, always feeds me so well that it takes months to lose the five pounds I gain over the weekend. And after that? None other than a Wicked Witch Weekend at Mystic Moon - sending much love and tons of hugs to the staff, and many thanks to Debbie and Brian for allowing me to invade their home - with Sabrina the Ink Witch, and Jacki Smith of Coventry Creations. [Okay...so just about the time I lost the five pounds at PUF, I gained it back due to Debbie's scrumptious homemade baked macaroni and cheese. It's a damned good thing my appearance schedule is thin this year! LOL!]
That said, the facilitators of these events treated me with such kindness and generosity - and made my time there so very special - there simply aren't adequate words to express my appreciation. So instead, I'll say this: If you ever have the opportunity to attend any event hosted by them, don't hesitate. Just send in your registration, mark your calendar, and pack your bag. You'll be glad you did - and can count on having the time of your life!
Okay...it's time to wrap this up and get back to work. Stay safe, stay happy, stay sassy, and stay wicked. And have an absolutely fabulous rest of the year! I'm counting on it. ;)
Much love and many hugs!
Dorothy...
Wicked Whispers
The face Dorothy draws on the Dixie Dolls is based on one she found on a "Voodoo Doll" - sometimes called a "dolly" or "doll baby" - fashioned by a New Orleans Swamp Witch in the 1930's. Dorothy's dog, Dixie, is named for the Dix - a ten-dollar bill that was once issued by the state of Louisiana - the same currency from which "Dixieland" got its name.
Dorothy once had a tom cat named "Nancy." [And that boy named "Sue" thought he had a problem! LOL!]
Cauldron Bubbles
& Candle Flames
[In each issue we'll include a spell or other magical working. Watch this spot closely. You never know when it may be a new and exclusive tidbit!]
This is a fabulous spell to use on someone who has hurt others for his or her own benefit, and all you need is a length of jute or cord cut the the height of your target. Find the center of the cord, and tie the first knot there, saying:
By knot of one, you come undone
Tie the second knot to the right of the first, saying:
By knot of two, chaos brews
Tie the third knot to the left of the first, saying:
By knot of three, you'll want to flee
Tie the fourth knot to the right of the second, saying:
But knot of four just locks the door
Now alternating to the left and right, tie the remaining knots as follows while chanting the related verse. The fifth knot:
By knot of five, you lose your drive
The sixth knot:
By knot of six, your mind plays tricks
The seventh knot:
By knot of seven, you'll wish for heaven
The eighth knot:
But knot of eight just slams that gate
The ninth knot:
By knot of nine, your strength declines
The tenth knot:
By knot of ten, you cannot win
The eleventh knot:
By knot of eleven, you'll wish for seven
The twelfth knot:
But that is shelved by knot of twelve
The thirteenth knot:
It's the thirteenth knot that does you in
And leaves you paying for your sins
It brings you right down to your knees
And leaves you begging for release
But none shall come until you've paid
For what you've done, the games you've played,
The folks you've hurt, the lives you've frayed
And only then shall you receive
Your life again and a reprieve
Dig a hole at least nine inches deep and bury the cord in the ground.
[*Please remember that like alcohol, curses and hexes should be used responsibly. ;)]
September 9th - 11th, 2011
Rochester Pagan Pride Day
Rochester, NY
[For more information, please check out the Rochester Pagan Pride website.]
October 1st
Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day
Occoquan Regional Park
Lorton, VA
[For more information, please check out the Northern Virginia Pagan Pride website.]
November 3rd - 6th
Florida Pagan Gathering
Camp Ocala
Altoona, FL
[For further information, please check out the Florida Pagan Gathering website.]
Important Announcements
& Shameless Plugs
www.dorothymorrison.com
www.wickedwitchstudios.com
www.utterlywicked.com
www.lucindasweb.com
Are you sick and tired of having tacky magical accoutrements forced upon you? So sick and tired, in fact, that you'd just as soon sit in a bed of red ants - and not practice at all - as use them? If your answer to even one of these questions is a resounding "YES," Wicked Witch Studios is here to help. Stop by today and see what's brewing!
Are you a Witch of discriminating taste, with an eye for elegance, and a flair for the dramatic?
Browse Dorothy's New Line of Handcrafted Accoutrements at Wicked Witch Studios