Our decluttering project continues, and during this period I've been able to figure out some more of my goals and the direction I wish to continue to walk towards in the matters of my craft and career. I've taken more time in reconnecting with the hearth of our home; waking her, feeding her, and mending her. My full moon ritual for this month was a circle for the three of cups, the hearth and our ancestors. We all inscribed a green candle what we wish to manifest for our household and burned offerings of cinnamon, clove, garden sage, and rosemary. I've also placed some tiny gourds and a bouquet of mums on our kitchen altar.
Over the last month my practice took a more secular turn, pausing on deity work and worship as I reestablished my core values and foundation. My craft was heavy in love and baneful magic for quite some time from my mid to late twenties. Since the beginning of 2024, the core of my craft now focuses on, 1) kitchen magic, my efforts poured into nourishing my family. I have a 8 quart cauldron, within it I cook stews, roasts and bake breads. I feed the hearth with sacrifices of grains such as barley, cornmeal or wheat. I honor her with praise and encouragement for sheltering us. I light the hearth lamp anytime I pen down new recipes in our recipe book. This practice has grounded me wonderfully.
I found a couple of organizations I'd like to volunteer at, one is community garden. I've signed up and look forward to learning in exchange for my service, and hopefully by spring I'll have enough know-how to plant and grow a garden in our backyard. I'd like an herb garden as well as some squashes and beans, maybe vegetables like carrot and cabbage too.
As for number 2), which includes future career endeavors, I am changing my minor to social work and keep my philosophy major so that I can be a bereavement counselor. I would like to help my local community with mutual aid for end of life advocacy, postmortem care and grief support. I'm excited for next semester as I've been away from my academic studies for too long. I figured this out during a conversation with a couple of dear friends of mine. Two of us are Scorpios, and our Aquarius friend was curious about what our deathwork practice entails. The other Scorpio explained that they primarily assist spirits to moving on with the other side. I pondered for a bit before giving my answer, reflecting on my relationship with death and mortality. When it comes to losing loved ones, I always had an understanding of death even when I was a small child. My grieving process is eased by consoling others. I help chosen family and friends with meals, house chores, and any emotional support I could give while they rested. My deathwork is tangible and communal in nature.
This is only a short update, as I wanted to detail some of my plans and touch base on my decluttering journey. The pantry is nearly done and I've also cleaned out my chaos closet with the help of one of my partners. Once the pantry is sanitized from head to toe, we'll be able to store our nonperishables and cooking wares. With that space cleared up I can install a spice rack. Just as a hearth fire needs tending to burn bright, the kitchen hearth thrives when we clear away the debris and allow its essence to shine. These actions revitalize this sacred space, inviting abundance, harmony, and a renewed sense of connection to the heart of the home.