merry hallowed eve

merry wishes for the most extraordinary hallowed eve, and may the ghost pop out from behind a tree for you.

portland raw artists semi-finalists

Portland Raw Artists semi-finalists up close and personal here

fashions and underfashions 1920s

RAWards 2012

We have until October 15th, you can cast a vote one time per day..
I hope you will consider to throw your vote into the hat for Fashion Designer of the Year http://www.rawartists.org/undertheroot

      In February 2012, I submitted the work here at Under The Root to be a part of Portland RAWartists and was chosen to participate in their opening show Activate for the new season 2012.  With Joann Schinderle at the helm, she is golden and it was firework explosive.  They were wonderful and I met some grand artists, network and collaborators.  RAWArtists has a RAWards every year compiled of musicians, designers, fine artists, accessories designers, sculptors, jewelry designers, video artists, and all the artists from many mediums across our national landscape.
     Under The Root was also chosen to participate in these awards and I can really use some support in the public voting arena.  As you can imagine, the prize package is substantial with this national competition.. here are some of the opportunities to breathe some eco into the planet.

• Consultation with Lisa Kline, iconic clothing retailer, merchandiser, designer, fashion celebrity
• Consultation with Brenna Egan, Los Angeles Editor of fashion online magazine Refinery29
• Consultation with Ronnie Escalante from NBC's Fashion Star 
• Fashion Biz Inc. Consultation
• Fashion Placement for sale on LisaKline.com
• Meeting with buyer from Fred Segal
• 30 page printed photo book/portfolio from Nations Photo Lab
• Opportunity to include product in IndiExhibit celebrity award show gift bags (3 events)
• Fashion for Profit business start-up Educational Package
• 1000 printed IndieCards from Bands on a Budget
• Write-up feature on Refinery29
• Write-up feature on Staged Incident 
• RAW's Golden Ticket: Unlimited free showcases in any RAW location (50+ cities) during the 2013 season
• RAW:Fashion Designer of the year Winner's Seal & Accolade
• RAW On-Camera interview
• Honored at RAWards 2012 Ceremony as RAW:Fashion Designer of the Year
• Featured on RAWartists.org 

If you have a moment to cast a vote for Under The Root, it will truly put butterflies in my belly.  The Educational Package is a dream. Follow the link here:  http://www.rawartists.org/undertheroot

The picture says nominate me but truth is that I will not have this opportunity if it was not for you and that is truly the most invaluable history to Under The Root.

wormwood

     I had no idea about wormwood until reading Rusalky tales.  With my head in the clouds on some subjects, psychoactive herbs, one might think, my ears will have been pricked years ago.  Here is what is out there for information on this shrub, golden flowered, green as grass lore.  I was told it grows like a weed and while strange looking, resilient!
     Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is used for protection, love, psychic abilities and summoning spirits.  Burn wormwood in an incense blend to heighten psychic power, burn in incense with sandalwood to summon spirits.  Place magical sachets of wormwood underneath the bed to attract a lover.  The Egyptians used the plant as an antiseptic, a stimulant and tonic, and as a remedy for fevers and menstrual pains.
     Its aromatic leaves and flowers are naturally rich in the terpene thujone, an aromatic, bitter substance believed to induce an inexplicable clarity of thought, increased sense of perception, enhanced creativity, inspiration and the ability to see beyond.  The wormwoods are members of the great family of compositae and belong to the genius Artemisia, a group consiting of 180 species.  It is closely allied to mugwort.  The whole family is remarkable for the extreme bitterness of all parts of the plant.
     With the exception of rue, wormwood is the bitterest herb known.  According to the ancients, wormwood counteracted the effects of poisoning, by hemlock, toadstools and the bite of a sea dragon.  The plant is of some importance to the peoples of Mexico whom celebrate their Great Goddess of Salt by a ceremonial dance of women who wore on their heads, garlands of wormwood. 

folk names 

Absinthe

Old woman

Corwn for a King

Madderwork

Wormot

gender: masculine

planet: Mars

element: fire

powers: 

psychic powers, protection, love, calling spirits.

carried at the waist, wormwood is protective, hung in a bag

on the rearview mirror of a car, it prevents accidents.

burn it on charcoal to call up helpful spirits.

Samhain incense contains wormwood and mugwort.

(use with plenty of ventilation)

according to old grimoires, if it is burned in a graveyard

the spirits of the dead will rise and speak.

-many of the metaphysical attributes were cited with

The Deepest Well 

rusalky

     The Rusalky is a dusky elf with a curious history among humans.  Many negative connotations can be found although I prefer to hold my belief from a rather trusted source which does not intercept with the more christian systems.  The Rusalky were originally girls who drowned, committed suicide, were strangled or were buried without a funeral.  Maybe because of the harshness in life they lead, they can be harsh with humans.  Sometimes those who can not answer their riddles are tickled to death.  Those they catch in the woods without wormwood in their pockets will see the same fate. 

      Their activity schedule begins mid-April where they surface the water, or sit on the banks of streams and lakes, combing their long green hair.  After six weeks they move into the trees and beg for linen from passersby which is then carefully washed and spread out to dry.  Any human who steps on the wash will lose either strength or coordination, so the story goes.  The following week they collect feathers and straw to build warm nests in underwater palaces.  During this time, they also walk for the first time in grain and hay fields, slipping invisibly through the stalks, singing, clapping their hands and making grain wave in the winds.  Beginning in July the dance, into each night by the light of the moon and draw men into their circles.  Those who have joined them may never recover, but the grain grows better where they have danced.  By the first snowfall, they vanish and hibernate in the nests until Spring.