Subtle Energy Experiments on the Cat

As you already know, I am pursuing knowledge in the art of subtle energy healing with essential oils. One of the books currently on my reading table gave a warm up exercise for starting the flow of energy through the hands. Basically you rub your hands together and let them naturally expand apart in response to the amount of energy generated between them. Here's what happened when I decided to play with it.

courtesy of Mistico Universe Holistic Therapies

One morning during meditation it spontaneously occurred to me to perform this simple warm up exercise. No sooner had I begun when my cat jumped up into my lap. I placed my hands one on either side about two inches away from her body and began to move them along her length. As I did so the base of her tail began to bush out like it would if she were confronted by another cat. She wasn't agitated, upset or scared and she stayed with me. I think she may have even enjoyed it.

courtesy of The Spirit Science

This magnificent creature had responded to me by giving me irrefutable, non verbal proof that she could feel whatever energy I was generating. I was so excited that a few days later I tried the exercise again in the same manner on the same cat. The results were the same in that she again responded with a bushy tail and the fur on her back standing slightly on end! The experiment was both repeatable and reproducible. Amazing!

my kitties Flora (left) and Phoebe (right) - Flora was my subject

I hadn't used any essential oils on either of these two occasions but the next step would be to try anointing my hands prior to performing the ritual just to note any differences if there are any. The human body is surrounded by several subtle energy fields. You need only close your eyes and place your hand a few inches away from the space between your eyes to understand what I mean. What did you feel when you tried this?

Tinted Vintage Spice Bottle

I finally figured out how to use my Pebeo Vitrail glass paints in a way that doesn't require me to use a paint brush or cheap glue to achieve that beautifully clear, waterproof and streak free finish. It took a bit of trial and error to get the paint to do what I wanted it to do but it was worth it. This is a little vintage spice bottle that I hand tinted using my new method.

tinted vintage spice bottle - see more views in the boutique

Using some public domain imagery and some imagination I turned this into a perfume bottle with a label and a tag. To waterproof my labels I dip them in wax and collage them onto my glass using decoupage gel. The wax deepens the printed color and gives the label a translucent look that I really like.

vintage apothecary bottle

This concept lends itself very well to ideas like Halloween bottles that could be filled with little treats. We could even get a more arty look to this by turning it into a specimen jar and adding some paper flowers to it. I might just have to explore a few of those ideas. Don't you just LOVE art?!

The Art of Handmade Fragrances

As part of my aromatherapy certification, I am required to write a research paper on any aromatherapy related topic of my choosing. Since I have become so fixated as of late, my topic of choice will be perfume. Why do we wear it? What is its purpose? How is it made and why is it so important for us to impress others with our scent?

courtesy of Modern Ritual

I hope to develop a line of signature perfumes and massage oils infused with energetic qualities that not only smell nice but have therapeutic benefits. Imagine a perfume that can reduce anxiety and release energy blockages while attracting your soul mate to you all at the same time. How many commercial perfume makers can say that about their product?

Mountain Valley Growers

Is it a lofty aspiration? Perhaps but my muse is telling me not to listen to the inner critic, the one who likes to size up an idea in 30 seconds or less and doom it to failure before it even gets the chance to take its first breath. So off I go, into the wild blue, diving head first into the emotion altering world of aromatics.

The Vintage Paper Pumpkin

Remember that darling little paper pumpkin I posted about last week and the template I created to help you make one of your own? I happened to be browsing Etsy the other day looking at white pumpkins when I was hit upside the head with a Shazam! moment. The thoughts went something like this: vintage, pumpkin, book pages, white.

vintage halloween paper pumpkin

With that in mind I gathered a selection of decorative pages, passages from an old book and a couple of old postcards with some handwriting and came up with my own vintage style version of this pumpkin. A new template that comes with all the pumpkin shapes you'll need to create the pumpkin shown can be found in the Le Charmed Life Boutique. Of course it will be up to you to add a stem, some curly vines at the top and a tag if you so desire. Be creative!

My Perfect Alchemy

I'm about half way through my aromatherapy certification course and have made a decision about the direction I want to take my practice. What makes this even more exciting is that it combines so well with the tarot. My main purpose with aromatherapy is to help others (myself first of course) release the energy blocks that hold them back from realizing their full potential and creative expression in this life.

aromatherapy & subtle energy techniques

Essential oils are alive! Not only do they influence our bodies but they influence the subtle energy fields that surround us in ways we never imagined. Knowing this adds new dimension to those bath salts, massage oils and perfumes, making them even more sacred. While tarot can help uncover what's going on with us in the mind, essential oils work on our bodies and emotions. This to me is nothing short of my own perfect alchemy.

Fan Folded Leaf Tutorial

Fan folded leaves make excellent decor for your holiday displays without the dirt and free loading creepy crawlies that can sometimes accompany what you could otherwise find out in the yard. I found this tutorial on the Better Homes and Gardens website so in all fairness I need to at least give them credit for their efforts.

fan folded leaves from BHG - go there if you must

BHG's tutorial instructions are obscurely written in my opinion and difficult to follow so I've simplified things for you here right down to providing the template so you don't have to become a member of BHG just to get it. I know, bad Kellie but believe me, this will save you a lot of frustration.

fan folded leaf template

I've sized the original template down by half of what it was. The finished leaf will fit better on your tables and shelves without being unbelievably large. Below is my down and dirty visual tutorial. Wish I was better at making these look prettier but at least it gets the point across.

I used a pice of decorative paper in fall colors so I wouldn't have to paint the paper first. Feel free to go crazy with the pens, ink, and paint if you so desire though. 

I did learn something from putting this together. When I turned my leaf over to the white side I noticed that I didn't have that same ugly seam down the center like I do on the colored side. To fix this, refold the folds the other direction (the mountain folds will become valley folds and vice versa) and that should solve that problem. Hope you enjoy this. Cheers!

Halloween Apothecary Labels

In researching ideas for Halloween apothecary labels, I came across every kind of aged, nasty and otherwise creepy crawly item ideas that could be put in a jar and labeled. I love scary and the aged, distressed looks but does scary have to be gross too?

Halloween apothecary labels  on Etsy

I know it's all in good fun but how about a little intrigue to go with those petrified tarantula turds and vomit flavored jelly beans? While we're at it, could it be just a little bit pretty or is the combination of pretty and Halloween too much of a dichotomy to pull off successfully?

cloaking pills and love potion apothecary labels

What the hey, I'm an artist and artists can do whatever they want, right? If you care to see the whole collection, pop on over to the Kell Belle Boutique on Etsy. The description also contains a free, ice breaker party idea for using the labels as part of a game to help engage your guests. Enjoy!

Paper Pumpkin Tutorial

I found this beautiful, dimensional paper pumpkin that I think looks fantastic as a place setting for the fall holidays. This pumpkin was put together by Kelly of Notable Nest who was guest featured on the See Vanessa Craft blog.

paper pumpkin tutorial

Since this tutorial does not include a template I have created one for you.  Call it the Virgoan perfectionism in me that thinks it's nice for those not so talented in the drawing department to have something to work from. The finished pumpkin will stand about 1 1/8" high by 2 1/8" in diameter.

pumpkin template - click for larger image

I recommend cutting 8 to 10 papers to 3" wide by 2" high and folding them in half. Take 2 or 3 of your papers at a time, lay the straight side of the template on the fold and cut. Follow the paper pumpkin tutorial beginning at step 3. Enjoy!