For some, autumn comes early, stays late through life . . . For these beings, fall is the ever normal season, the only weather, there be no choice beyond. Where do they come from? The dust. Where do they go? The grave. Does blood stir their veins? No: the night wind. What ticks in their head? The worm. What speaks from their mouth? The toad. What sees from their eye? The snake. What hears with their ear? The abyss between the stars. They sift the human storm for souls, eat flesh of reason, fill tombs with sinners . . . The spider-web hears them, trembles—breaks. Such are the autumn people. Beware of them. -Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
As I write to you, dear reader, on this just-crisp third week of fall, I can't help but reflect on all the autumns that have come before this one, and all that are sure to follow it. Which is to say: I can't help but think about all of my past selves—all the skins that I've shed in my twenty-three years on this earth, all the people that I've been and want to be. I think that if we listen to what autumn has to say, to what she's really trying to tell us, we will hear her whisper, "It is okay to die a thousand deaths, to rise from the ashes of who you used to be and begin again. It is okay to unbecome yourself and start anew." I think I'll listen to her.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Hello my little pumpkins, and welcome to another page out of the ol' Grimoire. First and foremost, I want to apologize for some technical difficulties I encountered last week. Some people told me that upon clicking on the second Grimoire post, they were instead taken to the first. My apologies! Everything is sorted out now, so if you didn't get a chance to read last week's post, I recommend doing so before you read this one.
I hope everyone's enjoying the spooky new Halloween-inspired homepage! With Halloween less than one month away (precisely 24 days, 11 hours, and 45 minutes, but who's counting?), it's time for all you procrastinators to start thinking about costumes. Do you want to be witchy or wolfish this year? Sweet or scary? I, for, one, am going for a combination of cute and creepy with a costume that I'm in the process of putting together. As always, pictures of the final product will be added to Covenstead shortly after Halloween.
Mornings here in Fayetteville have been delightfully chilly, and while the afternoons are typically a tad too hot for my taste, I know that the perfect fall weather is just around the corner. This past Sunday, I was absolutely giddy with autumnal excitement. Loosely following this recipe, I baked a delectable loaf of pumpkin bread (pictured to the right), which Matthew and I enjoyed while watching Practical Magic. It was a wonderful first weekend in October.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope that the glorious autumnal nip has found you. If it hasn't yet come your way, however, don't be discouraged. It'll be here before you know it. You might be sitting on your front porch or taking an evening stroll when suddenly you feel autumn's unmistakable chill creeping down your spine. You'll shiver, and all will be right with the world. If you live someplace where it just never seems to get chilly, try to remember that autumn is a state of mind, a feeling of the soul. If you can dance with the wind and howl with the moon, then congratulations—autumn is with you.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Keep in mind that this upcoming Sunday, we will be met with a full moon in Aries. As Aries is ruled by fire, Sunday will be a great time to (metaphorically) set fire to anything standing in the way of your dreams. If, like me, you're into dramatics, you can also write down all insecurities or fears that you wish to squander, and literally set fire to that piece of paper. If you don't already have a full moon practice, I highly recommend cultivating one. It can be as simple as lighting a candle, taking a cleansing bath, journaling, and turning on a playlist to match the mood.
Speaking of playlists, I've added a new one—"Witchy Woman"—to the site. Whether you're a witch yourself or are simply a fan of the White Witch herself, it's the perfect playlist to conjure up potions and dance to at a girls' night (which is exactly what I plan on doing this evening). I'd like to give a shoutout to my little witch friend, Faith, for introducing me to "Same Old Energy." It's quickly become one of my favorite songs on the playlist. I encourage each of you to give it a listen and read the hauntingly beautiful lyrics while you're at it. You won't regret it.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
As promised last week, I have a Halloween-themed book recommendation for you. If you're both a reader and an autumn enthusiast, you've surely heard of this recommendation, written by the King of Autumn himself: Ray Bradbury. The eerie book, Something Wicked This Way Comes, follows the lives of two thirteen-year-old best friends, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway. When a traveling carnival comes to their small town, it ushers Halloween in with it, and the young boys' lives are forever changed. The book is beautifully written and splendidly spooky, and it explores childhood nostalgia in a way that is both beguiling and harrowing. Perhaps what is most frightening about Bradbury's book, however, are the very real, very human fears that he touches on throughout its pages. Not only is Something Wicked This Way Comes my favorite book to read throughout fall, but it is also one of my favorite books to read anywhere, any time. Enter its pages if you dare.
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Coming Next Week
More Book Recommendations
October Poetry
Cat Pictures
& more
Until next week, stay cozy.
With warmth and whimsy,
Cat
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