Thought for the Day: What's in a Word?

Most people don't think about the simple power that words have. They simply use them and move on, never thinking about how the words they use came to have the meaning they do.
By "meaning", I mean the emotional context (the CONnotation), as much as the actual definition (the DEnotation).
You hear someone upset and cursing a blue streak and may be shocked. But think about it: a word (or phrase) is only a collection of sounds until we (society or individuals) give those sounds a definition with an associated emotional context.



A colleague on Etsy made a profound post on her blog yesterday (click here for the post, pointing out a specific instance: how do people react when someone says they are a witch or mentions witchcraft? Revelate said:

Words are powerful. They are tools and are loaded with energy. Words can bring on intense emotion. Spilling tears, steaming anger, delirious joy and belly laughs can all result from words. The energy attached to a single words can create a vivid picture in your mind's eye. You may feel emotion and be transported to a different place with the energy of one single word. A fine example of this attached energy is found in a related group of words; Witch, Wicca, and Witchcraft. To many they immediately are negative, words that stir up ideas of "the devil" and of animal sacrifice. What really bothers me about the negative attachment to these words is the fact that the ideas of Wicca and Witchcraft being practices of devil worship and causing harm to living beings is ignorant.

If you are pagan, Wiccan, druid, shamanic, Buddhist, Taoist or a member of any non-mainstream spiritual path, I'm sure you have encountered these reactions. If you are a member of a mainstream spiritual path (Christian, Jewish, Moslem), you may have used those words in a negative context or reacted in a negative way, without even realizing it. Or realizing why...

Please go to RevelationsNorth, Revelate's blog, to check out the full post - you won't be sorry!

I believe that most people are inherently good, in that they do not go out of their way to cause harm to another person, physically or emotionally. I may be wrong. People in groups tend to react differently; they get caught up in the "mob mentality" and become dangerous. But, please, THINK about the way you react to certain words or phrases. If it's a negative reaction, examine the reason. It may be valid...but it may NOT.

Walk on the Geeky Side with LizStaley!

LizStaley’s journey to the geek side of creativity began long, long ago in a state a few over from her current residence. When liz was very little, she wanted to help her mother paint ceramics. Her mother, knowing what kind of “help” a young child with a paint brush could be, gave liz a paintbrush, a cup of water, and a rubber ducky. It took poor liz awhile to figure out that whatever you paint is supposed to change colors when you paint it, though! (her mom is just as “evil” as liz, apparently!). Suffering from PTPD (Post-Traumatic Painting Disorder), she has been a creative fiend ever since: crocheting, making very cool buttons (drawn from sci-fi, do drawings, sew, and come up with new ideas!

In LizStaley (Liz' shop on Etsy), you can find an incredible array of cool, different and nerdy items: hand-crocheted fishnet gloves (fingerless and otherwise), buttons with great and smart-alecky sayings from various TV shows, movies and games, unique keyboard wallets and keyboard button chokers!



Liz' keyboard wallets are amazing! Crafted from keyboard circuit board covers, with handsome images (usually anime, but not always), they have one pocket for bills, and two pockets for your ID and credit cards. They are very sturdy and even survive washing and drying!


I also like her keyboard KEY chokers - especially
"ByteM3"!



And the buttons in Liz' shop are legend!! Wait...she hasn't done that set, yet! Seriously, she has button packs from the series "FireFly", the "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Star Wars", "Labyrinth" and "SpaceBalls" movies, as well as gaming oriented and just plain geeky or sassy buttons! We're hoping to badger her into making some for "Monty Python & the Holy Grail" next! But, in the meantime...why is the RUM gone????? (couldn't resist!)

LizStaley is a born geek whose hobbies include (of course!) watching anime, playing tabletop role-playing games (Dungeons and Dragons; Big Eyes, Small Mouth; D20 Modern, West End Games' D6 System, etc), building web-pages, and playing on GaiaOnline[dot]com. She also has a gallery on DeviantArt and Flickr, both of which you can find with the user name lizstaley as well.

Tribbleyarn is a work in progress, where liz will be selling her handspun yarn, in the future!
Liz’ blog has all sorts of interesting posts, from crafting with YouTube videos, coverage of conventions (anime and other) and more! Click HERE to visit liz’ blog. Fair warning: Liz is an emote junkie, so when you visit her blog... BE WARNED!!

Liz also writes and illustrates a story that she publishes to the web. She’s been working on this project since high school, with it evolving as she did. It may eventually even be published! You can check out her story by clicking HERE.



"Tribble Claus" is LizStaley's entry for Etsy's EAST
Winter
Wonderland Challenge.

Isn't he adorable???



If you want to VOTE (all Etsy members get FOUR votes) and be put in for a chance for a FREE PRIZE PACK, to be awarded to FOUR VOTERS, click HERE! It costs nothing to VOTE, look at really great pieces and possibly WIN some really GREAT PRIZE PACKS, with earrings and other great items.

Feeling Better with SummerSea Herbs!

SummerSea is an incredibly gifted and giving artisan, as the members of Etsy's EAST (EarthPath Artisans Street Team) and any of her friends and colleagues can tell you. For example, the proceeds for her Cold and Flu Tea go to benefit breast cancer victims who are struggling to make ends meet while struggling to stay alive.


Tracy Wilkinson of SummerSea Herbs has been a practicing Green witch for many years and has been a certified medical Herbalist for ten years. All of her products, whether teas, essences, resins, oils or smudges, are made with the utmost care and skill. Making herbal products is an absolute joy for Tracy. Making them the best she can is an obligation for her. Packaging them as responsibly and attractively as she can is her gift to the environment, as well as to her client. Her love of Nature comes through in her work AND in her lovely product photographs.



Tracy’s concern for the environment means that she keeps packaging to a minimum, with reusable, recyclable containers. Her concern for her patrons means that she uses only the best ingredients:

“I make my herbal products with the finest organically grown and ethically wild-crafted ingredients available. Why Organic? Because I believe that my products are truly better when I use ingredients which have NOT been irradiated, treated with pesticides or sprays. Your body and spirit needs good, clean energy! Making every product with only organic ingredients costs a little more, but it's worth it!”

SummerSea Herbs is a small company, and she personally makes all of her wonderful (and wonderfully packaged!) products in small batches, by hand. This ensures quality control and product effectiveness.

“I have taken great care in blending your item. All my medicinal and magickal formulas are tried and true, developed from the personal needs of my community over the years. It makes me very happy to help people through the use of herbs!”

Whether you want a delicious tea or need an incense blend to assist in magickal workings, you can be confident that any product you purchase from SummerSea Herbs will be the absolute best! I have purchased several items and will definitely purchase more!

For further information and to keep up with SummerSea Herbs, check out Tracey's blog HERE.
While you’re at it, pop over to the Winter EAST Challenge and VOTE! You can vote for up to FOUR items, just by “Adding Item to Favorites”. It’s FREE and, best of all, Etsy members who vote are put in for a random drawing for a FREE PRIZE PACK, with LOTS of great items made by EAST members. There will be FOUR winners! Click HERE to check out the entries! You can see SummerSea's entry below :)

CraftyMoose is VERY crafty!!

CraftyMoose, in Hudson Valley, NY, is an artisan with a wide range of interests and a solid grounding in various types of crafting. She is self-taught and has enjoyed painting, needlework, quilting, polymer clay and jewelry making.



CraftyMoose has recently rediscovered a love of beads and has returned to the art of french beaded flowers.

Craftymoose is also introducing a new line of one-of-a-kind beaded art dolls and suncatchers. Her art dolls are unique, often with a whimsical flavor, such as the "Very Happy Cat" beaded art doll, which has a huge smile, licking its lips - why? Ask the FISH shown in its tummy!


CraftyMoose is currently advertising a SALE on her HOLIDAY pieces, which might be your opportunity to get some lovely paper angels or funny snowmen!


Follow CraftyMoose in her blog HERE.

Treasures Galore! from PersonalTreasures

Don't we ALL love treasure-hunting (and FINDING)? /dreams of Johnny Depp and Jack Sparrow (that's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow!) Well, this artisan creates the kinds of treasures that would be part of a wonderful trove!


PersonalTreasures and MufiJewels are Etsy shops run by a jewelry designer with a broad range and perspective, as well as a deep background in the arts, including being the recipient of a grant for the National Endowment for the Arts.

PersonalTreasures is a shop geared to high-end, elegant designs, with top-grade components, such as the Russian Amazonite necklace shown above, a "Looong Hessonite Necklace" and many more! Most pieces are one-of-a-kind designer jewelry.

Mufi Jewels, Phyllis' other Etsy shop, has simpler, more casual jewelry, with similar high quality materials. There, you will see very simple, but wonderfully designed, pieces such as a Chrysoprase Pendant, Fire Agate necklace and these Labradorite Hoop earrings. These Montana (Blue) and Bronze Earrings are a great (and neutral color-set) accessory!



Phyllis Mufson, of Philadelphia, PA (USA), currently lives and loves living as a jewelry artisan and creative career and small business coach. She helps people "move from places (in their lives) of exhausted possibility to new challenges and fulfillment."

Among Phyllis' past experience is working as a textile artist for years, which still influences her perspective as a jewelry artisan. Phyllis designs her pieces with an eye toward how the pieces will "drape" on their wearer, looking to compliment the wearer's form and attire.

All of this goes to say, if you want someone whose work you will TREASURE, visit PersonalTreasures and Mufi Jewels on Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade articles.


If you are interested in following Phyllis Mufson's work, check out her blog. I found some very inspiring business tips there!

If you wish to look into a small business coach, visit Phyllis' business website HERE.

WinterEAST Challenge on Etsy - VOTE and WIN!

HEART YOUR FAVORITE ENTRIES IN THE WINTER WONDERLAND CHALLENGE AND WIN AN EARTHPATH ARTISANS PRIZE PACK! YOU CAN FIND THEM IN OUR FAVORITES!

Click HERE to pick your favorite item and heart it to cast your VOTE!



THE ITEMS WITH THE MOST HEARTS WINS!

To reward the VOTERS, there will be RANDOM DRAWING to win PRIZE PACKS! THERE WILL BE FOUR WINNERS!

The WinterEast Challenge runs Dec.15- Jan.7th

The EAST team of Etsy has issued a challenge to all members to create an item that falls in the theme of "Winter Wonderland".

Voting is open to all Etsy members (buyers AND sellers):
Pick your favorite item HERE and heart it!

You "heart" an item by clicking (on screen's right hand side): "Add Item to Favorites".

The entry with the most hearts wins! There will be four winners.

As a reward to voters, gift packs filled with promotional items from participating member shops will sent to four lucky voters, determined in a random drawing on January 7th!

You can view all the entries here, in our (EarthPathArtisans') Favorites!


Search with the tag "East" Etsy-wide for other items and other member shops!

Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade items of all types and using all media, sold by their makers. It is a terrific place to shop, whether to buy or "window shop", full of a variety of pieces from body and bath products (handmade, of course) to teas to e-books to oil paintings to crocheted or knitted to stationary items to leather goods and clothing to copper, gold or silver jewelry. There are many whimsical items, as well, such as pin-on buttons with entertaining or even irritating sayings.

Canadian Soul!...Or is that Caribbean Soul?

You may know that Jimmy Buffett's music is called "Caribbean Soul"? Well, I want to introduce to "Canadian Soul", in the form of Joanne and her lovely artwork, found in her Etsy shop, CoconutPalmDesigns!



Joanne is Canadian "to her core," of Jamaican-Lebanese extraction, with a notable sense of humor. Her family is very important to her. So much so that she packed up and moved to Belize four years ago, when her parents decided to make a change.

Now living with her family on a 32 acre tree farm in the making in the hinterlands of Belize, Joanne can finally use her graphic design background to create art of her choice! Joanne's diverse background may add some spice to her art, but her humor definitely adds flavor, as well!

From lovely watercolor ACEOs to bright and cheerful signs, Joanne's work is her own unique style. I love her signs - and immediately "hearted" her signs for addition to my pool area - while still admiring the soft lines of her watercolors. Joanne's hand-drawn art seems to strike a chord with people.



Check out CoconutPalmDesigns on Etsy; you'll be glad you did! And you can keep up with Joanne and her exploits via her blog, as well :)