Well I must admit that I am a little out of my element here. Of course I was honored when my friend Beth from
'The Windesphere Witch' and the
'Perfume Smellin' Things' Blog suggested I join in a wonderful Advent Blogging event, hosted by her dear friend Roxana Villa of
Roxana Illuminated Perfume!
Just to be in such phenomenal company was a gift indeed. And at first I
fretted that I am a visual artist and photographer, not a Scent Expert,
and therefore perhaps not qualified for such an invite. But Beth
assured me that if I would just blog about my own personal connections
to the holiday season with it's sights, sounds and scent....that it
would certainly fit right into the spirit of "The Circle"! So in honor
of the season, I will attempt to share with you my
'Gypsy Christmas/Yule'!
Most of us equate the holiday season with traditions. Traditions are
an important part of the human experience and at no time are they more
on display than during the holidays. And like most people, I do love
traditions. But 'traditionalism', is the belief that traditions should
be followed, while change should be limited. And that is where I tend
to part ways with the 'concept' of 'traditions'. After all, change can
be a wonderful way to keep things fresh and exciting. And everything
in our lives and world is always in a constant state of flux. So for
me, that means taking 'traditions' and molding them a bit. As an
artist, I enjoy putting my own unique spin on everything around me.
From my clothing to my photography to my living environment...I like to
imbue my surroundings with things that make me happy, like COLOR and
SCENT. And I infuse them into all areas of my life and home, especially
during the holidays.
Being somewhat of a
'Bohemian-Lite' at heart, I decided
that the 'traditions' of the holiday should be melded to fit my own
eclectic sense of style. If pressed to specify my personal aesthetic, I
guess one would describe it as
'Moroccan-Gypsy-Boheme! I like
to mix the old with the new, and contrast textures and materials to
create a style fusion. No rules, other than filling my space with
things that delight my senses. So there is nothing 'traditional' about
my sense of style, but I prefer it that way. Colorful Moroccan
lanterns, gypsy scarves, celestial sun and moons, Buddhas, and exotic
spices and incense, mingle peacefully with an old Hoosier cabinet,
antiques, newer furnishings and hand crafted items. The result is an
atmosphere as varied and eclectic as I am. And when it comes time to
decorate for the Winter holidays, I seek to mold my family's traditions
to fit our bohemian style.
My love affair with the colors, textures and scents of Asia, especially
in India, as well as Morocco....has been the driving inspiration in my
decorating. So instead of the traditional red, white and green, you
will find a multitude of bright colors throughout our home and on our
Christmas tree. A Buddha sits happily next to glittered reindeer and
Indian jewelry boxes. Our tree has a 'Gypsy' theme with a variety of
different ornaments. Suns and Moons, Owls, Jewels, Mandolins, Feathers
and Moroccan Stars sit atop a fresh fragrant Spruce. The dining table
is set with mix-matched Indian print plates and the chandelier is also
'Gypsified' with an assortment of baubles, beads and jewels in a rainbow
of colors. Glass beaded garlands flank the mirrors and gypsy rings and
incense gifts are used to accessorize instead of the classic Santas and
Snowmen. It's certainly not a traditional Christmas theme...but when
thrown together, it is colorful, festive and fun!
And the scents you ask? What scents accompany a 'Gypsy Yule'? Wafts
of Incense coiling up through the air such as the traditional offerings
of Frankincense and Myrrh, which are in tune with the story of
Christmas, and well known as valuable gifts from the Middle East. But
we also enjoy the traditional hippie favorites like Patchouli and Nag
Champa as well. Which begs the question...is there really any such
thing as a 'Traditional Hippie'? Rich spices abound in the Indian Spice
Markets, and they accompany the resinous incense so very nicely. We
enjoy how their enticing aromas make the holiday season more 'Scent-ual'
and festive. Clove, Cardamon, Anise and Cinnamon brewing on the stove
top in some Apple Cider is a welcoming scent to family and friends as
they enter our home. We also enjoy the succulent sight, taste and smell
of fruits such as Pomegranates, Figs and Oranges. And lastly, it's
always a special seasonal delight to unwrap a bar of Madagascar Spiced
soap, richly fragrant with the scent of clove! It's a splendid excuse
to enjoy a warm Winter's bath with some almond or champa oil mixed in to
help soften winter's drying effects on the skin. But more importantly,
it's also the perfect time to relax and soak in the fragrant water,
while taking stock of the various gifts that life has blessed us with
throughout the past year....as we come full 'circle' to the holidays
once again, and look forward to the promising new calendar year ahead.
:o)
Happy Holidays & Namaste!
~ Wendy
