how to create an enchanting November

two potions for you

Ink-Stained Compass is the weekly newsletter of poet and witch Caitlin Gemmell, for seekers of stories and magic. Each month, two of these newsletters are always free from the paywall. This is one of the free ones. Paid subscribers receive private journal pages, free gifts, first glimpse of new poems, access to the chat for the Ink-Stained Compass community, and more.

Hi lovely,

This post was saved in my drafts folder. I wrote it before the US election results came in. I know many are grieving (myself included) and I thought about writing something else to share, but I don’t have the words right now. At the very least, may these ideas inspire you to nurture yourself and find some joy and beauty — some light in the shadows.

It always surprises me how little love the majority of people seem to have for the month of November (here in the northern hemisphere). October is beloved for the spectacular autumn foliage and because of Halloween, or Spooky Season as lots of people call it. December is a favorite with many because of the magic of Yuletide/Christmas/New Year. But poor November falls between, oft forgotten. Overlooked.

And yet, November is an enchanting month. You just have to know where to look and what to create. And so, I have two potions to share with you. Two ways of creating an enchanting November. Enjoy!

Photo by George Hiles on Unsplash

These are the recipes and ingredients to stir into the potions to create an enchanting November:

Magical Nature Walk Potion

You will need:

a sense of adventure and a curious, open heart

1 pair of stout walking shoes

a willingness to dress appropriately for any weather including cold, dreary weather

1 flask of hot tea, coffee, chocolate, or apple cider

1 thick wool, tartan blanket

sketchbook and a pen or pencil

With these ingredients, walk in your favorite nature spot and allow your thoughts to drift away with the wind. Invite your senses to explore your surroundings. Perhaps you notice some golden leaves still cling to the trees. Perhaps the branches are bare and skeletal. Maybe the sky is deepest sapphire, or misty grey, or slate. Are there any birds around? What do you smell? What do you hear? Spread out your blanket and sit down to sketch or journal while you sip your hot drink.

Photo by Jan Ranft on Unsplash

Child’s Wonder Potion

You will need…

childlike sense of wonder

lots of blankets and pillows

flashlight

books, music, magazines, and/or games

snacks

fairy lights

Create a pillow/blanket fort and get cozy! Spend time embracing your inner child and remember what it was like to make a fort where you enjoyed just hanging out to read, watch movies, or play games. Enjoy your favorite snacks while you indulge in childlike fun! Use a flashlight to make shadow puppets.

To make this day even more magical, you can put your snacks on your fanciest dishes, add rose petals to your drink, or dress like your favorite childhood character/hero.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Here are some other ideas…

1. Create a scavenger hunt. Draw a treasure map and leave clues for a friend to follow. The final clue will lead them to a special treat such as coffee at their favorite cafe.

2. Give names to the colors you see in nature and in the world around you. For example, instead of thinking of the sky as grey it could be elephant ear, kitten’s whisker, oyster shell, dove’s wing. It could be the name of a book, or a friend, or a character.

3. Create a playlist for November. What does November sound like?

4. Bake a pumpkin pie, even if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Even better, bake a cranberry orange pie! That was one of my favorite creations a few years back. I even cut out stars and crescent moons out of pie crust and made it fancy!

5. Buy a bouquet of flowers to bring some color into your home.

6. Create a shrine or altar in your home. Even a windowsill could be turned into one. Leave offerings for your household spirit. Or turn it into a meditation corner. Items to include could be a small water fountain, a goldfish bowl, a house plant, crystals, singing bowl, crystal prism to catch the sunlight and make rainbows throughout your house.

7. Become a fairy godparent for a day. Leave a little gift for a neighbor, friend, or even a complete stranger.

8. Bake bread. From scratch. Seriously, the entire process is magical.

9. Invest in a coffee grinder and French press if you don’t already have them. Get fresh coffee beans, grind them, and brew a delicious cup of coffee. Pour into a bowl or your favorite mug.

10. Cook a full English breakfast. Read the newspaper over breakfast. Yes. An actual print one. Make time to slow down.

11. Call a friend and chat, like people used to do.

12. Create a list of positive affirmations. Place them around your home. Speak them every single day.

    ---

    I hope you enjoyed these suggestions. November can be a wonderful month. I appreciate the quiet, soulful energy of this month. I hope you do too. One last thing, I shared this poetry challenge on Substack Notes and I’d love for you to participate! You can use the prompts however works best for you.