Father Christmas and Fly Agaric Folklore

Posted by Adam Biddle on

Father Christmas and Fly Agaric Folklore

Christmas is such a magical, nostalgic time of year and we’ve been enjoying meeting lots of our lovely customers and fellow makers at various Christmas pop-ups and getting into the festive spirit. This year, I wanted to share some discoveries about the magical folklore surrounding Christmas; in particular, the possible role of the famous and highly toxic Fly Agaric mushroom. Growing up, I remember feeling slightly cheated hearing that the reason Father Christmas wore red was all because of Coca Cola, so I was delighted to hear about this alternative version! This enchanting red and white spotted toadstool from many...

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Our partnership with Rising Forests and the wonder of trees

Posted by Charlie Fowler on

Our partnership with Rising Forests and the wonder of trees

There’s something so magical and restorative about walking in the woods, the herbaceous smells, hearing the gentle breeze whisper in the leaves and the rustle and crunch beneath your feet. Spending mindful time in nature is so precious to me, it clears my busy mind and allows me to escape from the pressures of everyday life, it feeds my spirit, whilst restoring an innate connection with mother earth. An old photo I found from a woodland walk a few years ago, taken by Bill Bradshaw There is also science that supports the benefits. Time in nature restores balance, lowers cortisol...

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The Elder Tree and her gifts

Posted by Charlie Fowler on

The Elder Tree and her gifts

Last Friday we continued our annual tradition of foraging for elderflowers to make some delicious elderflower cordial, it’s something my son and I do together each year, we both enjoy foraging for the large frothy flowers of which are so abundant this time of year. I di d however also notice an abundance of black aphids this year, so we were careful to avoid the bugs as much as possible. I love learning about the ancient folklore surrounding plants and the Elder tree is heavily steeped in magic and superstition, with conflicting tales of warning and protection. According to folklore...

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Yarrow a magical herb and gardener’s friend.

Posted by Charlie Fowler on

Yarrow a magical herb and gardener’s friend.

Our hero herb Yarrow is steeped in myth and legend, which is partly why I love it so. It grows almost everywhere across the globe, it is one of the world’s oldest medicinal plants and has been used since ancient times to protect and heal. This humble herb is great for nature and extremely helpful in the garden, its mass of pretty white flowers are long lasting throughout the summer, attracting beneficial insects, ladybirds, hoverflies, bees and butterflies.  It helps to improve soil quality, enriching the soil around it.  Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae daisy family, it is...

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Autumn Self Care Bathing

Posted by Charlie Fowler on

Autumn Self Care Bathing

Welcome to the MOA blog! As you may have noticed from my Instagram feed, I take a huge amount of inspiration from nature and love to celebrate each of seasons for their own mystical beauty and feels. Somehow every year autumn seems to take me a little by surprise with its breath taking, vibrant colours and this year has not disappointed. One evening walking the dog, the trees were positively lit up, glowing bright yellow against the stormy sky. It’s not just been the trees, but the skies have been particularly spectacular, some of the most vivid sunsets I’ve ever...

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