Did candlelit yoga in my freshly cleaned room. Lavender, bergamot jasmine, and some other oils are floating out of my aromatherapy light. Before that, incense.
My space is sanctified.
My decor is a collection of altar-like zones. Plants weave around the room to make me feel like I'm lounging in a garden. Large photographic tapestries of forests complete the fantasy. A projector oozes rotating watery light onto the warm purple walls.
I'm surrounded by my favorite things. Heirlooms and old photographs of my nana, great grandpa, and great great great abuela are on the dresser with some lanterns, crystals and an heirloom rock from the pyramids, palo santo in an abalone shell, a tarnished copper turkish coffee pot filled with copal and frankincense, and also a real incense burner for when I want to use my resins to pretend I'm living in ancient times.
Everything here is just the way I like it.
Ceramic palm reading hand that holds my rings between two black candles in front of an old Moorish style mirror. Hamsa hook drenched in favorite necklaces and an evil eye. Above that, a rusty horseshoe I found in Virginia City. Next to that my wall staghorn fern under a tiny Moorish tin mirror from Nevada City, and under that sits a wooden crate which I use as my self-care station, where I keep a variety of things to soothe me when I'm stressed, like candles, palo santo in an antique glass hand, oils and perfumes, lip balm and lotion, a eucalyptus inhaler, some herbs, a cork yoga block... Indulging the senses helps with mindfulness.
Next to that is more candles and a shell from a beach in southern Portugal atop a silver dumbek drum. And a pair of old suitcases I found at the creative reuse place. A faded burnout velvet tasseled bellydance scarf is my makeshift tablecloth, under the jade olmec mask that I turned upside down and use like a bowl for smudge sticks that I don't really use. Antique deer antlers from Virginia City hang high above. I painted the antlers gold circa early pandemic and it looks amazing when all my colored lights shine on it. I keep this side of the room very dimly lit, with lots of small dim lights scattered throughout so it looks magical.
I'm not done yet.
Persian rug, random tapestry from the Nepalese store that L said I must get because it looked like how she sees me. Apparently I am red silky fabric with gold embroidery and sequins. A mexican blanket M gave me. Shitty couch covered in black velvet. My dresser is covered with scrap fabric from the costume I danced on stage in. A tower of old books. A half mannequin by the window that I use as a plant stand for the vine my mom gave me. I have it positioned ass-out so that it moons all my neighbors.
8:45 p.m. - 2021-10-22