Strawberry Moon is live at BPAL & BPTP!

[kebechet]

Oh, man. I’m so tired, all I can really do is grunt. Teething: Fun for the Whole Family.

 

Without further grunting, we present…

 

STRAWBERRY MOON 2009

Strawberries that in gardens grow

Are plump and juicy fine,

But sweeter far as wise men know

Spring from the woodland vine.

 

No need for bowl or silver spoon,

Sugar or spice or cream,

Has the wild berry plucked in June

Beside the trickling stream.

 

One such to melt at the tongue's root,

Confounding taste with scent,

Beats a full peck of garden fruit:

Which points my argument.

 

May sudden justice overtake

And snap the froward pen,

That old and palsied poets shake

Against the minds of men.

 

Blasphemers trusting to hold caught

In far-flung webs of ink,

The utmost ends of human thought

Till nothing's left to think.

 

But may the gift of heavenly peace

And glory for all time

Keep the boy Tom who tending geese

First made the nursery rhyme.

 

Wild strawberries, strawberry flower, vanilla-infused sugar, early summer grasses, and milky dandelion sap.

 

 

 

And a handful of seasonal pleasures --

 

JUNE GLOOM

It’s May in Los Angeles, and we’re baking slowly as the weather hits the low 100’s…

 

Here at the Lab, we are praying for a little June Gloom.

 

Bright summer flowers, fresh herbs, and a bit of citrus rind dampened by the scent of morning mist and rain.

 

 

LITHA 2009

Midsummer, Ukon Juhla, Alban Heruin, the Light of the Shore. This is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, marking the sun's highest path across the sky. The Sun God and the Lord of the Forest are at the apex of their strength, and the Holy Day itself is a celebration of light's triumph over darkness. The world around us is teeming with light and life, and on this day fertility rituals for both the land and its people are observed. Golden honey and moss, with honeysuckle, chamomile, parsley, white gardenia, frankincense, carnation, vervain, gum arabic, yarrow, and liquid copal.

 

 

ST JOHN’S EVE

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

-- Matthew 11:11

 

The birth of John the Baptist coincides with the Summer Solstice, and in keeping with the eternal rhythm of the universe, John understood that as the sun’s strength begins to wane after the Summer Solstice, so did he move aside after preparing the way for the Winter King, Christ.

 

Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

 

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

 

He must increase, but I decrease.

-- John 3:28-30

 

St. John’s holy day is full of holy significance that is so primal and archetypal that it transcends any one faith. It is a merging of the rituals of Midsummer with symbols of Biblical faith. On this eve, prayers to God for bountiful harvests and fertility are said over St. John’s blessed bonfires, a leap over the sacred flames brings good fortune in new undertakings and unions, and the waters of rivers and lakes bring renewed strength, vitality, and spiritual cleansing.

 

A summer bonfire, with frankincense and myrrh, bay rum, and white rose.

 

 

There's also something over here ...

 

 

The Post is presenting its Lunacy tee in two colors this month… pink and white!

 

 

 

 

And the Post is also offering a lovely, empowering summer Inquest…

 

++ WARRIOR QUEENS INQUEST

I am the queen of war. I am the queen of the thunderbolt. I stir up the sea and calm it. I am the rays of the Sun.

 

We live in a challenging time. Conflict, uncertainty, tension… All of us sometimes feel that adversity threatens to overwhelm us, and that we are facing -- both on a personal and worldwide scale -- insurmountable difficulty. To help combat this, we present the Warrior Queens series -- a very different sort of Goblin Inquest. This is an Inquest of Self-Empowerment. Both men and women can find strength within the tales of these Warrior Queens, and may see that through these archetypes, they enable themselves to draw upon a deeper well of internal fortitude.

 

It's at times like this that we need to look within ourselves and celebrate our triumphs, remember our victories, and use these memories, and the stories of those who came before us, to find courage amidst chaos and hardship.

 

We invite you to share tales of your personal victories with us as you tell us which Warrior you identify with most, and why.

 

 

A little about our Heroines…

 

BOADICEA

Rebel Queen of the Iceni, she led an uprising of the tribes against the Roman Empire. After Claudius’ conquest of the area, the Iceni voluntarily allied themselves to Rome, though Rome was not a gentle parent state. The Romans conquered much of Brittania, desecrated the sacred groves at Mona, and slaughtered the druids. When Boadicea’s husband, Prasutagus, died, his will was ignored and his massive financial debt to Rome was called in forcefully. Iceni was annexed as though it was a conquered territory, property and estates were seized, both tribal nobility and the common folk were enslaved. When Boadicea objected to the treatment of her lands and her people, she was flogged, and her children were grievously injured.

 

Boadicea took her vengeance.

 

Under the leadership of Boadicea, the Iceni and Trinovantes united with their neighbors and the surviving druids of Mona to instigate a rebellion. They cut a swath of furious destruction. Her warriors slaughtered Legionary forces, and destroyed Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium -- so scorching the earth beneath Londinium that the scar is still visible beneath modern London.

 

HER PERFUME

Amber, fig, vanilla flower, oak, patchouli, vetiver, dragon’s blood resin, leather, and neroli.

 

HER BATH

Fig, neroli, amber, vanilla, patchouli, pine needle, and vetiver.

 

 

HUA MULAN

Click, click, for ever click, click;

Mulan sits at the door and weaves.

Listen, and you will not hear the shuttle’s sound,

But only a girl’s sobs and sighs.

‘Oh, tell me, lady, are you thinking of your love,

Oh, tell me, lady, are you longing for your dear?’

‘Oh no, oh no, I am not longing for my dear.

But last night I read the battle-roll;

The Khan has ordered a great levy of men.

The battle-roll was written in twelve books,

And in each book stood my father’s name.

My father’s sons are not grown men,

And of all of my brothers, none is older than me.

Oh let me to the market to buy saddle and horse,

And ride with the soldiers to take my father’s place.’

In the eastern market she’s bought a gallant hors.

In the western market she’s bought saddle and cloth.

In the southern market she’s bought snaffle and reins.

In the northern market she’s bought a tall whip.

In the morning she stole from her father’s and mother’s house.

At night she was camping by the Yellow River’s side.

She could not hear her father and mother calling to her by name,

But only the voice of the Yellow River as its waters swirled through the night.

At dawn they left the River and went on their way;

At dusk they came to the Black Water’s side.

She could not hear her father and mother calling to her by her name,

She could only hear the muffled voices of foreign horsemen riding on the hills of Yen.

A thousand leagues she tramped on the errands of war.

 

Frontiers and hills she crossed like a bird in flight.

Through the northern air echoed the watchman’s tap;

The wintry light gleamed on coats of mail.

The captain had fought a hundred fights, and died;

The warriors in ten years had won their rest.

The went home, they saw the Emperor’s face;

The Son of Heaven was seated in the Hall of Light.

The deeds of the brave were recorded in twelve books;

In prizes he gave a hundred thousand cash.

Thus spoke the Khan and asked her what she would take.

‘Oh, Mulan asks not to be made

A counsellor at the Khan’s court;

I only beg for a camel that can march

A thousand leagues a day,

To take me back to my home.’

 

When her father and mother heard that she had come,

They went out to the wall and led her back to the house.

When her little sister heard that she had come,

She went to the door and rouged herself afresh.

When her little brother heard that his sister had come,

He sharpened his knife and darted like a flash

Towards the pigs and sheep.

She opened the gate that leads to the eastern tower,

She sat on her bed that stood in the western tower.

She cast aside her heavy soldier’s cloak,

And wore again her old-time dress.

She stood at the window and bound her cloudy hair;

She went to the mirror and fastened her yellow combs.

She left the house and met her messmates in the road;

Her messmates were startled out of their wits.

The had marched with her for twelve years of war

And never know that Mulan was girl.

For the male hare sits with its legs tucked in,

And the female hare is known for her bleary eye;

But set them both scampering side by side,

And who so wise could tell you ‘This is he’?

 

HER PERFUME

Pink musk, white ginger, tea leaf, night blooming jasmine, bergamot, and leather.

 

HER BATH

White ginger, tea leaf, night blooming jasmine, neroli, rose, and lotus root.

 

 

JINGU

Known as Pimoko, the sun-daughter, Jingu was an Empress of Japan who served as regent and de facto ruler between the time of the death of her husband and the ascension of her son, Emperor Ojin. Sure that knowledge of her husband’s death would bring discord to her realm, she managed to keep his passing a secret, and successfully put down numerous insurrections in his name. Although she was pregnant with the future emperor of Japan, she donned armor and rode into battle, leading the conquest of Silla.

 

HER PERFUME

Sakura, white orchid, mandarin, bamboo, red sandalwood, plum blossom, and lilac.

 

HER BATH

Sakura, plum wine, and rice flower.

 

 

SEMIRAMIS

A legendary Assyrian queen, often identified with Sammu-Ramat, the wife of Shamshi-Adad V, she was believed to be the daughter of the goddess Atargatis. Her youth was filled with mythic adventure, and her otherworldly beauty and voluptuous sexuality ensured her two advantageous marriages. When she took the reins of power of Empress of Assyria, she expanded her kingdom by conquering much of Mesopotamia and Asia. She beautified and revitalized Babylon, and implemented improvements in Nineveh that helped to moderate the flow of the Tigris. She was renowned for her military and political prowess, as well as her ferocious and merciless sexual appetite.

 

HER PERFUME

Red musk, pomegranate, orange blossom, and melon.

 

HER BATH

Red musk, pomegranate, red cherry, myrrh, and blood orange.

 

 

TOMOE GOZEN

A "warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot." Tomoe Gozen was a fierce, noble, and courageous samurai, first captain, as well as a renowned beauty. She was an excellent swordswoman, famed for her riding ability and her skill at archery. She fought for Minamoto no Yoshinaka at Battle of Awazu, and her forces were defeated. Legend says she was seen holding the severed head of one of her foes on the battlefield, and vanished, never to be seen again.

 

HER PERFUME

Red currant, golden amber, blackberry, honey, and pink pepper.

 

HER BATH

Red currant and honey.

 

YSABEL

Isabella I, Queen of Castile and León, was a proponent of education, establishing lasting institutions of higher learning, a patron of scholars and artists, and an enthusiastic sponsor of exploratory expeditions, including Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. She possessed a great military mind, and was integral in the retaking of Grenada, thus sealing the Reconquista. With her husband, Ferdinand, she ruled with equal authority and power, unifying Spain and laying the foundations of the Spanish Empire.

 

HER PERFUME

Red carnation, red roses, Spanish cedar, velvet musk, pomegranate, clove, and incense.

 

HER BATH

Frankincense, benzoin, carnation, and balsam of Peru.

 

 

ZENOBIA

Zenobia was Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. She assumed leadership of her nomadic tribe after her father’s death, eventually marrying King Septimius Odaenathus. Zenobia seemed a contradiction: chaste, dark-eyed, and lovely, but able to drink, fight, and make war like a man. She fought, on horseback, alongside her husband in many battles, and ruled the Empire with a fair and just hand after her husband’s passing. To her people, she was the Lady of Victory, conquering several Roman provinces, including Egypt, and expelling the prefect, Tenagino Probus, who was beheaded after he led an attempt to seize back control of the territory for Rome. Her conquests enabled her to control many vital trade routes, further earning her the ire of the Romans. Unfortunately, she eventually overextended her reach. She was betrayed, and then captured by Emperor Aurelian, displayed in chains in a triumphal procession through Rome, her Empire dissolved. Rather than capitulate to misfortune, she made a new life for herself, and became a Roman matron, philosopher, and socialite.

 

HER PERFUME

Orris, clove, costus storax, patchouli, hyssop, frankincense, balsam, and saffron.

 

HER BATH

Orris, amber, balsam, calamus, and frankincense.

 

 

Each set comes with a 5ml bottle of the Queen’s perfume, a 4oz bottle of the Queen’s bath oil, and a squirt of Templum Victoriae Atmospheric Spray: frankincense, olive leaf, champaca, beeswax, amber, and bay myrtle.

 

If you choose not to enter a plea and have opted to forego the quiz, you can leave the selection up to us, or you can specify your choice of Queen in the comments field.

 

Each of the Warrior Queens are only sold as a set, the packs cannot be split up, and the products in this LE cannot be sold on their own. You may place an order for multiple sets, or place multiple orders; in either case, each will be considered separately in the course of the Inquest process. If you are placing an order for more than one set, you may submit multiple tales, applicable to each order. Please indicate which statement or quiz result pertains to which order.

 

You have until May 31, 2009 to participate, at which point the Inquest will end. Please note: Inquests will not begin to ship until May 22, 2009.

 

 

And with that, I’m going to crawl into bed. Good night, all!