Thesmophoria was celebrated in late autumn to honor Persephone and Demeter, that they might bless the fertility of the land and ensure the bounty of the yearly harvest. Unlike most festivals, or most of anything really, Thesmophoria was celebrated only by women.
This time of year, while the veil is thin, it is a suitable occasion to dabble in witchery—particularly in that which is dark, dangerous, or extraordinarily strong.
People in power have long been afraid of educated women. During the early modern period, women were driven from healthcare by the threat of being accused of witchcraft, while men were educated and licensed.
The Romans believed the goddess of luck, Fortuna (called Tyche by the Greeks) was tied to virtus, or virtue, and that virtuous people attracted good luck. Good things don’t always happen to good people, true enough, but maybe good things have the potential to happen to those who want them.
We have dated the existence of apothecaries back to 4500 BCE, at least. This is consistent with human condition: we have always needed healthcare, and the best of us have always sought knowledge to better help us take care of each other.
There is something so profoundly satisfying about the SATOR square. It makes sense on almost every level. It’s a palindrome backwards, forwards, up and down; it’s made of words, which hold so much power; it is a perfect 5x5 square. It is flawless symmetry.
Are you a sun person? Beckoned by summertime, heat and sweat and salt? Do you melt without hesitation into new experiences, and laugh aloud while doing so? If you shine from the inside out, you may find yourself swimming in the molten metal sea of the Icarus earrings.
People are always curious about how jewelry companies price their pieces - how can that tiny little piece be worth $800? I was one of those skeptical people until I founded Common Era, and learned so very much about all the various factors come together to help us decide the retail price of our pieces.
Sara Long:
Torie hey! How’s the new office space?
Torie Tilley:
HEY!! You beat me to it. I’m usually so punctual too. The office space is... empty. I didn’t go in today because there were thunderstorms in NYC and I’m generally too lazy to use an umbrella. How are you?
