Enchantment Learning & Living Blog

Welcome to Enchantment Learning & Living, the inspirational space where I write about the simple pleasures, radical self-care, and everyday magic that make life delicious.

On Why I Read Fantasy Novels

November 25, 2014

Because dragons are awesome. And, let's face it, so are wizards. And epic adventures.

They remind me that life is one sweeping adventure, that foes can be conquered, that hope wins out against the darkness. They remind me that the deepest magic is belief in our own abilities to take charge of our lives.

They are a waking dream transcribed to the page, pure inspiration, and imagination--a promise of other worlds and other times that exist alongside our own if only we take the time to pick up a book.

Even when these novels take place on the urban streets of today--dragons and other creatures no longer hidden in deep caves or dark forests, but in the subways and alleys of our industrialized lands--they show us the many layers that make up the world, the importance of seeing beyond brick and mortar and into the soul of a city.

Fantasy novels are, and always will be, books of hope and adventure, dreams and bottled magic, inspiration, and dragon scales.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Why I Read Cozy Mysteries

November 24, 2014

Because the town is like its own character. You look forward to strolling down the main street and seeing the local cafe or the favorite watering hole, the lovely neighborhoods lined with historic houses. Or, in the case of your well-loved Coffee House Mysteries, how the author turns a place as big as New York City into tiny little villages. You favorite of these villages, of course, is the ever inviting coffee house, The Village Blend. It's like a little town in its own right, a familiar place you long to linger in, to savor a rich espresso and people watch.

You even love how particular spaces, like the coffee house, become their own entities, none more so than the kitchen in the Domestic Diva Series. When you are tired after a long day of work or are looking forward to a lazy weekend afternoon, you can snuggle into your own home, fat mug of tea in hand, and read about the gorgeous kitchen and imagine yourself sitting before its fireplace, cooking and chatting with the characters.

The mystery matters, sure, but more than that you look forward to the small cast of characters you can return to again and again, that sooth you with their everydayness. These small glimpses of lives that revolve around family and close friends help wash away the noise of the outside world and remind you that life is in the kitchen, enjoying cooking and conversation with family. Life is the stroll through your neighborhood where you unexpectedly run into loved ones. Life is in the time spent with the small cast of characters in your own corner of the world.

The recipes at the back of the books don't hurt either. They court me with their very focus on creature comforts and the little things in life that make it delicious. Therein lies the magic of the c ozy mystery.

On Fairy Tales

November 22, 2014

Of course, there are the well-known ones: no one can open up an old book of fairy tales without reading about Snow White or Cinderella. Then there are the ones you will find if you venture deep enough into that realm--the original stories not meant for children, the grim gothic tales later made more palatable to a wider audience.

And yet what you love most about these stories is their timelessness, how you can pick up a collection, open it to a random page and once again be immersed in a world of magic and mystery and possibility. You grew up on these stories and turn to them still for comfort and wisdom.

Even now, when you think of these tales, memories of reading "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" or "The Brave Little Tailor" with your parents flood your heart. You can remember you and your siblings piled into their bed for stories before sleep so that these tales would inform your dreams--a tradition no doubt that your little nice will carry on with her parents.

You couldn't get enough of those two stories--the splendor of the glittering dance hall the princesses spirited off to night after night, the ever-changing gowns and silks shoes they wore to dance with princes in another land. And then there was your ultimately favorite about the brave little tailor who embarked on an adventure, defeated a giant, won a princess and all manner of riches, simply by being clever. Not the loudest. Not the fiercest. Not the strongest. Just the cleverest. It makes sense now, where your love of dancing and finery and wit come from. Those stories seeped into your dreams and made their home in your blood.

On Henry Miller and How I Learned to Write

November 21, 2014

He taught me that living was more important than writing, that, after a certain point, the thought of gluing myself to my writing desk would be an act of violence, rather than one of love. Two hours, he said. Two hours a day are all you need. The rest of your time must be spent walking and visiting with friends in cafes and making love. Seemed like the ideal schedule for a full-time writer or, in my case, a full time burgeoning writer. Not yet out of braces, I was determined to learn everything and anything about this elusive art (and, admittedly, I was more than a little titillated by reading Henry Miller in my math class, feeling oh-so-sophisticated and adult in the face of algebra problems).

Over the years I have adapted his prescription to suit my own needs--twenty minutes a day when I teach; just enough to feel my fingers glide along my keyboard, enough to tickle the words. Then on those long glorious days of summer or sweet, lush weekends, I can indulge in my two hours just as I can indulge in my long walks and life living.

Writing should be an act of joyfulness, an expression of the fullness of your life, not a ball and chain that keeps you from this world. Thank you, Henry Miller, thank you for this lesson.

5 Things I've Learned from Miss Phryne Fisher, Lady Detective

November 19, 2014

One of my new favorite book (and TV) series is the Phryne Fisher Mysteries, about a saucy well-dressed 1920s lady out to enjoy the world and try her hand at sleuthing. She's smart; she's glamorous; she's always ready for her next adventure. She knows her way around the dance floor and a crime scene and isn't afraid to do a little undercover work or ruffle some feathers, especially if it means making sure justice is done--with tons of style no less! As I've been making my way through the books and the show, I find myself looking to this thoroughly modern woman for a little life inspiration. Here are the top 5 things I've learned from this wickedly wonderful lady detective:

1. Always pack the heat. Miss Fisher knows that you should be prepared for anything (or anyone) to happen, whether you are actively working on a case or not. You never know when you'll walk into the middle of an opium war in Chinatown or find yourself in a compromising position by the docks--or who you might meet there. Whether it's Detective Inspector Jack Robinson on the same hunch you are or dashing but dangerous Russian dancer, it pays to pack the heat.

2. When in doubt, dance. This one is important. Sometimes there is nothing but a twirl around the dance floor to turn a boring night into a magical one or use the tango as a pretext for grilling your next suspect. Either way, you'll look good doing it.

3. "A woman should dress first and foremost for her own pleasure," so say this lady detective to her maid and good friend, Dot, in season two. And she's right. There is something so empowering and satisfying about dawning a perfectly cut dress and your favorite pair of heels--the fact that they might appeal to others is beside the point!

4. A good man is one who knows how to use his weapon. As great as Miss Fisher is, she is nothing without the strong and capable Inspector Jack Robinson at her side--and she knows it. Sure, she's seen her fair share of men (and their weaponry), but at the end of the day, she knows Jack is one of the good ones.

5. Always dress for success. Whether you are posing as an exotic dancer for your latest sting operation or simply hoping to endure lunch with your stuffy Aunt Prudence, dressing well is living well--and makes life just a little more delicious!

On Louis L'Amour

November 17, 2014

He was responsible for my first and only pair of cowboy boots--a rich purple-brown leather found at Dan's Boots and Saddles on 4th street, picked out with my father on my 16th birthday. I'd spent the past six months filling my head with stories of vaqueros and rogue frontiersmen, dreamers, and entrepreneurs making their way in the Wild West, Indigenous people fighting for their freedom and their land…and knowing that those stories were often at odds.

My clearest memory of reading novels like Flint and Lonesome Gods was underneath the desk in the back row of my high school English class. I thought I was clever, getting lost in land grant feuds and railroad robberies as my teacher droned on about parallelism. Occasionally I would raise my hand and answer a question or make a comment, keeping up the illusion of being an attentive, good little student. I thought I was so clever, sticking it to the system reading what amounted to western dime novels in the heart of the Institution.

Now, of course, I know the dangers in romanticizing the Wild West and glossing over the history of those historically marginalized—including my ancestors. But I can’t deny how these stories influenced me as a writer. And I also know that there was no way my teacher didn't see me reading my battered paperbacks under the desk while we should have been reading Brave New World (I had already read that the first week he assigned it, but I kept it open on top of my desk all the same). He saw me all right, but as a teacher myself now, I realize that my high school self was the least of his classroom worries. I did my work and, after that, I was my own keeper.

Still, every time I wear those boots--almost fifteen years of history worn into their soles--I feel the thrill of that subversive reader, intoxicated on popular novels about her beloved Southwest, the heady promise of being one such a writer fictionalizing her own future adventures still fresh in her heart—only with better representation.

Stories I Want to Read to My Niece

November 15, 2014

There are so many really, each of them full of their own wisdom. First, I must fill her full of fairy tales for they are the foundation of any good reader. She will know the grim originals as well as the various retellings. They will teach her that there is more to this world than what we can see and that the unseen is often more powerful, more beautiful.

Of course, she cannot go through her life without reading The Hobbit (and, if I had my way, the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy--but I will settle for its prequel). This will be a joint effort between me, her father, and my mother--the devout hobbit lovers in her daily life. This story will teach her the value of bravery and adventuring and a well-tended hobbit hole. She will discover that true heroes are often the people we least expect them to be.

And let us not forget the power of the Witchcraft Mysteries so that she may understand that she creates her own magic, that no matter what comes her way in this wild and wonderful world, she is more than capable of handling it--with style and zest, no less. The lessons found within the pages of this series will reinforce those found in the Nancy Drew books her mother and I will read to her.

Ah, the Nancy Drew series, it is like a young woman's guidebook for negotiating the world. They will teach her to be quick on her feet and sharp of mind, always thinking critically and thoughtfully about what she sees. She will learn to be independent and strong--and well dressed in the vintage inspired fashion of Miss Drew. She will learn to love penny loafers and Peter Pan collared dresses. She will discover the importance of curiosity and caring for others, of relishing the mysteries of life.

Sure, there are other books, other stories I want her to read--no childhood is complete with Dr. Seuss nor Gaiman's Coraline, no woman's education finished without the Brontes or Austen. Then there are the stories she will find all on her own and want to share with her family, with me. Like her mother, she will be a woman of words; her stories tattooed on her heart and body.

On Why I Love Steampunk Heroines

November 14, 2014

I will never say no to a book that includes swashbuckling adventure, some imagination, and more than a little magic. That goes double for one that features a heroine who uses her intellect, her strength, her powers (or all three) to fight the forces of darkness and still be home in time for tea, impeccably dressed, and ready to attend to the shortbread and potential suitors.

They reflect the two parts of me: the first, a woman who loves a good cup of tea and a spin around the dance floor. The other, a woman more at home between the covers of a book (or manning a dirigible inside its pages) than within the confines of her proverbial corset (no matter how good she knows it makes her look).

They find their way through this clockwork world one gear at a time, unwilling to be stuffed into stories without magic, without imagination. For they are made up of enchantments and emotion, science and rational thought, each piece making the other whole.

Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub

November 13, 2014

Remember that wonderful pumpkin face mask I wrote about in October? Well, meet its mate, my pumpkin pie body scrub! It's made with actual pumpkin--in this case, powdered pumpkin I purchased from amazon.com--which means it has the same complexion nourishing ingredients like magnesium, iron, and a host of vitamins that bring back your natural glow during these colder months. The touch of pumpkin pie spices bring anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities of your scrub.

It's also a great easy-to-make holiday gift for your loved ones in need of a little extra self-care this upcoming holiday season. What better way to indulge in a little TLC than to enjoy the exfoliating effects of this scrub that perfumes your bathroom with the smell of pumpkin pie?

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar (or Epsom salts)

1/2 cup powdered pumpkin

3/4 cup coconut oil or olive oil

1/4 cup pumpkin spice (or cinnamon)

Mix all dry ingredients together first and then slowly add in oil until fully combined. Store in a mason jar. Enjoy!

On Being the Heroine of Your Own Life

November 12, 2014

We are all like Catherine Morland in our own way, wanting to be the heroines of our own story--not necessarily the lead of a Gothic Romance nor the Damsel in Distress of another story, but a Heroine nonetheless. But what does it mean to be a heroine? To pluck her from the novel pages you devour and find her in your waking life?

She is a woman who is at once both graceful yet flawed; otherworldly in her strength but utterly human, full of heart and full of might. She takes charge of her life, learns to negotiate the pitfalls and relish the pleasures, as any good heroine must. She is most certainly is not the sidekick that lives in the corners of her experiences, silently looking on as others make mistakes, dream big, learn lessons. No, a woman must always be the key player in her own story. That other role is too safe, too tame for the life you want to live, for the life you look for between the covers of a book.

Being a heroine is about hope: the hope for change, the hope to stay the same, and yes, the hope for a little romance. You must greet each day as if you are always on the brink of a marvelous adventure, the promise of something new to dazzle your senses and inform your mind. It is about greeting the world with curiosity and refusing to be cowed by the villains that cross your path; about making friends and leaving enemies in the dust; about recognizing that we have the unique ability to craft our own story.

And what a story it is.

On 'Waking Up in the Land of Glitter'

November 10, 2014

Thank you for bringing glitter back into my life.

I was beginning to forget that every day could sparkle like the German glass dust in your books, be full of as much color and excitement as your next DIY session. You lured me in with your warmth and heart--and, let's be honest, crafting projects. I didn't have to be good at them, just enthusiastic--a welcome relief from over-work and the desire to live a life beyond my dissertation.

You were how I first found chica lit, the genre of mestizas and our quest for a vibrant, passionate life. You gave me permission to get cheesy and corny and all around touchy feely about who I wanted to be. Above all, you were about hope, a reminder that life was more than just A to B; between your pages, I found the courage to break myself out of that linear path with zest and style.

You were my road map back to my native Southwest, a lifeline between me and my sister as we found our way back to glitter.

Oatstraw Tea

November 9, 2014

We are all familiar with the delights of a good morning oatmeal--personally, my weekdays aren't the same without it! Lately, I've brought the joys of oatmeal into my tea blending with oatstaw which gives me the same satisfying nourishment a good bowl of oatmeal does and that comforting taste of earthy grains.

Oatstraw is the leftover part of the oat plant that gets harvested and dried after the grain has been removed. It's great for the skin and works well as the base for a soothing bath or as a tincture to soothe irritated skin. Of course, it also makes an excellent tea! You can find oatstraw at your local health foods store, herb store, or online at Rose Mountain Herbs.

I love drinking this at work because it keeps me fueled and energized through the day more naturally than sugars or caffeine do. It regulates blood sugar, reduces cholesterol, and is chock full of vitamins A, D, and E; zinc; and magnesium. Its flavor is slightly sweet in a grassy way.

Ingredients:

1 heaping tablespoon oatstraw

To brew, pour 8 oz hot water over oatstraw (in strainer or tea bag) and let steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove strainer and enjoy! Makes one serving.

A Conversation with Wollstonecraft & Austen

November 8, 2014

Last night I dreamed that I was at the table with Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft. Perhaps it was over dinner, perhaps tea. To my left sat Wollstonecraft, canonical mother of feminism and Mary Shelley, a woman consumed by human darkness and her own fears. To my right, sat Austen, this enigmatic figure whose history is shrouded in wit and speculation, mother of nothing other than chic lit has and the breezy style synonymous with the novel heroines we model ourselves after. With the former, we know too much, the latter, too little.

They are two sides of me, these women. One is devoured by her passions and her fury. She can burn too hot, crushed by social censure and her own shadows; she was buried alive under the tomb of her memoir, laying bare the heart of a revolutionary woman in a world not yet ready for her. And yet, despite all this, despite the fact that her public words were tainted by her private life exposed, she retained the hope of a more empowered way of living, a more compassionate one equal parts heart and mind.

Austen is the soothing balm to the frayed woman's soul Wollstonecraft laid bare. There is hope, she tells us, there is hope. We do not need to sink under the weight of social pressures nor commit ourselves to a less authentic version of ourselves. No, we must simply be patient, live softly and deeply, crafting a new world through our intimate bonds. We do not need to dwell on the darkness in order to see the light. She pushes these matters off stage; they serve only as the background to the immediate story of home and intimacy and the happiness built on the day in, day out.

I consider these two women as I sit at their table (or perhaps they sit at mine, as it was my mother's mica teapot we poured from, as I now recall, and my own table spread with a fresh cloth and my own adobe home). At one point, I can't help noticing how dark my hands are compared to theirs. Strange, since we are all made up of the stories, the hopes, the fears of women readers who want at once to live in this world and create our own, to feel passionately but sensibly, to find our truth and live it out with unabashed pleasure.

What would I tell them, I wonder? What did I tell them? That is for another dream, another story.

On the Witchcraft Mysteries

November 7, 2014

You brought fashion back into my life and more than a little magic.

I found you one rainy day when I took refuge in my favorite Seattle Mystery Bookshop; the drizzle and damp were getting to me as much as my studies were, making me long for my dry desert home and more warmth in my life. There you were, the perfect respite from the world: your soft blue cover featuring a woman who is now one of my favorite heroines, locking up what I now know is her vintage clothing store. The pink glitter--wisps of magic?--didn't hurt things, either.

I returned home, wanting nothing more than a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and this book. I devoured this story and the next and the next, feeding my soul with the trials and triumphs of Lily Ivory, the powerful witch in search of a normal life. I looked to her to find my balance, my normal in the midst of graduate school, and still do now, as I learn what it means to teach, write, and conjure up the type of life I choose to live...

...and even as I discover normal is overrated--magic is always at the heart of the best things.

From Lily, I remembered the magic of fashion--the power of a dress to lift your spirits and make you a little more daring. I discovered the enjoyment of a potted herb garden and the gentle art of making yourself a part of your chosen home even when your knees tremble and your heart skips a beat, for there will always be a Bronwyn or an Oscar ready to welcome you. And I learned that though you might find yourself in the midst of old ghosts or freshly raised demons, you know you are strong enough to banish them. I also realized the practical pleasures of wearing keds with my vintage inspired dresses (all the better to look fashionable while on your feet all day) and how to properly deflect hexes--and brew a spell or a good gumbo. I have even been known to crave a toasted bagel with cream cheese, jalapenos, and avocados--a Lily Ivory go-to breakfast.

But perhaps most of all, I've found that Lily's greatest power lies not in her ability to vanquish demons or cast out mischievous spirits, or even in her knack for reading the vibes of old clothes. Her power is in her resilient vulnerability, her indefatigable openness to the good in life and her relentless pursuit of everyday enjoyment.

On Finding Happiness in Your Own Way

November 5, 2014

It was hard at first, understanding what Happiness meant for you, that mercurial combination of feeling both grounded and ready to take flight. Sometimes it still is.

You had read books and heard stories and watched others as they found their way to Happiness. And you spent many years in search of their version of that elusive creature. You went out and did the things that seemed to brighten other lives, but they did not quite do so for you. You found no satisfaction in giving yourself over to a life of solitude and studies, nor much fun in late night carousing--that was loneliness of a different sort. Neither gave you the roots and the wings you wanted.

So you stayed in and did the things that brought you past enjoyment, but they did not fill your heart with the deep gladness you were searching for. They began to feel like an old film reel that you kept looping through, out of habit, any sense of love worn away when you began to feel trapped in this spent spool. No, the Happiness you were looking for was something altogether new, something you hadn't dared yet to live.

You wanted a new way of experiencing your life: adventures, harmless frivolity to carry away the heaviness that had filled your shoes like rocks weighing you to this earth. And yes, something that pulled you away from your books, your thoughts (although this last part is written furtively so as not to offend your words or your library that hovers over you as you scribble this). You love them dearly; they are often more real to you than the world you live in. But that's just it: your happiness must also come from the here and now as well as the dreams and what-may-comes.

Slowly, you set about courting your Happiness, gently calling it toward you each day as you took one step and then another towards a new way of being, allowing your roots to cradle you as you flexed your wings, so long unused. You are ready to taste the world, savor its sweetness as you would a thick spool of honey, what now replaced your old worn real. There, in that small promise of fuller living, you found it: Happiness in your own way. It was books and words, but life and living too.

Pumpkin Spice Blend

November 4, 2014

Ahhhhh, pumpkin spice! That heady mixture of cinnamon and other spices is the perfect embodiment of autumn goodness. Happily for non-pumpkin lovers, it contains none of that squash. I love using it not just for Thanksgiving pies, put in my coffee for a festive kick (a trick I learned from my mom!) or on pancakes to make them just a little yummier.

This spice blend is surprisingly easy to make and less expensive if you mix it on your own. A small 2-ounce jar will run you anywhere from two to four dollars whereas if you buy the spices in bulk, you can get the same spice mix for half the cost and you are guaranteed fresher ingredients. I like to make mine in small batches, but the beauty of this recipe is that it is easy to double or triple depending on your pumpkin spice needs.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

3/4 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp ground clove

Mix ingredients together and store in a small spice jar. Makes about 1/4 cup. Enjoy!

November is Dedicated to Stories & Hero(in)es that Inspire!

November 3, 2014

I once told someone--in the flagrant cockiness that is youth--that fictional characters are far more interesting than actual people. I said this mostly to shock the person, a droll fellow who had a set way of looking at the world which certainly didn't include the zest and magic I look for in my everyday life.

To him, fiction was fiction and the people who occupied it were flights of fancy; but Real Life and Real People were more interesting because they had Real Problems and Real Issues that didn't always get resolved with a Happy Ending. No, to him, Real People were Complicated, simply because they chose to go through the cycles of their day in, day out life silently struggling with their Issues.

To which I say: BOR-ING!!!

And thus I told him that Fictional Characters are more interesting than Real People. They go on adventures. They take risks. They fall in love. They fall out of love. They don't settle for the daily grind or the bleakness of unresolved conflicts. They operate under an abundance of Hope. They allow their lives to get a little messy and, as a result, learn and grow. Stories and the heroes and heroines that occupy them will always be to me daily inspiration for a more epic way of living. The aim of our lives, after all, should be to become the hero or heroine of our own story.

I've been mulling this over the past week or so as I've realized that, in the midst of grading papers and taking care of my day-to-day obligations, I'd forgotten how to be the heroine of my own Life, or as I like to think of it, My Swashbuckling-Spontaneous-Shenanigans-Having-Magic-Conjuring-Epic-Adventure. Forgetting to be a Heroine of your own Life, now that is a scary thought, particularly because if you can't think of yourself as a Heroine in your daily adventures, it means you've lost your sense of imagination and playfulness that is absolutely required to feel as exciting and wonderful as a fictional character capable of anything.

So to honor this necessary levity in our lives (a healthy balance to my October everyday gothic series!), I am dedicating the month of November to the wonder and magic of stories in all forms, highbrow and lowbrow, that inspire us to live epically.

On Dia de Los Muertos

November 1, 2014

The boundaries between worlds have thinned at this halfway point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is as if a small door has opened and allowed spirits and old ghosts and mischief makers full access to our neighborhood.

You leave out offerings, a welcome treat to your ancestors, whose guidance you are grateful for; and gifts to pacify the demons and fairies so that you won't bear the brunt of their trouble making. You leave out candles to welcome old souls searching for their home--family maybe, or lost pieces of yourself you seek to reclaim and call to you once again.

You celebrate this connection to the spirit world with sugar skulls and marigolds, unafraid of the night and the creatures it hides; they are a part of us, a part of you. You honor the Aztec goddess of the underworld, paying homage to her strength that allows her to watch over the bones and souls of the dead.

You offer up your flowers, your food, your drink, to thank her for gathering up the pieces of yourself that you no longer need, taking them with her back to the underworld; you thank her too for restoring the parts of you that still live on, though you hadn't known it until this day. You celebrate the dead to honor the power of life.

Old Fashioned Devil Cocktail

November 1, 2014

This is option three in my round of Halloween-inspired cocktails, sans sugary neon additives that have no business in a real cocktail. I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned; my recipe adds a playful twist to this drink by adding activated charcoal to give it a devilishly smoky flair. Activated charcoal is a common natural health aid used to improve skin tone, whiten teeth, detox the body, and even reduce bloating. It has even become a favorite new ingredient in for cocktail makers.

I've also omitted the traditional sugar cube that goes in this drink because I feel this drink is already sweeter than sin without it, thanks to the rich Silver Coyote Whiskey I use. The trick to making a good old-fashioned is to pay attention to the details, which make sense, because, as they say, that's where the devil always finds himself.

Ingredients:

4 dashes angostura bitters

2 oz silver coyote whiskey

1 splash club soda

small pinch of activated charcoal (no more than half of 1/8 teaspoon)

1 slice of organic orange skin, minus the pith

1 orange slice (for garnish)

1 black cherry (for garnish)

ice

In a shaker, muddle orange skin, bitters and activated charcoal together until the oils have released. Add ice and whiskey and shake until mixed. Pour into a glass and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with orange slice and black cherry. Serves one--so double the recipe and share with your favorite devil.

On Halloween

October 31, 2014

It is carving pumpkins and then roasting the seeds, watching old scary movies and eagerly anticipating nightfall, when you can light the jack-o-lanterns and ready yourself for ghostly visitors, lovely princesses, and a whole host of other child-sized creatures. Yes, you can even fondly recall when you would spend a whole month planning your costume for this big night, when you traveled the streets with candy bag in tow, one eye on the haunted house across the street and another and your next stop, instead of offering sweets from the cozy warmth of your own home.

It is a magical time, when you are both who you are and you aren't; a glimmer of the creature you rarely let out in the daylight or the flash of inspiration you hope to carry into your daily life. You are playful and wild and more than a little devilish. You celebrate the here and now, the what might be, and the what was in a swirling confluence of energies, invoking the powers of the spirits among us.

And yet perhaps the most exciting part of Halloween, after the candles burn out in their hallowed out pumpkin shells, and the bowls of candy are empty, the last child having knocked at your door an hour ago, is that quiet hush broken only by the chill breeze and the rustle of leaves outside. You hear only the faint echo of the children's cheerful babble and the melodramatic music from your horror movies. You relish the whispers in the dark, the promise of deep dreams influenced by the festivities and thinning boundaries between worlds, the pregnant silence full of otherworldly possibility. This, this is Halloween.