Many blessings and Happy Imbolc to everyone! I hope this month ushers in some fresh energy as you begin to hammer out the details of your work for the year. Over here, the rainstorms have been beautiful and terrible in their fury. I have watched trees fall, and the small creeks around my house are teeming with fresh life. At night, the frogs are singing once more.

My work desk continues to waver from being a haven of peace to a pile of waiting promises, but I like it that way. I love the work I do.

This month I am happy to report a few new connections which are making my work-- and our products-- even more exiting. I have met a wonderful witch named Star who creates books of shadows that make my soul take flight. We will be offering more of her books in the future, but you can check out this one for now: Wicca Book of Shadows. The pictures are not the greatest but I am working on that (always something to be done, lol).

I hope you go forward this month with inspiration in your mind and peace in your heart, just as I am.

bright blessings,
Ren

January 2010

It has taken me 13 days to admit that we are in the new year, but now I am absolutely ready. Happy New Year! Are you someone that makes New Year Resolutions, or do you shun them in horror like many of my family members do? Lol. Either way, I wish you a year filled with warmth, magic, transformation, and laughter!

bright blessings,
Ren

December 2009

Happy Holidays! The final month of the year is upon us and I feel the nervous rush of knowing that in a blink of an eye, the year will be done. Are you doing your holiday shopping? Please remember that we are here for you! If you have concerns about needing an item by a specific date, I encourage you to email me directly through the "contact us" page, or even to simply place your "need by" date in the notes at checkout. Most often I can make these deadlines as long as I know in advance. If I can't do it, then I will let you know right away.

Another concern people often have at this time of year is MONEY. How do you make more of it? How do you cover existing bills while purchasing gifts for others? Well I am excited to present our new Affiliate Program. I am still working out some of the tiny kinks, but if you have a facebook page, myspace, blog, or any other sort of website, you can place a link to our store and make money everytime someone purchases from us through that link. For details on how this works, take a look at our Affiliate FAQs, located at the very VERY bottom right hand of our home page. The link is: http://www.bellbookandcandlesupply.com/affiliate_info.php.

That about sums things up here. If you feel like more of my blabbing, you can check me out on blogger or twitter!

blessings everyone!

Ren

November 2009

This time of year, the leaves have gone from orange to brown and the rain is washing away the last of our vineyard harvest. I am so happy to welcome November, and yet the deep reverberations of October's Samhain celebrations are still lingering and asking to be heard. I am promising myself that despite the upcoming rush of Thanksgiving and the Yule Holidays, I will spend time with myself to remember the lessons of Samhain and remember the siren calls deep in my heart.

Part of that promise includes making gifts for the holidays and spending more time in meditation with the very products I sell. I love the delicate scent of our pure essential oil candles from Montserrat (which always come with surprises such as gemstones or charms). I take such pleasure in items like the Zen garden (perfect for career people who need a desktop reminder to Breathe). Items like the lucky goard tassel and all of these beautiful tumbled crystals give me courage and strength each day to face my personal challenges.

As the season grows darker, I hope you find the same inner strength I am finding from my own magical work and tools. I send you blessings and bright hopes as you light your own candles in the dark and find your way through the season.

Bright Blessings!
Ren

October 2009

Bleep! Are you kidding me? October is here already??? It happens to be one of my favorite months, all the more so now that my son's birthday occurs in October. Well the month has started off well. I took a business trip and the result was a bunch of new products I have yet to upload into the site. I am so excited about some of our new feng shui items (which I promise you will see before this week is out!), and also some new journals by Jessica Galbreth (who has, incidentally, become so adored that she can no longer hand make them so they are now mass-produced, but STILL lovely!).

We did not harvest the grapes in our vineyard this year, and there is something sad in watching them dry on the vine, but the longer I watch, the more I see the microlife that is benefitting. The peacocks come around to eat them when they think nobody is watching. And the bees have returned, beating out the wasps who seemed so present last year.

I am already thinking about Samhain/Halloween even though there are still three weeks to go. I find the dark time of year cathartic, magical . . . inspiring even!

The downside of my business trip was that my internet and cable television did not work almost the whole time! It was a disaster! Try entertaining a toddler in a strange rental without tv while balancing business meetings and hunting for an internet cafe! It was difficult at times, but even as I grumbled about not being able to keep up with all of our orders, I still felt so deeply grateful to be living my dream and running a store with such wonderful friendly, interactive customers as you!

Back home now, and I could not be happier! I can't wait to upload these goodies! I only wish I had more hands. Can I apply for that somewhere? Lol.

blessed be

Ren

September 2009

Fall has finally arrived. I actually heard it this morning! With a crash of thunder and flicker of lightening, the sky let loose a surprisingly gentle rainfall. Kids are back in school,the unpicked fruit in our orchard is dropping to the ground, and my spirit feels the darker season approaching.

I love it! This month has been all about inviting fairies and angels into my shop. We are getting in new velvet journals by Jessica Galbreth, and I just spotted some lovely angel sculptures I hope to be able to share with you. In the meantime, check out our new, exclusive mini spell-kits with colorful tealights and spells for quick transformation.

Also take a look at the new additions in our Kuumba Made Perfume Oils. These are incredibly fragrant but not overwhelming, and they are made with natural plant matters. They make a good gift for yourself, or pair a perfume with a fairy journal for a great gift for others.

Have fun shopping! Oh, and guess what? We are finally crawling out of our hovel and joining the social sphere! Look for us on twitter as BellBook or on Myspace! See you soon!

Ren

August 2009

Another month is flying by and I am astounded. Work has been punctuated by the birth of my neice. It was so incredible to spend time with my sister as she ferried this new baby into the world. I was reminded of how quickly the years fly by and how important it is just to stop, sometimes. To hunker down close to the earth, and listen to her heartbeat. What does that mean?

For me it means making time to sit in a garden and watch butterflies even if work is waiting to be done. It means really opening my ears to hear what the people around me are saying rather than rushing to share my own angst. It means lying down in the bare grass and listening to the trees whisper. It means following the intuition in my gut so that I know how to give comfort to people in life who so often nurture me. And it means allowing myself to BE nurtured without guilt, for the people and environments in my life ARE Mother Earth incarnate, and she will give her nurturing life blood for us if we allow.

As I watch the dying summer, I am happy for the profound, private lessons I gained in helping the birth of this new baby girl. I am able to step outside of my small world of goals and dreams to feel, for a few moments, the beautiful rush of life that connects us all, and I feel a renewed sense of hope and love. Yeah for new babies!

July 2009

July always feels ripe with heat, the promise of my sad little garden finally coming to fruition. I am always surprised by the red tomatoes and slender beans that managed to make it despite how often I forget to water. This year I got smart and bought a water timer so the plants wouldn't suffer for my mistakes. This is really a lesson I am learning to apply to my whole life; if you know your weeknesses, then find ways to minimize their impact even as you are working on changing them. Doing this is really a form of self love and extreme self care.

As you look through our selections this month, I challenge you to bring that awareness of self care and thinking outside of the box. Try something new, spiritually, and enjoy the wild adventure it takes you on!

Many blessings,
Ren

June 2009

Bright Blessings and have a lovely summer! We are here for all of your needs. I will post if we take a vacation, but we are having far too much fun in our own backyard. LOL

May 2009

Happy May everyone! I just would like to take a moment to thank all of our customers who continue to shop here at the store again and again. It is a pleasure and an honor that you share your lives and stories with me. My baby boy is growing healthy and looking forward to running all over our small fruit orchard this summer. My loving partner and I continue to challenge each other (i.e. drive each other crazy in numerous loving ways), and the start of this summer could not be happier if I wished it.

I encourage you to email me with any questions you may have about our products. I am also looking for an additional book binder, as I have noticed that our leather books are becoming so popular we need more man power! But thank you for your continuing patience. I will try to do everything I can for the store to continue to run smoothly. I hope you enjoy visiting just as much as we enjoy having you!

blessed be!
Ren

April 2009

Okay, I am absolutely blown away by how fast the year is going so far! Is it just me? It feels like yesterday I was celebrating Imbolc, and tomorrow is Beltane. In our shop, we have been working with one of our book binders on some beautiful new book of shadows and I can't wait until they're ready but it will be another few months.

In the meantime, have you taken a look at our Egyptian section? We have a bunch of new statues in and they are quite lovely. I finally got around to unpacking the last of them yesterday, and soon I will be working on updating the description text so that you know as much about them as possible before you order. If you have been wanting to work with the Egyptian pantheon, beginning with a statue of Isis, Bast, or Anubis is a wonderful way.

I don't have any profound thoughts or feelings this month. The shop is peaceful and happy. On the home front I have finally perfected my chocolate-cake-from-scratch recipe. Just email me if you want a copy! I have also finally received my certificate and am now a Reiki Master so if you live in Northern California and you want a reiki attunement, let me know!

I hope April has been good for all of you, and I will try to write again when we turn the corner into May.

Blessed Be!
Ren

February 2009

This month we celebrated Imbolc with a lovely ritual for the Goddess Brigit. For those who are not aware, she is a Celtic goddess of healing, fire, creativity, wells, smithcraft, and fertility. I think she is also a catholic saint. It's amazing to me how the goddess continues to speak to us no matter what religion we take as our own.

Now more than ever it seems like we need the wisdom of the Goddess in our lives. I have so many loved ones in need of work and employment, and there are no easy answers. But we can call on the strength and wisdom of the goddess within each of us to find our way to brighter times.

To me, the creeping return of spring, the healing waters of Brigit's well, and the fabulous magic we do around these things are a lifeline to sanity. They are a reminder of the power of spirit. Need to heal? Need a job? Ned to save your home? This is precisely why we work magick, why we burn candles full of hope and intent, why we light fresh incense that inspires! In these symbolic acts we are reminded of who we are, what our needs are, and we are reminded that no matter how difficult things become, if we can hold on to love and hope, eventually winter turns to spring. Eventually the market comes around, the jobs reappear, new lovers crest the horizon. Sometimes we lose things we don't want to lose and its painful. But for every loss, there is the potential for a completely new experience. We can come to these with an even deeper appreciation for the cycles of life.

This, at least, is what I like to tell myself. I believe it too, and I invite you to reflect, on the tailend of winter, on the stories you tell yourself about this time of year. Many, many blessings for 2009.

November 2008

I seriously can not believe that November is here already. Two days ago we had our first real rains of the season, drowning our gardens in buckets of water. There were a few hours in which I felt more like I was living on a ship rather than in a house in Sonoma County. As we begin planning our Thanksgiving, I am reminded yet again how our American celebrations have been cut off from the cultural celebrations of our heritage (ie Thanksgiving no longer taking place during harvest or fall equinox due to politics). I have been brainstorming ways of bridging this gap and infusing my regular American holidays with the sacred spirit and reverence so often missing.

Here in the store, we continue to slowly expand our offerings, and you will notice a number of wonderful gift items for your loved ones. Check out our Friendship Fairy candles by the artist Montserrat. These fairy candles are made with pure essential oils and high quality wax, and the artwork is a unique treasure for everyone. We also have a lovely line of writing journals from Brushdance, featurin a mix of lined and unlined pages that feel sinfully luscious to write upon. Check them out in the journal section.

Christmas is right around the corner and now is the time to beat the rush. Don't forget that you can always email me if you don't see what you're looking for! Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessed be,
Ren

October 2008

Our little family has made a big transition and we have moved out of San Francisco to the beautiful wine country of Sonoma County (If you live in the city we can still do rush orders). As I write, I can see the leaves turning the bright yellows and reds of fall, and I am reminded of the changing seasons.

The Fall has brought changes to Bell Book and Candle Supply as well, and you will be delighted to see that we now carry a number of magickal oils. These are all mixed here in sacred space, using a variety of essential oils, plant essences, and the occasional fragrance oil. If you have questions about the oils or would like one that you don't see, send us an email!

In response to your queries, we will also be adding more journals! We are so glad you're finding joy from our journals and will continue to try to make a wide selection available for all of your needs.

We hope you're enjoying the turning seasons as much as we are! And remember, if you aren't signed up for the free newsletter, do so now! It only comes four times a year...

Blessed be,
Ren

August 2008

In my personal tradition, this August brings Sirius Rising and the Ancient Egyptian new year. It is a time for reflection and celebration, both of which our family will be doing in abundance this month due to a marriage in the family.

Here in the store, we are excited to be adding a bookstore and expanding inventory at your request, so that you can really find the products you need for your spiritual practice. Remember, if you aren't sure where to find something, shoot me an email and I just might be able to help. Don't be shy! I live for your friendly emails! I hope your summer is as beautiful as ours is here.

Happy Lughnasadh & Sirius Rising,
Ren

July 1 2008

It's another beautiful summer month and we kick it off with some exciting new inventory. Take a look at our new Shamanic offerings, including a drum, medicine wheel, and dreamcatcher. Use the great weather to get outdoors with your tools and connect with nature. Don't forget sunscreen and natural bug repellent!

June 2008

Blessings and I hope you are having a fantastic summer season. Keep an eye out for our second newsletter of the year. If you have not yet signed up, shoot me an email and I will put you on the list.

blessings,
Ren

May 2008

Today is Cinco de Mayo. In the neighborhood where I grew up, this was a big festival day replete with parades, fresh guacamole, music, and other general festivities. This year I will be quietly eating Mexican food in the privacy of my new home and pondering the meaning of Mexican Independence with my mother, the Lover, and the baby. I'm not actually Mexican (although some of my family members are) but in today's volatile political climate, I feel like pondering Independence in general is very important. As an American, I live in a country that tells me I am free but really, I often feel I'm a slave to finances. As a mother, I am still learning the meaning of enslaved labor vs. labors of love.

With the passing of Beltane, the concept of Rebirth has also been on my mind. We have just relocated outside of the city and a whole new world teeming with life and nature has opened up to me. With the extra space our new home has to offer, I am hoping to do my crafting and offer more handmade items through the store. Keep an eye out this month to see if I'm successful!

blessings,
Ren

April 2008

My favorite part of spring is watching my tulips break through the earth and bloom. This morning I could see their proud shoots through my window and I was reminded that all of this rain results in beautiful, green growth.

Our store is growing too! Have you noticed the new cauldrons and altar tiles? In response to my Wiccan clients I have added more Wiccan items, as well as some beginner books on the subject. Is there some topic you want to see more of in the store? Or certain items? Let me know and I will see if I can find them. In the meantime, have an April full of showers and flowers!

blessings,
Ren

Here are some of my favorites! (Today at least!)

March 2008

Happy March!

February 2008

It's hard to believe one month has passed already! I've been working hard on my goal list even as rainstorms flood parts of Northern California where I live. Two more friends of the family have announced they are pregnant! What a reminder that life is ever-creating. Here at Bell Book & Candle Supply my lover and I have been busy looking for new products that we absolutely can't live without. We have some things in the works but you won't be seeing them for another week so check back frequently!

Meanwhile, you'll notice that we now carry essential oils and hard-to-find herbs. In response to a number of emails asking for more information about earth religions, we will also be adding a small offering of basic books that cover some of the topics you will find in paganism. Is there something you can't find on the market, or you wish we would carry? Let us know! Send me an email. :-)

Blessings,

Ren

January 2008

Well here I am again, creating my second entry of the month. I somehow managed to delete the first along with all other entries dating back to June (an ominous sign for January, no?). No matter, it is my personal philosophy that these things happen for a reason. For instance, now that I am rewriting January, I have remembered to include that we are now carrying a fantastic line of 100% pure undiluted essential oils! These come from a wonderful aromatherapist who also did the oils for Caroline Myss, and who has also been featured on Oprah. Check out the essential oils section now for some quality (and humane!) oils. Happy New Year!

Ren