Earth magic, also known as taeot, is a form of magic that is deeply connected to the natural world. It encompasses the belief that everything in the universe is interconnected and that nature itself holds a vast source of energy and power. Practitioners of earth magic often work with the elements of the earth, such as plants, crystals, and the environment itself, to tap into this energy and create positive change in their lives and the world around them. Within earth magic, there are various practices and traditions, each with their own unique approach and focus. Some practitioners may work predominantly with herbs and plants, using their medicinal and energetic properties to heal and bring balance to the body and mind. Others may work with stones and crystals, harnessing their vibrational energy to enhance spiritual growth and manifestation.
Indigo is known mostly as a dye for fabrics, hair, and skin (although there are many precautions for using it on your skin). What many people don’t know is that this plant is great for banishing bad spirits and protecting your pets and familiars (just don’t let them eat it as it is poisonous). This deep blue color is perfect for pairing with brighter colors like Broomstraw, Quicksilver, and even Peony. (Note, this yarn contains some indigo plant matter and can sometimes crock as you work with it. This will not impact your yarn nor will it bleed when you wash it. You may have some residual particles on your hands when working with it.)
Indigo Wild products, especially our olfactory enticing Zum Soap, Zum Mist, and other beloved Zum products, are available online so you can stock up on even more amazing finds. What we re saying is, you no longer have to leave your house to stock up on Zum, and good thing too, because you can only find them here or at the Sum factory.
Others may work with stones and crystals, harnessing their vibrational energy to enhance spiritual growth and manifestation. One key aspect of earth magic is the belief that the earth itself is alive and has its own spirit or consciousness. Many practitioners work with nature spirits, such as fairies or elemental beings, to form a deeper connection with the natural world and to gain wisdom and guidance from these beings.
Indigo magical detergent
Quick Answer: If it's bleeding, wash it! 2 or 3 or 4 times, repeatedly, with soap such as Ivory Soap or Woolite. Using a detergent like Tide may dissolve the indigo somewhat due to its alkalinity.
The longer answer involves chemistry and history.
The advice to set the dye with vinegar or salt is commonly heard and seems to make sense from the standpoint that indigo is mildly soluble in a reducing solution, insoluble in an oxidized state. But these approaches cannot be an issue at the point that you have an actual bleeding hakama -- the acid of the vinegar does not glue the indigo to the fabric by making it less soluble. Possibly the tradition of "vinegar to set the dye" is a holdover from dying wool, a final rinse that would be better for the wool than leaving it with any amount of alkaline soap residue.
Saltwater also has nothing to do with the chemistry of indigo dye.
Peroxide is essentially super-oxygenated water. It will certainly not dissolve the indigo (but you might keep it insoluble and all in one place so you can rip it off with sheer determination and muscle power). Will soaking the hakama in a diluted peroxide solution help "set" the dye? You might get more thoroughly oxidized indigo chunks but that will not help the problem as the dye that is coming off of your hakama is not in the hakama -- it is ON it. Think of the excess indigo as blue fuzzballs or chalk dust. Something that does not blend with the fiber itself.
I suspect that many purveyors of "genuine, natural indigo-dyed" material heap undissolved indigo onto the cloth just to give it a darker, richer color much of which is illusion and falls off later. In real life, and with a cotton hakama, it is far better to just wash the excess out before it falls out in chunks all over your mat and furniture. But why is there excess dye in the first place?
Modern methods of indigo dyeing involve a chemical reducing solution which simply cannot get the dark dark blues that the older methods did. (The thiourea dioxide chemical commonly used for reducing the indigo to make it soluble in dyeing is commonly available as "Spectralite" usually found next to the shoe polish and such in many grocery or drugstores, in fabric or craft stores. Sodium hydrosulfite may also be used and can be found commonly as "RIT Color Remover." If youre trying to clean a mat be sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous and low-stress side spot of the mat first to make sure it doesn't take everything else off too. It will certainly be safe for restoring your white cotton dogi pants.)
To dye with indigo in these modern times, you mix up a potfull of thiourea dioxide or sodium hydrosulfite and water and add indigo (natural or synthetic -- they both have the same chemical formula). The result is a pale YELLOW GREEN solution known as WHITE indigo.
You dip the cloth in the dye, pull it out, and before your very eyes it starts to change from green to blue. Why? Because the indigo is oxidizing -- reacting with the oxygen in the air -- becoming insoluble. It's delightful and magical to see.
In theory, you can dip it back in again for another coating of indigo to make the color a little darker. This is fine a few times, but very soon you have a problem. Enough thiourea dioxide or sodium hydrosulfite in the solution to reduce the indigo not only keeps the indigo in the dye-pot in solution, it also dissolves the indigo already deposited on your cloth right back out again. Consequently, you can never get the deep dark blues obtained through traditional methods.
What were the traditional methods?
A reducing environment via bacteria in a pit of aged urine and its highly fragrant biological byproducts. Very effective, but much slower -- and extremely smelly.
An old dye book mentions a dyer who had switched to the new-fangled synthetic indigo. Apparently customers would check for the authentic urine aroma to be sure they were getting the real goods, so he included a recipe using urea to provide the "authentic" smell.
However. . . at best, indigo is not very soluble. It tends to deposit on the surface of the fiber which is why blue jeans (traditionally dyed with indigo) weather and fade the way they do; the blue eventually wears away leaving the white cotton thread showing through. If you've ever read the epic "Musashi Miyamoto" you will remember that one of Otsu's odd jobs as she follows Musashi about the countryside is pounding cloth with a mallet to squoosh the indigo into the fiber.
The old method required weeks or months. Thiourea dioxide or sodium hydrosulfite dye solutions take mere minutes but because of the impossibility of obtaining dark blues with "Authentic Indigo" by modern methods, there seems to be a temptation to make the cloth look bluer than the chemistry actually allows. What to do? Simple!
Oxidize the solution in the dye-pot so it turns blue (i.e., creates blue chalk dust) and pile these onto the cloth.
This is counterproductive per effective dyeing, but useful per economics if you want a deeper blue but don't want to waste time and money doing it right. The cloth APPEARS to be bluer thanks to a powdery coating of tiny grains of oxidized indigo deposited ON the cloth. They will fall off with wear, smurfing anything they touch.
Once again, the only cure is simply to wash the garment until the excess dye is gone. If the resulting color is too pale blue for your taste, consider machine dyeing with a RIT Indigo Blue. In either case, if you end up with a blue washer, throw in a packet of RIT color remover and all will be well.
| Copyright 1997-2023 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved. For questions and comments about this website: Send E-mail |
They may also perform rituals and ceremonies in nature, honoring the earth and its cycles, and seeking to harmonize with its rhythms. Another important aspect of earth magic is the concept of grounding, which is a practice of connecting with the earth and anchoring oneself in the present moment. This is often done through meditation, visualization, or physical exercises that help to cultivate a sense of rootedness and stability. Grounding is believed to be essential for maintaining balance and stability in life, as well as for accessing the earth's energy and receiving its guidance. Overall, earth magic is a deeply spiritual and holistic practice that aims to connect individuals with the natural world and with their own inner selves. It encourages a deep respect for nature and an understanding of our interconnectedness with all living beings. Through this connection, practitioners are able to tap into the earth's energy and work with it to create positive change and transformation in their lives and in the world..
Reviews for "The Role of Earth Magic in Herbalism and Plant Medicine in Taeot"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Earth magic taeot". The writing was disjointed and the plot was all over the place. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself skimming through the pages. The author tried to incorporate too many magical elements without really explaining them, and it just left me confused. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and coherent fantasy story.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Earth magic taeot" was a complete waste of time. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The storyline lacked any sort of originality and felt like a mishmash of other fantasy novels. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest after just a few chapters. I was really looking forward to this book, but it fell far short of my expectations. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.
3. Jennifer - 2 stars - I found "Earth magic taeot" to be quite underwhelming. The world-building was poorly executed, leaving me with more questions than answers. The magic system was inconsistent and had no clear rules, which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. The writing style was also lacking, with clunky sentences and awkward descriptions. The potential for an interesting story was there, but unfortunately, it was not realized in this book. I would suggest looking for other fantasy novels that are more engaging and well-developed.