Fran Hayes


SLOW_DOWN IN LOCK_DOWN


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Engaging with the natural world, going for walks, talking to your plants and garden. Is it possible to SAVE THE WORLD by slowing down and considering organisms and relationships outside of ourselves and our human communities? ? !

i shut off and rest.
Conversations with the plants in my garden inspired the following explorations into state of mind over lockdown.
Accumulating thoughts over staying fit, making work, doing research while also wanting to SLOW DOWN resulted in a follow-along-home-workout-style-nastershan-/-human-symbiotic-dance.





Heavy brains after hours of video calls.
Physical and mental longing to be outside, surrounded by the Nature.
Some Lee Pivnik inspired plant arrangements and bluebell magic wands to cast the spells that keep us sane.


A SPELL TO KEEP CAPITALISM AND MATERIALISM AT BAY
THIS SPELL SHOULD BE USED IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY AND INSTABILITY, IT CAN BE PERSONAL OR WORDLY. IF TRYING TO REDUCE WORLDWIDE CAPITALISM / MATERIALISM, THE SPELL WORKS BEST WHEN THE WITCH OR WIZARD IS ACCOMPANIED BY A TRUSTED PERSON.

YOU WILL NEED:
A BLUEBELL
A LENGTH (a meter or so) OF GARDEN TWINE OR STRING
A LARGE FLAT LEAF (or any available natural flat matter of a similar size)
A ONE PENNY PIECE
A SMALL POT OF EARTH OR A SMALL SEALABLE POT


WRAP THE LENGTH OF TWINE AROUND THE STEM OF THE BLUEBELL. START FROM 2/3 DOWN THE STEM AND WRAP AWAY FROM THE FLOWERS. MAKE SURE IT IS SECURED AT THE END (you can do this by gently burning the string) AND TRIM TO SIZE. THIS WILL BE YOUR MAGIC WAND.
TAKE THE PENNY PIECE AND FOLD IT CAREFULLY INTO THE LEAF SO THAT IT IS COMPLETELY CONCEALED. USE THE REST OF THE TWINE TO ENSURE THE PARCEL IS TIGHTLY BOUND.
REMOVE HALF OF THE EARTH FROM THE POT, PLACE THE LEAF-WRAPPED COIN ON TOP OF WHAT SOIL IS LEFT, AND THEN RECOVER WITH THE REMOVED SOIL. PAT DOWN UNTIL THE TOP SURFACE IS SMOOTH. IF WITHOUT SOIL, SIMPLY PUT THE PARCEL INTO A SEALABLE POT, AND SEAL.

NOW, LIFT YOUR BLUEBELL WAND IN YOUR STRONGer HAND. HOLD IT OVER THE POT AND GENTLY BEGIN TO WAVE IT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ENSURING THE MOTION COMES FROM YOUR WRIST.
WHISPER THESE WORDS:

THING AND OBJECTS, WE BANISH YOU SO
MOTHER NATURE RISE UP AND FREE OUR MINDS FROM THE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE
FOR WHAT IS A THING IF WE DO NOT HAVE OUR EARTH


THINGS AND OBJECTS, WE BANISH YOU
MOTHER NATURE RISE UP AND FREE OUR MINDS FROM THE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE
FOR OUR EARTH IS DYING AND WE ARE TOO OBSESSED WITH ECONOMIES TO NOTICE


THINGS AND OBJECTS, WE BANISH YOU
MOTHER NATURE RISE UP AND FREE OUR MINDS FROM THE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE
FOR OUR ECOSYSTEMS NO LONGER EXIST

ONCE COMPLETED, THE POT SHOULD BE BURIED UNDERGROUND OR HIDDEN AWAY DEEP IN A CHEST OR UNDER A BED (etc.). THE SPELL CAN BE REPEATED ANY NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN NEW CAPITAL THREATENS SAFETY. SIMPLY UNCOVER YOUR POT AND REPEAT THE STEPS PLACING THE NEWLY WRAPPED COIN IN WITH THE FIRST.

Diagrams to show how to perform elements of the spell:







TEXT READS: the penny fell softly into the arms of the Earth only to be thrown up again and be snatched and gobbled down by the greedy humans waiting above. just before digestion, the penny climbed back up the nicotine-slathered throat, rolled down the slimy tongue and out of the human’s huge, gaping mouth. escaping the assailant grabs from fat fingers, the penny returns to the arms of the earth. She is welcomed there, into Nature’s KIN(g)dom, safe from the humans for all the moons to come.





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