[Attention: This post requires forward knowledge and tender insight into conscious fashioning and spirituality. If all hands are on deck, let us begin, dear friends. I am so pleased you are here.]
[Stillwater® Petticoat Philosophy is Registered Copyright and Trademarked protected by creator Mrs Raquel M. Carter. All Rights Reserved.]
Stillwater® ~The Past Asks Only To Be Remembered
"There were four main areas in which celebrations, traditions, and rituals played a part in Victorian life. First, in the art of daily domestic living; second, through rites of passage such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings and funerals; third, by annual customs revolving around calendar and religious holidays; and fourth, pastimes associated with the four seasons."-Sarah Ban Breathnach
The Victorians underwent strains of strenuous technological change, which affected almost every aspect of nineteenth-century family life. I finally awoke with the realisation that the movement I have been prattling on about for decades is of infinite importance to resurrect.
A spot where women could feel a part of something, but my differentiation is the ladies are not required to belong to a religious sect. I have only delightful things to say about my dear friends of faith; however, I want inclusivity with ease of acceptance. I think similarly to Tasha Tudor as we both possess a pantheistic approach to religion.
I have always pined for my unfulfilled dream. Which is a spot where ladies love the portrayal of victorian life, family traits, motherhood, friendship, tea parties, encouragement and the pursuit of domestic bliss as an art form.
After meditative reflection yesterday, I received an esoteric visit from our dear ole' sea captain's wife, the spirit of Tasha Tudor. Whereas Tasha passed in 2008, souls do, in fact, have lives of infinity. If we believe we can communicate from beyond the veil, it will be so. Most Christianity speaks to a faceless God; if you contemplate that, it is quite similar.
I have received beautiful messages from many ladies around this beautiful blue marble about having a particular spot for women of similarities which warms my heart deeply.
I had not given much more contemplation of a spot for ladies as it wasn't at the forefront of my mind until last week. A dear young mother (perhaps in her mid-thirties) popped up to me as I sauntered across the car park. I was dressed in my Tasha Tudor frock, scarf, bonnet, petticoat, with a willow basket in hand. For me, It was an ordinary day. However, it looked as If I was a creature from a lost world to this sweet lady. She stalled me, and we spoke for several minutes about my clothing, a spot for like-minded ladies, and so forth. Again, women often impart this bit of knowledge to me. After we exchanged pleasantries, I completed my shopping and mosied on home.
When I returned to my folk's cottage, I recanted to my mum that it had occurred again. At least a dozen times a week, when I'm out and about, folk's seem to be fascinated with my lifestyle and attire. Suppose my small town of 8,100 people give me such pleasure and forlorn reactions that must mean there's a vast undercurrent for something extraordinary. A revolution has come to shore, ladies. It's beautiful, and we're just the one's to gently guide it forward with confidence and delight.
I went about my quotidian tasks as usual. I lit a candle, made a cup of tea, and began sketching. I was drawing and then softly felt an impression. The carrying that I experience handles like a faint prod. I placed my pencil down and allowed consciousness to impart information. I know when the receptive mode is present, and also, I know which spirit guide is impressing. It was clearly Tasha Tudor.
"No need to reinvent the wheel, my dear, simply revive my religion of Stillwater. It's a lovely name, most especially for a dear mermaid, like you. It'll work quite nicely for what you'd like to achieve, and my, what a delight! Dressing up, garden and tea parties and might I put in a word that olde marionette show or a big celebrated theme of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" be put into effect. I never got to see that come about, you know." (My message from Tasha Tudor about Stillwater, Wednesday, January 12, 2022.)
I wrote the letter in my diary for later reference and safekeeping. Authors are very organised record keepers, as you might have guessed. After receiving Tasha's impressionable message, I went about my morning schedule as usual. Then, while tending the chickens, a windfall of ideas came rushing upon me. Tasha had bestowed upon me another gift. You see, Tasha was an enthusiast of life, just as I am. All things are possible. If one simply chooses to believe. Just believe in whatever you choose to believe, and it will come true. But, of course, one must have faith, for dreams require trust in the unseen until they become seen. A dream will only demonstrate itself if faith precedes.
...in a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, a portion of its lost heart.-Louise Bogan
The innocence of heart and violence of feeling is necessary for any kind of superior achievement: The arts cannot exist without them.-Louise Bogan
At Home With Mrs Carter
If I can be a bit pertinent, might I ask? Are you pleased with your family and personal life? If you're incapable of replying with a cheerful yes, well, then dear friend, welcome home to olde-fashioned measures that I've curated most especially for you.The Pursuit Of Happiness And The Mortar Of Loving Memories
Although I was born in modern life in the year of 1972, I have had a forlornness to return to the past, even as a small child. Since birth, I have had a spirit otherworldly. As if I've lived many lifetimes, and my heart perpetually longs for the olde days of the victorian era.
I was first a mother at the young age of twenty. I bore all four of my beautiful children before the age of twenty-seven. As time passed with hastening, I made vast endeavours to implement life's simple pleasures for my dear little cherubs. In the 19th century, folk's lives were held traditions and celebrations with a cherished savouring. I used my lot in life to reimagine all those happy moments for my then family. Now it does my heart well to continue imparting these homegrown customs and celebrations with you.
Although my treasured children have all flown from the nest, my pursuit of happiness and devoted attention continues as I pass on sentiments of comfort and security. So let us not haul out our traditions as if they're family fossil fuels and no longer needed.
For The Doubtful Among Us
"I dwell in Optimism." -Raquel M. Carter
I am forever an optimist. I taught my children through inventive measures to appreciate the simple pleasures and pastimes of yesteryears. As my children have grown to adulthood, they continue to reminisce on the accessible amusement they found as children through the pleasurable activities I curated. As a mother, the power to amuse came from my inventive necessity and a pure curiosity for life.
Stillwater- A Drift Of The Past That Inspires
Dear friend, may you take a deep sigh of relief and be of good cheer. Then, follow me to the cottage where the kettle whistles and tea is made to warm your heart.
The World Shall Attempt To Lure Her Away
Whether one admits to it or not, the novelty of a world of work and entertainment might be quite alluring to the home-centred mother of curation.
I found that often I felt torn as a home centred curator. As an onlooker watching my petticoated friends enjoy the world of validation through employment and the appeal of pay, my web of insecurity grew.
However, as time passed, I knew better for the demands of a career extracts a high price. I was raised by a home-centred mother. The attacks on the nervous system and burden of guilt would be too much for my heart to take. The allure of wages from outside employment was never a topic of conversation. I secured those boundaries with my partner long before our business of life.
I have been forthcoming with you, dear friends, my children's father and I became estranged, and I filed a bill of divorce once my youngest child was near school graduation. But, although the events had long cast their shadows in our marriage, I remained committed to myself and my children as a home-centred mother.
My Tale Has a Happy Fairytale Ending
My purpose is to continue offering beautiful advice on making my victorian olde-fashioned petticoat philosophy the highest calling.
What was Stillwater®, according to Tasha Tudor?
"Just for fun, my family invented a religion like the shakers we called Stillwater®. I'm elderess, and we have a big celebration on Midsummer's Eve. It's really a state of mind. Stillwater® connotes something very peaceful, you see, life without stress. Nowadays, people are so jeezled up. If they took chamomile tea and spent more time rocking on the porch in the evening listening to the liquid song of the hermit thrush, they might enjoy life more. It all started because we knew the Shakers at Canterbury Village, New Hampshire when we lived nearby. They used to come and have tea, and we'd exchange cuttings. I loved their frocks and things, and I was especially fond of one of them, Sister Alice, who kept bees. We really invented our Stillwater® belief so we could have a party out in the barn on Midsummers Eve. It didn't amount to much religion except for a good dance and lots of delicious things to eat. Stillwater® believers are very hedonistic. Life is to be enjoyed, not saddled with. Do you know that lovely quotation from Fra Giovanni? He was an old monk from away back who wrote to his patron, The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it yet within our reach is joy. Take Joy." That's the first commandment of the Stillwater® religion. Joy is there for the taking. Some people are born pessimists, and some are born optimists. I'm definitely an optimist." (The Private World of Tasha Tudor, By Tasha Tudor and Richard Brown, pg.60)
"Now is the high tide of the year,
and whatever if life hath ebbed away
comes flooding back with a ripply cheer,
into every bare inlet and creek and bay;
Now the heart is so full that a drop over-fills it;
we are happy now because God wills it..."
-James Russell Lowell
The version simplified, which Tasha Tudor quoted infamously, "Take Joy."
I salute you! There is nothing I can give you
which you have not;
but there is much, that while I cannot give,
you can take.
No heaven can come to us
unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take Heaven.
No peace lies in the future, which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take Peace.
The gloom of the world
is but a shadow,
behind it, yet, within our reach,
is joy.
Take Joy.
And so, at this Christmas time,
I greet you,
with the prayer that for you,
now and forever, the day breaks
and the shadows flee away.
[Stillwater® Petticoat Philosophy is Registered Copyright and Trademarked protected by creator Raquel M. Carter. All Rights Reserved.]
Contents for Stillwater® will combine with gathered events held at The Carter Settlement. They will consist of ceremonials for common days, rituals, the art of domestic bliss and the joys and comforts of seasonal pastimes. In addition, a yearly calendar and schedule of gatherings will be available here on ye olde logbook and all aspects of information that entails the Stillwater® Petticoat Philosophy.
I would not have the strength to commence this movement were it not for the courage and guidance of spiritual mentors. So it will be with helping hands, warm hearts, generous monetary gifts in kind and brilliant minds to assist me in this endeavour.
My sincerest appreciation, Mrs Carter
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[Stillwater® Petticoat Philosophy is Registered Copyright and Trademarked protected by creator Raquel M. Carter. All Rights Reserved.]
Secondary source for quoted credit -Mrs. Sharp's Traditions, page 35
