Bring the Vibrant Energy of the Forest Into Your Home

Beneath a canopy of coniferous emerald and autumnal lden boughs, I wander with a woven basket swinging ntly at my side. I weave between the trunks of sentient trees, through fern and hollow; the moss soft beneath my feet is like a velvet path. I move as if I’ve always belonged to the woods, with a sense of peace and a sense of home. The trees whisper an ancient language I understand as I stoop to slowly and reverently gather bits of moss that smell of rain and inky-capped mushrooms blooming in a bed of clover.

Upon returning home, I lay out my forest treasures on the rustic farm table with care: birch twigs, tufts of soft moss, and acorns smooth and shining, still warm from the earth. With eager but patient hands, I begin to play with my treasures, carefully incorporating the pieces together, binding the sticks with twine, and shaping each natural ornament into diamond-like structures. I adorn them with foraged finds, creating pleasing patterns, adding pops of color, and combining textures to make ornamental charms that hold the energies of the forest.

Acorns for growth.
Birch twigs for healing.
Moss for resilience.

When the ornaments are finished, I return with them to the forest, hanging them on low branches, whispering thanks to the spirits of the land. With these natural gifts they gave to me, I make them offerings to show gratitude and to feel the oneness between us. I keep these ornaments hanging in the trees of the forest for a little while so the fae spirits can enjoy and absorb their energy, then I bring them back into my home to serve as decorative, sacred portals that keep me connected to the realm of the woodland.

Make your own

You’ll need:

• Small, fallen tree branches cut to lengths of 5 to 6 inches (there are plenty on the forest floor)
• Hot glue sticks and a glue gun
• A small length of twine
• Adornments from nature: moss, lichen, dried herbs, dried flowers (I like rosebuds and silvery mugwort, as they hold their color), pinecones, acorns, seeds, bones, shells
• Other baubles: crystals (tiny gems and small crystal towers), old keys, coins, ribbons, and other personal trinkets

Instructions:

• Form a diamond shape with four branches, overlapping them where they meet.
• Secure each overlapping corner with a dot of hot glue and some twine wound and knotted. Make a loop through the twine at the top of the ornament for hanging.

• Decorate your ornament by gluing your natural adornments to the sticks. Trim off the brown backing of the moss before adhering it.

Keep your moss looking fresh and green

• Keep your woodland decoration out of direct sunlight.
• Occasionally spritz the moss of your decoration with a fine mist of water.
• Once the color naturally fades, you can bring it back to life by painting the moss with a mixture of watercolor or acrylic craft paint mixed with glycerin and water. Choose a green paint that’s close to the color of your moss. You can mix it with other colors to achieve the best color match. In a separate container, mix one part glycerin with two parts warm water. Slowly add some of the water-glycerine mixture to the paint, stirring, achieving a consistency that is thin but not too runny. With a foam brush, dab the mixture onto the moss and allow it to dry.