Wherever we live—whether in a large, beautiful home, a small studio, a trailer, a rented room, or even just corner in someone else’s house—it’s important to make that space into a magical sanctuary. In a world of fast-paced social media, a peaceful space of one’s own is critical to mental health. Each one of us should have a personal sanctuary where we can unwind, connect with ourselves, and make our own magic.

For me, being creative requires a space where I can get away from the outside world, a place to meditate and allow my inner muse to express herself. I need to be able to putter around, play a bit, allow the magic to flow without restraint or critique. And while “magic” might mean different things to different people, I believe that at root it’s always about transformation—a shift from ordinary to sacred, mundane to meaningful. A curated space allows that transformation to happen.

Your own space doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be anything you want: an entire studio to yourself or just a chair by a window, maybe a corner in the attic kitted out with cozy poufs and stacked books, or a favorite tree in a quiet park. It can even be so simple as an old suitcase holding beloved items—your journal, a few photos, a favorite candle. A simple box can store sacred writing tools and precious mementos to help you shift into magical mind space. What matters most is that this place feels like yours.

A special space of one’s own is not just about aesthetics (though for me, that’s a significant part of it). It’s also emotional. Just as the body needs rest, the spirit needs retreat; having a place to return to that can ground and soothe you is essential to well-being and creative flow. Here you breathe, think, feel, and create. The setting holds you and gives you permission to simply be.

Rituals also help transform an ordinary area into a sacred one. Lighting a candle, brewing tea, opening a journal—these small acts send a signal to the unconscious that you’re shifting into a different state of being. Rituals don’t need to be elaborate; their power lies in the intention behind them.

TIPS FOR CREATING A MAGICAL SPACE ON A BUDGET

It’s easy to design a dreamy sanctuary in a large home with no budget constraints. But how do you do it with limited funds or a landlord who doesn’t allow alterations?

• You don’t need a large budget or extravagant décor. The process begins with intention. Start by listing what’s important to you. Ask yourself, What sensations or objects make me feel grounded, happy, and inspired? Where do I feel most myself ? Meditate on those answers, then browse Pinterest or magazines for inspiration. Ask yourself, Am I drawn to cozy reading nooks? Old-fashioned desks? Cloudlike beds draped in linen?

• Once you know your vibe, map out your space and list priorities. Pay close attention to lighting, scent, and sound; these elements deeply affect your mood and focus. The sound of silence, the comforting scent of essential oils, or a soft reading light can turn any four walls into a haven.
• Wall color can dramatically change a room on a small budget. Start by buying sample sizes to test the hues. If painting isn’t allowed, try hanging fabric instead. You can drape fabric on curtain rods or staple it to thin wood slats and mount them at the top of the wall like a tapestry. Just be prepared to patch and paint over holes when you move out. The transformation is worth the effort.
• Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, and swap meets are treasure troves for inexpensive furniture, lighting, and décor. If you’re an artist, lay down an old thrifted rug or use painted cardboard to catch your mess. Bibliophiles can create affordable, stylish bookshelves with boards and bricks or decorative cinder blocks. Stores like Home Depot will cut boards to your desired size.

• Old lace tablecloths—especially ones with damage—can be tea- or coffee-stained and repurposed as charming bed or couch covers. Layer them to hide holes, or let their imperfections show—they can add character and vintage charm.

• If you love herbs and flowers, hang bunches to dry from bamboo plant stakes. This adds a witchy, earthy vibe and naturally perfumes the space. Houseplants are another great way to bring vibrancy and life into a room. Consult a local nursery to find varieties that match your lighting conditions.
• Baskets are both beautiful and practical. You’ll find plenty in thrift stores—use them to organize clothes, desk supplies, or creative tools. You can even hang them from the ceiling to create an old-world feel.
• Even everyday items can be made beautiful when arranged with care. The key to a sacred magical space lies in intention and respect. Root in, slow down, and make each corner meaningful.

Photography by Steve Parke

There is a quiet, everyday magic in caring for a home. When we polish a mirror, sweep a floor, or wipe down a table, we’re not merely chasing away dust. We’re inviting freshness, beauty, and warmth to return—tending not just to the surfaces we see but to the spirit of the space itself.

In a world that often pulls us toward hurry and distraction, the simple act of cleaning offers a chance to slow down, to reconnect, and to infuse our surroundings with love. Even the most practical tasks can become magical when approached with care and intention.

In this spirit, I invite you to explore the art of enchanted cleaning—using simple homemade cleaners imbued with a few gentle, soulful touches to refresh both home and heart.

True enchantment begins not with what we use but how we use it.

When you pick up your cloth or broom, begin with a pause. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and set a small intention. It can be as simple as whispering, “May this home be a place of peace.”

Move slowly and deliberately, treating each act, whether it’s dusting, sweeping, or scrubbing, as a quiet offering. As you work (top to bottom and left to right!), imagine clearing not just physical clutter but old energy, worries, and weariness.

Little touches, like natural fragrances, sunlight spilling through open windows, or a piece of tumbled stone tucked inside a spray bottle, can transform the ordinary into the enchanted.

And now, a few recipes to carry this magic into your home:

LOVE AND LIGHT
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

A gentle cleaner to refresh your surfaces and invite loving energy into your space.

Ingredients:

1 cup distilled water 1 cup white vinegar

10 drops lavender essential oil (for peace)

10 drops sweet orange essential oil (for positive energy)

1 small piece of rose quartz, dedicated to cleaning hereafter as etching may occur (for love and emotional healing)

Instructions:

In a glass spray bottle, combine the water and vinegar. Add the essential oils, swirling gently as you imagine light filling the bottle.

Before sealing, slip a small, smooth piece of rose quartz inside—a stone long cherished as a symbol of unconditional love.

Use this spray across countertops, tables, and handles, letting each sweep of your hand leave kindness. Store for up to three months, or up to one month if tap water is used.

MORNING MEADOW
FLOOR WASH

Sweep away the old and make space for joy.

Ingredients:

1 gallon warm water

2.5 tablespoons castile soap

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil (for energy and renewal) 10 drops lemon essential oil (for clarity and brightness)

A sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme (for protection and healing)

Instructions:

Blend the water, castile soap, and oils in a pail.

Tuck the rosemary or thyme—herbs long associated with protection and vitality—into the bucket.

As you mop, envision your floors absorbing strength and freshness, every stroke clearing the way for new blessings.

Imagine worries and weariness flowing out with the rinse water, leaving behind only clean, spirited ground beneath your feet.

HEAVENLY REST
LINEN SPRAY

Wrap your evenings in peace.

Ingredients:

1 cup distilled water

½ cup witch hazel

½ cup vodka, unflavored, 140 proof if you want to disinfect 1 teabag chamomile tea (for calming and cleansing)

10 drops eucalyptus oil (for purification and protection) A pinch of dried lavender flowers (for peace)

Instructions:

Bring distilled water to a boil and add chamomile teabag. Turn off heat and allow to cool, then discard teabag. Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.

Shake gently before each use. Lightly mist pillows, blankets, and curtains to invite restful sleep and tender dreams.

Store for up to three months, store for up to one month if tap water is used.

SIMPLE WAYS TO DEEPEN THE ENCHANTMENT

Bless as You Clean: As you dust a bookshelf or wipe a table, silently send a prayer or blessing: “May those who gather here find joy.”

Invite Nature Indoors: A simple sprig of rosemary, a few rose petals, or an open window can fill a room with living beauty.

Finish With Intention: Light a candle or put on a favorite uplifting song—a gentle way to “seal” your work with gratitude.

Let Cleaning Be Prayerful: Whatever your beliefs, treat the care of your home as a prayer of gratitude—each sweep and scrub a humble, joyful offering.

A Gentle Reminder

There is no need for elaborate ceremonies. No need for perfection. The real magic is in the heart you bring, a heart willing to love the simple spaces of everyday life, and a spirit willing to see beauty in the ordinary. May your home shine not just with cleanliness but with love, laughter, and the soft, enduring light of your own care.

Scientifically peer-reviewed by Anastasia McRoberts, M.S.

Broom and dusters by High Point Crafts; follow them on Facebook @highpointcrafts.

Cleaning cloth by Widdershins Weaving; follow them on Instagram @widdershins_weaving.

Butterfly pants by The Silk Road Traders; visit thesilkroadtraders.net.

Kimberly Workman is the owner of Busy Bees Maid Service in Frederick, Maryland. Find more at thebusybeemaids.com.

Follow Steve Parke on Instagram @steve.parke and peruse his work at steveparke.com.

Unique nesting and nurturing behaviors have made the female oriole a beloved symbol of the home. This fascinating bird encourages us to move intentionally within our environment: She’s solicitous when building her nest, beginning it only where she feels safest, then choosing her materials carefully. As she works, she creates a haven that provides enduring comfort and protection for her young.

We can take a lot of inspiration from the oriole when practicing hearthcraft—also known as cottage witchcraft, a practice rooted in domesticity, the home, and other apparently mundane traditions. Hearthcraft allows us to engage directly with the spirit of our home and build a practice that’s both intentional and magical each and every day.

When it comes to this sort of crafting, we need to begin with the most basic of tasks, the ones you already perform each day: cooking, cleaning, self-care, textile arts, perhaps tending to your garden. Each of these daily activities can be charged with magical purpose.

My personal favorite way to practice my craft at home is with textiles. Sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, fabric dyeing, weaving, and embroidery (to name just some of the textile arts) are rooted in tradition. They’ve been an essential part of our development and technological advancement— think sewing machines and jacquard looms, which were early forms of the computer in the decades around 1800— and still play a crucial role in our world today.

I enjoy the textile arts because they allow you to work with your hands and create a deep connection with whatever it is you’re making. You literally stitch, weave, and otherwise distill your personal magic into something tangible that others can feel as well, whether you’re piecing quilts, stitching sigils into clothing, or creating fabric sachet bags (like the ones pictured on page 82).

I began my witchcraft practice many years ago, but it wasn’t until I experienced a major transition into parenthood, which brought its own series of challenges, that I eased into cottage craft. I found myself physically unable to keep up with the more ritualistic and structured routine I’d been following, so I began to look at my home with new perspective. I decided to take my practice and turn it into a lifestyle that would imbue all aspects of my day-to- day life with enchantment.

While the foundations of any witchcraft practice are subjective and personal, a few common key elements within cottage witchery are green and kitchen witchcraft, animism, and natural magic.

I’d already started out as a green witch, focusing on plants and herbs to create healing potions and elixirs for common ailments. I added a related discipline, kitchen witchcraft, which uses alchemy to choose ingredients to cast spells, then cook and bake foods that not only pack a punch but taste good too. These two practices combine to aid us in caring for our home itself, with cleaning magic by enhancing cleansers, washes, laundry powders, and more with spells—spreading a nurturing intention throughout the home and its inhabitants.

Through animism, or the idea that all things hold a spirit essence, we deepen our connection to our surroundings. Each home holds its own spirit. The wood in the walls, the bricks in the foundation—they’re all alive with energy. This belief is crucial for the cottage witch, as it helps to establish the deep relationship between us and our dwelling space.

Natural magic asserts that just as our environment ebbs and flows with the seasons, so do our spirits and our home. We can take inspiration from the changes of the Earth to embody these shifts within our dwelling space. We learn from the process.

During autumn, for example, we take extra care in tending to these spirits and connecting with them on a more personal level. Autumn brings about a mystical energy as the veil between worlds thins and we experience the transition into a season of transformation, the shedding of layers, and the cycles of life and death.

These are themes we can carry into our dwelling space as we craft and conjure throughout the season.

This is also the time of year for honoring connections to passed loved ones and ancestors. I like to honor the spirits of my home too, and any lingering energy within my space. For example, I craft an altar, similar to an ancestor altar, and keep it on my dining- room table. I adorn it with flora from the fading garden, fresh-baked goods, and milk or water. I often express a small sentiment before it: “Spirits and souls of this space, I honor you this autumn day. As the veil now thins, I feel your spirit near, with a sudden chill down my spine and soft whisper in my ear. I will honor you here as long as I dwell, until our paths one day separate and I bid you farewell.”

Creating a small, dedicated space for the spirits of your home is not only an act of connection but one of gratitude. You’re showing appreciation for the opportunity to live in that space. This is important for any home you’re inhabiting—whether it’s a rental, an apartment, a condo, or a cottage you own. This space is an invitation to mutual habitation; it means safety for all who dwell there.

I rent my little New England cottage. I’ve been honored to steward this space for as long as I have, and I will continue to do so for however long we’re meant to be here. I know that someday I’ll say goodbye to it, and that brings sadness to my heart. But my craft, my connection to the land, and my nurturing oriole spirit have thrived in this space, and I’ll be forever thankful to it for what it has provided both magically and mundanely. It’s been a safe haven. It has absorbed my tears and celebrated with me. It has sat with me on sleepless nights as my thoughts meandered from one subject to another. It is by far my favorite place out of all I’ve ever had the pleasure of living. I cherish it now and will remember it forever.

You perhaps know by now that the ever-expanding and astonishingly enchanted Vaughan House, where this cover feature is set, is located near Lynchburg, Virginia, off an unassuming road and nestled in the backyard of married couple Megan and Mitch Vaughan. What began as an impulse on Megan’s part to fill the couple’s yard with plants—with a whole greenhouse full of plants in the wake of a devastating miscarriage—then became a hugely popular and Instagram- worthy micro-wedding venue where the couple hosts ninety weddings a year. Now it has grown into something of a mini- empire. In fact, there’s a whole cottage back there too.

And by “cottage,” we mean this. Tower, winding stairway, and all.

It came about this way: In 2020, Mitch was on the Geographic Information System and realized the trees beside their house were owned by the couple. “Always fun to learn you have more land than you thought!” Megan says. They cut some of the trees to make the land easier to access. For a year, they enjoyed exploring and letting their kids play in the creek.

One day Mitch suggested building a small deck by the creek to put a rooftop tent on, a place to relax with the kids and maybe camp. He casually commented that such a place could work as a guest rental too. Megan proposed that this hypothetical space be “worthy enough for photographers to want to rent for photoshoots.” But wait, she said … “What about a stone cottage? 700 square feet max? Nothing big! Super small. One room, a tiny bathroom. Just enough for our greenhouse couples to get ready in and have a cozy honeymoon night …” And the idea spiraled from there. As Megan admits now, “I take something that could have been simple … to the extreme.” But how else does one end up with a 1,300-square-foot castle in one’s backyard?

And as you can see from our cover shoot, The Cottage, as it’s now officially called, and which was finished in 2024, when this shoot took place, is full of custom details—all dreamed up by Megan and Mitch and brought to life by a team of small artisans. Just a few of these include the custom hobbit door designed by the Vaughans and made by Jeremy Jessop of Lynchburg, with hinge work by Forged Commodities in Kyiv, Ukraine. The library was designed by the Vaughans and features cabinetry from Scott’s Cabinet in Forest, Virginia; live edge shelving by Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia; and a ceiling hand-painted with ivy by Elizabeth Gray (who added ivy to the kitchen as well).

“Supporting small businesses was something we were incredibly passionate about when it came to designing the cottage,” Megan says. “So many of our followers ask for the blueprints, but there’s nothing special about those. What makes the cottage special is the many, many small businesses who saw our vision for it and blessed us with their incredible art and hard work. Without them, the cottage wouldn’t be what it is, have the charm that it has, and truly be one of a kind.”

When designing the cottage’s atrium, Megan knew exactly what she wanted. In fact, the entire main level was designed around this space and, very specifically, the gorgeous multi-colored leaf tile you see on the right, designed by Karen of MacMillan Aimes Studios and found by Megan on Pinterest. The entire process from the first email

to installation took about two years, with Karen handmaking each individual tile and creating a template for the installers to use. “The way she puzzle-pieced this together was actual genius,” Megan says. “It was truly a labor of love.”

Read more about The Cottage at vaughan-house.com/cottage.

Art by Thistlemoon

Autumn brings crisp temperatures to invigorate and inspire your suddenly homebody self. While you’re hunkering down and cozying up for the season, you might also be reading more, exercising with new vigor, and giving your home a good clean and your wardrobe a makeover. This autumn is about renewal—with appreciation for the past that has given you strong foundations. Nothing is as important now as protecting the emotional and spiritual integrity of your special space, which is the best way to ensure that creativity and happiness will also be at home with you. Here are some cottage-friendly ways to make your place even homier.

• This one is a classic for a reason: Upon moving into a new home, or anytime you feel an odd and unwelcome presence in your place, try smudging it to cleanse the energy. Whether you burn incense, bay leaves, sage, or a green wax candle, you’ll take in good energy along with the heavenly aroma. Of course you’ll do it with all respect for the long tradition each item carries with it—the best way to connect with people of the past. As a bonus, many smudgeable substances (such as green candles and peppermint incense) enhance creativity.

• To gather a community of lives and hearts with wisdom and goodwill from the past, fill your space with secondhand objects of art and sentimental significance. If you’ve inherited ancestral pieces from your family, lucky you! You might also have had your eye on a beautiful art nouveau lamp at a nice antique store, or maybe the local thrift store offers some great deco dishes and cast-iron candlesticks at a dollar apiece. You don’t have to spend a ton. A flea-market find will work just as well as a major auction purchase to plug you into the passions and ideas of the other people who have used those objects before. When you eat from those plates, you sit down with a nice big company of fellow diners. And when you’re done with the fabulous time-traveling object, you can pass it on to someone else who needs the connection.
• Another classic is this warding spell used all over Europe. Use black rock salt or sea salt to make a line across the doorway. For added strength, try chanting, “Disappear, disappear; you are not welcome here.”
• Nothing says cottage couture like homespun fabrics woven with colored threads (as opposed to fabrics printed with color later on). Because it’s dyed in the wool or in the cotton, homespun promotes truth telling and honest interactions.
• Then again, we love velvet. No other fabric is so soft and elegantly cozy. It also has a unique relationship to light—rippling under a fickle light source, soaking up light when the nap (the fuzzy bits) runs one way, reflecting a lush shimmer when you reverse direction. Even the simplest of cottages has room for a bit of velvet in a beautiful color.
• The use of a horseshoe as a home mascot goes back to ancient Egypt, where the crescent shape was associated with Isis, goddess of magic, healing, fertility, and so many other good things. Just about everywhere except China, horseshoes are talismans bringing good luck and good health to a home. You can nail one up over a door, or bury one at the roots of an ash tree; just be sure to hang it so the U shape keeps the benefits from spilling out. If you’re in Bermuda and you feel a malevolent witch approaching your home, thrust a horseshoe into the flames to make her go away.
• Hearts are a much-loved motif in many traditions. Paint a red one on a wall and you’ll encourage not only love but also safety, tranquility, and balance in your life.

When we were young, we didn’t think twice about expressing our own unique creativity, completely free from self-criticism or fear of the judgement of others. We were just simply being ourselves. But somewhere in the process of growing up many of us lost touch with that playful-child part of ourselves. For many it was squashed out by society as we were told we needed to grow up, be serious and responsible. For some, the demands of adulthood took their toll, and that beautiful innocent part of us slowly receded into the background. But I believe we still have that magical, wondrous child inside, and if we can connect with it, I think it could show us who we truly are in our soul, without all the programming and the shoulds and supposed tos. At our core we are a miraculous spark of the divine—full of curiosity, deeply creative, full of delight in the simple joy of living.

I believe that if we can uncover that inner magical child, it will help us reconnect with this important, sacred part of ourselves. It can help us remember how we played, what we loved to do, and how we created. It can help us get in touch with who we really are and tap into our innate creativity—not to mention have a lot more fun! I believe that this creativity is unique, divinely given, and a clue to what we came to this world to offer. At the very least, connecting with our child selves and remembering how we played will help us enjoy our lives more. It’s so easy to get lost in the seriousness of the world and forget to see the beauty, to play, and to enjoy the precious gift of our lives.

One way I used to play was to lie under trees or large plants and imagine an entire world of fairies and elves set among the branches and leaves. I think this memory is behind my desire to create imaginative settings and tablescapes. And I truly felt the presence of magic when I was creating this tablescape. I’d been having a rough time, so I asked the fairies for help and allowed myself to get lost in the simple joy of playing. I love setting a fantastical table that makes people gasp and drop into their own child self and imagination. One of the most beautiful things you can do for those you love is to create a space for that to happen. You don’t have to go over the top like I do.

You can start by simply incorporating small bits of magical fun and play in your everyday. Take some of the elements I use in my tablescapes and put them into your own gatherings or even in your home as permanent magical decor. If you have children, let them help you. Take their lead as they unleash their own imaginations. Read a fairy story or watch a beautiful movie for inspiration. When you create a fantasy setting, you allow people a moment to pause, smile, and settle into their hearts. Best of all, you get to play and have fun creating the setting. I believe that when people are delighted, they’re filled with the light of the divine and are simply happier. What a lovely gift to give those you love—and indeed the world!

HOW TO BRING A SIMILAR MAGICAL LOOK TO YOUR OWN GATHERING

• Unite your look with a color story of no more than 3 or 4 colors to help the decor read cohesively and not feel overwhelming.

• You can also unite your design with a theme. Here are some ideas: Secret Garden, Magical Tea Party, Decadent Delightful Desserts, Through the Looking Glass, Enchanted Forest, Magic by the Stream. Or draw on a specific fairy tale, or a theme from the natural world, like beautiful bugs, butterflies, mushrooms, wildflowers, moss, and lichen.

Tips on setting up:

• Cluster your decor and have some open spaces to keep your table from looking too messy.

• Create different heights with nooks and crannies so the look doesn’t read as one-dimensional.

• For risers use books, cake plates, upturned baskets, logs, tree slices, fun boxes, and garden items.

• Use mismatched dishes and stemware for whimsy.

• Use live plants from your home or garden to save money.

• Think rustic with elegant, outside mixed with inside.

• Search for props in your garden and mix with elegant elements from your china cabinet.

• Sprinkle the decadent desserts or teas with edible glitter for an infusion of magic!

The turning of the seasons is always an ideal time for a home refresher. This can be something as simple as adding a few new throw pillows, or it can be a grand gesture, like switching up the lighting or bringing in a new piece of furniture. In any case, for me, autumn ushers in a yearning for new textures and palettes and the flickering of candlelight.

The House of Blackwell

We first spotted this talented designer at the Darksome Art & Craft Market (@darksomecraftmkt), and we’re enthralled with her handmade corn-husk bats. Made with stained corn husks and artfully arranged by hand into tiny bats that hang upside down (of course!) on a black satin ribbon with a charm, they look amazing on an altar or hearth, or hanging from the branch of a houseplant. She also crafts corn- husk brooms, spiders, and other delights. thehouseofblackwell.com

Club Magic Hour

Here’s everything you need to host high tea at home, including a range of fair trade and organic teas. You can also find charming tea accessories and tea-inspired gifts, like a set of the lovely 100 percent cotton Tea Ceremony Towels, whose mystical design is inspired by the cosmos; tarot tea tumblers and tools; all sorts of sets and samplers; and when they’re not sold out—you have to hit it right!—gorgeous, hand-painted porcelain tea cups. clubmagichour.com

Dark North Craft & Curio

If you see something here you like, don’t hesitate, because the one-of-a-kind witchy vintage treasures at this online shop go fast. You’re guaranteed to find a perfectly magical home gift for yourself (you deserve it!) or for someone near and dear, from letter openers to ornate candlesticks to crystal balls and perfume bottles. Definitely check out the talismanic jewelry, which features gemstones (like a big, round moonstone Morningstar Ring) and sterling silver and turquoise (the River Priestess Necklace with hammered brass moons, shimmery kyanite stones, and turquoise nuggets in a power formation). darknorth.bigcartel.com

Hopeless Romantic Trading Co.

You may know them by their former name—Victorian Trading Co.—but as Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Among their treasures: The Leaves of Lace Runner, a lacy burnt-orange table runner inspired by October’s forest floor; a stunning Gothic Stained Glass Lamp to cast a gorgeous glow; and the Moon’s Mistress Globe, a crystal orb set on a silver metal base and embossed with the image of Rona (my namesake!), who fell in love with the moon. hopelessromantictrading.com

Wild Talisman

Anyone who loves a walk in the woods and wants to bring a bit of folklore from the natural world inside with them will be delighted by the clay figurines crafted by ceramic artist Janine Hardy (on the following page). Taking her inspiration from all sorts of wild things—foxes, owls, deer, wood witches—Hardy infuses her figures with a wit and whimsy that will endear them to you.
etsy.com/shop/wildtalisman

Firelight Fables Candle Co.

Handmade in Oregon, Firelight Fables’ candles feature the softly enveloping scent of fragrance oils and essential oils. The Dark Forest candle evokes a walk in the woods, with notes of earthy moss, flowers, cypress and cassis, gray amber, and tobacco. The wax is a rich, creamy coconut-apricot wax blend that is vegan, gluten free, toxin free, paraben free, phthalate free, and sourced from renewable sources. Utterly enchanting! firelightfables.com

Parks Project

This project’s mission is to leave our national parks better than they found them. The organization has already raised more than $2.5 million to give back to national parks across the U.S., supported by sales of recycled, upcycled, sustainable goods like the reversible Pinecones & Butterflies Luxe Faux Fur Blanket, which packs down neatly into a bag, making it easy to tote along when on a picnic, camping, or couch surfing. Made with 100 percent recycled polyester polar fleece. parksproject.us

Moth & Myth

These crazy-beautiful cruelty-free vegan paper moths and butterflies are perfect for decorating the lair of any Autumn Queen, as Tricia Saroya does in “Beauty in the Darkness” (page 78). The Psychedelic Specimen Set features three gorgeous butterflies, two mushrooms, a fairy helmet, and a katydid and gray fox skull, based on real specimens and printed double-sided on heavyweight shimmer paper, all exquisitely detailed and packaged in a beautiful booklet inspired by vintage botanical illustrations. moth-and-myth.com

Many of us have at one point experienced a personal dark night of the soul, a time when everything seemed bleak and shadowy, without hope and seemingly no clear way out. During these times, it’s easy to forget the larger picture—how life is and always has been dualistic in nature, made up of challenges and successes, despair and hope, shadow and luminescence. Sometimes when things are very bad, it’s hard to see the light peeking in around the edges.

Having just gone through a rough patch myself, I wanted to host a symbolic gathering that would illustrate this truth in a simple yet memorable way, so I built this table centered on moths and candles for a nighttime soirée. I invited my tribe to come together so that we might witness, quite viscerally, the beauty within the darkness and appreciate how they so often exist at the same time.

In spiritual terms, the moth represents transformation and rebirth, the dualistic nature of life, and ultimately the enlightenment of the soul. Moths are comfortable in the dark yet drawn to the flame. To me, moths are a powerful metaphor for living and getting through difficult times. At one point during the evening, I asked my guests to stop, breathe, and simply take in the experience.

In the future, when we go through a hopeless night, maybe some small part of us will remember this gathering: the candles that delineated the darkness, the moths always drawn to the flame, the crystals that needed only a small glimmer of illumination to refract and spread their magic. In this way, maybe we can remember that sad times are fleeting and will pass, that they turn gently in the constant rotating dance of life and will shift, as all things do, back into the light.

HERE’S HOW I CREATED THIS NIGHTSCAPE:

• For the location, I chose an old, abandoned building on the ranch where I live. I loved the symbolism of the dilapidated building past its prime being made dazzling once again. If you choose a similar old-timber structure, do make sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy!

• One way I make sure my tables are rich and lush is by draping not just one tablecloth but layers of them in shades of the colors and theme of the gathering. I took my cue from the colors of the moths and used a rich burgundy as the “petticoat” under the table, then a cloth in a chocolate brown and another in a gold-mustard color. On top I laid an Indian sari in black with metallic gold embroidery. My constant guide was to look for light within the dark, and I felt the sari illustrated this principle perfectly.

• I used a multitude of paper moths from Moth & Myth and hung them with monofilament line in among the votives. I folded their wings so that they looked like they were in flight; as they moved in the heat of the candles on the table, they looked so realistic. Make sure you use battery candles in the hanging votives so you don’t burn either the moths or the monofilament line.

• As with all my tablescapes, I included a veritable ton of candles. The glow of candlelight is flattering, and it sparkles and glimmers among the crystals, truly bringing a charming shimmer to the evening.

• I hung lots of votive cups from the rafters using monofilament line. Again, make sure you use batteryoperated tea lights so you don’t burn through the line or the hanging paper moths as they move in the heat generated from the candles on the table. After you take down your fishing line, dispose of it carefully so it doesn’t harm any wildlife.

• From my own collection of crystals, I used both natural geodes and polished crystal balls for the centerpieces. I nestled them in piles of fall leaves—artificial ones, as the real kind are a fire hazard and a bit dusty.

• I hung chandelier crystals among the votives and moths and tucked one in each napkin as a party favor for guests to take home, to remind them of their own radiance.

From baroque to biophilia and every period in between, interior designers have been influenced by the pull of nature to create spectacular—and soothing—indoor environments that connect to the natural world. The Victorians were masters, relying on earthy pigments mixed from plants and dark woods such as mahogany, burl walnut, oak, and rosewood, and a mad obsession with collecting, cataloging, and mounting colorful butterflies, insects, and bones in glass boxes.

Biophilic design, extremely popular over the past few years, is a way of connecting indoor spaces with nature by incorporating elements that evoke the calming aspects of the outside world: terraces and gardens, fountains and indoor plants, oversize windows that frame views of the landscape outdoors. Here are some lovely decor items inspired by the world’s flora and fauna.

Found & Foraged Kitchen Towels

Imagine the most deliciously soft kitchen towels, made from 100-percent flour-sack cotton, screen-printed with eco-friendly inks. Then conjure a pattern of lovely foraged wild plants like horsetail shoots, leeks, sweet clover, and ostrich ferns, also screen-printed, on the long-lasting, generously sized 25-by-26-inch towels. Prepare to be delighted by the Found & Foraged Flour Sack Towels, which you can find in Enchanted Living’s Enchanted Kitchen Collection! enchantedlivingmag.com

Purple Vanda Flower Bowl

Gazing at the handcrafted Emilio Robba Purple Vanda Flower Bowl from Belle & June Home Decor creates a moment of pure joy and brings a Zen tranquility to any room. Robba, known as the “sculptor of flowers,” is a photographer and floral designer who creates stunning floral designs in collaboration with designers, architects, and luxe hotels. The thick glass bowl is available in three sizes and comes in a precious gift box—because it is a perfect gift! belleandjune.com

Sin in Linen in Your Dreams

The mise-en-scène embroidered on the Forest Witch Duvet Cover (shown above) from Sin in Linen is a botanical image with a golden-thread spiderweb, spider, moth, insects, and foliage that took many thousands of stitches to create on an eggplant-colored background. In rich gem tones that evoke a sun-dappled forest, which was the inspiration for this dreamy vision, with spiderweb shams in 300 thread count, 100-percent cotton sateen. sininlinen.com

Linebaugh Studios Suncatcher

The Linebaugh Studios Corner Hanging Spider Web Suncatcher (shown at right) holds and refracts the light coming through the window to create a gorgeous kaleidoscopic effect. The asymmetrical piece features iridescent clear glass in a variety of textures, made with lead-free solder and an antiqued zinc frame with two loops for hanging. An intriguing piece that plays with light in a uniquely magical way! linebaughstudios.com

Victorian-Style Kim Seybert Arbor Placemats

The Kim Seybert Arbor Placemat Set (shown at right) from Alchemy Fine Home might be over the top in its hand-beaded gorgeousness, but that is why we want it immediately—and you will too! Inspired by the romance of Victorian greenhouses that have been abandoned, the Arbor Placemats (set of two) feature exquisite work with glass and acrylic beads and sequins, hand-folded to create a three-dimensional effect. They need and deserve to be treated very gently, but they’re worth the extra care! alchemyfinehome.com

Needlepoint From Beth Russell

Designer Beth Russell creates the loveliest needlepoint kits based on nature designs from William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. We love the Acanthus & Birds cushion in a dark or light palette, and her interpretation of William Morris’s famous Strawberry Thief fabric for a chair seat or cushion, and the Bee Miniature from the Rose Garden collection for pollinator fans! Create something truly special, stitch by stitch, with one of these needlepoint kits. bethrussellneedlepoint.com

Living in the forest, in the mountains, or along the beach is a beautiful way to connect with the sights and sounds of nature.

But most of us are not that fortunate. Nonetheless, taking natural flora and fauna as inspiration, it is easy to be creative and dream up lovely design ideas that will bring the outside in. Here are a few to think about.