I don’t know about you, but I think November is the perfect month for witchy themed things! The weather is sort of in that ethereal “in between” stage - not quite winter but not quite autumn. The days are getting shorter and the wind picks up speed. Plants and animals are not quite ready to go dormant, but not in the prime of their season. It’s a strange, mystical, and wonderful time!

Coincidentally, it’s also the month before “The Holiday Rush,” so I wanted to highlight some unique gift giving ideas for your magical friends and family. Covid-19 has been very tough on folks with layoffs, furloughs, and postage woes. Independent and small designers, Women, Latinx, BIPOC, and LGBTQ creators all need your help! Buying from local small businesses is the best possible choice you can make this holiday season. Why not put your support directly into the pockets of the people who need it most? I’ve done my best to combine a mix of indie sellers, etsy sellers, and conveniently accessible products to ensure there’s a little bit of everything.

Please remember to be patient with the creators. Stock may be limited or there may be shipping delays due to the USPS issues. Order your items early enough so the sellers are not crunched with a holiday onslaught! Be kind, and remember that many of these folks are one-person operations, and need time to process, fill, pack, and ship your orders. But I promise they’re all worth the wait!

1. You’re Out of This World Witchy Planner by Cassie Daley

2. The Literary Witches Oracle: A 70-Card Deck and Guidebook

3. Pin-up Style Magical and Witchy Prints or Embroidery from SquidVishuss

4. Custom Designs and Fashions from Backstitch Bruja

5. Handmade Soaps and Bathbombs with Crystals from Witchbaby

6. Custom Crystal Pendants and Jewelry from The Witches Forge

7. Hand Painted Signs and Boxes from The Book Witch of Reader’s Coven

8. Custom Candles, Incense and more from Houss Freya

9. Custom Artwork from The Crafting Witch

10. Custom Tarot Readings and Analysis from AntiFragile Tarot

11. Ceramics and Hand Painted Housewares from Cabinet of Curious Clay

12. Crystal Terrariums with Succulents and Reiki from Boneyard Boutique

In addition to these creative folks, consider signing up for a Patreon or subscription service from your favorite creators; you can even let a friend know you’d like to buy them a membership so they can enjoy it, too! I also highly recommend supporting local independent bookstores and authors at this time as well. You can find so many great writers and booksellers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook who would love to fulfill your holiday orders. Buying books from small stores or directly from the author eliminates the middle-man in many cases, and can net these individuals more profit and financial stability. Shop small when you can, ghouls and goblins!

By Ellen Avigliano

Twitter: @imaginariumcs

Website: www.imaginariumarts.com