A "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" LOOK INSPIRED BY THE FAMOUS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Happy birthday to me! This year, I decided to celebrate with a fairy garden tea party, inspired by my previous shoot at the South Mountain Fairy Trail. I invited all my lovely friends to enjoy tea and chat about our future plans and ambitions. My outfit was entirely thrifted from head to toe, except for the "16th-century white cuffs" that I handmade and will soon have available for purchase. Even the decorations, from the tablecloth to the teacups, were thrifted!

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare explores the concept of fairies and the societal views of 16th-century women, which still resonate today. In Act 2, Scene 1, King Oberon, the king of the forest fairies, commands his fairy helper to "fetch me that flower" from the woods. This flower can be turned into a love potion that makes a person fall in love with the next creature they see. However, Puck accidentally gives the wrong person the potion, leading to a series of comedic and chaotic events that illustrate the idea that true love never runs smooth.

The association of herbs with magical abilities has persisted through time, often with negative connotations. In the 16th century, women who embraced natural healing were frequently judged and labeled as "weird," "evil," or even "witches." Yet, their true calling is to help us connect with Mother Earth and stay spiritually aligned throughout our journeys.

For my tea party, I collaborated with @MysticThrift, an Instagram brand created by a woman focused on natural healing. I received "flower dust," which consists of naturally dried flowers and homemade flower oil, along with a yellow protection/spiritual candle and a small white purification candle. The flower dust can be used in bath water or as a calming fragrance in your home, while the handmade candles are infused with intentions to help you stay connected to the earth.

"Fetch me that flower; the herb I show'd thee once: / The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid / Will make or man or woman madly dote / Upon the next live creature that it sees."
— A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 2, Scene 1.