I was browsing the blogosphere over the weekend, and I came across a blogger talking about the idea of hope chests. For those of you that aren’t familiar, hope chests were a tradition up until around the 1950s, I believe, though I think they began dropping out of favor before then. Girls would fill the chests with linens, housewares, dishes, even a wedding dress, in preparation for getting married and leaving their family home. Most of the things in the chest would be handmade; embroidered handkerchiefs, sheets with fancy lace edging, quilts. The chests themselves are also beautiful–my family has several antique hope chests that have been passed down, and they’re all beautifuly crafted, solid, lasting pieces of furniture. (Frequently, they are made of cedar, which can be used for protection and clearing negativity. Plus, as any knitter worth his or her salt will tell you, it will also keep moths from destroying all those beautiful things you’ve made!)

Thinking about hope chests, I was struck by the idea that this is a powerful, slow type of magic. It’s not the quick, say a spell and snap your fingers kind; this is the slow, drawn out, thoughtful kind of work. These girls were literally crafting their future life. How powerful is that?

Now, obviously society has changed a bit. Marriage isn’t the ulitmate goal for everyone, and even if it is, most people don’t go directly from their parents house to married life. But there are plenty of other ways to bring this type of magic into your life.

What are you working for? What do you want? If it is a relationship, maybe you stick with some of the traditional fancy sheets or quilts, perhaps in a traditional design. If you’re not one for traditional looking quilts, you can update most traditional blocks by using modern fabric, or you could design your own meaningful symbols. If it’s a baby, why not make some baby things and set them aside. If you knit, sweaters, booties, and hats are all quick to work up. Baby quilts or blankets would also be good (and starting before the baby is expected at least helps guarantee that you’ll have them finished before the child is a teenager).

Maybe it’s something else. Maybe you set aside a power suit for the job you want to have, or the fancy dress or accessories that you’ll wear when you have that great social life. Maybe it’s a new backpack and notebook for your return to school, or furnishings for the house you want to own. Maybe it’s a stockpile of adorable tank tops for when you finally live somewhere warm, or a cache of cozy sweaters for the day when you move to a place that has winter.

Maybe it’s a little of everything. But by creating things with intent, and putting them aside, you’re storing up some powerful magic. Our ancestors knew this, even if they didn’t call it magic. So why not try bringing a little of that into your life?