This past weekend I went to West Virginia. We tried to go cross country skiing but it was too warm and slushy, so we went into Thomas to hang out on their main drag -- a small street with a handful of businesses running along it. Mostly antique shops for whatever reason. Then there's the art galleries, the best coffee shop in WV, and the Purple Fiddle, a small music venue that draws folks from all over the state.

One of the best reasons to visit is that almost every person you run into in Thomas is an artist, a musician, an entrepreneur, a fiddle maker, an herbalist. I swear in two hours we met two people who felt like old friends. We also drank so much coffee and got our minds blown by The White Room Gallery.

While we were there we ran into my friend Seth (his art is RAD go buy every last thing he ever makes ever). We were chatting about his girlfriend, my friend Nellie (also an absolutely stunning artist also go buy all of HER stuff). He was like, "at first when I met Nellie I thought oh she's one of those wood nymph girls. But then I got to know her and realized that she's NOT a wood nymph. She's a wizard."

Which is undoubtedly true.

That got me to thinking. As lovely as it is to be a nymph, how much more incredible is it to be a wizard? And why wouldn't you prefer wizardy over nymph-hood? Nymphs are, in both Latin and Greek mythology, considered to be minor female nature deities. They animate nature, these sexy, young, beautiful creatures who love frolicking and singing and having a damn good time. Nymphs are great, by all means -- they impart life to springs and grottoes and mountains. But they're mostly powerless and sweet. I see women compared to and perceived as nymphs often. It's a not-terrible stereotype. I see it played out a lot amongst the hippie-artist-festival-babes. I like to dress up in that garb too.

Wizards, however. Wizards live in the guise of humans but are, in fact, great and powerful beings -- if you go by the J.R.R. Tolkein's definition. Which, I mean, we all should. Or, if you go by the Rowling story-line, wizards are born wielding magnificent potential and power. Either way, wizards are makers and protectors and BADASSES. A lady wizard is something to be in awe of. She defies stereotype.

I love to think that we, as women, can dress up in the clothing of something simple and beautiful; but underneath of it all, we're summoning grace and lightning, bottling infinity, moving the chess pieces on the board game of life.

Let's be powerful makers of beauty, protectors of the weak, makers of the script. Let's create worlds.

And crackers.

So when life gives you sumac, make za'atar. And when you happen to have some hemp hearts on hand, use 'em in place of sesame seeds! I really like the nuttiness of hemp hearts. It's not too dissimilar from sesame. Even hemp butter is similar to tahini, in a lot of ways. It works best married with bright flavors, which bring out its sunnier side.  Hemp hearts themselves are mild and creamy and nutty, and so pair wonderfully with tangy sumac and lemony thyme. Add a really good flakey sea salt to the mix and dang if that ain't something special.