Storage Solutions

Actually the inspiration for this topic comes from two places. 1) I'd been on an unexpected organizing kick for the past couple weeks (but not this week as I've been battling an annoying cold), and a topic I'd seen on a forum.

What do you use to store your "Pagan-y" wares?

Through the years I've been a Witch, storage has gone through an interesting evolution. A listing of things I'd used in the past to store my items:

-Small shoebox

-Large boot box

-Breadbox

-Nightstand drawer

-Bi-doored coffee table

-Antique dresser

-Plastic drawer set (from walmart)

-Large hinged box

As you can see, as the years went on, the storage solutions got larger, as I accumulated more and more items. The unfortunate thing, is that while my items are being stored in a large wooden box, they're more or less haphazardly "thrown" into it, as opposed to how they were stored when they were in the dresser. In the dresser, each drawer was designated for something. Now they're in the box in such a "mess" because I needed a place to store my items in a rather short period of time, so I didn't have time to find a more organized storage place. The plastic drawer set listed above, I needed to store my new baby's immediate needs (i.e. bibs, diapers, formula, wipes, etc), and the antique dresser is being used for his clothes.

The box I am using now came with a large HAM radio my husband bought from a fellow broadcaster. My husband was just going to throw it out...it's a beautiful box, so I told him I wanted it. It's not ornately engraved or anything, but it IS varnished so it has a bit of a shine to it.

Anyway, the main point of this post is to help people find storage solutions for one's items. While everyone is so preoccupied with finding this tool or that, or finding books for this or that...where is everyone going to put everything?? I think this is something that gets overlooked, even though it's pretty important

Storage shouldn't be elaborate. Many people like to use large cupboards, or wardrobes but this can be cumbersome and can take up a LOT of room, and not everyone is gifted with a private ritual room. People who double their bedroom for their ritual room can make the room itself a storage solution, by installing book shelves on the walls or even purchasing smaller free standing book shelves; using cloth boxes (many can be found at dollar or discount stores), shoe boxes, unused furniture and/or dresser drawers. You could even obtain SEVERAL shoe boxes and create your own multi-levelled storage system (especially if you have boxes with lids). If you're the creative type...you could build and/or customize a shelving system to accommodate those boxes (if not, you can just stack them on top of each other). Decorate the boxes with scrapbook paper (some dollar stores carry a variety of nice looking scrapbook paper for few dollars) and label them so you know what's in what box.

Storage (like books of shadows) are limited only by your imagination. And if you have people in your home who are...less than supportive of your choice in systems...the decoration of the shoeboxes creates a great way to store your beloved items in an inconspicuous manner.