Happy New Year!

[Jules]

Haha I like that! I'm not sure if I want to put my name on it though.

[Tawmis]

Haha I like that! I'm not sure if I want to put my name on it though.

Just figured it'd be easy for people who know you to remember the name when they tell someone else about it.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm, well, the old Greek name for the earth-mother was Gaia (pron. GAH-yah, not GEH-ya - as some immature people would say, "gayer"). So maybe you can do something with that? Gaia was the mother of all fruits and trees and flowering things.

Maybe... "Gaia's Gifts"? Or, even, "Gaia's Generous Gifts". Or "Gaia's Gifts Galore"!

Or, if you want something with less alliteration, how about "Gaia's Bounty"? Or "Gaia's Bumper Bounty"?

Oh! *idea* And if you need a symbol to go with it, how about the Horn of Plenty (or in its original Latin name, the Cornucopia - from Cornu (horn) and Copiae (abundance, plenty)). The reason I suggest this is simple: even if someone hasn't heard of Gaia, surely everyone knows what a cornucopia looks like - a horn shaped receptacle, overflowing with fruits, grains, flowers, and/or vegetables. Perfect!

If you want to emphasise the medicinal part of your herbalist shop, you can always go for the classic symbol - the Rod (or Staff) of Asclepius, the most ancient symbol of the father of medicine. The staff has just one snake, because the ancient Greeks believed in the healing power of snakes (non-venomous, of course!) and dreams. Believers would visit the temple, make a very small donation, and be healed with good food, clean beds, sleep - and snakes on the floor to lull them into a deep, healing sleep.

Please don't confuse the Rod of Asclepius with the Caduceus or staff with two snakes! Plenty of people have made this mistake, to the point that the Caduceus has now become the symbol of healing, which is a shame. The Two-Snake Staff is the symbol of Hermes, the messenger of the gods - and also god of trade, heraldry, merchants, commerce, roads, sports, travelers, and athletes - as well as the "divine trickster" and "the god of boundaries and the transgression of boundaries ... the patron of herdsmen, thieves, graves, and heralds".

Surely you don't want your shop of healing to be associated with the trickery, thieves and graves, right?

Anyway, sorry for rambling so much about this. The ancient world is my specialty, you know.

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

Do you have any favourite authors or books, SHP?

Yes. I particularly enjoy many works by Philip Pullman, Stephen King, Thomas Harris, Sue Grafton, Carl Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, Douglas Adams, Scarlett Thomas, to name a few

If I had to pick an all time favourite book, it would probably be Northern Lights.

[Rath Darkblade]

Philip Pullman and Douglas Adams? You have good taste.

What about Terry Pratchett or Robert Rankin?

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

Philip Pullman and Douglas Adams? You have good taste.

What about Terry Pratchett or Robert Rankin?

Sorry to say I'm not familiar with their work as of yet, but I would be curious to check them out.

[Rath Darkblade]

If you like Douglas Adams, you'll probably like Terry Pratchett. What Douglas did for sci-fi, Terry did for fantasy - he made it comic and accessible.

Robert Rankin did the same, but in modern day settings.

[Jules]

Wow thanks for that history, Rath! I thought of using Gaia but there's so many spiritual themed shops that I didn't want to be too piggy backy. As much as your suggestions make me giggle and smile, I'm aiming for something more serious which is why I like Earth and Om. But it seems like everyone is naming their shops like Olive and Twig. Or... Autumn and Fig. Copper and Lace. Or some hipster combo of two polar words. So maybe "Of Earth and Om" or something like that instead of just Earth and Om. I know, it's still hipster but not as much.

And Tawm, since I plan on using Instagram for my main advertising method, Jules of the Earth and other forms of it are already taken and I'd rather not have unnecessary numbers in it. I know, I'm picky

[Tawmis]

So maybe "Of Earth and Om" or something like that instead of just Earth and Om. I know, it's still hipster but not as much.
And Tawm, since I plan on using Instagram for my main advertising method, Jules of the Earth and other forms of it are already taken and I'd rather not have unnecessary numbers in it. I know, I'm picky

It's not being picky, it's good business sense.

[Rath Darkblade]

Olive and Twig? Autumn and Fig? Umm... how about Chicken and Pig? Bigger Than Big? Don' Smoke a Cig? (Hey, I know they're silly names - I'm just trying to continue that rhythm/rhyme thing those hipsters have got going!)

But whatever you do, please don't name your shop "Arsenic and Old Lace".

"Of Earth and Om", rhythm-wise, reminds me of the classic novel, "Of Mice and Men".

It's good to be picky! The name you pick for your store's very important. Choose wisely! *nod*

[Jules]

Haha thanks I love all of those! I'm liking Wildcraft Love. It pretty much sums up my love for nature and creating things with it.

[Tawmis]

Haha thanks I love all of those! I'm liking Wildcraft Love. It pretty much sums up my love for nature and creating things with it.

When you do launch it, please be sure to tell us. I'd be glad to spread the good word.

[Jules]

Most def!!! And thanky thanky!