A spiritual spin on traditional floristry
The story of Midnight Bloom
It all started in 2021, after a really hard year. Of course there was the pandemic, but there were some other things that I was going through as well during that period. During this time, I really focused my energy on my spiritual practice.
I set up my first alter in a built in bread cupboard in the share house myself, my partner, and my assistance dog in training, Dagda, lived in. I chose this location because I could close it and hide it away for when certain people came around. I used my intuition to create it, having done no research, but I was happy with it.
The last time I had ever practiced was when I was a teen (apart from the yearly ritual I do in the new year), but doing this connected me with a part that I had lost, my absolute amazement with flowers.
That year, on my partners and my 9th year together, he had bought me a bouquet, not just to look at, but to play with. This is the first ever bouquet I had 'created' (pictured right), and I knew then and there that I had to dedicate the rest of my life to the art of floristry.
The name of Midnight Bloom wasn't actually created by me, but by my partner. His insistence that I follow my heart and pursue my dream career lead me to pursue a certificate III of floristry, and on the 22nd of July, 2021 until 23rd of June, 2022, I completed my floristry course.
To say it was easy would be a lie. Not the flower arranging or the course content itself, but what it did to my body. It didn't help that I travelled for hours to get to and from the school, but I was determined to finish it.
And not only did I finish it, I proved to myself that I can actually finish something (many years of trying different courses all ended the same, me becoming so burnt out I couldn't function).
After that, I took a break. Not really intended, but after Dagda passed, and getting Aengus, and then breaking my knee and spending weeks in hospital, I just needed to rest.
But in 2023, when I was finally healed enough and sick of resting, I got back to work. That year, I started my certificate III in entrepreneurship and new business, and finally opened Midnight Bloom.
It was a bit of a mess at first, I had forgotten my original intention for Midnight Bloom and didn't follow where my intuition tried to guide me. We did our first market in December of 2023 at the local Yarrabilba mingle markets, and I so loved the feeling of connecting with my community and seeing the way my flowers brightened their faces.
We knew we had to move out of our current suburb as it just wasn't a practical place to live. I wasn't supposed to spend the rest of my life there, but it taught me and game me so much. In April, 2024, we were scrambling to find a place and I was getting very scared. So on impulse, I created a spell jar to help secure us a place. And secure us a place it did.
The next month we were in our new place in Runcorn and although I felt much happier being near family, I also lost myself again. My health got to be the worst its ever been, and out of desperation and really listening to myself, I reconnected with my spirituality, therefore reconnecting with my path.
Midnight Bloom isn't just a business, it is my life. My path is connected to it, and it my path. I weave magick through everything I do for Midnight Bloom, and in turn it provides my life with fulfilment. I only hope to give back to the world what I have received, and I hope to work with you soon.
Althea xx
