By Thistle and Thorn

Thorn || 22 || they/them || Diviner, Spellweaver, a little bit Traditional Witch || Kill all nazis || pfp: Study of Thistle by Sophia L. Crownfield

[bythistleandthorn]

𝔚𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔯𝔞𝔪𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔰

(pt: welcome to the brambles)

It's been a minute, hasn't it? I figured it might be a good idea to revamp my intro, as things have changed and so have I!

The Basics

🌿Thorn

🌿They/them

🌿20s

🌿Ambiguous wolfthing living in the prairies

🌿This is a sideblog

On this blog you're likely to find me talking about my Spirits and Gods, reblogging devotionals, and in general talking shop about reconnection, offerings, workings, and keeping up with my Craft on a day-to-day basis.

About my Craft

I've been many people and seen many places, passing through to find where I was supposed to be going. Nowadays I've settled in my own little bramble patch, somewhere on the crossroads of Traditional Witchcraft, Hedge Witchery, Folk Craft, and a healthy dose of Cymraeg polytheism/spirituality, informed by my ancestors and reconnection efforts. I love to incorporate local ecosystems and spirits into my craft, and focus heavily on "UPG" and intuitive working.

In general I consider myself a diviner, spellworker, devotee, and Witch.

About Me

I believe witchcraft is political, and as such want to make my stances on certain topics crystal clear. I do not fuck with nazis, zionists, terfs, or any rhetoric from those groups. I also do not fuck with starseeds, indigo children, age of aquarius stuff. I don't believe generative AI as used by LLMs like ChatGPT and image-generation software have any place in the Craft.

A General Disclaimer

I speak for myself and myself alone. Nothing I say or do is meant to represent the ideas or philosophies of anyone but myself.

I am not an expert. While I'm happy to make suggestions and converse, my word should not be taken as law. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't, and maybe along the way step in for a cuppa and a chat.

I hope you can find what you're looking for in these woods, and please, feel free to stop in for a chat. I've always got the kettle on, and I'd be happy to pour you a cup.

[mxmorbidmidnight]

Nazis will never be welcome in paganism. They have no space in our communities, we will have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to nazis. You have no right to the cultures, gods and religions you hijack to spread your disgusting ideologies. You will find no refuge or comraderie amongst pagans.

Reblog to let nazis know they’re not welcome here.

[bythistleandthorn]

Somehow my protection pendant made it onto the chain of my familiar's amulet, and y'all. I just about burst into tears. I was just having a very real, serious conversation about my life and how lost I feel, and somehow this thing that has never happened before the entire time I've worn these necklaces together happens?? It's like a reminder that I'm divinely protected on every path I walk, and he will always be there to make sure I get back up. My familiar is fucking incredible

[ofcedarandbone]

Daily offerings for this week are chilled water infused with homegrown peppermint to promote both cooling and soothing.

The heat and humidity have been bad this week and I'm really not looking forward to the rest of the summer as it will only get worse🥵

[rorschachx]

[riverbaptism]

[bythistleandthorn]

When I went back to add that line about my Spirits in the Where I Live post I got a WICKED nosebleed. So. The Spirits say hello, I guess

[bythistleandthorn]

𝔚𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 ℑ 𝔏𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔦𝔫 𝔍𝔲𝔫𝔢

(pt: Where I Live in June)

Thank you @slewfootwitch for the tag (and @dvoeverie-stitches for creating such a lovely thing)! This was such a delightful little exercise to explore and appreciate my home during a time of year I'm usually some degree of uncomfortable/overwhelmed 24/7 (heat intolerance gang rise). I don't have any pictures to share, but I hope my words can invoke a little of the beauty and wonder of my home.

Where I live, June looks like... poplars in full green, tall and proud and stunning. Big, drifting moths flying across the lawn. Thistles and dandelions taking root in the neighbourhood yards. Tall, green-and-gold grass and seed heads rippling like hair in the wind. The altar, adorned in flowers. Foggy morning walks. Ducks and pelicans paddling lazily across the river, which is full to bursting.

Where I live, June tastes like... every flavour of 7/11 slurpee mixed together. Lemon desserts and cheap ice cream. Dollar drink days. Salt and sweat. Cheap, over-ripe berries threatening to spoil, drowned in cream and dusted with sugar. Iced caps from Tim Hortons, mostly melted by the time you're done with them. Crabapples straight off the tree.

Where I live, June sounds like... Loons on the river. Coyotes barking as the sun goes down, singing a welcoming song to nightfall. Long drives with the music blasting. Magpies. Locusts in the prairie grass and the buzzing of flies. Friends laughing. Fans in every room. Hail pinging off the metal of the chimney. Thunder so loud it shakes the walls of the house. Woodpeckers digging for food in the siding.

Where I live, June smells like... lilac on the wind, no matter where you go. Wet pavement, soaked dirt. Muddy riverbed and freshwater. Freshly cut grass, and a smell I can only ever describe as Green. Fire pits. Cigarettes on every street corner. Rain-scented incense wafting around the room.

Where I live, June feels like... sweat-sticky skin, cool showers, damp hair on your pillow at night. Aphids on your arms, worms in the palm of your hand. The feathery leaves of yarrow between your fingers. Flipping through the pages of a book, trying to find something to do that won't heat the room up. My Spirits sitting next to me, just enjoying the silent company. Sticky fingers from harvesting mountain ash berries.

Tagging: @ofcedarandbone @buriedpentacles @witchystitched aaand whoever else thinks this would be fun! If you've stumbled upon this and would like to participate, then this is me tagging you. Go forth and explore where you live in June!

[bythistleandthorn]

Been thinking about Mhara Starling's exploration of Gwyn ap Nudd a lot lately.

"... otherness has always been associated with all things fairy, and therefore it is no surprise to me that many Gwyn devotees I have met over the years have been marginalized individuals or those who feel like they do not fit in this world. Neurodivergent people, women, and queer people have been the majority of those who revere this otherworldly god today ... it is almost as though he has opened his arms and said, "So long as the world makes you feel othered, you are under my domain." "

Just... the way this rings so true for me. The way he has helped me embrace my Otherness, my strangeness, the untamed and ugly, truly wild parts of myself. I devote my transition to him, in his Strange and Liminal nature. He's been such a consistent companion to me for so many years, and I genuinely do not think I would be here, much less in this form, without him.

Diolch, Gwyn ap Nudd.

[leonor777]

Nature held me close and seemed to find no fault with me. (Stone Butch Blues, Leslie Feinberg)

[bythistleandthorn]

Experimenting with offerings for Ceridwen lately. So far she seems keen on flames, mugwort, and yarrow leaf, and doesn't seem to love fake candles or whiskey.

[moth-kissed-witch]

To whoever needs to hear this...

You do not need visualization skills to do energy work, perform magick, be a witch, or anything in between.

Rituals, spirit work, spells, divination, and so on have been practiced through so many other means than just visualization since practically the dawn of humanity. There are four other mundane and psychic senses than just eyesight and clairvoyance that you can utilize.

Raise and direct your energy via movement, your breath, and music. Meditate through automatic writing/drawing, or focus on how energy feels in different locations. Hone your intuition by asking for and noticing observable signs or listening to the voices of spirits and discerning them from your own inner voice.

Visualization is just one of many tools you can potentially use. Not have to.

[slewfootwitch]

"Visualize" is, I feel, such a misleading term that most authors are actually using to prompt people to "imagine strongly" or to "call into their mind". And it creates a lot of unnecessary confusion and frustration for those who don't have a visually oriented mind. An experience can be mentally called in in more ways than just strict mental imagery. Imagining experiences through sounds, smells tactile sensation or ever narration can be just as effective means of directing focus.

[bythistleandthorn]

Spent some time last night in quiet companionship and reverence to Gwyn ap Nudd. Tidied the altar, meditated, re-poured offerings as the Sun went down. I can't help but feel distant this Solstice. With the way life has been going it's been hard to find the time and energy to celebrate much. Still, I'm trying, and that's all I can really do.

I hope everyone has a lovely Solstice, and you're met with warmth and growth.

[expressions-of-nature]

by Alexander Zharnikov

[bythistleandthorn]

Surely another cauldron would help

[bythistleandthorn]

More and more often I find myself drawn to the mountains and the forests. Part of it is definitely because of how hectic and industrial day-to-day life is and the fact that if I don't see something quiet and green I might actually go postal. Part of it is also, I think, spiritual unrest. I've been so exhausted and uncertain how to proceed in all aspects of my life, including my Craft and Practice, and I feel a desperate need to reconnect with the foundations it's built upon. The quiet forest, the flowing river, the small moments between them. Everything is so loud and so bright all the time, I never get a moment to myself, and it's suffocating

[broomsick]

Yes the Gods are loving, but they are also mighty. They are flawed, but they’re also giving and kind. They don’t need to be one or the other. All of their countless opposing facets can coexist at once.