creekwater

pagan naturalist. follower of the old goddess religion. this blogspace is also populated by: spiders, deer, owls, cicadas, dragonflies, elms, burr oaks, wild plums, persimmons.

[deeply-winter]

books that have changed the way I think:

the courage to be disliked by ichiro kishimi

braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer

women who run with the wolves by clarissa pinkola estés

the day the world stopped shopping by jb mackinnon

the red tent by anita diamant

the art of frugal hedonism by adam grubb & annie raser-rowland

caliban and the witch by silvia federici

when the body says no by gabor maté

a swim in a pond in the rain by george saunders

[nolaplantdaddy]

one of my favorite excerpts from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

[chamaelobivia]

[unusual-suspects]

x

[charnel-grounds]

Mia Bergeron, “Ancestors”

oil and cold wax on panel, 2021

[joelpersels]

[arthistorywitches]

Winged naked goddess, likely Ishtar. 2nd millennium BCE

[rosieandthemoon]

[petaltexturedskies]

D.H. Lawrence, from"The Lemon Gardens" in Selected Poems and Writings

[nordseehexe]

We believe that we are part of a changing universal consciousness that has long been feared and prophesized by the patriarchs. We are opposed to teaching our magic and our craft to men. Our immediate goal is to congregate with each other according to our ancient women-made laws and remember our past, renew our powers and affirm our Goddess of the Ten-Thousand Names.

Z Budapest

The Feminist Book of Lights and Shadows

[riddle-me-witch]

Y'know, a lot of people will challenge pagan faith, and I feel like a lot of people's automatic response to that - including mine for a long while - is to try to offer proof. To show the candle fluttering on command, to try to show the clear messages and signs sent by their deities, to describe the strength and love and energy they're given. I understand the urge. I love my gods, so much. I want people to have the same experience I have of these beings who I love so much. But there's also always that nagging voice of doubt in my own mind, having been raised Christian, that this is my "sinful mind" trying to "lead me astray" or even the "devil" trying to corrupt me.

My response to all of this has become... more pragmatic than before. The answer I feel addresses these doubts the best is... well - it works, doesn't it? I experience benefits. I feel more at peace. I behave more ethically. I'm mindful of my flaws in a productive, non-self-loathing way. I feel more connected, both to the world and to my friends and relationships. I'm a happier, better person because I am a pagan. These are all the same benefits that many other religions purport, and whether or not these gods and spirits, I worship, venerate, work with, and adore, are truly "real", by my or anyone else's definitions, it doesn't really - matter? Does it. Because I still experience positivity and aid through it, even if it's my own mind.

It's brought me a lot of peace, thinking of it this way instead of constantly desperately fighting for the right "proof" to prove anything to either myself or others. I just thought I would share in case it could do the same for anyone else!

[sistermountain]

Title: Mother Goddess with Child

Date: c. 600

Culture: Indian

Medium: Sandstone

Dimensions: overall: 29 1/2 x 22 1/4 x 6 in. (74.93 x 56.51 x 15.24 cm)

Credit Line: Norton Simon Art Foundation

Accession Number: M.1975.11.05.S

Copyright: © Norton Simon Art Foundation

Source

[morbidsmenagerie]

Getting a thermal sticker printer so I'm making some stickers! Feel free to use though credit is appreciated, all photos are my own.

[fruitandflowercrowns]

the summer

source

[kyleesarthell]

Minoan Snake Goddess... still shocked its taken me this long to draw her

[travelingthief]

Hey you

pick up litter as a devotional act. Grab a bag, gloves, and a podcast and hit the pavement. Get one of the grabby things (found at Dollar Tree!) to make it easier. Don’t worry what anyone else thinks, in reality they’re probably thinking “oh neat that persons cleaning up litter.” Help the animals. Help the nature spirits. Go pick up litter!

[ihearhercalling]

I did this recently and it felt really lovely to do. Highly recommend

[coldmooncreekwater]

Yes!! This!!

Stream cleaning is my favorite. I go to the creekbed when it's dry (ish) and just soak in nature as I clean the place up. It doesn't have to feel like a chore. There's so many benefits:

✅It's a satisfying process

✅you get some movement

✅you get to be outside !!

✅you get dopamine from every piece (great to help rewire your brain from scrolling addiction)

✅picking it all up is usually impossible, unfortunately, BUT, that means there's no wrong way to do it

✅you feel a DEEP sense of accomplishment with every bag you fill

✅you deepen your connection with that Place specifically (if you believe in nature spirits, I swear you can feel them becoming friendlier the more you pick up)

✅you'll stumble upon mushrooms or rocks or plants or animals or bones that you never would have spotted if you weren't scanning for litter

✅you find some really unexpected stuff! I cracked up laughing when I unearthed this zombie furby for instance

✅every piece you pick up means fewer microplastics leached into the soil, fewer chemicals leached into the water, less plastic for animals to choke on, more space for plants to grow. The environmental benefits are mostly invisible and indirect, but they compound greatly over time.

Don't delay, go pick up litter today! :D

[niurd]

instagram.com/p/DQja_UYjGJT/