respect & trust ☽ ☾

// C // English - Creative Writing Major // Eclectic Witch // Writer // Diana & Hades Devotee

[butteryplanet]

[madame-amour]

“Malá morská víla“ / “The Little Mermaid” (1976)

[softwaring]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdiDTWBl-Gt/

[kitchenwitchlouise]

🍯 Honey Varieties 🍯

A short list of honey varieties in case you want to experiment with your recipes. Some have herbal remedy hints, and pairing ideas.

Acacia :Very popular with a mild flavor. The color is usually light yellow, but can range to brown or purple. Goes well with toast or tea. Medicinally, it is used to calm anxiety or help sleep.

Avacado :A warm, dark brown honey that is excellent for recipes that call for brown sugar. It doesnt actually taste like avocados, but mollasses or burned sugar.

Blueberry :Medium amber color with a medium aroma, blueberry honey tastes slightly buttery, with toasted almonds. Great for fruit pastries, it’s usually not difficult to find this variety.

Buckwheat :Dark brown, with a strong, distinct flavor of mollasses. A staple in southern BBQ recipes or other meats. Also used for coughs and sore throats.

Chesnut :This honey is usually too strong for recipes. It is very dark, with a slightly pungent smell and sweet, almost musty taste. It’s quite unpopular, so it isn’t easy to find.

Clover :Very common, known as “table honey”, clover honey is a light, sweet honey that can be used universally.

Cranberry :Medium-red colored and fruity, it tastes like figs or dates. Use cranberry honey for fall fruit dishes.

Eucalptus :Suprisingly, eucalptus honey tastes sweet, with notes of rose petals. It smells strong, almost smokey, and is very dark in color. Goes well with meats or potatoes.

Forest :Also known as Honeydew honey, it is produced by aphid excretion from trees in the area, such as pine. It tastes woody and sweet, and pairs with just about anything.

Hawthorn :Hawthorn honey has a natural calming effect, so it’s usually stirred into chamomile tea. The flavor is strong so it doesnt take too much to sweeten.

Lavender :Ranging from bright to dark colors, the smell is intense just like the flowers. However one spoonful can help with seasonal allergies, and it’s a good source of calcium.

Mountain :Bees collect pollen from wild herbs and flowers in non-polluted mountain areas so the flavor and color can vary. Excellent for coughs and flu.

Orange Blossom :Light yellow with a mild floral smell, it is readily avalable in early spring when orange trees bloom. It has a sour citrus flavor, so it is best used in citrus recipes.

Rasberry :Rasberry honey is slightly bitter, but still tastes like brown sugar or toffee. It smells almost woodsy, and pairs well with fruits or especially coffee.

Sage :Sage honey tastes sweet with hints of rose petals. The color can be light yellow to purple, and it smells mildly floral. It also has a light violet aftertaste. It has so much body it is one of my favorites!

Sourwood :Slightly rare, it’s only available in June or July before its all bought up. It tastes a bit like cloves or nutmeg and smells like cinnamon.

Sunflower :As yellow as it’s petals and smells just as exceptional. It can crystallize easily, if that happens just heat up the jar in some hot water. It can help with sinus problems and allergies.

Tulip Poplar :Tulip Polar honey can be used for almost any dish. It is dark orange, and smells like cooked fruits. It tastes buttery like toffee and a bit like caramel.

Tupelo :Comes from the ogeechee tree in Florida and Georgia. It is slightly rare, and doesn’t crystalize easily. Tastes light buttery and sweet, use with vegetable or chicken recipes.

[four-toed-creed]

[i-have-been-thunderstruck]

So sweet

[macarons-and-corpses]

I don’t know if you’ve actually seen this episode, but Pam invites the entire office to her art show that she’s been gearing up for for a really long time. Nobody shows up except for Oscar and his partner (and they critique her work, calling her “lacking in courage” among other things, not realizing she is standing right behind them) and then Michael. And Michael is the only one who tells her she is great just for putting herself out there, and the only one who places value on what she’s done, and he points out all the little details she got right and notices absolutely every bit of hard work she put into it. And then treats Pam like the artist she is by not just paying her for her art, but displaying it where literally everyone can see it.

It’s one of my favorite episodes.

[headstrongandheartless]

So, my dad is the boss at his job, and when I was growing up watching the office, I always imagine my goofy ass dad acting like Michael Scott at work (not the case but w/e). My dad was and has always been pretty emotionally distant, and so this episode hit home so hard. Because Pam’s reaction to finally being validated and having someone tell her they’re proud of her (someone who rarely shows these tender moments with such poignancy no less) was so relatable and heart-warming.

[eirener-deactivated20180925]

“Because sending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door. Ink from your pen touches the stationary, your fingers touch the paper, your saliva seals the envelope, your scent graces the paper. Something tangible from your world travels through machines and hands, and deposits itself in another’s mailbox; their world. Your letter is then carried inside as an invited guest. The paper that was sitting on your desk, now sits on another’s. The recipient handles the paper that you handled. Letters create a connection that modern and impersonal forms of communication will never replace.”

[la-petitefille-deactivated20210]

7 Ways to be Pure 🕊

• Give to those less fortunate, expecting nothing in return. Do not give money to a homeless individual just to brag or post about it later: Show acts of kindness simply to make somebody’s day, and to grow a softer heart.

• Try your very best to listen to children. Treat them how you would’ve liked to have been treated by an adult when *you* were small.

• Be kind to creatures in need. Give your very best to animals who require care, and be respectful of those who inhabit the wilderness. Let them have their space.

• Retrieve fallen litter (that’s safe to pick up, of course) and toss it in the wastebin. It isn’t your place to clean up after everybody’s mistakes, but your gesture will help to make the world that much better of a place.

• Don’t lose your sense of wonder and imagination. Re-read your childhood books. Re-watch your favourite films. Paint, colour, go to the park. Embrace what made you wild with creativity as a child, and get lost in that beautiful world again.

• Perform a deep-cleaning of your space every few months, donating, recycling, and selling objects you no longer need. Cleanse your space; cleanse your soul.

• Ask with genuine curiosity how somebody’s day is and how they are doing in life. You can never really tell when someone doesn’t feel cared for, so be the person to let them know that they are. ♡

[diawitchling-blog]

Is anybody open for free or paid tarot commissions? I really need advice on what to do with my mom. I don’t have much money right now but I’m more than happy to pay for a solid reading.

[therianomalocaris]

Pardon me, I’m unfamiliar with the term, but death positivity?

Being death positive is defined by The Order of the Good Death as :

I believe that by hiding death and dying behind closed doors we do more harm than good to our society.

I believe that the culture of silence around death should be broken through discussion, gatherings, art, innovation, and scholarship.

I believe that talking about and engaging with my inevitable death is not morbid, but displays a natural curiosity about the human condition.

I believe that the dead body is not dangerous, and that everyone should be empowered (should they wish to be) to be involved in care for their own dead.

I believe that the laws that govern death, dying and end-of-life care should ensure that a person’s wishes are honored, regardless of sexual, gender, racial or religious identity.

I believe that my death should be handled in a way that does not do great harm to the environment.

I believe that my family and friends should know my end-of-life wishes, and that I should have the necessary paperwork to back-up those wishes.

I believe that my open, honest advocacy around death can make a difference, and can change culture.

tl;dr : death is only a part of life and we shouldn’t see it as a big scary thing. Talking about death and what you want to do with your body after you die is important, and respecting the dead’s wishes is even more important.

If you want to find more info on death positivity and The Order of the Good Death, here are the links to their main website and their youtube channel.

[audacityinblack]

Urban Witchcraft: Road Witchery

Bet you never thought of a busy city street as a magical destinatiion, did you?

But think about it for a minute. Roads are full of things that tell other things where to go. Magic is energy in motion.

Now imagine that busy city street again. What do you see?

People waiting at bus stops, or hurrying to cross streets. A bustling four-way intersection. Lines, signs and lights. It’s all a state of controlled chaos, designed to get people to their destinations quickly and safely. 

Think about those lines, those signs and those lights again. They all have a meaning. Anything with a meaning can be used.

Think about how traffic usually flows where you live. If you’re American like me, you stay to the right. Use that for attraction and banishing.

Crossroads. Crossroads everywhere.

Sign and light colors. Use green to attract something, red to send it away. Use blue (i.e. police lights) for protection). Orange can be used for constructive purposes. You can also use stripe patterns.

The shapes of signs can also be used. Use a red octagon as a sigil to STOP things. Use arrows to tell stuff where to go.

A U-turn (or no U-turn) symbol can be used to send negativity back - or to make someone leave and not turn around.

Use your car itself as an altar. Put things you want to cast out in your rear window or back seat, and things you want to attract up front or in your dash. Hang a charm on the rearview mirror. Draw a sigil on your dirty car before you wash it. If you still have an antenna, tie some colored ribbons to it for different intents. If you want to use something for protection, put it inside your trunk or glove compartment.

If you have a child young enough to use a safety seat, add protection sigils to it for car safety.

I’m not exactly suggesting breaking the law here…but a sigil to hide you from the sight of the police might be handy.

Run into a rude driver? “Because you were so very rude, on your car a bird will poo!”

Use some protection magic on a crosswalk to protect pedestrians from accidents.

Send positive energy to anyone you see driving with their dog.

Air fresheners are amazingly versatile.

[speeding54]

YELLOWSTONE-“…the mist surrounding the bison was because they had just crossed a river. Their body heat in the cold air caused the water to turn to vapor.”

[dreamingariel-deactivated201702]

GHOST BISON

[nandalorian]

“There’s really a very simple scientific expla–”

“GHOST BISON”

[witchcastors]

The Great Goddess Hecate (Hekate)

Who is Hecate? She is the Goddess of Witchcraft, Necromancy, Ghosts, Magic, and, in some instances, the Night, Darkness, The Mist, and Moon. For some She is also the goddess of motherhood, protection, and the sea. She is a Hellenic deity, born of the Titans Asteria and Perses. There’s a few beliefs circling around Her being a crone goddess or a Triple Goddess, but those are modern and neopagan beliefs—which She predates. I also consider Her to be a part of the Chthonic deities.

Symbology: Black dogs, Wolves, Keys, Torches, Flames, Torches, Crossroads, Serpents, Daggers, Birds of Prey (crows, ravens, owls), the Moon, witchcraft tools (such as cauldrons, tarot, athames)

Offerings & Devotional Acts for Her:

Figurines of any of Her symbols

keys, skeleton keys, lockets

fire witchcraft and candles, flames, matchsticks

dedicating any lunar or symbolic jewelry to Her

black/dark crystals such as obsidian and onyx

nocturnal animal imagery

black/cool colored glitter

baneful/poisonous herbs and plants

pomegranates/berries (She seems to really like blackberries)

dark blend wines

honey, cinnamon, poppy seeds, chocolates (dark)

mugwort, lavender, roses, jasmine, dragon’s blood

bones and feathers from birds of prey (please check your local laws about obtaining these)

pinpricks of blood (please DO NOT attempt this if you struggle with self harm/etc, blood magic is particularly strong and isn’t for everyone. She will understand if you cannot offer that to her).

Taking midnight walks, setting up altars and rituals at crossroads, paying respects to the dead and practicing your craft in a cemetery 

Any playlists, poems, literature, whether it be your own or just a piece you associate with Her, also make wonderful offerings. 

Lunar Influences & Connections: Reaching out to Hecate tends to work best at night, and really any time the moon is at it’s peak. The Witching Hours, midnight to 3A.M., during strong lunar influences (blue moons, blood moons, eclipses, new moons, etc) all hold strong bonds with Hecate. Also, any time it is particularly foggy or your surroundings are covered in a mist is a good time to try to connect with Her.

Disclaimer: These are correspondences that have been gathered through my personal experiences working through my craft with Her. If you find She responds better to different offerings/during different times, by all means, stick to it! Your bond with Her is your own and should be cultivated in whichever way works best for you and Her. Thank You!

[neongenesisevangaylion-deactiva]

NEW noise canceling headphones that are so good at blocking out sound that they even prevent you from listening to your own music, forcing you to bask in the whispers of the forgotten gods until you begin to hear your own brain falling apart as it descends into madness

[glitch-bite]

and now, the weather

[mulberry-moons]

I have always experienced doubt when it comes to personal beliefs. I was raised Catholic and I used to pray for faith in God. Sometimes that act would strengthen my belief in Christianity, but if you know me, you know it wasn’t a permanent solution. I just don’t believe in deities and I couldn’t force myself to, even when I really wanted to. Sometimes, it’s the same with witchcraft. It’s hard to believe that a mixture of herbs and focused intent can really change anything. Some days I don’t believe it at all. 

I also get the feeling that I’m not the only one.

Fortunately, you can still keep in touch with some aspects of your practice, and keep a feeling of magic in your life, even when you are unsure about what you believe in. It just takes a shift in perspective, and most importantly, to believe in yourself. 

I’m going to be posting a series of magical acts that you can still practice, even when you are spiritually drained or are experiencing doubts. 

Today’s topic: Spell Jars OR Association Jars

Spell jars are a pretty basic tool in modern witchcraft. Get a bunch of ingredients whose correspondences line up with your intent and throw them together. About as easy as it gets.

Here’s the thing:

I want you to throw out the correspondence lists because too often we have simply attempted to internalize what other people have told us those correspondences are. If you aren’t in your witchiest mindset, those correspondences mean so little. All you can do is try to believe that these ingredients have some inherent power and you really can’t force that belief. 

Instead, I want you to think about your intent. What is the purpose of this jar? 

In the jar pictured above, I wanted something to help me be mindful of my disorder. I did not make a spell jar thinking it would alleviate symptoms of bipolar disorder. I did not think magic was going to cure my disability. I wanted something that encapsulated everything I already know about my disorder and how to handle it. 

I remade my own correspondences. I took things that reminded me of other things. I did not write them down because if it’s something I don’t already have internalized, it’s not going to work. I took pepper and red pepper flakes because they are hot, they remind me of fire, they remind me of passion, they remind me that sometimes I get overexcited about something and lose the ability to think logically about that something. I included salt because it is used to cure meats and prevent spoilage. It reminds me that I have what it takes to keep my disorder in check, keep it from spoiling my life. I included sea shells because they remind me of the tides and the ebb and flow of so many things: energy, self control, moods. Everything is cyclic. If I am in the midst of a depressive episode, I look at those shells and remember that with my disorder, I know a depressive episode will pass. When I have a lot of energy, I look at those shells and remember that my energy is fleeting and I should do something while I’m motivated. 

I look at this little jar and suddenly I am better at examining myself through metacognition. I am more aware of the way I think and react and feel because I am being prompted to and I analyze those things so I can do a better job of telling my doctor how I’m doing and how I’m responding to medication. 

That, to me, is a concrete fact and I don’t have to believe in anything else for that to be effective. Whether or not it is magic is debatable. 

It’s an exercise is all. You don’t need to be a witch to do this. You don’t need to believe in magic. If you are a witch or do believe in magic, then maybe it’ll be that much more effective. 

[thenib]

From Eleri Harris and our Stats Dept.

[rock-fish-deactivated20201231]

and remember, if you think tribal courts having no real ability to prosecute felonies or *non tribal members* has NOTHING to do with the extremely high rates of kidnap, rape and murder of native women, you’re huffing glue. ever wonder why native women are targeted so often if so few live off of the reservations compared to the rest of the population out here?

the answer is very ugly, and very, very much our fault.

[chromeus]

[wanderingredleaves]