occasionally subtle
Show & Tell
titsay
No title available
taylor price
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
No title available
Origami Around
🪼
Xuebing Du
oozey mess
@theartofmadeline
YOU ARE THE REASON
No title available
Game of Thrones Daily
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
todays bird
Janaina Medeiros
cherry valley forever
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Türkiye
seen from South Korea
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Russia
seen from Ireland
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from France
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Italy
seen from Norway
seen from Türkiye
seen from Japan
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Malaysia
@drkweaversm
Grimoire - Decolonizing Witchcraft
Racist Stereotypes About Magic What you mean to say: Karma Edition Depth and Cultural Appropriation in Witchcraft Racism, Spirituality, and Witchblr Making Magic More Inclusive Accidental Appropriation Closed Traditions Aren't a Monolith. CHAKRAS (are not what you think they are) Chakras - What they really are
More related posts at: For Pagans/Witches to Beware of My Posts Related to My Practices Religions and Deities
Ancient Greek Religion & Hellenic Polytheism: A Reading Guide
I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long while, and talking to my friend @olympianbutch today gave me the push I needed to do so. When I was starting out as a Hellenic Polytheist years ago, this is the kind of resource I needed. So I hope you all enjoy and find this helpful!
Introductory Reading:
Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson
Athenian Popular Religion by Jon D. Mikalson
Greek Religion by Jan N. Bremmer
On Greek Religion by Robert Parker
Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS
Comprehensive Guides:
Greek Religion by Walter Burkert
Companion to Greek Religion edited by Daniel Ogden
Understanding Greek Religion by Jennifer Larson
Rethinking Greek Religion by Julia Klindt
The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow and Julia Klindt
Polytheism and Society by Robert Parker
The Gods and Theology:
Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson
Theologies of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow, Julia Klindt, and Robin Osborne
Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion by Ellie Mackin Roberts
Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World (Routledge Series)
Offerings and Sacrifice:
Personal Experience and Materiality in Greek Religion by K.A. Rask
Singing for the Gods by Barbara Kowalzig
Smoke Signals for the Gods by F.S. Maiden
Sharing with the Gods by Theodora Suk Fong Jim
Primary Sources:
Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod
The Homeric Hymns
The Orphic Hymns
Sources for the Study of Greek Religion by David Rice and John Stambaugh
Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. Warrior
Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Emily Kearns
Books are my life 🥰 writing is my life 🥰
In shadows deep, where moonlight weaves,
A witch's shelf of secrets breathes.
Potions bottled, pages old,
Whispered tales of spells untold.
Crackling cauldrons, ancient grimoires,
In the coven's lair, magic soars.
Broomsticks poised for midnight flight,
On the shelves, a mystical rite.
Herbs and crystals, candles aglow,
A sorceress' haven in the shadows.
Spells and charms, a sacred dance,
In the witch's bookshelf, mystic trance.
“So inbetween these luxury condos is this group house full of queer witches…”
Faerie Witch Guide
Altar Items/Symbols/Decorations: Fae stars, Milk, Apples, Wildflowers, Mushrooms, Alcohol, Fairy Statues, Butterfly symbolism, Bee symbolism, Dried or fresh fruit, Fresh water, Plants, Bells, Bubbles, Non-plastic Glitter, Tree symbolism, Dancing, Four-leaf clovers, Nuts and seeds
What not to include on a Fae altar: Anything plastic or unnatural like plastic glitter (the fae hate littering), Chocolate (very dangerous for animals), Himalayan Salt (it gets its pink color from iron and iron repels fae), anything iron
Stones and Crystals: Pink tourmaline, Rose quartz, Aura quartz, Chrysoprase, Amethyst, Peridot, Opal (opalite), Tree agate, Moss agate, Dyed quartz, Holey stones, Goldstone, Copper, Honey calcite, Calcite (any)
Herbs and Plants: Rose, Lavender, Thyme, Chamomile, Blackberry, Apple, Clover, Elderberry, Violet, Bluebells, Lilac, Peony, St John’s Wort, Oak, Holly, Willow, Moss, Ferns, Dandelions, Berries, Heather
Deities: Brigid, Aine, Rhiannon, Lugh, Morrigan
Scents/Incense/Essential Oils: Bergamot, Lavender, Rose, Fir, Pine, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Strawberry, Violet, Gardenia, Grapefruit, Oakmoss, Tea tree
Natural Gateways (to the Fae realm): Rivers, Stone and Tree Arches, Lakes, Springs, Mountains, Old Trees, Wishing Wells, Hills, Wildflower Fields, Stone Circles, Flower Gardens, Rainbows, Clover Patches, Mushroom Circles
Fae Elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Moon, Sun, Stars
Spells and Magic the Fae can help with: Cottage witchcraft, Kitchen witchery, Garden magic, Prosperity, Happiness, Elemental magic, Art, Life, Animals, Cannabis, Solar and Lunar energies, Nature magic, Air witchcraft, Fertility spells, Magic that doesn’t involve children
OFFERINGS
Milk
Honey
Anything small and shiny
Rings
Beads
Pretty Rocks and Crystals
Cream
Sweets (natural)
Cakes and Cookies
Clean Water
Fresh Fruit
Alcohol or Juice
Natural items
DEVOTIONAL ACTS
Clean up litter
Spend more time in nature, especially near natural gateways
Wear a floral perfume
Help animals whenever you can
Grow a Faerie garden
Study local fae
Stay hydrated with fruit-infused water, floral-infused water, or teas
Have an outdoor party or picnic to honor the fae
Make offerings regularly, especially when asking for favors
Things going missing or suddenly lost is a sign that the Fae are near
Carry a sachet of, or wear a locket of rose quartz, thyme, st John’s wort, rose petals and lavender to attract fae and help you see them
Dance, Sing and make Art
FAE COURTS
This is only a small portion of known Fae courts, so please acknowledge that there’s far more than just this. Be careful with the Fae, and stay educated on them.
Spring Court
Very cheerful faeries who celebrate life in all its forms. They are the most inclined to pull pranks, though these could potentially turn dangerous when they fail to realize how fragile non-fae are. They love flowers and spread happiness and joy. They enjoy dancing and prefer not to think about death at all, and the other courts often see them as naive. Polite, seductive and curious.
Summer Court
Well-mannered and polite, though not as cheerful as the spring court. Not afraid of death, but wishes to enjoy life anyways. Smart, but not conceited. Will punish those who harm and insult them, but are not prone to kill or torture unless they’re absolutely furious. They prefer to respect life rather than take it away.
Autumn Court
Mysterious and strange yet very beautiful. They view death as a natural part of life, and do not understand the hate and fear surrounding it. They are not conceded, but do hold grudges when wronged. When disrespected, they become very cruel, often cursing or torturing those who fail to respect them for their own amusement. The autumn court, however, does give the best gifts and boons out of all the courts. When respected, they will show that courtesy right back. Those on their good side are very fortunate.
Winter Court
Hearts of ice, both figuratively and literally. Expect death when dealing with them, as they do not care for life and only focus on decay. They are cruel, and proud of it. Threatening, dark and eerie. Hates mortal creatures, and thinks other courts are weak. They gain amusement from their own cruelty.
Seelie and Unseelie
The general idea is that Seelie are good, holy and pure. Unseelie are considered unholy, tainted and evil. Spring and Summer could be considered Seelie, while Autumn and Winter could be considered Unseelie. While these definitions seem blunt, the reality is not as clear-cut. Unseelie can be kind and take in mortals to provide for them (though they probably consider them “pets” more than anything), while Seelie can play evil pranks without realizing how harmful they can be, and they definitely won’t apologize for it. These terms are complicated, and every Fae is as unique as a snowflake. However, these definitions still might be useful for getting a general idea of how to interact with the Fair Folk.
FAERIE CONDUCT
Whatever you do, don’t be rude to them. Fae are old and powerful creatures, and will take revenge if hurt or insulted. Avoid being nosey when it comes to faerie business, be gracious when accepting gifts or blessings they give you, and never approach them with iron on your person.
Do not lie, as fae can sense truth and will punish liars. Also remember to always keep your promises to them, they expect diligence in others.
Do not say sorry, thank you, or accept any gifts from them. This means you become in debt to the fae, and that is a very bad thing to be. Say “I appreciate this” or something like it instead.
Do not give them your real name. That gives them power over you. You should give them a nickname, alias or title instead.
Do not mention any children, infants or loved ones to them. The Fae love kids, but they have a tendency to steal them and put one of their own in their place. They will also cause misfortune upon your loved ones if mistreated, so it’s best not to mention them at all.
Do not provoke them or invade their space
Don’t call them “the fae” or “fairies” to their face. Say “fair folk” or “good neighbors” instead
Ask if something is a gift or a contract. If it’s a gift, it may be considered rude to not take it
Do not dance with them or accept food or drink from them. This usually ends with you dancing until you die, or being forever tied and abducted into the fae realm.
Mind your words. The Fae are masters of trickery, they’re naturally mischievous in nature. They take things very literally, and even if you don’t break any of these rules explicitly, they could misconstrue your words and mess up a request. Choose your words VERY carefully, especially when asking for help.
How to tell if Faeries are nearby:
Feeling warm tingles across your skin
Things go missing and reappear elsewhere in your home
You see things out the corner of your eyes
You find yourself wanting to participate in childish activities like swinging and skipping
Random floral scented breezes
You have a habit of bringing nature inside
You find yourself wanting to save insects instead of killing them when you find them inside
Faerie circles
You are followed by crows and ravens
Increased animal activity
Shimmers in the air
You hear mysterious giggling
You find large patches of clovers
Faerie Garden Ideas
Thyme is often used for Faerie communication
Heather marks the resting place of faeries
Alyssum is useful in faerie gardens
Buttercups, Columbines, Dianthus/Sweet William, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Peony, Primrose and Rosemary are associated with faeries and are known to invite them
Hawthorn is sacred to faeries, so don’t mess with Hawthorn trees
Hummingbirds and Rabbits are associated with Faeries, so having them in your garden is a good thing
NOTES
Many fae are not humanoid or traditionally “cute”. Do not be alarmed if you see one and it’s not what you expected
Most fae are much larger than you think too
If fae are in your house, they probably won’t hurt you. They likely believe it’s just as much their house as it is yours
Appliances will randomly stop working. Don’t worry about it
Do NOT hurt the spiders and bugs
They will interact with your pets and animals
Do not accept any items from Fae unless it’s explicitly stated to be a gift
If you write about your experiences with them, they may try and stop you. In which case you should stop, since you’re sharing too much about them
When it’s 3AM and you randomly feel bursts of energy, the desire to dance and be productive, you’ve been faeriestruck. This is normal
Play music with constant rhythms for them
Always thank plants when plucking flowers and leaves
Your fae will eventually learn things about you, especially if they live in your house. Do not panic
Befriend your fae or they will never stop bothering you. Just be careful
Planning Out Your Apothecary
We've all seen em'. Those beautiful shelves filled to the brim with pretty jars of herbs and essential oils galore. They're gorgeous, and I'm sure those who have them are capable of fully utilizing them, but that isn't true for everyone. First of all, if you're not growing or foraging a good portion of what you use, you will easily break the bank trying to upkeep such a large inventory. Secondly, if you aren't one who uses a lot of herbs and oils in your practice, many things will simply sit and go to waste. As someone who is easily tempted by the idea of a large apothecary, I had to come up with a way of vetting the herbs I wanted. Here's a little guide I put together to help you do the same.
This is a beginner's guide, and over time, your apothecary will grow and change as your craft changes. Do not take this as a set of rules but rather a set of loose guidelines.
What Do You Want?
Avoid writing down specific plants unless they are an absolute must-have. Try writing down what sort of spells you're going to be doing and their intent. Find a few options for plants that match that intent and can fill that role. While you may end up with a bigger list, the goal here is to determine what is most prudent to source for each category and avoid redundancy your apothecary.
What Do You Use?
What plants have you already used and had good experiences with? This question will get you thinking about what it is you do and don't really do in your practice, thus helping narrow your list a little bit.
What Do You Have?
Your spice cabinet has more than you think when it comes to helpful herbs and spices for magick. Cinnamon? Use it to speed up a spell, bring luck, or prosperity. Black Pepper? But in black salt or in protective workings. Salt? You get the point. These things are easy and comparatively cheap to purchase from the store. Sure, the containers don't look #witchyaesthetic, but that isn't the point here. We are going for functionality first. Other things like fruit peels, cores, seeds, and any other organic matter your throw out should at least be considered for witchcraft.
What Can You Find?
Can you can forage safely, ethically, and legally where you live? Then get out into the great outdoors. Buy a foraging guide for your area and learn about the myriad of plants that grow all around you. Though I recommend not foraging for mushrooms unless you absolutely know what you're doing as that can be quite dangerous. And please learn how to clean and preserve what you forage for as it can easily rot if you're not careful. Do not consume anything you forage unless you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so.
What Can You Grow?
Not all of us have access to the garden of our dreams, but there are at least some things one can grow and use. From simple potted herbs to flower beds, if you can grow it, you can use it. It's also a plus if the plants being grown can double as culinary or medicinal herbs.
What Can You Substitute?
Most likely, you're going to have either exotic or difficult to source herbs left over that you'd like to purchase. But if they are expensive and you aren't going to be using them often, then this is a problem. Try to find a more affordable substitute. For example: if a recipe calls for galangal, ginger can be used in its place. Vanilla extract instead of vanilla pods. Things like that.
What Are You Buying?
Hopefully, you've narrowed down your list enough to where you only have a few items on there that are relatively cheap and simple to source. If you use certain ingredients enough, try purchasing them in bulk as it is less expensive in the long run.
Essential Oils
These are tricky as the good ones tend to be expensive, especially for small bottles. A great way I have found to circumvent this is by making my own oils from herbs and a carrier oil rather than resorting to the essential oil. It may not smell as nice, but they do the job just as well. I mostly use any essential oils I have for giving my homemade oils fragrance (thankfully, it doesn't take much) rather than applying them directly to things like tools or spell candles.
Storage
Ideally, you would be able to use cobalt or amber glass jars to prevent uv rays from coming into contact with your herbs or oils, but those are expensive. Your apothecary may look beautiful on that sun-soaked shelf, but if you are using herbs medicinally or as entheogens, they are going to be less potent as a result. You apothecary should be in a cool, dark place in your home, any cabinet will do really. Glass is preferred for storing herbs and such, so keep those jelly jars with good lids when you finish them. Extra things like oxygen absorbers and silica gel packets may be added to keep them extra fresh, but if the ingredient is purely for spell work, then this isn't necessary.
Baneful Spellwork positive post
There are so many valid, reasonable, understandable things that would warrant a practitioner casting a baneful spell against someone else.
Your biggest ally in a baneful working: GIVE YOUR SUBJECT AN "OUT"
a change in behavior, a sincere apology, returned items. Whatever your reason is for your working, give them a way to break it themselves.
Pavlov that fucker into righting their own wrongs. "If you're honest, genuine, & kind, things will start to go your way again. If you continue in your malice, your life will fall apart."
In my personal practice, I don't follow any bastardized karmic retribution, or a rule of three. I believe that the Universe is a perfect balance of positive & negative forces, and it isn't fond of anything throwing that balance too far off kilter.
Without a "breaker" built in, your spell will eventually start to backfire. And it will backfire in the direction it came from.
If u r a
magical practitioner or witch,
a folk practitioner of any variety,
spirit worker
a disabled witch/practitioner
mentally ill practitioner,
a hellenic polytheist,
or a kemetic polytheist
pls like or rb this!!
Need to expand my circle, both in terms of ppl to follow as well as mutuals to build friendships with!
Reblog if it's okay to start talking to you.
Rapid fire shit I wish people had told me about witchcraft:
Every fucking thing is a spell if you put your mind to it
You can and should bless your medications
Pepper is the best for banishing, especially in the form of pepper spray
Don't trust any man who promotes sex magic...with himself
Powerful witches live and die by arch support
Conversely, plantar fasciitis is one hell of a curse and all it takes to cast it is gifting one pair of cute shoes
Sing while you cleanse - it doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't even have to be real words, but the noise helps drive out bad spirits
Fire IS the cleanser but firefighters uncleanse everything so be fucking careful
Early wiccans made up the bullshit of the Law of 3, the Rede, etc, because they were shitty people who were terrified of being rightfully cursed
Never do a knot spell you can't untie
You can untie any knot spell with scissors
Witchcraft isn't an aesthetic; the most powerful witches don't look like witches and the ones who look most like witches rarely know what the fuck they're doing
Never underestimate the power of a grid
Scrapbook paper will take your spell from 0 to 60
Concrete powder in a gas tank is much more effective than sugar in a gas tank
You can practice any religion, or no religion, and be a witch
Turtles are always a good sign
Crows will be your friend for peanuts, but they WILL eat hummingbirds
Witchcraft is science with some flair
Yeah signs from the universe do exist, but most things aren't Signs(tm)
Ways To Be A Garbage Witch
Look everyone, in These Trying Times we can't always afford things so we gotta make do with what we got. So here's some hot tips to help you become a garbage witch:
Save and use apple seeds, orange seeds, peach pits, cherry pits, etc. to use in your spells.
Make a spirit board/pendulum board out of an empty cardboard box.
Make drawstring pouches out of old clothes.
Use bag strings for binding magic or use them in small drawstring bags.
Shoelaces and drawstrings from old pajamas or sweatpants are fine for knot magic or turning into drawstrings for pouches.
Save glass jars for spell jars.
Study carrion animals, animals that eat garbage, fungus, and the process of decomposition in general. Learn about the importance of biodiversity, and the hazards of oversterilization.
But also study proper sanitation methods, and be aware of biohazards. Don't go living in a house fulla mold or fish through people's garbage for... uhhh... ummm... taglocks. Don't store chicken bones so they'll rot.
If you have a compost bin, write anything you want to "decompose" out of your life on a banana peel. Put the banana peel in the bin.
Learn how to repair broken stuff. (But also learn what you really shouldn't repair for yourself - EG, microwaves - lest you meet with a horrible fate.)
Make charms/talismans by cutting out pictures of things that correspond with your intent and decoupaging them onto wood, chipboard, or layered cardboard.
Make paper mache diety art/statues out of newspaper.
Learn more about crafting with scraps, packaging materials, old magazines, etc. (There's many videos on YouTube!)
Putting Things Under Your pillow
By putting certain things underneath your pillow, you will allow those metaphysical properties to interact with your dreams and being throughout the night when you sleep upon that pillow. Here is a small list of constructs you can put underneath your pillow that will provide you with specific kna, minds states, and physical stimuli throughout the night based on what they are:
Lapis lazuli is placed under your pillow for awareness of your dreams and the vividness of those dreams.
Clear quartz to wake up with more kna after you awake from your sleep.
Bayleaf to have more prophetic dreams.
Chamomile to promote relaxation and good dreams.
Rose petals to bring love into your waking life.
Peppermint to promote relaxation and vivid dreams.
Lavender to promote calm and for you to sleep well.
Anise to prevent nightmares.
Rosemary to prevent nightmares and to bring deep sleep.
Garlic to promote good sleep.
You can put a blade of grass or a leaf underneath your pillow to promote growth and change in your waking life.
Money for wealth and prosperity in your waking life.
A Picture of someone to connect with them better.
A name of someone to connect with them better.
You can put all manner of sigils underneath your pillow to get the effect of that Sigil into your dreams and waking life.
Correspondences for Death (Necrobotany)
FLOWERS
Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits
Roses, to show your love for the deceased
Calendula, for blessings and love
Marigolds, perfect for ancestral worship
Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness, ideal for deceased children
Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration, ideal for deceased lovers
Daisies, also ideal for deceased lovers and lost family members
Tulips, to spread happiness
Carnations, a common funeral flower, especially in France. Used in The Netherlands to remember fallen veterans specifically
Heather, said to conjure ghosts and open portals between worlds. Can be used to heal deceased warriors, as it’s said to only grow where no blood has been shed. Heather also marks the resting places of fairies
Holly, often planted in graveyards to protect both the dead and mourners
Hyacinth, helps souls cross over the veil after death
Bluebell, used to comfort those who are mourning
Cowslip, associated with death and rebirth
HERBS
Lavender, for peace in passing on. Used to heal the dead, aid with divination and dreams, and protect the home.
Thyme, to give peace to those who died in violence. Use to contact both the dead and fairies
Rosemary, for remembrance
Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead
Mugwort, usually used to aid in divination and communication with the dead
Bay, usually used to aid in divination and communication with the dead
Lemon Balm, for peace and healing
Wormwood, to strengthen communication with the dead, as well as for healing and revenge
Basil, used in purification and cleansing rituals, a common symbol of sorrow in Ancient Greece. Use to aid in divination, hedgecrossing and spirit communication
Cinnamon, can amplify divination magic, and was used in the Ancient Egyptian mummification process. It’s commonly associated with spirit and deity work
Dittany of Crete, burned to manifest spirits, also valued as a symbol of love and healing
Fennel, a protective and purifying herb used to prevent spirits from entering your home
Juniper, guards against ghosts and illness, used in healing and purification spells. Juniper berries make good offerings for the dead
Mint, a popular funerary herb in Ancient Greece, also used for healing and protection during travel
Mugwort, used in spirit work
Mullein, can help one see spirits of the dead and the afterlife
Oregano, it was believed that growing oregano on graves ensured the dead were happy
Parsley, has a strong association with the dead, also has protective qualities
St John’s Wort, used in spirit work and divination
Marsh mallow (Althea), associated with death and rebirth, marsh mallow can be used in departing rituals and to honor those who have passed
Foxglove, used for contacting the dead and underworld deities
TREES
Cypress, heavily associated with death and spirits, as well as being sacred to Hades and Persephone. Makes a good offering for the dead
Hawthorn, associated with death, and serves to drive away unfriendly spirits. Was also said to be a portal to the Otherworld and is sacred to fairies, so don’t mess with it
Hickory, associated with mourning and death
Poplar, is sacred to both Zeus and Hades, and represents death and rebirth. Often used for Samhain, ancestral rites, funerals and ceremonies involving the underworld
Willow, a common symbol of death, even being a popular ornament on gravestones. Sacred to both Hades and Hecate, as well as being associated with ghosts and spirits
Yew, represents death and rebirth, and is sacred to Hecate. Runes, Ogham sticks and Ouija boards are commonly made from Yew wood
Elder, used in death rituals and funerals
FRUITS
Apples, a common Irish symbol for the dead
Pomegranates, to represent various Death and Underworld Deities
INCENSE
Myrrh, commonly used in death magic to give off good energy
Frankincense, a traditional incense to offer the dead
Dragon’s Blood, burned to aid in spirit work and protection
Sandalwood, burned to support spirit work, protect a space and consecrate tools
Wormwood, develops psychic powers, carried to provide protection, and hung to ward off malicious spirits
LIQUIDS
Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits
Wine or other alcohol
Juice, namely pomegranate or beet
Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut oil, almond oil, etc.
OTHER
Coins
Grains, especially brown bread
Darkly-colored or Earthy-tone Candles
Foggy Weather
Marsh Water
Snow, especially snow collected from graveyards
Cleaning up graveyards
Songs and Music
Anything personal to the person you’re giving an offering to
DEATH DEITIES
Anubis, Egyptian God of Death, Mummification and the Afterlife
Arawn, Celtic ruler of the Otherworld, Leader of the wild hunt, and God of Death and The Underworld
Baba Yaga, Slavic Goddess of Death and Rebirth
Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Wild as well as Liminality and the transition to the afterlife
Cerridwen, Welsh Goddess of the Moon, Rebirth, Transformation, Death, The Underworld and Magic
Ereshkigal, Mesopotamian Goddess of Death and the Underworld
Hades, Greek God of the Underworld
Hel, Norse Goddess of the Underworld and Death
Morana, Slavic Goddess of Winter and Death
Odin, Norse God of Wisdom, War, Poetry and Death
Osiris, Egyptian God of the Underworld, Death and Resurrection, Fertility and Agriculture
Oya, Yoruba Orisha of Weather, Death and Rebirth, Patron of the Niger river and a Psychopomp
Persephone, Greek Goddess of the Underworld
Santa Muerte, Mexican folk goddess of the Afterlife, Healing and Protection
Thanatos, Greek personification of Death
The Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of War, Magic, Death and Rebirth, Sovereignty and Fate
Veles, Slavic God of The Underworld, Earth, Water, Music, Magic, Trickery, Cattle and Wealth
WHAT TO DO WITH OFFERINGS
Write a message on an herb or flower and burn it to “send” the offering
Leave coins, flowers and herbs on the grave
Pour liquid into the ground, or leave them out in a bowl (make sure it won’t harm the local wildlife)
Leave them out as “standing offerings” for any dead who pass by
“Yet mystery and imagination arise from the same source. This source is called darkness … Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding.” Lao Tzu Art by Anato Finnstark
An Extremely Oversimplified Guide To Medieval Alchemical Theory:
The medieval world was generally divided into three categories: Animals, Minerals, and Vegetables.
People had a solid handle on where vegetables came from. Plants come from seeds. You put them in the earth, give them plenty of air and sunlight, they produce more seeds and eventually they die.
Animals were a bit more complicated. Animals had to have sex. Medieval scholars didn’t know exactly how it worked, but they knew that animals could have sex and give birth. Additionally, it was thought that animals could be “generated,“ literally constructed via recipe like a cake. Many medieval magical texts contain what are essentially crafting recipes for rats or frogs.
Metals though, metals were tricky. Nobody could really figure out where exactly metals came from. They were under the earth, that much was understood, but exactly how and why deposits of ore formed was the center of intense debate among medieval alchemists. There were essentially three main theories:
First, let us establish that Alchemists were working from the Aristotelian view of the world. The world was made of four elements: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. These elements interacted through four causes: Material, Formal, Efficient, and Final.
Sulfur-Mercury Theory: This is the “traditional“ alchemical position pioneered by (the likely legendary) Jabir Ibn-Hayyan, but eventually reached Europe through the 1144 translation of the Book of the Composition of Alchemy. The theory itself posits that when sulfur and mercury are trapped beneath the earth and combined, metals are produced. Which metal is produced is based on the ratio of sulfur to mercury. The more balanced the ratio, the closer the metal would be to gold. This was the generally accepted theory among alchemists for most of the medieval era, but it is important to remember that every alchemist had their own spin on how metal generation worked.
Sulfur-Mercury-Salt Theory: The radical, upstart theory of wild mavericks like Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus, who developed the theory in his text 1530 text, the Opus paramirum. Paracelcus conceptualizes sulfur and mercury not simply as physical substances, but as metaphysical essences necessary to all chemical change. The theory considers all change, not only the creation of metals, to have three components: A sulfur (the combustible element, the fuel which prompts change), a mercury (the thing which is changed), and a salt (the ash, the detritus given off by the change.)
Mercury Alone Theory: The fringe position, though one notably held by John Dee. This theory posits that all metals were simply the result of mercury trapped in the earth and subjected to various forces which “cooked“ it into the metals we know today. Dee specifically believed that it was stellar rays which “cooked” the metals, and that the ore produced was determined by astrology. This theory is also related to the “metallic seed“ theory of metals, which conceptualizes mercury as the seedbed into which tiny yet indestructible “seeds“ of metal can be planted, eventually transforming the mercury into the desired metal. This theory was actually tested and conclusively disproved by Sir Issac Newton, who dissolved metals in powerful acid and distilled the mixture to see if any “metallic seeds“ were left behind.
What the Living Do, Marie Howe
Written for her brother, John Howe, who died of complications of AIDS
full poem:
Johnny, the kitchen sink has been clogged for days, some utensil probably fell down there. And the Drano won’t work but smells dangerous, and the crusty dishes have piled up
waiting for the plumber I still haven’t called. This is the everyday we spoke of. It’s winter again: the sky’s a deep, headstrong blue, and the sunlight pours through
the open living-room windows because the heat’s on too high in here and I can’t turn it off. For weeks now, driving, or dropping a bag of groceries in the street, the bag breaking,
I’ve been thinking: This is what the living do. And yesterday, hurrying along those wobbly bricks in the Cambridge sidewalk, spilling my coffee down my wrist and sleeve,
I thought it again, and again later, when buying a hairbrush: This is it. Parking. Slamming the car door shut in the cold. What you called that yearning.
What you finally gave up. We want the spring to come and the winter to pass. We want whoever to call or not call, a letter, a kiss—we want more and more and then more of it.
But there are moments, walking, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the window glass, say, the window of the corner video store, and I’m gripped by a cherishing so deep
for my own blowing hair, chapped face, and unbuttoned coat that I’m speechless: I am living. I remember you.
