mother death & the maiden

to uncover beauty and purpose both despite and because we are all born, and we all die - lucy kalanithi

[aqua-regia009]

Skull Wearing a Wreath of Flowers (c.1874) by Thomas Satterwhite Noble

[havencraft-deactivated20200917]

“Don’t Work with Death!”

“Don’t work with death, because then you invite it into your house.”

Death is already in my house. Death is everywhere. Death is what decays the plant matter that feeds my garden. Death is what feeds the herbs I use in my spells, for each grows from what died before it.

Death is what feeds my family - death of plants, the death of animals. I would not disrespect the spirits of that which feeds us by ignoring their sacrifice. 

Death is the veil between my ancestors and myself, keeping them at rest and then acting as the gate for them to step into their next life.

When I do hospice work and sit with someone who is accepting their approaching death, I don’t tell them death is something to fear or avoid. I tell them death is the friend that walked beside them, every step of their life, maintaining the balance of the world, and waiting for them with open arms, to escort them to rebirth. 

“Don’t work with death!” 

I would not ignore life’s partner, not for arrogance or fear or ignorance. When I go to my own, I want to greet death with respect, acceptance, and gratitude. 

[mother-underground]

Persephone’s feast

it’s no wonder to me that pomegranates are the fruit of the goddess of death and flowers. the way the red juice pools beneath the rind and the jewel-like avrils that burst against your tongue are both beautiful and, subtly, unsettling. and what a delicious devotion they make!

[horrorandhalloween]

[1000drawings]

life after death  by Justin McElroy    

[peelingmandarins]

Antigonick (Sophokles) trans. Anne Carson

[peashooter85]

Tombstones of Ancient Roman Dogs

Aeolidis tumulum festivae cerne catellae, quam dolui inmodice raptam mihi praepete fato.

Behold the tomb of Aeolis, the cheerful little dog, whose loss to fleeting fate pained me beyond measure.

Raeda[r]um custos numquam latravit inepte. nunc silet et cineres vindicat um- bra suos.

This guard of the coaches never barked unsuitably. Now he is silent and his shade protects his ashes.

Quam dulcis fuit ista quam benigna quae cum viveret in sinu iacebat somni conscia semper et cubilis o factum male Myia quod peristi latrares modo si quis adcubaret rivalis dominae licentiosa o factum male Myia quod peristi altum iam tenet insciam sepulcrum nec sevire potes nec insilire nec blandis mihi morsib(us) renides.

How sweet and friendly she was! While she was alive she used to lie in the lap, always sharing sleep and bed. What a shame, Midge, that you have died! You would only bark if some rival took the liberty of lying up against your mistress. What a shame, Midge, that you have died! The depths of the grave now hold you and you know nothing about it. You cannot go wild nor jump on me, and you do not bare your teeth at me with bites that do not hurt.

Portavi lacrimis madidus te nostra catella, quod feci lustris laetior ante tribus. ergo mihi, Patrice, iam non dabis osculla mille nec poteris collo grata cubare meo. tristis marmorea posui te sede merentem et iunxi semper manib(us) ipse meis, morib(us) argutis hominem simulare paratam; perdidimus quales, hei mihi, delicias. tu dulcis, Patrice, nostras attingere mensas consueras, gremio poscere blanda cibos, lambere tu calicem lingua rapiente solebas quem tibi saepe meae sustinuere manus, accipere et lassum cauda gaudente frequenter

Bedewed with tears I have carried you, our little dog, as in happier circumstances I did fifteen years ago. So now, Patrice, you will no longer give me a thousand kisses, nor will you be able to lie affectionately round my neck. You were a good dog, and in sorrow I have placed you in a marble tomb, and I have united you forever to myself when I die. You readily matched a human with your clever ways; alas, what a pet we have lost! You, sweet Patrice, were in the habit of joining us at table and fawningly asking for food in our lap, you were accustomed to lick with your greedy tongue the cup which my hands often held for you and regularly to welcome your tired master with wagging tail.

Source: Electronic Archive of Greek and Latin Epigraphy

[pastelbrachypelma]

I just thought I’d let you know, OP, that I am now SOBBING over dogs that have been dead for hundreds of years.

[amuseoffyre]

“His owner has buried the dog Parthenope, that he played with, in gratitude for this happiness (Mutual) love is rewarding, like the one for this dog: Having been a friend to my owner, I have deserved this grave. Looking at this, find yourself a worthy friend who is both ready to love while you are still alive and also will care for your body (when you die).”

Transcription & grave in Archaeological Museum - Istanbul

[systlin]

The council has convened and agreed that these were all the goodest dogs. 

[death-witch-envy]

Death Witch Altar Ideas

As with all my posts, feel free to add to or ignore any of the ideas listed.

^ one of my death witch altars

Bones - animal bones can be scavenged or bought online at certain shops. Make sure to check the laws regarding animal bones in your region/country. Usually, bones placed on an altar are used for spirit communication or dedication to a deity.

Representations of death - these include fake bones, fake blood, skeleton statues, artistic depictions, cake coffins, etc. If it helps get you in the mood for death work, it’ll improve the energy of the altar.

Family heirlooms - if you do ancestor work, these will help you honor and connect to said ancestors. This can also include pictures of lost loved ones.

Items that used to belong to lost pets - should you want to keep in contact with their spirit.

Toys or dedication to child spirits - should you work with them. This is for both communication and respect.

Fake headstone or coffin - for the souls who were never buried, or have effaced graves. Again, not needed, just an idea for those who work with them.

Preserved plants or insects - these work in same way that bones do.

Furs - animal furs make great altar cloths or bone substitutes. Taxidermy can also make a fantastic altar decoration.

Graveyard dirt - if you like to work with the spirits you connect through the dirt. I keep me graveyard dirt somewhere else because I can’t handle hearing souls talk to it all the time, but it’s up to the user.

Offering bowl - good for spirits, ancestors, and deities you may work with. List of offerings for the dead here.

Fireproof bowl - I’m surprised how many people don’t reference this, even in other crafts. A fireproof bowl acts as an incense holder, scrying bowl, and a mixer for magical powders.

A spoon - if you make a lot of powders or often handle graveyard dirt. There are some skull-shaped and otherwise decorated spoons sold online if you want to get fancy.

Incense holder - should you ever burn incense for offerings, cleansing, or enhancing spiritual consciousness.

Candles - black, grey or white are your best bet for death work. You don’t need these, but they’re great for mood setting.

Crystals - a list of crystals for death witches can be found here by @lunaesteria. I personally recommend bloodstone, or a clear quartz to prevent mixing the energy of the altar from other energies in the room. 

Divination tools - if that aids you in spirit communication or shadow work.

A wand - if you have one. Great wand material for death witches includes yew, cypress, birch, oak, and poplar. Some people use crystal wands or bone wands as well.

A mirror - or black mirror, for scrying.

Water - to feed the spirits of the dead, or even for safety if you’re using fire.

Mortar and pestle - for grinding herbs in powders and smoke blends. 

Statue of death deity/spirit - should you have or want one.

Something you use for grounding - I use a bone, but you can also use a crystal, necklace, pendulum, whathaveya. Oftentimes, death work requires spirit communication and trance-like states, so the grounding item can help you return to your usual state.

A jar of calming herbs - if you have many different spirits or jars of graveyard dirt on your altar, it may be good to have a calming herb or spell jar to keep the spirits feeling content. I use a jar of rose petals; this is especially useful for those susceptible to spirit communication.

Smoke blends or flying ointments - should you use them often.

Reference books or materials - including but not limited to family trees, ancestor recordings, spell books, death and dying guidebooks, and folklore.

Protection candle or sigil - for protecting the altar, and any spirit that dwells there.

Anything hand crafted - including containers, painted jars, etc. These can be devoted to spirits, and make your altar feel more special and powerful.

Got more ideas? Feel free to add on! Hope this helps!!! Thanks to the anon who requested this °+(*´∀｀)ｂ°+°

[death-witch-envy]

Trees in Cemeteries, Part 2

Part 1 begins here.

Last time, we talked about trees’ associations with funerals and symbolism for being planted in graveyards. Now, I want to get more complicated and talk about how the tree’s spirits can relate to death work.

Most of us know that ‘tree spirits’ exist in several cultures. Here are just a few:

Dryads, shy tree spirits in Greek mythology

Nang Mai, ghosts in Thailand that haunt the local trees (most notable being Nang Ta-khian) 

Anito spirits, more specifically diwata (non-human), spirits inhabiting trees and other aspects of nature in Filipino folklore

Kodoma are kind spirits who inhabit trees in Japanese mythology

Penghou, dog/pig hybrid tree spirits in Chinese mythology

This said, most cultures are not as simple as ‘trees = specific spirit’ in this manner. Many cultures had different spirits inhabiting different kinds of trees. Some folklore describes other spirits inhabiting trees, even spirits of the dead. With all these varying accounts, how do we approach trees in cemeteries?

Based on my research, I have found that tree spirits can relate to the dead or afterlife in one of four specific ways:

The trees inhabit the afterlife. According to the Egyptian Book of the Dead, sycamores grew in a soul’s blissful afterlife. In Greek mythology, asphodel grew in the underworld, although the Romans asserted it was cypress instead. 

The trees link the souls to the afterlife, or help them travel there. The most popular example of this is the Norse tree Yggdrasil, which branches into the heavens and roots into the underworld. (Some sources say this tree is the ash, though this cannot be confirmed.) The Maya believed that celiba trees were direct portals into the afterlife. 

The trees contain souls of the dead, either to send them to the afterlife or simply as an afterlife. This can overlap with #2 depending on the folklore. In Celtic mythology, for example, elm trees contain spirits that guard graves and help souls travel to the afterlife. Lithuanian and Latvian folklore has accounts listing trees said to contain souls of the dead. These are either oak, apple or birch, depending on the source. 

The trees originate from chthonic spirits. This one is less common, and but still a possibility. The best example I can give is that when Kerberus was brought up to the earth by Heracles, his spittle is said to give birth to the Aconite. Trees directly resulting from death, as listed in Part 1, can be placed in this category and in #3.

Looking through this information, it’s clear that trees in cemeteries should not be overlooked in spirit work. The spirit within the tree can guard the dead, contain the dead, or link the dead to the afterlife, depending on the tree and its role in the cemetery. 

This also broadens the use for tree bark and leaves as tools in death work. An amulet made of elm, for example, can help the magician cross over into the afterlife. Asphodel can be given as an offering to the dead, or an aid to communicate with them. 

To work with a tree spirit inside a cemetery, you may approach it similarly to how one approaches a grave: give offerings, connect to its energy, and listen. The tree may give you information about the cemetery, or aid you in your magic. I had one tree guard my tools when I accidentally left them near there, and there were still there when I returned. That actually sparked my interest in working with trees in cemeteries. 

Offerings for Trees in Cemeteries:

You may use similar offerings as those for the dead, or ones catered towards tree spirits.

coins

berries

fresh water

ground eggshells (good for the soil)

coffee grounds

herbs such as sage, lavender, and mugwort

breads or cakes

singing or other music

To Work with the Tree:

meditate beneath the tree

connect with the tree’s energy

speak to the tree, and listen

as with graveyard dirt, do not take any piece of the tree without permission

Although working with tree spirits inside a cemetery isn’t necessary to death witchcraft, it can certainly enhance your relationship to the dead and to that specific cemetery. I hope you got some great ideas from this. 

[death-witch-envy]

Skulls in Death Witchcraft

I want to correct a statement I made on my blog earlier. I don’t remember when I made it, but I’m positive that I did. I said that skulls work simply as other bones and connecting to death energy in death witchcraft and necromancy, which is blatantly not true. I’m sorry about that. Please allow me to correct this by sharing what I’ve learned about some uses of skulls in death magic:

A skull may house a conjured ghost, and allow that spirit to speak through the body of the skull. Some sources will offer incense upon the skull to help this take effect.

Related to the first point, a sealing spell may be cast upon the skull to prevent it from lying or deceiving. This spell involves sealing the mouth with graveyard dirt and drawing an engraving on it with iron. 

Skulls may be used to dispel or scare off ghosts. A libation poured from the skull of a black dog is used in one such banishing ritual. 

Many rituals include using a skull to prevent one from grinding their teeth during sleep. Some believed that this happened because a dead family member tried to communicate through their relative in sleep. The sufferer may either kiss it seven and seven times, or kiss it seven times and lick it seven times, over the span of four nights.

Skulls are used as summoning ingredients and basis for the conjurer’s power. Sometimes, an incantation will be spoken over a skull. Other times, a libation or conjuring oil will be spilt over the skull.

The vague “skull” is used in most of these spells, implying that any skull may work. Few specify which skull is needed.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk

[deathandmysticism]

[deathandmysticism]

An Essay on Man, Death and Life Contrasted, Bowles & Carve, 18th century

[deathandmysticism]

[deathandmysticism]

Demons confront a dying man with his sins, 15th century

[leucrotta]

f.oxes and autumn just sort of go together, you know?

[possiblynya]

a little autobiographical piece about the internet

[everydayanth]

This is good.

[historyarchaeologyartefacts]

Two Assyrian soldiers forcing Babylonian captive to grind bones of his family, 7th - 6th c. BCE.[2045x2046]. From Nineveh palace.

[fallenswift-deactivated20191017]

A gorgeous swift (Apus apus) I found today.

This bird clearly was unlucky, flying few thousands kilometres back home only to die just before the destination. I can’t be sure what happened to it. He has lost some feathers which could suggest predator attack, but fact it was uneaten and it’s skull was split in half makes me think it had died due to falling down.

Disclaimer: use gloves when handling dead animals. I did exception here as it was very fresh but mainly as I ran out of gloves in general…

[mother-underground]

Mourning and Preserving Pets

Hi folks! I'm hoping to pitch a piece about taxidermy/alternative methods of preserving pet remains for my favorite death-positive blog. I'll be exploring the reasons that these methods are seen as "weird" or "creepy" by the mainstream populace and why that stereotype is...just not true.

If you've had a pet taxidermied or preserved in any way besides burial/cremation, I'd love to talk to you about the experience!

If you're planning on preserving your pet, your thoughts would be valuable!

If you help people preserve their pets in any way besides burial/cremation, I would love to learn more about your work!

If you work as a taxidermist and have opinions about stereotypes, please share 'em!

"Pet" can be interpreted as any animal you had a bond with, not just dogs or cats. If you’re okay with being interviewed, please contact me at [email protected] or DM me.

If the piece is accepted, I will be sure to share the link with all of you. Thank you!