Witch Nurse

Note My Magick does not, in fact, scare me. this is my pagan blog. solitary practitioner eclectic. Ask me anything, I would love to hear from any one needing help. I love crystal magick, herbal stuff, candle magick and kitchen witchery.

[a-gnosis]

Then she (Maia) bore a child who was a shrewd and coaxing schemer, a cattle-rustling robber, and a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, and a gate-keeper, soon destined to show forth glorious deeds among the immortal gods.

The Homeric Hymn to Hermes, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis.

“Hermes is a god with a wide range of functions, which nevertheless boil down to one essential idea: the ability to negotiate boundaries and bridge gaps. […] He is even able to traverse that most awesome divide between life and death; it is Hermes who leads the souls of the dead to the underworld. His ability to journey anywhere makes him an ideal messenger, a role he often undertakes in myth on the behalf of Zeus. Naturally, he is the god of heralds and diplomats. An important skill for these professions is that of speaking well, and thus he is also a god of language. Sometimes, though, a herald might find himself in circumstances where it is preferable to smooth over a difficult situation with words, even if the truth might have to suffer a bit. Hermes knows how to deceive with words. Indeed, Hermes knows how to deceive, period; he is a trickster figure of the first order, much like Prometheus and the Norse Loki.”

The Orphic Hymns, translation, introduction, and notes by Apostolos N. Athanassakis and Benjamin M. Wolkow.

[3rdeyechakra]

The muses have inspired artist for centuries just like how women inspire us today.

[falernian]

Types of “restless” dead, relatively active ghosts likely to manifest themselves (and convenient for magical exploitation):

1. Aoroi (from αωροσ, untimely): “those dead before their time.” Those cheated of their full stint of life bitterly stayed back to haunt the land of the living of which they had been deprived. In theory anyone who died of anything other than of natural causes in old age could generate a ghost restless qua aoros, although as a class aoroi tended to be conceptualized primarily as the ghosts of children or babies. 2. Bi(ai)othanatoi (from βιαιος and θανατος, violent and death): “those dead by violence.” The battle-dead and executed criminals, although murder victims and suicides provide the bitterest ghosts in this class. 3. Agamoi (from αγαμος, unmarried): “those dead before marriage.” Both male and female ghosts could be assigned this category, although the female ones were regarded as particularly bitter, insofar as marriage and the motherhood consequent upon it were a woman’s defining rights in antiquity. 4. Ataphoi (from αταφος, unburied): “those deprived of burial.” Whatever the circumstances of death, a ghost could not achieve rest without the due funeral rights. These were importantly distinct from the mere insertion of the corpse into a hole in the ground, and indeed the concealment of a dead body in precisely this way is often presented as the chief obstacle to the peace of its soul.

[Daniel Ogden, Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds]

[terpsikeraunos]

ancient greek adjectives about fate

αἴσιμος (aisimos) appointed by the will of the gods, destined

δύσμορος (dusmoros) ill-fated

ἐξαίσιος (exaisios) beyond what is ordained or fated

θεόμορος (theomoros) destined by the gods, imparted by them

κακόποτμος (kakopotmos) ill-fated, ill-starred

μοιρίδιος (moiridios) destined, doomed

μοιρόκραντος (moirokrantos) ordained by destiny, fated

μόρσιμος (morsimos) appointed by fate, destined

πρόμοιρος (promoiros) before the destined term, i.e. untimely, of death, of persons, doomed to untimely death

[homehearthandheart]

Tasty Tuesday / 5 September 2017

Welcome, Devotees!

Looking to spice up your devotional work?  Try one of these:

Deity Devotion: Make a nice drink for your Gods and Spirits.  It could be a hot cup of coffee or tea, some cool, clean water, or a fancy cocktail–but make a drink for Them, and a drink for yourself, and sit with Them for a bit while you sip.  Maybe this can be a good time to talk to Them, or contemplate Them, or plan out an upcoming ritual or holy day.

Build Others Up: If you have a friend that you practice or discuss your religion with, get together with them and make food together to offer to your respective Gods and Spirits.  If you can’t meet with them today, make plans to do this.

Go Outside! Look up local farmers’ markets, or other places in your area that sell locally-grown food.  Eating this food, and offering it to the Gods and Spirits, is a fantastic way to connect to the spirits-of-place where you live.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar:

Today is the 14th of the lunar month. With a full moon occurring at some point around this time, it is a good time for prayers to Selene and other Deities with lunar connections!

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Kronos; To Rhea; and To the Titans.

The Greater Eleusinia starts tomorrow and runs through next Tuesday.

Daily Reminder: If you know of any resources you’d like us to incorporate on our site, or any sites/projects you’d like us to signal boost, send us an ask or fanmail!

[non-bunnary]

*Takes deep breath*

Hades is not Hell

Hades is just where people go after they die there’s no suffering no fire it’s just where you go unless you’re really fuckin bad then they chuck you into Tartarus

Stop applying Western Christianity symbolism to a mutitheistic religion that isn’t even remotely similar I’m begging you please

[non-bunnary]

*Takes deep breath*

Hades is not Hell

Hades is just where people go after they die there’s no suffering no fire it’s just where you go unless you’re really fuckin bad then they chuck you into Tartarus

Stop applying Western Christianity symbolism to a mutitheistic religion that isn’t even remotely similar I’m begging you please

[pftones3482]

Three different parts of the realm of Hades:

Fields of Punishment. For murderers, rapists, people with no good redeeming qualities, people who had gone against the gods (Sisyphus and Tantalus come to mind).

Fields of Asphodel/Asphodel Meadows. The basic crowd, the largest bunch. People who were an even mix of good and bad. Unremarkable, nothing happens there, you just wander around for eternity.

Elysium/Elysian Fields. For the pure of heart, the sacrificial ones, the people who died heroes. Within Elysium is the Isle of the Blest, or the place for those who chose rebirth and ended up in Elysium three times when they died. Very exclusive, very small, basically the equivalent of Eden.

Different myths say different things about who goes where, but those three places are always the same.

Tartarus was generally reserved for monsters and titans, though I’m sure some myths would argue for evil humans being thrown there as well.

Hades is the RULER of the Underworld. Not the Underworld itself.

[achangingaltar]

The 64 Adorations for Hermes -

I adore you, friend of man,

I adore you, traveler and guardian of travelers,

I adore you, silver-tongued speaker,

I adore you, guide to the final destination,

I adore you, swift-footed,

I adore you, who carries the kerykeion,

I adore you, mountain-born,

I adore you, Maia’s son,

I adore you, who restored Persephone to her mother’s side,

I adore you, light-fingered,

I adore you, who lent pédila to Perseus,

I adore you, father of Pan,

I adore you, whom no lock may resist,

I adore you, master of ravens,

I adore you, given to playing tricks,

I adore you, who led away Apollo’s cattle,

I adore you, who waits at the crossroads,

I adore you, who stands outside every door,

I adore you, whose scepter brings sleep,

I adore you, thief at the gates,

I adore you, patron of wrestlers,

I adore you, escort for the dead,

I adore you, creator of the lyre,

I adore you, who gave moly to Odysseus,

I adore you, represented by piles of stones,

I adore you, Apollo’s brother,

I adore you, lucky one,

I adore you, who brings the word of Zeus to man,

I adore you, doom of Argus,

I adore you, foe of watchdogs,

I adore you, who proclaimed his own innocence,

I adore you, thoughtful one,

I adore you, who wins every race,

I adore you, most cunning,

I adore you, who knows every language,

I adore you, speaker with bees,

I adore you, deathless one,

I adore you, who receives the sacrifices of travelers,

I adore you, son of Zeus,

I adore you, who marks every boundary,

I adore you, who guided Priam to safety,

I adore you, who sang of his own cleverness,

I adore you, who watches over the markets,

I adore you, protector of shepherds,

I adore you, who bestows charm,

I adore you, arbiter and interpreter,

I adore you, great-grandfather to Odysseus,

I adore you, creator of fire,

I adore you, who enters and leaves Hades’ realm at will,

I adore you, lord of Arcadia,

I adore you, who gives luck to the luckless,

I adore you, patron of public speakers,

I adore you, who excels at every contest,

I adore you, who sends prophecy in dreams,

I adore you, who turned Battos to stone,

I adore you, whose voice is echoed in the rooster’s crow,

I adore you, who transformed the tortoise,

I adore you, who gifted Pandora with lies,

I adore you, who speaks in dreams,

I adore you, crafty one,

I adore you, who maps out the stars,

I adore you, wanderer along every road,

I adore you, who spoke before his first day ended,

I adore you, my lord and friend.

- Jennifer, In a Hawk’s ‘I’

[abbietheowl-deactivated20170822]

The Greek Goddesses of Mount Olympus

[batboyblog]

just something full of goodness. 

[dodekatheismresources]

i've heard that it's rude to worship deities outside of their contexts and traditions, but what do you do if a deity had a very small cult following back in the day? is it ok to create your own traditions, as long as they're respectful? also, is it ok to worship only one deity?

There is a lot here that I want to talk about, so I hope you don’t mind the long post.

“I’ve heard that it’s rude to worship deities outside of their contexts and traditions, but what do you do if a deity had a very small cult following back in the day?”

Yes, it would be a bit rude to worship deities outside their contexts. You wouldn’t worship a Kemetic deity in a Hellenic fashion. I’m going to answer this from a Hellenic polytheist point. Even if a deity had a very small cult, it wouldn’t be impossible to worship them in a Hellenic polytheism fashion, even in a recon slanted fashion. The general (broad) formula for recon worship is: cleansing and purifying yourself and the space, lighting incense and/or a candle, saying a hymn to Hestia, saying a hymn to the deities involved, giving libations, thanksgivings, hymn to Hestia once again, and then exstinguishing the candle. If the deity doesn’t have a hymn, you can write one yourself.

Which leads me to your next question: “is it ok to create your own traditions, as long as they’re respectful?”

You can, of course, incorporate your own methods and change things. That’s just a very broad (and flexible) formula I gave you. Many websites or people may have some of those things changed or moved around, or involve their own steps. What I gave you would be more recon slanted, but there are revivalists who use more modern tools and ways to worship the Theoi. Some people may only give Hestia the hymn once, others may just say hymns to the deities they want to involve, some may not give a libation and just give offerings. It really depends on how you personally want to go about it.

“is it ok to worship only one deity?” 

This is a bit difficult to answer, because there’s a lot of factors that come into play and also what you mean by ‘worship only one deity’. 

- It will depend on your flavor of Hellenic polytheism. Recons tend to try to respectfully worship the main Olympians plus a few others, a lot of this is done for festivals or some Hellenic polytheists have incorporated worshiping the main deities into their weekly schedule.

- That being said, you don’t have to have shrines for all the main Theoi if that’s what you’re worried about. I personally have the Hearth atlar, where I worship the other Theoi at, and then a shrine for Apollo for His specific worship.

- Just acknowledging the other Theoi would be a good idea, if you find you don’t have the time to worship them like you would with one specific deity. Like I said earlier, many of us worship the other Theoi who we’re not devoted to on their respectful festival days. 

- Worshiping the other Theoi could be just reciting their hymns and giving a libation to them. You don’t have to have a special relationship with all the Theoi, but just giving the proper respect to them as a whole can be considered worship.

- You don’t necessarily have to worship the main Theoi everyday like you might for the one deity. I don’t do big rituals often unless I know I can give the time and energy it requires. But I still do small things for the Theoi throughout my day, and give Apollo a bit more of my time by just buying Him flowers, placing them on His shrine, and then either say a prayer or hymn and then I go about my day. It’s just as simple as that.

So, in summary…. it’d be very hard to just worship one deity without at least acknowleding the other Theoi and recognizing them. If I were you, I would at least give a libation every now and then, and a hymn.We are called Hellenic polytheists, afterall. But it’s not.. impossible either. BaringTheAegis also wrote a post on it before, which you might find to also resonate with your question here.

[sylvaetria]

Resources for Magic Wands and Wand Making

Updated: March 30th, 2016

Please note: not all of the resources provided have been read thoroughly by the poster; take any information within these articles with a grain of salt, and use what you find at your own discretion.

[Crystal Wands: The Making & Using] *

[How to Make a Magick Wand] *

[How to Make a Wand] *

[It’s All in the Wrist – Some Wand Basics] *

[Magical Properties of Trees and Specific Woods] *

[Magical Properties of Wood and Tree Magic] *

[Magical Properties of Wood for Wands] *

[Magik Wand] *

[Major Uses of the Wand] *

[Making a Wand]

[Making Your Own Wand] *

[Pros and Cons of Handmade Wands] (an ask)

[Tips for Wands] (an ask)

[Tutorial - Wands]

[W is for Wand] *

[Wand]

[Wand Rundown: How to Use, Care for, and Pick a Wand]

[Wandlore: Magical Properties of Trees]

[Wands]

[Wands: Properties]

[Wands: The Basics]

[Witchcraft Terms and Tools - Wand] *

* = external links / resources

[View Post on Blog] | [Spell and Resource Lists // rebloggable]

[pomegranateandivy-deactivated20]

Hellenic Polytheism: Priesthood

I feel like this post has been a long time coming, and I’m honestly really relieved to have all of this in one place where it’s easy to see historical differences as well as lay out what the actual expectations and means of priesthood are.

First things First, let’s start with the most common Q&As I’ve gotten. 

Then I’ll talk about some of the differences between a clergy member, and a devotee or another worshiper. 

I’m going to talk about modern responsibilities of clergy members in Hellenism. 

Next I’ll break down different clergy positions, and their responsibilities, historically speaking. 

Then we’ll talk about historical requirements for being a clergy member for the theoi. We’ll also discuss ‘term limits’ and such here. 

I’m going to share some neat historical writing about clergy members, that’s not necessarily relevant to this post, but cool none-the-less. 

Finally, I’ll share some info about modern methods of becoming a clergy member for the theoi.

 So, let’s get started, cause this is gonna be a long post :)

Keep reading

[pomegranateandivy-deactivated20]

Hellenic Polytheism 101 and up as of 7/7/16

As always you can find the most recent links on my page http://pomegranateandivy.tumblr.com/hellenicworship, when I add new posts they’ll go up there, not on these posts since it’s impossible to update reblogs of them.

Hellenic Polytheism 101: Getting Started

Hellenic Polytheism 102: Fallow Times and Dealing with Them

Hellenic Polytheism 103: Offerings

>>>>>>>What I Offer, When, and How

>>>>>>>What Activities I Devote to the Theoi, and How

Hellenic Polytheism 104: Shrines, Altars, and Alternatives

>>>>>>>What’s on My Shrines and Altars

Pillars of Hellenism 202: Miasma and Cleansing

>>>>>>>How, When, and Why I Cleanse Miasma

Pillars of Hellenism 203: Arete

Pillars of Hellenism 204: Eusebia and Kharis

>>>>>>>How and When I Pray

Pillars of Hellenism 205: Xenia

Pillars of Hellenism 206: Sophia

Hellenic Polytheism 210: Moral and Ethical Guidelines

Hellenic Rites and Festivals 300: Food and Drink

Hellenic Rites and Festivals 301: Births

Hellenic Rites and Festivals 302: Weddings

Hellenic Rites and Festivals 303: Burial and Funeral Rites

Hellenic Polytheism 304: Divination

Hellenic Polytheism 400: Local Cultus

Hellenic Polytheism 401: Mystery Cultus

Hellenic Polytheism 402: Priesthood

If you have something specific you’d like to know about then let me know, and I’ll see what I can do. I really enjoy putting these posts together. 

[seer0frage]

Prosperity magic

This is a little candle/jar combo I put together to draw more prosperity and abundance.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Jar with a screw-on lid

ground basil, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg

a citrine stone

a clear quartz crystal

a green candle

something to carve runes into the candle

green thread/cord/embroidery floss

a charm that represents prosperity (I used a little pentacle, but it can be a little purse charm, something sparkly, a blinged-out dollar sign, etc)

the Ten of Pentacles card from your tarot deck of choice

Set up your ritual space in whatever way you choose.

Add the herbs in there in whatever quantities you feel appropriate, depending on the size of the jar. As you put the ingredients into the jar, focus on what they are there for, and say it out loud.

Basil- success Cinnamon- prosperity  Ginger- money Nutmeg-  luck Natural citrine- banish negative energy Quartz- to cleanse and balance

Once you have all the ingredients in the jar, chant “Luck, prosperity, money, success” as you go about the rest of the steps.

Take your carving implement and carve the runes Fehu (money), Uruz (manifestation), Wunjo (prosperity) and Berkanan (growth) into the candle before lighting it and carefully sprinkling the flame with a pinch of the herb mixture.

Set the candle down on top of the tarot card. I used the Ten of Pentacles because it’s the card of physical security. In doing this magic, I want to make sure all my needs are taken care of. The Ten of Pentacles is a card of wealth and permanence so it’s an excellent choice.

Keep the candle burning for a little while, sitting in top of the card. Repeat daily. :) May you want for nothing, may you have all you need, and may you have enough to share <3

[pomegranateandivy-deactivated20]

So this question might be overwhelming, but how many types of Nymphs, or other greek nature spirits, are there? What all are they called?(or can you link me somewhere to read about them)

So nature spirits in Hellenism are actually pretty neat. If it’s an aspect of nature, it’s pretty much either got at least one nymph, daemon, deity, or something associated with it. Just to put that into perspective, here are some different types of named nymphs.

The Aurai (breezes)

The Asteriae (stars)

The Hesperides (nymphs of sunset)

The Hyades (celestial nymphs of the constellation Aquarius)

Pleiades (yup, like the constellation)

The Nephelai (clouds)

Alseides (nymphs of glens and groves)

Auloniades (nymphs of pastures)

Leimakides (nymphs of meadows)

Napaeae (mountain valleys)

Oreads (nymphs of grottoes)

Anthousai (flower nymphs)

Dryades (nymphs associated with trees)

Hamadryades (oak nymphs)

Daphnaeae (laurel tree nymphs)

Meliades (apple tree nymphs)

Nereids (ocean nymphs who are the daughters of Nereus)

Haliai (nymphs of shore lines)

Naiads (fresh water nymphs)

Crinaeae (nymphs of fountains)

Eleionomae (nymphs from wetlands)

Limnades (nymphs who reside in lakes)

Pagaeae (nymphs who belong to springs)

Potameides (river nymphs)

Oceanids (ocean nymphs who are daughters of Oceanus)

You’ve also got stuff like the Harpies though, that aren’t really nymphs, but are spirits of storm winds. And theAnemoi, who are the four named winds,Boreas the North-Wind, Zephryos (Zephyrus) the West, Notos (Notus) the South, and Euros (Eurus) the East.

You even have titans who are associated with aspects of nature, like Eos who’s the dawn, Selene the moon, ect…. 

And then there’s the primordial deities. Gaea, Oceanus, the Ourea, Uranus, and more.

As unhelpful as it may sound, Theoi.com is going to be your best place to start. It’s a lot to dig through and a lot of stuff you can learn about. I suggest using their custom search to look for specific things you’re interested in.

[skepticaloccultist]

Books for Fledgling Witches

I receive an extraordinary amount of letters inquiring about where a young person should start out on the path with no available guide. It is disappointing that we no longer have great schools of magic as we once did at Salamanca and Wittenburg. Yet given the dark times ahead such a public presence as these would be mostly ill advised.

Needless to say as a recluse I have little desire to reply to these inquiries and leave them unanswered, much to the consternation of those looking for answers. In particular it seems that a reading list, something in the way of a syllabus, is being requested.

Having given the matter some thought, and looking at the available choices, I am struck with the lack of real contemporary introductory texts that exist. Much of the lists I have found online offer little more than a best seller list of mid 20th century new age occult garbage. Scott Cunningham nonsense that overlooks or downplays historically important herbs, ham fisted rituals cobbled together mostly from grimoire sources passing off watered down ceremonial magic as sensationalized “witch tradition”. Plus, of course, the endless reams of Wiccan occult fanfic. Publishers were more interested in your cash than giving out any real advise in the 1960-80s.

So I have gathered together a list of six works that I feel a person at the early stages of the craft, seeking guidance, could use as a set of foundation texts. These books are not listed here for the more practiced and able, who memorize long tracks of dusty manuscripts with ease and whose Latin and Greek are on point. This list is for those who find themselves in isolated places looking to find a path to discovery in an all too mundane world.

In any book the true value is in its bibliography. Each book should give you a list of the books it references, thereby leading you down a path to the root of the ideas presented. Every book like a stepping stone along the path. Dig well past the first few pages of these books, and remember that no book is a substitute for a regular relationship with a bit of isolated nature - a meadow, forest or shore in which to learn to understand the landscape and listen to its wisdom. Even better if you haul the books out into the wilderness to read.

From this list one can move up to more advanced and varied reading, particularly in the Folkwitch Library.

Books for Fledgling Witches:

Nigel Pennick - “The Secrets of East Anglian Magic” 1995 “Natural Magic” (aka “Thorson’s Ways of Natural Magic”) 2001

Nigel Pennick is, regardless of what many will say, singularly responsible for the “traditional witchcraft” revival. Though widely overlooked his work, particularly “The Secrets of East Anglian Magic”, is a clear inspiration on Andrew Chumbley and Michael Howard. His books are less mysterious and more widely available than either Chumbley or Howard but somehow Pennick isn’t given the due that Howard and Chumbley receive.

It is in the writings of Pennick that we see the first mentions in print of the “Nameless Arte” and he outlines several methods for obtaining the toadbone that are directly quoted in other’s works. “The Secrets of East Anglian Magic” gives a great historic overview of traditional magic from an English perspective. Pennick’s work “Natural Magic” is a general beginner text that offers a set of rituals, spells and tools that are useful and practical.

Paul Huson - “Mastering Witchcraft” 1970 “Mastering Herbalism” 1974

Paul Huson and his work “Mastering Witchcraft” have received acclaim for decades, though with the usual detractors as well. “Mastering Witchcraft” offers a straightforward and simple explanation of the practice of practical witchcraft. Strangely for its time it is free from most of the Garderian/Wiccan nonsense and historic revisionism. Instead it gets right to the work of making things happen without more than a few pages of Dianic world creation myth.

Huson’s “Mastering Herbalism” is as well a rather straightforward text gleaning information from older herbals but providing straightforward practical advice. Recipes, unguents, and burning rituals are all outlined as is a description of the traditional flying ointments. An amazingly useful book to have to hand when dealing with practically any plant material in the practice of the craft.

Katharine Briggs - “Pale Hecate’s Team” 1964

Briggs is a classic folklorist and once President of the Folklore Society of London. Her works are foundational texts in understanding fairy mythology in the British Isles and the beliefs of common folk surrounding spirit manifestations. All of her work is worth reading and I can not recommend her enough.

In particular “Pale Hecate’s Team” is an exceptional text that gives an historic overview of witchcraft belief in the middle ages. Discussing many of the practitioners who were tried in England and Scotland and whose confessions make up the bulk of the historic record of craft practice. It will do the reader well to understand that unlike in America many if not all of the accused in the British Isles were in fact either true practitioners of the craft or charlatans who pretended to be such in order to make money off of the unsuspecting. Briggs gives an outline of then contemporary belief that is particularly useful to the young witch in coming to some understanding of the relationship between the spirits and the land as it is understood in culture.

Giles Watson - “A Witch’s Natural History”

Watson’s “A Witch’s Natural History” was originally a series of articles published in Michael Howard’s The Cauldron magazine. It is a poetic examination of the role nature plays in the craft. A kind of devotional dedicated to the wild and its teeming life. Watson gives a good outline of the plants and animals that surround the history of witchcraft. How the cultural perceptions of certain plants and animals inform their use and significance.

+++

In addition to these works I also highly recommend a subscription to the Folklore Journal. A subscription comes with full online access to more than a century of writings in their quarterly publication, starting in 1878.

Once the witch has moved on from these texts a deeper read can be found in the Folkwitch Library. In particular “Darker Superstitions of Scotland” by John Graham Dalyell is a dense and rewarding text that yields a treasure of practical advise, though having been written in 1834 it isn’t the most modern of writing styles.

If one is inclined to mix a bit of ceremonial magic into their witchcraft I recommend Francis Barrett’s “The Magus” as an exceptional system of ritual magic that was far ahead of its time in interpreting the spirit catalogues and their functions from the grimoires of old. The recent revival in grimoire magic has gone far beyond Barrett’s research, yet his remains a concise and straightforward system of practice.