🌲OakClaw🌲

22 • Cancer Sun • Gemini Moon • Aquarius Ascending • Leo Venus • 7-6-02 • Celtic Pagan • Son of Winter • Eclectic Witch • Single • This is my Pagan/Witchcraft blog, Digital Book of Shadows, Digital Grimore.

[oakclaw]

🌸Blessed Beltane🌸

Beltane is the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, meaning that the days are growing longer and nights are shrinking shorter.

Beltane is the Celtic festival of Springtime Energies, Fertility, Love, Passion, Vitality, Conception, Joy, Abundance and Life.

Beltane in the Pagan sense, is the first day of Summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, Samhain is happening.

Beltane is also known as a Fire Festival, where bonfires are closely involved. Dancing around the Maypole, singing, dancing, jumping over and passing livestock through bonfires to cleanse and ask for the Divines’ protection and for their health and strength to stay well.

What activities do you have planned or have done for Beltane this year?

Side note: my deepest apologies for being inactive, there’s been many things going on over the past year, though social media isn’t my biggest priority in life.

[oakclaw]

☀️Blessed Midsummer/Litha, everyone!☀️

Midsummer, also known as Litha and the Summer Solstice, is the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is on the opposite side of the year from Yule, the Winter Solstice.

It is a bittersweet sabbath, as from this point forward, each day will be getting shorter and the nights will be longer.

The Summer Solstice is celebrated globally, and all throughout history. People everywhere have benefitted from the Sun and its energy, which is what makes this sabbath so powerful.

How will you be celebrating today?

[hotteacocoa-deactivated20241121]

Oh my gosh I just discovered the cutest tiny toad and it is literally called the pumpkin toadlet

[oakclaw]

Have a blessed Lughnasa. A kiss goodnight, a toast and thank you to Lugh for all he does for the world, for humanity, bringing light to the earth and ourselves. The first harvest as Autumn draws closer in…

[spell-bound-life]

Your Birth Tree

Many witches like to choose what their wand is made of by their birth tree, or have seeds/the actual tree nearby for strength/guidance. So here you go 

Dec 23 to Jan 01 | Apple Tree

Jan 02 to Jan 11 | Fir Tree Jan 12 to Jan 24 | Elm Tree Jan 25 to Feb 03 | Cypress Tree

Feb 04 to Feb 08 | Poplar Tree Feb 09 to Feb 18 | Cedar Tree Feb 19 to Feb 28 | Pine Tree Feb 29 | Poplar Tree

Mar 01 to Mar 10 | Weeping Willow Tree Mar 11 to Mar 20 | Lime Tree Mar 21 | Oak Tree Mar 22 to Mar 31 | Hazelnut Tree

Apr 01 to Apr 10 | Rowan Tree Apr 11 to Apr 20 | Maple Tree Apr 21 to Apr 30 | Walnut Tree

May 01 to May 14 | Poplar Tree May 15 to May 24 | Chestnut Tree May 25 to Jun 03 | Ash Tree

Jun 04 to Jun 13 | Hornbeam Tree Jun 14 to Jun 23 | Fig Tree Jun 24 | Birch Tree Jun 25 to Jul 04 | Apple Tree

Jul 05 to Jul 14 | Fir Tree Jul 15 to Jul 25 | Elm Tree Jul 26 to Aug 04 | Cypress Tree

Aug 05 to Aug 13 | Poplar Tree Aug 14 to Aug 23 | Cedar Tree Aug 24 to Sep 02 | Pine Tree

Sep 03 to Sep 12 | Weeping Willow Tree Sep 13 to Sep 22 | Lime Tree Sep 23 | Olive Tree Sep 24 to Oct 03 | Hazelnut Tree

Oct 04 to Oct 13 | Rowan Tree Oct 14 to Oct 23 | Maple Tree Oct 24 to Nov 11 | Walnut Tree

Nov 12 to Nov 21 | Chestnut Tree Nov 22 to Dec 01 | Ash Tree

Dec 02 to Dec 11 | Hornbeam Tree Dec 12 to Dec 21 | Fig Tree Dec 22 | Beech Tree

Apple Tree | Love | of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

Ash Tree | Ambition | uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.

Beech Tree | Creative | has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)

Birch Tree | Inspiration | vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree | Confidence | of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree | Honesty | of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.

Cypress Tree | Faithfulness | strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

Elm Tree | Noble-mindedness | pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree | Sensibility | very strong, a bit self-willed, independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

Fir Tree | Mysterious | extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, un-contented lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree | Extraordinary | charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

Hornbeam Tree | Good Taste | of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgement in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree | Doubt | accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting, stress, and labor, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting, makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.

Maple Tree | Independence of Mind | no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree | Brave | robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree | Wisdom | loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree | Particular | loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.

Poplar Tree | Uncertainty | looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree | Sensitivity | full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree | Passion | unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow | Melancholy | beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.

[gay-witchcraftt-deactivated2021]

Ring Magick

Rings have always been used in magick, whether as a form of talisman, amulet, or enhancement in your magick.

One’s hands both have different meanings and attributes, they are not identical nor are they twins, they are sister and work with each other like yin and yang.

Metals also have a large influence on how the energy flowing from your hands are directed, especially when it comes to your intention.

Fingers & Hands

Right Hand

Gender~ Masculine

Attributes~ The Right hand is seen as the hand of assertive action. Destruction and creation, this makes the right hand more preferable. This makes it a good partner for Gold

Left Hand

Gender~Feminine

Attributes~The Left hand is seen as intuitive and wise. Which makes it a good partner for Silver.

Thumb

Planet(s)~Mars & Venus

Attributes~Willpower and Logic

Pointer/Index Finger

Planet~Jupiter

Attributes~Influence, Money, Decision Making

Middle Finger

Planet~Saturn

Attributes~Success, Focus, Intellect

Ring Finger

Planet~Sun

Attributes~Ambition, Commitment, Power

Pinky Finger

Planet~Mercury

Attributes~Dreams, Communications, Memory

Metals and Alloys

Gold

The Sun

Gender~Masculinity

Element~Fire

Sign~Leo

Attributes~Success,Power,Wealth,

Silver

The Moon

Gender~Female

Element~Water

Sign~Cancer/Aquarius

Attributes~Truth,Loyalty,Dreamwork,Purity,Wisdom

Copper

Venus

Gender~Feminine

Element~Water

Sign~Taurus

Attributes~Luck,Love,Wealth, Exchange of powers

I Love Yall ❤️🧿

[eclipsednodes]

SHADOW WORK SIMPLIFIED

What is shadow work?

If I had to describe shadow work in one word, it would be introspection. Introspection is the examination of your own mental state and is necessary in order to learn more about your fundamental nature. Although it may sound off-putting and even scary at first, shadow work is a necessary component in the process of healing. We all have aspects of ourselves that we’ve rejected and hidden away out of fear. Through shadow work, we’re able to reflect on our thoughts, emotions, and habits so that we can find the root cause of our suffering and heal ourselves. By reincorporating those aspects of ourselves that we’ve denied, we feel more fulfilled and can begin to love ourselves fully. 

Where does shadow work come from? 

The concept of the shadow self comes from Carl Jung who believed that our shadow self is the subconscious aspect, or “dark side”, of our personality that our conscious ego doesn’t identify with. However, I would like to clarify that “dark” does not imply or equate with bad. That which resides outside of our consciousness can be either good or bad, but aren’t inherently reflective of our value or “goodness” as a person. 

Although these repressed aspects of ourselves can manifest negatively, it isn’t because those parts of us are “bad”, but that the process of repression is inherently painful and toxic. This is reflected by Jung when he states, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” He believed that until we’ve merged our conscious and subconscious selves, that our conscious would be “the slave of the autonomous shadow”. This is due to the shadow self overwhelming our conscious selves by falling victim to our own self-imposed traps. 

Through assimilating this shadow self, not over-identifying with it, Jung believed we go through the process of enantiodromia, thereby integrating the subconscious by reincorporating our shadow selves into our personality and allowing us to solidify ourselves through wholeness. He best described this by stating “assimilation of the shadow gives a man body, so to speak.” However, don’t fall into the misconception that shadow work is a short-term practice. Shadow work is a continuous practice and integration of the shadow self is a will take place throughout your life.

How do I do shadow work?

In the last question, I identified that practicing self-reflection is a key component of shadow work, but what does that mean? What am I supposed to be reflecting on? Well, the first thing that you should focus on is being present throughout the day. Identify feelings that come up throughout the day and observe them objectively. What situation or interaction triggered these emotions? How did I react to those emotions? Were my emotions controlling me or was I in control of my emotions? Why did this situation or interaction cause me to feel this way? How did I cope with those feelings (self-harming, lashing out at others, communicating my feelings, journalling, etc.)? Did I punish myself for getting upset? If so, why? 

There are numerous ways to reflect on your feelings and experiences in order to get a better understanding of yourself. Through evaluating how you react to situations, which situations upset you, and how you managed those feelings, you’re able to build the foundation to understanding your emotions and bridge the gap between your subconscious and conscious mind.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll find that the emotions you feel in the present are reflective of unhealed emotions from your past. Perhaps the reason you feel that you’re unable to set boundaries as an adult is because as a child, your parents never respected your boundaries by going through your phone or diary, yelling at you when you said no to a request, forcing you into situations that made you feel you had no choice. 

By identifying the root cause of your emotional pain, you’re able to address it in the present and heal from the trauma. The simplest way that I’ve found to address them is through journalling. You can purchase a physical journal or even use your notes app, either way, you’re writing out your feelings and reflections to gain deeper insight. It’s important to remember that this looks different for anyone and that the best way to approach shadow work is by doing what feels most natural! You can choose to stick to self-reflective journal prompts, vent about whatever is upsetting you, write letters to whoever has hurt you, etc. Ultimately, you can guide yourself based off of what you feel you need and where you are in your journey.

What parts of yourself do you find yourself rejecting the most? Many of us have experienced the pain of rejection in some aspects of our lives and sometimes, it’s incredibly painful and leaves us with long-lasting wounds. We end up going through our lives carrying baggage that we don’t even know we have! Many times, I’ve found myself wondering why I felt so repulsed by aspects of myself and why I felt so strongly that they needed to be locked away forever. I couldn’t allow myself or others to see my truest self, my whole self, out of fear. I was scared of being rejected, shamed, humiliated by the people around me. I was scared of hurting other people by being myself and of being hurt by others. That’s no way to live, is it? When we tell ourselves that aspects of ourselves aren’t good enough, we end up going through life devaluing ourself. We’ve broken our own trust by rejecting ourselves, we’ve told ourselves that we aren’t good enough or worthy of love. In shadow work, you’re called to go inward and unpack everything that we’ve kept hidden for years and sometimes even decades. 

Bring the parts of yourself that you’ve repressed to the surface and nourish them with love, allow yourself to see that ALL OF YOU is deserving of love and support. For you, that could mean unlearning your unhealthy beliefs about food or eating, allowing yourself to be emotional around the people you love (despite how much you were told that you were too emotional, a crybaby, too sensitive in the past), allowing yourself to relax without feeling guilty about not being productive because you recognize your needs (even though you feel your sense of worth is tied to being productive at the cost of your own health).

Common misconceptions about shadow work?

Shadow work is evil or bad, the shadow is evil or bad 

The purpose of shadow work is healing through working with your subconscious to release repressed aspects of yourself and heal from painful, traumatic experiences. Your shadow side is simply your unconscious and to believe that it’s bad is to believe that you are bad. It’s merely the part of yourself that you aren’t aware of consciously and shouldn’t be feared. 

Certain emotions are “bad”

When you let go of the idea that emotions are either good or bad, you’ll allow yourself to just be and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to feel “good” all of the time. Happiness isn’t a constant state of being so stop expecting to be all of the time, we have a range of emotions for a reason so stop being ashamed of them. Your feelings are natural and if you feel like they’re out of control and something to be ashamed of, there is nothing wrong with that! It’s okay to feel like your emotions are controlling you because that isn’t permanent. Your feelings aren’t permanent and are completely manageable with proper guidance! The reason you feel like your emotions are controlling you is because you probably don’t have the knowledge to cope with them in an effective and healthy way. It’s helpful to sit with your emotions alone and look at them objectively without placing any judgement on them, this will help you calm down and assess your feelings. From there, you can identify what you need to relax and recover as well as acknowledge to yourself that your feelings are natural. When you stop categorizing your emotions as bad, they’re no longer shameful to experience and therefore you can see with better clarity how to cope with them and move on.

I’ve already released it so…

Why am I still upset?

Why does it still keep popping up in my head?

Why haven’t I moved on?

Why am I not making progress?

With the rise of self development and spirituality, I find that more and more people are rushing to complete their healing. Healing is a continuous, life-long cycle and not a destination. Putting the pressure on yourself to reach the place of ultimate healing is not only toxic, but it impedes your ability to actually heal anything. Healing is about love, compassion, and patience and it’s not going to happen according to a timeline. Allow yourself the time to experience your emotions, see them objectively, forgive yourself and others and move on without the pressure of expectations. 

 Another reason that you could be experiencing this is that despite the work you think you’ve done, it hasn’t been sufficient. I’ve found that a lot of journal prompts provided online are surface level at best and can be more pacifying than revealing. If you’re not feeling anything while doing your inner work, you’re not doing it correctly. Ultimately, this is about uncovering what makes us UNCOMFORTABLE and moving through those feelings. When you allow yourself to experience the sadness, hurt, anger, and/or frustration than you’re telling yourself that these feelings are okay and don’t need to be suppressed. The reality is that no matter what you’re feeling, you are allowed to experience those emotions and it’s only human! Unfortunately, many people associate lower vibrational emotions as bad, but this is a huge misconception! Telling yourself that anger, sadness, etc. are “bad” implies that you shouldn’t experience these emotions and that you have to get rid of them which is not only wrong, but unhealthy. There is no right or wrong emotions so don’t buy into the belief that you should feel a certain way, simply allow yourself to be and you’ll find that it’s much easier to navigate your emotions and needs. The only way to make it to the other side is by wading through the water, be patient and know that you’re feeling exactly what you should be. When you stop censoring yourself, you’ll discover a newfound sense of freedom and wholeness. 

 If you find yourself circling back to certain topics, for example, your ex-boyfriend than perhaps there are triggers in your environment that remind you of the situation, you have more that needs to be addressed that you may not have been ready for or aware of previously (hence why shadow work is a practice that is ongoing), or they’re representative of a deeper issue that you’re repressing. Whatever the cause is, the same methods as earlier will apply and can be discerned through your own intuition. 

What are some basic journal prompts that I can do?

What feelings come up when you think of ____?

How did that experience make you feel emotionally? How did it make you feel about yourself? How did it make you feel about the other person or people?

Write a letter to yourself, your inner child, the people who’ve hurt you, and the people you’ve hurt. Express how you feel honestly, without holding back and then forgive yourself and the other person.

If you could say anything to yourself or another person for closure, what would it be?

How have these situations and experiences impacted your mental health? How have they affected your belief system about yourself, other people, and the world?

What about yourself are you ashamed of? What about yourself are you embarrassed of? What about yourself makes you angry? What do you regret? Why do you feel this way about yourself and where do these feelings stem from?

What makes you feel most alone? What makes you feel most loved? How can you incorporate that knowledge into your life to make it better?

What’s the most hurtful thing someone has said or done to you? Why did it hurt you so much? How does it still affect you now? How can you heal from it and allow yourself to move on?

What do you need to forgive yourself for? What do you need to forgive others for?

Where do you feel you lack security in your life? Why? How does this impact your life and your relationships?

This is a list of generic prompts for you to start with, but feel free to message me if you need help with more specific topics or I can make another post altogether for journal prompts.

[askgames]

Ask Game - Witchcraft Edition

1. When did you start with witchcraft?

2. How did you find out you are a witch?

3. With which craft did you start?

4. What crafts do you practise now?

5. Are you member of a coven?

6. Are you wiccan/pagan/eclectic etc.?

7. What is your favorite type of divination?

8. Do you want/have a familiar?

9. Do you have any witchy friends?

10. Do your friends and family know about you being a witch?

11. Favorite crystal?

12. Favorite herb?

13. Favorite incensce?

14. Incensce sticks or cones?

15. Do you believe in any gods, spirits etc.?

16. Any weird experiences with witchcraft? Tell us about them!

17. Ever astral projected?

18. Ever had a vision of something that happened in reality shortly aferwards?

19. Witchy book recommendation?

20. Any witchy songs you like?

21. Favorite way to do manifestation?

22. Thoughts on astrology?

23. Tarot or pendulum?

24. Sigil or spell?

25. Candels or incensce?

26. Favorite candle scent?

27. Do you grow any herbs yourself?

28. Favorite way to integrate witchcraft into your daily life?

29. Any famous person you think could be a witch but is not open about it?

30. What do you think will happen after death?

31. If you believe in reincarnation: What would your dream reincarnation be?

32. If you believe in reincarnation: Can you remember former lives of yours?

33. Thoughts on halloween? Is it weird for you if others dress up as witch etc.? Does it bother you?

34. Is there any craft you are really bad at (e.g. herbs/green wtichcraft)?

35. Wood or stone?

36. Water, Fire, Earth or Air?

37. Thoughts on witches in pop culture?

38. Do you believe in other magical creatures like werewolves, vampires etc.?

39. Do you believe one is born a witch or that it is something you can learn?

40. Mentoring or self-studies?

41. Do you have a book of shadows/grimoire? What do you write in it?

42. Ever been in contact with someone that used their magick abusive/to do harm to you?

43. Thoughts on cursing?

44. Any family members that practise witchcraft?

45. Do you celebrate pagan holidays?

46. Do you have a witch name beside your normal name?

47. Favorite way to shop witchy items?

48. Do you have an altar? 

49. Any witchy decorations at home?

50. Ever been in a situation where someone didn´t believe you regarding witchcraft?

51. What are your future plans about witchcraft? Any craft you want to learn soon?

52. Any craft you think you´ll never want to learn?

53. How much did you research about witchcraft?

54. How strong is your intuition?

55. Which “claires” do you possess?

56. Ever felt the presence of a ghost, fairy, creature from a different dimension etc.?

57. Do you meditate often? How do you do it?

58. Ever did divination for someone else but you?

59. Any witchy idol you have?

60. Ever performed a ritual?

[scarletravenswood]

Celebrating Beltane

Bannock Oatcakes & Incantations

To the ancient Gaelic peoples there were only two seasons, the dark cold of winter and the warmth of Summer. The bonfire festival of Beltane signified that Summer had begun and thus the times of winter hunger and darkness had come to an end.  The first mentions of Beltane come from two early medieval texts: The Sanas Cormaic and the Tochmarc Emire.  They state that on May 1st Druids would make two large sacred fires and then drive the cattle between the flames while giving incantations to insure the health and safety of the herd.   Nowadays we mostly associate Beltane with Maypoles and flower crowns, but originally this was a festival for the herders and most of our surviving Beltane traditions are associated with protecting the food sources of the community.  In the Book, The Silver Bough, Celtic Folklorist Florence McNeill shares a folk tradition that would accompany the great Beltane bonfire.  She states that a person would approach the bonfire, facing away from the flames and then toss a piece of Oatcake, called a Bannock, over their shoulder and into fire.  Then they would state a rhyme like the following: “Here to thee, wolf, spare my sheep; there to thee, fox, spare my lambs; here to thee, eagle, spare my goats; there to thee raven, spare my kids; here to thee, martin, spare my fowls, there to thee, harrier, spare my chickens.” With this little folk charm the person is combining an incantation with an offering.  In this case they are throwing the Bannock into the fire as an offering for the wild animals in the forests and in return they are asking the wild animals to spare their flocks of chickens, sheep, and goats. As a Pagan reconstructionist, I’m always asking myself how can I preserve the main intentions behind these ancient Pagan traditions but bring them into the modern world so that they are still relevant for us today.  When you break down this Beltane folk practice, it’s really about providing an offering and asking for the protection of your food source.  So, this is something you can definitely do yourself even if you don’t have farm animals of your own.  I recommend making some Bannock oatcakes on Beltane morning and then giving one or two of the oatcakes as an offering to the health of the farm animals in your country.  Or, if you’re a vegetarian, as an offering to the health of the produce in your region.  You can also adapt the incantation mentioned previously to better fit your specific circumstances.  

Bannock Oatcakes for Beltane I’ve made various versions of this traditional Scottish dish over the years and if I’m honest they are not always the tastiest. So I created a new recipe that stays true to the main concept of a Bannock but with modifications to improve the taste. Recipe You’ll need some oatmeal. Most recipes just call for regular oatmeal but instead I recommend using 2 packets of the Maple & Brown Sugar Quaker Instant Oatmeal. It’s not necessary to use the packets but I’m telling you it’s a game changer! Put the two packets in a bowl and add a pinch of baking soda, a pinch of salt, and 1/4t of cinnamon. Add just enough hot water into the bowl till it forms a malleable mixture (about 2 tablespoons). Form it into two patties and for extra texture roll the patties in some plain rolled oats. Heat up a pan and add 1 tablespoon butter. Fry the oatcakes in the pan, about 4 minutes per side. Enjoy!

[oakclaw]

I’m a wee bit late to post but I had a wonderful Ostara. A lovely walk outside, plenty warm out and met the first honeybee of Spring, a very busy yet polite lad.

I had found one single wilting flower on my walk, and since I knew it wasn’t going to last in the state it was in, I took it inside as an Ostara and Spring offering to Brighid and Lugh.

How was your Ostara?

[oakclaw]

I forgot how it felt to have my blood, my energy, taken from my body. I never allow it to be taken unless it is a medical emergency, in this case, it could be dire and I am not taking chances.

I do know a lot of witches on here want to practice as much with the Earth and elements as they can, but, please realize that we in today’s society need modern medical science when it is needed. Natural remedies are to be used for temporary headaches, physical, emotional and mental discomfort, mild illnesses such as colds.

But please, if there is ever a sprain, dislocation, broken bone, puncture, slash, stab, shot, fatal allergic reaction or gods forbid this coronavirus… those need to be addressed with a medical doctor. Those are urgent and can damage you forever if they aren’t addressed properly immediately.

Speaking in terms as a sanguin Vampyre, to those who either do not know real Vampyres, fetishize, fantasize over us, please keep in mind that yes, Vampyres can and usually can very easily be in medical danger, as I may be now (my blood test will verify this.)

Real Vampyres are not monsters. We are humans. Living humans. Sick humans. We grow sick physically, mentally and spiritually if we don’t feed. Our energy depletes from certain herbs, sunlight, fire, which, being a Pagan, struggling with Vampirism with my practice has been oblivion and I truthfully wish there were a cure, but no, there isn’t.

In conclusion to this witchy/vampiric rant, please, PLEASE be able to tell when it is appropriate to visit a doctor, hospital, or address things naturally. Knowing this balance will keep you at your best, in all ways.

[oakclaw]

Warning, though it’s only a dream, it has gore/murder mentions in it.

I had a pretty disturbing dream and a weird wake-up from it, please remind me not to go to bed before midnight-

It felt like I was in some medieval, lower class home or tavern, but it was a big open building. It almost felt like some party or reunion, and everyone there knew me well when I didn’t know them at all, though I had trust in them since they knew me and were acting like they hadn’t seen/heard from me in a while.

A few guards suddenly burst through the doors and just started, well, decapitating and slaughtering them, right in front of me. I wasn’t armed and knew I didn’t have a chance against them so I hid, it felt like a while before coming back upstairs when things became quiet and I wish I didn’t come back up.

Everyone’s heads were strung like some garland, the wire/string was somehow through their ears, and each head had a different insult/name on them, a few that stuck to me was “Witch, Devil Worshipper, Demon, Hag, Bastard” and painted Satanic Stars or upside down crosses on their right cheeks.

If any had long hair, it was cut short and they put the locks in a bucket under them, the weird thing is that their bodies were gone now. There was maybe a hand or a few... bodily matter on the floor but, blood was only left.

When I woke up, I caught myself not drooling but actually trying to spit on my pillow, which startled me wide awake.

If anyone knows anything or wants to try to think what heck of symbolism or what this dream might’ve been, let me know, I can’t really think straight right now because I’m still shaken up.

[no-longer-another-bondi-blonde]

The full Sturgeon Moon rising at Stonehenge tonight 🌝😍

[oakclaw]

My updated Altar, for Cailleach and Lugh… finally able to clear it off and organize it better, in addition to the crow light and triquetra wall decor.

[oakclaw]

A small but pleasant Yule dinner, my Ma and I are going to do a little ritual to mark the Sun’s return, it’s a very sleepy night thus far. I hope your Yule has been blessed, safe and full of joy. 💜🖤

[oakclaw]

Snow, in a jar, for some practicing, cleansing and peace. And there’s a lot more where that came from!

[oakclaw]

I found this bulb child amongst the marshy result of the flooding that occurred several days ago. I’ll be planting them soon, I wonder what they’ll bloom into?