Salmon Dancing Sideways

I answer to Ness. I reside in the Pacfic Northwest. I'm a bi-polar parent, dealing with the rigors of life the best I can. Spiritual stuff, uplifting things and my thoughts go here.

[under-sea-or-under-earth]

For Cernunnos

Horned One, Gate keeper, Protector of fur and rot I call to you, for your wisdom which upon many a grove was wrought. Cernunnos of stag and snake, the power of the earth thunders in your wake. Cernunnos of torc and gold, in your palm the dead you hold. I praise your liminal breath and will, for in your name I raise my voice. I revere your love for feather and gill, in your shadow I do rejoice.

[oncorhynchusdancinginthestars]

Whoa. ok.  I'm still in shock.

I keep an altar in my bedroom to Ganesh, nothing major. Something private from the rest of the house. On the wall behind the altar is a large wall hanging I always thought of as an interpretation of Cerrnunos.

I always honored him in my prayers and worship, but never thought of him as my specific deity. Maybe someone my husband honoired in his private prayers. I never felt a strong pull to him, but you can't, in my experience, honor the female without recognizing the the male. So I honor them both. The wall hanging has always been a wall hanging in the bedrooms we've had over the years. Something nice to look at.

My friend's father is going through some health issues, and I'd promised I'd pray, light candles and incense and think of her and her family in this troubling time. I brought out enough for the family altar in the living room, and enough (one each) for my private altar. I felt then thought of a male saying in my head, "Why not two?". I looked at the Ganesha figure, and my gaze was drawn to the green man on my wall, with those gazing eyes and said, "who was that? was it you?" Nothing said no specifically, but it was so strong. I asked again to be sure. I did right though, lighting two candles, and some of my best incense. Things felt peaceful afterwards.

He's never made himself known to me. I feel honored. I kind of want to cry. I wanted to share my experience before I lost it.

[oncorhynchusdancinginthestars]

I had a small, private moment at my bedroom altar today.

We took a big step today and became a two car household. I won’t be as isolated and unable to move around today. Big yay.

Before I left, I took a moment to ask Ganesha for guidance - as you ought before doing new things. And you know, I did it. I confirmed new things, I took a risk at a costly addition to a plan, seeing the potential value and benefit. As a way of celebrating our new loan, we took victory shots and lit the incense and candles at our big family alter. With a an offering of fancy vodka. After that I took a moment in the bedroom, where I keep a private altar to Ganesha. I made a quieter offering of incense, candle and prayers, and as I turned to put away my box, a thought came to mind. 

“You don’t visit as much..”

I paused. I said, “You’re right. I should come more, I’ve missed you.” and I’ll do just that. I’ll think of him a little more, as I work in the house, or take those little baby steps in driving alone during the week. Or as good things come, or as I notice moments of growth, or to grow.

I’m listening, I promise. I’m trying. Life has been so chaotic. I’ve been stricken with an illness I didn’t anticipate. But I should try to make a little time. I feel a pull to these gods and goddesses. They ache to be remembered. To be loved.

[i-am-fen-harel]

equinoxl on Instagram

[cervines]

[oncorhynchusdancinginthestars]

Hm.

A week ago, someone asked a group I’m in, “What does your faith look like?”

I couldn’t answer right away, but finally, I had a chance to think about it as I caught myself offering a little prayer to Ganesha today, and to Hestia.

It's lighting candles and incense when I remember or have the time. It's offering a little of the best vegetables I have to Hestia, or a glass of milk with sugared toast to the house spirits as I cook the evening meal. Whispering thanks or praying for guidance to another deity. It's whispering encouraging words to my plants and the spirits that might live there. Leaving small offerings and inviting positive spirits inside on Samhain. Its cooking a feast dinner on sabbats to share with my family. It’s driving out, as I can feel it, negative energies with salt or sage. It's saying gently, "They are children. They mean no harm here" to a forest we might be visiting, and teaching those children to respect where they place their feet. Showing my daughters how life grows, and withers. Watching as they strokes the puffy mosses with a gentle finger, or look for sea shells at the beach. Saying thank you as I enter what feels like a sacred space, taking trash with me to leave it better than when I entered. Watching the salmon die off in the rivers, their life feeding the cycle. It's closing my eyes in the shower, dreaming of spirits or dieties welcoming you to speak, speaking and crying from the overwhelming feelings you get while doing so. Listening to the way the waves lap at the beaches here, and inhaling the moist air. Its closing my eyes and wishing for a good result with a new recipe I might be trying. Or being thankful for the food I have in my home, and a roof over my head. It's watching the seasons change, no matter the climate - of which I have now resided in two. Seeing the differences in the coastal deserts of California in which I grew up in, and the forests here in the PNW. Both so unique and having their own lives.It's realising I have had the opportunity to be apart of them both, and being grateful to be alive to experience it.

[thecollectibles]

A Compendium of Witches by Natasa Ilincic

Learn more about the project here 

Tumblr/Patreon/Etsy/Instagram/

[moonskek-deactivated20251028]

By Michaela Magaela Ďurišová

[onyxmarblewitchcraft]

Kitchen Witch Tips

Here are a few tricks I’ve picked up along my kitchen-witchery journey:

• When frying meat, use tongs and always add the meat to the pan by laying it away from you. This prevents the oil from splashing and burning you.

• Do not prep and cook at the same time. Finish your prep before adding anything to a frying pan or sticking anything in the oven.

• 4 tbsps is equal to ¼ cup. So when something calls for 1/8 of a cup, it means 2 tbsps. No one has 1/8th cups.

• If a recipe calls for buttermilk but you’re all out, add 1 tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Boom, you have buttermilk.

• Burned the bottom of your pan? No worries, I do it all the time too! To get those stubborn bits off, add water to the pan and boil it once more on the stovetop. This loosens up the grime so you can scrape it off!

• Keep brownies, cookies, and cakes moist by storing them with a slice of bread. The treat will remain decadent while the bread will harden and crust up.

• Speaking of crusty/stale bread, if you want the best french toast, leave your bread out overnight. Stale bread soaks up more egg/custard and will result in richer, Fuller pieces of french toast.

• Before frosting your goodies, stick your frosting spoon/utensil in the fridge. Colder utensils make for better frosting-spreaders.

• To prevent your cakes from cracking or rising unevenly in the oven, place a dish of water on the rack below. The extra moisture helps cakes cook evenly.

• Eat and use veggies and fruits that are in-season!

• Buy local produce when you can.

• Always work with sharp knives and always slice away from yourself. Dull knives and cuts are no good.

• Lean cuts of meat like pork tenderloin and chicken breasts toughen up when cooked in the oven, on the stovetop, or on the grill. To keep some of the moisture, wrap them in foil or add a sauce to the pan.

• Your measurements don’t have to be perfect! It’s okay to spill a little flour here and there!

• If you screw up a recipe don’t get discouraged! Cooking and baking are trial and error. Both skills come with time and part of the fun is making a few mistakes along the way!

• Intent is important. It doesn’t always matter what magical ingredients you’ve added to the dishes, sometimes intent and reason for making are the strongest most powerful forces you can garner during the process.

• Everyone has different tastes! Some people may not like what you make, others may enjoy it whole-heartedly. Don’t get discouraged if a few people shy away from your food!

That’s it for now! I’m sure I have many more to share, but until then, keep cooking!

🌙🍎🍇🍴✨

[octoberapparitions]

🎃🦇🕸

[exception-witch-proves-the-rule]

graffiti at the bus stop: “fuck your god”

my pagan ass: are…are these instructions?

[deleted343i434738758yt-deactiva]

Old Sow Between The Trees- Hannalie Coetzee (2015)

[buttercupbiitch]

i never got around to posting this i guess

[oxymoron-pleonasma]

When family shows up

[greenrosemary]

wheel of the year 

[deadwolfonfire]

obsession.

[cottoncandywitch27]

especially cats. protect all cats!