Witch Blog

Hi I'm Bowie (27, they/them), Norse/Celtic neopagan. This is a side blog to post my experiences and collect resources! Personal note: I am only here to practice craft for self improvement, meditation, and to put good energy back into the universe. I will not be reblogging any hexes or curses or harmful practices. My main blog is @soundvsvision

[carlislewoods]

A message for the occult community, as it pertains to practitioners with conditions that can distort the perception of reality — from psychotic disorders, to personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, dissociative disorders, trauma disorders, the autism spectrum, and so many others that can make trusting ourselves difficult at times.

There is a stigma everywhere, including in spiritual circles. There are also uneducated or malicious individuals that can exploit our conditions, or ostracize us.

These disorders do not discredit us. We are not subhuman. We are not unintelligent, weak, nor are we gifted, blessed, or touched by the divine — our conditions and divergencies do not determine our worth.

Our treatment plans, whatever they may be, enhance our spiritual experiences. Treatment does not harm our journey. Receiving help does not 'block our powers' or otherwise disturb the supernatural.

We deserve treatment and support that brings us clarity and allows us to discern between what is real and what is not.  We deserve to be believed and given equal consideration when we provide input. We deserve a good quality of life.

We deserve to be helped, rather than mocked, enabled, or aggravated, when our symptoms appear to mislead us. Those preaching love and light should not encourage the sick to become sicker.

Many disorders can discolor the perception of reality; this effect is not exclusive to disorders with psychotic features. Even healthy individuals can find themselves consumed by dangerous misconceptions.

Do not encourage someone to stop taking their medication, quit therapy, or trigger themselves.  Do not enable delusions or hallucinations. Do not prey on us, do not bully us, do not ignore us.

If you believe anyone is showing signs of psychosis, please do not barrage them. Help them. It may look stupid or bizarre to you, but for us, it is often humiliating and scary.

A quick google search will tell you how to approach someone who has warped perceptions. It can also illustrate the difference between a person experiencing psychosis versus a sane person that is just being very eccentric.

In conclusion. Please have compassion, and treat people as you would like to be treated.

[cosmos-within]

Herbs and Uses (N-Y)

Oatstraw (c/s): Money, Rejuvenate, Clarity

Olive Leaf (whole or c/s): Abundance, Peace, Protection

Orange Peel (c/s) : Love, Luck, Money

Oregano (c/s): Vitality, Energy, Joy

Parsley (flakes): Money, Luck, Protection

Passion flower (c/s): Money, Attract Friends, Diffuse Tension

Patchouli (c/s): Money, Love, Fertility

Pau d'arco (c/s): Protection, Strength, Dispel Negativity

Peach Blossom (whole flowers): Love, Abundance, Renewal

Peony (crushed petals): Money, Luck, Success

Peppermint (c/s): Purification, Abundance, Clarity

Pine Needle (c/s): Protection, Purification, Rejuvenation

Plantain (c/s): Protection, Grounding, Manifestation

Plumeria (crushed petals): New Beginnings, Strength, Creativity

Poppy seed (whole): Sleep, Fertility, Luck

Quassia (chips): Love, Money, Happiness

Raspberry Leaf (c/s): Fertility, Love, Protection

Red Clover (c/s): Money, Purification, Positive Energy

Rooibos (c/s): Relaxation, Healing, Vitality

Rose (crushed petals): Love, Luck, Harmony

Rosehips: Good Fortune, Love, Protection

Rosemary (c/s): Love, Protection, Money

Rue (ruta, c/s): Protection, Uncrossing, Counter Magick

Sarsaparilla (c/s): Love, Money, Health

Saw Palmetto (powder): Passion, Vitality, Lust

Senna Leaf (c/s): Purification, Release, Transformation

Shepherd’s Purse (c/s): Protection, Money, Healing

Solomon Seal (c/s): Protection, Success, Counter Magick

Spearmint (c/s): Healing, Love, Mental Powers

St. John’s Wort (c/s): Protection, Banishing, Blessing

Star Anise (c/s): Luck, Protection, Psychic Awareness

Strawberry Leaf (c/s): Success, Luck, Purification

Tansy (c/s): Rebirth, Longevity, Protection

Uva Ursi (c/s, leaf): Divination, Knowledge, Inner Peace

Valerian Root (c/s): Protection, Diffuse Tension, Counter Magick

Vervain (c/s): Love, Protection, Prosperity

Violet (whole flowers): Wealth, Creativity, Wisdom

White Clover (c/s): Abundance, Luck, Love

White Oak Bark (c/s): Success, Good Fortune, Uncrossing

White Pine Bark (c/s): Money, Luck, Protection

White Sage (c/s): Purification, Cleansing, Protection

White Willow Bark (c/s): Happiness, Friendship, Intuition

Wild Cherry Bark (c/s): Divination, Love, Luck

Wormwood (c/s): Protection, Uncrossing, Counter Magick

Yarrow (c/s): Luck, Love, Warding

Yerba Mate (c/s): Clarity, Focus, Connection

[wizardpostsdotorg]

[pasiphaeofthefires]

☽ MY PET IS SAFE ☾

°

Sigil°20

✺.⋆｡༶✺

Keep your precious ones safe 💞

✺.⋆｡༶✺

🕯️Like to claim🕯️

🔮Reblog to cast🔮

[when-november-ends]

i love my crystals and gemstones.

i don't think they can cure cancer, depression or anxiety and i don't think they're any more special than a regular river rock.

but i love them.

having them around me makes me feel a little more at ease because looking at beautiful things is a pleasant experience and i always need more of those.

everything in this world is special in it's own way.

all plants, people, animals... we're all here by chance, and if that's not enough magic, i don't know what is.

[bitchyvvitch-deactivated2023060]

i forgot to post this already but happy pride month to all of us queer witches out there !! and a reminder that you dont have to be afab or identify as a woman to practice witchcraft, it's open for everyone <3

[alder-bos]

Stitch Witch Correspondences

Based on my interests in sewing from my other blog @tolkien-fantasy. I would also like to note that I made this while listening to my Howl’s Moving Castle audiobook lmao

Fabrics

Canvas - Creativity, New Beginnings, Potential, Possibilities

Cashmere - Comfort, Warmth, Luxury

Chiffon - Femininity, Delicacy, Vulnerability, Elegance

Cotton - Simplicity, Harvest, Protection, Rain, Good Luck

Denim - Ruggedness, Adventure, Durability, Hard Work, Independence, Rebellion

Felt - Protection, Good Luck, Wealth (White Felt), Sacrifice, Strength

Flannel - Comfort, Relaxation, Warmth, Winter, Adventure

Flax - Weakness of Man, Prosperity, Divine Gifts, Sacred to Hulda

Gauze - Uncertainty in Wealth, Healing

Hemp - Travel, Burial, Opening Gates and Doors, Moving on, Vision, Enlightenment, Sacred to Bast

Lace - Sacredness, Rite of passage, Femininity, Privilege, Sensuality, Sexuality, Duality

Lamé - Luxury, Wealth, Royalty, Sun and Moon

Leather - Protection, Covering, Animals, Instinct, Self-discovery, Independence

Linen - Righteousness and Purity, Rest, Elegance, Luxury, Sophistication, Light, Purity, Wealth, Does not cause sweat

Satin - Lustrous, Sensual, Shine, Love

Silk - Wealth, Luxury, Softness, Vulnerability, Prestige, Transformation, Magical Insulation

Velvet - Distinction, Honor, Sensuality, Emotions, Royalty, Leadership

Viole - Secrets, Unveiling, Hidden Things, Secrets, Weddings

Wool - Hope, Renewal, Spring, Women’s Crafts and Lives, Empowerment, Durability, Comfort, Warmth

~~~

Fabrics for your Astrology Sign

Aries: Lamb’s Wool

Taurus: Leather

Gemini: Gauze, Chiffon, Viole

Cancer: Flannel

Leo: Lamé, Brocade, Velvet

Virgo: Cotton, Canvas, Chintz Libra: Silk, Satin

Scorpio: Snakeskin

Sagittarius: Spandex, Lycra Capricorn: Mohair, Cashmere, Hemp

Aquarius: Feathers, Metallic Fabrics

Pisces: Rayon, Nylon, Watermarked Taffeta

~~~

Elements and Fabric Correspondences

Earth - Leather, Wool, Cotton, Felt

Fire - Satin, Lace, Velvet

Water - Silk, Satin, Taffeta

Air - Chiffon, Voile, Gauze

Spirit - Hemp, Linen, Felt

~~~

Color Correspondences

Red

Element: Fire

Planet/Zodiac: Aries, Scorpio, Mars, influencing Saturn

Chakra: Root

Body Parts: Bones, Teeth, Nails, Colon, Prostate, Rectum, Blood, etc...

Magic: Passion, Fire, Power, Joy, Energy, Health, Motivation, Leadership, Self-Esteem, Combat, etc...

Pink

Element: Fire

Planet/Zodiac: Sun, Leo, Sagittarius

Chakra: Sacral

Body Parts: Muscles, Pelvis, Kidneys, Uterus, Bladder, Lymph, Sperm, Adrenalin, Digestion, etc...

Magic: Relieving Depression, Self-Love, Friendship, Calming, Romance, Harmony, Passion, Physical Energy, Sex, Action, Surgery, Animals, Gardening, New Beginnings, Morality, Emotions, Femininity, Homosexuality, Compassion, Infants, etc…

Orange

Element: Fire / Air

Planet/Zodiac: Leo, Gemini, Taurus, Sagittarius, Mercury, Mars, etc...

Chakra: Sacral

Body Parts: Pelvis, Kidneys, Uterus, Bladder, Lymph, Sperm, Adrenalin, Digestion, etc...

Magic: Relieving Depression, Abandonment, Opportunities, Happiness, Alertness, Wealth, Kindness, Sealing a Spell, Harvest, Strength, Dominance

Yellow

Element: Air

Planet/Zodiac: Mercury, Taurus, Libra

Chakra: Solar-Plexus

Body Parts: Lower Back, Spine, Gallbladder, Pancreas, Liver, Spleen, Digestion, etc…

Magic: Healing, Friendship, Productivity, Stopping Negative Thinking, Creativity, Innovation, Prosperity, Self-Esteem, Beauty, Life, Humility, Intellect, etc…

Green

Element: Earth

Planet/Zodiac: Venus, Mercury, Aquarius, Cancer

Chakra: Heart

Body Parts: Upper Back, Spine, Shoulders, Breasts, Heart, Lungs, Respiratory System, Circulatory System, etc...

Magic: Love, Trust, Fae, Healing, Change, New Beginnings, Prosperity, Money / Career, Hope, Immortality / Rebirth, Nature Magic, Fertility, Luck, Courage, Peace, Relationships, Beauty, Love, Art, Grace, Luxury, Marriage, Decorating, Gifts, etc…

Blue

Element: Water

Planet/Zodiac: Jupiter, Moon, Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

Chakra: Throat

Body Parts: Neck, Throat, Thyroid, Lungs, Ears, Mind, etc...

Magic: Wisdom, Wealth, Joy, Opportunity, Patience, Peace, Truth, Loyalty, Meditation, Happiness, the Ocean, Calming, Travel, Education, Politics, Social Standing, Luck, Growth, Sports, Careers, Studying, Reading, etc…

Purple

Element: Water

Planet/Zodiac: Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Capricorn, Gemini, Sagittarius

Chakra: Third Eye

Body Parts: Face, Nervous System, Bones, Eyes, Ears, Pituitary Gland, etc...

Magic: Clairvoyance, Relief of Emotional Pain, Protection, Pride, Spirituality, Wisdom, Psychic Power, Meditation, Justice, Forgiveness, Humility, Memory, Secrets, Intelligence, Communication, Education, Writing, Progress, etc…

White

Element: Spirit, Air

Planet/Zodiac: Moon, Pisces

Chakra: Crown

Body Parts: Brain, Pineal Gland, Semen, etc...

Magic: Protection, Transformation, Enlightenment, Spiritual Connection, Being Outgoing, Life, Freedom, Health, Initiation, etc…

Black

Element: Earth

Planet/Zodiac: Saturn

Body Parts: Teeth, Bones

Magic: Balance (w/ White), Divination, Beginning, Rebirth, Patience, Absorbing Energies, Binding, Stability, Wealth, Protection, Karma, Death, Manifestation, Law, Challenge, Sacrifice, Justice, Discoveries, etc…

Brown

Element: Earth

Planet/Zodiac: Scorpio, Capricorn

Body Parts: Bones, Sexual Organs, Teeth, the Liver

Magic: Security, Friendship, Animals, Nature, Generosity, New Beginnings, Endurance, Grounding, Strength, Good Decision Making, Concentration, Telepathy, Finding Lost Things, etc…

~~~

Stitch Correspondences

Many of these are my own interpretation, and I would like to note that I actually researched what these stitches are used for to make these correspondences. Hope you don’t mind

Machine Stitches

Lockstitch - Community, Keeping things together, Curses

Chain Stitch - Healing, Rescue, Water, Cleansing

ZigZag Stitch - Independence, Strength, Adaptability

Satin Stitch - Hidden Things, Secrets, Love, Creativity, Manifestation

Overlock Stitch - Decoration, Luxury, Independence, Wealth

~

Sewing

Running Stitch - Strength, Simplicity, Independence, Learning

Baste Stitch - Community, Warmth, Comfort, Love, Warding, Protection

Back Stitch - Language, Communication, Creativity, Detail-oriented, Love

Ladder Stitch - Healing, Caring, Hidden Things, Secrets, Curses

Catch Stitch - Healing, Strength, Adaptability, Hidden Things, Simplicity

Whip Stitch - Keeping things together, Love, Independence, Family

Blanket Stitch - Strength, Reinforcement, Luxury, Warding

Buttonhole Stitch - Vulnerability, Strength, Healing

Embroidery Stitch - Creativity, Love, Representation

Overcast Stitch - Strength, Secrets, Closing yourself off from others, Self-reflection

Pad Stitch - Firmness, Aloofness, Secrets, Self-reflection, Strength

~

Crochet (Inspired by @therestlesswitch)

Chain Stitch - New Beginnings, Manifestation

Slip Stitch - Glamours, Energy Work

Single Crochet - Simplicity, Protection, Nurturing, Relationships

Half Double Crochet - Warmth, Protection, Manifestation

Double Crochet - Freedom, Energy Work, Letting go

Treble - Spontaneity, Luck, Letting go

Front post stitches - Bringing in Energy, Glamours, New Beginnings

Back post stitches - Drawing attention away from yourself, Secrets, Invisibility, Protection, Strengthening Relationships

Stitches 'Together’ - Community, Bringing an end to things

Spike Stitch / Long Stitch - Energy work, Reaching out, Divination, Astral Work, Curses

Moss Stitch - Warding, Protection, Warmth

Granny Stitch - Family, Familiarity, Comfort, Manifestation

Ripple / Wave Stitch - Sea Magic, Adaptability, Energy Work, Calming

Shell Stitch - Vulnerability, Manifestation, Sea Magic, Adaptability

Picot - Good Luck, Trust, Truth and Certainty, Curses

Crab Stitch - Strength, Banishing, Burning Bridges, Past Life Work, Curses

Corner to Corner - Order, Logic, Sigils

Puff Stitch - Self Love, Slowing down

Popcorn Stitch - Bringing fun into your life, Community

Crocodile Stitch - Protection, Psychic Abilities, Cloaking/Camouflage Spells, Bringing softness into your life

Broomstick Lace - Cleansing, Banishing, Warding

Serpentine Stitch - Entangling Lives, Matchmaking, Perseverance, Curses

~~~

Garment Correspondences

Sweater - Warmth, Comfort, Secrets, Cleansing

Dress - Femininity, Elegance, Glamours, Strength, Curses

Skirt - Youth, Simplicity, Independence, Elegance, Glamours

Trousers - Adventure, Sports and Activity, Energy Work

Shirt - Grounding, Independence, Communication, Meaning

Coat / Jacket - Warmth, Sophistication, Communication, Independence, Secrets

Socks - Warmth, Comfort, Protection

Bra - Sensuality, Lust, Love, Protection

Swimsuit - Sea/Water Magic, Curses, Adventure, Adaptability

Scarf - Warmth, Comfort, Protection, Warding

Hat - Manifestation, Communication, Protection, Love

Gloves - Warmth, Protection, Safety, Healing

Boots - Safety, Protection, Strength

Shoes - Adventure, Everyday Life, Comfort, Communication, Travel

Pockets - Secrets, Autonomy, Independence, Hidden Things, Finding lost things

~~

Sources:

- https://marjolijnmakes.com/writings/essays/the-magic-of-fabrics/

- https://therestlesswitch.tumblr.com/post/169640791866/so-as-most-of-you-probably-know-im-a-crochet

[metalheadsagainstfascism]

You know what?

This is a great time to post this video.

Heilung is a Norse Folk Metal band (that I don't usually post about because they're white). They follow old Norse traditions to the t.

And they've been doing concerts at Native American Reservations.

And they did something really cool that I liked. (Original videos didn't allow me to save, so here's. A duet, but the link goes to the original).

This is a clip from their intro ceremony. You can see a Native American woman doing wafting sage (I think it's white sage? Correct me if I'm wrong. Indigenous creators say she's calling their Indigenous ancestors, and if I remember correctly, that's what white sage is for).

But what's cool about this is because Heilung is following old Norse traditions, they're contacting Old Norse ancestors in their performance.

So when they performed on indigenous land they had the people there call their ancestors to get in okay from them before Heilung called on their ancestors.

And that's badass.

That's the unity that we need in the world. That's the kind of thing I want to share on indigenous peoples' day. A group respecting the land that their on by having the people there call their ancestors and okay it before Heilung called on their own.

-fae

[metalheadsagainstfascism]

Correction, this wasn't on treaty land it was near it. (Was confused).

But honestly that makes this move all the cooler. That means they had more respect for the First Nation's land than the government because they recognized their ancestors by doing this.

-fae

[theskepticalwitch]

Pagans, You Don't Need a Divine Feminine Goddess and Divine Masculine God

I just wanted to, like, let my fellow pagans* know it's totally okay if you only feel comfortable with Feminine Deities or Masculine Deities**, and you don't need to have both in your life to have a balanced worship. I know that there are a lot of people out here influenced by Wicca that tell you that you need a Divine Feminine and a Divine Masculine, but you really don't because the deities don't follow the human binary at all.

I primarily worship Goddesses and feminine-aligned deities because they are the ones that I just feel comfortable with.

My friend worships mainly Gods and masculine-aligned deities because they are what make him feel comfortable.

Both are totally fine.

And if you do want both masculine and feminine deities, that is also amazing and valid.

*Pagans I'm talking about: Eclectic, Celtic, Hellenic, Norse, Kemetic, Roman, and any other pagan who feels like they needed this message.

**I also wanted to acknowledge the existence of Androgynous Deities, and Non-Human Deities as well who do not fit into any sort of human binary expression

[kind-of-a-chaos-witch]

Witchcraft is relevant to you.

If it helps you to get up in the morning, do it. Go ahead and light up your incense or brush away the negative energy. If it helps you to socialise or find purpose -- Do! It! Go and socialise online and research to your hearts content.

Sometimes, it's tiring to be around the witchcraft community that reprimands you for not spending EVERY MOMENT learning something new and educating yourself.

But, again, witchcraft is relevant to you.

It's a personal craft that involves discovering your interests and what works for you.

You don't have to learn all the time -- just be! Allow yourself to be free. Have good intentions, and be open/willing to accepting the knowledge when it comes.

Arguing about correct terms and the right way to do an open craft is pointless! Focus on yourself!

It's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. This is your own journey -- let yourself enjoy it.

[thorsvinur]

ᚢᛁᛏᚱᚾᛅᛏᛦ

The next festival on the Old Norse and Old Icelandic calendars is Vetrnætr, or Winternights. Beginning on the full moon following the first new moon after the autumnal equinox and lasting for three nights, this year it runs Oct 20-22. This is reckoned using the lunar system as Andreas Nordberg describes, but there was also a week-counting system at the time which would put it about 26 weeks after the start of summer.

It marks the transition from summer to winter, along with the beginning of the first winter month, Gormánuðr (Innards/Slaughter Month). Vetrnætr and associated practices are attested in several primary sources, most directly in Ynglinga Saga (alongside Jól/Midwinter and Sigrblót) but also in Víga-Glúms Saga, Egils saga Skallagrímssonar, Gísla saga Súrssonar and Austrfaravísur. Several deities and groups of beings are mentioned or implied as being offered to, including Freyr; Óðinn; the dísir (Dísablót) and the álfar (Álfablót).

The reference to the honoring of Freyr comes from Gísla saga Súrssonar when Þorgrímr says that they will be performing a sacrifice to Freyr during the autumnal blót. Since Freyr is also known as the lord of the álfar this could lend support to the connection between them and Winter Nights, but that is in no way certain from this reference, and would be purely conjecture.

However, there is a clear reference in support of their being honored at this time, and that comes from Sweden. In the skaldic poem Austrfararvísur, Sigvatr Þórðarson journeys to Sweden in the service of King Olaf II in Norway at the onset of winter. When he comes to a place known as Hof he seeks a place to stay. However, he is turned away at several different houses, each time by a man named Ölvir. He is told that the people there are heathen and are performing a sacrifice to the álfar, and that they also fear Óðinn’s wrath should they allow the ceremony to be interrupted by outsiders.

The account given in Austrfararvísur does not explicitly state that Óðinn was honored at that time, but it certainly carries a heavy implication of it.

Lastly, the reference in Egil’s Saga says that Egil and and Ölvir are first denied ale when they travel to the home of Barð because it is being used for the Dísablót.

Details are fairly vague about specific practices during the time of Vetrnætr, and appear to have varied quite a bit regionally. This is demonstrated by the account of Álfablót happening in Sweden while Dísablót occurred in Iceland and probably Norway. In Sweden, Dísablót took place in late winter.

One thing mentioned that seems to have been commonplace, though, is the offering of ale, likely aided by a recent harvest of barley. The account in Austrfararvísur gives a possible reference to ale being used as an offering; because the man who turns away Sigvatr at every house is called Ölvir, it has been interpreted as possibly being a title rather than an actual name, meaning “Ale Being.” Similarly, the Egils Saga reference clearly contains ale being used as an offering during a religious ceremony.

Additionally, this was the time to slaughter livestock that would not be kept through the winter since the colder weather would now allow meat to keep longer without spoiling, and this practice was likely incorporated into Vetrnætr celebrations.

In the somewhat later primstav system this point was standardized to Oct 14th by our modern Gregorian calendar, so either of these times is pretty valid for observing the start of winter. In any case, summer is quickly coming to a close!

References

Snorri Sturlusson. Heimskringla. (New York: Dover Publications, 1990).

Nordberg, Andreas. Jul, disting och förkyrklig tideräkning: Kalendrar och kalendariska riter i det förkristna Norden. (Uppsala, 2006). Available from: http://www.kgaa.nu/upload/books/103.pdf

Thorsson, Örnólfur et al. The Sagas of Icelanders. (New York: Viking Penguin, 2000).

[meltingangels]

Pathetic Gamer dudes: *Crying about the Thor design, ignoring how not only is it more accurate to the Norse Myths, but is a body that actually looks strong and badass; like a Strongman competitor*

My Reaction:

[soil-boy]

ok but deadass, everyone has seen the pic of Hafthor Bjornson

but have you seen some of his main competitors????

motherfucking Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall are two of the STRONGEST humans on this planet

and at their peak, they are not worried about having washboard abs or any of the asinine bullshit merely associated with strength

that is what strong looks like.

[sivillanightchief-deactivated20]

[sleepinearthlydelight]

So I joined a Norse pagan facebook group for the first time and even though it's mostly hokey memes there are a few genuine discussions about practices and honoring the gods

And one guy asked if when he makes offerings to Odin he should also make offerings to Loki to appease him, since they have a blood bond, and mentioned that he doesn't like Loki and rather wants to bribe him into staying away

And BOY did this spark a shitstorm in the comments between people for and people against Loki

And the whole time I'm just laughing because that's exactly what he would want

Congrats, you played yourselves

[gefdreamsofthesea]

I will say that bribing entities to stay away is a thing. I know some Heathen groups that do it. There's probably references to it in the lore I'm just too lazy to look it up.

I will say that if someone has had a bad experience with Loki they shouldn't feel obligated to have him in their lives (hell I only regularly acknowledge a few deities myself) but I also find it funny that Odin gets a pass because he's honestly just as bad as his blood brother but you can easily slide into Nokean territory with "no one should honor Loki period".

[sleepinearthlydelight]

Oh for sure, this guy has every right to avoid Loki if he wants, his practice is his own, as it should be

I just thought it was extremely funny that people were getting so heated and sowing discord over it in a way that Loki would most DEFINITELY enjoy

[sleepinearthlydelight]

So I joined a Norse pagan facebook group for the first time and even though it's mostly hokey memes there are a few genuine discussions about practices and honoring the gods

And one guy asked if when he makes offerings to Odin he should also make offerings to Loki to appease him, since they have a blood bond, and mentioned that he doesn't like Loki and rather wants to bribe him into staying away

And BOY did this spark a shitstorm in the comments between people for and people against Loki

And the whole time I'm just laughing because that's exactly what he would want

Congrats, you played yourselves

[sleepinearthlydelight]

Hope everyone had a blessed Lughnasadh/Lammas, my mom signed me up for a pagan subscription box as a sort of token of good will and this is the elixir I made from the first one. Excited to try it in ritual sometime soon

[memeuplift]

[mycroftrh]

Ooh ooh ooh! This looks like an excellent excuse valid reason to talk about one of my favorite topics, matriarch trees!

So, when you see trees in a forest, they stick up outta the ground, some distance from each other, and you're like 'these are unconnected critters,' right? But! The thing is! Just like the trees in the picture are connected above-ground, trees in a forest are normally connected below-ground. There's this whole complicated thing involving a symbiotic relationship with fungi, but we're gonna simplify it to this: trees connect to each other through their root systems.

And they use it to share resources, across the whole forest.

If there's a tree over here growing in soil with a lot of, like, potassium, they'll pull up more potassium than they need, and send it out through the root system to other trees that are living where there isn't much potassium.

And one of the coolest things? Trees communicate their needs. If a tree is sick or damaged or starving, they send chemical messages out through the root system that tell the other trees to send them more food and tree-equivalent-of-immune-system.

Trees will share so much of their resources, they'll even keep trees alive that are almost entirely dependent. Like this tree! The tree above is getting some energy from its leaves, but no other nutrition of its own. And it wasn't able to link up to the shared root system. So the other tree reached out and hooked up to it directly, feeding it all of the nutrients it needed!

You see it more commonly the other way around: in an old-growth forest, where the roots are well-established, you can find stumps where a tree was cut down a century ago... but if you scrape the stump it's still green wood. The tree's still alive, without a single leaf. Because all the other trees in the forest are feeding it.

I promised to talk about matriarch trees, so here's where we get to them.

In a very old forest, you have very old trees. You have some trees that are so very, very old, their own roots cover entire regions of the forest. Their leaves reach up to the sky over everyone else. And after so long, they've developed to where they can take in way more resources than they need.

So what do they do?

They feed baby trees.

Baby saplings in an old forest can't reach up to the sun. There's no light down there. And their roots are too small and shallow to dig down to the nutrients they need. So the matriarch tree will draw energy from its towering canopy, and nutrients from its massive, ancient roots, and feed them to the little trees that are too small to feed themselves. For anything she can't get on her own, she'll act as a central hub, taking in spare resources from the rest of the forest and giving them to the little ones.

And one of the best parts - she won't just do it for her own species. She'll connect to all kinds of trees, because they're all necessary for the ecosystem to work. She'll adopt the whole forest's children.

Sometimes in forests you'll find a spot where there are a lot of small trees in an open space around an old, fallen tree. People generally assume they could find more light there, or maybe the soil's more fertile from the decomposition.

But no.

They're her children, and she's spent centuries keeping the whole forest alive.

[metropoliseaten]

[Image Description: A photograph of two trees, connected by a pair of branches. The tree on the left is much thinner than the tree on the right, and it has been chopped in half, leaving it with no stump or roots. The caption reads, “One tree keeping the rootless tree alive”. End ID.]