#arachnomatik

[spiritroots]

Is it all right for non-Black witches to boost your wheel of the year? I respect that the wheel isn't for everyone, but I'd be happy to boost it for those who can share in it. (You're welcome to answer this privately if you'd like.)

Yes, anyone can reblog my posts! If I wasn’t okay with something being boosted/reblogged I’d make it very clear on the post so dw (:

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[kreechure]

arachnomatik replied to your post: Since I’m broke and can’t afford to buy statues...

As someone who taught art for 10 years: “talent” comes from practice. Don’t be afraid to screw up. Buy extra clay. Make a LOT of statues, keep the ones you like best in the end. Don’t obsess over getting the statue to look just like whatever is in your head–let it live and grow and change in your hands.

This is wonderful advice and can apply to so many things! Thank you!

[breelandwalker]

5 and 6 for the witchy ask meme, please!

5) Do you have a witch you look up to?

I have a huge amount of respect for Dorothy Morrison, partly because of her writing, and partly because she literally fought Llewellyn for the right to publish her own work without their extensive agenda-based revisions.

I also greatly look up to witches I know personally, like Deb Foley and Avery Hart just to name the first two that come to mind.

6) What makes you feel powerful?

The wind in my hair. The feel of summer rain on my face. The feeling of a spell clicking into place when it is cast. And of course, discovering evidence that my magics have worked.

[systlin]

Sadly, a honeybee flew through our campfire tonight and perished. She buzzed around it several times and couldn't be persuaded to leave it alone. Another did the same thing, but survived. What's so alluring/confusing about burning wood or the citronella smoke nearby that it attracts honeybees? I've never seen that behavior before.

Bees are attracted to light. In a dark night, the bright flame attracts them. 

[themodernsouthernpolytheist]

I feel you on Lughnasa. As excited as I am for Fall, I live in California. Our seasonal change for this week? It's 97 instead of 100 and I saw some clouds this morning.

Oh, lord, I bet. I spent a lot of time thinkin about what my Gaelic Polytheism would look like in another region when I was in Puerto Rico visitin one of my closest friends back in March. It’s pretty well 85°F/29.4°C there year round. I definitely got some interesting feels on that, so I’d love to know how y'all do it out that way!

[systlin]

So my asthmatic ass just came back from visiting the in-laws, who are heavy smokers and my throat feels like someone sandblasted it. Any suggestions? I've got local honey and lots of tea at my disposal, but is there anything that is particularly awesome for respiratory health?

Coltsfoot and mullien both. Make a steam bath with either/both and inhale. 

The steam bath alone may help, tbh.

[systlin]

So I've read some sources saying you can make Balm of Gilead from cottonwood buds, and others saying it comes from a whole host of other trees. I'm hesitant to believe the cottonwood thing because they're right in my backyard and the main places I've seen saying you can use cottonwood are natural medicine bloggers with no sources to be found. May I have your thoughts on making Balm of Gilead from cottonwoods, or possibly other awesome stuff cottonwoods can do?

Cottonwood buds are the thing! 

This is one that I just recently learned actually came from something I have access to a shitload of, and have been eyeballing the shit out of the abundant cottonwood trees around me since I realized where Balm of Gilead actually came from this spring. 

Come this jan/feb,  I’mma get me a shitload of it. 

Here’s a non mommie blogger site talking about it. 

It makes an excellent aromatic incense too. 

[systlin]

Heya! Came for the duels, stayed for the solid herbal advice and running commentary on reality TV shows. Here's an herb question for you: how would you figure out if an herb is safe to burn? Specifically in an incense. I've got lavender, copal resin, thyme, chamomile, calendula, and marshmallow root, and I'd rather not do something stupid with them. Chamomile is the main one I'm concerned about, because it's related to ragweed, right?

Ragweed and chamomile are both in the aster family. People who are sensitive to ragweed can sometimes be allergic to chamomile, though it’s usually fine. I get hay fever whenever ragweed is blooming, but have no problems with chamomile. 

Have you ever drunk chamomile tea? If you have and have been fine, then you’re okay. If not, try brewing a bit of chamomile tea and dabbing just a bit on your skin, and seeing if you react. If you don’t, you’re probably fine.