mojotheroot

[mojotheroot]

[mojotheroot]

Ahhh! This is so cool!

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[mojotheroot]

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳)

Cats

[mojotheroot]

A non-sense guide about kitsunes

Kitsune : types, how to contact them, what to be careful of, offerings? Etc

This post will also be mentioning inari-sama who is the Japanese kami of foxes (mostly kitsune’s work under her)

Note : this is just a basic educational post please research more also my posts will contain my UPG, this is not for beginners so do not mess with them if you just started

English is not be first language so sorry if I make any mistakes.

What are they?

Japanese folklore, Kitsunes are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form.

Rankings + types of kitsunes in folklore.

* The zenko (善狐, ‘good foxes') are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes in English. They also good to start with if you’re interested.

* On the other hand, the yako (野狐, lit. 'field foxes', also called nogitsune) tend to be mischievous or even harmful. “ This makes vetting each individual a difficult and time-consuming task. They are excellent at twisting the truth and finding loopholes which means they also tend to be excellent at discernment and getting out of unfavourable situations.”

* Tenko are the highest ranked of all Kitsune, and are those Kitsune closest to the Tatsu , the dragon Yokai of Japan. A number of Tenko have silver or golden coats and many are also Kyuubi, or nine-tailed foxes who have far longer lifespans than that of other Kitsune, and of these, some are even worshipped as Kami.

* There is one particularly famous kitsune known as A nine-tailed magical fox, she is also one of the most powerful yōkai that has ever lived. Her magical abilities were matched only by her trickiness and lust for power her name is Tamamo no Mae (Japanese: 玉藻前 or たまものまえ, meaning “Lady Duckweed”)

* A kumiho (구미호 / 구) is a nine-tailed fox from Korean legends and oral tales. Kumihos are akin to European fairies. Foxes that live a thousand years become kumihos. Kumiho or Gumiho spirits in Korean mythology are nine-tailed magical foxes

* Myoubu are white celestial foxes typically found at shrines dedicated to the kami Inari-sama, sworn to the rice God, Inari's service, and they are sometimes simply called Inari's foxes they also act as messengers and can help in vanishing malicious/evil entities and also good at karma.

* Ashireiko is the lowest social rank of kitsunes . It is held from infancy until the age of one hundred. The rank of ashireiko includes ordinary, non-magical foxes as well as magical kitsune. Because of this, the vast majority of kitsune belong to this rank.

* Time (Jikan) These kitsune have eidetic memories and are said to be full of wisdom. They can always detect when someone is lying.

* Kiko are slightly more mischief-prone than Kuko or Tenko but much less so than the "wild" kitsune, they tend to take the form of brilliant white foxes with up to nine tails but can appear as anything they desire due to their spiritual nature

* Chiko is the next rank of kitsune society, after ashireiko. Kitsune belonging to this rank no longer look like ordinary, non-magical foxes, as they begin to sprout additional tails based on their age. This is the highest rank which wicked foxes, or nogitsune, can achieve.

* Good foxes were seen as servants of deities, or even as deities themselves, responsible for harvest or fortune. They are called kinko (gold), ginko (silver), byakko (white), kokko (black), tenko (heavenly) and kūko (air foxes). Wild evil foxes cast spells on people, brought diseases and possessions

There are lots of more as you research

Kitsunes come under yokai spirits, if you hear the term “Japanese yokai spirits “ it means entities/spirits who are linked to Japanese folklore and mythology.

How to contact them?

Here are some things you can do to attract kitsunes

- fried tofu ( they love it for some reason )

- Kitsune related things ( masks, pictures, art, “old” things )

- Astral travelling

- Just researching about them

start my offerings ( since most spirit workers do not give them when contacting to be safe ) which you can loudly or in your mind tell that is for them ( be specific that’s even better you don’t want any other entity feeding on it )

You can make a alter for inari-sama if you don’t want to or are uncomfortable with it you don’t have to contact inari sama in order to contact a kitsune , but it’s just a boost as you can meet celestial ones that act as messengers too, Which can be intimidating They are also very good if you want to work with them in spells 🤭

Now if you want to contact a kitsune through inari sama, I’d say to first initiate a bond because it’s just like “hey I only came to you bcz I want a fox spirit” however that depends on each person you can create a contract but only if you’re serious in work

They’re not responding? How do I know if it’s them?

This is where discernment is very important and knowing the basics of communication ( tarot,pendulum, runes, music, astral etc ) and it’s totally okay if you don’t get a message asap, for example I found out I had a kitsune companion ( not bonded ) he was with me since I was young, when I was trying to communicate he was the first kitsune I talked with, so try to get to know your surroundings first I’d say

What to be careful of?

As they’re good ones they’re tricksters too. Which is why discernment is imp and also vetting if you want one as a companion you have to set boundaries and house rules, however you can ask them abt it simple or ask help from a professional spirit worker who may be able to help , I won’t recommend for beginners to mess with beings they’ve never encountered before as they can shapeshift and show what they’re not so be able to sense energies and knowing how to banish

we have some dangers like in spirit work, protection , warding , cleansing if something isn’t feeling right , stop immediately. They’re a lot of entities who feed on fear and panic so please be careful.

[mojotheroot]

Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: Help Is Not Coming

The below is copy & pasted from r/antiwork on Reddit. I have not added the username of the person who compiled this list, nor the names of the users who this user credited in their original post, out of a desire to protect the privacy of those users; r/antiwork has gone private in the wake of the Fox News interview, and I don't want to jeopardize that. But this information needs to be out there publicly.

Over the past year, and particularly the past few months, an all-out assault has been launched against worker rights in the United States. It seems that the capital class is now saying the quiet part out loud. After seeing scattered news stories and anecdotes from friends and strangers, I decided to make an attempt at compiling these transgressions into one list. This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive, just my lone voice shouting into the void.

After a request from the CEO of Delta, The CDC cut isolation time in half for covid positive workers despite the fact that they are still contagious and could infect patients, coworkers and customers. As we all know, from restaurants to ICUs, managers will pressure employees to return to work even if it isn’t safe. Also, the CDC guidelines for healthcare workers vary based on “hospital staffing levels,” with the crisis levels stating that healthcare workers can work covid positive, symptomatic, with 0 days quarantine.

A Wisconsin Hospital, ThedaCare, filed an injunction to keep nurses from leaving their at will employment for better pay. Despite the nurses having given adequate notice, ThedaCare refused to make any counteroffer. Fortunately, the judge did rule against the injunction after an initial hearing, but the fact that the hospital felt comfortable even trying this in the courts shows we, as a nation, have crossed a dangerous line.

Following the Wisconsin Hospital’s lead, BNSF filed suit to stop 17k workers from striking. Unlike Wisconsin, the judge ruled in favor of BNSF.

A mayor in Idaho suggested that teachers and service industry workers live in tents in the park rather than do anything to address soaring rent prices and stagnant wages in his town.

A group of business owners bought billboards in an attempt to shame people into taking their low paying jobs.

In NY, they decided to have high schoolers drive ambulances instead of paying EMTs enough to not go hungry.

Congress lowered the age to 18 for long-haul truck drivers instead of raising wages. To be clear, there is no shortage of drivers just a shortage of companies willing to pay drivers enough to cover costs. As with many of these “worker shortages” across other industries, we are seeing the inevitable outcome of years of “lean staffing” and predatory hiring practices.

Representatives introduced bills to allow teens to work longer hours during the school year, effectively eroding child labor laws, to help alleviate “staffing issues” at minimum wage jobs.

The Democrat governor of Maine recently vetoed a bill that would allow farm workers to unionize.

Workers are understandably hesitant to return to public facing jobs like restaurant and retail, not just over fear of covid, but due to the very real and ever increasing threat of violence against service workers across the United States..

School systems asked parents to “volunteer” amid “teacher shortages.” In New Mexico, the National Guard was brought in to work as substitute teachers rather than just closing schools or taking better covid precautions. This echoes earlier in 2021 when the National Guard was deployed to drive school busses instead of raising wages.

Police were brought in as substitute teachers, which seems like a parody of real life, so much so that South Park even predicted it. In Michigan, the Governor presented a bill that would allow custodians and bus drivers to teach classes even though both custodians and bus drivers are already in short supply due to “letting Omicron rip” and decades of “lean staffing” throughout the education system.

Across the US, schools are being forced to resume in-person classes despite it not necessarily being safe for teachers or students. At this point, I can’t help but think that the sole purpose of public education in the US is to provide daycare in order to subsidize employers' labor costs.

The Biden Administration quietly let the child tax credit expire and, along with it, any sort of extended UI that would provide paid sick leave for workers contracting covid. It’s worth noting that without the provisions in place from previous relief bills, the most exposed professions such as restaurant and retail staff, as well as doctors and nurses, don’t have paid sick leave for covid and often can’t afford to lose any income.

Keep in mind that all this is happening while corporations are posting record high quarterly profits. Employers can absolutely afford to hire more staff and raise wages and still maintain profits at a pre-pandemic level. Corporate America keeps banging the drum of “Worker Shortages” while enjoying the excess profits from cutting labor costs with the hyper-lean staffing they seem to have become addicted to.

Possibly the most heinous part of all this is a trend that anyone who has applied for jobs over the past two years should have noticed:

There are many job listings, but the jobs aren’t real.

Even though the Biden Administration believes there are plenty of unfilled jobs, there seems to be a reason employers aren’t actually trying to fill the vacant roles. Yes, that’s right, hidden deep down in the legislation is a loophole that allows employers to keep their PPP loan because of “an inability to hire similarly qualified employees for unfilled positions” (specifically H.R. 7010 section B on forgiveness, subsection 7 under determination). There’s also the pesky detail that, while the payroll loans were meant to help keep workers in their existing positions, there are no provisions in the bill to stop employers from firing workers and replacing them with someone cheaper, or simply waiting for the clock to run out and firing them after. So yes, all those “entry level” jobs you see posted requiring masters degrees? You might want to look up how much PPP money the company recieved [sic]. It probably won’t come as much of a surprise to any of you that at least 88% of companies that were given PPP loans kept the funds instead of paying staff.

We’ve been hung out to dry by our leaders and institutions that are supposed to exist to protect us.

Help is not coming.

We are on our own.

[mojotheroot]

The Bogle [Scottish folktales]

The Ettrick Shepherd – the nickname of the early 19th century poet James Hogg – wrote about a Scottish creature called a Bogle. They are malicious supernatural creatures, but they are not really evil, and will only attack wicked people such as murderers and cheaters. Henderson, in 1879, disagreed with this assessment and claimed that the Bogle has a distinctly negative association in Scottish folktales.

One story tells of a man in Arkingarthdale whose house was haunted by a Bogle. He tried to exorcise the creature by placing a Bible on the table and daring the Bogle to read it. The creature transformed into a grey cat – as Bogles are shapeshifters – and ran away. For many years the monster was not seen again, until one day when it returned and greeted the man on his stairs. The man ran away, but died the same day in an accident in the mines where he worked. Another tale is about a widow from Reeth. A burglar broke into her house and stole a bunch of candles one night, not knowing that the house was inhabited by a Bogle. The creature followed him home and appeared in his garden the following night, as a shadowy figure in the dark. The thief pulled out his gun and shot the trespasser, upon which it disappeared.

The next day, however, the Bogle returned, standing firm in the doorway of the thief’s house. The creature claimed that is was neither bone, flesh, nor blood, and that the man could not harm him. He demanded the candles, and claimed that he had to take something from the thief by way of retribution. Then, the Bogle pulled out an eyelash from the man and disappeared. The widow’s candles were returned to her home.

Also, according to Scotsman.com, the word ‘Bogle’ can also be found in the term ‘tattie-bogle’ which is an old Scottish word for a scarecrow. ‘Tattie’ means ‘potatoe’ and ‘bogle’ refers to the malicious spirit. I don’t know if this is true though.

Sources: Henderson, W., 1879, Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/scottish-word-week-tattie-bogle-1537006 (for that last tidbit) (image source 1: Nik Caesar) (image source 2: Andrew Denholm)

[mojotheroot]

Frosted circus animal cookie cake

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This soothes me inside 🍂🎃

[mojotheroot]

The Goat of Mendes, otherwise known as the Egyptian ram god, “Banebdjedet.” One of his titles was the “Lord of Sexual Pleasure”. 

It was the sexual connotations associated with this Mendes cult center that led to the god being interpreted as an incarnation of “the devil” by the first Christians. He became the face of evil, decadence and immorality and therefore given the title of the ‘King of the Witches’ worshiped at meetings of witches. 

“Banebdjedet” would go on to inspire the occult archetype, “Baphomet”. The Egyptian ram deity also influenced the “Sigil of Baphomet,” which became the infamous symbol for Satanism. 

[mojotheroot]

P.1 Common Herbs A-Z

This is A-C of some common herbs and their uses

Acorn

Good luck

Protection

Wisdom

Personal power

A dried acorn is an excellent natural amulet for keeping a youthful appearance.

Allspice

Money

Luck

Healing

Obtaining treasure

Provides added determination and energy to any spells and charms. Burn crushed allspice to attract luck and money. Use in herbal baths for healing.

Almond

Wisdom

Money

Fruitfulness

Prosperity

Invokes the healing energy of the deities. Provides magickal help for overcoming dependencies & addiction. Associated with Candlemas and Beltane. Carry, wear, or use as incense to attract abundance.

Aloe

Protection

Luck

Place on the grave of a loved one to promote peaceful energy. Thought to relieve loneliness and assist with success. Hang in the home to attract luck and protection for those who live there. Grow in the home to provide protection from household accidents. Burn on the night of a full moon to bring a new lover by the new moon.

Apple

Love

Garden Magick

Immortality

Friendship

Healing

Place seven apple seeds in a bag with Orris Root to attract sexual love. Use in rituals to give honor to gods and goddesses of fertility. Considered the food of the dead, which is why Samhain is called the 'Feast of Apples'. Symbolizes the soul and is burned at Samhain in honor of those who will be reborn in the spring. When doing a house blessing, cut an apple in half -- eat half and put the other half outside of the home as an offering.

Apricot

Love

Add leaves and flowers to love sachets or carry apricot pits to attract love.

Banana

Fertility

Potency

Prosperity

Basil

Love

Exorcism

Wealth

Sympathy

Protection

Dispels confusion, fears & weakness. Drives off hostile spirits. Associated with Candlemas. Carry to move forward in a positive manner despite perilous danger. Strewn on floors to provide protection from evil. Sprinkle an infusion of basil outside of the building where you hope to be employed for luck in a job interview or in your business to attract money and success. Wear or carry to aid in attracting money and prosperity.

Bay leaf

Protection

Good fortune

Success

Purification

Strength

Healing

Psychic powers

Write wishes on the leaves and then burn the leaves to make the wishes come true. Place under the pillow (or use in dream pillow) to induce prophetic dreams. Place in the corner of each room in the house to protect all that dwell there. Carry bay leaf to protect yourself against black magick.

Black pepper

Banishing negativity

Exorcism

Protection from evil

Blackberry

Healing

Protection

Money

Sacred to Brighid. Leaves and berries said to attract wealth and healing.

Bluebell

Luck

Truth

Friendship

Incorporate into rituals of death & dying to comfort those left behind and ease their sorrow.

Blueberry

Protection

Though not recommended, blueberry is said to cause confusion & strife when tossed in the doorway or path of an enemy.

Burdock

Used for cleansing magick when feeling highly negative about oneself or others. Use in protection incenses and spells. Rinse with a decoction of burdock to remove negative feelings about yourself or others.

Cabbage

Fertility

Profit

Good luck

Lunar magick

Money magick

Cactus

Chastity

Banishing

Protection.

Bury with other banishing symbols for protection. Grow in the home or garden to prevent unwanted intrusions. Place in all directions of the home (north, south, east, and west) for full protection.

Cardamom

Lust

Love

Fidelity

Carrot

Lust

Fidelity

Cashew

Money

Celery

Mental powers

Psychic powers

Lust

Fertility

Male potency

Chamomile

Love

Healing

Reducing stress.

Add to a sachet or spell to increase the chances of its success. Sprinkle an infusion of chamomile around the house to remove hexes, curses and spells. Burn or add to prosperity bags to increase money. Burn as incense for de-stressing, meditation, and restful sleep. Wash hands in an infusion of chamomile for luck before gambling or playing cards. Use in bath magick to attract love. Keep a packet of the herb with lottery tickets for luck.

Cherry

Love

Divination

Gaiety

Happiness

Chestnut

Love

Chilli Pepper

Fidelity

Love

Hex breaking

Scatter powder around the house to break hexes and spells against you. Use in love charms & spells.

Chives

Protection

Weight loss *weight loss spells can be dangerous*

Cinnamon

Spirituality

Success

Healing

Protection

Power

Love

Luck

Strength

Prosperity

Burn as an incense or use in a sachet to raise spiritual and protective vibrations, draw money, and stimulate psychic powers. A popular herb for use in charms to draw money & prosperity. Wear in an amulet to bring passion.

Citronella 

Draws friends to the home, customers to the business. Promotes eloquence, persuasiveness, and prosperity. Protects and cleanses the aura. Encourages self-expression and creativity (great for writers & actors!) and brings clarity to the mind. Repels insects and deodorizes

Clove

Exorcism

Love

Money

Protection

Coconut 

Chastity

Protection

Purification

Coffee

Helps to dispel nightmares and negative thoughts and to overcome internal blockages. Provides peace of mind and grounding.

Coriander

Love

Health

Immortality

Protection.

Tie fresh coriander with a ribbon and hang in the home to bring peace & protection. Add to love charms and spells to bring romance or use in ritual work to ease the pain of a broken love affair. Promotes peace among those who are unable to get along. Throw the seeds in lieu of rice during Handfastings and other rituals of union. Use the seeds in love sachets and spells. Add powdered seeds to wine for an effective lust potion. Wear or carry the seeds to ward off disease and migraines.

Cucumber

Chastity

Fertility

Healing

Cumin

Fidelity

Protection

Exorcism.

The seed is said to prevent the theft of any object which contains it. Burn with frankincense for protection. Scatter on the floor alone or with salt to drive out evil. Use in love spells to promote fidelity. Steep in wine to make love potions.

Curry

Protection

Burn curry powder to keep evil forces away.

And as always, merry meet <3

Atti

[mojotheroot]

Planetary Sign Meanings

These are determined on the date and time of your birth

Sun - personality trait

Rising - social personality (how others see us)

Moon - emotional hidden side

Mercury - communication style

Venus - love/relational style

Mars - action/movement

Jupiter - philosophy

Saturn - wisdom/maturity

Uranus - creativity

Neptune - psyche/spiritually

Pluto - transformation/change

[mojotheroot]

Tasseomancy symbols and meanings

[mojotheroot]

Divination: Orthinomancy

Orthinomancy is the practice of reading the omens one correspondences of birds throughout ones area for divination purposes and insight to future events or occurrences. Each bird and the amount of birds matter in this practice.

Birds themselves are universally believed to be an omen of good fortune, balance, and transformation. They can inspire us to take flight, enjoy the early mornings, and find balance throughout yourself.

Species Meanings:

Blackbird:

Encouragement, reassurance, devotion, and loyalty.

Blue jay:

Commitment, solidarity, courage, and security.

Cardinal:

Charisma, community, allegiance, and camaraderie.

Chickadee:

Communication, fellowship, harmony, and unity.

Chicken:

Paternal love, nurturing, soothing, and uplifting.

Crow:

Dexterity, intelligence, mutuality, and transformation.

Dove:

Affection, compassion, romance, and reconciliation.

Eagle:

Liberation, nobility, commitment, and awareness.

Finch: 

Movement, advancement, ascension, and progress.

Hawk: 

Perception, concentration, motive, and leadership.

Hen: 

Sovereignty, prioritization, triumph, independence.

Hummingbird: 

Blissfulness, recovery, fortune, and renewal.

Magpie:

Calculation, contemplation, attention, and focus.

Owl:

Insight, knowledge, intelligence, and understanding.

Peacock:

Magnificence, majesty, revitalization, and rejuvenation.

Pelican:

Nurturing, nourishing, munificence, and humility. Pheasant:

Accomplishment, enjoyment, prosperity, and affluence.

Pigeon:

Fertility, fruitfulness, expansion, and transformation.

Raven:

Knowledge, fondness, restoration, and longevity.

Robin:

Encouragement, education, improvement, and understanding.

Rooster:

Bravery, honor, daring, respectability, and confidence.

Scarlet: 

Gratitude, recognition, appreciation, and awareness.

Seagull: 

Liberation, independence, security, and protection.

Sparrow:

Strength, ability, concentration, and intensity.

Starling:

Releasing, relief, opportunities, and beginnings.

Turkey:

Respectability, abundance, honor, and fertility.

Woodpecker:

Willpower, productivity, prosperity, and recovery.

Wren:

 Vitality, protection, improvement, and innovation.

[mojotheroot]

Throwin’ the Bones

Of the divinatory techniques with which I am familiar, bones are my personal favorite. Yes, they have that very witchy vibe – but it’s more than that; the bones are honest. They don’t sugar coat, and while they have to be interpreted, once you know how to read them – there’s little room for interpretation. They are very direct and are much better suited to answering yes or no questions than tarot. With a little imaginative methodology, there few questions the bones can’t answer. And even fewer they won’t answer (as tarot cards can be known to do). A few examples of things I think the bones are better at answering than tarot: questions involving time, questions regarding health, sickness and maledictions; they present a broader grasp to any given situation – incorporating things outside of the question presented and how these things relate to the question or the reading, showing the interconnectedness of life – and how these things all relate back.

Our countless cultures have countless methods for collecting and reading the Bones – and I can only rightly attest to my own methodology: one in which the Bones need not necessarily consist solely of bones, but a collection of gathered trinkets and curios, all with their own meaning, their own story and their own energy. My collection consists of: bones (bare and painted), coins, stones, shells, jewelry, twigs, buttons, animal teeth and other squabbles. The only rule I implement is that the item can be easily gathered and (safely) tossed without breakage or injury (save your razor-blades and glass shards for witches’ bottles!).

Collecting the Bones and Bobbles

Most any small bones will do, though its recommended that you use bones that haven’t been cooked, as cooked bones have a tendency to get very brittle – especially in the case of chicken, which is quite common. In my collection I have a number of different animal bones: most are chicken, but I also have some raccoon and possum bones, as well as teeth and claws. I built a “base” of bones, but am continuously adding or replacing as I see fit.

A short list of “Bones” I like to include – most of which serve as my “base” bones:

Self Bone – used for the reader

Other Bone – used to represent another person or the person you are reading

Magic Bone – represents the need for or use of magic

“Evil” Bone – malicious or hateful acts, disadvantageous behavior

Love Bone – represents romantic love

Male Bone – represents male fertility, masculinity, sexuality or a man

Female Bone – represents female fertility, femininity, sexuality or a woman

Health Bone – represents physical or mental health

Wealth Bone – represents financial standing or monetary issues

Family Bone – represents familial connections or a family member

Fate Bone – represents destiny and your lifepath (I use a shell for this: open side up means an event can be altered, destiny is not set in stone; open side down, this path must be walked – prepare in lieu of fighting)

“Key” Bone – (I actually use a small key) which represents the key to any given situation, the remedy or problem at hand and its cause

This list is by no means comprehensive and I have many more bones in my collection with more menial meanings. This is simply a small list of options to be added to and adapted by whosoever casts the bones.

Reading the Bones

There is no right or wrong way to read the bones, there is simply your way and their way. Below I will dictate how it is that I do a general reading – again, this is just an example of one way, take and adapt to fit your own unique style or tradition!

Begin by collecting your bones into your hand. I keep mine in a leather pouch, but don’t like to toss them directly from the bag as it doesn’t allow for much control – i.e. the bones fall out either in a massive, unreadable pile or they fly out in such a scattered way nothing is close enough to read. Throwing them from the hand allows for a rather contained casting, and one that can be read easily. I do not include the Self or Other bone, instead, the Self Bone is placed before the caster and the Other Bones is placed either in front of the person you’re reading for or simply in the middle of the casting area. When reading for yourself, place the Self Bone in the center and discard the Other Bone.

Throw the Bones. This can be done on a square of cloth on which a circle (or any number of complex shapes) has been drawn or simply upon a flat table. If throwing in a circle, discard all bones that fall outside of it. These bones are null for the reading, though they can also be read as “far from the person’s mind/current situation.”

Interpret the Bones. This is done by noting the location and connection of the bones present. For instance, note the Love Bones proximity to the Other Bones and the Male Bone. This could be interpreted as being the male love of the querent – but if the “Evil” bones is introduced, this could symbol ulterior motives or a hostile or explosive relationship. Read based on both their proximity to the Other Bone – the closer, the higher priority the matter is – and their relation to one another. It’s very much like investigating a big puzzle, putting it together piece by piece to form a comprehensive understanding of their life or situation. Also not their relation based on the third dimension: x bone seems to be overlapping y bone – is the x issue eclipsing an underlying problem or truth represented by y? It depends. Only through practice will you find clarity.

Convey the message. I always like to spend a few moments making a variety of “hmm” noises when reading for others – it builds up their anticipation. Or you can throw in the occasional gasp or snarky smirk. Their responses are usually hilarious – even more so when yours are genuine! If you are reading on your own, it may be a good idea to sketch out a general map of the readings as opposed to taking a picture as often bones overlie others, which makes for a rather misleading photo representation. You might also find jotting down notes rewarding, especially in synthesizing a cohesive read.

Once you’ve garnered all the information you can from that particular toss, feel free to specify: take the bone/situation you wish to examine and toss the rest again over it/them, reading the others through that particular lens. I.E. Who is this person mentioned? What are their qualities? What is the nature of this love? What magic is being referenced here? Follow that rabbit hole as far as you wish, building your understanding.

Do not be afraid to adjust your style! Want to narrow down a time frame? Make a sort of timeline with the bones. Wish to determine the source of an ailment? Shape the bones into the form of a body. I find the bones allow for far more creativity and ingenuity than cards. And above all – TRUST YOUR GUT.

Photos: These are photos of my “base” bones when I first started reading; since then they have probably doubled (if not tripled) in number and do not incorporate my other animal bones, claws or teeth. 

[mojotheroot]

Correspondences for Death (Necrobotany)

FLOWERS

Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits

Roses, to show your love for the deceased

Calendula, for blessings and love

Marigolds, perfect for ancestral worship

Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness, ideal for deceased children

Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration, ideal for deceased lovers

Daisies, also ideal for deceased lovers and lost family members

Tulips, to spread happiness

Carnations, a common funeral flower, especially in France. Used in The Netherlands to remember fallen veterans specifically

Heather, said to conjure ghosts and open portals between worlds. Can be used to heal deceased warriors, as it’s said to only grow where no blood has been shed. Heather also marks the resting places of fairies

Holly, often planted in graveyards to protect both the dead and mourners

Hyacinth, helps souls cross over the veil after death

Bluebell, used to comfort those who are mourning

Cowslip, associated with death and rebirth

HERBS

Lavender, for peace in passing on. Used to heal the dead, aid with divination and dreams, and protect the home. 

Thyme, to give peace to those who died in violence. Use to contact both the dead and fairies

Rosemary, for remembrance

Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead

Mugwort, usually used to aid in divination and communication with the dead

Bay, usually used to aid in divination and communication with the dead

Lemon Balm, for peace and healing

Wormwood, to strengthen communication with the dead, as well as for healing and revenge

Basil, used in purification and cleansing rituals, a common symbol of sorrow in Ancient Greece. Use to aid in divination, hedgecrossing and spirit communication

Cinnamon, can amplify divination magic, and was used in the Ancient Egyptian mummification process. It’s commonly associated with spirit and deity work

Dittany of Crete, burned to manifest spirits, also valued as a symbol of love and healing

Fennel, a protective and purifying herb used to prevent spirits from entering your home

Juniper, guards against ghosts and illness, used in healing and purification spells. Juniper berries make good offerings for the dead

Mint, a popular funerary herb in Ancient Greece, also used for healing and protection during travel

Mugwort, used in spirit work

Mullein, can help one see spirits of the dead and the afterlife

Oregano, it was believed that growing oregano on graves ensured the dead were happy

Parsley, has a strong association with the dead, also has protective qualities

St John’s Wort, used in spirit work and divination

Marsh mallow (Althea), associated with death and rebirth, marsh mallow can be used in departing rituals and to honor those who have passed

Foxglove, used for contacting the dead and underworld deities

TREES

Cypress, heavily associated with death and spirits, as well as being sacred to Hades and Persephone. Makes a good offering for the dead

Hawthorn, associated with death, and serves to drive away unfriendly spirits. Was also said to be a portal to the Otherworld and is sacred to fairies, so don’t mess with it

Hickory, associated with mourning and death

Poplar, is sacred to both Zeus and Hades, and represents death and rebirth. Often used for Samhain, ancestral rites, funerals and ceremonies involving the underworld

Willow, a common symbol of death, even being a popular ornament on gravestones. Sacred to both Hades and Hecate, as well as being associated with ghosts and spirits

Yew, represents death and rebirth, and is sacred to Hecate. Runes, Ogham sticks and Ouija boards are commonly made from Yew wood

Elder, used in death rituals and funerals

FRUITS

Apples, a common Irish symbol for the dead

Pomegranates, to represent various Death and Underworld Deities

INCENSE

Myrrh, commonly used in death magic to give off good energy

Frankincense, a traditional incense to offer the dead

Dragon’s Blood, burned to aid in spirit work and protection

Sandalwood, burned to support spirit work, protect a space and consecrate tools

Wormwood, develops psychic powers, carried to provide protection, and hung to ward off malicious spirits

LIQUIDS

Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits

Wine or other alcohol

Juice, namely pomegranate or beet

Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut oil, almond oil, etc. 

OTHER

Coins

Grains, especially brown bread

Darkly-colored or Earthy-tone Candles

Foggy Weather

Marsh Water

Snow, especially snow collected from graveyards

Cleaning up graveyards

Songs and Music

Anything personal to the person you’re giving an offering to

DEATH DEITIES

Anubis, Egyptian God of Death, Mummification and the Afterlife

Arawn, Celtic ruler of the Otherworld, Leader of the wild hunt, and God of Death and The Underworld

Baba Yaga, Slavic Goddess of Death and Rebirth

Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Wild as well as Liminality and the transition to the afterlife

Cerridwen, Welsh Goddess of the Moon, Rebirth, Transformation, Death, The Underworld and Magic

Ereshkigal, Mesopotamian Goddess of Death and the Underworld

Hades, Greek God of the Underworld

Hel, Norse Goddess of the Underworld and Death

Morana, Slavic Goddess of Winter and Death

Odin, Norse God of Wisdom, War, Poetry and Death

Osiris, Egyptian God of the Underworld, Death and Resurrection, Fertility and Agriculture

Oya, Yoruba Orisha of Weather, Death and Rebirth, Patron of the Niger river and a Psychopomp

Persephone, Greek Goddess of the Underworld

Santa Muerte, Mexican folk goddess of the Afterlife, Healing and Protection

Thanatos, Greek personification of Death

The Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of War, Magic, Death and Rebirth, Sovereignty and Fate

Veles, Slavic God of The Underworld, Earth, Water, Music, Magic, Trickery, Cattle and Wealth

WHAT TO DO WITH OFFERINGS

Write a message on an herb or flower and burn it to “send” the offering

Leave coins, flowers and herbs on the grave

Pour liquid into the ground, or leave them out in a bowl (make sure it won’t harm the local wildlife)

Leave them out as “standing offerings” for any dead who pass by

[mojotheroot]

Types of divination: 2. Astrology

Astrology is divination using celestial bodies,such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars, in order to determine the likelihood of future events.

Astrology has been dated to at least the 2nd millennium BCE and relies on reading the planets and the stars to determine their influence on events in human life. This was taught across the many different academic circles of the time along with alchemy, astronomy, meteorology and medicine. Although astrology is now labeled as a pseudoscience, it is based on the idea that everything happens for a reason, and nothing is coincidental.

In divination, horoscopes use zodiacs as a means of advising daily actions and guiding you towards your best path to success. There are different ways a zodiac can be read including one's sun, moon and rising sign.

Your sun sign is said to depict your personality. This reflects your general approach to life and human nature.

Your moon sign is said to depict your heart. This reflects your emotions/fears in addition to your hidden subconscious.

Your rising sign is said to depict your outer appearance. This reflects how others may perceive you and your spontaneous reactions.

A zodiac was traditionally determined by one's birth relation to the moon, but now, it is read as one's birth relation to the sun. This was likely done during the shift from Paganism to Christianity as a major religion in an effort to erase any "dark" or otherwise feminine associations.