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[ottoluonto]

some small sigils I feel everyone could need from time to time. take care of yourselves friends!

[ottoluonto]

Tips for writing spells:

If you want to keep something close, bury it in your back yard. If you want to attract something, bury it under the front door step If you want to destroy its influence, burn it. If you want it to move away and sink, throw it in running water If you want to disperse it to a distance, throw it into a crossroads If you want to fix its influence, inter it in a five-spot pattern If you want it to work by means of spirits, bury it in a graveyard If you want to hide its point of origin, conceal it in a tree If you want it to work in secret, give it in food or drink If you want it to work by stealth, hide it in clothing or on objects If you want its influence to begin or strengthen, throw it East If you want its influence to end or weaken, throw it West If you want its influence to rise and fall cyclicly, float it in a tidal estuary

[ottoluonto]

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My warddrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.

[ottoluonto]

Luontoni

Completely self-indulgent art. Self-portrait, but also kinda fanart for Stand Still Stay Silent.

[ottoluonto]

Sharing food with your Deities (how I do it)

There are many ways you can offer food to the gods but I never really see this specific method (which I used to use when I was super poor) and honestly, even though I’m doing economically well, I still use this method as a bonding experience with me and the gods/spirits. I thought I’d share it for those of you who might need it.

I grew up super poor and unable to waste food because I was doing witchcraft in secret and my mother would flip or my siblings would eat the food if I left food out. Still, I felt bad because all the witch books I was reading at the time (the 90s) said I had to have a physical altar (I later learned this is such BS because you can mentally have one if you can’t physically aquire or keep one) and that I HAD to put food on it as an offering and later dig it in the Earth when it was done. (Very hard to do if you live in the city and can potentially be bad for the environment).

I was frustrated. I wanted to show the gods and spirits around me that I cared, that I was greatful for their protection and constant blessings. But with me being only able to get what I could from my mom because my mother couldn’t afford to give us an allowance, there was nothing I could do, so I got creative.

I looked at my food and was silent for a bit. My mom was so proud because she assumed I was saying Grace in my head. In actuality, I touched my plate/bowl and imagined gold energy coming out of my finger tips. The gold engulfed the food and I mentally said:

“I offer the spiritual aspect of the food I’m about to eat. I offer it to (say name/names of the gods and spirits. I visualized many copies of this food for all I was offering it to, so they can enjoy the meal I was about to eat.) You are also welcome to eat through me and taste what my tastebuds taste. I will only be consuming the physical portion of this food. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do and continue to do. I love you.”

Some spirits would take me on my offer to eat through me and I could feel their energy go inside me while I ate. It was a beautiful experience and one that I still practice for a few reasons:

1) It allowed me to continue working with these gods/spirits in private.

2) I didn’t have to worry about what to do with the physical part of the food because I consumed it.

3) it was economically sound. As someone who was very poor and could only offer what I had, the spirits understood I was doing what I could. A lot of would be witches say they can’t afford the food offerings because they have to buy extra food when their normal grocery bill already looks scary.

4) I could feel the spiritual energy during these offerings. It was like being in a euphoric state of mind and that felt like we were truly bonding. It also helped me be able to identify when my spirits were near and tell them all apart.

When I got older and had a job, I was able to afford buying extra offerings but it wasn’t the same amazing experience. When I was getting rid of the food, I couldn’t help but feel bad for “wasting” it. (Something that was considered a terrible offense in my poor household.) I started to feel more and more disconnected with the spirits and before I knew it, the hectic aspects of life made it hard for me to remember to make extra for my altar so over time I stopped doing it altogether.

I find it easier for me to include the spirits in my daily life than make extra time for them because sometimes life has a way of keeping you away from your spiritual activities when it gets hectic.

Now, I do what I did when I was a kid. I interwove my gods and guides into my daily life and am experiencing magick like never before! I know some people will see this as super obvious but I felt it needed to be said for those who might need to see this.

I hope this helps and remember, no one has a right to say what is right for your craft but you! <3

[ottoluonto]

Tiny hills

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Ancestors Master Post : The Mighty Dead & Beloved Dead

This is a collection of articles and information pertaining to Ancestral work with both The Beloved Dead (ancestors of blood, family, familiar ancestors) & The Mighty Dead (ancestors of spirit, witchcraft). The practices that surround working with the dead, benevolent necromancy, ancestral worship, and altars, and offerings. 

Who’s Who : Ancestors (Greenstag)

Ancestral Practice, Altars & The Mighty Dead (Wildhunt)

Altars to the Beloved & Mighty Dead (Sarahannelawless)

Ancestral Altars & Rituals (Sarahannelawless)

In Search of The Mighty Dead (Pantheos)

Ancestor Altars (AFWcraft)

Honoring the Dead in the Northern Tradition (Northernpaganism)

Dem Bones (Newworldwitchery) 

Dancing with the Ancestors (Walkingthehedge)

What is Necromancy (Greenstag)

For the Ancestors (Northernpaganism)

Related Articles 

Drying & Preparing Graveyard Dirt (Unfetteredwood)

Recipe for New Flesh (Walkingthehedge)

Nature Friendly Offering Stones (Unfetteredwood)

Mullen Candles & Torches (Unfetteredwood) 

Creating an Ancestor Garden (Unfetteredwood)

Plants for the Dying & Deceased (Unfetteredwood)

[ottoluonto]

Finnish Mead: Sima 🍯🍊

Sima is a sweet mead, still an essential seasonal, sparkling brew connected with the Finnish Vappu festival that is on the first of May (originates from Walpurgis Night). It is usually accompanied by munkki (a donut), tippaleipä (a special Vappu funnel cake) or rosetti (a rosette).

2 large lemons

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar

5 quarts boiling water

1/8 tsp. yeast

5 tsp. sugar

15 raisins

Carefully peel off the yellow skins (zest) and set them aside; then cut away the white membranes of the lemons and discard them. Slice the lemons very thinly. In a 6- to 8-quart enameled or stainless steel bowl, combine the lemon slices, lemon zest and the two sugars. pour the boiling water over the fruit and sugar, stir and let the mixture cool to tepid; then stir in the yeast. Allow the sima to ferment, uncovered, at room temperature for about 12 hours. To bottle, use five 1-quart bottles with very tight covers or corks. Place one teaspoon of sugar and three raisins in the bottom of each bottle. Strain the sima through a sieve and, using a funnel, pour the liquid into the bottles. Close the bottles tightly and let them stand at room temperature one to two days, until the raisins have risen to the surface. Chill the sealed bottles until ready to serve.

[ottoluonto]

“I am the forest, I am ancient. I treasure the stag, I treasure the deer. I shelter you from storm, I shelter you from snow. I resist the frost, I keep the source. I nurse the earth, I am always there. I build your house, I kindle your hearth. Therefore, you people, hold me dear.”

— Inscription found in a 17th century forester’s house in Lower Saxony, Germany (via inatt)

[ottoluonto]

I’m bit late, but I just noticed this and I have a recomendation.

I’m nonbinary person and some cards are hard for me to read as well because the meanings are so kinda set in stone, but I found Little Red Tarot’s Queerify your tarot thingie a while back and it’s helped me a ton.

I liked Beth’s article about Empress a lot. It’s not written from trans/nonbinary perspective but it has helped me with how I read the card.

I hope this helps a bit!

Trans guy witch asking for tarot advice! (why I outed myself is necessary for this..)

So I was doing my tarot conversation after a long while and in the past my deck(and runes and ogham…) has instructed me to let go of my fears and open up to this. Like basically my own shame blocks me for reaching me my full potential, as in craft as in life which is a call out but yeah… 

So today my tarot slammed me with Empress, times two. One was in my questioning and one was when I was putting my deck away, so it was unprompted but apparently necessary. So as I understood it, I have to embrace my feminine side (do you see the problem yet?) and get in touch with my sensuality…. Which to me-as a trans man- seems a bit of red flag-ish?? Because honestly I try nOT to seem MORE feminine… So like

help??

is there other ways to read this card? if is then what? and honestly am I going the right way.. I mean it seems SO stupid to start questioning your gender after a tarot reading but I don’t know. I get anxious really easily alskdjfh

[ottoluonto]

Releasing Spell

Hi there! I decided to post this because it’s been extremely helpful for me, and I’m sure it will be for everyone else too!! It’s a super easy spell I love to do.

This spell can get rid of your doubts or can get rid of a negative situation.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Piece of paper. Lined or printer is fine.

Black pen or marker.

The elements, be safe with them.

STEPS:

First, write down every single doubt you have on that piece of paper, or instead, write down the situation you want to get out of.

If you’re using fire,

BURN THAT BITCH.

If you’re using water,

DROWN THAT BITCH.

If you’re using the earth,

BURY THAT BITCH.

If you’re using air,

FLY THAT BITCH.

That’s it.

For fire, burn it and rid of the ashes. For water, soak it until the words are unreadable then flush it down the toilet. Earth, bury it. Air, rip it up on a windy day and throw it into the wind.

Using the elements will allow the negativity to detach from you.

Do this as many times as you need to, and let me know how it works for you, I love feedback!

~ Eris

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In the context of folk religion, the notion of väki refers to both an impersonal otherworldly power and to otherworldly beings. Many different entities were believed to possess väki in the Finnish-Karelian folk religion: for example the forest, water, earth, fire, rock, metal, and the dead. These different types of väki were different in strength and could be manipulated against each other in magical practices. For example the väki of water has sometimes been declared the oldest and strongest one, especially the kind found in rapids, but this is not consistent since folk religion lacks dogmatic rules.

Sonja Hukantaival, “Frogs in Miniature Coffins from Churches in Finland: Folk Magic in Christian Holy Places” (2015) in Mirator 16(1):192-220

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Old gods do not mean dead gods

me (via witch-of-artemis)

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Finnish banishing monsters by threatening to tell their parents what they have done. 

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Finnish mythology

Ajattaret • Ajajatar

she would make one lose their way in the woods and brought nightmares to those who were asleep in forests

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“I am protected from unwanted spiritual and physical entities who would do me harm.”

Send me sigil requests!