#*naiad = river nymph <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[inafieldofdaisies]

Character Edit | Deputy Sabrina Donovan as a Naiad

Watch the lights like water underneath my skin And my blood boils hotter, I can feel you swim in my veins like somethin's forcin' me to sin

@strafethesesinners @strangefable @socially-awkward-skeleton @shellibisshe

@voidika @josephslittledeputy @josephseedismyfather @trench-rot @killyourrdarlingss

@katsigian @imogenkol @wrathfulrook @purplehairsecretlair @g0dspeeed

@direwombat @elligatorrex @mkdecimation @carlosoliveiraa @theelderhazelnut

@aceghosts @raresvtm @cassietrn @derelictheretic @la-grosse-patate

@simonxriley @dumbassdep @finding-comfort-in-rain @neonshrike

@simplegenius042 @cloudofbutterflies92 @lilywatt @roofgeese

[dootznbootz]

Epic the Musical fans, I'm gripping you by the shoulders to tell you that Penelope has a sister who she is very very close with in the Odyssey who was named Iphitimene.

Not only a sister, but in each myth she is in, she has a lot of brothers. At least around 4 or 5.

The Potential for Eldest daughter Pen, Middle child Pen, and/or baby sister Pen is ENDLESS!!!

She is also half-naiad at the very least (in most myths) with her mother being a river nymph named Periboea. She can even be 3/4th naiad if you go with the myth of her father, Icarius, being the son of Bateia, another naiad.

[thieves-in-the-palace]

They're really pulling some niche figures for these new Personas, huh?

Prosymna is one of three naiad daughters of the Greek river god Asterion. Along with her sisters (Acraea and Euboea), she served as a wet-nurse for Hera. The name Prosymna means "celebrate in song," which explains her harp-like design.

(Prosymna is also a genus of snake!)

Erytheia is one of the three (or four, or seven) Hesperides, nymphs who presided over evening and sunsets. The name Erytheia means "the red one." There doesn't seem to be much mythos surrounding Erytheia specifically, but her name was assigned to a small island northwest of Gilbraltar. (Nowadays it's part of Spain! The city of Cadíz can be found there.)

Preceded by Leucothea, Erytheia is one of the two (possibly 3?) P5X Persona to be rendered as a masculine entity despite being based off a distinctly feminine mythological figure. Not sure why they're doing that, but hey, the designs are great!

Syke is a bit of an oddball. While it would be easy to presume it's meant to represent Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul…Psyche has already appeared as Metis' Persona back in P3 FES, so it's possible this one is a different entity. However, something worth noting: like the other Greek myth Persona in this post, Psyche came in a set of three, having been the youngest of three sisters.

Of what I've been able to dig up, Syke (or Syca) was also the name of a town in ancient Cilicia, a region in southern Anatolia. Another name for Syke was Setos, possibly based off the primordial sea goddess Ceto. Ceto is considered one of the oldest-known deities in Greek myth, and was mother to a myriad of monsters, such as the Graiae and Gorgon sisters.

Meng Po is the Chinese goddess of forgetfulness, tasked with ensuring that souls headed for reincarnation are reborn with no memories. To accomplish this, she serves a memory-wiping soup to souls crossing the Naihe Bridge out of Diyu, a subterranean maze that serves as an equivalent to hell in Chinese mythology.

This lore explains both the bowl and lantern in this Persona's design. The bowl represents the soup, obviously enough, while the lantern can be interpreted as symbolic of "guiding the dead."

Cleodora was one of the three Thriae, prophetic nymphs who lived in the Corycian Cave of Mt. Parnassus. Though the Thriae are often considered to be the "bee-maidens" (women bearing human heads/torsos and bee wings/lower bodies) described in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, it's possible they're different trios; the Thriae predicted the future through throwing stones (pessomancy/mantic pebbles), while the bee-maidens predicted the future through casting lots (cleromancy).

The only info I can find on Cleodora as separate from the Thriae states that she was the mother of Parnassos, who invented a way to predict the future based on birds (ornithomancy).

[rozeliyawashereyall]

Liya rant let's fucking go

Again! Little reminder Liya is a separate character from me, Roze! I've just been using her a pfp because I didn't have one for ME y'know?— also, there's lot of Greek mythology references but I don't care let me make my OCs in peace goddamit

Basics first—

Her full name is Liya "Minthe" Noor! Hehe

Birthday is on the 29th of October

She/They pronouns

A genderfluid lad :3

She isn't human per se... but a nymph! An underworld water one ^_^ (a Naiad basically–)

Ethnicity is greek-egyptian! Can speak Arabic, English, and Demotic Greek :3 (and just a lil bit of Armenian)

Just a silly gal looking for a home after being cast out by her father

Mbti is INFP-T

Now, Liya Noor.. I have so much lore on them i might need to make a separate post!

Let's get straight to the point~

Minthe can exist anywhere she wants. Whether it be in a different universe, an audio RP (hehe), or in a game. With just a ring of her bell, she'll be teleported there to lurk from the shadows.

The underworld is surrounded by a series of rivers: The Acheron, river of woe. The Cocytus, river of lamentation. The Phlegethon, river of fire. The Styx, river of unbreakable oath. and The Lethe, river of forgetfulness. <- Liya was created by Cocytus, along with her sisters.

Year is 1683

After being assigned to go collect a human soul for the first time, she accidentally fell in love with the mortal land, getting distracted by it. So instead of collecting the soul of the dead human so they could properly pass, they instead started touring around, watching the markets, stage shows, etc. completely forgetting about her mission.

Unfortunately for Minthe, her forgetting to collect the soul caused a..slight troublesome event for the mortals. Since the soul wasn't harvested, the body was still alive despite the heart no longer beating, causing quite a freakout in the city, which led to a lot of crazy theorists rioting and semi still sane people leaving the land.

After her father found out about Minthe's terrible mistake, he cast her out of their home, with a quest on her hands.

"prove you're still worthy to call yourself a child of mine, and you shall return. Fail, and you'll be drowned in the river of Lethe, forever to forget."

The problem was...he never told her what her quest was. He basically just told her to "fuck around, find out, and pray I agree."

A year later. Minthe was travelling along the mortal land in the late 16th century of Scotland, searching for a clue to what her quest was, when she met a woman in her early 20s, her name was Liya.

They befriended each other quite fast! Uh, before Liya was hanged and then burned at the stake for the accusation of being a witch. Yeah, that messed up Minthe up quite a bit.

After that sad event, she named herself Liya, as a little momentum to her friend, and an almost rebellious act towards her father.

Year is 1832

After almost 200 years of pointless searching, Liya finally relented and went back down to the underworld to ask what her quest even was

On her way to the underworld. Liya meets a kitten! A cute, slightly injured one. She takes the feline under her wing, planning to soak the cat in the river of Styx so it'll live an immortal life with her! Just like how Thetis did to her son, Achilles.

Now, walking from the mortal realm to the underworld is a long, long way, taking almost 5 years by just walking. So instead Liya decides to find a shrine of Hermes, to ask him to guide her into the realm of the undead. But after searching and searching, she found all the shrines...but the ones dedicated to Hermes.

In a fit of frustration, she destroyed a shrine dedicated to the goddess of Spring, angering her badly.

In punishment, she cursed them. Killing her feline companion, and making a mint plant grow inside of her stomach. Forcing Liya to endure a century of suffocation from the plant, but never dying of it.

Ah- that's all for now, I'll probably make a part 2 of this one day.

But for now you get this!!

[jakegooglyeyes]

Naiad - 1/3

This is a shorter series I've written for quite a while. I need a little fluff to help cope with stress. I came up with this solely because Jake is a Sagittarius. Prone to a lot of mistakes because I wrote and edited this sleep-deprived.

Pairing: Centaur!Jake x Nymph!reader (f)

A centaur has fallen in love with a naiad for a very long time. He deems himself too brutish to be near you, satisfied with watching you from a distance. Until one day, he hears the river goddess cries out for you, her child who was taken by humans.

Word count: 2300

Warning: mild violence/gore, butchering of Greek mythology, Jake's self-loathing and mild horny thoughts, repeating the word "gentle" about a thousand times

Tagged: @gyllenhaalstories (as promised)

Minor DNI

Your breath catches in your throat, a ragged gasp as you realize you cannot remember how long you have been running. Exhausted and thirsty, your legs are about to give out, and painful cuts cover your bare feet.

You try to call out to your mother for help, but you have strayed so far away from the river that your voice can no longer reach her. Looking behind, all you can see is towering trees and darkened sky. Crawling into a hollowed tree, you pray to the gods that the humans will not find you here. You are so frightened by the thought of what they will do if they capture you.

Just as the footsteps get closer, you hear a twangling sound of a released bowstring and something sharp piercing through the air. Whoever attacks them must have caught the humans off guard. They scream and curse in words you can not understand as bodies hit the ground one after another. The bowstring sings its song a few more times. The last human let out a pathetic grunt and then, deafening silence.

You cautiously peek out from behind the tree, the stench of blood and smoke hitting you instantly. A gruesome scene lays out in front of you: several bodies sprawl on the ground, arrows protruding from their chests, their faces twist in agony, illuminated by the flickering flames of fallen torches. Judging by their bloodstained clothes and scattered weapons, these dead men were your pursuers a few moments ago. Now they lie still without light in their eyes.

"Are you hurt?"

A rumbling voice calls out from the darkness between the trees and the tall grass.

Startled, you retreat into your hiding spot once more, eyes fixating on the shadow in front of you. You can only make out a tall figure moving through the bushes and hear the sounds of hooves treading on the ground. Your heart pounds with dread. Your legs feel like lead, aching with exhaustion, and even if they could still move, there was no way you could outrun a horse.

"Please, come out. I mean no harm."

The figure comes forward, emerging from the shadows, and into the flickering light of the torches. You realize the sounds were not from a horse. Instead, they belong to one of the centaurs guarding this part of the forest. The chase drove you far from your home, leading you into the dense forest of the beast-men.

You slowly crawl out from the hollow tree, the silence of the forest amplifying every creak and groan of the branches beneath you. You eye the centaur with every bit of caution. Even though he saved you, and there has never been enmity between your kind and his, you cannot trust a stranger, especially one that looks half a human male and half a savaged beast.

"You don't speak the tongue of man?"

You do not understand what the centaur is saying, but you can at least tell there is no hostility in his voice. So you remain still, waiting for his next move. Your eyes are glued to him as your heart thumps loudly in your chest.

He lowers his equine body into a kneeling posture, his muscular legs folding gracefully, to reassure you he is not a threat. Then, his hand reaches out, his fingers gently closing around your ankle in a reassuring squeeze. He carefully assesses your injuries, ensuring his fingers never brush against the open cuts.

"Thank the gods you didn't sprain your ankle, but your feet are still bleeding. Let's get you out of here before more humans come."

As soon as you feel his touch on your skin, thoughts flow into your mind. His genuine intention is apparent, and you can almost feel a sliver of his emotions. It's warm, like a mother's tender embrace, a comforting river enveloping you, yet with an untamed wildness that you have never experienced.

His powerful arms close around you, one supporting your trembling form, the other gently cradling your knees, as he effortlessly lifts you into his broad chest. Feeling safer in his grasp, you cling to him for support, letting the centaur carry you away into the dark.

You think to yourself as you watch his eyelashes flicker in the dim light; they are so long and beautiful, like that of a cow. The short, bristly hairs on his face catch your eye, sparking a bit of curiosity. Mother had said only men grow hair on their faces. His enigmatic charm held you spellbound, making it impossible to look away.

The centaur, unaware of your gaze, moved silently between the trees, the rustle of his hooves the only sound disturbing the forest's silence.

"If the humans purposely chased you away from the river, they might have set up traps in case you try to find your way back. So we must take the long path around the hills to avoid them."

Though his words are a jumble of unfamiliar sounds, his voice has a calming effect, easing your fear-struck mind.

The hands holding you are firm and secure, keeping the sharp branches away from you as he treads through the forest like tracing lines in the palm of his hand. The exhaustion washes over you as you nestle against his chest, his steady breathing comforting you.

The centaur knows that your kind can pick up on the emotions of others through touch, but he is unsure how much you can actually perceive. So he tries to focus on getting you to safety, hoping to suppress his deepest desire enough that it will not disturb you. Never in his life could he imagine being this close to you, let alone being allowed to touch you like this.

For the longest time, he was content with watching you from a distance. He often came by the river where you and your sisters bathe at the heat of noon, shielding himself behind the trees, for the nymphs would vanish at the sight of anything resembling a man. The centaur would spend hours gazing at your naked form as you rest on the mossy stones, eyes unable to tear away from the contour of your body.

He never asked for more, never dared. Seeing you every day was enough to soothe his aching heart.

The goddess' cry for her daughter stirred all the creatures in the forest this morning, including his herd. He raced down to the river bank, every instinct urging him to find out what was going on. He couldn't stand the thought of something terrible happening to you, his mind and soul reeling at the thought.

His heart sank as he scanned the faces of your sisters, unable to find the one he sought.

The human footprints in the dirt, still damp and fresh, guided him along the trail until he found you, fortunately, in the domain of the centaurs.

The gods knew how much he wanted to trample those despicable men, to pulverize their flesh and bones under his hooves, making them pay for thinking they could defile you with their filthy hands. He would have gouged out their eyes, ripped out their tongues, leaving them to suffer a slow, agonizing death, but he held back, wishing to spare you the gruesome sight.

He wouldn't want to frighten you anymore than you already are.

The gentle rocking with each step, the earthy scent of crushed grass, and the warmth of the centaur's embrace lull you into a deep sleep. His chest rises and falls with each breath, and you can feel the steady thump of his heart against your ear. It reminds you of the sun's warmth on an afternoon you would spend with your sisters, coming to the shore to pick flowers and watch little creatures foraging.

After some time has passed, you are roused from your slumber by the feeling of the centaur lowering you down on a patch of soft moss. You open your eyes, blinking against whatever light the stars can provide, and see that he has carried you to a small cave, the scent of damp earth filling your nostrils.

The remnants of sleep linger for a moment, but your senses start to fully return.

The memory of being chased by the humans is still fresh in your mind and your body tenses in reaction. He notices your discomfort and kneels down to meet your eyes.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice low and gentle.

"Please do not be afraid. You need rest, and I need to find something to treat your wound. The humans will not be looking for you this deep into the forest."

You feel his gentle hand stroking your hair and your cheeks. As he drapes his fur cloak around you, the scent of wood smoke and wild musk settles over you, and you feel your fear melt away. He leaves the cave to confirm there are no predators nearby and to allow you some rest.

Time seems to slip away, and when the centaur finally returns, his hooves thudding lightly on the ground as he carries a handful of fragrant herbs with him.

He carefully cradles your feet in his hands, and you can feel the heat of his palms as he works meticulously to treat your wound. The centaur scoops cool water from a nearby creek, gently washing your wounds and soothing the pain. He then secures a clean cloth tightly around them, stopping the flow of blood.

You reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, indicating that you are thankful for what he has done for you.

The centaur glances at you, his eyes briefly meeting yours, before he averts them with a hint of shyness. He is not used to being this close to you. He was in a hurry when he carried you here, so he only had enough time to take in a glimpse of you.

He is relieved to see you safe. And now, as his eyes scan your form, he can't help but notice the graceful curves of your body, the very same ones that has haunted his sleep for so many nights. He remembers the times you would appear in his dreams, bare and soft, lazing in his arms, humming your alluring songs.

In those nightly delusions, you would allow him to kiss and caress you, to worship you like his own goddess. Mouth would taste your burning skin, and hands would knead your yielding flesh.

Yet as you sit in front of him now, in person, he feels filthy and unworthy.

His kind has always been wild and violent. Sure, he has shamelessly begged for a favor from Aphrodite. But he was sure the Goddess of Beauty shuns creatures like him.

A delicate touch on the centaur's cheek, soft as a butterfly's wing, pulled him from the depths of his self-loathing. He looks up to see your captivating eyes filled with concern. You must have felt his anguish even though you do not understand what or why.

"Are you trying to comfort me?"

A bitter laugh escapes the centaur's lips. He wants to avoid you, but he cannot. He becomes greedy for your touch, driven by the longing for your affection, even if you are just worried about him because he saved you.

The sorrow you felt begins to fade, replaced by a quiet peace. It's maddening, this inability to communicate with the centaur. You want to thank him and ask him about so many things. But alas, you can only "talk" through gestures and listen to his little thoughts whenever you touch him.

Thank you.

You tell the centaur, hoping he can understand. He seems shocked that you are willing to speak to him.

Your voice fills his head with the most beautiful melody he has ever heard in his life. He would gladly follow, even if you commanded him to plunge into the depths of the underworld or to slay a mighty god. He wants to tell you how much he adores you. His mouth opens and shuts, but no words come out.

"I… Don't worry about me. You must rest. We need to leave in the morning."

After a few words, he fixes the cloak that has slipped off your shoulders before guiding you onto the moss layer. You understand he wants you to sleep.

You shiver in the freezing cold of night, tapping the space next to you, signaling that he is invited to sleep beside you. It will be warmer that way. The centaur's mind wrestles with his heart, reason clashing with desire. The internal struggle is quite clear.

Eventually, he sighs and surrenders. His equine body lowers until he gets into a position where his human half can lie down.

You move your mouth to utter a word, hoping he will understand. Your name. He looks on with disbelief, then delights. He takes your hand and presses it against his chest, letting you feel the raw, beating pulse of his heart beneath his ribs.

"Jacob."

Jake.

"It's Jacob."

Jake.

"It's… Never mind. Jake it is."

You repeat his name, earning a wide grin from him. He does not seem to mind that you decide to shorten his name. Actually, he looks a little too eager, practically bursting with excitement.

He pauses to indulge in the way you look at him before whispering in a hushed voice, not worrying that you do not comprehend his words.

"I swear on my own flesh and blood, I'll let nothing harm you."

The centaur wraps you in his arms. His initial reluctant fades away. When your steady breathing and a slight smile reassure him he did not repulse you, he pulls you into a tight embrace, silently praising Aphrodite and her miracle.

While he knows he is asking for too much, he wishes Eros would spare him from the coarse and unsavory thoughts that were forming in his mind. The golden arrow was painful enough.

The night goes by as you rest snuggly against the centaur's broad chest. You drift off into a sweet dream, comforted by the gentle embrace.

His thoughts are so tender. Though there is something else, deeper, darker, and far more primal. But you are too exhausted to notice.

[peachdues]

Hi peachyyy!!

I do have a bit of questions about netherwood and I was wondewondering if u could take the time to answer!

1-I know that the reader is currently going through it after being attacked by Sanemi,but I found it really hard to read in the part where u described what had happened and how she got injured (mostly bc I’m kind of dyslexic)but could u explain what exactly happened to her?Did he like make a hole in her face?

2-I know u mentioned mitsuri as being not a wolf but something else,I forgot the name lol but can u tell me about if she may play a role in maybe healing the reader a bit?Shinobu is a medic I believe and since that is her mate,will she have any contribution to getting to meet the reader in general?

3-GYOMEIII MY LOVE!!!! anyways..u said that he..raised the boys?Or well atleast some of the pack members,is he one of the older wolves,or is he just like a shapeshifter,I’m not sure if I read a part where u mentioned if he was related to the boys at all,or he just raised them.

Hi my love! Sure, no problem!

✨SPOILERS✨

1. Sanemi clawed reader right down the left side of her face when he burst into werewolf form. He was not aware she was there or what was going on. Genya warned her about getting too close (and it was also hinted at back in part 1), but when she tried to stop Sanemi from shifting and he reflexively shoved her away, it wasn’t back far enough. He shifted and his claw caught her. As a result, she lost an eye. She has four, deep claw marks extending down the left side of her face — so it’s currently half ripped open. This is in addition to the other injuries she sustained from Douma, as well as her two broken hands.

2. Shinobu says Mitsuri is a Naiad — a river nymph, and that’s she’s royalty. That’s all I’m revealing for now! Mitsuri will have a larger role in Part IV.

3. When Sanemi explains what happened to him and Genya when they were cursed, he says Gyomei is the one who found them after their family had been slaughtered. He then took them to the mysterious Master (Mage), who helped seal their curses. Gyomei then raised the boys at least until Sanemi was old enough to take care of himself and Genya on his own.

Only, once Genya hit puberty, he became a bit of a hot head like many teen boys, and Sanemi thought it would be better for Genya to spend more time with Gyomei/live with him until he mellowed out a bit 😂 genya agreed after the shifting-in-the-den incident when he tried to bite Sanemi 😂

Shinobu in Part III refers to both herself and Gyomei as Shifters.

🤍🤍🤍

[build-a-headmate]

Name(s): dealer’s choice

Gender(s): ocean / water themed preferably

Orientation(s): dealer’s choice

Pronoun(s): again ocean / water themed if possible

Species(s): dealer’s choice

Age(s): ageless / eternal

Source(s): dealer’s choice

Role(s): host / cohost + some form of holder

thanks for the request!

Name(s) ; Coral , Cattail , Naiad , Wisteria , Lotus , Nymph Gender(s) ; Lilypadic , Swimling , Lexeunderwater , Tropin Orientation(s) ; Sapphic Bisexual Pronoun(s) ; Riv/River , Sea/Seas , Coral/Corals , Wave/Waves , Shore/Shores , Pearl/Pearls Species(s) ; Mermaid / Siren Age(s) ; Ageless Source(s) ; Brainmade Role(s) ; Host , Co-Host , Trauma Holder (water-related trauma) , Delusion Holder (believes sea can breathe under water)

⟡　⌣⌣⌣　**𓄼**　🐺　**𓄹**　⌣⌣⌣　⟡

feel free to take inspo, directly copy, or add on as you see fit! <3

[alatismeni-theitsa]

Friendly reminder that Apollo hunted Daphne because of Eros. Apollo claimed that his bows were better so Eros punished him by shooting his arrow on Apollo. And unfortunately the first person he witnessed was Daphne.

So yeah it's more complicated that claiming Apollo as r*pist based on one story alone without seeing other sources because for some reason no one mentions how Eros was involved in this.

I searched different passages and only Ovid (never trust this guy xD) tells us specifically that Eros and Apollo's fight was the beginning of this. The rest of the passages for Apollo and Daphne say he just fell in love with her and chased her.

However, for argument's sake, let's see Ovid's case. (But also don't trust Ovid cause he embellished Greek stuff with extra elements for no reason other than spite) I am doing this to clear some stuff about how "eros" worked.

1) All the times Apollo fell in love, including Daphne's case, it was his usual type of love. Eros was always involved when anyone fell in love, and Apollo felt eros (was hit by Eros) many times, judging from how many people he coupled with. All the times he and other figures and all humans fell in love, it was because of Eros. That was the feeling for everyone who fell in love. As you know eros in ancient Greece was considered to be a very powerful force that drove people to do radical things. (and there is the underlying ancient misogyny of "the poor man just couldn't control himself and raped her!") Hence, there is nothing different in how Apollo fell in love with Daphne than the average person and god. And in the context of ancient Greek culture it was expected of him to do radical things because of love.

2) The arrows weren't even "special" arrows. The one that hit Apollo "rouses love" as usual.

Then winging through the air his eager way he stood upon Parnasos' shady peak, and from his quiver's laden armoury he drew two arrows of opposing power, one shaft that rouses love and one that routs it. The first gleams bright with piercing point of gold; the other, cull and blunt is tipped with lead. This one he lodged in Nympha Peneis' [Daphne's] heart; the first he shot to pierce Apollo to the marrow.

3) What about the other woman he chased off a cliff, Bolina? That was also eros. It was eros every time, for all the gods and humans that ever fell in love.

For that reason, I wouldn't compare Apollo's condition to being drugged. I would say that he got out of control, but as much as one was expected to get out of control when in love. The passages speak of average eros and lust. Eros is not a special guy who only hit Apollo and that's it. That's literally how love happened for everyone. Apollo's case is not special here.

I searched the passages here. If you have extra passages for the arrows, let me know!

[hanjeongrp]

Welcome to the Nymph’s Spring Revelry!

The Spring Revelry is a week-long celebration held annually in the Mistwood Grove, deep in the heart of the forest. The event is a joyous celebration of the coming of spring and the renewal of life, and is a time when locals and visitors alike come together to revel in the beauty of nature.

As the revelry takes place in the forest, please make sure to follow the rules of the nymphs. Hanjeong Main has no power there.

In-Game Dates: May 6th - May 12th Event Length: May 6th 12:00 PM CST - May 21st 11:59 PM CST

Feel free to participate in as many or as few of the activities as you’d like or create one of your own in honor of the event!

Tag: han.springrevelry

The festival features a variety of events and activities, including music and dance performances, storytelling, arts and crafts workshops, and guided nature walks. Though many can commute to the Mistwood Grove for each event, there is a campsite set up especially for this event for the entire week.

Visitors are encouraged to take part in the celebrations and immerse themselves in the wonder of the forest, whether it's by joining in a lively dance or simply enjoying the sights and sounds of nature around them. 

Day 1: Opening Ceremonies

The week-long festival kicks off with an opening ceremony in the Nymph’s Lair, the central meeting place for the nymphs. Visitors will be welcomed by the nymphs and given a tour of the Mistwood Grove, where they will learn about the various flora and fauna of the forest. The highlight of the ceremony will be a dance performance by the naiads under the shimmering Naiad Falls.

Day 2: Forest Exploration Day

Visitors can explore the Mistwood Grove at their leisure. The Sapling Sanctuary will be open for visitors to see the young dryads, and they can even help to plant a sapling (be careful though; don’t want to end up accidentally having a child). There will be guided hikes through the forest led by experienced rangers. Visitors can try to find their way through a maze made of shrubs.

Day 3: Spring Celebration

The spring equinox has just passed, and the Mistwood Grove is bursting with new life. Visitors can take part in rituals celebrating the arrival of spring, such as creating flower crowns, dancing around a maypole, and lighting a bonfire. In the evening, there will be a feast with local cuisine, including honey cakes and flower-infused beverages.

Day 4: Nature Conservation Day

This day is dedicated to nature conservation and education. Visitors can learn about the importance of protecting the Mistwood Grove and its inhabitants. There will be workshops on how to minimize human impact on the environment, such as reducing waste and using eco-friendly products. Visitors can also participate in a litter clean-up of the Mistwood Grove.

Day 5: Naiad Appreciation Day

This day is dedicated to the naiads, the water nymphs who reside in the Mistwood Grove. Visitors can take part in activities such as swimming in the river. There will also be a fishing competition, with prizes for the largest catch. Visitors can learn about the naiads' connection to the water and their role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.

Day 6: Dryad Day

This day is dedicated to the dryads, the tree nymphs who reside in the Mistwood Grove. Visitors can learn about the different types of trees and their symbolism in mythology. There will be a tree-planting ceremony, where the new royal family will plant a new sapling. There will also be a craft fair where visitors can purchase handmade items made from natural materials, such as jewelry and figurines. Don’t worry, no dryads were harmed in the making of them.

Day 7: Closing Ceremonies

The week-long festival ends with a closing ceremony at the Nymph’s Lair. The highlight of the ceremony will be a performance by the nymphs, showcasing their unique talents. Visitors can say farewell to the inhabitants of the Mistwood Grove and pledge to return in the future to continue supporting nature conservation.

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics: Nymphs¹ Galore!!

1 thru 3. Ancient Greek Nymphs had a variety of nature based tasks.

They handled wild animals & plants, for holiday worship & sacrifices.

Held rites & religious experiences, like being 'entombed' as part of a rebirth rite.

And prepared herbal medicines for the sick & old.

Basically, ancient wise women - what we now call wiccans.

But, were there real women behind these tasks or, is it just a story?

4. Oread (mountain Nymph)? Or, is she a Hamadryad (tree Nymph)?

5. Is this a Naiad (river Nymph)? A Nereid (sea Nymph)?! Or, Oceanid (ocean Nymph)?!!

6 & 7. Certain trees had Dryads (oak) & Meliae (ash) to attend to them.

But, most known types of tree had its own Nymph, from Aegeirus (poplar) to Suke (fig)...

These were seen as the children of Hamadryas (oak bonded), the Dryad of Mt. Othrys (of the mountain?) in central Greece.

1914: The Work, Part 3.

The 1st paragraphs of this Lovecraft poem is a rerun, in verse, of his introduction.

"Frightful griffins (legends tell), Amid the far Rhipaean dwell. Perched on high peaks, (to) watch the moon, (while) guard(ing) hoards of Hyper- borean gold."

"In vain (do) 1-eyed Arimaspians tr(y) with... might to seize the glittering prize: (Yet) griffins are made from (such) monstrous things, A lion's trunk; (with) eagle's head & wings: What thief can oppose, (Or) in greed face such ferocious foes?"

Now, Howard focuses on a particular, "silly" griffin - who's not thinking about guarding any prized metals!

"Yet 1 there was, who (from this) rugged race, Aspired to a softer, sweeter place."

"With liquid glance² the creature eyed, The... Nymphs that ranged the mountainside³."

"No thought of strengh nor martial deeds he took, And never (did) strive but for a melting look²."

So, he's a peeping creep that's lusting outside of his own race... Will it come back to bite him in the rump?

Notes:

1. Nymphs (young women, brides) are human-like personications of nature.

They are tied to particular fertile places (rivers, forests, etc) or to certain 'living' things (trees, water, etc).

Nymphs can alter their appearance into related natural forms.

They usually attend the Olympian gods & can have children with them.

2. A "liquid glance" is compared to a "melting look."

It's not a tearful eye but, a lustful one.

Yet, the griffin's not committing to any 1 being. It's Nymphs plural, not singular.

Nor is he following a group with a different agenda - his brothers's roughhousing.

The 2 eyes that allowed him to 'appreciate' other creatures - also conspired to blind him to his race's usual pursuits.

There's other doubles to be found here:

Such as the 2-eyed griffin vs the 1-eyed barbarians.

The mythic beast can look at the moon, while it also keeps a wary eye on its riches.

But, the Arimaspians are of a single eye & purpose - to get rich...

The griffin, itself, is an union of 2 bodies - while their enemies are only temporarily joined to their horses.

Yet, even with 2 eyes, the griffin soon errs...

Eyes led astray while he lingered in his rugged ease.

3. These mountainside Nymphs should be Oreades (hill/mountain goddesses).

All mountain Nymphs were children of Hamadryas, the 1st in this line of divinities.

Oreades were followers of Artemis (butcher? stainless maiden?), Greek goddess of the moon.

She loved hunting high up in the raw mountains & rocky cliffs.

Next: Part 4 - The Work Continues.

[momobani]

P1Harmony Percy Jackson/ Heroes of Olympus head canons  - 1.8k

HAPPY PIWON DAY!!!!!!!  

*my contribution for Piwon’s 2nd anniversary, i can’t believe it’s already been 2 whole years like wtf time flew by!! Anyways, i was wanting to do something special for their anniversary so this is what i came up with, hope you enjoy <3

Keeho - Son of Aphrodite (goddess of beauty and love, fertility):

Dude knows his fashion, knows how to wear it and work it. Charismatic powerhouse as you might know (you do because you have eyes duh and if you don’t, I can’t help you).

Makes the orange Camp Half-blood shirt look expensive. Sometimes leads his cabin mates out for capture the flag as if the way to the Big House is a runway. Is the source of many a nymph’s jealousy since he has that *model* vibe.

Can charm speak but with his beautiful voice you could argue he doesn’t have to usually. Only uses it when it can be weaponised on a quest (or sassing harpies back when they invade the already pristine Aphrodite cabin) or that time in capture the flag where he charm spoke the opposition into giving him his team’s flag back before they crossed the creek and won the game.  

Loves to hang out with the Pegasi since the Aphrodite cabin looks after them usually. They like him because he’s generous with treats and so Theo accidentally on purpose started a nickname and it stuck (origin of the Keehorse nickname anyone? sdhsdihusnds jk).

Good at leading quests and gets sent out a lot, it’s all “Keeho do this” and “Keeho take Shota out for a walk and vaporise some monsters while you’re at it” and “Go rescue a dryad from a tree” (lmao he fell for that one when Jiung told him to do it as a prank, lol dryads are the trees). Honestly is tired and needs a vacation but you don’t get those when you’re a demigod.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Theo - Son of Demeter (goddess of grain, agriculture, harvest, growth, nourishment):

Here me out - plant husband Taeyang? Yes, no? Anyway. Grows amazing sunflowers, strawberries and what not. Very much in charge of the strawberry farm at Camp Half Blood, as well as some of the business part of selling them to mortals.  

Also the man is obsessed with fishing, he often gets into fights with some of the naiads (river nymphs) when he fishes in their territory, so he gives them some of the freshwater fish he catches as a peace offering because he knows that you do not get on a nymph’s bad side if you want to live. (little does he know, they only pick fights with him cuz they have a crush on him lol).

Is feral enough to fight but sucks at it. Makes bad decisions on the regular because of it; the time he sassed an Aries kid and landed in the infirmary for two days since he can’t sword fight for shit, the time he bet a crate of strawberries that he could win an archery contest against the Apollo cabin and lost miserably - it’s like he gets an adrenaline rush from setting himself up. Thus, rarely gets sent on quests and if he does, it’s usually with Jiung who has a self-preservation instinct.

On the other hand, he’s very athletic in other ways - excellent at climbing the lava wall and got really popular by coaching other people on how to do it, also organises a volleyball tournament every summer for all the cabins, where the winning cabin gets - you guessed it - strawberries.  

Jiung - Son of Hermes (trade, travelling, thieves, communication/ language, messenger of the gods, sports):

Very difficult to conclude Hermes, since he really could be an Athena or Apollo kid, but I have very specific reasoning; he’s an absolute ace and jack of all trades like I just think he can do anything, hence the god of literally everything.

Also Jiung speaks like 4 languages so communication king indeed, very big brain of him. He’s also very eloquent and thoughtful. Also responsible so is very often one of the campers sent out to seek out new demigods and deliver them to camp safely.  

In charge of beads every year (treats it like a hobby), generally really involved with Big House affairs and likes to be in charge of stuff, like organising camp fires, or helping put together quest teams, and even started an escape room club with Jongseob (more on that below).

Hangs out with the Apollo kids a lot because of his love for music. And also because Apollo tried to claim as his own before he reached camp (long story) but Hermes got pissed off and made sure that Jiung arrived at camp with some of those winged sneakers just to make sure everyone knew who he was. The entire ordeal was far too embarrassing for Jiung but because it happened, he’s a camp big shot who everyone respects since it’s rare for the gods to show up.

One time, he got so excited about a quest that he laughed really hard and a monster nearby revealed itself amongst mortals because it was shocked by the sound/frequency.The pure unhingedness of Jiung’s laugh vaporised it on the spot, talk about powerful demigods omg. (btw don’t get me wrong, I adore Jiung and his laugh haha).

Intak - Son of Apollo (god of the sun/light, music, arts, prophecy, medicine, archery):

Kid literally glows, what can you do. All that passion and self-proclaimed swag, where does it comes from we wonder; it’s a no brainer. Born showman, ready to take the music world by storm. Throwback to the introduction videos and Intak talked about his shower concerts lol.

Very intuitive, handy with a sword (or most weapons cuz he practices) and has a hero quality so he gets sent on a lot of quests, usually with at least one of the 01’s so they can reign him in in case he decides to do something too heroic lol. Despite this, he still got stuck in an escape room with Soul that time (see below).

Apollo is also actually the god of dance, so of course Intak’s into dancing. He puts together dance performances for the camp fires since usually there’s only sing alongs and he wanted to spice it up. Organises the occasional flashmob at the pavilion also, just for fun, including not only campers but nymphs and harpies if they’re feeling favourable.

Surprisingly really bad at capture the flag. The poor boy isn’t one for strategies but likes to act on instinct, he doesn’t think twice (or even once sometimes), and usually gets berated by Jiung and Jongseob when they have to rescue his ass from the opposite team’s jail (Theo makes it a sport with Keeho, betting on how many times they can capture the Intak instead of the flag).

Because of his prolific quest resume, the gods know him by name, whether they’ve been helped by him or crossed by him, and when they need something (chaotic) done, they seek him out personally. Intak would just be minding his business, maybe shopping in the mortal world and an olympian would pop up out of nowhere in a cloud of smoke and startle him. In conclusion, he now gets his shopping done online, in which case only Hermes comes to him in a DHL disguise.

Soul - Son of Hecate (goddess of magic, witchcraft, night, moon, ghosts, necromancy):

Here’s the logic behind this: ain’t nothing on god’s green earth that can explain Soul’s existence lmao. The kid’s a mystery, can’t figure him out, but that’s his charm; a total enigma, so the answer is magic duh.  

Absolute expert during quests. His natural survival instinct is so strong that he doesn’t even need magic to vaporise monsters but likes to use it for fun. Begs to be paired with Keeho since he feels like he’s just going on a bro bonding trip instead of a quest.  

Once wandered too far into the woods during capture the flag with only a magical Swiss army knife and went missing for a week. Coincidentally some of the stray monsters in the woods were chased into camp by something or somebody that week, but it’s an unconfirmed theory that it was Soul. (jk it 100% was, they ran for their lives but you didn’t hear it from me).

That time he and Intak went into the beta testing for Jiung and Jongseob’s newest escape room and they got stuck because somebody (ahem* Shota) decided to use magic instead of his brain to try and solve the puzzle/riddle. Needless to say, lessons were learned and a sign prohibiting magical items was placed outside the entrance.  

Likes to dabble in magic of course, was once working on a new transformation spell and managed to turn himself and Jongseob into axolotls. BUT he forgot to make the antidote beforehand so they had to wait a few days for the spell to wear off. In the meantime, Keeho pleaded with the Hephaestus cabin to design them a temporary tank with a self-heating mechanism so they wouldn’t die. Soul now keeps actual axolotls in the tank since he thinks it’s too nice not to be lived in and turns into one to hang out with his pets every once in a while.    

Jongseob - Son of Athena (goddess of wisdom, reason, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy, handicrafts):

Smartest cookie around. There is a big brain in that head of his. Seriously, the way that Jongseob carries himself at his age and if you’ve been following him since debut (or even at YG treasure box) he’s so mature and thoughtful.

He’s in charge of the Athena cabin book club (have you seen his adorable plogs where he gives recommendations?) That but with all the other campers and he hosts the meetings at the Big House every week or so.  

Him and Jiung started an escape room club at camp using the Athena cabin’s ingenious designs and blueprints to create the rooms. Comes up with the most sophisticated puzzles to be solved intellectually, which led to Intak and Soul getting stuck in a celestial bronze lattice room for five hours before they could break them out.  

Besties with pretty much everyone since he’s universally beloved by all cabins and is everyone’s kid brother, but especially besties with Soul so is often the victim of his failed magic tricks/ spells - he has yet to forgive the axolotl incident. Permanently lives his life as a guinea pig basically.    

In his spare time, he’s designing an underground music studio that incorporates the labyrinth tunnels into it, since when you’re an Athena kid, architectural genius flows through your veins. So far he has blueprints for a retractable slide when you don’t feel like taking the state of the art escalators, as well as a comfy lounge where you can sit on a beanbag or whatever chair and be transported to a VR scene of your choice by wearing some sunglasses. He’s currently haggling with the Hephaestus cabin about how many of his ideas are physically possible to be built.   

 A/N: thanks for reading, feedback is always appreciated!! I’ve been a p1ece since debut and i’m super excited to see how well the boys are doing, it’s been a pleasure watching them grow and i can’t wait to see where we go from here. If you don’t stan p1harmony, do it - you won’t regret it!!! (also i love pjo and hoo so this was very fun, i might do it for more groups since i already did it for svt)

[crazycatsiren]

30 Days of Artemis - Day 6

6. Other related deities and entities associated with Artemis

Artemis's retinue consists of the Amnisiades: 20 Naiad-nymph daughters of the river-god Amninos, along with 60 Okeanides (Oceanids), whose names suggest they were Nephelai (cloud-nymphs), and the Nymphai Hyperboreiai, 3 nymphs of the mythical, far northern realm of Hyperborea named Oupis, Loxo and Hekaerge.

Artemis's twin brother Apollo is perhaps her closest companion.

Persephone is a close companion of Artemis. The two are often together during the months when Persephone is not residing in the Underworld with Hades.

Artemis is very close to her mother, Leto.

Athena was raised alongside Artemis, Persephone, and the maiden Okeanides.

The nine Muses occasionally accompany Artemis in her dance and song (especially during the feasts of Olympos).

The Roman equivalent of Artemis is Diana.

[alexandreaiteiaabronia]

Mythology

Early life

According to Apollodorus and a fragment of Pindar, Orpheus' father was Oeagrus, a Thracian king, or, according to another version of the story, the god Apollo. His mother was (1) the muse Calliope, (2) her sister Polymnia, (3) a daughter of Pierus, son of Makednos or (4) lastly of Menippe, daughter of Thamyris. According to Tzetzes, he was from Bisaltia. His birthplace and place of residence was Pimpleia close to the Olympus. Strabo mentions that he lived in Pimpleia. According to the epic poem Argonautica, Pimpleia was the location of Oeagrus' and Calliope's wedding. While living with his mother and her eight beautiful sisters in Parnassus, he met Apollo, who was courting the laughing muse Thalia. Apollo, as the god of music, gave Orpheus a golden lyre and taught him to play it. Orpheus' mother taught him to make verses for singing. He is also said to have studied in Egypt.

Orpheus is said to have established the worship of Hecate in Aegina. In Laconia Orpheus is said to have brought the worship of Demeter Chthonia and that of the Κόρες Σωτείρας (Kóres Sōteíras; 'Saviour Maidens'). Also in Taygetos a wooden image of Orpheus was said to have been kept by Pelasgians in the sanctuary of the Eleusinian Demeter.

According to Diodorus Siculus, Musaeus of Athens was the son of Orpheus.

Adventure as an Argonaut

Main article: Argonautica

The Argonautica (Ἀργοναυτικά) is a Greek epic poem written by Apollonius Rhodius in the 3rd century BC. Orpheus took part in this adventure and used his skills to aid his companions. Chiron told Jason that without the aid of Orpheus, the Argonauts would never be able to pass the Sirens—the same Sirens encountered by Odysseus in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. The Sirens lived on three small, rocky islands called Sirenum scopuli and sang beautiful songs that enticed sailors to come to them, which resulted in the crashing of their ships into the islands. When Orpheus heard their voices, he drew his lyre and played music that was louder and more beautiful, drowning out the Sirens' bewitching songs. According to 3rd century BC Hellenistic elegiac poet Phanocles, Orpheus loved the young Argonaut Calais, "the son of Boreas, with all his heart, and went often in shaded groves still singing of his desire, nor was his heart at rest. But always, sleepless cares wasted his spirits as he looked at fresh Calais."

Death of Eurydice

The most famous story in which Orpheus figures is that of his wife Eurydice (sometimes referred to as Euridice and also known as Argiope). While walking among her people, the Cicones, in tall grass at her wedding, Eurydice was set upon by a satyr. In her efforts to escape the satyr, Eurydice fell into a nest of vipers and suffered a fatal bite on her heel. Her body was discovered by Orpheus who, overcome with grief, played such sad and mournful songs that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, Orpheus traveled to the underworld. His music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth on one condition: he should walk in front of her and not look back until they both had reached the upper world. Orpheus set off with Eurydice following; however, as soon as he had reached the upper world, he immediately turned to look at her, forgetting in his eagerness that both of them needed to be in the upper world for the condition to be met. As Eurydice had not yet crossed into the upper world, she vanished for the second time, this time forever.

The story in this form belongs to the time of Virgil, who first introduces the name of Aristaeus (by the time of Virgil's Georgics, the myth has Aristaeus chasing Eurydice when she was bitten by a serpent) and the tragic outcome. Other ancient writers, however, speak of Orpheus' visit to the underworld in a more negative light; according to Phaedrus in Plato's Symposium, the infernal gods only "presented an apparition" of Eurydice to him. In fact, Plato's representation of Orpheus is that of a coward, as instead of choosing to die in order to be with the one he loved, he instead mocked the gods by trying to go to Hades to bring her back alive. Since his love was not "true"—he did not want to die for love—he was actually punished by the gods, first by giving him only the apparition of his former wife in the underworld, and then by being killed by women. In Ovid's account, however, Eurydice's death by a snake bite is incurred while she was dancing with naiads on her wedding day.

Virgil wrote in his poem that Dryads wept from Epirus and Hebrus up to the land of the Getae (north east Danube valley) and even describes him wandering into Hyperborea and Tanais (ancient Greek city in the Don river delta) due to his grief.

The story of Eurydice may actually be a late addition to the Orpheus myths. In particular, the name Eurudike ("she whose justice extends widely") recalls cult-titles attached to Persephone. According to the theories of poet Robert Graves, the myth may have been derived from another Orpheus legend, in which he travels to Tartarus and charms the goddess Hecate.

The myth theme of not looking back, an essential precaution in Jason's raising of chthonic Brimo Hekate under Medea's guidance, is reflected in the Biblical story of Lot's wife when escaping from Sodom. More directly, the story of Orpheus is similar to the ancient Greek tales of Persephone captured by Hades and similar stories of Adonis captive in the underworld. However, the developed form of the Orpheus myth was entwined with the Orphic mystery cults and, later in Rome, with the development of Mithraism and the cult of Sol Invictus.

Death

According to a Late Antique summary of Aeschylus' lost play Bassarids, Orpheus, towards the end of his life, disdained the worship of all gods except the sun, whom he called Apollo. One early morning he went to the oracle of Dionysus at Mount Pangaion to salute his god at dawn, but was ripped to shreds by Thracian Maenads for not honoring his previous patron (Dionysus) and was buried in Pieria. Here his death is analogous with that of Pentheus, who was also torn to pieces by Maenads; and it has been speculated that the Orphic mystery cult regarded Orpheus as a parallel figure to or even an incarnation of Dionysus. Both made similar journeys into Hades, and Dionysus-Zagreus suffered an identical death. Pausanias writes that Orpheus was buried in Dion and that he met his death there. He writes that the river Helicon sank underground when the women that killed Orpheus tried to wash off their blood-stained hands in its waters. Other legends claim that Orpheus became a follower of Dionysus and spread his cult across the land. In this version of the legend, it is said that Orpheus was torn to shreds by the women of Thrace for his inattention.

Ovid recounts that Orpheus ...

had abstained from the love of women, either because things ended badly for him, or because he had sworn to do so. Yet, many felt a desire to be joined with the poet, and many grieved at rejection. Indeed, he was the first of the Thracian people to transfer his affection to young boys and enjoy their brief springtime, and early flowering this side of manhood.

— Ovid. trans. A. S. Kline, Ovid: The Metamorphoses, Book X

Feeling spurned by Orpheus for taking only male lovers (eromenoi), the Ciconian women, followers of Dionysus, first threw sticks and stones at him as he played, but his music was so beautiful even the rocks and branches refused to hit him. Enraged, the women tore him to pieces during the frenzy of their Bacchic orgies. In Albrecht Dürer's drawing of Orpheus' death, based on an original, now lost, by Andrea Mantegna, a ribbon high in the tree above him is lettered Orfeus der erst puseran ("Orpheus, the first pederast").

His head and lyre, still singing mournful songs, floated down the River Hebrus into the sea, after which the winds and waves carried them to the island of Lesbos, at the city of Methymna; there, the inhabitants buried his head and a shrine was built in his honour near Antissa; there his oracle prophesied, until it was silenced by Apollo. In addition to the people of Lesbos, Greeks from Ionia and Aetolia consulted the oracle, and his reputation spread as far as Babylon.

Cave of Orpheus' oracle in Antissa, Lesbos

Orpheus' lyre was carried to heaven by the Muses, and was placed among the stars. The Muses also gathered up the fragments of his body and buried them at Leibethra below Mount Olympus, where the nightingales sang over his grave. After the river Sys flooded

Leibethra, the Macedonians took his bones to Dion. Orpheus' soul returned to the underworld, to the fields of the Blessed, where he was reunited at last with his beloved Eurydice.

Another legend places his tomb at Dion, near Pydna in Macedon. In another version of the myth, Orpheus travels to Aornum in Thesprotia, Epirus to an old oracle for the dead. In the end Orpheus commits suicide from his grief unable to find Eurydice.

"Others said that he was the victim of a thunderbolt."

From Wikipedia

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Orpheus the musician & beast tamer.

Art by Brittany Beverung @artistfuly

[littlesparklight]

Considering river gods were depicted either as 1. human-faced bulls, 2. mermen with bull horns (and ears), 3. completely human, 4. or even in bull-centaur form

wouldn’t it be interesting to let naiad daughters of river gods have cow horns? They’re usually depicted entirely human, but there’s no reason they couldn’t share the bovine traits with their river-god fathers!

Also, I am very charmed by Tethys’ later portrayals of little wings high on her forehead, so you could use those as well, especially for cloud nymphs, but why not for other freshwater nymphs as well?

[tipsycad147]

Lilac in Magic and Medicine

Spring tends to be a favorite time of year for a lot of people. You walk out the front door and the birds are chirping, the weather is nice and there are flowers everywhere! As a Garden/Green Witch, I love plants and finding out ways to use them. One of my favorite plants, even though they are only around for a short amount of time, are the Lilacs. We have several Lilacs on our property that were planted by my great grandparents that still bloom every year. Lilacs are edible, have some medicinal uses and of course, contain magical properties as well. Keep reading to learn more!

Lilacs in the Garden

Lilacs, or Syringa Vulgaris, are a short term blooming shrub. It’s most commonly found in Planting Zones 3-9 here in the U.S. Most lilacs only bloom for about 2-3 weeks; but early and late blooming varieties can be staggered to increase your bloom time to a total of 6 weeks. Lilacs are available in 5 colors ranging from white, to magenta, to the traditional lilac purple.

Lilacs grow on old wood, so pruning after the spring is vital. A hardy specimen, lilacs can be transplanted by cuttings very easily to add more to your garden. Our lilacs draw bees, birds and butterflies with it’s tantalizing scent so we always try to keep them blooming.

Did you know Lilacs are actually part of the olive family? Native to the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe; people emigrating from Europe brought the shrub with them to grow and preserve a piece of home. Western pioneers brought lilacs with them during the 1800’s. Now you can find lilacs that grow nearly wild in abandoned lots or parks. Lilacs prefer full sun and a slightly alkaline soil to grow and bloom. The wood is a sturdy type that can be hollowed out to make a variety of tools.

These shrubs are a beautiful plant and even though they have a very short season; their vibrant green grey leaves(which are heart shaped) and the clusters of fragrant flowers make it worth having. But a commonly asked question every Spring is; “What can I do with my lilacs in that short amount of time?” Turns out there are a couple of medical, edible and magical uses for lilacs. I’m going to touch on the edible and medical real quick. Then give you some ideas of how to use lilacs in your magic as well!

Lilacs as Food and Medicine.

One thing I’ve started to learn as a witch, herbalist and homesteader is that there’s a use for practically every plant! We harvest at least a dozen or more plants from our yard every Spring and Summer; not counting what we add to the gardens, harvest from the forest or buy online!

Starting out, I was surprised how many other uses most flowers can have, besides just being pretty to look at. Given the short bloom time for Lilacs, I never really thought about using them until this year. But it turns out that 2 weeks is plenty of time to gather and dry flowers for all sorts of projects!

Lilacs in the Apothecary Cabinet

Lilacs are astringent, aromatic and a bit bitter. While most of the medicinal uses stem(see what I did there, ha) from the leaves and fruit, the flowers still have their own uses. Ingesting raw flowers leaves a dry feeling on the tongue but are bursting with flavor.

The most common use of Lilacs is as an astringent. Many common weeds and plants are astringent, including but not limited to: sunflowers, black walnut, black raspberry and stag-horn sumac. Many people are already familiar with the commercially produced astringent known as witch hazel.

Lilac flowers can infused with witch hazel or a carrier oil. That can then be used for acne, fine lines and wrinkles and other anti-aging properties

Using lilacs as an aromatic is completely different. An aromatic works by causing irritation to the place where it is applied. (Think about how sensitive the GI tract is.) Which in turn brings more blood flow and thus promotes faster healing! Gastric issues such as excessive flatulence or constipation are normally remedied very quickly by eating just a few small flowers.

Infuse lilacs in your favourite carrier oils to make salves, soaps and lotions. Lilacs are good for sunburn relief or soothing scratches, light burns and itches. As well as the previously mentioned astringent properties.

Other Uses for Lilacs

As beautiful and lovely as lilacs are, the fragrance is a fleeting memory once spring is over. Unfortunately, there’s no way to preserve the fragrance in an essential oil. Like many florals, it would take a lot of flowers and would be very expensive. There are some ways to preserve the flavor and aroma through absolutes, enfleurage and infused oils. The Experimental Homesteader has a great tutorial and more info about making your own lilac essences.Find that Here

Most commonly, lilacs are used for garnishes and flavoring for foods and drink. From sugared flowers on cake to lilac ice-cream and lemonade; there’s a number of sweet treats you can make with these cute purple flowers.

Some of my Favourite Uses for Lilac include:

Tea

Lemonade

Infused Honey

Wine

Jelly

Ice cream

Syrup

There’s a ton of tutorials for each of these on Pinterest!

If you would like to try the lilac jelly recipe its super easy! Head over to our Forsythia Jelly Recipe but switch out the flowers for lilacs instead!( Find that here)

Lilac honey is super easy, just add the flowers to honey and let sit for 2-6 weeks.

Make a simple lilac syrup by simmering the flowers in a sugar water mix on the stove. Use that syrup to flavor your lemonade or top your favorite dessert(or pancakes!) Plus it’s a gorgeous light purple color so it makes for a great gift.

Lilacs in Magic: Green Witchcraft

Using Lilacs in magic has a slew of myths and stories behind it; as well as a few ways to use it in your own personal spells.

What’s in a Name?

Lilacs have a few names depending on the area and connections. In Arabic, “Lilak” means purple. In Greece, Lebanon and Cyrus, lilacs are referred to as “paschalia” due to the fact that they bloom around Easter. (Or as they call it “Pascha”.)

Actually, the scientific name for Lilacs(syringas vulgaris) is thought to be derived from the Greek word “Syrinx” which means pipes. This is due to the wood’s hollow nature. Which brings me to the next section of Lilacs in magic: the Greek origin story.

The Legend of Syrinx

According to Greek Legend, Syrinx was a dryad (also known as tree nymph) who was a follower of Artemis, goddess of nature and chastity. Pan, as god of the forest and ruled by an bestial nature and lust, sought after her beauty. As a follower of Artemis, Syrinx was sworn to chastity and denied him. He chased her to the nearby river where Syrinx sought help from her cousins, the naiads, or river nymphs. With their help, she transformed into a Lilac bush, also commonly called a pipe tree or reed tree. Pan, frustrated that Syrinx had slipped from his grasp; cut 7 branches from the gorgeous lilac tree and tied them together into what we know as pan pipes today.

The Pipes, combined with Pan’s mournful music over his lost pursuit, holds merit in the language of flowers.These purple petaled flowers symbolize lust, love, and the fleetingness of life in general.

Lilacs Magical Properties

Blooming Lilacs show up for a short period during the Spring, typically between Beltane and Litha. (May-June). Much like honeysuckle, dandelions and forsythia, lilac contains spring energy and helps to jump start your life. Use it to give yourself a motivational boost, a mental or physical spring cleaning. Or use as an energy charge for your job or a new business venture.

Lilacs are commonly used for spells involving: exorcisms, banishing negative energy, love and lust spells. As well as protection spells and spells symbolizing the balance between life and death.

Lilac for Protection

Plant lilacs around your property to protect those inside its boundaries. Planting lilacs by your front door keeps negative energy from entering your home.

Bringing cuttings into your home is supposed to help banish negative energy and spirits. Except for some superstitions in certain parts of the UK. It was felt that white lilacs were too close to death and were very unlucky.(Unless it was a 5 petaled white flower which were considered extra lucky.) Lilacs were commonly placed inside coffins to cover the smell of death, much like gladiolas and other “funeral flowers”.

Hanging lilac branches over a newborn’s crib was said to encourage them in growth of knowledge and wisdom.(Especially in Russia)

Lilacs for Love and Beauty

When used in love and lust spells, lilacs are best for short fleeting summer romances or flings. Adding lilac oil to your wrists and behind the ears helps to draw love your way. You can also use lilacs for a spell to bring the fun and light back into a relationship.

To combine the medicinal uses mentioned earlier as well as the magical uses; Lilacs infused in witch hazel for a facial toner can be used to promote beauty, glamour and attracting love.

Celebrate Beltane by making a flower crown for yourself or your love.

Lilac Wood and Flowers

Wrap and dry lilac bundles to make your own incense smoke bundles. Combine with rose, lavender and sage for a love incense. Find out more info on wrapping and drying at Proflowers.

Use the wood from the Lilac to make wands, staves or runes. Lilac wands are good for banishing evil or negativity, raising psychic energy and vibrations, and attracting love.

Lilac Trivia

Lilacs are part of the Olive family. The Oleaceae or Olive family also includes olives(obviously), jasmine, forsythias and ash trees.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson enjoyed the scent of Lilacs and planted them in their Gardens.

Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet were inspired by the colors and appearance of lilacs. They included the flowers in several paintings such as “Lilac Bush” (1889 Van Gogh), “Lilacs, Grey Weather”(1872 Monet) and “Lilacs in Sun”(1872 Monet).

In the Victorian Era, widows wore lilac blossoms on their lapel. This served as a reminder of their love and the shortness of life.

Lilac is considered the traditional flower for the 8th Anniversary. This means it is a suitable gift as well.

The Celtics regarded the lilac as “magical” due to their incredibly intoxicating fragrance.

In the United States, the lilac is the official state flower of New Hampshire. It represents the ‘hardy’ nature of its people

Lilac Magic Correspondences

Latin Name: Syringa Vulgaris Other Names: Pipe Tree, Reed Tree, Common Lilac Element: Water Planets: Venus Gender: Feminine Deities: Artemis, Pan, Gaea, Hades, Persephone, Hera* and Hestia* (*white flowers only) Powers: Expansion, Growth, Protection, Life and Death, Spirit World, Love, Psychic Ability Use for: Love spells, Protection Spells, Exorcisms, Aromatherapy, Beauty Magic, Body care(magical or not) Crafts/Recipes: Toner, Tea, Honey, Ice cream, Syrup, Wands, Runes, Staves, Garden/Home Boundary, Incense, Dessert Garnish

Are you in love with Lilac yet?

Even though Lilac only visits for a short amount of time; it leaves us impatient for it to come around again. Even if you missed this year’s harvest, save this info for next year so you can fill your home with yummy flowers and magic next spring. Feel free to save this info for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire pages. Also, make sure you visit our other Magical and Medicinal Plant Pages.

Will you add Lilac to your magic workings?

If you want the smell of lilacs even after the season is done; we offer a Lilac goat’s milk soap in the Store that smells exactly like this luscious plant! Made with nourishing oils and skin safe fragrance oils; its safe for sensitive skin and makes for a great Mother’s Day, Best Friend or Self Care Gift.

If you are new here make sure to check out all of our other blog posts over on the Blog Page. And don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for farm photos, trivia, shop updates and more!

By  Ariana

https://greenmanmeadows.com/using-lilac-for-magic-and-medicine/

[magickdonehere]

Herb Correspondences (Part 1?)

1.         Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust):

a.         Uses

                   i.   Can be compared to the Blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa), as they have many similarities.

                 ii.   “Entangle” evil in the thorns.

               iii.   Balance, play between life and death. The flowers contrast with the thorns and poison.

                 iv.   Connected to Fae, death, and the underworld.

                   v.   Cursing/hexing

                 vi.   Can be used instead of having Blackthorn shipped

               vii.   Defense, blessing, cursing, fertility, power, Binding, prosperity and strength, resistance, endurance.

b.         Toxicity?

                   i.   The leaves, seeds and inner bark contain chemicals (robin, roninine, and robitin) which are toxic. Flowers are considered edible if handled correctly, but you shouldn’t consume them just to be safe.

c.         Correspondences?

                   i.   Lightning

                 ii.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

2.         Mint

a.         Uses

                   i.   Money, healing, strength, endurance, luck, travel, death, hope

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Was used in funerary rites in ancient Greece, along with rosemary and myrtle. They did not only ease the smell of decay, but was also representative of the hope in the afterlife.

                   ii.   Named after Minthe, a naiad/water nymph. She fell in love with Hades, and Persephone intervened and turned her into garden mint. (this is one version of the myth, there are many different versions).

                 iii.   It is associated with the river Cocytus in the underworld (River of Wailing).

                   iv.   Hecate, Hades

                     v.   Masculine/Mercury/Air

3.         Cayenne

a.         Uses

                   i.   Banishing, hexing (creates pain/anxiety), cleansing, love, passion, protection, quick action, repels negative energy, strength, courage.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   No, but don’t use in too large of quantities

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

4.         Black Pepper

a.         Uses

                   i.   Banishing, hexing, strength, protection, confidence, attack, works well with “Venus herbs” (because it is a Mars herb).

                 ii.   Get rid of/cast evil

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

5.         Onion

a.         Uses

                   i.   Protection, fertility, cursing, clairvoyance, male virility, absorbs negativity.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                   i.   Isis (was used in connection with her and the afterlife in Egyptian mythology)

                   ii.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

6.         Daises

a.         Uses

                   i.   Blessings, faery work, lust, luck, love divination (he loves me/he loves me not), friendship, courtship/relationships

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Not as far as I could tell, but maybe don’t eat them? Not a good idea tbh.

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Venus/Water

7.         Oleander

a.         Uses

                   i.   Love, potency, lust, sickness/disease, bad fortune, cursing/hexing

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   EXTREMELY!! Use gloves when handling and under NO circumstances consume it!! It can and will kill you!

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Saturn/Earth

8.         Pansies

a.         Uses

                   i.   Divination, love, weather, rain, dreams.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Idk, just don’t eat it okay

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Faeries

                   ii.   Feminine/Saturn/Water

9.         Aloe Vera

a.         Uses

                   i.   Luck (especially around the home), healing, beauty, things relating to the moon, and protection.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Moon/Water

                   ii.   Venus/Aphrodite

10.      Creosote

a.         Uses

                   i.   Endurance, rain/water, cleansing, grounding, and healing.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Just stay on the safe side and don’t eat anything.

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Jupiter/Fire&Water

11.      Celery

a.         Uses

                   i.   Lust, mental powers, concertration, male virility.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mercury/Fire

12.      Jasmine

a.         Uses

                   i.   Happiness, harmony, love, moon/night, peace, divination, dreamwork.

b.         Toxic?

                     i.   Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) isn’t, but other types can be. Look it up before you do anything.

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Moon/Water

13.      Cinnamon

a.         Uses

                   i.   Astral projection, clairvoyance, divination, creativity, defense, dreams, love, lust, power, money, riches, success, wealth.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Sun/Fire

                   ii.   Aphrodite/Bast/Helios/Mercury/Ra/Venus

14.      Lavender

a.         Uses

                   i.   Love, protection, cleansing, peace, happiness, sleep, fertility.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Water down essential oils

                 ii.   Just don’t eat it, or put it on your pets. I really shouldn’t even have to put this.

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mercury/Air

                   ii.   Saturn

15.      Cilantro/Coriander

a.         Uses

                     i.   Lust marriage love healing

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

16.      Iris

a.         Uses

                   i.   Beauty, friendship, happiness, love, luck, pleasure, sexuality, youth, inner truth, creativity, intuition, meditation.

                 ii.   The three petals represent Faith/Wisdom/Valour.

b.         Toxic?

                     i.   Poisonous, especially to animals

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Aphrodite/Iris

                   ii.   Feminine/Venus/Water

17.      Potato

a.         Uses

                   i.   Grounding, protection, stability.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                   i.   Feminine/Moon/Earth

18.      Garlic

a.         Uses

                   i.   Protection, luck, lust, money, repelling things.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

                 ii.   Ares/Hecate

19.      Pomegranate

a.         Uses

                   i.   Wealth, prosperity, divination, fortune, a blood substitute, connected to the underworld.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mercury/Fire

                   ii.   Dionysus

                 iii.   Demeter

                   iv.   Persephone

                     v.   Hades

20.      Mulberry

a.         Uses

                   i.   Divination, willpower, wisdom.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mercury/Air

21.      Basil

a.         Uses

                   i.   Money, prosperity, abundance, binding, banishing

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Mars/Fire

                   ii.   Loki

                 iii.   Dionysus

                   iv.   Ares

22.      Rose

a.         Uses

                   i.   Love, lust, innocence, confidence, trust, divination, healing, romance, sexuality, protection, happiness.

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   N/A, just don’t eat them -_-

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Venus/Water

23.      Cacti

a.         Uses

                   i.   Protection wards curses endurance personal growth chastity

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Can eat some, just check.

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Saturn/Fire

24.      Sage (any)

a.         Uses

                   i.   Cleansing, courage, earth magick, Fertility, grounding, hex removal, longevity,

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Just don’t eat it

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Masculine/Jupiter/Air

                   ii.   Zeus/Jupiter/Chiron

25.      Sandalwood

a.         Uses

                   i.   Healing health protection spirituality

b.         Toxic?

                   i.   Just don’t eat it or anything

c.         Correspondences

                     i.   Feminine/Moon/Water

A/N: These were chosen as they’re just what I have in my area personally, but if anyone has any requests for specific herbs/plants or would like a part 2, feel free to message me. 

Also, in general, just don’t eat anything on here, except for the obvious foods (like potato or garlic), I don’t recommend eating any of these. A “N/A” doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t toxic to people or animals, it just means I couldn’t find anything (and I don’t consume anything I make, so I don’t usually have to worry too much about that).