#Alder Obsidian

[arbitrarygreay]

Buffer for CSS view

Absolute least favorite trope in the fic: inserting new world-building so that the controversial actions that Alder does in canon are all rationalized into woobie-bait. Examples: "Alder was forced into the Biddy bond!" "The Martyrdom was actually a lesser evil!" "Alder felt regret about signing the Accords!" "Alder was forced into doing things by men in power!" Since fucking when has the US military been meaningfully held accountable for anything, or their power (and the military industrial complex) had a reduction in growth? Name me one irl modern general that doesn't believe wholeheartedly in militarism. The nation can do much wrong by the rank and file (including appalling treatment of veterans), but the brass? Hah. And neither do the brass of the MFS military waver in their belief in militarism, either. We know that they could play malicious compliance via things like Tally's dispensation if they wanted to. They don't want to. The "magical enforcement" didn't stop Dodgers from existing, nor did it stop Nicte from deserting. The slow-play of the invasion of the Cession could have just as easily been done in their deployments in other nations, or in their hunting of Dodgers (like Scylla's parents). (Even Anacostia doesn't have a problem with torturing Scylla for information. "Gotta break a few eggs." No one agitates for the closure of GuantanamoSt. Dominique, either. There's no doubt in my mind that MFS's detention centers carry the same controversies as our world's.) No. Alder not only has no regrets about the Accords, she believes in them. She truly believes that all witches under her jurisdiction should serve, and that it is an honor to do so. She believes in the concept of glory in battle, and wishes for her soldiers to, as well. Alder's instinct is to hide inconvenient information from the chain of command and the public, which further proves that if she wanted to commit malicious compliance and covertly get around the wishes of those in power, she could, but she chose not to because she doesn't have a problem with the Accords or the wars she's been in. Most relevantly, Alder maintained the conflict of the Spree as an alternative to nationalist conflict. Letting the Spree propagate was her solution to Liberia. That is how she thinks, not even the smallest inkling that maybe she could modify the Accords and aim for our world's progressive strategy of pushing anti-discrimination policies and full civilian population integration/equality/equity. The idea of de-militarization is borderline anathema to her. She doesn't see conscription as slavery at all, but an honorable duty. Someone who says "I never needed The Hague's approval for my actions. I simply extend the invitation to accept my rulings." has a particular relationship to power. If the director of the CIA said this, we would not pretend that they are laboring under the yoke of anyone. Nah, that's just plain ol' mundane deep state. (Meanwhile, in 3x4 the scene with Alder and the Marshal shows that she definitely did not take on or continue using the Biddy working under duress. She's grateful for it, he's not morally indicted for using it, and they called the exchange "sharing." In fact, that might even imply that the Marshal could have been willing to share the Working without the deal, but Alder negotiated the creation of the Cession as thanks.) These characters are so much more interesting when they are allowed to do women's wrongs, for this show to explore how a world of alternative supremacy means that those alternative figures of power will still commit the same ethical pitfalls with it. Let them commit war crimes, as a treat! The relationships are so much more interesting when they have to grapple with real universal flaws instead of hand-waving them with "[other demographic]'s prejudice made me do it."

[dionysianivy]

𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 🍂🦇

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

November is a time for reflection, gratitude, and honoring both past and present as we move further into the year’s quiet. The energy this month feels grounded and calm, with the thin veil still offering a chance to connect with spirits and ancestors. November invites us to slow down, find stillness, and prepare ourselves for winter. It’s a perfect time for inner healing, letting go of old habits, and setting intentions for the colder months. The magic of November is gentle but strong, reminding us to appreciate what has come before, give thanks for what we have, and find peace in winter’s approach.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Celebrations:

Samhain/Halloween: October 31 - November 1

All Souls Day: November 1

Witches' New Year: November 1

Thanksgiving: November 27

Planet:

Pluto

Flowers:

Peony, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, White Lily, Marigold

Herbs/Plants:

Belladonna, Nutmeg, Star Anise, Wormwood, Mugwort, Coriander, Nettle, Patchouli, Hops, Allspice, Ginger, Rosemary, Fennel 

Tarot Cards:

The Death, Eight of Cups, Four of Swords

Fruits:

Apple, Pear, Cranberry, Pomegranate, Lemon 

Vegetables:

Cabbage, Squash, Pumpkin, Potatoes, Onions 

Deities:

Cerridwen, Astarte, Circe, Cernunnos, Bastet, The Morrigan, Sekhmet, Freyja, Hel, Maman, Holda, Osiris, Nephthys, Hecate, Hathor, Nicnevin

Colors:

Gold, Black, White, Purple, Dark Orange, Brown, Sage Green 

Runes:

Eihwaz, Algiz, Hagalaz, Ansuz 

Crystals:

Topaz, Citrine, Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Tiger’s Eye, Amethyst, Cat’s Eye

Animals:

Bats, Owls, Sparrows, Ravens, Beavers, Deer, Hawks, Cats, Falcons, Dogs, Snakes, Crows 

Trees:

Pine, Yew, Cypress, Alder 

Symbols:

Bats, Turkey, Raven, Candles, Mushrooms, Fog, Pine Cones 

Magical Powers:

Transformation, Letting Go of the Past, Deity Work, Releasing, Cleansing, Protection, Winter Preparation, Gratitude, Health, Healing, Breaking Bad Habits, Spirit Communication, Prosperity 

ACTIVITIES TO DO

🦇 Reflect on and give thanks for all your achievements

🦇 Spend time with your loved ones ♡

🦇 Take time for deity work, now is a great time for connecting deeply

🦇 As the weather cools, embrace the coziness of your home and appreciate its comfort

🦇 Do protection and health spells

🦇 Light candles to honor and remember souls who have passed

🦇 Try shadow work

🦇 Find comfort in your own space and create a cozy atmosphere

🦇 Rest, recharge, and prepare for the colder months

🦇 Bake Pie

🦇 Express gratitude for all the blessings in your life

🦇 Collect acorns you find on walks and protect them through the cold months. You can either keep them as a charm come spring or return them to the earth

🦇 Complete any unfinished projects

🦇 Take time to develop and refine your magical skills

🦇 Honor Goddess Hecate on November 16th

🦇 Harvest the last of your garden’s bounty and preserve it for winter

🦇 Drink Wine

🦇 Make a scarecrow

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

tip jar 🕸🧙‍♀️

[thecupidwitch]

Planetary Magick🌙

Sun

Zodiac: Leo

Metal: Gold

Day: Sunday

Colors: organge, yellow, amber

Stones: Amber, topaz, ruby, diamond

Tarot: The Sun

Herbs: Angelica, poppy, sunflower, marigold, hibiscus, mistletoe

Symbols: lion, hexagram, sparrow hawk, dragon, head, heart, swan

Influences: renown, potency, fortune, tyranny, pride, ambition, masculinity, arrogance, bigotry, vitality, health

Moon

Zodiac: cancer

Metal: sliver

Day: Monday

Colors: blue, sliver

Stones: moonstone, pearl

Tarot: The High Priestess, The Chariot

Herbs: eucalyptus, coconut, jasmine, lotus, myrrh, sandalwood

Symbols: bow and arrow, crab, cat, turtle, Sphinx, owl

Influences: gradtitufe, friendliness, safe, travel, physical health, wealth, protection for enemies, deception, illusion, women, emotions, healing, dreams

Mercury

Zodiac: Virgo, Gemini

Metal: aluminum, Mercury

Day: Wednesday

Colors: violet, gray, purple, indigo, yellow

Stones: opal agate

Tarot: The Lovers

Herbs: hyssop, juniper, betony, carrot, chickweed

Symbols: wand, octagram, the mind

Influences: good fortune, gratitude, gain, memory, understanding, divination, dreams, forgetfulness, communication, business, cleverness, creativity, information, intellect, memory, perception, science, wisdom, gambling, writing, root of dishonesty, deception

Venus

Zodiac: taurus, libra

Metal: copper

Day: Friday

Colors: green, pink

Stones: turquoise, emerald, sapphire, jade

Tarot: The Empress

Herbs: jimsonweed, violet, rose, alder, apple, angelica, olive, sesame

Symbols: sparrow, dove, swan, pentagram

Influences: peace, agreements, cooperation, fertility, joy, love, good fortune, jealousy, strife, promiscuity

Mars

Zodiac: aries, scorpio

Metal: iron, red brass, steel

Day: Tuesday

Color: Red

Stones: ruby, garnet, bloodstone, diamond

Tarot: The Tower

Herbs: ginger, mustard

Symbols: sword, pentagram, horse, bear, wolf, vulture

Influences: war, victory, judgements, submission of enemies, bleeding, stripping one of rank, harness, discord, conflict, aggression, lust, power, courage, goals, protection, motivation, ambition, strength

Jupiter

Zodiac: pisces, sagittarius

Metal: tin

Day: Thursday 

Colors: blue

Stone: sapphire

Tarot: The Wheel of Fortune

Herbs: balm, hyssop, maple leaf and bark, oak, sage, dandelion root

Symbols: eagle, dolphin

Influences: gains, riches, favor, peace, cooperation, appeasing enemies, dissolving

Saturn

Zodiac: capricorn

Metal: lead

Day: Saturday

Color: black

Stone: onyx

Taror: The World

Herbs: alder, apple, ash, asparagus, baneberry, belladonna, distort, hellebore, blackthorn, corm, cypress

Symbols: cuttlefish, mole

Influences: safety, power, success, positive response to requests, intellect, causes discord, strips honor, melancholy

Uranus

Zodiac: aquarius

Day: Thursday

Colors: blue-green, electric blue

Stones: quartz, labradorite, blue topaz, amber, amethyst, garnet, diamond

Tarot: The Fool

Herbs: clover, pokeweed, snowdrop, foxglove, love, rosemary, trees of heaven, hellebore, morning glory, sage, wintergreen, orchids, sweet woodruff

Symbols: dragonfly, butterfly

Influences: breaking connection, sudden and unexpected change, freedom, originality, radical and revolutionary ideas, enlightenment, equality, individuality, rebellion, instability, loneliness, boredom, mistrust of self

Neptune

Zodiac: pisces

Minerals: coral, aquamarine, platinum, neptunium

Colors: green, blue, lavender

Tarot: The Hanged Man

Herbs: morning glory, night-blooming jasmine, pine, water lily

Symbols: the sea, Trident, the spine

Influences: dissolving boundaries, expanding upon ideas, changing established rules, intuition, idealism, sacrifice, glamour, illusion, evolution, decay, visions, art, healing, inspiration, dreams, creativity, compassion, drifting from reality, carelessness, stubbornness, absent mind

Pluto

Zodiac: scorpio

Metal: plutonium, tin chrome, steel

Day: Tuesday

Colors: maroon, dark red, purple, white, black

Stones: snowflake obsidian, clack tourmaline

Tarot: Judgement

Herbs: pomegranate, rosemary, vanilla, basil, poppies, belladonna, foxglove

Symbols: Phoenix, snake, scorpion, fox, eagle

Influences; destruction making way for renewal, rebirth, knowledge, spirituality, transformation, destiny, the subconscious, desire, arrogance, death, obsession, destruction

[ad-caelestia]

Protection & Warding ⚔️ [long post]

A guide on protecting yourself and your home. 

Personal Protection

Wear an amulet on your person - can be made from man-made or natural materials so long as its intent is to protect

Keep a protective crystal in your pocket

Craft a small protective spell jar and keep on your person

Anoint yourself with a protective oil

Place an energetic shield around yourself 

Place a glamour on yourself to go unnoticed in the presence of harmful or negative energies

Carry a piece of iron on your person

Bathe with a wash made from protective herbs

Sleep with a sachet of herbs under your pillow or hanging above your bed to prevent nightmares

Prayers and offerings to your patron deity

Hang a protective amulet from the rearview mirror in your vehicle for safe travels

Home & Hearth Protection

Hang rose stems with thorns intact above the entrance of your home

Hang an upside down horseshoe above the entrance of your home (some lore states you should hang the horseshoe right-side-up)

Hang wind chimes or bells outside of your home

Create a “Witch Bottle” and bury in your front yard, or in a potted plant on your porch

Create a “Witch’s Ladder” or “Witch Ball” and hang it either inside or outside of your home

Hang imagery of protective symbols outside or around your home

Burn protective incense in your home

Create a room spray made from protective oils and spray around your home

Create a protective wash and use it to clean your windows, door frames, and tile/wooden floors 

Use the wash mentioned above to “paint” symbols of protection on the outside of your front door, on your porch, etc. 

Place a protective crystal at each corner inside your home

Place a small glass of salt at each corner inside your home

Hammer 3 iron nails into your front door

Create a protective powder and sprinkle around the perimeter of your home - alternately, sprinkle outside of your front and back door

Create a sachet filled with protective herbs and crystals - keep inside or outside of your home, in your vehicle, etc.

Hang mirrors inside of your home

Place a crystal grid at the center of your home using protective crystals

Call upon your patron deity to protect your home and those who reside in it

Protective Symbols & Items

Pentacle

Triquetra 

Witch’s Knot

Algiz (Elhaz) rune

Vegvisir

Helm of Awe

Mjolnir

Glyph of the Moon, Mars, or Saturn

Eye of Horus

Ankh

Crossed Swords

Iron nails

Railroad spikes

Thorns

War Water

Flying Devil Oil

Third & Fifth Pentacle of Saturn; Third & Sixth Pentacle of Jupiter; Sixth Pentacle of Mars; Second, Third, & Fifth Pentacle of the Moon

Crystals

Agate

Amethyst - protection against psychic attacks and while traveling

Angel Aura Quartz - spiritual protection

Apophyllite

Aqua Aura Quartz - protection against psychic attacks

Aquamarine - protection while traveling via water

Astrophyllite

Aventurine

Beryl - protection while traveling

Blue Goldstone

Bowenite

Bronzite

Bustamite

Catlinite - spiritual protection

Carnelian - protection from negative emotions

Celestite - emotional protection

Chalcopyrite

Chrysoberyl

Citrine - protection from nightmares

Clear Quartz

Diamond

Dravite

Eudialyte

Fire Agate

Fluorite - protection against psychic attacks

Galaxite

Garnet

Indicolite

Infinite Stone

Jade

Jasper

Jet

Lapis Lazuli

Lepidolite

Malachite - protection during pregnancy and childbirth

Moonstone - protection during pregnancy, childbirth, and while traveling via water

Mother of Pearl - protection for children

Nuumite

Obsidian

Onyx

Peridot

Pyrite

Rose Quartz - protection during pregnancy and childbirth

Ruby - protection of the home and hearth

Salt

Schorl

Shungite

Smithsonite

Smoky Quartz

Snowflake Obsidian

Sugilite

Tanzanite

Tiger’s Eye

Turquoise

Vauxite - protection from nightmares

Botanicals

Acacia, Aconite, Acorn (protection from lightning), African Violet, Ague, Alder (protection for the deceased), Alfalfa (protection from hunger and poverty), Alkanet (protection from snakebites and the fear of snakes), Aloe (protection from household accidents), Amaranth (protection from bullets), Amber, Angelica, Anise Seeds, Ash (protection from drowning and while traveling), Aspen (protection against thieves), Bamboo, Barley, Basil, Bay Laurel (protection from lightning), Bay Leaf (protection for your home and family, protection against baneful magic), Belladonna, Bergamot (protection from illness), Bilberry Bark, Birch (protection from lightning and infertility), Black Cohosh (protection from accidents and sudden death), Black Haw, Black Pepper, Blackberry, Bladderwrack (protection while traveling), Blessed Thistle, Bloodroot, Blue Violet, Blueberry, Boneset, Brimstone, Buckeye (protection against arthritis), Buckwheat, Cactus, Calamus, Calendula, Carnation, Caraway, Cascara Sagrada (protection against baneful magic), Catnip (protection while sleeping), Cedar (protection from lightning), Celandine, Chia, Chives, Chrysanthemum, Cilantro (protection for gardeners), Cinnamon, Cinquefoil (protection for loved ones on a journey), Clove (protection for babies), Clover, Coconut, Comfrey (protection while traveling), Coriander, Corn, Cotton, Cramp Bark, Cranberry, Cumin, Curry, Cypress, Daisy (protection for babies), Dandelion Root (protection while sleeping), Datura, Devil’s Bit, Devil’s Claw, Dill, Dogwood, Dragon’s Blood, Ebony, Elder (protection for the deceased), Elm (protection from lightning), Eucalyptus, False Unicorn Root (protection during pregnancy and childbirth), Fennel, Fern, Feverfew (protection against accidents and cold/flu), Figwort (protection for your home), Flaxseed (protection for your home, protection against baneful magic), Fleabane, Foxglove (protection for your home and garden), Frankincense, Gardenia, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Ginseng, Gorse (protection against baneful magic), Hawthorn (protection from lightning), Heather (protection against violent crimes), Heliotrope, Henna (protection from illness), Hickory, High John the Conqueror, Holly, Horseradish, Hyssop (protection for property against burglars and trespassers), Irish Moss (protection while traveling), Ivy, Juniper, Kava Kava, Lady Slipper (protection against baneful magic), Larch (protection against theft), Larkspur, Laurel, Lavender, Leek, Lemon, Lemon Verbena (protection of your home, protection from lightning and storms), Lettuce, Lime, Lotus, Lucky Hand Root (protection while traveling), Mandrake, Marigold (protection while sleeping), Marjoram, Marshmallow Root, Mimosa, Mint, Mistletoe (protection from lightning and fire), Mullein (protection from nightmares and baneful magic), Nutmeg, Oak Moss, Olive Leaf, Onion, Papyrus, Parsley (protection for your home), Peat Moss, Peony, Periwinkle (protection against snakes and poison), Pimpernel, Pine, Pineapple, Plantain (protection from snake bites and jealousy), Quince, Radish, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover (protection for pets), Rhubarb, Rice, Rowan, Rue, Sage, Sandalwood, Saw Palmetto, Sea Salt, Sheep Sorrel (protection from heart disease), Slippery Elm, Snapdragon, Solomon’s Seal, Spanish Moss, Spearmint, St. John’s Wort (protection from baneful magic, lightning, and fire), Straw Flower, Sunflower, Tangerine, Thistle, Toadflax, Tonka Bean (protection from disease), True Unicorn Root (protection from baneful magic), Valerian, Venus Fly Trap, Violet, Willow, Witch Hazel, Wood Aloe, Wood Betony, Woodruff, Wormwood (protection against dangerous roads while traveling), Yerba Santa, Yew, Yucca (protection of your home)

Metals

Chromium

Lead

Iron

Nickel

Pewter

Steel

Titanium

Zinc

Lunar Phases

Waxing - to attract protective energy and positivity

Full - generalized protection 

Waning - to banish negativity, thus protecting the caster

Planets

Moon

Mars

Saturn

Days of the Week

Monday

Tuesday

Saturday

© 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙰𝙳-𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙴��𝚃𝙸𝙰

[astra-ravana]

Working With Angrboda

Mother of Monsters

Other titles: She of Ironwood, Queen of Wolves, Herald of Sorrow

Colors: Green, red, purple, ice blue, black

Herbs: Agrimony, henbane, thistle, oak, wolfsbane, alder, juniper, mandrake, jasmine, datura, trillium, willow, rose, locust, mullien, rue, dragon's blood

Crystals: Purpurite, nuummite, blood amethyst, black/green tourmaline, rutilated quartz, flint, bloodstone, geothite, hematite, obsidian, garnet, stichtite, jet

Element: Earth/Ice

Planet: Jupiter

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Metal: Iron

Tarot: The Empress, Strength

Day: Friday

Animals: Wolves, cats, snakes

Domains: Monsters, wolves, the forests, protecting children, dark magick, feminine strength and power, witches, revenge, war, victory, justice, mothers, tough love, the forces of nature, shamanism, hedge witchcraft, sexual diversity, polyamory, primal instinct, chaos, destruction, primordial wisdom

Offerings: Wine, bread, blood, divination tools, weapons, wolf themed items, objects made of iron or wood, items from nature, motherhood themed objects, music, rituals and chants in her honor

Symbols: Wolf, spears, the runes: Uruz, Isa, Hagalaz, and Pertho

[hanlimz]

[midnight thoughts: park jongseong + end of beginning]

rando posting on a thursday night bc this has been in my drafts 4ever. no summary you die like men. maybe i'll write a part 2. maybe.

whether the guitar is a meager subject bending to his will or an extension of his very own body, you are unable to decide. enveloped by the dim lighting and clouds of cigarette smoke, the black stained alder wood manages to melt into the obsidian of his leather jacket. the angularity of his face cuts through the darkness; the length of his nose is perfectly straight, the slant of his jaw is sharp enough to cut, and his eyebrows are two, thick lines of focus. he plays with so much precision that it almost makes you overlook the way he still purses his lips when he's concentrating—a habit he was never able to shake. it transports you back to a simpler time in which he wasn't a rockstar. instead, he was a college student studying business management who had a silly band on the side. he was a college student who never planned to make it big, who never planned to leave.

a break in the set forces you from the depths of your memories. he is almost unrecognizable as he works the crowd; a sea of people at this intimate show are screaming for him, begging for his attention, and you can't help but laugh to yourself. years ago, he used to play for you. with a timeworn guitar and a handful of hope, he shared his musings of the future. they were long-shots, pipe dreams, fantasies he entertained when his assignments proved too difficult and his imagination too wild. his voice was sultry as the nimble tips of his fingers waltzed over the fretboard; the melodies he created were happier than the ones he sings now. his stories chronicled a life with you, but now they're bittersweet—tales of olde, reminders of the past.

the show is coming to a close; the throngs of listeners are beginning to thin out. minute by minute, there are less bodies to hide behind, less background to blend into—but, you can't seem to make yourself leave. there's a part of you that wants to be seen, to be noticed by him once more. turning to the bartender, you order an elixir to forget. before you can take the first sip into oblivion, however, a shadow sits down next to you. he smells familiar—amber, sandalwood, a dark thicket. he orders a whiskey sour, and it reminds you of the first time you met. like an aged souvenir, you hold the memory delicately in the palms of your hands.

"what does it feel like, hm?" there's a momentary pause, then you hum into the thick, musky air, "to be a star?"

he takes in a labor-ridden breath. when he lets it out, it seems like more than air escapes him; the heavy exhale is almost painful as he ponders the question. a minute passes, and the quiet is stifling. "it feels good, at first. everything you want, anytime you want. but, it becomes hollow after a while—all the drinks, all the blurry faces, all the memories melting together," he admits. "it's like i'm floating, y'know ... aimless, in space, millions of miles away."

"is it lonely up there?" you ask.

"most of the time, yeah," he answers, stopping for a few seconds to think. "but, it's what i wished for. it's what i wanted."

glancing over at him out of the corner of your eye, you see he's still nursing his drink. the fingers of his left hand trace circles around the rim of the glass while he itches at his wrist with his right. the blonde streaks in his hair are tousled with a mixture of gel and sweat, and the darker parts fall forward to shield his gaze from yours. remnants of the boy you used to know, used to love are resurfacing from the deep recesses of your mind—where you had kept them hidden for years.

"you're still a terrible liar," you say.

his body tenses at the comment. as his muscles remain rigid, he scoffs, disbelieving and defensive, "what do you even know about me, anymore?"

"nothing, really ..." behind your blasé facade, there's a particular ache. his words cut you, a serrated blade shoved between the gaps of your ribs; it hurts because you know he's right. he is no longer yours to know, no longer yours to love. soon, you fear that he may not even be yours to remember—disintegrating, falling, lost to the sands of time. "i knew who you were, though. kind and gentle, the guy who would buy me flowers for no reason. every day, you would call me to tell me you loved me. you would cook dinner, light candles, wash my hair ..."

it grows quiet again; the only sounds filling the air are a symphony of closing ambience. dishes are clattering, glasses are clinking, and chairs are scratching against the floor. this time, however, the silence is not deafening. in a way, it is almost familiar—reminiscent of spring nights spent in the diner close to campus, faces full of pancakes and hearts full of joy. but, this quietude—while being peaceful—also breeds cruelty.

"i'm sorry," his voice pierces through the wisps of smoke and the faint scent of burning incense off in the distance. he leaves the rest unspoken—for leaving, for not saying goodbye, for not giving you an answer. but, you hear it. in spite of it all, you hear it. the words don't penetrate the toughened shell around your heart; instead, they echo in your mind. everything you wanted but nothing you needed.

you hesitate, "i don't know if i can believe you."

"why did you come then?" he asks, voice solemn.

pins and needles prick at the skin of your cheeks as the question makes the tips of your fingers go cold. it's almost unreal. he shouldn’t have the right to question you like this, to interrogate you like you’re the criminal—like you’re the one who left. his words make slow work of you like a bullet to the stomach. as you pour out everything for him, you come to the bitter realization that it ended this way all those years ago. it would always end this way. you, dead on the floor; him, gun in hand. “i wanted to see for myself, i guess—” you spit, “if it was all worth it.”

turning towards him, you break down the wall that time and distance had erected between the two of you. there's a ferocity that shines in your eyes; it makes them glow with a certain conviction. he avoids your pointed stare, instead choosing to swirl his watered down drink. only now do you allow yourself to take a closer look at him. his skin is pallid, a ghost of the deep, tawny beige you used to run your fingers along; the dark circles under his eyes accompany sunken cheeks and slumped shoulders. fatigue seeps down to his very being, and this life the has managed to sap the life from his veins.

"was it worth it, jongseong?"

hearing his name fall from your lips seems to send a bolt of pure lightning down the length of his spine. no one has called him that in years; the thought makes you wonder who else he left behind. the corners of his eyes crinkle as he shuts them tight, trying to be anywhere but squirming under the weight of your gaze. after a few moments, he shakes his head. it starts slowly, a gentle back and forth movement before it becomes violent and erratic. when he stops, the man finally connects with you.

his rich, umber eyes are the one of the only things you still recognize. behind the severity of his face, there is a softness dancing within them; at his waterline, tears twinkle like diamonds under a jeweler's light. jay has never cried, never felt the touch of someone who loves him for who he is—but, jongseong? jongseong misses that feeling. the freedom of being loved unconditionally, the all-encompassing warmth of not just being seen but being known.

"it wasn't worth you."

[the-mortuary-witch]

HEL

WHO IS SHE?

Hel, also called Hella and Hela, is the name used to refer to the Goddess of the Underworld in Norse mythology. She is the daughter of Loki and the Goddess of death, disease, decay, and destruction. Hel is a mysterious, otherworldly deity who presides over the realm of the dead. According to the lore, her followers would be taken to her afterlife after death, where they would face their eternal fate. Though her domain is dark and seemingly frightening, Hel is a powerful and important deity in Norse mythology and has strong ties to the otherworld and the afterlife.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: in Norse mythology, Hel is described as a very pale but beautiful woman, often with dark, pale hair. She is sometimes depicted as being very thin and gaunt, with a corpse-like appearance. She is also described as often being very sorrowful and sad, and she is known to be a rather ominous and sinister figure. She is often depicted wearing dark, gothic-style clothing and bearing a variety of symbols associated with death and the Underworld.

Personality: Hel is often described as being very sorrowful and solemn. She is often depicted as being a rather quiet and melancholy figure, lacking in the warmth and friendliness that is attributed to the other Norse goddesses. She is generally regarded as being a somewhat sinister and oppressive presence, and she is often seen as having a much darker and more brooding nature than her sisters.

Symbols: ankh, wolves, bones and skulls, ravens, corpse, scythe, fire, spiral, broom, rake, and Hagalaz Rune

Goddess of: death and the afterlife

Culture: Norse

Plants and trees: beech, alder, elm, ivy, juniper, willow, yew, nightshade, belladonna, datura, nettle, wormwood, elder, hellebore, mistletoe, and blackberries

Crystals: obsidian, amethyst, black onyx, bloodstone, jet, and black tourmaline

Animals: rats, wolves, hellhounds, black mare, dogs, crows, and serpents

Incense: myrrh, dragon’s blood, frankincense, and patchouli

Colours: dark green, black, dark blue, red, white, and dark purple

Numbers: 9 and 13

Zodiac: Scorpio

Tarot: Death, The Tower, and Suit of Swords

Planet: Pluto

Days: Monday, Halloween, Yule, Samhain, Helrbjörg, and Allhallowtide

Parents: Loki and Angrboða

Siblings: Fenrir, Jörmungandr, Váli, Narfi, and Sleipnir (Odin’s horse)

Partner: N/A

Children: N/A

MISC:

• Wolves: which are often seen as the guardians of the underworld.

• Ravens and crows: associated with the realm of the dead.

• Pluto: the planet associated with death and rebirth.

• Moon: is the celestial object associated with death, madness, and witchcraft.

• The wolf Gnaa, whose name translates to "the one of the deep" and is the guardian of the underworld.

• Helhest: a mystical three-legged horse that can run across the sky and the sea, carrying souls to the World of Death.

• The black dog Cegrim: which is said to guide souls to the land of Hel.

• The Norns: who are the three Goddesses who spin the fate of each individual soul.

FACTS ABOUT HEL:

• Holds a biconical horn, called a drink horn, which she uses to drain the souls from dead mortals.

• She is the daughter of Loki and Angrboda.

• Garmr (sometimes also called Garm) is the dog or hound that is considered to be Hel's guardian and protector in Norse mythology. Garm is a demonic and monstrous creature, with the size and strength of a bear, the aggression and cunning of a wolf, and the ferocity and loyalty of a dog. Garm is also immortal and has the unique ability to never sleep or rest, which makes him an incomparable guardian and companion to Hel.

• Bears the nickname Goddess of the Dead.

• She resides in a giant estate called Helheim.

HOW TO INVOKE HEL:

To respectfully work with Hel, set up a sacred space dedicated to her and keep it organized and clean. Honour her symbols of death and rebirth with your attire, decorations, and rituals and rituals. Use colours associated with death and rebirth (black, dark purple, and dark green) in decorations and rituals. Light candles and incense during rituals and dispose of them responsibly.

PRAYER FOR HEL:

"Hail Hel, Lady of the Underworld. I come to you seeking your guidance and protection. Please bless me with your wisdom and help me to walk the path of death and rebirth. Guide me into the realms of darkness, so I may emerge stronger and more enlightened.” 

"Now that I have honoured you and asked for your guidance, I offer this as a humble offering in your name. Accept my gratitude and blessings, and may our paths cross again in the future. Hail to you, Lady of the Underworld, I bid you farewell for now. Hail Hel.”

SIGNS THAT HEL IS CALLING YOU:

• Feeling a sense of pull or attraction to her energy and teachings.

• Experiencing synchronicity or signs that point to her presence.

• You have dreams or visions about her.

• You hear/see her name on the TV, radio, online, in books, etc.

• You recently had a family member pass away

• You’re currently working on healing from religious trauma, specifically fears of death and Hell

• The Death card continually pops up in a reading

• Hagalaz rune is calling to you and showing up everywhere

• Hel’s animals are coming to you as a sign: dog, wolf, or horse

• An increased sense of devotion and reverence towards her.

• Feel drawn to her symbols or representations, such as skulls, bones, and Gothic imagery.

• Something in your life triggers an intense emotional or mental reaction where you feel a strong urge or desire to work with her and embrace her teachings.

• Experiencing a strong sense of passion, dedication, or devotion towards her.

OFFERINGS:

• Money

• Jewelry with dark or gothic themes, as she is often depicted wearing such items in artwork.

• Precious stones

• Weaponry.

• Alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

• Herbs.

• Food or drinks: tea, soup, meat, honey, bread, milk, fruit, and other delicacies.

• Mold.

• Items that represent the cycle of life and death: such as bones, skulls, jewelry with a skeleton theme, and plants associated with death and rebirth.

• Fire or candles: associated with the realm of the dead.

• Music and instruments: she was said to be a talented musician and musician herself.

• Dried flowers.

• Blood.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

• Keep a journal, record your thoughts and feelings about her.

• Create an altar or sacred space for her.

• Read or study books on Norse mythology and the goddess Hel.

• Pray to her and ask for her guidance and protection.

• Mindfully clean the graves of deceased loved ones. Talk to them when you visit. If you can’t visit your loved one’s graves, you can write to them and burn it. Watch the letter burn and think that the fire and smoke is delivering the message to them.

• Keep a small altar to honor your beloved who have passed and tend to it. Do not forget their names.

• Honour and embrace all of your emotions. This includes your negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, pain, etc. Accepting and acknowledging these emotions helps process them better and thus help you be a better person. Denying them allows them to fester.

• Do shadow work especially during Sundays.

• Do spirit work. Be cautious when you this and properly protect yourself and dismiss the spirit soon after.

• Do ancestral work and establish ancestral healing starting with you. This helps heal the ones who have come before you.

• Take time to sit in silence and watch the world move around you. You can do this in a symbolic way by leaving fruit like an apple outside and watch it rot.

• Meditate and learn the value of taking a pause in this fast-paced world.

• Accept change and adapt to it.

• Learn to appreciate the sudden changes or slight inconveniences in life. See the positive side of it.

• Learn the value of patience.

• Live your life as if it was your last (mindfully).

• Volunteer in cleaning cemeteries or in your local mortuary

• Keep a garden and care for it. (Some SDAs say she likes roses but she could ask you to care for other plants)

• Visit or volunteer in hospital work especially for the critically ill. Bring joy into their life even for a short while. You don’t know how much time they have left.

• Dress in neutral and dark colours.

• Dedicate a playlist for her.

• Collect animal bones. Clean then and breathe life into them (do so ethically, killing animals for bones is a blatant disrespect for Hel, the animal and the law).

• Adopt unwanted animals (the ones who are critically ill or are of old age) and give them the best life before they pass

• Carry an organ donor or a blood donor card.

• Enjoy fermented food and drinks such as wine and mead. Do not forget to toast to her name.

[stars4loki]

30 days of devotion to Loki

day 10: Offerings, both hysterical and UPG

- Coffee

- Chocolate (i’ve noticed he likes Kisses, and Kinder eggs)

Just food in general

- Cake

- Sweets / candy

- I’ve also noticed Lucky charms

Incense & candles

- Incense: Dragons blood, cinnamon, mulled wine or any sweet smelling incenses

- Candles: Preferably one of his colors (Green, Gold/Yellow, Orange, Red, and Brown), you can also draw a bind rune, on it or runes in general (due to the fact that he loves and uses runes)

- Alcohol (I’ve noticed that he likes fireballs)

Plants associated with him

- Mistletoe, with which he indirectly murdered Baldr.

- Birch, represented by Berkanan.

- Alder, which may be used to call him. (Whether he’ll decide to answer is another thing entirely.)

- Mullein, which can be lit like a torch and used to call out to Loki.

- Cinnamon, peppers, and other hot spices

Crystals associated with him

- Volcanic and sulfurous stones (e.g., obsidian, gypsum, hematite, etc.)

- Pyrite

- Color-changing stones (opal, labradorite) to represent shapeshifting

- Bloodstone

- Clear calcite, likely what the vikings used as their navigational "sunstones”

- Flint, because it's used to start fires

- Red stones (eg., red jasper, garnet, carnelian, ruby)

- Stones of any other color associated with Loki

Photo’s/Art/Items of him and Photo’s/Art/Items of the animals associated with him, for example I have a spider ring that is orange on his altar and an Oracle card with orange and yellow snakes.

Animals associated with him:

Snakes

Spiders

Flies

[antihibikase-archive]

Blight / Blur Major Arcana Symbolisms

Blight / Ace of Wands / Knight of Swords (BW Arc, Dreamworld Arc, Floccesy Arc) :

0 - The Fool : The False King, Natural Harmonia Gropius

I - The Magician : The Archivist, Lenora Magnolia

II - The High Priestess : The Scholar of Truth, Bianca Alabaster

III - The Empress : The Analyst, Fennel Dreamer

IV - The Emperor : The Doctor, Nikolai Colress

V - The Hierophant : The Agent, Zinzolin Ryder

VI - The Lovers : The Eyes, Anthea and Concordia Harmonia Gropius

VII - The Chariot : The Warrior of Truth, Hilda Weiss

VIII - Strength : The Chroniclers, Ingo and Emmet Graystone

IX - The Hermit : The Lorekeeper, Alder Redwood

X - The Wheel of Fortune : Guidance, The Soldiers ( Drayden / Clay / Skyla / Brycen )

XI - Justice : Liberation, Team Plasma

XII - The Hanged Man : The Heart, Cheren Slater

XIII - Death : Idealized Truth, The Party of Truth

XIV - Temperance : The Prodigy, Amanita Dreamer

XV - The Devil : The False Prophet, Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius

XVI - The Tower : Fort of Ash, The Relic Castle

XVII - The Star : The Successor, Marshal Redwood

XVIII - The Moon : The Princess, Caitlin Bloomingdale

XIX - The Sun : The Heiress, Iris Chibana

XX - Judgement : Dragon of Flame, Reshiram

XXI - The World : The Hero of Truth, Hilbert Blackburn

Blur / Page of Cups / King of Pentacles (BW2 Arc, Abyssal Ruins Arc, Relic Castle Arc)

0 - The Fool : The Wavering Truth, Hilbert Blackburn

I - The Magician : The Counselor, Audrea Juniper

II - The High Priestess : The Scholar of Ideals, Rosa Whitefield

III - The Empress : The Heroine of Life and Death, Serena Cendrine

IV - The Emperor : The Hero of Life and Death, Calem Laflamme

V - The Hierophant : The Agent, Godfrey Rood

VI - The Lovers : The Eyes, Yancy Rosewood and Curtis Greenville

VII - The Chariot : The Warrior of Ideals, Hugh Obsidian

VIII - Strength : The Apprentices, The Striaton Triplets

IX - The Hermit : The Priest, Natural Harmonia Gropius

X - The Wheel of Fortune : Guidance, The Poets ( Burgh / Elesa / Roxie / Marlon )

XI - Justice : Subjugation, NEO Team Plasma

XII - The Hanged Man : The Revered Vessel, Cheren Slater

XIII - Death : Realized Ideals, The Party of Ideals

XIV - Temperance : The Idealist, Diana Obsidian

XV - The Devil : The Doctor, Acro

XVI - The Tower : Ruins of Time, The Abyssal Ruins

XVII - The Star : The Enchantress, Shauntal Del Rosario

XVIII - The Moon : The Gambler, Grimsley Slater

XIX - The Sun : The Heir, Benga Redwood

XX - Judgement : Dragon of Thunder, Zekrom

XXI - The World : The Hero of Ideals, Nathaniel Blake

[pokemon-blightblur]

Blight/Blur : All Characters

🐉 The Legend of The Dragons :

Hero of Truth, Hilbert Blackburn Hero of Ideals, Nate Blake The Heart, Cheren Slater Warrior of Truth, Hilda Weiss Warrior of Ideals, Hugh Obsidian Scholar of Truth, Bianca Alabaster Scholar of Ideals, Rosa Whitefield The Priest, N Harmonia Gropius The Doctor, Nikolai Colress / Acro Cogita

👑 Unova's League :

The Woodcutter's Apprentice, Cilan Clockworker The Angler's Apprentice, Cress Clockworker The Blacksmith's Apprentice, Cress Clockworker The Archivist, Lenora Magnolia The Artist, Burgh Barlowe The Seamstress, Elesa Starling The Prospector, Clay Tamagawa The Adventurer, Skyla Vale The Phantom, Brycen Ryder The Captain, Drayden Dragul The Musician, Roxie Fenton The Seafarer, Marlon Salvador The Enchantress, Shauntal Del Rosario The Gambler, Grimsley Slater The Princess, Caitlin Bloomingdale The Successor, Marshal Redwood The Heir, Benga Redwood The Heiress, Iris Chibana The Lorekeeper, Alder Redwood The Moon's Chronicler, Ingo Graystone The Sun's Chronicler, Emmet Graystone ✖️ Team Plasma + Order of The Heart :

The False Prophet, Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius The Eye of Love, Anthea Harmonia Gropius The Eye of Peace, Concordia Harmonia Gropius The Agent, Zinzolin Ryder The Agent, Godfrey Rood The Eye of Love, Yancy Rosewood The Eye of Peace, Curtis Greenville The Shadow, Uno The Shadow, Dos The Shadow, Tres 🔖 Gym Guides :

Waitress Tia of Striaton Scientist Satomi of Nacrene Harlequin Jack of Castelia Lady Colette of Nimbasa Clerk Katie of Driftveil Pilot Chase of Mistralton Black Belt Thomas of Icirrus Veterans Kim and Ron of Opelucid Gentleman Clyde of Aspertia Guitarist Billy Jo of Virbank Ace Trainer Santino of Humilau

🧪 Scientists :

The Counselor, Audrea Juniper The Wiseman, Cedric Juniper The Analyst, Fennel Dreamer The Prodigy, Amanita Dreamer

🩸 Family :

Harper Blackburn Lillith Slater Noland Slater Blanche Alabaster Silas Alabaster Marianne Blake Hitoshi Obsidian Giselle Obsidian Aya Obsidian Sabrina Starling Roxas Fenton Kuroba Amano Norman Slater Cynthia Cogita The Witch, Nikola Cogita

🌏 Friends and Allies of Other Regions :

The Hero of Life and Death, Calem Laflamme The Heroine of Life and Death, Serena Cendrine The Gravekeeper, Augustine Sycamore The Philantropist, Lysandre Donnadieu The King of Kalos, Azriel Donnadieu

[eldritch-flower]

WIP INTRO: "SMILE"

and to sadness he was drawn like rot and decay. he would sow his legacy amongst the bones of the dead and become witness to the new world. a world void of all fear and hurt and hatred. and all they would ever do is 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦.

SYNOPSIS:

Everyone knew the stories. The tales of the desiccated corpses he left behind, drained and dry - nothing more than a husk - and of the sadistic moniker that emblazoned them. Smiley, they called him, apt and fitting but forever more than the murderer would deserve. He brought with him shadows of a darker age of humanity wherever he went: A shadow of evil, authoritarian darkness that swept through every town with a ferocity unparalleled by any natural means. His presence was like a dust cloud, grinding the hopes and beliefs of whatever sorry town he made his prize - crumbling them to piles of ash and soot and pain.

And everyone knew the old myths that followed him, whispers of Ones of obsidian and midnight, of brilliant sun and gold. How they wreaked havoc for centuries before their disappearance. Gone, without a trace. Or so it was told in the scripture, written for hope and betterment to prevail when there was none to be seen. It is known that a People can forget the darkness of their past, see around the night sky to the dawn ever-coming. But there are some things that should not be forgotten. And Smiley knew; this was their first mistake.

Humans have grown weak in His absence, fighting petty wars through every fault of their own. They slaughter one another without means to sacrifice, with no avid reason, and have come to disbelieve all the fruitful truths once known. And deep down beneath the Bone-Yard, beneath all the stagnant rot and mold and maggots burying their way through their own flesh, He makes his way through the piles of decay. Smiley knows it won't be long now. The crescendo of frothing-white crashing against the cliffs were all that were keeping Him at bay. But now, it seems, He has finally learned how to swim.

or, alternatively...

When the notorious serial killer known only by the alias 'Smiley' makes his presence in Perthlochry apparent, the small Welsh town's lacklusterpolice department do all they can to prevent the spree of the seven deaths that he is renowned for. But it's not enough - it never was going to be. Matters aren't helped when the first victim is the Deputy's very own sister, found torn and drained behind her apartment with a crimson grin decorating her pale face.

Detective Tempest understands why he's being distanced from the crimes. Personal bias is a dangerous game to play in the land of law enforcement. But with nothing but loose ends and a handful of curious witnesses, the entire town plummets to chaos. That's when it becomes clear:

There are worse things out there than Smiley. And they, too, are on their way to Perthlochry.

BASICS:

Genre(s) - Supernatural-horror, thriller, crime

Length - novel, ~90,000 words

Setting - A fictional town in Western Wales, UK, called 'Perthlochry'... present day, I think (could be late 90s/early 2000s, though, we'll see)

POV- Third Person (limited)

Including - LGBTQ+ characters (on the down-low), exes to lovers, buddy-cop dynamics, women in STEM, Evil vs slightly less-Evil, Antagonist turned Ally, (kind of) the Chosen One

This is not a romance novel. There is a romantic pairing between 2 main characters, but it's just kinda... there.

VICTIMS:

Connor Tempest: Perthlochry's Deputy Chief of Police & lead homicide detective

Amos Christian Bancroft: English horror author

Alani Fisher: PhD student of Forensic Psychology & intern

Alder Llewellyn: Highschool student

Violet Llewellyn: Highschool student

Others:

Cooper Miller

Chelsea Wynne

Daniella Reeves

William Cadwaldr

Rose Miller-Llewellyn

WARNINGS:

"SMILE" is a supernatural thriller aimed towards mature readers - so, basically, it's (new) adult.

It's... it's probably the goriest thing I've ever planned out, and it's definitely the darkest. That being said, here be the content warnings, so ya'll beware:

Strong Language

Child Abuse, Endangerment and Death

(Very) Graphic Violence

Death & Murder

Misogyny

Mental Illness

Police Brutality

Abusive Relationships

Religious Connotations

Cults & the Occult

Dubious/Lack of Consent

Welsh People Great British Humour

PLAYLIST:

Shame on The Night - Dio

Killer - The Hoosiers

Night Prowler - AC/DC

Alone + Easy Target - Foo Fighters

One Of My Turns - Pink Floyd

Life Goes On - The Damned

Voices - Alice In Chains

Hunted Down - Soundgarden

Children of the Damned - Iron Maiden

My Iron Lung - Radiohead

[booksbeansandcandles]

Sabbats: Lughnasadh Basics and Correspondences

Lughnasadh is one of the four Celtic Cross Quarter Festivals, also referred to as the fire festivals. It is the first of three harvest festivals held in the fall. As the grain and corn are gathered and preserved for the season, farmers celebrated the last of the long and warm days of summer.

The cross quarters are linked to an old farming calendar. This was a time when people were very close to the land and their lives were governed by the changing of the seasons and the need to grow enough food to survive. Modern Irish Gaelic calls the month of August Lúnasa which is the modern variation of Lughnasadh. The name originates from Lugh, a mythological hero to some, sun god to others.

NAMES: The festival was adopted as Lammas “loaf mass” during the conversion of old ways to Judeo-Christian ways. Lammas (Anglo-Saxon – “hlaf-mass” = “loaf-mas”), Lughnasadh (Irish-Gaelic), First Fruits Harvest, Festival of Wheat Harvest, Cornucopia, Thingtide, The Feast of Bread, Freyfaxi, Frey Fest

DATES: February 1st (southern hemisphere), August 1st (northern hemisphere)

ENERGY: Waning

COLORS: Red, Yellow, Orange, Gold, Copper, Bronze, Brown, Tan (the colors of the sun and of grain)

ANIMALS: Calves, Lambs, Crow, Pig, Rooster, Salmon

CRYSTALS: Citrine, Amber Tigers Eye, Golden Topaz, Sardonyx, Hag Stones, Opal, Ametrine, Carnelian, Tourmaline, Brown Agate, Desert Rose, Jasper, Fossilized Wood, Yellow Aventurine, Obsidian, Lodestone

PLANTS, FLOWERS, HERBS, TREES: Rosemary, Sandalwood, Rose, Heather, Sunflowers, Grains, Marigolds, Oak, Acacia, Sage, Thyme, Cumin, Curry, Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Frankincense, Daisies, Chamomile, Passionflower, Hollyhock, Mistletoe, Cedar, Myrtle, Rosewood, Madrone, Alder, Redwood, Ginger, Patchouli, Basil, Apple, Blackberry, Blackthorn, Clover, Goldenrod, Ivy, Peony, Rose Hips, Vervain, Yarrow, Zinnias

ASSOCIATED GODDESSES: Demeter, Ceres, Persephone, Sif, Cerridwen, Habadonia, Hathor, Eriu/Macha (Irish Goddess of the Land), Danu, Alphito, Anat, Bastet, Hestia, Ishtar, Isis, Libera, Luna, Rhiannon

ASSOCIATED GODS: Lugh, Adonis, Llew, The Sun God, The Oak King, The Holly King, Dionysus, Tammuz, The Green Man, Cernunnos, Attis, Baal, Cronus, Dagon, Lahar, Neper, Osiris, Freyr, Odin

THEMES: First harvest, abundance, richness, fruitfulness, afterglow, the beginning of the end, generosity, celebrating gifts, sacrifice, turning towards darkness, justice and karma, human and personal rights issues, freedom from abuse of any kind; promotion and career advancement and the regularizing and regulation of personal finances; for holidays and journeys to see friends and family or on business and the renewal of promises, loyalty and fidelity; also willing sacrifice for a long term gain or made in love, trusting the cosmos to provide by giving without seeking immediate return; also for all matters concerning people in their forties and fifties.

ALTAR/DECORATIONS:

Yellow or orange altar cloths

Green, yellow or orange candles

Herbs

Small baskets

Bread can be baked (even from packets) and herbs added to make magical bread

Any straw object such as a corn dolly, grain mother, braided grain, a corn knot, a straw hat or a straw animal tied with red ribbon

Harvest flowers such as poppies or cornflowers, sunflowers and marigolds

Dried grasses, wheat stalks, long ears of grain

Stones with natural holes

Threshing tools, scythe, sickle

Summer vegetables, fruits and squashes (corn & gourds)

Cornucopias

The athame

[ask-beacons-finest]

Another wonderful addition to the pollination family's photo album, done of course by the equally wonderful @echollama c":

Parsley and Alder's first (official) date night!

Official being...not...sneaking out in the middle of the night with her friends to go to a lakeside party leading to a situation that cause all of you to hate be rightfully suspicious of Alder.

Thank you very much Echo! Amazing work like always c":

[lunavenefica]

Faes and Zodiac Signs - Part 3

⛤ Hello friends, witches and fellow crafters! ⛤

The third part of this serie will be about Mab, the fairy of the Gemini sign!

⛤ Sacred Tree - alder

⛤ Magic Stones - Eye of tiger, agate, green obsidian

⛤ Functions - Queen of thoughts, spirituality, consciousness, auras and shadows. Can control felines. Protects travelers. 

⛤ Symbols - Flowers, shadows, bells

⛤ Traits of the Fae - mischievous, quick-witted, jovial, talkative, high-energy

⛤ Colors - Yellow, Gold

⛤ Planet - Mercury

⛤ Number - 0

Invocation: 

“I call for the fae of Eleusis, of mysteries and antic magicians. 

Give me the strength to travel in my mind, my soul and on earth.

Help me balance my excess, and the multiplicity of all unconsciousness.”

Witchfully Yours,

⛤Isidora & Bleiz⛤

[mywildattic]

𝕾𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖆𝖙𝖘

{Art by Julia Nikita}

The sabbats are holidays celebrated throughout the year on solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. These sabbats form the Wheel of the year.

There is a controversy surrounding the dates of these holidays, as people celebrate them all over the earth, not only in the northen hemisphere but in the southern too. 

One viewpoint is that the Sabbats should be celebrated as they were originally created to be... in other words, Samhain is October 31st, regardless of where you live. In the Southern Hemisphere, even though you are just gearing up to summer on October 31st, this perspective says that you celebrate the cleansing and releasing, the honouring of the dead just as you would if you lived in the Northern Hemisphere. The other viewpoint (the one I personally agree with) is that you should celebrate when you feel like the season corresponds with the holiday, in other words, your craft, your rules. So if you live in the southern hemisphere, you have the choice.

I’ll be writing the dates for each holiday starting with the northen hemisphere and then the dates that many people celebrate them in the southern hemisphere

🌲𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄

{December 21st//June 21st}

Yule focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. It's all about new beginnings, reflection and embracing warmth. Much like Christmas, many celebrate with a feast, gift giving, being cosy and appreciating the good.

↟Nature: cedar, frankincense, myrrh, mistletoe, pine, birch, ivy.

↟Foods//flavours: ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, wintergreen, apple, dried fruit.

↟Stones: citrine, ruby, garnet, alexandrite, green tourmaline.

↟Activities: decorate your altar with incense associated with Yule, burn ash wood for prosperity, bake using Yule flavours like ginger or cinnamon, make wreathes to hang around the house, spend time with loved ones.

🕯️𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐂

{February 1st//August 1st}

Imbolc focuses on celebrating the nature that is preparing to grow and renewal, also known as "candlemas" and the "Feast of Pan".

↟Nature: basil, blackberry, heather, celandine, iris, wisteria, vanilla, bay, yellow and white flowers.

↟Foods//flavours: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, peppers, onions, spices, and herbal teas.

↟Stones: amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, ruby, onyx.

↟Activities: decorate with candles and sun decorations, go hiking, have a bonfire, bake foods with poppy seeds, and burn any leftover winter herbs.

🌼𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐀

{March 21st//September 21st}

Ostara focuses on manifesting creativity and love. As the days become longer, energy becomes stronger.

↟Nature: ash, alder, daffodil, honeysuckle, narcissus, primrose, violet, jasmine.

↟Foods//flavours: olives, maple syrup, honey, edible flowers, chocolate, pine nuts, nettle or lavender tea, local fruits and vegetables.

↟Stones: amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone.

↟Activities: gardening and planting seeds, bake breads with olives or honey for example, start new projects, talk to plants, do some painting, decorate with wildflowers.

🌰𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐄

{May 1st//November 1st}

Beltane focuses on fertility, love and abundance. Also known as "may day", on this sabbat many celebrate with dancing, bonfires and many high energy activities, including enjoying themselves sexually with a partner or even conceiving children.

↟Nature: frankincense, lilac, ivy, marigold, woods, rose, thyme, mint, yarrow.

↟Foods//flavours: oats, leafy greens, fruits, breads, honey.

↟Stones: malachite, amber, fire opal, red jasper.

↟Activities: dance, decorate with florals and symbols of the sea, go to the beach, go hiking, have a bonfire, feast on fruits, vegetables and grains, laugh and let your hair down. And if you're trying to conceive or simply would like to have sex, Beltane is a wonderful time to do so.

🦋𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀

{June 21st//December 21st}

Litha focuses on growth and celebrating the longest day of the year and the sun, before the shorter days begin.

↟Nature: fern, yarrow, sage, rose, oak, mugwort, lavender, chamomile, myrrh, pine.

↟Foods//flavours: herbed bread, honey, sunflower seeds, iced herbal tea, lemon, vanilla.

↟Stones: lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite, tiger's eye.

↟Activities: make or buy a sun catcher, surround yourself with warm tones, watch the sunrise and sunset, make sun water, spend time outdoors, make use of herbs.

🌾𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐒//𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐇

{August 2nd//February 2nd}

Lammas, or lughnasadh focuses on celebrating the first of the three harvesting sabbats and taking time to really feel the positivity in different aspects of life.

↟Nature: cornstalks, heather, acacia flowers, hollyhock, oak leaves, wheat, myrtle, spices.

↟Food//flavours: grainy bread, corn, potatoes, nuts, blackberries, wine.

↟Stones: amber, agate, citrine, clear quartz, obsidian, tiger's eye.

↟Activities: bake bread, make corn dolls, visit a sunflower field, spend time in nature, acknowledged what you are grateful for, journal.

🍁𝐌𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐍

{September 21st//March 21st}

Mabon focuses on honouring the change of the seasons, balance and peace.

↟Nature: sage, pine, marigold, thistle, acorns, milkweed, oak leaves, myrrh.

↟Food//flavours: cinnamon, nuts, beans, dark fruits, pies, soup, butterscotch.

↟Stones: citrine, carnelian, clear quartz, sapphire, yellow agate.

↟Activities: collect pine cones, donate food and old clothes, meditate, dry herbs, spend time with loved ones, speak to the nature around you.

🎃𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍

{October 31st-November 1st//April 30th-May 1st}

Samhain focuses on celebrating life, and honouring those who are no longer with us.

↟Nature: heather, sage, pumpkins, straw, flax, patchouli, myrrh.

↟Foods//flavours: apples, cider, pumpkin, pies, soups, stews, potatoes, ginger.

↟Stones: amber, black obsidian, fossils, onyx, sandstone, bloodstones.

↟Activities: honour the deceased, spend time with family, make a hearty comforting meal, make or buy a scarecrow, spend time practicing divination.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐚𝐭

↟Do a tarot reading relevant to that sabbat.

↟Spend time in the moonlight, charging your crystals and tarot cards, as well as meditating.

↟Bake something using at least one traditional food of that sabbat to share with others.

↟Cleanse your living space and any of your magickal items.

↟Write down how you’re feeling and how you’d like to feel in the weeks to come.

[madness-manic-antics]

On the Track to Victory

Part 9: Roulette

The walk from the Anville Pokemon Center to the home Ingo apparently shared with his brother was not peaceful. Not at all. People were running and screaming and freaking out like the world was ending. Emmet's smile was fixed, wooden, and Elesa was hustling along and glancing at the sky every few minutes as though expecting the rift to change.

It probably wouldn't change, Victoria thought bitterly, until some wide-eyed teenager with an impressive throwing arm decked Volo in the face and found a way to close the new Space-Time rift.

So obviously the first thing this wide-eyed teenager needed to do was regain her arm so she could actually throw that punch. And maybe some platform shoes. Volo is tall.

Everyone she hates is too tall to punch.

"Emmet, the sky has been torn open." Elesa finally manages. She hadn't spoken since they had looked out the window of the hospital and seen the rift.

Emmet nods, adjusting his grip on Ingo. He had elected to carry her uncle 'due to safety concerns' while Victoria had insisted on walking (by growling at anyone who suggested carrying her or attempted to pick her up). She's fine. She really is.

Okay, she's not. That's a total lie. But her nap had gone well and her feet mostly did what she commanded them to do.

Ingo waves a claw in a rather vague gesture. "Miss Victoria, any idea how we can tell them we've dealt with this once already?"

Victoria considers the problem, almost tripping over a crack in the sidewalk. "Might have to wait for that letter board, Uncle Ingo."

He sighs in response and Victoria goes back to glaring at the rift. Fucking Volo. Fucking asshole. She's going to tear him to shreds.

"Stop thinking of violent retribution." Ingo scolds.

He knows her too well.

"When we get to yours I'm calling Alder. I have zero doubt that there's going to be a meeting about this. Do you think it has something to do with Team Plasma?"

Emmet opens his mouth to speak but then notices Ingo shaking his head. "Ingo? Are you… you are answering her question, right?"

He nods.

"So… do you know what this is?"

Ingo rocks a hand in a so-so gesture.

"Okay. Okay that's both great and awful. You three are coming to whatever meeting gets called by the league about this… sky tear." Elesa says with the weight of authority in her voice.

Victoria nods, about to tell her Uncle that his brother is perceptive, but suddenly her senses overload-- her vision goes white, her ears fill with the sound of screams, her hair all stands on end, and ozone fills her nose.

"VICTORIA!"

She can barely hear her Uncle over the screaming.

Something impacts with her side and she stumbles, paws leaving the sidewalk and going onto grass and it's too much light and noise and sensation and her breathing is heavy and she's screaming and writhing and she can't see can't hear can't can't can't

Can't

C…an't….

h e l p……..

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"Why don't you like nicknames, Miss Victoria?" Ingo asks. The pair are sitting on the edge of a cliff in the Obsidian Fieldlands. "I heard about you telling off Rei for calling you Vicky."

Victoria feels heat come to her cheeks and screws up her face. She aims and throws a Jet Ball, just barely missing the Togekiss for the twentieth time.

"Yelling at Rei about that was not my finest moment, no, but truthfully? I don't remember."

Sometimes these random conversations stir up memories like kicked silt in the bottom of a river. Sometimes there's nothing more than the answer of 'I don't recall'.

She whiffs another Jet Ball. "That thing is so fast." She grumbles.

"So do you think there is a reason?"

Does she think there is a reason…? Hesitantly, Victoria nods.

"Come on, Tia, I have this great idea. Let's go! You owe me $3,000 if we're late!" And with that he was off.

"You forGOT to tell me your idea!" Victoria shouts after him, shoving her boots on and thundering down the stairs. A woman with blue hair seated at a counter Victoria passes chuckles.

He's waiting for her outside, hands on his hips and foot tapping. "You took too long, Tia!"

"I took less than a minute, B--"

Victoria clutches at her head, the Jet Ball she'd been holding thudding to the grass from nerveless fingers. "How do you even get Tia out of Victoria?" She mumbles, rubbing her temples gently.

"You remembered something?"

"It's already gone." Victoria sighs. "Someone called me Tia at some point. That's all I got."

"I see." Ingo picks up the dropped Jet Ball and gives it a toss. It smacks the Togekiss right on the back, and into the ball it goes.

"Oh, come on! I've been trying to catch that thing for hours."

1234567890

The lightning had come suddenly, striking dozens of places at once and not ceasing. There seemed to be a new strike every second, and whenever it hit a Pokemon said Pokemon would start screaming and flailing and writhing in pain. Some were turning on people and attacking them, or other Pokemon, indiscriminately.

Normally Emmet would be taking control of the panicking populace. He would organize everyone into evacuating the area and use his own Pokemon to protect bystanders from the… frenzied, that's the only thing he can describe it as, these Pokemon are frenzied and cannot be calmed.

Normally Emmet didn't have his injured older brother in his arms, clinging to his coat. He couldn't risk Ingo. Could not risk losing his brother again.

Victoria wasn't among the ones struck who were attacking, but she was clearly in a lot of pain, and almost immediately after she was struck (right in between Emmet and Elesa!) she was Feint Attacked by a frenzied Purrloin. Emmet had been surprised at the ferocity of her return Tackle, which sent the street cat flying before Victoria had collapsed onto the grass yowling in pain.

"Emmet!" Elesa says, and his head snaps towards her. She bends down and lifts Victoria, who shrieks in pain, and shoves her into the giant tote bag containing all of their belongings from the Pokemon Center. This is then shoved at Emmet.

"Take her and Ingo and get out of here! I'll try and get a handle on things here, but I don't want to find out what would happen if Ingo got hit with this freaky lightning in the state he's in! Get to your place and stay there until I call you!"

Emmet reaches out to grab the bag and support it beside Ingo, hoping she doesn't thrash too much. "Are you certain?"

"I'm a Gym Leader. This is part of the job. Get going!" Elesa commands over the sound of thunder and lightning, giving Emmet a small shove.

Emmet takes the hint and starts running.