#Golden Hive Mead

[immoren]

"What's wrong babe? You've not touched your Wonster yet"

[julewolfstar]

y'all know Golden Hive Mead on YouTube?

mountain dew and dr. pepper wine is what i imagine Actor would do if he got bored enough in the manor.

like, just "what are some weird things i could try turning into alcohol to get wasted with?"

like, he starts off normal (wine, mead), and slowly spirals down into the most ridiculous things that still somehow work

[glitchy-creations]

I couldn’t sleep so I did a little drawing of my Blood of Zeus oc and her hubby Hermes 💕

(The pose ref is from Mellon Soup on Instagram! The @ on the side is for my instagram btw 😉)

More info under the cut!

So a little info on my bby 💕

First and foremost she should not be taken seriously to actual Greek Mythology! While I did try to use elements from theories about aspects from the mythos, she shouldn’t be taken seriously as a legit goddess! That’s my little disclaimer! ALSO; if I have anything wrong (such as names) please let me know! I’m more than happy to change anything that needs to be!

So I was looking up ambrosia and nectar a while ago just for funsies (I wanted to see what the actual mythology said about the food/drink) and saw a few times that it was theorised to have been honey. Or more specifically a really sweet kind of honey. This makes sense since honey can be consumed as a food (honey combs) and drink (mead). In typical me fashion this turned into me making an entire character based off this idea.

First off her name is Ambrosia and she’s a minor goddess known as a goddess of secrecy, mystery, magic (b/c we can never have to many of those lol), and she’s the maker of ambrosia and nectar. Her name is pretty straightforward.

She has two known epithets; Ambrosia Chrysus (meaning “Immortal Gold”) in reference to created ambrosia and nectar, and Ambrosia Mysterion (meaning “Immortal Mystery”) in reference to her being a goddess of secrets/mystery.

She’s also sometimes called Aigoklima (meaning Honeysuckle) because of her use of honeysuckles in creating the “divine foods”. That last one is similar to how Hades is sometimes called Aidonus.

I’m a big ol’ sucker for irony so against popular belief, Ambrosia is actually a chthonic goddess! She was born in the underworld and lives there most of the time. I haven’t decided if she’s an offspring of a goddess like Nyx or if she was born similar to Aphrodite and the sea foam. It should be noted that the whole “creator of the divine food” thing was given to her later in her life.

You maybe wondering how she creates the divine foods. Well let me tell you! First off she doesn’t make them in the underworld, what use is magic food if the Olympians can’t eat it right? So instead she has this little garden tucked away in a cave that she uses to grow her flowers and care for her bees.

So far I have a rough idea of how she creates ambrosia and nectar. For the nectar I imagine it’s a mix of nectar from her honeysuckles, honey from the hives, and Ichor (that’s how it become “divine”). One can either drink this mixture straight or it can be mixed with wine or other beverages. Ambrosia will usually set aside some to make into mead.

For ambrosia (the food) she essentially pours the Ichor-flower nectar mixture over a honeycomb and lets it soak in. For both of these processes she will mix everything in a larger pot, though because it’s simple enough to make she can make “single serving” amounts directly into a honeysuckle (great for on the road use lol).

It should be noted that in Blood of Zeus I believe the gods have red blood, not golden blood like in the myths or other media retelling. In this context, Ambrosia is special in she has the golden blood simply because of her extended time experimenting to create the foods. Literally a drop of blood from any god could theoretically be enough to make ambrosia or nectar since that’s where the divinity come from, her blood just looks different because she been at this for so long. Likewise i imagine her hair’s golden colour is also a result of over exposure to ambrosia/nectar.

Hebe also still holds her place as cup bearer! Think of it as; Ambrosia makes and delivers the goods and Hebe serves it. They work together.

As for her other work, Ambrosia is very organised. Because she has dominion over secrets and such she literally keeps records of secrets she finds important or interesting. Like she home in the underworld is full of scrolls and things. Her favourites are Zeus’s affairs mainly because she finds it entertaining to watch his come up with excuses to tell Hera 💀

While she claims to have no responsibility in keeping peoples secrets she would never reveal them unless given permission. She may be a god but she has morals.

Ambrosia herself is a very kind and even tempered goddess. She’s pretty chill and doesn’t really get offended easily. She’s pretty introverted so she’s content with tending to her garden and caring for her bee friends. She doesn’t have time for Olympus’s shit 😤

In terms of her relationship with Hermes, they are very loving to each other, though their relationship is kind of unconventional. Ambrosia is ace and has no desire for sexual intimacy, though she is very understanding of her husbands needs. While Hermes (at least in BoZ) doesn’t seem like he’s quite as promiscuous as his dad, he does travel quite a bit.

Ambrosia is totally okay with the idea of Hermes sleeping with others; she’s very comfortable and confident in their relationship, paired with her calm nature she really doesn’t care. She trusts Hermes whole heartedly 💕

Her only condition is that he doesn’t hide any potential “affairs” from her. As the goddess of secrecy it would be a huge offence for someone to think they could hide something from her. Like she’d get more pissed at the fact he tried hiding it than the affair itself. She’d rather hear it from Hermes then find out through her powers.

Ambrosia is also rather kind to the occasional mistress. Unlike Hera, Ambrosia doesn’t hold any animosity or hostility toward these women (for the reasons above). She doesn’t really have the time or energy to go killing random people.

Likewise, Ambrosia loves kids! She’s very motherly and would proudly wear that “I’m not the stepmom, I’m the mom that stepped up” shirt! She lives by the idea that the sins of the father don’t reflect the son; just because the parents had an affair doesn’t make it the child’s fault.

I actually have another character that’s one of Herme’s few demigod kids and he pretty much becomes Ambrosia’s helper in the garden. She very much adopted the child immediately upon seeing him 🤧

Her colour palette is primarily purple and yellow. Not only are they complimentary but they also show her status as a chthonic goddess (the darker colours) and her ability to create ambrosia and nectar. I also accented her with silver so it wasn’t fighting her already golden hair.

Sorry for the long post, when I have ideas like this I kinda just go ham 😅

Like I mentioned before if anything needs to be tweaked or changed (such ad names or little details) let me know and I’ll fix them! Also, if there’s anything you want to know about Ambrosia feel free to ask! I think I have my inbox set up 🤔

[alphaman99]

You know You're From Marion, NC  ·

Kimberly Wright  · April 30 at 6:59 AM  ·

Did you know that... there are living enzymes in honey?

Did you know that... it is not recommended to store your metal spoon within your honey for long periods of time as this will then cause the metal corrosion?

Did you know that... there are between 10 and 80,000 bees in one hive?

Did you know that... Honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?

Did you know that...honey is the ONLY food on earth that alone...can sustain human life?

Did you know that bees saved people in Africa from starvation?

Did you know that... One teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?

Did you know that... Propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural ANTIBIOTIC?

Did you know that... to get 1g. poison, need a sting from over 10,000 bees?

Did you know that... honey has no expiration date?

Did you know that... honey is the first form (currency)

of the world... as payment?

Do you know that... to gain 1 kg. honey do you need the nectar of over 1,000,000 flowers?

Did you know that...honey is best consumed with honeycomb?

Did you know that... there is a special wooden spoon for honey, not a metal one?

Did you know that... bee pastures are the healthiest food in the world?

Did you know that... Pollen can have more than 1500 colors and shades?

Did you know that... a bee can fly at a speed of over 60 km/h?

Did you know that... In Great Britain, the royal family consumes Romanian honey?

Did you know that... manna honey... is made from the saliva of some bugs called "fatties"?

Did you know that... the bodies of the great emperors of the world were buried in golden caskets and then covered with honey to prevent rotting?

Did you know that bees are the ONLY bugs that produce food for humans?

Did you know that... The name "HONEYMOON" comes from the fact that newlyweds consumed honey and mead for fertility after the wedding?

Did you know that... The mother (queen) lays twice her weight in eggs in one day?

- Did you know that... The mother has a "section" called the spermatic cord?

- Did you know... that bees flap their wings more than 11,000 times a minute?

Did you know that... the only honey that can be enjoyed by those allergic to bee products is manna (manuka) honey.

Did you know that...manuka honey is the best honey for women?

Did you know that... Acacia honey is not sweetened?

Do you know that...

[fowlblue]

The Magician’s Assistant: The seven Six Sins

(they’re not all designed yet but I wanna go ahead and jot this down so…)

So, in Max’s world, there’s the human realm (where he and Florence are, as well as some other cast members), and then there’s the Underworld- this is the realm of demons, and a large portion of it is overseen by the Deadly Sins, which behave similarly to organized crime within the Underworld. Usually, demons can’t travel to the human realm on their own, but the Sins are powerful enough to not only do so, but to influence the human realm. They use this to further their own power and ambitions, with their strength already being well beyond an average demon’s.

The Sins are:

Superio (Pride)-

Superio is the ‘big boss’ of the entire organization- arrogant, selfish and cruel, he’s every inch the personality powerhouse to back up his overconfidence. He’s manipulative, magnetic and charming, always looking to further his own ends- despite this, he does take his job seriously and views a slight directed at the Sins to be a slight directed unto himself.

(he/him)

He is the one working most closely with The Master- the two have a… ‘confusing’ relationship.

Most resembles a classic red devil.

Appears in reflective surfaces.

Generally skilled in magic- in terms of unique abilities, he grows bigger and stronger the more confident he feels. The weakness of this, however, is that ‘wounded pride’, for him, is very literal.

Fascinated by magic tricks and showbiz.

Mynah (Greed)-

For Mynah, there’s no such thing as wanting nothing. Overseeing the Underworld’s casinos, Mynah too takes his job seriously… if only for the money and power it brings him. Welcoming in personality but easily distracted, he’s a good host- if someone decides to start trouble, or doesn’t like how their bets have played out, however, they’ll find themselves another golden statue littering the casino floor.

(he/him, occasionally they/them)

Four arms (all the better to play the tables with).

Always covered in absurd amounts of jewelry. He’s almost painful to look at directly.

In a ‘situationship’ with Superio.

‘Midas touch’ ability, alongside manipulating other valuables, like silver or gemstones. Crafts jewelry for himself as a hobby- crafts magic, soul-stealing jewelry for others as a sidegig.

Big believer in hustle culture.

Ira (Wrath)-

Ira, true to her name, hates just about everything- and that’s hardly an exaggeration. She hates her job, she hates her coworkers, and someone so much as bumping into her in the hallway is enough to send her into a rage. It’s a real pity, because she’s genuinely good at her job, and might possibly be the most powerful (physically) of the Sins- of everything, however, she hates battle the least, and thus is always the first to leap into combat on the turn of a dime.

(she/her)

Dragon-like in appearance and abilities.

Lacks magical ability beyond manipulating fire, but she cannot be harmed by mortal weapons, though she can be injured by her own strength (such as crashing into something).

Smart, but short-sighted and easily tricked when she’s in a rage. Skilled tactician.

The only thing that she doesn’t seem to mind much is being by herself, where it’s quiet and no one is around to bother her.

Wounds glow and bleed gold.

Gluttiere (Gluttony)-

Gluttiere is every inch a party animal- proud (co)owner of most of the Underworld’s nightlife, he eats, sleeps and breathes overindulgence. Drugs (manufactured at his command), alcohol, food and fun, he doesn’t believe in limitation or abstinence, and will push those around him far beyond their limits in the pursuit of a good time. He’s friendly and funny, but ultimately, a bad trip.

(he/him)

Insect-like.

He and Luxurio behave like brothers.

Heavily drawn to sweet, sugary things, especially mead.

Presence is intoxicating to mortals, and he’s prone to creating a ‘hive-mind’ of those partying with him, especially those that have eaten his food or drinks.

Those who consume too much of his offerings break down like melting candy. This fuels his power.

Not built for combat and usually lets his partygoers fight for him. Will try to talk someone out of battle before it reaches that point.

Gets extremely upset at the thought of someone not liking him. He craves attention and will throw a fit if ignored.

Luxurio (Lust)-

The fellow owner of the Underworld’s nighttime scene, Luxurio has different interests- those of satisfaction and want. Quick to grow fixated but quicker to get bored, Luxurio hops from object of interest to object of interest fast as rabbit. Shallow and selfish, Luxurio would much rather get his kicks than start a fight, especially when it causes problems between others.

(he/him)

Rabbit-like in appearance.

Changes outfits/hairstyles constantly- uses shapeshifting magic at times to alter his appearance (and better screw with someone)

Takes pleasure in causing infidelity and treats the resulting damage like a soap opera.

Ability to make clones/copies of himself, though these are mindless and cannot speak.

Enjoys performing for others.

Teams up with Gluttiere to pester the other Sins.

Acedia (Sloth)-

Acedia embodies feelings of loneliness, apathy and nihilism, rarely inclined to anything to help or hinder the Sins’ cause. Finding amusement in others’ hopelessness and frustration, Acedia only makes appearances when needed and offers nothing of substance to meetings- despite this, their ability to instill inaction in others and their skills in perception and manipulation keep them under the Sin’s payroll.

(they/she)

Deep sea-coded- very tall.

Hair always appears wet, though she never leaves water behind where she walks.

Presence instills tightness of the chest and feelings of apathy and hopelessness in others.

While they’re never angry or vengeful, they have a cruel streak.

Lazy- enjoys tormenting others and is very powerful, but won’t instigate or continue battle if it looks like it’s going to be difficult.

Ability to turn solid surfaces to liquid and vice-versa (water -> ice, etc)

[honeyed-poet]

Voretober day 16

Prompt: Sweet

As you all know, I run a honey farm. My parents left a whole slew of beehives for me to tend to, and it’s one of the great joys of my life. Even if it does result in my sweet scent drawing predators to me everywhere I go.

I make mead, jarred honey, make biscuits, all very cozy companions in a very cozy life. How is this relevant to my pred studies you may ask… well, there is a certain species of bee with whom I would love to speak… but alas, they tend to make their honey from more than just the nectar of wildflowers, and pollination is beyond merely assisting the local flora…

Yes, on more than one of my journeys through the woods, I spotted the hive of a local Bee Girl Queen.

Out of all ways to be eaten, being caught be a bee girl is, interestingly enough, one of the most pleasant (assuming you don’t get on the wrong end of her stinger). Their digestive system is so unique, and puts you to greater use than mere nutrition.

They’ll swallow you down, and within them, a heavy aphrodisiac is secreted in their belly, keeping you docile and in immense pleasure as they begin to digest. Before long, once they’ve taken you down form their human stomach to their abdomen, you are converted into rich, golden honey, to be later secreted and stored in honey combs for later Re-consumption.

Interestingly, some civilized bee queens jar and sell their product to fellow preds just as I do! Some famous, willing adventurers and celebrities have even done promotional deals with them, being converted into bee queen honey to create limited edition batches with the face of the individual it was made from proudly displayed in the jar!

Not to be narcissistic, but I think I would make an especially good batch. Not interested in finding out just yet, of course… reformation is rare and so expensive!

[kimberly40]

Did you know that... there are living enzymes in honey?

Did you know that... in contact with metal these enzymes die and honey becomes toxic?

Did you know that... there are between 10 and 80,000 bees in one hive?

Did you know that... Honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?

Did you know that...honey is the ONLY food on earth that alone...can sustain human life?

Did you know that bees saved people in Africa from starvation?

Did you know that... One teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?

Did you know that... Propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural ANTIBIOTIC?

Did you know that... to get 1g. poison, need a sting from over 10,000 bees?

Did you know that... honey has no expiration date?

Did you know that... honey is the first form (currency)

of the world... as payment?

Do you know that... to gain 1 kg. honey do you need the nectar of over 1,000,000 flowers?

Did you know that... The first coins in the world had a painted bee 🐝?

Did you know that...honey is best consumed with honeycomb?

Did you know that... there is a special wooden spoon for honey, not a metal one?

Did you know that... bee pastures are the healthiest food in the world?

Did you know that... Pollen can have more than 1500 colors and shades?

Did you know that... a bee can fly at a speed of over 60 km/h?

Did you know that... In Great Britain, the royal family consumes Romanian honey?

Did you know that... manna honey... is made from the saliva of some bugs called "fatties"?

Did you know that... the bodies of the great emperors of the world were buried in golden caskets and then covered with honey to prevent rotting?

Did you know that bees are the ONLY bugs that produce food for humans?

Did you know that... The name "HONEYMOON" comes from the fact that newlyweds consumed honey and mead for fertility after the wedding?

Did you know that... The mother (queen) lays twice her weight in eggs in one day?

- Did you know that... The mother has a "section" called the spermatic cord?

- Did you know... that bees flap their wings more than 11,000 times a minute?

Did you know that... the only honey that can be enjoyed by those allergic to bee products is manna (manuka) honey.

Did you know that...manuka honey is the best honey for women?

Did you know that... Acacia honey is not sweetened?

Do you know that...

A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it's a lifetime! ❤️

Thanks, BEES! 🐝 🧡🐝🧡🐝 🧡🐝 🧡🐝

[pippenpaddlopsicopolisthethird]

Golden Hive Mead on insta also started making a Peepsmead!

If y'all liked the unidentifiable yellow glitter goo you'll love the time I made wine out of marshmallow Peeps

[degrowthchallenge3ad]

Making Sauerkraut and How It Relates to Mushroom at the End of the World

I found the sauerkraut making demonstration interesting and relevant to my project. I recognized the fermenting equipment, since I was actually thinking about getting into making mead. I saw this YouTube channel, Golden Hive Mead, that was using the jars and airlocks alongside other equipment to ferment honey into mead. They explained how the yeast fungi ferments the honey, which I found interesting. I didn't progress any further in research until I attended the sauerkraut workshop, where I recognized the equipment being used. This equipment would be a good way to reduce waste, as they are reusable as fermentation containers and general storage. I am interested in attempting sauerkraut and other fermented foods alongside making mead, so I'm going to be getting equipment for both. I will hopefully be attempting sauerkraut later this week or the next. In all fermentation processes, humans work with bacteria to create the fermented product. This is a good example of collaborating with other species, like how Tsing encourages us to do in Mushroom at the End of the World. Fermentation being discovered so far back in human history and lasting all this time is a great example of how effective multi-species collaboration can be. Perhaps there are more ways we can work more closely with other species to combat global issues that are not utilized fully or discovered yet.

[mysticramblings]

Honey & Honeybee Magic

Magical Properties of Honey

Love & Kindness: The sweetness of honey is reflected in the sweetness of its magic. If you are looking to heal relationships and increase positivity, consider using honey. 

Health: There is medical-grade honey for a reason, it promotes wound healing, especially for burns (Mayo Clinic). However, I am not advising you to use honey medically without first discussing it with your doctor. In the more magical sense, honey can also be used for spiritual healing. 

Wealth & Bounty: Honeybees actually produce an excess of honey and when humans collect it, it improves the health of the hive. Use honey in your practice to welcome extra wealth. 

Magical Associations of Bees

Cooperation & Community: Bees are one of the few truly eusocial insects. They care for their young and communicate with each other through dancing. Through the work of many, tiny bees can produce large hives and large amounts of honey.

Femininity: Female bees are the core of a hive. They care for the young, pollinate flowers, exchange information, and are the only bees that can sting. A queen bee is a female bee that has been fed royal jelly as a grub. Worker bees represent the importance of women in a society. 

Renewal: Bees are hardly seen during the winter and their arrival in Spring represents new beginnings. They are a sign of good things to come. 

The Sun: Not only do bees emerge in the brighter and longer days as Spring approaches, but they also navigate using the sun. Additionally, their golden honey is reminiscent of the sun. Honey or bee imagery would be helpful in spells related to the sun. 

Magical Things to do with Honey

Leave jars of honey in the full moon to imbue them with magical energies

Mix honey into your tea to promote health and positivity 

Share honey with someone you want to develop a relationship with, romantic or platonic

Anoint a candle with honey in money spells

Place a jar or bottle of honey on your altar when you are hoping for a raise or bonus 

Bee Related Offerings

Mead

Milk mixed with honey 

Beeswax candles or wax melts 

Honegar

Honey cakes

Flowers

Other Thoughts

Buy local honey if possible! A lot of grocery stores or farmer’s markets sell them. 

If you are interested in beekeeping, consider raising a species other than honeybees. There are many species of bees that are invaluable pollinators and we need to work to save them!

Warnings

Honey should not be given to babies under 1 year old (Mayo Clinic). Some people are allergic to bee pollen in honey, be cautious. 

Sources

A Witch's World of Magick: Expanding Your Practice with Techniques & Traditions from Diverse Cultures by Melanie Marquis

Ostara: Customs, Spells and Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy

Mayo Clinic 

Blessed Bee! Using Honey in Magic and Ritual by Amanda Mennis 

Personal Experience

Images from Pixabay

[justavulcan]

The Heavens Are Empty: Apiarian Queen

This creature is distinctly bee-like, like a massive honeybee with four-fingered hands and a less disconcerting mouth.  She is accompanied by a smaller member of her species, who bears a quiver on a fine woven belt and a longbow for the larger bee-woman’s use.  She wears a fine golden necklace that has the look of a mark of status or royalty, an impression improved by the way the workers flit protectively about her.  She carries a sense of undeniable majesty.

Like terrestrial honeybees, Apiarians are ruled by queens; the most intelligent of the apiarian workers in a colony may be promoted to queen by public consensus, followed by a diet of specially-prepared honey to empower her with a more leaderly aura.  These queens, like most apiarians, rarely have names, although titles abound, usually related to an act of charity or civic duty the individual performed to merit her promotion.

In combat, queens take the lead among their hive, using their legendary actions to reposition their workers for best benefit.  They are typically talented archers, and prefer not to get involved in combat personally unless the aggressor proves their interests directly and violently opposed to the apiarians’ own (for example, fiendish invaders bent on destruction or conquest, or mortals bent on torching the hive or other nearby settlements).  They prefer to remain at range regardless, and typically only employ their stingers in self-defense.  This said, if they may grant their workers advantage by way of Pack Tactics by joining in melee, they do so; queens are not exempt from the general sense of self-sacrifice that workers possess.

Apiarians’ self-sacrificing tendencies are most at home in Arcadia, although their crafts (mostly waxworks, honey, and mead), organized nature, and commitment to joyous and never-ending labor place them comfortably in Mount Celestia and Bytopia as well.  New Queens, especially, usually remain on Arcadia until they gather enough like-minded workers to strike out further afield on their own.