#Woad Ashe

[eriyu]

Day 28: Sun or Moon

*muffled humming dedicated to moonlight*

It's Sumire's last day guest starring! ♥ ( @blood-horns )

prompt list

Ehryu:

Augmented Lunar Envoy's Tathlums Horos Headdress (Woad Blue/Storm Blue) Virtu Dancer's Casaque (Woad Blue) Free Spirit's Ringbands (Ash Grey/Turquoise Blue) Etoile Bottoms (Storm Blue/Pearl White) Summer Sunset Sandals (Woad Blue/Metallic Silver) Menphina's Earring Moonward Ring of Aiming (Right)

Sumire:

Ravel Keeper's Tathlums Island Leaf Headdress (Dalamud Red) Weathered Dancer's Casaque Free Spirit's Ringbands (Pumpkin Orange/Mesa Red) Etoile Bottoms (Blood Red/None) Summer Sunset Sandals (Dalamud Red/None) Azeyma's Earrings

[cursecuelebre]

All About Woden or Oðin

It’s going to be a bit long so I hope I won’t bore y’all.

Attributes:

War

Wisdom

Magic (Seidr or Galdr)

Death

Poetry

Runes

Healing

Divination

The elite which is the high class (historically speaking but he can still be worshipped by any class he doesn’t discriminate)

King of Asgard and Aesir

Father to men and gods

Spirits

Air and Breath

Symbols

Runes (which he gifted to mankind and sacrifice himself for)

Ravens, he has two of his own called Huginn (thought) and Muninn (Memory). Crows can be associated as well but accurately are Ravens.

The rune Ansuz

Wolves

Staffs

His spear Gungnir which will always hit its mark

A winged helmet

Sleipnir the eight legged horse, child of Loki. Horses can also be a good symbol as well.

Valknut a sigil that is representative of Death, Preparation, and Protection.

The Gungnir sigil which is a diamond with an X over in the center

Horn Triskelion which Odin’s gift of knowledge of poetry and mead

Poetry this can be written poems or songs

Wednesday or Woden’s day

His own set of books called Havamal which is basically Norse proverbs but it’s basically means “Words of The One Eyed”

Herbs/Plants/Trees: Ash trees, Elm Trees, Rowan Trees, Horehound, Parsley, Woad, Mugwort

Offerings.

Mead (Beer can be a good substitute) if you can’t get beer water or tea or coffee is fine

Meat (for his wolves it’s said that Odin doesn’t eat but drinks a lot according to mythology, but I don’t think he would be mad if you put some on the side for him)

Poetry or general music

Handmade items

Weapons (doesn’t have to be real)

Bird feed (for his ravens)

Crystals (it’s more neo pagan, but he likes obsidian a lot)

Devoted acts like writing, exercise, crafting, etc.

Any magical things

Anything associated with Horses, horses were very sacred in Norse culture. Pictures of horses, horse hair(if you can find any), drawings of horses, etc.

Ravens like raven feathers or skulls (please clean them well and ask the spirit for permission) but then again no need anything crow or Raven related same with Wolves.

Runes, bind runes, handcrafted runes, rune artwork, etc. any divination tool as well like a tarot deck.

Staffs or Wands

Depictions

There is quite few depictions of Oðin in artwork but here is common scenery, he is an older gentleman with a long beard with one eye (the lore never said which eye was sacrificed).

His wanderer aspect: It’s the one I described earlier about him looking like Gandalf, a older man in a top hat or hooded in old robes carrying a staff. This aspect is of him traveling throughout the nine realms.

Warrior aspect or King aspect: He is in his armor, carrying a spear. Sitting in a throne with his winged helmet by his side are his two wolves Geri and Freki and at his shoulders is Huginn and Muninn who are essentially his messengers but very still apart of them so that they can see everything throughout the nine realms.

His hanged aspect: Which shows him hanging upside down from the world tree by stabbing himself while gaining knowledge about the runes. He died then rose back to life fully understanding the runes we know today which he gifted to us.

Sleipnir: Oðin attain Sleipnir by Loki, Sleipnir has eight legs and was Oðin’s battle horse and accompanied him throughout the nine realms most famously known traveling to Helheim to summon a dead seer for a prophecy.

Titles

There are so many but I’ll shall put the ones that are commonly used and ones I really like and forgive me for any spelling mistakes Germanic or any Scandinavian languages isn’t my first language and I have terrible handwriting.

Aldafödr- Father of men

Alfaðir or Alföðr - Allfather

Báleygr - Feeble eye, one eyed or flamed eye

Draugadróttin - Lord of Ghosts

Foldardróttin- Lord of The Earth

Gapthrosnir - One in a Gaping Frenzy

Gizur - Riddler

Ginnarr- Decevier

Göndlir - Wand Bearer

Gollnir - Yeller

Godjaðarr - God Protector

Grimnir, Grimr - Masked one, hooded one

Hangaguð - Hanged God

Gudan - Master of Fury

Haptabeiðir - Ruler of the gods

Haptasnytirr- Teacher of The Gods

Hárbarðr- Grey Beard

Hárr - One eye

Havi- High one

Jölföðr - Yule Father

Jölnir - Yule

Oðinn- Frenzy one

Óski - Fulfiller of Desires

Runatyr- God of Runes

Sigföðr - Father of Victory

Wōden- Master of Fury

Ódr - “frenzy”, divine inspiration, breath

Wilde Jaegar - Lord of The Wild Hunt

Karl - Old man

War-Father

Long hat

Wise and Wisdom Granter

True Father

Spell caster

Shadowed face

Fool and Wise man

Sleep-maker

General Information

Commonly known as Oðin (frenzy) or Wōden (Fury) to the Anglo Saxons he is probably one of fascinating gods in Germanic/Norse Mythology. From the titles and attributes even the symbols you can tell he isn’t just one set type of God he rules and charges over countless of things.

Oðin was born to Borr along with his two brothers, Vili and Ve, Oðin is the oldest. All three brothers killed the first being in existence Ymir. Which they created the earth, sky, and sea from his corpse literally Ymir’s skull is the sky and his brain the clouds and his blood the rivers and ocean. Then him and his brothers created the first humans Ask and Embla from pieces of trunks of Ash and Oak. I should note that most of what sources we have Norse Mythology is from Christian sources so you might see some influences from Abrahamic faiths. Oðin along with his brothers Vili and Ve gave each of them a trait of life. Oðin gave breath of life, Vili gave understanding and physical movements, and Ve gave their senses.

Oðin is a god of wisdom, he is always eager for the pursue of knowledge. That is why he travels a lot. Once he came upon the Well of Mimir beneath Yggdrasil’s roots a Jotun who guarded the well who was the wisest being of all and his well and grant such wisdom. Oðin asked if he can drink from the waters. Mimir agreed but said he needed to give the well, a sacrifice, so Oðin did that he gave the well his eye that he can drink. From doing so he became very knowledgeable in the ways of magic, curing the sick, calm storms, summoning the dead, etc this lead him on to his pursuit of the Runes. By the way Mimir’s head was beheaded and to preserve his head Oðin put the head in herbs and sang spells so that Mimir can still speak to him.

Then another famous story was how he gain the runes. Oðin hung himself upside down from the Yggdrasil tree by piercing himself with his spear as he called for the runes. For nine days and nine nights he had no help but when the runes finally came to him he let out a cry falling dying. It’s said it was describe the light of the world going dark when Oðin dead but suddenly it light up again and Oðin came back alive with the knowledge of the runes. Which he generously shared with Mankind.

He is a god rules over Valhalla one half goes to him (those who die in battle) and the other goes to Freyja’s hall. He’ll lead dead warriors when Ragnorak begins.

He is the god of kings and rulers but he also is the god of tyrants as well

God of order but he does do some trickery like Loki.

He is a war god there is so many titles that have him in war context that is overwhelming lol. About frenzy, fury, spears, victory, etc. it’s also describe Oðin will bring war upon peaceful communities as well.

God of Death, he is considered to be a psychopomp

He is equivalent to Mercury or Hermes (Psychopomp, knowledge, share the same day Wednesday.) similarities between them are mostly documented by Roman historian Tacitus.

He is a God among the goths, Anglo-Saxons, Germanic Tribes, Norse, Danes, Swedish, Finnish, and Icelandic peoples

He is the God of the Wild hunt which along side him is Holda a Germanic goddess of winter and death, it’s said Santa Claus is partly inspired from him because after he is finished with his hunt will come around people’s homes dropping gifts in shoes. He is also known as the Yule-Father.

Oðin is also the god of magic of Seidr and Galdr, Seidr is like a shamanic form of magic that the Norse used. It involved divination, spirit work, chanting, spinning, meditation. Seidr historically was only socially acceptable for women to practice not men but Oðin is the one that taught men Seidr. Galdr is magic of chanting or singing, created the song to cast spells. He can send a person dreams and messages. He can also make witches go mad apparently.

He is able to summon the dead, make them alive again. 

Oðin is married to Frigga of marriage and justice and they had together Baldr, Hodr, and Hermod. But Oðin had many lovers and many children including Thor, Vali, Vidarr, Heimdallr, and many more. It’s also said that he had a relationship with Freyja even married her at one point before he disappeared however it’s not quite clear nor proven to be Oðin just speculation.

My personal experience

I will say Odin is a different type of God I encounter with. The best way I can describe it and it may sound weird but he’s like a fun grandfather. He has his wisdom and knowledge but also his sense of humor. He has helped me through a lot especially with anxiety and depression and burnout. Out of all the gods I have worked with he is the one that gives me the most dreams, the dreams are so beautiful and powerful I can’t describe them in full detail but involves magic.

Typically he loves any type of votive offering (creating the offering) like he enjoys regular offerings of course. But just using your free time to do craft something for him or do something for him he really appreciates. Writing your own poetry, studying, crafting, using your inspiration for workings, etc. divination or spellwork. He does play some playful tricks time to time.

Tarot:

Tarot cards I resonate with Oðin from my personal practice

Magician

Emperor

Hermit

Hanged Man

Death

Ace of Wands

[moondrunkteen]

The All Father, Odin

Art by Sam Flegal

Odin was a complex being and he’s a bit quirky. He was a god of war, a magician, and the patron of poets. He also protected heroes and welcomed fallen warriors into his palace, Valhalla. Known by many names, Odin was closely linked to war and death. Half of the warriors who died in battle were chosen to join him in Valhalla. In a quest for knowledge of other realms and the understanding of runes, Odin sacrificed his eye in Mimir's well and hung himself from Yggdrasil, the tree of life, for nine days and nights. His magical knowledge allowed him to heal the sick, calm storms and neutralising dangerous creatures. Odin was also a shapeshifter, able to assume different forms. Despite his mystical abilities, he enjoyed drinking mead and wine, adding to his charismatic nature. However, his prophetic abilities and reputation as a seer led to some criticism of his behavior as being not masculine enough in certain circles.

Symbols

Colour: silver, cobalt, black and blonde

Elements:Air 🜁

Rune: Ansuz ᚨ(meaning abstract communication and intelligence)

Tarot Cards: The Hangman, The Magician and Ace of Wands

Food🍻: Crab Apple, Mead, Skar, Soda Bread, Fish and Berries (in general)

Herbs🌳: Pipe with tobacco, the Nine Sacred Herbs, ash leaves, elm leaves, parsley, woad, cinquefoil, horehound, and periwinkle.

Animals🐦‍⬛: Ravens, Wolves and His Nephew the 8 Legged Horse

Crystals👑:Emerald, Ruby, Ametysth and Amber

Incense🍀:Vetiver, Cedar, Fir, Camphor, Grass, Ivy, Sandalwood, Clover, Ho, lemon, tuberose, cyclamen, ambrette, vanilla and tropical woods

Devotional Acts

Read and Write Poetry

Make Runes(Out of Rocks, Clay, Wood) and Study Runes

Give thanks to him on Wednesday (Woden's Day) by Reading a story every Wednesday night

Take time to learn about local folklore

Honor Ravens, Wolves, Runes and Books

Be as courageous as you can in honor of him

Learn a different language

══════ ༺ ✵ ༻ ══════

[valkariel]

Archwarden

Head: Faerie Tale Prince's Circlet - ash grey Body: Viera Harness - default Hands: Woad Skychaser's Armguards - default Legs: Warg Sarouel of Scouting - default Feet: Troian Leg Wraps of Scouting - default

Earring: Hardsilver Earrings of Gathering Neck: The Emperor's New Necklace Wrists: The Emperor's New Bracelet Right Ring: Heirloom Ring of Aiming Left Ring: The Emperor's New Ring

Main Hand: Mutsunokami - marsh green Off Hand: --

Fashion Accessory: -- Minion: -- Location: Alzadaal's Legacy - The Bhaflau Remnants

Shader: Faeberry Bloom

[gotasenseivebeenbetrayed]

odin - the allfather: god of wisdom, war, poetry, death, runes, and magic

pantheon: norse planet: mercury runes: ᚢᚦᛁᚾ day: wednesday colors: grey, deep cobalt blue, black, red minerals: gold crystals: blue tiger's eye, carnelian, onyx, jet, agate, lapis lazuli animals: pair of wolves (geri and freki), pair of ravens (huginn and muninn), eight legged horse (sleipnir) symbols: valknut, triple horn of odin, gungnir (spear) offerings: songs, poetry, mead, wine, beer or ale, rune stones, burning tobacco, food, burning herbs, helping veterans, donating to organizations that protect/help wolves or ravens, smoke salmon, red meat flowers/herbs: mugwort, crab apple, fennel, chervil, nettle, chamomile, lamb's cress, broadleaf plantain, fumitory, ash and yew tree, juniper, aconite, amanita muscaria mushrooms, elm leaves, parsley, woad, cinquefoil, horehound, periwinkle, wormwood essential oils:  frankincense, myrrh, and dragon’s blood

[martianloon]

Fic recs!

6/25/24

••• 9-1-1 •••

words, how little they mean when they're a little too late by Polish_Amber | Rated: G | 14 k words | Complete

Margaret and Phillip spent years not seeing their children and then slowly got back into contact with them until this point, where they think they’re in a pretty decent place, actually.

Except then Buck gets injured and, as his hospital room fills with evidence of a life they know absolutely nothing about and they meet and hear about people they’ve never heard of (including a child?!), they realise that perhaps it was all simply too little, too late after all.

—--

Or, the one where Buck builds a family and his birth parents get exposed to pieces of it in the aftermath of 6x10: In a Flash.

brick by spqr | Rated: E | 10.2 k words | Complete

The first thing Buck noticed when he walked through the door was the smell of plaster and wet paint. There was a white spot on the wall in the living room, primered but without any color yet, about the size of a man’s fist.

Eddie looked sheepish. His knuckles were still bruised, scabbed over but healing.

“You were in a coma,” was all he said.

“Yeah,” Buck agreed. He knew the feeling.

••• DCU •••

Say Uncle by Megaerakles | Rated: T | 46.5 k words | Complete

Tim is prepared to take the steps necessary to ensure that Bruce will not feel obligated to adopt Tim when a comatose Jack Drake inevitably dies. But what could be better than preventing Bruce from ending up with a son he doesn't want? Bringing back the one he does.

Jason agrees to the Replacement's stupid, stupid plan to invite some strange adult man he's never met to come live with him, if only to keep the idiot alive long enough for him to serve his purpose in the Great Red Hood Revenge Scheme.

Might this new roommate situation have an impact on either of their worldviews? Surely not...

••• Merlin •••

Woad Blue by MerlinLikeTheBird | Rated: G | 18.8 k words | Complete

They accidentally take over a castle. Well, Gwaine calls it liberating. Merlin’s not sure what to call it—there was a lord, and now there isn’t.

(Kanen comes to Ealdor early, and that changes everything.)

Good Fortune by platonic_boner | Rated: G | 11.4 k words | Complete

Arthur makes Merlin a lord, and Merlin does an astonishingly good job of running a village.

••• Naruto •••

to dwell inside (a hearthfire heart) by Ellory | Rated: T | 10.1 k words | Complete

Senju Tobirama is not a samurai. He is not bound in oaths of honor. Yet, he finds himself revealing a long-kept secret to settle a debt with Uchiha Madara. A brother’s life for a brother’s life. That is the only reason he saves Uchiha Izuna from the Hagoromo.

••• Nirvana in Fire •••

Butterfly's Ashes by esama | Rated: T | 24.4 k words | Complete

Lin Chen watches him with patience Mei Changsu barely knows, lips pulled into an unhappy line but unmoving. Lin Chen's eyes - they're different. His hair is shorter and not quite as haphazardly cut. He's pulled it from his face. He looks tidy. He looks young.

He looks wrong.

In which Mei Changsu dies, lives, and chooses the other method.

[brookston]

Holidays 2.14

Holidays

Bird Mating Season begins [Traditional]

Blessing of the Salmon Nets (Northumberland, UK)

Communist Martyrs Day (Iraq)

Day of National Mourning (Mexico)

First Day of Disco

Fjortende Februar (Denmark)

Frederick Douglass Day

Gaekkebrev/Fjörtende Februar (Denmark)

Generalissimo Day (North Korea)

Gold Heart Day (UK)

Haya Day (Pakistan)

International Book Giving Day

International Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

Jimmy Hoffa Day

League of Women Voter's Day

Liberation Day (Afghanistan)

Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School Remembrance Day (Florida)

National Black Literacy Day

National Boone Day

National Chance Day

National Christine Day

National Donor Day (a.k.a. Organ Donor Day)

National Ferris Wheel Day

National Impotence Day

National Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) Awareness Day

National Regenerative Agriculture Day

National Servicemen’s Day (Australia)

National Sports Day (Qatar)

No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Organ and Tissue Donor Day

Parents' Worship Day (India)

Pet Theft Awareness Day

Pris Inception Day (Blade Runner)

Pulwama Attack Day (India)

Race Relations Day

Rafik Hariri Memorial Day (Lebanon)

Read to Your Child Day

Small Soap Day (Mexico)

Valentine's Day (a.k.a. ... 

Beer & Chocolate Day

Have a Heart Day (Canada)

Heart to Heart Day

International Quirkyalone Day

Juno Februa's Day (Goddess of Love)

Library Lovers Day

National Call in Single Day

National Condom Day (Australia)

National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

National Have-A-Heart Day

National Organ Donor Day

National Simp Day

National Women’s Heart Day

Singles Appreciation Day

Sister’s Day

Think About Sex Day

Thinking About Sex Day (UK)

V-Day

World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

Woad Day (French Republic)

World Bonobo Day

World Day of Energy

World Sound Healing Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day

Wine-Growers Day (Bulgaria)

2nd Wednesday in February

National RA Appreciation Day [3rd Wednesday]

Waste-Not Wednesday (UK) [Wednesday of Go Green Week]

Weekly Holidays beginning 2nd Wednesday in February

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Staff Education Week [thru 2.21]

Love Teaching Week [thru 2.21]

National Condom Week [thru 2.21]

National Nestbox Week [thru 2.21]

Independence & Related Days

Arizona Statehood Day (#48; 1912)

Oregon Statehood Day (#33; 1859)

United Republic of Arlberg (Declared; 2003) [unrecognized; Dissolved in 2006]

Festivals Beginning February 14, 2024

Lent (Christian) [thru 3.30]

National Farm Machinery Show & Tractor Pull (Louisville, Kentucky) [thru 2.17]

Singha Park Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta (Chiang Rai, Thailand) [thru 2.18]

Feast Days

Abraames, Bishop of Carres (Christian; Saint)

Adolf of Osnabruck (Christian; Saint)

Alfred Thomas Agate (Artology)

Antoninus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Ash Wednesday [1st Day of Lent, 46 Days before Easter] (a.k.a. …

Askeonsdag (Denmark)

Carnaval (Panama)

Cussing Day

Hash Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Jour Chômé d’Usage (Guadeloupe, Martinique)

Lent begins

Mercredi des Cendres (French Guyana)

National No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Oskudagur (Iceland)

Pulver Wednesday

Auxentius of Bithynia (Christian; Saint)

Aztec Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Bullwinkle Sneaks a Peek or There’s Room in the River (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 346; 1965)

Conran, Bishop of Orkney (Christian; Saint)

Cornelius the Crab (Muppetism)

Cyril and Methodius (Roman Catholic Church) [Europe]

Feast of Dylan Ail Ton (Celtic Book of Days)

Feast of Vali (Asatru/Salvic Pagan archer god)

Frederick Douglass (Writerism)

Juno-Lupa (Everyday Wicca)

Louse or 92nd Street, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 345; 1965)

Lupercalia, Day 2 (Pagan pastoral festival)

Lupercalia: Day of the Wolves (Pagan)

Manchan (Christian; Saint)

Mare, Abbot of Syria (Christian; Saint)

The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene (Novel; 1940)

Pretend to Be Romantic Day (Pastafarian)

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Armenian Apostolic Church)

Seka Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Self Love Magick Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Tales of Kelp-Koli (Shamanism)

Terence (Positivist; Saint)

Trifon Zarezan (a.k.a. Viticulturists' Day; Bulgarian Dionysus Festival)

Tryphon (Christian; Saint)

Valentine (Christian; Saint)

Zadoushnitza (Bulgarian All-Souls' Day; Κυρμιληνός)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 7 of 60)

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because so many reasons.)

Premieres

Adult World (Film; 2014)

Alita: Battle Angel (Animated Film; 2019)

Beat It, by Michael Jackson (Song; 1983)

Beautiful Creatures (Film; 2013)

Bluebird’s Baby (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

Captain America: Brave New World (Film; 2025)

China Jones (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Cooleyhighharmony, by Boyz II Men (Album; 1991)

Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other, by Willie Nelson (Song; 2006)

Daredevil (Film; 2003)

The Dead End Cats (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1947)

The Deep Six or The Old Moose and the Sea (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 23; 1960)

Definitely, Maybe (Film; 2008)

Dracula (Film; 1931)

Essay on Pigs, by Hans Werner Henze (Concerto; 1969)

The Eye, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1930)

Fighting with My Family (Film; 2019)

Fools Rush In (Film; 1997)

Forward March Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Grease (Off-Broadway Musical; 1972)

The Hours (Film; 2003)

The Importance of Being Ernest, by Oscar Wilde (Play; 1895)

Jumper (Film; 2008)

King David, by Lionel Hampton (Jazz Symphony; 1957)

Liar, by Queen (Song; 1974)

The Little Whirlwind (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Live at Leeds, recorded by The Who (Live Concert Album; 1970)

The Lorax (DePatie-Freleng Dr. Seuss Animated TV Special; 1972)

Love Story, by Erich Segal (Novel; 1970)

Madame Web (Film; 2024)

Margaritaville, by Jimmy Buffet (Song; 1977)

Oz the Great and Powerful (Film; 2013)

Pocket Money (Film; 1972)

Pop and Mom in Wild Oysters (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

The Popeye Valentine Special: Sweethearts at Sea (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1979)

Reflections in a Golden Eye, by Carson McCullers (Novel; 1941)

Respect, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Silence of the Lambs (Film; 1991)

The Slippery Helm or Captain’s Outrageous (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 24; 1960)

Sonic the Hedgehog (Animated Film; 2020)

Spamalot (Broadway Musical; 2005)

Sportickles (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1958)

Tarzan of the Apes (Film; 1918)

Vegas Vacation (Film; 1997)

Wayne’s World (Film; 1992)

Whitney Houston, by Whitney Houston (Album; 1985)

Wildcats (Film; 1986)

Winter’s Tale (Film; 2014)

Working Class Dog, by Rick Springfield (Album; 1981)

The World’s Greatest Athlete (Film; 1973)

YouTube (Social Media App; 2005)

Today’s Name Days

Cyrill, Method, Valentin (Austria)

Valentin, Zdravko (Croatia)

Valentýn (Czech Republic)

Valentinus (Denmark)

Valentin, Valjo, Valju, Valle, Vallo, Vallot, Vallut (Estonia)

Tino, Valentin, Voitto (Finland)

Valentin (France)

Cyril, Method, Valentin (Germany)

Valentina, Valentine, Valentini, Valentinos (Greece)

Bálint, Valentin (Hungary)

Valentino (Italy)

Aļģis, Valentīns (Latvia)

Liliana, Saulė, Saulius, Valentinas (Lithuania)

Hjørdis, Jardar (Norway)

Adolf, Adolfa, Adolfina, Alf, Cyryl, Dobiesława, Dobisława, Józef, Józefa, Konrad, Konrada, Krystyna, Lilian, Liliana, Mikołaj, Niemir, Niemira, Walenty, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Auxentiu, Avraam, Maron (Romania)

Valentín (Slovakia)

Cirilo, Metodio, Valentín (Spain)

Valentin (Sweden)

Lovell, Lowell, Valentin, Valentina, Valentine, Valiant (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 45 of 2024; 321 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 7 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 5 (Wu-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 5 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 4 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 15 Grey; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 1 February 2024

Moon: 29%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 17 Homer (2nd Month) [Terence]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 56 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of February

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 24 of 28)

Calendar Changes

February (a.k.a. Februarius; Julian Calendar) [Month 2 of 12]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.14

Holidays

Bird Mating Season begins [Traditional]

Blessing of the Salmon Nets (Northumberland, UK)

Communist Martyrs Day (Iraq)

Day of National Mourning (Mexico)

First Day of Disco

Fjortende Februar (Denmark)

Frederick Douglass Day

Gaekkebrev/Fjörtende Februar (Denmark)

Generalissimo Day (North Korea)

Gold Heart Day (UK)

Haya Day (Pakistan)

International Book Giving Day

International Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

Jimmy Hoffa Day

League of Women Voter's Day

Liberation Day (Afghanistan)

Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School Remembrance Day (Florida)

National Black Literacy Day

National Boone Day

National Chance Day

National Christine Day

National Donor Day (a.k.a. Organ Donor Day)

National Ferris Wheel Day

National Impotence Day

National Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) Awareness Day

National Regenerative Agriculture Day

National Servicemen’s Day (Australia)

National Sports Day (Qatar)

No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Organ and Tissue Donor Day

Parents' Worship Day (India)

Pet Theft Awareness Day

Pris Inception Day (Blade Runner)

Pulwama Attack Day (India)

Race Relations Day

Rafik Hariri Memorial Day (Lebanon)

Read to Your Child Day

Small Soap Day (Mexico)

Valentine's Day (a.k.a. ... 

Beer & Chocolate Day

Have a Heart Day (Canada)

Heart to Heart Day

International Quirkyalone Day

Juno Februa's Day (Goddess of Love)

Library Lovers Day

National Call in Single Day

National Condom Day (Australia)

National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

National Have-A-Heart Day

National Organ Donor Day

National Simp Day

National Women’s Heart Day

Singles Appreciation Day

Sister’s Day

Think About Sex Day

Thinking About Sex Day (UK)

V-Day

World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

Woad Day (French Republic)

World Bonobo Day

World Day of Energy

World Sound Healing Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day

Wine-Growers Day (Bulgaria)

2nd Wednesday in February

National RA Appreciation Day [3rd Wednesday]

Waste-Not Wednesday (UK) [Wednesday of Go Green Week]

Weekly Holidays beginning 2nd Wednesday in February

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Staff Education Week [thru 2.21]

Love Teaching Week [thru 2.21]

National Condom Week [thru 2.21]

National Nestbox Week [thru 2.21]

Independence & Related Days

Arizona Statehood Day (#48; 1912)

Oregon Statehood Day (#33; 1859)

United Republic of Arlberg (Declared; 2003) [unrecognized; Dissolved in 2006]

Festivals Beginning February 14, 2024

Lent (Christian) [thru 3.30]

National Farm Machinery Show & Tractor Pull (Louisville, Kentucky) [thru 2.17]

Singha Park Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta (Chiang Rai, Thailand) [thru 2.18]

Feast Days

Abraames, Bishop of Carres (Christian; Saint)

Adolf of Osnabruck (Christian; Saint)

Alfred Thomas Agate (Artology)

Antoninus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Ash Wednesday [1st Day of Lent, 46 Days before Easter] (a.k.a. …

Askeonsdag (Denmark)

Carnaval (Panama)

Cussing Day

Hash Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Jour Chômé d’Usage (Guadeloupe, Martinique)

Lent begins

Mercredi des Cendres (French Guyana)

National No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Oskudagur (Iceland)

Pulver Wednesday

Auxentius of Bithynia (Christian; Saint)

Aztec Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Bullwinkle Sneaks a Peek or There’s Room in the River (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 346; 1965)

Conran, Bishop of Orkney (Christian; Saint)

Cornelius the Crab (Muppetism)

Cyril and Methodius (Roman Catholic Church) [Europe]

Feast of Dylan Ail Ton (Celtic Book of Days)

Feast of Vali (Asatru/Salvic Pagan archer god)

Frederick Douglass (Writerism)

Juno-Lupa (Everyday Wicca)

Louse or 92nd Street, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 345; 1965)

Lupercalia, Day 2 (Pagan pastoral festival)

Lupercalia: Day of the Wolves (Pagan)

Manchan (Christian; Saint)

Mare, Abbot of Syria (Christian; Saint)

The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene (Novel; 1940)

Pretend to Be Romantic Day (Pastafarian)

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Armenian Apostolic Church)

Seka Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Self Love Magick Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Tales of Kelp-Koli (Shamanism)

Terence (Positivist; Saint)

Trifon Zarezan (a.k.a. Viticulturists' Day; Bulgarian Dionysus Festival)

Tryphon (Christian; Saint)

Valentine (Christian; Saint)

Zadoushnitza (Bulgarian All-Souls' Day; Κυρμιληνός)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 7 of 60)

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because so many reasons.)

Premieres

Adult World (Film; 2014)

Alita: Battle Angel (Animated Film; 2019)

Beat It, by Michael Jackson (Song; 1983)

Beautiful Creatures (Film; 2013)

Bluebird’s Baby (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

Captain America: Brave New World (Film; 2025)

China Jones (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Cooleyhighharmony, by Boyz II Men (Album; 1991)

Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other, by Willie Nelson (Song; 2006)

Daredevil (Film; 2003)

The Dead End Cats (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1947)

The Deep Six or The Old Moose and the Sea (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 23; 1960)

Definitely, Maybe (Film; 2008)

Dracula (Film; 1931)

Essay on Pigs, by Hans Werner Henze (Concerto; 1969)

The Eye, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1930)

Fighting with My Family (Film; 2019)

Fools Rush In (Film; 1997)

Forward March Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Grease (Off-Broadway Musical; 1972)

The Hours (Film; 2003)

The Importance of Being Ernest, by Oscar Wilde (Play; 1895)

Jumper (Film; 2008)

King David, by Lionel Hampton (Jazz Symphony; 1957)

Liar, by Queen (Song; 1974)

The Little Whirlwind (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Live at Leeds, recorded by The Who (Live Concert Album; 1970)

The Lorax (DePatie-Freleng Dr. Seuss Animated TV Special; 1972)

Love Story, by Erich Segal (Novel; 1970)

Madame Web (Film; 2024)

Margaritaville, by Jimmy Buffet (Song; 1977)

Oz the Great and Powerful (Film; 2013)

Pocket Money (Film; 1972)

Pop and Mom in Wild Oysters (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

The Popeye Valentine Special: Sweethearts at Sea (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1979)

Reflections in a Golden Eye, by Carson McCullers (Novel; 1941)

Respect, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Silence of the Lambs (Film; 1991)

The Slippery Helm or Captain’s Outrageous (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 24; 1960)

Sonic the Hedgehog (Animated Film; 2020)

Spamalot (Broadway Musical; 2005)

Sportickles (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1958)

Tarzan of the Apes (Film; 1918)

Vegas Vacation (Film; 1997)

Wayne’s World (Film; 1992)

Whitney Houston, by Whitney Houston (Album; 1985)

Wildcats (Film; 1986)

Winter’s Tale (Film; 2014)

Working Class Dog, by Rick Springfield (Album; 1981)

The World’s Greatest Athlete (Film; 1973)

YouTube (Social Media App; 2005)

Today’s Name Days

Cyrill, Method, Valentin (Austria)

Valentin, Zdravko (Croatia)

Valentýn (Czech Republic)

Valentinus (Denmark)

Valentin, Valjo, Valju, Valle, Vallo, Vallot, Vallut (Estonia)

Tino, Valentin, Voitto (Finland)

Valentin (France)

Cyril, Method, Valentin (Germany)

Valentina, Valentine, Valentini, Valentinos (Greece)

Bálint, Valentin (Hungary)

Valentino (Italy)

Aļģis, Valentīns (Latvia)

Liliana, Saulė, Saulius, Valentinas (Lithuania)

Hjørdis, Jardar (Norway)

Adolf, Adolfa, Adolfina, Alf, Cyryl, Dobiesława, Dobisława, Józef, Józefa, Konrad, Konrada, Krystyna, Lilian, Liliana, Mikołaj, Niemir, Niemira, Walenty, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Auxentiu, Avraam, Maron (Romania)

Valentín (Slovakia)

Cirilo, Metodio, Valentín (Spain)

Valentin (Sweden)

Lovell, Lowell, Valentin, Valentina, Valentine, Valiant (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 45 of 2024; 321 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 7 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 5 (Wu-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 5 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 4 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 15 Grey; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 1 February 2024

Moon: 29%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 17 Homer (2nd Month) [Terence]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 56 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of February

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 24 of 28)

Calendar Changes

February (a.k.a. Februarius; Julian Calendar) [Month 2 of 12]

[league-of-skins]

Ashe, the Frost Archer

League of Legends

Original Ashe

Freljord Ashe

Sherwood Forest Ashe

Woad Ashe

Queen Ashe

Amethyst Ashe

Heartseeker Ashe

Marauder Ashe

PROJECT: Ashe

Championship Ashe

Cosmic Queen Ashe

High Noon Ashe

Fae Dragon Ashe

Coven Ashe

Ocean Song Ashe

Lunar Empress Ashe

DRX Ashe

Crystalis Motus Ashe

Infernal Ashe

Wild Rift

Original Ashe

Freljord Ashe

Marauder Ashe

Queen Ashe

PROJECT: Ashe

Fae Dragon Ashe

High Noon Ashe

Cosmic Queen Ashe

Ocean Song Ashe

Glorious Armada Ashe

Legends of Runeterra

Original Ashe

Fae Dragon Ashe

Coven Ashe

[quad-weave]

Hypostatic Paladin

I'm not big on the Knight/Paladin look and power fantasy, but I had to do something when I got the Hypostatic fending top. The Fae Sword and Shield work great with it, as well! Kris really looks like a knight from some winter-y kingdom.

Weapon - Fae Sword in Ash Grey Shield - Fae Shield in Sky Blue

Body - Hypostatic Mail of Fending Hands - Viera Armguards in Sky Blue Legs - The Legs of the Golden Wolf in Ash Grey Feet - Hypostatic Sollerets of Fending

Earrings - White Carnation Earring Ring - Valerian Terror Knight's Ring

This photo shoot was done at Woad Whisper Canyon (in Middle La Noscea) With Leo's Cold Snow (Day) shader!

[canisterlion]

oink

[dashfox1artwork]

Ashe Woad

League of legends.

https://www.patreon.com/dashfox1

[karakuripierrotart]

Ashe Woad Tribal #ashe #skin #lol #leagueoflegendsart #leagueoflegends #draw #drawing #dibujo #ilustracion #tradicional #adc #woad #art #artist #anime #colour #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CJz7p9zBAQH/?igshid=ovxpkre2aj3k

[tarotbee]

Hi! I really love your worship posts and wanted to ask if you could make ones for Loki and Odin please? Thank you :)

Ways of Worshipping the All-Father Odin

(Loki's post coming soon)

- have an altar dedicated to him, as much as Norse Gods want direct and equality in communication they are fans of lavish things and flattery

- alcohol such as red wine, mead, aquavit or whiskey

- a nice chalice to pour liquid offerings into

- a mug of coffee, take a sip first and then offer the rest to him

- write and burn a poem for him

- write dramatic stories and music and read them to him, he loves drama, pour your heart into it

- share jokes with him!

- do your shadow work

- offer your pain and suffering, feel your emotions, write them down and burn them as an offering

- spend time in the woods/nature

- FLATTERY, it goes a long way with the Norse Gods

- learn and use his many names such as, the All-Father, the Victory-Father, Grimnir, Hanged Man, Wotan, Masked One, Rune God, Jolnir, Gelding, Grey beard and the One eyed Wanderer

(Knowing and using the many names is a form of flattery)

- fruit

- horse, Raven, wolf and bear imagery

- black feather, raven skulls etc (ethically sourced)

- horse shoes

- wolf pawprints, fur and teeth (ethically sourced)

- Runes: Ansuz, Wunjo, Gebo and Othala.

- learn Rune magic and Rune divination

- the Hanged Man tarot card

- dedicate a form of divination to him as Odin, being associated with Horses often led him to being associated with divination 🤷‍♀️

- a statue of himself

- black, red, grey, cobalt or purple candles

- partake in rituals and celebrations such as Sigrblót (April 15th), Yggdrasil day (April 22nd), the Last Harvest (October 31st), and Yule

- Red meats especially beef

- smoked salmon

- leaks, asparagus and garlic

- eat well! Dedicate the meal to him and his wolves Geri and Freki

- feast! Spoil yourself on Wednesdays! (And spoil Odin a bit too)

- offer your secrets and speak respectfully as you would to others, the Norse Gods prefer to be spoken to as equals

- (a pipe with) tobacco

- The Nine Sacred Herbs: ash leaves, elm leaves, parsley, woad, cinquefoil, horehound, periwinkle

- make donations to or do volunteer work at a veterans organisations

- riddles and puzzles

- many heathens say that it is best to directly commune with the All-Father and ask what he wants specifically, he is a jack of all trades deity, and encompasses many aspects such as, war, poetry, riddles, kingship, magic, inspiration, death, self-empowerment, transformation, leadership, travel, madness, academia and wisdom meaning there are so many different types of offerings you could give him

- acts of courage such as standing up for yourself or others

- be wise, know or learn your boundaries in all different areas of life, financial, spiritual, social etcetera

- learn! There is so much in this world to learn, dedicate your time studying to Odin, whether it be mythos, war history or just studying for fun or classes, dedicate that time to him, maybe even light his candle

- dedicate the 9th month of the year to your practice with the All-Father, the number 9 is sacred to him, if you can find multiple ways to incorporate it into your offerings and practice as well

- become an educator, a professor, a leader or a tutor, allow yourself the ability to learn and teach at the same time

[faewitchsdeities]

𝕺𝖉𝖎𝖓

𝕺𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖊(𝖘): Oddin, Othin, Woden, Wodan, Woten, Alfodr, Valfadr, Sigfadr, Yggr, All father, King of the gods

𝕲𝖔𝖉 𝖔𝖋: War, veterans, death, wisdom, knowledge, and poetry.

𝕾𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝖉𝖆𝖞(𝖘): Wednesday (Names after him [Woden's day]), as well as Yule and other holidays

𝕽𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘: Son of Bestla and Burr, father of Thor, Hodr, Bragi, Baldlr, and Ullr

𝕰𝖓𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖊𝖘: Fenrir 𝕾𝖞𝖒𝖇𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖒-

𝕬𝖓𝖎𝖒𝖆𝖑(𝖘): Crow/Raver (usually in pairs), wolves (usually in pairs), eagle, and the eight legged horse Sleipnir

𝕺𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗: Lightning bolts, poetry, Gungir (his mighty spear), Valknut (the knot of those who've died in battle, the triple horn symbol, all seeing eye, prophecy, self-sacrifice, storms, logic, fate, healing, and justice.

𝕮𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖗(𝖘): Blue, Cobalt Blue, Red, Black, Grey, Purple, and Orange

𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙: Air

𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖊𝖙: Mercury

𝖅𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖈𝖘: Sagittarius

𝕾𝖎𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖆𝖗 𝕲𝖔𝖉𝖘: Zeus 𝕺𝖋𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘- Honoring soldiers, donating to vets, paying respect to warrior/vet graves.

𝕳𝖊𝖗𝖇𝖘/𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖘: Apple (crab) Ash leaves and wood Black pepper corn Beech Cedar Dragon's blood Elm leaves Fennel Ferns Horehound Maiden hair Mandrake Margoram Mugwort Nettle Oak Parsley Periwinkle Pine Plantain Polypody Thyme Tobacco Valerian White daisies White Sandalwood Woad Wormwood 9 sacred herbs

𝕱𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖘: Asparagus Beer and meads (good booze) Eggs Garlic Leeks Meat (pork, bird, game especially red meat like beef) Smoked salmon

𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖘/𝖈𝖗𝖞𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖘/𝖒𝖊𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖘: Agate Amber Amethyst Carnilian Citrine Gold Hawk's eye Jet Onyx Smokey quartz Tin/metal

𝕺𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗: Lightnight bolt imagery, fortune telling tools (runes, pendulum, tarot, ect.), crow/raven feathers, black silk, wooden bowls, cosmic tree imagery, crow/raven ×2, wolves ×2, eight legged horse and ofc Odin statues/imagery, 𝕴𝖓𝖛𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖚𝖘�� 𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖐: Aids in spells for curing the sick, calming storms, turning weapons against their attacker/dulling any blade, making women fall in love, knowledge, wisdom, strength, reincarnation, creation, poetry, storms and lightning, victory 𝕬𝖕𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊: Tall and strong older man, usually seen with a wide brimmed hat, a cloak, and an eye patch. Has a long beard and is almost always depicted with his 2 ravens and his 2 wolves 𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖊/𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘:

~From the earliest times he was a war god, protector of heroes; fallen warriors joined him in Valhalla. But he was also the great magician among the gods and is associated with runes, knowledge, wisdom, and veterans. He is concidered king of the gods/Aesir, the "All Father", and both trickster and protector of Asgard and Midgard. Though he is the son of two giants, he is Aesir, probably because his grandfather (esentially) was one of the first gods. With his mother decending from Ymir and his his Giant father was decended from Audumbla. -The Nornes carved runes into the wood of the tree Yggdrasil's trunk, to influence the fate of destiny. Odin became envious of their ability -but the runes don't show themselves easily- To prove himself, Odin was pierced to the wood of the great ash tree, where he hung for 9 windy days and nights, refusing any who offered aid. Finally, Odin fell off the tree and into the well below, screaming as he clutched the runes to his chest, and at the end of the 9th night -after teetering on the edge of life and death- he understood the runes.

With this knowledge, he was able to heal, quell grief, make blunt even the sharpest blade, break any felters that may bind him, hold/catch arrows mid-flight, turn poison onto another, protect others from naked flame, quench fury, quiet winds, storms, waves, and the seas, to drive witches and the Nornes mad, too keep friends from harm in battle, to walk and talk with those who have hung, to make a warrior invisible, to know all Aesir and Elves, to make a woman lust and ensure a maiden stays, and finally an ability he would not tell. -At the bottom of the well Odin was told by Mimir that he could drink from its knowledge-giving water, but only with the sacrifice of one of his eyes. His eyes were pale blue and were the color of the sky on a winter's day, when the frost is still on the ground. His eyes could pick out the tiniest bird miles and miles away, across the frozen tundra, if a human or god looked him in the eyes, they could not but feel a kind of awe. But, in the end, he did have two of them. So, he plucked out his eye and the head of his uncle allowed him to drink the water.

Odin instantly saw everything that had and will happen, and though there was good and bad news, he simply laughed with happiness when he saw the joy that would come to him. -He has two ravens; Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory). He sends them out at dawn and they fly all over the world, before returning home at dinner to report back what they had seen -Odin was lonely during his travels and battles so he created Geri (greedy one) and Freki (ravenous one), and they stand by his side and ensure the Aesir king's safety and its said they populated the earth with their offspring -making wolves and dogs- -Loki's eight legged flying horse child -Sleipnir- was given to the king as a gift. It's teeth are inscribed with runes, and it has the ability to gallop through all skies and seas with its many legs, super-strength, speed, durability and endurance.

[roach-works]

here’s a story about changelings

reposted from my old blog, which got deleted:   Mary was a beautiful baby, sweet and affectionate, but by the time she’s three she’s turned difficult and strange, with fey moods and a stubborn mouth that screams and bites but never says mama. But her mother’s well-used to hard work with little thanks, and when the village gossips wag their tongues she just shrugs, and pulls her difficult child away from their precious, perfect blossoms, before the bites draw blood. Mary’s mother doesn’t drown her in a bucket of saltwater, and she doesn’t take up the silver knife the wife of the village priest leaves out for her one Sunday brunch. She gives her daughter yarn, instead, and instead of a rowan stake through her inhuman heart she gives her a child’s first loom, oak and ash. She lets her vicious, uncooperative fairy daughter entertain herself with games of her own devising, in as much peace and comfort as either of them can manage. Mary grows up strangely, as a strange child would, learning everything in all the wrong order, and biting a great deal more than she should. But she also learns to weave, and takes to it with a grand passion. Soon enough she knows more than her mother–which isn’t all that much–and is striking out into unknown territory, turning out odd new knots and weaves, patterns as complex as spiderwebs and spellrings. “Aren’t you clever,” her mother says, of her work, and leaves her to her wool and flax and whatnot. Mary’s not biting anymore, and she smiles more than she frowns, and that’s about as much, her mother figures, as anyone should hope for from their child. Mary still cries sometimes, when the other girls reject her for her strange graces, her odd slow way of talking, her restless reaching fluttering hands that have learned to spin but never to settle. The other girls call her freak, witchblood, hobgoblin. “I don’t remember girls being quite so stupid when I was that age,” her mother says, brushing Mary’s hair smooth and steady like they’ve both learned to enjoy, smooth as a skein of silk. “Time was, you knew not to insult anyone you might need to flatter later. ‘Specially when you don’t know if they’re going to grow wings or horns or whatnot. Serve ‘em all right if you ever figure out curses.” “I want to go back,” Mary says. “I want to go home, to where I came from, where there’s people like me. If I’m a fairy’s child I should be in fairyland, and no one would call me a freak.” “Aye, well, I’d miss you though,” her mother says. “And I expect there’s stupid folk everywhere, even in fairyland. Cruel folk, too. You just have to make the best of things where you are, being my child instead.” Mary learns to read well enough, in between the weaving, especially when her mother tracks down the traveling booktraders and comes home with slim, precious manuals on dyes and stains and mordants, on pigments and patterns, diagrams too arcane for her own eyes but which make her daughter’s eyes shine. “We need an herb garden,” her daughter says, hands busy, flipping from page to page, pulling on her hair, twisting in her skirt, itching for a project. “Yarrow, and madder, and woad and weld…” “Well, start digging,” her mother says. “Won’t do you a harm to get out of the house now’n then.” Mary doesn’t like dirt but she’s learned determination well enough from her mother. She digs and digs, and plants what she’s given, and the first year doesn’t turn out so well but the second’s better, and by the third a cauldron’s always simmering something over the fire, and Mary’s taking in orders from girls five years older or more, turning out vivid bolts and spools and skeins of red and gold and blue, restless fingers dancing like they’ve summoned down the rainbow. Her mother figures she probably has. “Just as well you never got the hang of curses,” she says, admiring her bright new skirts. “I like this sort of trick a lot better.” Mary smiles, rocking back and forth on her heels, fingers already fluttering to find the next project. She finally grows up tall and fair, if a bit stooped and squinty, and time and age seem to calm her unhappy mouth about as well as it does for human children. Word gets around she never lies or breaks a bargain, and if the first seems odd for a fairy’s child then the second one seems fit enough. The undyed stacks of taken orders grow taller, the dyed lots of filled orders grow brighter, the loom in the corner for Mary’s own creations grows stranger and more complex. Mary’s hands callus just like her mother’s, become as strong and tough and smooth as the oak and ash of her needles and frames, though they never fall still. “Do you ever wonder what your real daughter would be like?” the priest’s wife asks, once. Mary’s mother snorts. “She wouldn’t be worth a damn at weaving,” she says. “Lord knows I never was. No, I’ll keep what I’ve been given and thank the givers kindly. It was a fair enough trade for me. Good day, ma’am.” Mary brings her mother sweet chamomile tea, that night, and a warm shawl in all the colors of a garden, and a hairbrush. In the morning, the priest’s son comes round, with payment for his mother’s pretty new dress and a shy smile just for Mary. He thinks her hair is nice, and her hands are even nicer, vibrant in their strength and skill and endless motion.   They all live happily ever after. * Here’s another story: Gregor grew fast, even for a boy, grew tall and big and healthy and began shoving his older siblings around early. He was blunt and strange and flew into rages over odd things, over the taste of his porridge or the scratch of his shirt, over the sound of rain hammering on the roof, over being touched when he didn’t expect it and sometimes even when he did. He never wore shoes if he could help it and he could tell you the number of nails in the floorboards without looking, and his favorite thing was to sit in the pantry and run his hands through the bags of dry barley and corn and oat. Considering as how he had fists like a young ox by the time he was five, his family left him to it. “He’s a changeling,” his father said to his wife, expecting an argument, but men are often the last to know anything about their children, and his wife only shrugged and nodded, like the matter was already settled, and that was that. They didn’t bind Gregor in iron and leave him in the woods for his own kind to take back. They didn’t dig him a grave and load him into it early. They worked out what made Gregor angry, in much the same way they figured out the personal constellations of emotion for each of their other sons, and when spring came, Gregor’s father taught him about sprouts, and when autumn came, Gregor’s father taught him about sheaves. Meanwhile his mother didn’t mind his quiet company around the house, the way he always knew where she’d left the kettle, or the mending, because she was forgetful and he never missed a detail. “Pity you’re not a girl, you’d never drop a stitch of knitting,” she tells Gregor, in the winter, watching him shell peas. His brothers wrestle and yell before the hearth fire, but her fairy child just works quietly, turning peas by their threes and fours into the bowl. “You know exactly how many you’ve got there, don’t you?” she says. “Six hundred and thirteen,” he says, in his quiet, precise way. His mother says “Very good,” and never says Pity you’re not human. He smiles just like one, if not for quite the same reasons. The next autumn he’s seven, a lucky number that pleases him immensely, and his father takes him along to the mill with the grain. “What you got there?” The miller asks them. “Sixty measures of Prince barley, thirty two measures of Hare’s Ear corn, and eighteen of Abernathy Blue Slate oats,” Gregor says. “Total weight is three hundred fifty pounds, or near enough. Our horse is named Madam. The wagon doesn’t have a name. I’m Gregor.” “My son,” his father says. “The changeling one.” “Bit sharper’n your others, ain’t he?” the miller says, and his father laughs. Gregor feels proud and excited and shy, and it dries up all his words, sticks them in his throat. The mill is overwhelming, but the miller is kind, and tells him the name of each and every part when he points at it, and the names of all the grain in all the bags waiting for him to get to them. “Didn’t know the fair folk were much for machinery,” the miller says. Gregor shrugs. “I like seeds,” he says, each word shelled out with careful concentration. “And names. And numbers.” “Aye, well. Suppose that’d do it. Want t’help me load up the grist?” They leave the grain with the miller, who tells Gregor’s father to bring him back ‘round when he comes to pick up the cornflour and cracked barley and rolled oats. Gregor falls asleep in the nameless wagon on the way back, and when he wakes up he goes right back to the pantry, where the rest of the seeds are left, and he runs his hands through the shifting, soothing textures and thinks about turning wheels, about windspeed and counterweights. When he’s twelve–another lucky number–he goes to live in the mill with the miller, and he never leaves, and he lives happily ever after. * Here’s another: James is a small boy who likes animals much more than people, which doesn’t bother his parents overmuch, as someone needs to watch the sheep and make the sheepdogs mind. James learns the whistles and calls along with the lambs and puppies, and by the time he’s six he’s out all day, tending to the flock. His dad gives him a knife and his mom gives him a knapsack, and the sheepdogs give him doggy kisses and the sheep don’t give him too much trouble, considering. “It’s not right for a boy to have so few complaints,” his mother says, once, when he’s about eight. “Probably ain’t right for his parents to have so few complaints about their boy, neither,” his dad says. That’s about the end of it. James’ parents aren’t very talkative, either. They live the routines of a farm, up at dawn and down by dusk, clucking softly to the chickens and calling harshly to the goats, and James grows up slow but happy. When James is eleven, he’s sent to school, because he’s going to be a man and a man should know his numbers. He gets in fights for the first time in his life, unused to peers with two legs and loud mouths and quick fists. He doesn’t like the feel of slate and chalk against his fingers, or the harsh bite of a wooden bench against his legs. He doesn’t like the rules: rules for math, rules for meals, rules for sitting down and speaking when you’re spoken to and wearing shoes all day and sitting under a low ceiling in a crowded room with no sheep or sheepdogs. Not even a puppy. But his teacher is a good woman, patient and experienced, and James isn’t the first miserable, rocking, kicking, crying lost lamb ever handed into her care. She herds the other boys away from him, when she can, and lets him sit in the corner by the door, and have a soft rag to hold his slate and chalk with, so they don’t gnaw so dryly at his fingers. James learns his numbers well enough, eventually, but he also learns with the abruptness of any lamb taking their first few steps–tottering straight into a gallop–to read. Familiar with the sort of things a strange boy needs to know, his teacher gives him myths and legends and fairytales, and steps back. James reads about Arthur and Morgana, about Hercules and Odysseus, about djinni and banshee and brownies and bargains and quests and how sometimes, something that looks human is left to try and stumble along in the humans’ world, step by uncertain step, as best they can. James never comes to enjoy writing. He learns to talk, instead, full tilt, a leaping joyous gambol, and after a time no one wants to hit him anymore. The other boys sit next to him, instead, with their mouths closed, and their hands quiet on their knees.   “Let’s hear from James,” the men at the alehouse say, years later, when he’s become a man who still spends more time with sheep than anyone else, but who always comes back into town with something grand waiting for his friends on his tongue. “What’ve you got for us tonight, eh?” James finishes his pint, and stands up, and says, “Here’s a story about changelings.”