#aaron oberon

[spiralhouseshop]

RESTOCKS!

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folklore from Appalachia by Jake Richards

Silent as the Trees: Devonshire Witchcraft, Folklore & Magic by Gemma Gary

The Witch at the Forest's Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft by Christine Grace

[asphodel-flowers]

book haul book haul 📚 🎉

they were on sale i swear

Okay, I did spend a bit more than I should have -coughs- But I need them all.

Okay, genuinely, re: the fiction books, I was just gonna grab The Graveyard Book because I've wanted it for a while - I mean, it's Neil Gaiman, come on - and it was on sale plus the buy one get one half off, but obviously that meant I had to grab another book and I couldn't decide between two but I couldn't just get three and... Yeah.

But seriously I've been so burnt out I'm getting crispy. ❤️‍🔥 🔥 I haven't had the brain 🧠 to do the things I need to do because I'm exhausted and I'm so friggin exhausted because I haven't been letting myself actually rest by doing the fun things. So. Fiction.

and it worked. I absolutely devoured One Dark Window in a day; it was great. The second book is supposed to get here tomorrow; it was cheaper on Amazon.

The nonfiction books are useful. Entering Hekate's Garden was definitely the most expensive but it didn't have the price on it and by the time I got up to the counter and found out, I was like fuckit because it's been on my wishlist for so long now.

I am liking Southern Cunning so far but I'm not very far in so we shall see.

Guess what my mother did the same day I got these? Yeah she did the exact same thing. I showed off the books because I knew we had the same taste and she'd be interested in the ones I got. I was not expecting her to also have bought The Hexologists. smh, go figure.

So I ran back real quick and switched it out for a sequel to another fiction book she'd gotten prior that was also on the buy one get one half off table. I don't remember the title and I didn't get a picture of it. I think the first book was called Her Royal Majesty's Coven and the second was the something cabinet.

[milliondollarbaby87]

Genie (2023) Review

When Bernard is about to lose everything due to his workoholic nature, he must enlist the help of a magical genie named Flora to help win his family back before Christmas. ⭐️⭐️ Continue reading Untitled

[personalfx81]

Fancasting the Giffen-DeMatteis-Maguire era Justice League International in the DCU

It's Bwa-ha-ha time. Basically every character who hasn't been cast yet (i.e. everyone except Guy Gardner and Booster Gold, who I've assumed is set to be played by Kumail Nanjiani).

Brandon Sklenar (1923, Midway, It Ends With Us) as Bruce Wayne/Batman

-Can Pull off "Certified Hunk" -Looks great in a suit -Isn't just "stern guy with deep voice" -Build is near-perfect. built & muscular, but not too wide. -Fairly reasonable age to be handling Damien & rest of Bat-Family.

Rob McElhenney(It's Always Sunny In Philladelphia, Mythic Quest) as Ted Kord/Blue Beetle II

-Can play dorky, fed up, and "IQ lowered when around a certain person" -Other than that, pretty big range, great with physical performance. -Similar age to Kumail Nanjiani, who I've accepted is playing Booster. -Can basically play any body type.

Daniel Radcliffe(Swiss Army Man, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) as Scott Free/Mister Miracle

-Incredible range, could play any version of the character, Kirby, King, whatever -Leaning towards the King interpretation, can still look great disheveled. -Relatively short, would make whoever plays Barda look bigger by comparison.

Demi "Rhea Ripley" Bennet(WWE) as Barda Free/Big Barda OKAY HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUT -She can play big and intimidating. -Also shows decent amount of emotion in sparse moments during performances/in interviews. -Built perfectly, toned body, with broad shoulders. -Has potential to be next great wrestler-turned actress, in the vein of Dave Bautista and John Cena.

Warwick Davis(Return of the Jedi, Willow, Life's Too Short) as Oberon Kurtzberg

-Decent range, able to go toe to toe with Val Kilmer in Willow. -Able to be funnier than one might expect, see Life's Too Short. -Aside from the hair, he's the spitting image of Oberon as drawn by Kevin Maguire.

Camila Mendes(Riverdale, Do Revenge, Palm Springs) as Beatriz DaCosta/Fire.

-Shows great amount of potential as an actress -Can play the kind of endearing, charming, fun, and slightly airheaded personality that I want for fire very easily. -Is of Brazilian descent. -Has experience with goofy/comic book-y plots.

Ulrikke Falch(Skam/Shame) as Tora Olafsdotter/Ice

-Can nail the girl-next-door, yet also extremely sincere energy I would like Ice to have. -Is a Norwegian actress who can speak perfect english. -Is of similar age to my pick for Fire. -Is just an overall well-educated and smart person, in addition to being a fantastic performer.

Samara Weaving(Ready or Not, Scream VI, Bill and Ted Face The Music) as Dinah Drake Lance/Black Canary II -Can play just really done with everything, as in JLI -Spectacular at deadpan comedy. -Can kick serious ass -Has a killer scream

Anna Akana(Amphibia, Wrestling isn't Wrestling) as Kimiyo Hoshi/Doctor Light II -Her work on Matt Braly's Amphibia shows an impressive range, from dramatic to comedic, something she excels at. -Can play that kind of overly-driven, borderline arrogant personality seen in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Viggo Mortensen(The Lord of the Rings, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence) as Kent Nelson/Doctor Fate I

-Has that kind of Gravitas/Prestige needed to bring Doctor Fate to life -Can play that kind of cold/borderline nihilistic vibe Kent had in Ram V's JLD run,

Jimmy Tatro(22 Jump Street, American Vandal, Theater Camp) as Captain Marvel/Shazam -Has the kind of Childlike Himbo sort of energy, as seen in 22 Jump Street & American Vandal, that works real well for Captain Marvel/Shazam. -Also shows decent amount of emotional range, not just comedic, in American Vandal

Leslie Odom, Jr.(Hamilton, Glass Onion, Murder on the Orient Express, One Night In Miami) as J'onn J'onzz/John Jones/Martian Manhunter. -Has the chops. Odom, Jr. is one of the most electric performers in recent memory. -Performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton (specifically in "The Election of 1800) proves he can pull off the Cooke-esque "Corny as a comic book" performative nature of John Jones. -Could also nail that betrayed look that MM had in New Frontier after hearing about John Wilson's death. And that's it. Not totally confident with some of these choices, but if these performers become the lineup for the JLI, I think we'll get some great portrayals of these beloved characters. Let me know if you think I'm on to something or if I should just shut up already.

[midwestbramble]

American Witch Balls

aka Witch Bullets

Friday the 13th is often thought of as bad luck. So much so that it has become associated with witches in some parts of the United States. This is the day when witches in folklore would make witch balls, balls of hair that would curse people and livestock. Let’s dive into this bit of folkloric witchcraft.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

Contents:

History

How to

Conclusion

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

History

“To this mystic myrrh, To make a witch ball, I, the Devil, doth stir, To place curses on one and all.”

This is what the devil chants as the coven gathers on Friday the 13th in “How to Make Witch Balls” from Hubert Davis’ “The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories.” These hairballs are unique to North America, having only the name in common with their UK counterparts. From Pennsylvania to Iowa, people believed that if their animal died and was found with a ball of hair inside, they had been cursed by a witch. So much so that there are newspaper articles detailing trials where people accused one another of using them from the late 19th century.

Not all hairballs were thought of as cursing, as some were employed by conjure persons and witch doctors for healing. Usually the ones thought to curse were found in humans and domesticated animals. If they were made from the hair of a deer, for example, they were thought to have healing properties. Similar to a bezoar.

Around the turn of the 20th century, doctors began to debunk witch balls as simple hairballs animals were unable to digest, coming from licking themselves or other animals. Still, these beliefs persist and we can employ the idea in our own craft.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

How To

The most important parts of the witch ball are the hair (usually from a black dog, cat, cow, or horse) and the beeswax. The folktale includes several gruesome ingredients from the benign spiders legs to a dead baby’s toe. For our version we will not be requiring the desecration of bodies. If you already have favorite baneful herbs you can add those to your mix, otherwise I suggest things such as graveyard dirt, hot pepper flakes, a nightshade if you’re comfortable working with poisonous plants, and maybe those spiders legs if you can find a dead one.

Once you have the hair, the wax, and anything else you would like to add, we can get started. Set the wax to melt on a double boiler. Personally I put a pot to boil and put a smaller pot in the water for a makeshift double boiler. Add in your extra ingredients, telling them their jobs as you do, and as you stir chant the devil's chant above. Roll the animal hair into a ball and cover it in the wax to hold shape. Once cool, take your own hair and tie it around the ball. You now have a witch bullet ready to deploy in whatever way you can imagine.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

Conclusion

Hairballs may be the last thing you expected to be associated with witchcraft. Making witch bullets on Friday the 13th has become a key part of my practice. I think of curses the same way I think about martial arts; good to know how to do, hope you never have to. I have to wonder, do other witches have practices specific to the 13th?

References:

America Bewitched by Owen Davies

The Danger of Hairballs by the Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine

The Witch's Bullet: Hairball and Hexing Tradition by Via Hedera

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon

[hagoftheholler]

Is traditional witchcraft the same as folk magic?

I'd say they are not the same, but they have some similarities. I think it is important to keep in mind that while there are some general things people agree on when it coming to defining traditional witchcraft and folk magic, everybody is going to have a different perspective of what encompasses these practices. It's kinda up to you to figure out your own perspective.

One book I have, "Southern Cunning" by Aaron Oberon, defines traditional witchcraft as two different things: "Traditional Witchcraft [emphasis on the capital T and W] is lineaged non-Wiccan witchcraft. Traditional Witchcraft often includes a coven structure and very specific ritual techniques that vary little between person to person. Conversely, traditional witchcraft [emphasis on the lowercase t and w] refers to non-lineaged, non-Wiccan witchcraft that draws on history, folklore, and bioregionalism influences."

Keep in mind, his reasoning for the emphasis on capital and lowercase t's and w's is to provide better insight on his descriptions later in the book. He also is very upfront that not everybody may agreed with these two definitions, and that is okay.

He further goes to define folk magic, or folkloric witchcraft, as focusing primarily on local folklore, ancestral traditions, and bioregionalism to inform the person's witchcraft. Both folkloric and traditional witchcraft [emphasis on the lowercase t and w] are individualized practices, often lacking any kind of coven or group structure and has high amounts of variety between practitioners who claim the term.

Again, just because I know there are going to be vocabulary police reading this somewhere, the author that wrote these definitions was very upfront about these definitions not being universally agreed upon and that they are broken down the way they are for the sake of the reader being able to better understand the rest of his book.

I'd say that I generally agree with these definitions, with specific focus on how he defines traditional witchcraft as witchcraft that draws on history, folklore, and bioregionalism influences and folk magic/folkloric witchcraft as focusing primarily on local folklore, ancestral traditions and bioregionalism.

Now, anything can become traditional. Anything, anywhere. You could easily narrow down traditional witchcraft by country, though from what I have observed many tend to blend traditional practices from varying countries. That is why there is emphasis on history, folklore and bioregionalism. It really depends on who you're talking to, though.

Folk magic is inherently traditional, but more in the "your granny did this and now you do it" way and not the "these are practices that have been documented over the centuries and we should use/learn from them" way. You don't nesecarrily need any living relatives to practice folk magic in order to learn it, but folk magic does require you to connect with other practitioners at some point to learn. Especially if you are intending to reconnect with ancestral traditions from your ancestor's countries (for example, an American trying to reconnect with their German ancestry and ancestral traditions). This is where the emphasis on local folklore, ancestral traditions, and bioregionalism is important.

I hope this made sense. It's a sorta complicated topic.

[wishful-seeker]

Going to the library to look for books, anyone got witch book recommendations?

I really like these books so far:

Southern Cunning, Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa

Faries, a Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk, by Morgan Daimler

Any books on folklore of witchcraft, working with spirits like the fae, dragons, the dead, ect. (any supernatural creature really), books on herbal medicines/poisons and how to make things with plants, or just really old books on magic, books on alchemy would also be cool. Anyone know any books?

I find it really hard to find books that aren't filled with new age crap and tell me something i don't already know. If anyone has any recs it would REALLY help me out. These 3 books and any book by @breelandwalker are the only witch books i would really recommend to people. After 6+ years of having an official craft these are the only books i actually deem good. Its sooo hard to find good ones.

[samwisethewitch]

REVIEW: Old Style Conjure by Starr Casas

There's some controversy around this book, mostly because Starr Casas is a white woman writing about hoodoo. (Or at least white passing -- Casas does not disclose her ancestry in this book, and I never want to assume based on appearances. Some of the memoir content in this book makes me think she may be from a mixed family.) I avoided this book for a long time because of that controversy, so I want to address it before I move into pros and cons.

When people accuse Casas of cultural appropriation, if they're not talking about her appearance they'll typically bring up this line from a FAQ section in this book: "Q. Can white folks do conjure work? Yes, they can, as long as they honor the ancestors of this work. Those ancestors are the folks who were kidnapped and sold into slavery. They brought this work here and deserve to be honored. And who better to honor them than the white folks who at one time enslaved them?"

I think this line is phrased poorly in a way that makes it easy to take it out of context as giving blanket permission for cultural appropriation. But after reading the entire book, I feel confident that wasn't what Casas was trying to communicate here. Casas is very aware of the legacy of slavery in the South, and she seems to believe very firmly that white folks need to reckon with the atrocity of the slave trade. It's our responsibility to do what we can to make amends for the evils of our ancestors. It's basically the same message other authors, like Aaron Oberon, have phrased better and been praised for.

It is also important to note that Casas isn't claiming to speak for all hoodoo practitioners -- this book is about her family's folk magic tradition, which is influenced by African American practices. She's very clear that other practitioners may do things a different way. She's also very clear about the importance of acknowledging and honoring the African roots of many Southern folk practices, something I personally agree with. The reality is, you'd be hard pressed to find a folk magic tradition in the South with NO African influences, and I appreciate what Casas is trying to do here by explicitly honoring those influences.

(On personal note, struggling to navigate the legacy of white supremacy while honoring Black and indigenous ancestors is something I personally relate to as a white person from a mixed-race family. There are no easy answers here.)

This book, its tone, and the language it uses reminds me a lot of my grandparents. They mean well, and they're remarkably antiracist for older folks in the rural south, but they aren't familiar with all the language and terminology activists use today. They're imperfect in their allyship, but they ARE trying to be allies. It's up to you whether that's a deal breaker for you.

Anyways, with that out of the way, here are my thoughts on the actual book and its content:

Pros:

This is definitely "old style conjure." Everything here feels very authentic and traditional.

I liked the emphasis on using what you have and working with what is available to you. This is not a book that will have you running out to buy that one specific crystal you just have to have for a spell.

I also liked the emphasis on doing things yourself, including making your own oils and powders instead of buying from someone else. This DIY spirit is a big part of southern folk magic as I was taught.

Casas gives very clear, easily followed instructions and does her best to explain the "why" behind what's included in a work.

Great section on throwing bones!

The most comprehensive breakdown of the uses of dirt of any book I've found so far.

This book genuinely contains information I had learned from oral traditions but had not seen written down anywhere.

This book reminded me so much of the women who have taught me what I know of a Southern folk magic. It took me back to sitting at the kitchen table, watching my mentor do an egg cleanse for someone with holy water she had blessed herself.

Cons:

Like I said, reading this book is a lot like a conversation with a Southern grandparent. That wasn't off-putting for me, but I can see how it might bother some readers.

I think Casas is from a slightly warmer climate than where I currently live. Some of the ingredients she uses in works, like olive leaves, are much harder to find in Southern Appalachia. Again, not a huge issue, but just know you'll have to make substitutions if you're not from a very warm climate.

Casas's practice is very heavily focused on working with ancestors and saints, which is not true for every Southern folk magic practitioner. I think she does sometimes give the impression that everyone has to work as closely with ancestors and saints as she does. You don't.

There's definitely a generational difference here with regards to how things like race, class, gender, etc. are discussed. I'm a younger millenial/elder Gen Z, and some of the language used in this book made me cringe a bit. Nothing as bad as slurs or open racism, but more like using outdated language that is considered poor manners but not quite offensive by younger generations.

Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

Would I recommend it?

Despite everything, yes I would. I think there really is some excellent information here, including things that are in danger of being lost. Casas says she wrote this book as a response to the rise of Internet witchcraft and that her goal is to preserve old style folk practices, and she absolutely accomplishes that goal.

This is definitely one I'd recommend checking out from the library before you decide whether to spend money on it, and it isn't without its flaws, but books about pure Southern folk magic with no New Age or neopagan influences are hard to find, so I wanted to spotlight this one. I got this from the library and am glad I did.

(And of course, if you're interested in African American folk magic, you should read books by African American authors. Luisah Teish and Stephanie Rose Bird are two of my personal favs.)

[zoomzooomfast]

What I think Sims 2 premades full legal names are . Base game Edition

Other wise know as what I think characters middle names are. Notes will be given when I want to.

Also the Monty’s aren’t included because I don’t think they have middle names.

Pleasantview

The Brokes

Brandi Lynn Broke

Bernard “Skip” Broke ; I think skip is called skip because he’s names after his grandfather so the name Skipped a generation hence skip.

Dustin Jacob “Dusty” Broke

Beau Thomas Broke

Skipper James Broke “Skip. Jr”/unborn baby broke ; Skipper is named after his dead father

The Calientes

Dina Lyra Caliente

Nina Faye Caliente

Lyra and Faye l are space references. Lyra is the smallest constellation and Faye is a comet

The Dreamers

Derren Seth Dreamer

Darleen Lucy Dreamer

Dirk Bramwell Dreamer; Darren and Darleen are creative types so I think they are pulling the most random middle name.

The Goths

Mortimer Gunther Goth

Bella Maria Goth

Cassandra Marie Goth

Alexander Mortimer Goth

Don Jonathan or Donathan Lothario

The Pleasants

Daniel Marshall Pleasant

Mary-Sue Pleasant

Angela Mary Pleasant

Lilith Elizabeth Pleasant

The Burbs

John Burb

Jennifer Natalie Burb

Lucy Gace Burb

Kaylynn Rose Langerak

Strangetown

The Beakers

Loki Halfdanarson Beaker; Halfdanarson is his mom maiden name

Circe Athena Beaker; I think Circe has 2 very powerful names and I think they both work in her favor

Osiris Edward Specter “Nervous Subject” ; depicted what the sims 3 wants to think I don’t think Nervous Subject is his legal name. I think it’s a name he responds to and is ok going by. But I think Nervous legal name is Osiris after the Egyptian death because he’s Olive Specters son she would love a good death reference.

The Curious Brothers

Pascal Clermont Hogleg Curious; Pascal Chose his own name so it doesn’t fit super well with the rest

Vidcund Fausto Hogleg Curious

Lazlo Gabriel Hogleg Curious

Tycho Paul Curious; Paul is after his best uncle

The Grunts

General Buzz Anderson Grunt

Lyla Florence Grunt

Tank Nolan Grunt

Ripp Wesley Grunt

Buck Theodore Grunt

In my head Lyla wanted her boys to have softer names but Buzz rather they has strong and agressive names so Lyla made he name choices for her sons there middle names

The Smiths

Pollination Tech#9 “Poul” Smith

Ginebra “Jenny” Diana Hogleg Smith

Johnathan “Johnny” Gem Curious Smith

Jill Vir Curious Smith

Both of the kids have there zodiac constellations name Abbreviation and Jenny's last name as middle names similar to Jenny and her siblings

The Specters

Olive Specter

Ophelia Sofia Nigmos

The Singles household

Chloe Love Curious

Lola Marie Curious

Erin Halfdanarson Beaker

Kristen Ruth Loste

Chole and Lola's middle name are refrences to Marie Carie and Ada Lovelace And Erin is the same as Loki.

Crystal Rouge Vu

Ajay Kelly Loner

Veronaville

So The Capp naming convention is something like first daughter is named after yourself, 2nd daughter is your husbands mom third is after your mother. then the boys are just Shakespeare references

The Capps

Consort Hector Thebe Capp

Contessa Scribonia Capp

Cordelia Cleo Capp

Caliban Anthony Capp

Tybalt William Capp

Juliette Cordelia Capp

Hermia Sycorax Capp

The Capps

Goneril Contessa Capp

Albany Capp

Miranda Goneril Capp

Hal John Capp

Desdemona Anne Capp

Ariel Contessa Capp

The Capps

Regan Andromache Capp

Cornwall Shakespeare Capp

Kent Hamnet Capp

The Summerdreams

Oberon Aaron Summerdream

Titania Summerdream

Puck Ash Summerdream

Bottom Sunflower Summerdream

Puck and Bottom's middle names are plant based names that are fun because there magical fairies

[enchanted-wildflower]

100 days of productivity (9/100)

Tuesday, 28th of November

I didn't go to class today. I went to uni, stood outside for and hour and went home. I already miss my boyfriend so much :/ but I also have a lot to do for, so i can't think about him too much. My goal for today was to finish all the my research on the Uyghurs, which I didn't, but I still have some days, so I try not to panic.

One good thing is that some books y ordered arrived today, including a collection of Grimm's fairytails and Hans Christian Andersen's Fairytails 🤗

Productivity:

spent 3,5h researching for my presentation

sent an e-mail to my latin teacher

Selfcare:

Told some friends about my relationship issues

Watched a movie (Roxanne Roxanne)

Personal projects:

Copied what I had highlighted in the digital version of Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South (by Aaron Oberon) into the physical copy that arrived today

[jasper-book-stash]

March 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I got bronchitis and my period at the same time in March, and then spilled tea on my computer, so March was a very stressful time for me. Regardless, I managed to read 10 books! And honestly, overall, this is one of the better months - the lowest I've ranked a book is 6/10, which is damn good considering the absolute bullshit I usually read.

Religious Text

None applicable.

1/10 - Why Did They Publish This?

None applicable.

2/10 - Trash

None applicable.

3/10 - Meh

None applicable.

4 to 6/10 - Mid-Tier

Tomb Sweeping | Alexandra Chang

I read this book while sick. And boy howdy, did that make it a weird experience. I get what it was going for, but it really wasn't my vibe. It just felt like everything was...unfinished. Which was the point, I suppose, but it was still annoying.

7 to 8/10 - Good With Caveats

What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality | Daniel A Helminiak

This is a very short book compared to my usual reads, topping at 152 pages. And I appreciate a book that gets straight to the point and analyzes the historical context around various works, particularly religious works. Good job. My only complaint is some editing issues.

Born to Love, Cursed to Feel | Samantha King

This was a poetry collection and was the only other book I read while sick, and boy howdy did I have a time of it. I spent most of the reading just...putting post-it notes in and nodding along to the lines. It was a surprisingly good book, considering I found it in the back alley version of a book store.

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South | Aaron Oberon

Look. This is not a 101 book. It's not a 102 book. It's not even a 201 book. It simply is. And as much as I enjoyed it and enjoyed reading it, the fact that I spent most of my reading time fixing the editing means that I cannot, in good faith, put this any higher than an 8 out of 10. Dear Aaron Oberon, if you ever read this, PLEASE give me access to the original file so I can fix your punctuation and spelling mistakes. Sincerely, a fellow Southerner.

9/10 - Very Very Good

Snow White with the Red Hair, volumes 21-23 | Sorata Akiduki

I am still so fucking feral over this series. I love them so fucking much. I want them all to be happy but I also like seeing their shenanigans. Unfortunately, though we're at 26 published volumes, we've reached the end of the ones in Missouri Evergreen that I may access. I'll either have to wait and hope that someone gets them, or I'll have to bite the bullet and buy them myself.

Not Pounded By Anything: Six Platonic Tales Of Non-Sexual Encounters | Chuck Tingle

This is my first expedition into the erotic Tingleverse after reading some pieces of the horror Tingleverse in Straight and Camp Damascus. And I really, really like this book. It's 77 pages and is such an easy read. Godspeed, you glorious bastard.

10/10 - Unironically Recommend To Everyone

Well, everyone who's into the genre these fall under, at least.

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, tenth edition | Janet Burroway

I found this in the free section of a bookstore in the middle of nowhere, and let me tell you, it is now marked up one side and down the other with highlighter, because I needed it. There are so many good parts of this book that it's genuinely one I would recommend to people who are trying to figure out why their writing feels flat.

Sacred Gender: Create Trans and Nonbinary Spiritual Connections | Ariana Serpentine

First, I want to congratulate the author on what is possibly the coolest name ever.

Second, if you're an occultist, polytheist, witch, magic practitioner, or in any other way affiliated with things beyond or within mortal ken...get this book. It's making me rethink a lot of my own experiences with my craft and my religion, but in a good way.

[veilxstars]

Walking through the picturesque streets of Cardinal Hill, you find Oberon ‘Puck’ Caldwell Thorne, the 45 year old horror/supernatural novelist originally from Cardinal Hill, WA. Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're perceptive and cynical, but what you might not know is that they are a human, and that they’re hiding something… ― Aaron Tveit, homosexual, man, and he/him.

biography triggers: near drowning, sibling abuse, emotional neglect

Oberon "Puck" Caldwell was born into a family of witches, a human child in a lineage steeped in supernatural heritage. From an early age, Puck felt out of place, as though he always knew that his magic would never manifest. And when it didn't, he became a curiosity in a household dominated by magic and arcane traditions. His very existence was a point of contention; while his parents celebrated the prowess of their magical lineage, Puck's mundane-ness became a source of embarrassment and confusion. His siblings liked to tell him cruel lies. He was adopted. He wasn't really their brother. His parents had found him and took him in. The worst thing they told him was that he had been a changeling, left behind while the real Caldwell baby was taken away. His siblings started calling him “Puck” -- this was cute to his parents who found it more fitting for a young boy than the elevated name of Oberon - but his parents didn't know that they meant it to be a reminder that he didn't belong.

As the years progressed, the playful teasing transformed into something far more sinister. Puck’s siblings often devised cruel pranks, the intent behind their actions always veiled in laughter. Sometimes, they'd pretend to like him and invite him along in their games only to use him as the villain, the one left behind, the one who had to sit and watch. One game nearly killed him. During the winter, when the pond froze over, they were playing a game on the ice; his brother shoved him, and Puck fell back into the area of the pond that hadn't frozen yet - the part of the pond they were supposed to stay away from. The water closed over him, and he panicked, choking on fear and water and cold. His siblings panicked and ran away.

He doesn't remember who saved him.

Even if he had told his parents, he was outnumbered. There was no guarantee that they would have believed him, as his siblings enjoyed blaming him for their misdeeds, and overall - Puck had a reputation in the family as being the black sheep.

At 16, after years of relentless bullying and emotional isolation, Puck made the decision to run away from home. After his departure, Puck visited Cardinal Hill only twice. The first visit was when he was eighteen, as his mother asked him to come home and give them another chance. It didn't last long -- he left after a month. The second visit, prompted by his parents again, was meant to be a reunion—a chance to reconnect. This is when Puck met the twins, Romeo and Rooney. However, the gathering quickly devolved into chaos, erupting in a fierce argument and vicious words being said by all sides; it was a reminder of why he had left in the first place.

Knowing he'd never be accepted, Puck left for good.

Seeking peace, Puck settled in a small town in Upstate New York, far removed from the pain of his past. He lived in a small-town on a lake, far removed from any city. It was as close to Cardinal Hill as he could get without being in the town. This place was meant for locals, it was too far removed from the highway to be easily accessible, and it didn't have much to offer for tourists -- but it gave everything to Puck.

In this environment, Puck poured his heart and soul into crafting novels that explored the darker aspects of human experience, filled with chilling narratives and a pervasive sense of dread. At twenty-six, his first published novel, The Darkwoods, gained him attention. It was a novel focusing on he the raw emotions of adolescence, the consequences of neglect, and the terrifying possibility that our darkest secrets may never truly stay buried. He gained critical praise for how he blended the supernatural with social commentary. The Darkwoods became a bestseller and finally - he found his niche.

Puck’s novels gained popularity, capturing the imagination of those who appreciated the raw pain woven into his chilling narratives. His writing style is characterized by vivid imagery and psychological depth, creating an atmosphere of unease that lingers long after the final page is turned. Puck is a prolific writer. Between the ages of 26 and 45, he has published 19 novels and 40 short stories. He's known for his consistency and output - averaging around three published works a year.

Now, at 45, Puck finds himself drawn back to Cardinal Hill, but this return is unlike any previous visits. Now, he is here to stay. Why? He won't say. He won't talk about what brought him back. While his legal name is still Oberon Caldwell, his pen-name is Oberon Thorne and it is what fans and critics alike know him by. As he navigates the familiar streets of Cardinal Hill, Puck is reminded of the family that has long ignored him and the siblings who relished in making him feel like an outcast.

[repost-grimoire]

Witchy Reading/Listening List

This is the books and podcasts I plan to enjoy soon :) I'll be doing reviews of them as I get through them! For some of these I have read/listened to them before but wish to revisit them as it has been a while.

I do not think I will realistically like all of them, and I will only review what I think I have enough of a grasp on to review faithfully. Especially for podcasts, I will probably just try out a few episodes. We shall see.

Down for recommendations if anyone has any! This will be expanded as I find new things I'd like.

Reading List - Books

Drawing Down the Moon, Margot Adler (first read)

Southern Cunning, Aaron Oberon (first read)

Recreational Witchcraft, Lyra Black (I adore this book, idk how many times read)

The Green Witch, Arin Murphy-Hiscock (I've read part of it before, but will start over from the beginning)

The Black Arts, Richard Cavendish (first read, not as witchy as much as historical [to my understanding] but figured I would add it)

Missing Witches, Risa Dickens and Amy Torok (first read)

Listening List - Podcasts

Glitch Bottle Podcast, Alexander Eth (first listen)

Comfy Cozy Witch Podcast (first listen)

[hitchell-mope]

Fancast for a Broadway version of a midsummer night’s dream.

Theseus. Christian Borle

Hippolyta. Annaleigh Ashford.

Egeus. Taye Diggs.

Hermia. Sofia Wylie.

Lysander. Milo Manheim

Demetrius. Chosen Jacobs.

Helena. Sadie Sink

Nick Bottom. Jake Gyllenhaal.

Oberon. Aaron Tveit

Titania. Hannah Waddingham

Robin Goodfellow. Jeremy Shada.

[enchantedtm]

mwm?

sure thing, nonnie! since you weren't specific on if you were looking for faceclaims or characters, i'll give you both! hope these help, but members feel free to reply to this as well!

faceclaims: sterling k brown, aaron taylor johnson, chris evans, kiowa gordon, kit young, calahan skogman, austin butler, emre bey, berk cankat, sam claflin, sinqua walls, giancarlo esposito, lee do hyun, justice smith, fabien frankel, joseph quinn, rudy pankow, logan lerman, brian tyree henry, yahya abdul mateen ii, evan mock, dev patel, martin sensmeier, aldis hodge, alexander + bill skarsgard, andrew koji, d’pharaoh woon - a - tai, barry keoghan, billy porter, bright vachirawit chivaaree, charles michael davis, chris pine, dan levy, diego luna.

characters: aladdin, jafar, the genie, cogsworth, king fergus, kristoff, zeus, flounder, sebastian, li shang, gepetto, pinocchio, puss in boots, flynn rider, rumpelstiltskin, taran, king midas, prince dominick from the princess and the pauper, preminger, prince philip, prince derek / seigfreid, the mad hatter, the march hare, the knave of hearts, oberon, any of the knights of arthur's round table, dorian gray, basil hallward, arthur holmwood, quincey morris, abraham van helsing, renfield, victor frankenstein, michael + john darling, romeo montague, tybalt capulet, benvolio montague, robin hood's merry men, the nutcracker, the scarecrow, the cowardly lion, howl pendragon, hiccup haddock, king richard, galavant.

[midwestbramble]

American Folkloric Witchcraft

A form of traditional witchcraft, American Folkloric Witchcraft draws on American folklore surrounding witches and what they do.

Many American witches will look across the pond for inspiration for their craft, forgoing what we have right here that can teach us so much. Before going into more detail, let's start with what exactly Folkloric witchcraft is.

Folkloric Witchcraft

Sometimes shortened to folk witchcraft (though this term is taking on a life of it's own), folkloric witchcraft is simply a type of craft that looks to it's country's or regions folklore regarding witchcraft to build a practice. When building a practice in this framework, you look to your family's sayings and stories as well as those you learned from the people around you. There are many folklore studies that can give us this information as well, and local libraries are often a big help in finding some.

What is a witch? What do they do? Why?

Answering these questions can get complicated, especially if your country is steeped in Christian culture.

What Makes a Witch in American Folklore

We all know the rhetoric, a witch is someone who sold their soul to the devil for power. But is it? Yes and no. In American folklore, we see many different types of people classified as a "witch." Some cavort with spirits, others tell fortunes with cards, and some simply know a good healing formula. What deems these people witches is simply that the community saw them as such, and a Christian community would associate anything outside of Christian doctrine as devil worship. Right or wrong, that's just how it is. There were people who could cure magically and be seen as good Christians who were blessed with a power by God, and then there were people with not so good a standing (perhaps they didn't go to church or just weren't seen in town much) who were deemed a witch.

However, my favorite way of explaining what a witch is in American folklore comes from Corey Hutcheson's book "New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic." He defines them by what they do, not by what others think of them. What do they do? Hutcheson says they practice witchcraft. Of course! Witchcraft is a type of magic, but what does that look like? Hutcheson goes on to lay out these 7 things witches do in American folklore (though not every witch has to tick every box):

Casting spells

Witch flight (aka spirit flight)

Using magical objects

Harming and cursing

Healing and blessing

Suffering

Surviving

These are all aspects you can find in the different European traditional crafts, however ours take on an American flavor (i.e. apple pie). Our spells (often called workings or tricks) look to our landscapes with it's plants and fauna, as well as our cultural issues. Our witch flight doesn't tend to be with some demonized European goddess but instead includes a bridal to sway. We don't have a witch ball that protects but a witch ball that curses (and is made in a completely different way). And a devil notorious for his love of music and whiskey.

My blog will be touching on all of these in more specific details. For now here is a list of resources that you can look into for a deeper look at American Folkloric Witchcraft:

New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic by Corey Hutcheson

New World Witchery Podcast

Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience: Crucible at the Crossroads by Via Hedera

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem by Owen Davies <- historical look at witchcraft beliefs in the United States from 1692 to 2013

The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories by Hubert Davis <- collection of American witch folklore from 1975 (can be found on Internet Archive)