#elder mother

[henbane-and-honeysuckle]

In the back yard of the duplex I rent, there's an elder tree shrub. I loved her very much and her presence in the yard felt like a good omen to choose this place to live. Well last year she was mowed down one day by the landlord's landscaper and I was devastated. She came back this year tho! So I decided to try to propagate a cutting from her to grow in a pot in case she was mowed down again. I'd never taken a cutting of a plant before but I watched videos, made the propitiatory offerings and rhyme, and then took a cutting of her roots including a green branch with leaves, and planted her in a pot on my front porch.

She immediately displayed transplant shock, her leaves all died and she droopped all the way to the concrete. But I knew she was still alive. I read that it can take months to recover from the shock, so I removed all her dead leaves and used a stick from the yard to help her stand up straight. Then I patiently watered her and braced myself to wait months to see if she'd bounce back.

To my utter surprise, she's recovering much faster than anticipated! Look at her leaves!! And she's standing on her own now despite the intense wind we're having. I'm so happy!

I'm looking forward to tending this emissary of the Elder Mother.

[yoga-onion]

Legends and myths about trees

Celtic beliefs in trees (25)

R for Ruis (Elder) - November 25th - December 21st

“Season of fog and darkness – The Celtic Tree Calendar (Ref), Thirteenth Month”

colour: black, dark green; Star: Venus; Gem: olivine; Gender: female; Element: water; Patron: Hel, Hera, Huldra(Red2), Valkyrie; Symbols: judgement + transformation, death + rebirth, fate + inevitable event

Elder trees can grow almost anywhere and are a visible reminder of the changing seasons. The young leaves herald the return of spring, the white, bubbly, sweet-smelling flowers usher in the start of summer, the ripe berries mark the end of summer, the leaves turn red and eventually fall off, and the cold winter brings a rush of illness and discomfort, the time when the medicinal properties of the elder tree come into their own.

The ancient Britons and other Celts used to boil the elder berries in wine to make a black dye for grey hair. It is still used in the Hebrides as a dye to dye sheep black. The bark also makes a black dye. When alum is added, the leaves produce a green dye, while the berries produce blue, purple and violet dyes.

Almost all parts of the plant have medicinal properties, but today it is mainly the fruit and flowers that are used, such as elderflower wine and cordials (Ref3) flavoured with elderflower flowers, as well as jam and wine made from elderflower berries. Because, elderberry root from North America is toxic and the leaves and bark of elderberry are very dangerous to use in lay therapy.

The Elder Mother (Ref4) was believed to reside within the Elder Tree. She was said to inflict vengeance magic on anyone who harmed the tree and punished anyone who used any part of the tree for selfish purposes.

Across northern Europe, Elderberry is associated with death, rebirth and witchcraft, and is the tree most often used to break evil curses. The ancient Celts believed that how people saw and remembered them for the way they lived in this world would determine their reputation after death in the underworld. That is why the most important thing for them was to die with pride and dignity, and to respect others after death.

On a dark winter's day, the Elder tree holds up a mirror to us that reflects our true selves. Can you die with dignity and without regrets, it asks.

木にまつわる伝���・神話

ケルト人の樹木の信仰 (25)

RはRuis (ﾆﾜﾄｺ) - 11月25日～12月21日

『霧と暗黒の季節 〜 ケルトの木の暦（参照）、13番目の月』

色: 黒、深緑; 星: 金星;  宝石: カンラン石(ｵﾘﾋﾞﾝ); 性: 女性; 要素; 水; 守護神: ヘル、ヘラ、ホルダ（参照2）、ヒルデ; シンボル: 審判＋変身、死＋再生、運命＋不可避なできごと

ニワトコの木はほとんどどこにでも生え、季節の移り変わりを目に見える形で知らせてくれる。若葉は春の訪れを告げ、白い泡のような甘い香りの花は夏の始まりを告げ、熟した実は夏の終わりを告げ、葉は赤く色づいてやがて落葉し、寒い冬とともに病気や不快感がどっと押し寄せると、いよいよニワトコの薬の成分が本領を発揮する季節になる。

古代ブリトン人はじめケルト人はニワトコの実をワインで煮出して白髪染めの黒い染料を作っていた。今でもへブリディーズ諸島で羊を黒く染める染料として使われている。樹皮もまた黒の染料となる。明礬を加えると、葉からは緑の染料が、実からは青、紫、スミレ色の染料ができる。

ニワトコは殆ど全ての部位に薬効を持っているが、今日では、ニワトコの花で香りづけをした、エルダーフラワーワインやコーディアル（参照3）、またニワトコの実のジャムやワインなど、主に果実と花がよく使われている。北米産のニワトコの根には毒性があったり、ニワトコの葉や樹皮は素人療法に用いるのはとても危険だからである。

「ニワトコの母（参照4）」はニワトコの木の中に住んでいると信じられていた。彼女は、この木を傷つけた者には必ず復讐の魔法を下すといわれ、この木のどんな部分であれ利己的な目的に使ったものには罰を与えた。

北ヨーロッパの全域でニワトコは、死、再生、魔術と関連づけられ、邪悪な呪いを解くのに最もよく用いられる木だ。古代ケルト人は、この世での生き方が人々にどう見られ、どう記憶されるかが、死後冥界に行ってからの自分の評価を左右するのだと考えていた。だからこそ彼らにとって最も重要なのは、誇り高く威厳をもって死ぬことであり、死んでからも人を尊重することだった。

冬の暗い日に、ニワトコは私たちに本当の自分の姿が映る鏡を突きつける。あなたは、威厳を持って悔いのない死を迎えることができるのか、と。

[lailoken]

When working with an arboreal spirit (Old Man Willow, the Juniper Mistress, the Elder Mother) or really any spirit for that matter, how do you determine the gender of the spirit? Is it something directly communicated? Do you address them based on instinct about their gender or is it folklore from how they were addressed in the past that prompts it? Is this how the spirit communicates itself to you specifically? Meaning could another practitioner interact with the exact same spirit and perceive it as female, even though you experience it as male, and vice versa? I love reading your posts about tree spirits but they’ve prompted this curiosity.

In my experience, spirits do not experience gender in the way humans do. I answered a question about that here in more depth, but I essentially believe that numinous entities tend to "take on" gender presentation when interacting with humans, in the process of making themselves observable to us. I think this largely has to do with human beliefs and expectations creating a kind of "psychic impression" that affects the manifestation of a spirit. This doesn't mean a spirit will always present in a particular way, but I think that the longer a numinous Wight has been regarded and propitiated under a certain guise, the more defined and consistent that "psychic impression" becomes.

I think that using existing lore is a good rule of thumb where this sort of thing is involved—such as the lore of the Elder Mother or the Juniper Mistress—but aside from that, I mostly rely on dreams and intuitions. I often don't experience any sort of inclination about gender when working with spirits, one way or another, but when I do (such as with Old Man Willow or Lady Whitethorn,) it almost always comes out of my mouth before I've even had time to think about it, but then feels instinctively right and true.

[vacantwoodsenthusiast]

I've been thinking a lot about plant spirits that call to me and working with them. And lately The Elder Mother has been humming softly in my ears as I seek guidance for the rapid change in my life. I have a lot to meditate on and hope that this emerging allyship develops into something of interest!

[trixilmarin]

For the first time in three and a half years, I have Elder back.

We had several trees at the house we previously rented, but when we moved at the end of 2020 I had no luck finding my beloved spirit ally in the vicinity. This week I was blown away to find that two young trees were in bloom right by my building. I have never been so happy to find a tree or a plant unexpectedly pop up. She was the first spirit I made a concerted effort to approach after relocating across the state, it was she who by her stern lessons and high expectations began to tune my ear and heart to the local ecosystem. She was the first of my spiritual teachers. I am overjoyed to have her back again, there are no words to convey how dearly I've missed her.

[thatpunnyperson]

According to NBC here in the US, the missing titanic sub has been found. As debris. Off the bow of the Titanic wreckage.

And it looks like the sub suffered what we all suspected, and what was undoubtedly the more merciful of the two options: a catastrophic implosion from the pressure.

Also, more info has come to light about the fishing trawler with the hundreds of migrants that sank cataclysmically off the coast of Greece, indicating that the greek coast guard knew about the vessel AND how much trouble the vessel was in, and were towing it at a speed that made it capsize, at which point they unhooked the tow line and watched the trawler sink without helping the passengers to safety. Despite a bunch of other ships trying to help as well throughout the whole ordeal.

So a lot of people are dead, all because of regulations (and the lack thereof) regarding sea-faring vessels and rescue protocols. People shouldnt be allowed to make a business charging a ton of money for a ride on an uncertified, unsafe, un-seaworthy ship going deep into the ocean with no distress beacon or tether to the mothership. People also shouldnt be allowed to enact laws that criminalize the ferrying of refugees, which then force the refugees to hitch rides on fishing trawlers, and which also prevent people from helping those fishing trawlers full of refugees due to fear of legal consequences.

Hopefully BOTH of these events spark changes on an international scale in terms of what is legally allowed to be sailed, who is legally allowed to be the passengers, and what the rescue protocols are in the event of disaster for any seafaring vessel, illegal or not. It shouldnt be just the global 1% who get 24/7 search parties and remote-operated submersibles helping rescue them.

[zekeram]

BEHOLD. I HAVE SOLVED FICTION.

Split version under the cut:

If that's still not enough to make it readable here's a google drive link

[areggo]

[daxwormzz]

LA DANSE MACABRE!

(Verses from “The Last Steampunk Waltz”, by Ghostfire.)

[throughtrialbyfire]

cicero got mother a shirt

[suso22]

[linkedin-offficial]

avian teth

[yoga-onion]

[Photo above: Samhain, courtesy of Beltane Fire Society]

Legends and myths about trees

Legendary tree deities (22)

Hyldemoer – 'the Elder Mother’, the guardian of the elder trees

“If you stand beneath an elder tree on midsummer eve you will see the King of the faeries and his entourage but be careful that you do not get swept away to faerieland.

The tree and the wood is greatly prized by the fae folk, so it must not be used to make mundane household objects, especially not a cradle or the baby will be pinched black and blue.

Do burn the wood or bring it into the house as this is very unlucky and will bring the devil in.

The Elder Mother guards the tree and although she is usually kind she can become dangerous, if her trees are harmed so you must always ask permission before cutting an elder tree.

To cut elder wood you must say, three times, ‘Elder Mother, please give me some wood, and I’ll give you some of mine when I grow into a tree (Ourd gal, give me some of thy wood, an oi will give some of moine, when oi grows inter a tree)’.”

Faeries and Folklore from the British Isles

The Elder Mother is thought to be the guardian of the elder trees, and it was said, until recent times in various parts of England and Scandinavia that to take wood from the elder tree one would have to ask the Elder Mother first, or else ill luck would befall the woodsman. The spirit is said to haunt or torment people who build from elder wood unless they ask permission first.

In Denmark, the Hyldemoer (“Elder-mother”) or Hyldequinde (“Elder-woman”) is a spirit like a wood-nymph or dryad that lives in the elder tree.

Other similar and related beliefs have been handed down in various cultures.

In Denmark, an elder twig put in the mouth was traditionally thought to drive out evil spirits and thus could cure toothache. Also in Denmark, on Midsummer's Eve, if you were to stand under an elder, you could see the Elf-king and his host. A similar tradition existed in Scotland where it was said to happen on All Hallows or Samhain.

In England, it was thought that the elder tree could never be hit by lightning and that carrying the twigs of an elder could protect their bearer from rheumatism. Farmers used to protect their animals from evil by placing a cross made from elder on their cow-sheds and barns.

In some Slavic countries, such as Russia, it is thought that the tree had the power to ward off evil. In Sicily, it was claimed to have the power to ward off snakes, and so on.

Every summer, our neighbourhood had an elder hedge with divine, full blossoms, but it was completely cut down to develop a residential site. These days, they spray the stumps with powerful chemicals to prevent regrowth.

木にまつわる伝説・神話

伝説の樹木の神々 (22)

ヒルデモア-「エルダー・マザー」、ニワトコ (ｴﾙﾀﾞｰ) の木の守り神

“真夏の夜、ニワトコの木の下に立つと、妖精の王とその一行を見ることができる。でも、妖精の国に流されないように気をつけて。

この木と木材は、妖精たちにとても珍重されている。だから、ありふれた家庭用品を作るのに使ってはいけない、特にゆりかごは厳禁だ。さもないと、赤ん坊は青黒く痣が付くまでつまんで痛めつけられる。薪を���やしたり、家の中に持ち込んだりしてはいけない。これは非常に不吉で、悪魔がやってくるからだ。

エルダー・マザーは木を守っている。彼女は普段は優しいが、ニワトコの木に危害を加えると危険な存在になる。だから、ニワトコの木を切る前には、必ず許可を得ること。

『ニワトコのお母さま、私にあなたの薪をちょうだい。私が木に成長したら、私の薪も差し上げます』と、３回唱えなければならない。”

ブリテン諸島の妖精と民間伝承より

エルダー・マザーはニワトコ(ｴﾙﾀﾞｰ)の木の守り神であると考えられており、イギリスやスカンジナビアの各地では最近まで、ニワトコの木から木材を取るにはまずエルダー・マザーに許可を得なければならず、さもなければ木こりに不運が降りかかると言われていた。その精霊は、まず許可を得なければ、ニワトコの木で建物を建てた人に取り憑いたり、苦しめたりすると言われている。

デンマークでは、ヒルデモア（「ニワトコの母」）またはヒルデキンデ（「ニワトコの女」）は、ニワトコ(ｴﾙﾀﾞｰ)の木に住む木の妖精やドライアドのような精霊である。

このほかにも、さまざまな文化圏で似たような信仰が受け継がれている:

デンマークでは伝統的に、ニワトコの小枝を口に入れると悪霊が追い出され、歯痛が治ると考えられてきた。またデンマークでは、夏至祭の夜にニワトコの下に立つと、エルフの王とその群れが見えるとされていた。スコットランドにも同様の伝統があり、万聖節（All Hallows）またはサウィン祭（Samhain）に起こると言われていた。

英国では、ニワトコの木は雷に打たれることがなく、ニワトコの小枝を持っているとリューマチから身を守れると考えられていた。農家では、ニワトコで作った十字架を牛小屋や納屋に置くことで、家畜を悪魔から守っていた。

ロシアなどのスラブ諸国では、この木には魔除けの力があると考えられていた。シチリアでは、蛇を追い払う力があるとされていたなどなど…。

毎年夏になると、近所にニワトコの生け垣があり、神々しいほどの満開の花を咲かせていたが、宅地開発のために完全に切り倒されてしまった。最近では、再生を防止するため、切り株に強力な化学薬品を撒くらしい。

[lailoken]

Spalted Elder Wood Scepter (SOLD)

This unique scepter was crafted from a storm-blown bough of Elder, and it measures approximately 31 inches/ 79 centimeters long

The wood used came from an Elder Tree found growing in the crook of a forested Crossroads, which was ritually propitiated in the name of the Elder Mother. After collecting, de-barking, drying, and cutting down the piece, I carefully accentuated the natural 'bone-like' shape of the top with a blade and sandpaper, before sanding and polishing the whole surface until it was suitably smooth. After that, I slowly allowed the wood and inner pith of the stave to "soak up" a ritually crafted varnish made from an array of potent arboreal resins—such as Dragon's Blood, Storax, and Amber—which was then slowly dried by the hearth to strengthen the overall integrity of the piece. Once that process was done, I applied one last coat of the same varnish as before, which I polished with a homemade oil of sorcerous empowerment to give it a glossy sheen and to underscore the natural beauty of the wood spalting, before fumigating the finished scepter with a mixture of Elderflowers and Honey Amber in a simple rite of hallowing.

If interested, either reach out to me here for a direct sale, or purchase it from my Etsy Shop. This piece has been sold.

[mukuuji]

Happy Mother's Day❤️

[wrong-mother]

I've just found the old Dark Brotherhood meme which I've drawn together with my friend more than two years ago and can't stop cackling :D