#home brew pagans

[tansyuduri]

Merlin Loregasm Rewatch S1E4

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my rewatch of Merlin focusing on the lore. I am a giant nerd so pretty excited about this. We're on THE POISONED CHALICE

OKAY so @catsconflictscopicsandchamomile our resident Old English expert explained to me something really interesting. the spell used by Nimueh draws its power from the Spear-Danes, the semi pagan culture featured in Beowulf (Who had their own lake lady in Grendel's mother who was likely a priestess of the old religion And linguisticly called Disir) There is more though The first lines of the spell also seem to be Nimue saying she owes her magic to the spear Danes (that Grendel the monster in Beowolf ate) At this point I'm wondering if its meant to establish she is saying HEY MY SPELLS ARE PAGEN This will not be the only Beowulf reference in this episode. (Its never referenced or quoted after this episode) I'm wondering if the translators threw this in as a joke or easter egg Or in my freind's words "fuck it. lets canonize Beowulf in this universe real fast" (Okay I just discovered one of their choices I'll talk about later and HOLY FREAKING SHIT)

Mercia is traditionally thought of as a kingdom formed during the anglo-saxon settlement of Britain (Which occurs post Merlin acoirding to Merlin having saxons of enemies in later seasons) The historic king Arthur if he existed was said to have fought against the anglo saxons but this is just a footnote as we are focusing on Merlin Universe) HOWEVER a 13th century text says "“Pagans came from Germany and occupied East Anglia, that is, the country of the East Angles; and some of them invaded Mercia, and waged war against the British.” 

British here being Original pre-saxon inhabitents. SO it is possible that a Mercia existed before The Anglo-Saxons. This could also be the Historian using the name he knows. Bayard is not a recorded later King of Mercia either so good choice in name if we want him to be a Britonic king from a Mercia founded before the Anglo-Saxons apear. Fun fact Mercia also resisted leaving paganism longer than any other Anglo-Saxon kingdom! BUT Anyway in Merlin Mercia is a thing, Its ruled by Bayard, and its color is blue. It would be in the midlands of England most likely.

Also he was at war with Camalot, but now is not. I wonder if that has to do with Uther having not inherited but taking over the kingdom! Uther: The treaty we sign today marks an end to war and the beginning of a new friendship between our peoples

I also think Uther as a peacemaker is interesting, especially as we see this more than once. It might be why some people view him as "A good king."

So this at first glance SEEMS like it hints more toward paganism. Beltane is a Gaelic May Day festival. But its renamed version May Day was not exactly Christianized. See most other big Gaelic festivals (usually religious) Were kinda taken over by Christianity when it came. Yule became Christmas Samhain became All Saints Day (All Hollows Eve) ETC. Beltane was also celebrated in some places ALONG with Christianity until the 1800s. (Scotland did this specifically) In modern times Beltane is VERY Pagan. And it is very possible this hints further toward the Camalot is pagan or just nonreligious side of the entire debate. (Despite people using words like god or hell.) But it's not quite as conclusive as many other type of references would be.

(For context despite it saying we've Arthur here is talking about Merlin, who just announced his cup was poisoned, exclusively which is interesting!) See slow gin is a type of alcohol made with juniper berries and blackthorn fruits. It was traditionally brewed (With a lot of home brewing) in October and November and used as a warming drink in the depths of winter. AS you can tell this episode does not take place in winter. I think there are two possibilities for Arthur picking this drink specifically to mention despite that. The first is that as a prince perhaps the drink is available to him year round if he wants it and he doesn't know that is not true of most people yet. The second is he is so panicked at the prospect of the trouble Merlin is in his mind latched on to the first drink that popped into it.

Okay, so Mort means death in Latin. And the ending suffix here Usually makes the word an adjective from proper or place names BUT often appears in flower naming. So basically this plant is named The "Death Flower" Flower or "Capital D Deathly" Flower

Gaius: it can only be found in the caves deep beneeth the forest of Baloch The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree.

Uh okay. THERE IS SOME SHIT GOING DOWN with this plant. First of all, flowers growing from the roots of a tree is just weird. flowers are basically there to attract things to pollinate a plant usualy. If a tree has flowers they do not grow from the roots. Second of all its kinda weird for flowers or trees to grow in DEEP caves. Sunlight cannot read them there. I would give it a pass if it did not say deep because if there were cracks in the ceiling of the cave that could put light though. It does kinda explain why they can ONLY be found there though. If its so odd and specialized it might be the only place it can grow.

This flower is either innately magical in some odd way or does not conform to evolution. So at this point I am pretty sure it was bred/engineered/magiced into being but some sorcerer. Likely specifically for poisoning people. and that person wanted to limit the people who knew of it and thus kept it in once set of caves. BUT SOMHOW news got out about it. Ok so I also looked up Baloch. In Welsh it can mean dig or sorry. In Irish it means boy and in scottish the same thing. So no info to be gleaned from that

Gauis: A cockatrice-- it guards the forest. Its venom is extremely potent, a single drop would mean certain death. OK first of all I'm doubling down on there being some past sorcerer, Because they were FOR SURE using these as guard dogs. Second of all I LOVE Merlin paying fast and loose with magical creatures from folklore because I can too in my fics A Cockatrice in folklore was a monster created when a toad or snake egg was hatched beneath a chicken. It could kill with a look, or a breath, or a touch, and was basically a two-legged dragonish creature with a rooster head. In the Merlin world it is very diferant. We'll see one soon! "Few who have crossed the mountains of Isgard in search of the Moraeus flower have made it back alive." Yeah can't find any meaning behind the name Isgard! BUT HAVE I MENTIONED I THINK A SORCER ONCE LIVED IN THE CAVES/FOREST.

Okay I think this is a reference to the actual historical job of taster. Basically important people (ESP royalty) would hire someone to taste all their food before thay ate it. That way if it was poisoned the taster would die instead of them. It was viewed as a pretty plum gig because poisoning didn't often happen (ESP if people knew there was a taster) and the taster got to eat REALLY good food and get paid for it. I think its also an interesting character detail that while this kinda implies that Uther might have someone (At least for his private food and not banquets) We see multiple times that Arthur in fact does NOT. It is quite possible he managed to put his foot down and get out of this somehow because he believes it to be wrong. Which not gonna lie is a very Arthur thing to do.

(Context: Arthur talking about how Gaius said they can save Merlin if they get the leaf so it is not a fools errand) Waiiit is this trying to imply that Gaius was the one who brought up the idea that one could use the old religion to give Uther a son? I mean we knew he was the messenger. but HOLY SHIT. And if that is true, Uther somhow forgave him? Why would Uther forgive him? The only thing I can think is if Gaius talked about how magic had tricked him and gave Uther something else to blame. This is all conjecture though. Uther could be referring on how Gaius is close to Merlin or something else. It just feels like it might be a nod at what all went down around Arthur's birth.

Okay so this is Merlin quoting Beowolf here. A Poem that is yet to be written down but might have had some oral tradition and actually takes place at the traditional time Arthur is said to have lived. Merlin is basically talking about how Arthur/Beowolf is endowed with honnor. This happens right after Arthur decides to ride out to save Merlin.

Magic Rule Established: Potions/Poisons can be more potent if magic is used in their preperation

Okay MORE Beowolf

Merlin says Arthurs name then basically talks about a young man doing good deeds.

Playing hard and fast as I said. LOOK Dinosaur!

Okay so more Beowolf At this point I am 99.99% sure the people hired to write the spells at the time where having the time of their life. Let me explain

This line talks about gifts of treasure (the light) he conjuress to help Arthur. Fine. BUT then it mentions Arthur being under his father's protection. Expect Merlinto protectg him. The spell writers used a freaking old english poem to let Merlin call himself Arthur's "daddy" I am not sure what I am expected to do with this knowledge. (It might have been chosen so they could use the next line of the spell but THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO THIS) The next line (Which is actually also the next line in the poem) says something about how so that when Arthur is older his companions can stand with him when war comes.

Okay so yeah turns out there is no tree or roots. I'm chalking this up to he said she said. STILL GOING WITH THE SORCERER.

OKAY so it a potion is made using magic the antidote may ALSO need magic

Oh look our first hint Merlin is immortal. I find his brand of immortality intersting. HE CAN DIE he just comes back after a bit.

[tarotbee]

Do you have any suggestions for offerings/ways to worship Brigid? Particularly Brigid as a pagan goddess, I know she was later included into Catholicism as a saint because pagans loved her so much! Also would love anything that focuses on low energy things as I’m chronically I’ll and disabled! This would mean a lot to me! I’ve done lots of research on my own but brain fog can be difficult to deal with! Thank you and no rush!

Hi my love! As a disabled babe also, I get what you mean and I'd love to help out!

Offerings and Worshipping Lady Brigid

First thing I found is actually that Brigid is associated with water and springs so water would be a perfect offering

Stay hydrated!

Light a candle for her! Brigid is associated with fire!

Bonfires or food related gatherings with friends/families/partners

She is associate with the Hearth/Home. The hearth is often immediately assumed to be the kitchen as wood stoves historically provided warmth for the families but now your hearth can be wherever you feel most comfortable and at home 🧡

Eat good meals!

Celebrate imbolc! Simmer pots are a great smelling, low energy way to do that!

Florals! Flowers flowers flowers everywhere! Brigid is associated with Spring!

Wear floral scented perfumes and floral dresses or shirts

Straw/hay was actually commonly used to welcome Brigid and her gifts into the home and would make a great offering!

Brigid is a goddess of protection and fertility so if you're trying for a baby! Do it to honour her

Alternatively! Take your birth control as an offering

Practice safe sex!

Brigid is revered as a healer, so take your meds babe!

Brigid is also associated with poetry and wisdom which means reading or writing poetry in her honour is a great offering for her

Domesticated animals are also sacred to her so take care of your furry, scaly and slimy friends

Dyeing your clothes, knitting or crocheting

Brewed drinks such as coffee, tea, beer or mead

Cow imagery (especially white cows)

Practice divination

[arcane-trail]

Do Pagans Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is a Christian festival (the hint is in the name), so it is not a festival that you would expect to see celebrated by Pagan communities, old or new.

But Christmas is a Christian adaptation of the Winter Solstice, which, in the northern hemisphere, is the shortest day of the year and usually falls around 21 December. For communities that observe the wheel of the year and the changing of the seasons, this is an incredibly important day.

It was around this time that ancient Pagans no longer had food to feed their cattle, so they would slaughter them and have fresh meat for the solstice. This was also the time when the beer and wine brewed earlier in the year were finally fermented, so there were lots of good things to drink. If that is not a good enough reason for a holiday, the moment when the days start lengthening was also considered by many Pagan communities to represent the sun’s rebirth.

So, if you look at the festival calendars of the Pagan communities of the northern hemisphere, most of them have a major festival around the time of the Winter Solstice. The existence of these festivals is also why Christmas falls on December 25th.

The Invention of Christmas

Christmas was invented by the Roman Catholic Church in the 4th century. Before this, Easter was the main Christian holiday.

The Bible does not mention when Jesus of Nazareth was born, but it does seem unlikely that it was in December. Temperatures drop as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) in winter in the area surrounding Jerusalem and Galilee. Shepherds were unlikely to be tending their flocks, and the Romans probably would have conducted their census in warmer months.

But the Church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus in December to coincide with the major Roman festival of the Saturnalia. This is a week-long festival that occurred between 17 and 24 December to celebrate the fertility god Saturn. For all the reasons already mentioned, it was a major festival period in the Roman world.

The 25th of December was chosen as the actual birthday of Jesus, rather than another day during the Saturnalia, such as the day of the solstice, because this was the festival day of the god Sol Invictus. His temple was inaugurated in Rome on 25 December 274 by the emperor Aurelianus. It was probably not inaugurated on the solstice because this was already a feast day for Dionysus, Hercules, Adonis, and Mithras.

Sol Invictus was the most important god in the Roman Empire before its conversion to Christianity, so it made sense for the Church to conflate Christ with this deity.

The Christmas festival absorbed many of the customs of the Saturnalia and was exported around the rest of Europe with Christianity.

As Christmas spread, it also adopted other Pagan traditions associated with the Winter Solstice. For example, when King Haakon I of Norway converted his country to Christianity in the 10th century, he changed the date of the traditional Norse Yule celebration to coincide with Christmas. Many Norse Yule traditions were incorporated into Christmas. Similar things happened wherever the Church took its new holidays.

Christmas Traditions with Pagan Roots

So, which of the many Christmas traditions that we practice today have Pagan roots? Let’s take a look at just a few examples.

Gift Exchange

It was traditional to exchange gifts as part of the Saturnalia, but it was very different from modern gift-giving. It was traditional for Romans to give one gift to another person (kind of like a Secret Santa), and the gift was almost always a statuette of a god that could be placed in the household shrine.

This may also have been the origin of the nativity scene. The Romans renovated their household shrines with new divine images, and today families create nativity scenes each year.

Christmas Trees

The Romans would decorate their homes with evergreen trees during Saturnalia as part of rituals to ensure the prosperity of farms and orchards in the following year. This was very likely the origin of the Christmas tree.

Deck the Halls

In the Norse world, the Vikings would gather in their temples and long halls for the Winter Solstice. They believed that at this dark time of year, the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest, and dark spirits could cross over. Staying inside and together was a form of protection.

The Vikings would bring animals to sacrifice. The blood of the animals would be drained, and the meat sent to be cooked for the festival. Meanwhile, the blood of the sacrificial victims was smeared on cult images and the temple walls as part of a ritual of protection. This may be the origin of the idea of decking the halls.

Yule Log

The Yule Log also has Viking roots. The Vikings would select an oak log that would be burnt on the fire throughout Yule. The fire offered protection, and letting the fire go out was a very bad omen.

The log was specially prepared and engraved with protective runes. A small piece of the log from the previous year was kept to be added to the Yule fire the following year.

Santa Claus

The idea of Santa Claus is a Germanic-Norse tradition. They believed that during Yule, Odin, the most important god, led a group of gods in the Wild Hunt. They would rampage through the world, removing everything dead and no longer useful, clearing the way for new growth. One of the reasons that the Vikings stayed indoors at Yule was not to be accidentally caught up in the Wild Hunt.

But while abroad, Odin might also choose to visit household, leaving behind presents and good fortune. In the Volsunga Saga, Odin gives Sigmund a magic sword that helps him complete his quests. In the Saga of Hrolf Kraki, the king refuses gifts of hospitality, armor, and weapons from an old, bearded man missing an eye. This turns out to be Odin, and Hrolf later dies for lack of the weapons that he needs.

Santa’s reindeer also seem to be inspired by Odin’s eight-legged steed Sleipnir, which could carry the god anywhere in the Norse cosmos.

Christmas and Modern Pagans

So, does being a Pagan today mean that you can’t celebrate the festive season with your loved ones? Not at all!

For those who honor the wheel of the year, the Winter Solstice is an incredibly important time. It represents rebirth and renewal. Like the new moon, it is a time to set new intentions that will grow with the years. Some Wiccans celebrate the solstice specifically as the day on which the sun god is reborn.

But the winter festival has always been a season rather than a single day in Pagan communities. It has always been a time for feasting, rejoicing, and spending time with family and friends.

This means that Pagans can embrace the festive season without embracing the Christian religious beliefs associated with Christmas. Gift-giving, hall decking, and eating far too much are all respectable Pagan traditions.

You might find the perfect Pagan gift in our store.

[Read full blog post here]

[ohmerricat]

as a natural skeptic i’m gonna be real with you. i’m slamming the brakes on this whole religion thing before i figure out what it really is that i believe. one thing i know for certain is that i don’t think my experiences of the world relate to what you call “hard polytheism” at all, so i will be refraining from referring to myself as “pagan” or “heathen” or similar terms from here on out — as i learned from reddit, actual pagans, i.e. those of you who believe that the Gods from whatever pantheon you follow are literal, actual, 100% independent, non-anthropogenic, non-metaphoric entities, tend to frown upon talk of “archetypes” and co. i don’t want to be seen as insulting your Gods with my home-brewed eclectic woo-woo nonsense, so i’ll keep at an arm’s length until i’m one hundred percent sure that i can defend my own beliefs because i know what they are.

i personally lean towards the chaos magic side of approaching these concepts — although, truth be told, i need to do more reading. a lot more reading. but once again, i stress, personally, i find myself far more comfortable with the concept of egregores. metaphysical entities, congregations of energy and intent, that have been given power and consciousness through centuries of dedicated devotion and prayer from humans. if enough people direct their thoughts towards an idea for long enough, leave offerings for that idea, hold festivities in its honour, write poetry and paint artworks depicting and praising it, then it’s no wonder if it gains a mind and will of its own. i lean towards the idea of deities/other spirit entities as personified aspects of the universe, as currents of energy or patterns of thought or representations of natural phenomena that were given different (or many) names in different historical/geographic contexts and have taken on a semi-solid shape with time

which is to say, i don’t know whether the Presence that has been visiting me — the one that rekindled/sparked/ignited my interest in all of this, pun quite intended if you know who i’m talking about, is genuinely the ambiguous, controversial Norse deity that i have been referring to Them as; whether They are some kind of thoughtform or another separate spirit; a manifestation of my subconscious desire to “Aren’t You Tired Of Being Nice Don’t You Just Wanna Go A Little Apeshit”; or a character i Made Up In My Head (not outside of the scope of possibility, knowing my tendency to spot patterns where there aren’t any). i’m treading with caution. that’s what you do. because after doing some wider research, i really, really don’t wish to be associated with that sort of person — you know the one. edgy. rebellious kid. doesn’t know what they’re talking about. witchtoker

after all, i did come here through pop culture. so, maybe, all this ends up being is another hyperfixation on mythology. i’ve had those before as a way younger teen — thanks, uncle rick. don’t really know how to conclude this, so: i’ll get more educated and get back to you. if any of you (you know who you are) have any BOOK or ARTICLE RECOMMENDATIONS based on what i’ve said above, please don’t hesitate to PUT THEM IN THE COMMENT SECTION

xoxo, ivy

[broomsick]

What daily things do you find your gods in? For example, finding Freyr in the sound of a bird's song or Loki in the flames of a fire. It'd be cool to see a list of your associations for them. c:

Personal day-to-day associations with the Gods

Óðinn: the traditional Scandinavian music I listen to, reading books, hearing or telling stories, darkness in general (like after having closed all the lights in the house), red wine and strong alcohols such as spirits, local woodland berries such as currants, gooseberries, blackcurrant (etc). 

Yngvi-Freyr: cooking/baking (especially traditional food), windy days, hikes in the woods, fall colors, sunsets, road trips, picking flowers, light rain, gardening, the countryside, cold tea, the moment when spring becomes summer.

Thórr: doing manual work, beer, dusk, taking well deserved breaks from work, cloudy days, evergreen trees, disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with the open air, eating or cooking red meats, weather events ranging from light snow to strong rains, singing at the top of my lungs, joking around with friends, going to the bar after a hard week’s work, celebrations in general.

Freyja: showering and taking baths, perfumes and anything fragrant, eating fruit, doing a skincare routine or buying a new skincare product, collecting fallen tree leaves, visiting a pagan shop, practicing magic, warm colors and especially red, petting cats, having funny exchanges with friends and sharing current concerns with them. 

Frigg: learning traditional crafts, attending local events, speaking with elders, enjoying a moment of harmony with family, feeling at home, cooking or baking, browsing through farmers’ markets, telling a loved one I love them, doing nostalgic stuff to reconnect with my childhood (such as watching children’s movies!) and doing divination, especially tarot.

Baldr: the color blue, cloudless skies, very cold days, whenever I see springs or waterfalls (which doesn’t happen that often but still!), seeing children play, birds’ song, listening to soft music such as flute, harp or lyre, whenever I willfully build up self confidence (I always feel like He’s the one encouraging me).

Loki: listening to classic rock or power metal, starting bonfires or woodstoves, fire in general like playing around with a lighter or matches, playing pranks, making spontaneous decisions, puzzles and riddles, masks though I’m not certain why.

Týr: seeing fur garments such as fur coats or winter clothing, traveling by boat, camping in thick and isolated woods, browsing through medieval shops, wolf imagery, cuddling up by a fire after a cold day spent outside, whenever a battle scene comes up in a movie or show, celtic music but I’m not sure why I make that association honestly!

Hel: gothic-style clothes, incense, skull imagery, practicing magic and divination, spirit work, ancestor work, visiting loved one’s graves and leaving flowers, graveyards in general (especially those in small villages), learning about different spiritualities and the way they each envision the afterlife.

Heimdallr: caring for animals, spending alone time outside, climbing trees or rocks, high places in general, reading through the Völuspá, making the effort to listen instead of speak, making a kind gesture randomly, helping people in general.

Skaði: hiking in the mountains, stays at cabins, exploring woods, staying at very unpopulated areas, evergreen trees and especially spruce, watching snowstorms, meditation, hearing/reading mythological stories, winter comfort foods such as soups and meats, stargazing.

Eir: herbalism, learning about local plants and trees, brewing potions, caring for a sick loved one, kitchen witchcraft, and something we call “grandma recipes” over here, that consist of dubiously scientific medicine (lying on your left side to heal an upset stomach quicker, using potato peels against warts, etc). I’d have to make a whole post to list those out. These types of medicine tricks that seem mysteriously effective ahaha!

These are only a few of my deities, but they’re the ones I feel closest to these days.

[tleeaves]

you're into homeopathy, right?? i find the internet is getting worse and worse at being able to find homeopathy writings from actually half decent sources. and it's really annoying bc we use it to help out with medical stuff for the guinea fowls when avian vet things are still in their infancy, and my grandma is the most knowledgeable in the family but i think mental health stuff has been influencing her intuition and idk what to do for her but also i really want to learn as holitic healing fascinates me. so where do you find yours?

In a sense, yes. More like I hate taking more pills and drugs than I need to since I've been having them heavily on and off since I was ten years old and it's taken a toll on my digestive system, and so I turned to some more natural remedies in my diet, and recently I've taken a dive into herbalism history and theory. The most I know is about herbalism, really, and just the things that are good for certain ailments. I'm no expert at all, so I'm always looking to other sources.

So, for holistic healing, or for looking for a place to start in that direction, I recommend several things from how I've gone about it in my experience:

Start online with any questions you have about foods/drinks. For example, you want to know the health benefits of chamomile or chamomile tea (the latter, in my view, being the best way to consume it anyway, and many sources agree), so you search it, and you also find out its uses. I recommend going to sites like healthline and Dr. Axe (I mostly use and trust healthline though, and I recommend always seeking out more than one source). Always seek the more medical sources, in my opinion.

If you don't know precisely what foods and things to begin, I would usually start then with a problem: ie. "foods to help with anxiety" and go from there (you'll see chamomile come up, as well as green tea (I'm very into tea-related remedies particularly)).

Go to your local library and borrow books on homeopathy, herbalism, and other related topics. You don't need to overload yourself -- I've only just started with herbalism books since I had the seeds of knowledge about it and wanted to expand a bit out of curiosity (I was led down the rabbit hole when looking into paganism and witchcraft, funnily enough).

Some towns have a specialty business for alternative medicine, or you can occasionally find what you're looking for (say, bottles of ginger pills or something) in a regular pharmacy. Otherwise, many ingredients are things you can find in your supermarket or garden, and be incorporated into dishes and brews.

As you seem to know, a fair amount of this tends to be passed down as families have their own variants of "home remedies". I know of one where my yiayia would use vicks but apply it to the sole of your foot before putting socks on to help with colds, and occasionally things to do with potato slices at night in your socks, or lemons in your mouth for other things -- I could ask her about it, but I haven't since I mostly have stuck to other things I know (I am not ready to coat my feet in goop). And I think everyone knows the eucalyptus steam trick for nasal congestion. But anyway, I would recommend asking someone whose knowledge you trust. I'm also lucky to know a few pharmacists, and I tend to check with them on everything, just in case. A pharmacist I would trust over a doctor in terms of medicinal cures, and I would encourage you to check with them at the counter on anything if/when you buy.

Anyway, I will always most strongly recommend books on the subject. Get a few so you can cross-reference the advice and information. Trust your gut as well, weird as that may sound. Know the herbs that can have adverse affects, try to stick with the safer items first. Definitely just learn more about how your diet affects your health holistically.

And that's all I've got! Hopefully you got something out of that, idk if my advice is all that good. Please don't sue, I do not claim to be an expert in anything at all. Homeopathy is not quite my area, I just think of it as "things humans can eat or drink that benefit their health" and work off that.

[hedgewitchgarden]

There are a lot of different belief systems in modern Paganism, and one that's seeing a resurgence in popularity is the path of the hedge witch. Although there are a lot of different definitions of what a hedge witch is and does, you'll find that for the most part, there's a lot of work with herbal magic, as well as an emphasis on nature. A hedge witch might work with gods or goddesses, perform healing and shamanic actions, or perhaps work with the changing seasons. In other words, the path of the hedge witch is as eclectic as those who practice it.

Key Takeaways: Hedge Witchcraft

Hedge witchcraft is usually practiced by solitaries, and involves deep study of plants and the natural world.

The term hedge witch is an homage to the wise women of old who often lived on the outskirts of villages, beyond the hedge.

Hedge witches typically find magical intent in routine, day to day activities.

History of the Hedge Witch

Ask any modern hedge witch, and they'll probably tell you that the reason they call themselves a hedge witch is an homage to the past. In days gone by, witches—often women, but not always—lived along the fringes of a village, behind the hedgerows. One side of the hedge was the village and civilization, but on the other lay the unknown and wild. Typically, these hedge witches served a dual purpose and acted as healers or cunning women, and that involved a lot of time gathering herbs and plants in the woods, the fields, and—you guessed it—the hedges.

The hedge witch of old usually practiced alone, and lived magically day to day—simple acts like brewing a pot of tea or sweeping the floor were infused with magical ideas and intentions. Perhaps most importantly, the hedge witch learned her practices from older family members or mentors, and honed her skills through years of practice, trial, and error. These practices are sometimes referred to as green craft, and are highly influenced by folk customs.

History of the Hedge Witch

Ask any modern hedge witch, and they'll probably tell you that the reason they call themselves a hedge witch is an homage to the past. In days gone by, witches—often women, but not always—lived along the fringes of a village, behind the hedgerows. One side of the hedge was the village and civilization, but on the other lay the unknown and wild. Typically, these hedge witches served a dual purpose and acted as healers or cunning women, and that involved a lot of time gathering herbs and plants in the woods, the fields, and—you guessed it—the hedges.

The hedge witch of old usually practiced alone, and lived magically day to day—simple acts like brewing a pot of tea or sweeping the floor were infused with magical ideas and intentions. Perhaps most importantly, the hedge witch learned her practices from older family members or mentors, and honed her skills through years of practice, trial, and error. These practices are sometimes referred to as green craft, and are highly influenced by folk customs.

Magical Practice and Belief

Similar to the practice of kitchen witchcraft, hedge witchery often focuses on the hearth and home as the center of magical activity. The home is the place of stability and grounding, and the kitchen itself is a magical place, and it's defined by the energies of the people who live in the house. For the hedge witch, the home is typically seen as sacred space.

If the home is the core of the practice, the natural world forms the root of it. A hedge witch typically spends lots of time working on herbal magic, and often learns associated skills like herbal medicine or aromatherapy. This practice is deeply personal and spiritual; a hedge witch doesn't just have jars of plants. Chances are good that she grew or gathered them herself, harvested them, dried them, and has experimented with them to see what they can and cannot do—all the while, she's been writing down her notes for future reference.

Hedge Witchery for Modern Practitioners

There are plenty of ways to incorporate hedge witchcraft into your daily life, and most of them involve simple actions of living mindfully and magically.

Look at small domestic tasks from a spiritual perspective. Whether you're cooking dinner or cleaning the bathroom, focus on the sacredness of the actions. Baking bread for your family? Fill that bread with love! Also, speak to your house—yes, that's right, talk to it. Your home is a place of magical energy, so when you walk in after a day at work, greet the house. When you leave for the day, tell it goodbye, and promise to return soon.

Get to know the spirits of land and place around you. Work with them, and invite them into your life with songs, poems, and offerings. The more you open yourself up to them, the more likely they will be to offer you gifts and protection when you need it. In addition, study the plants that grow around your immediate area. If you don't have a garden or a yard, that's okay—plants grow everywhere. What is native to your planting zone? Are there public woods or gardens you can explore, study and wildcraft in?

The practice of hedge witchcraft might be something for you to explore if you're drawn to certain aspects of the natural world. Are you someone who feels more at home in the outdoors and is drawn to nature, with a strong connection to herbs and trees and plants? Do you prefer to work your magic alone, rather than in a group setting? Do you have an interest in folklore and on expanding your own knowledge through research and experimentation? If so, the path of the hedge witch might be right up your alley!

Sources

Beth, Rae. Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft. Robert Hale, 2018.

Mitchell, Mandy. Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year. Weiser Books, 2014.

Moura, Ann. Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft. Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Murphy-Hiscock, Arin. The Way of the Hedge Witch: Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home. Provenance Press, 2009.

[fearsmagazine]

LORD OF MISRULE - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Magnet Releasing

SYNOPSIS: Rebecca Holland, along with her husband, Henry, and their 9-year-old daughter, Grace, has now spent a full year in their new home, the small British village of Berrow, where Rebecca is the vicar of the local church. Berrow’s annual four-day autumn festival approaches, a time when villagers dress up in strange costumes and a masked figure known as the Lord of Misrule leads them in casting out the evil spirit Gallowgog. For this year’s reenactment Grace has been chosen to play the Harvest Angel. As dusk falls, Rebecca loses track of Grace in the throng of villagers in a ceremonial field where bonfires burn. Rebecca searches for her in vain, but Grace has disappeared. A desperate search begins and Rebecca uncovers secrets from the town’s dark past. Soon, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of the evil that dwells in Berrow.

REVIEW: The director of “The Devil Inside,” “The Boy,” and “Orphan: First Kill,” comes a haunting folk tale of a secluded community in the British isles that practices a pagan ritual steeped in a horrific truth. The film is an excellent marriage of narrative and visuals to craft a terrifying tale.

I love Tom DeVille’s narrative. He does a superb job of mixing this pagan tale with contemporary themes and adds in a supernatural element with an evil spirit, Gallowgog, to create a horrifying fairy tale that is every parent’s worst nightmare. The Lord of Misrule is a tale that is found in European cultures, with its origin being traced back to the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, that took place from the 17th to 23rd December. In the film, De Ville anchor’s the legend as part of a harvest celebration. He brings in some of the background of how the Catholic Church and the Church of England forced their religion onto the local people and replaced their festivals with Christian ones. Clearly there is a troubled past brewing at the Holland household. Rebecca and Henry are having issues, and when we first meet Grace we get an idea that something is wrong. Is that a result of the darkness that resides in the town or something the family is trying to escape. Rebecca tightly holds onto her beliefs as she is confronted by the town’s grim history; she demonstrates a strength through her logic that leaves the viewer feeling she might survive this encounter. There is just so much here for the sophisticated genre fan to sink their teeth into given everything DeVille weaves into the story.

Filmmaker William Brent Bell, as with several of his previous films but more so here, has an excellent location that permits him the opportunity to create a visually arresting fairy tale nightmare for De Ville’s story to play out in. Add to that excellent productions designs, costume designs, with arresting visual and special effects that make for a hypnotic tale. He does an excellent job of pacing the film as to allow the viewer to feel Rebecca’s becoming disoriented in the horrors that develop without slowing the film down. Brett Detar’s score adds so much to the film. There is a particular moment in the film when the town folks show up with food and start setting up for dinner where the score underpins Rebecca’s mental state and the insanity of everything that is going on around them. Itadds depth to the visuals and enhances the build ups of terror and suspense.

LORD OF MISRULE features an exceptional ensemble cast. There is an aspect to the supporting cast that I found reminiscent of Rosemary Woodhouse’s neighbors in Polanski’s film. I loved actor Ralph Ineson’s performance as Jocelyn Abney. It is grounded more in a character that feels lifted from today’s news feeds like a Brexiteer or Maga Republican. It makes for a new kind of sinister. Evie Templeton does not have much screen time as Grace, but what she delivers is enchanting and horrifying at times. Tuppence Middleton is someone who you’ll know that you’ve seen before, and clearly her performance here demonstrates why she has appeared in so many projects, from episodic shows to big studio features. Her portrayal of Rebecca is an emotional rollercoaster ride that conveys the intense emotional journey of the character as she navigates this cinematic nightmare.

Filmmaker William Brent Bell and screenwriter Tom DeVille, along with a marvelous cast headed by Tuppence Middleton and Ralph Ineson, tell a rich and haunting tale that is as much an epic horror tale as it is social commentary. This spellbinding cinematic tale is a complex visual and narrative experience that feels like it could be based on a bestselling novel from a master of the genre. LORD OF MISRULE is a film worth going to the cinema to experience. Bell and DeVille are an impressive team who I’d welcome an opportunity to take in something they might again unite on.

CAST: Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Ineson, Matt Stokoe, Evie Templeton, Rosalind March, Jane Wood, Luc Ineson, & David Langham. CREW: Director - William Brent Bell; Screenplay - Tom DeVille; Producers - Nik Bower, Deepak Nayar, Jason Newmark, Laurie Cook, William Brent Bell, James Tomlinson, &Alison Brister; Cinematographer - Simon Rowling; Score - Brett Detar; Editor - Andrew Leven; Production Designer - Alison Butler; Costume Designer - Libby Irwin; Hair & Make-up Designer - Haelwyn Adams; SFX Supervisior - Sean Harland; Visual Effects - KOALA FX; Character Design & Illustrator - Zsombor Huszka; Special Effects - Matter FX. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/j8MqDwHEPxA?si=6WZFLifU_JUXIGBz RELEASE DATE: In theaters and on VOD December 8th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[haggishlyhagging]

Writing and surveying were essential to the existence of urban civilization, and Nisaba is thereby honored as the one who makes cities possible: “the place which you do not establish, there humankind is not established, cities are not built.” Other goddesses were also involved in such learned occupations. Amageshtinanna, who composed laments for her dead brother Dumuzi, was also called "mistress of scribes, and the goddess Nintu is also called the "great knower who knows everything." But it was primarily Nisaba who filled this role, honored by the scribes who ended their compositions with the short sentence, "Nisaba be praised!"

The scribes praising Nisaba were generally male. Why, then, did they imagine their profession to be under the tutelage of a female? And why did the singers and healers, many of whom were also men, pray to and praise their patron goddesses? The answer lies in the skilled nature of these activities and the contribution of women to their development. The cultural arts are learned occupations which require the accumulation of technological knowledge. They are wise activities and, as such, are attributed to wise women. Part of the reason that women were considered wise is psychological, for women were the chief caretakers of nursing children. This meant that the child developed in the presence of what seemed to her an all-knowing, all-powerful mother of early childhood, the "goddess of the nursery." There is another historical factor that should not be overlooked. Men were engaged in strenuous large-muscle occupations for which their superior upper-arm strength and generally heavier musculature was needed. In early Mesopotamia, they spent their time ploughing with oxen, digging ditches for irrigation, and building city walls for defense. Women, on the other hand, were tending children at home and producing basic goods by cooking, cloth making, and beer brewing. Such activities are technologically sophisticated and complicated and must have appeared particularly intricate in comparison to the activities in which most males were engaged. The skilled nature of women's activities must have reinforced from early childhood the psychological impression of the wise mother. These two factors contribute to an image of the female as accumulating, utilizing, and dispensing expert knowledge.

-Tikva Frymer-Kensky, In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture, and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth

[piscesseer]

Lughnasadh: The First Harvest

Lughnasadh is a pagan holiday that falls on the first of August to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season. It’s also known as Lughnasa, and Alban Heruin.

This holiday celebrates the abundance of the growing season as we look forward to the rest of the harvest. It's time to give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest, enjoy the fruits of one's labor and to celebrate the abundance of the earth. It is also a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the future. Be grateful for the blessings in one's life and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

The origins of this day are Celtic. According to the lore, the Celtic God Lugh prevailed over the evil Balor, and saved crops from scorching. Lugh is a god of light, healing, and knowledge, and his victory over Balor is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future. The crops that were saved from scorching represent the abundance and prosperity that comes with the light of the sun. We give thanks for the light of the sun and celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

Lughnasadh has been interchanged with the Christian holiday Lammas, or Loaf-mass. This holiday also celebrates the abundance of the growing season. It was customary for bread to be baked and blessed at the church. Today, it has been taken up with many neopagan religions, along with Christianity. While today the importance of the first harvest may not be as prevalent today, the idea of spiritual harvest is encouraged. This is a time of growth and renewed energy.

Lughnasadh and Lammas are often interchanged, but it’s important to know that the roots of the holidays are different. In time, they have come together to celebrate the first harvest, celebrate spiritual and personal growth, and enjoy the abundance of the Earth. Celebrate what feels right to you!

If you have set intentions this year and have been working with it through the seasons, now is the time to reflect on how you have grown and what these intentions are bringing you. 

Reflect on how your seeds from Imbolc have become ripe and vibrant. Think about all the hard work you put into them, from planting them to watering them and caring for them. Think about how they have grown and changed over time. Be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished. They are a reminder of your own strength and potential. Give thanks for Earth’s bounty and the beauty that surrounds us.

There are many ways to celebrate Lughnasadh. Some people attend festivals, while others hold feasts or go on picnics. Some people also make offerings to Lugh, such as bread or ale.

Here are some ideas for celebrating Lughnasadh:

Go on a walk to observe the changes in nature, check on your garden and gather herbs for spellwork. Go to the Farmer's Market, go apple picking or berry picking.

Spend time in the kitchen or around food, especially those that are associated with the harvest season, can be a great way to connect with nature and the cycle of life. Mess around with new recipes! Bake bread or toast bread you buy with herbs. Eat some late summer fruits.

Have a bonfire, picnic or dinner. Invite friends and family.  Share a brew with a loved one.

Decorate your home or alter. Tidy up your house and refresh your altar. Here are some symbols to add to your decor and alter: - wheat, corn, grains, or sunflowers - the colors green, orange and yellow. - animal symbols such as crows, pigs, calves, roosters and salmon. - more herbs, plants and flowers to use are oak trees, apple, basil, marigold, rose, rosemary

Update your witchy journals. Reflect on your talents and goals. Make a gratitude list.

Make Sun Water, used for protection, healing, clairvoyance, happiness, fertility, and creativity. Fill up a jar with water and put it on a windowsill or outside. The perfect time to place it is early morning. Add crystals, herbs and flowers if you want.

Fire and Sun spells are great around this time. Prosperity spells are wonderful too.

Lughnasadh is a time to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and the bounty of the harvest. It is a time to give thanks for all that we have and to look forward to the future. Find ways to celebrate that resonate with you. These are just suggestions that might inspire you!

[my-witchy-witchy]

Witch types pt 1🔮

Angel Witch: A witch who works with Angels rather than or in addition to traditional deities

Animist Witch: A witch who believes there is life in all things and sees no distinction between human, plant, animal, or material objects. The animist witch sees the Universe as a living entity and all are connected by it.

Augury Witch: A witch who divines omens, signs, and symbols.

Axis Mundi Witch: A witch who studies the core idea that there is a central pillar that joins Earth to Heaven.

Celtic Witch: A witch who focuses on Celtic and Welsh deities, mythology, rituals, and earth magic.

Ceremonial Witch: A witch who practices high magick (ceremonial) such as Hermetic, Thelemic, and Enochian with a rigid and step-by-step method.

Chaos Witch: A witch who has a contemporary practice that incorporates many types of magic and is guided intuitively rather than with strict steps as seen in high magick.

Cosmic Witch: A witch who focuses on astrology and the placement of planets, stars, and moons when practicing their craft.

Eclectic Witch: A witch that incorporates many different traditions into their craft; slightly similar to the chaos witch, but they may follow strict guidelines if desired.

Egyptian Witch: A witch who follows a path similar to Wicca, but with a focus on the Egyptian deities.

Elemental Witch: A witch who works with the five esoteric elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.

Faery Witch: A witch who works with the Fae rooted in Irish and Scottish culture.

Folk Witch: "Cunning Folk" ; hereditary witches who follow a path similar to British witchcraft and used their magic and skills for practical purposes which were passed down through generations; *not common*

Gardnerian Witch: A witch who practiced a secret, formal, and highly structured version of Wicca based on the works of Gerald Gardner, who is credited for the modern witchcraft movement.

Hearth Witch: A witch who focuses on magick in the home.

Hedge Witch: A solitary witch that holds both kitchen and green witch attributes, such as making healing potions and brews in the kitchen; think of the old women in the woods archetype.

Hellenic Witch: A pagan witch who worships the ancient Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses.

Hereditary Witch: Unique to each family, a hereditary witch learns from their ancestral line.

Kitchen Witch: A witch who focuses on magick at home, especially the kitchen.

Left-handed Witch: A witch who often breaks taboos.

Luciferian Witch: A witch who believes Lucifer as the "bringer of light" and reveres the angel for enlightenment, independence, questioning authority, and progressive ideals.

Lunar Witch: A witch that heavily uses the cycles of the moon to do nearly all her magical work.

Music Witch: A witch who uses music as the medium of her magic.

Neo-Pagan Witch: An umbrella term for witches who practice newer forms of the craft such as Wicca, Gardernianism, and all new earth-based customs.

Norse Witch: A witch who centers their craft around Norse tradition of ancient sorcery and deities such as Odin and Freya.

Right-handed Witch: A witch that practices magic that is guided by social norms.

Satanic Witch: A witch that lives by the seven Satanic tenets and is strongly against the constructs of a dictatorial society; has nothing to do with worshiping the Christian's idea of Lucifer. Devil-worshiping does exist elsewhere under the broad realm of witchcraft, neither is exclusive to one another.

Scandinavian Witch: A witch who practices and studies Danish Folklore and some Norse traditions.

Secular Witch: A witch who practices magick without worshiping any deities, or their deities and witchcraft are kept separate.

Shamanic Witch: A witch who uses an altered state of consciousness to deliver their magic.

Sigil Witch: Also known as Word Witch, these practitioners use sigils and words weaved into their magic

Solitary Witch: A witch who practices alone rather than in a coven.

Tech Witch: A witch who does most of her work digitally or with some form of technology; this will become more prevalent over time in modern witchcraft.

Thelema Witch: A witch who uses the occult philosophy founded by Aleister Crowley, which centers around ceremonial magic and Egyptian rituals.

Wiccan Witch: A witch who practices the modern pagan religion of Wicca introduced by Gerald Gardner. ***Note: Wicca is a religion; witchcraft is not a religion, although can be involved in religious beliefs and should thus be legally protected equally.

[thesaintofnevergettingitright]

Oh thank god, I actually came up with an idea for the steddie bigbang. I was so scared I was gonna sign up and then freeze.

(brainstorm word vomit beneath the cut if anyone’s curious lol)

it’s not fully flushed out yet, but I’m thinking of going with an

~*~Orpheus/Eurydice Retelling~*~

I feel like the whole “drag your one true love out of hell but if you look at them you’ll both DIE” thing has very Steddie energy, ya know??

BUT I want Steve to be motivated mostly by Dustin and Lucas’s grief (at first)

cuz I think that Dustin would take Eddie’s death HARD. Like harder than the end of the last season would have us believe

especially since I’m thinking that, after Dustin tells him that Eddie’s gone, Wayne leaves Hawkins because he can’t stand being alone in the familiar place with all the memories etc. (which is very fair and valid)

but I think losing that one connection to Eddie would be the last straw for Dustin’s poor traumatized soul

Meanwhile Max isn’t snapping out of her coma and with every day that goes by, Lucas gets more and more withdrawn.

It gets to the point where Lucas isn’t talking to ANYONE and is spending every waking moment in the hospital. It’s unhealthy.

and so both Dustin and Lucas are getting more and more consumed by grief and Steve can see it happening and feels totally helpless to do anything

so he gets more and more desperate to find a way to FIX IT because the only thing he’s ever been able to do right is to TAKE CARE of these kids and now he’s FAILING

and the harder he tries to help, the harder Dustin pushes him away and the further Lucas retreats into himself

until finally Dustin lashes out in some way and blames Steve for everything that went wrong and says something hurtful (cuz he’s a deeply traumatized and grief-stricken child.)

and Lucas stops eating or sleeping and starts sneaking out of the house to spend even MORE time at the hospital

no! I lied! actually what Lucas starts doing is spending more and more time sleeping and no one really understands why (other than standard grief reasons)

finally Erica gets so worried that she goes to steve for help

So steve and erica (and robin because she and steve are a package deal) research the upside down and mythology and D&D and theoretical science and whatever else they can to try to find a way to make everything BETTER (I think Steve is claiming that he’s mostly focused on Max and getting her back, but he’s fully willing to do whatever it takes to get eddie back for dustin, including fucked up magic or sacrificing himself or WHATEVER)

this results in them adding eleven and will to the research crew cuz they need Upside Down experts

(I was thinking nancy might be a part of the research team, but actually maybe the wheelers leave town? In fact I think Nancy herself might pressure her parents into leaving for they sake of Holly’s safety? And mike would probably flat-out refuse to leave and end up staying with the Byers-Hopper clan, but I think Nancy would be haunted enough by Vecna’s vision that she’d do whatever it took to keep her family safe)

And they keep coming up empty on the research until Steve finds Eddie’s D&D notes for the campaign he was planning on running after they defeated Vecna

it was going to be a home-brew based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but tweaked to fit better into D&D rules/logic, where the goal of the campaign was to save a god and a goddess who were trapped between worlds

Eddie based his version on the orpheus/eurydice myth, d&d lore, and some satanic rituals he’d found while searching for new ways to antagonize the entire town lmao.

so robin/erica/steve end up retracing eddie’s steps in all of this research and suddenly Steve “The Hair” Harrington easily knows more about Satanism and like pagan magic than anyone else in Hawkins, probably INCLUDING eddie

somewhere in the middle of all this, steve starts dreaming about eddie and, at first, he thinks it’s just because he’s been thinking about him so much from retracing his steps. But then he starts feeling like the conversations he’s having with dream!eddie are feeling more and more real....

anyway they discover that the main difference between the original myth an the version Eddie came up with is that it would take TWO people to save each trapped god: a rescuer and an anchor

the anchor would help keep the rescuer connected to the “real”/mortal/whatever world, and the rescuer had to have a strong bond with both the person getting rescued AND the anchor

in the campaign, the “rescuer” was going to be determined by prophetic dreams getting sent to specific players, but they all write that off as just part of the game and figure all that’s needed is a strong bond.

so the plan is to send in El to rescue Max with Will acting as her anchor

they all wish they could do something to save eddie, but the focus is on max right now because she’s the one they KNOW is stuck between worlds

and steve and Erica both feel unsure about this plan, but Steve is used to trusting that his friends are smarter and doesn’t even know why he’s so unsure so he’s willing to go along with it...

but it turns out Erica was less willing to just go along with it and has essentially tattled to Dustin about the plan so before they can start the ~ritual~ or whatever, Lucas and Dustin burst through the door yelling incoherently

they’ve discovered two things:

1) it turns out that Lucas has been sleeping so much because he’s been having the same kind of dreams Steve has, but about Max

this prompts Steve to share his dreams with the group, saying that maybe this means that Eddie is actually alive, which Dustin agrees with and adds

2) it’s not just “any” strong bond that will work for the rescuee/rescuer/anchor bonds. Eddie’s notes were right, the rescuer has to be the person receiving dreams about the person stuck in the in-between, and the rescuer/anchor bond has to be FAMILIAL

so this means Eddie is out there and savable, because Steve is having dreams about him. No one really seems to understand WHY that bond manifested between Steve and Eddie, but they just have to roll with it

Lucas and steve are officially the Rescuers(TM)

then dustin gets this stricken look on his face cuz he realizes that Erica can be Lucas’s anchor, but there’s no one to anchor steve cuz his family sucks. so dustin starts insisting that steve shouldn’t go in cuz he’d just get lost along with eddie and that’s not what eddie would want and dustin doesn’t think he’d make it through losing steve too and and and and.....

and then steve shuts him up with a big hug and says something like “what are you talking about? I’ve got my whole family right here, including the world’s most annoying little brother.” *cue dustin sobbing*

just to be safe, both robin AND dustin step in as steve’s anchors

*insert emotional trip through the In Between (which I’ve decided is the name of the place Max and Eddie are stuck in)*

they make it out and there are a lot of very emotional reunions etc. etc. but for some reason eddie is avoiding eye contact with steve

That’s right we’re not done! now it’s time for part 2: just miscommunication and falling in love

so things are kinda awkward and tense between steve and eddie, especially when it’s determined that the smartest thing to do is to get eddie out of town while hopper works on clearing his name and creating a story for How Eddie Munson Isn’t Dead

Which means it’s time for my favorite trope: Road Trip to Murray’s!

Steve insists on coming along with Eddie, not trusting eddie not to disappear again, plus he wants to know why eddie’s been so weird around him ever since they got out of the In Between, plus it makes the most sense: he has a car, and his parents are never home so no one will notice that he’s gone for an extended period of time

When he finally demands eddie tells him what’s going on, turns out eddie is furious that steve risked his life to try to save him. like FUMING. and steve is so confused and distressed because he thought they were really connecting, hell he even thought he might be catching feelings for him....

then eddie doesn’t want steve to feel like he’s responsible for him or like he owes him anything etc. etc.

basically eddie is doing everything he can to push steve away, seemingly under the assumption that steve is there out of obligation

finally, Murray reveals that he’s been snooping through eddie’s stuff and whips out a piece of paper. It’s an as-yet-unknown secret missing page from Eddie’s D&D notes that the gang never found. Turns out the twist of the campaign was going to be something Eddie discovered in his research: the bond/the dreams only work between soulmates (ohmygod the were soulmates)

turns out eddie’s been functioning under the assumption that the soulmate bond went one way, cuz steve is straight (obvs), and thinks that the rescue only worked because he was so pathetically in love with steve, it made up for the deficit

Murray points out that this is stupid

steve also points out that this is stupid

they make out about it

some other stuff happens but that’s the most important parts

the end

[broomsick]

Hello! Where can I start with witchcraft? I am a very new pagan so I thought I could as you for help.

Hi! That's a very good question. First of all, before I dive into details, it's important that you know there's no right place to start when it comes to witchcraft, just like when it comes to paganism.

However, it could be very useful for you to learn about different paths, or different types of practices before starting your journey! You'll discover very quickly that witches tend to specify what type of witchcraft they practice most when introducing themselves. Of course, one doesn't need to be confined to a particular practice! A witch could very well be as comfortable doing hedge work as doing storm witchcraft, or kitchen witchcraft. Still, there are loads of very different practices within witchcraft, and it could be super interesting for you to learn about them. You might immediately feel drawn to one, or a few in particular, simply because of your pre-existing personnal preferences. For example, you might know right away that you'd like to work with the sun, or with the sea! Before diving into the craft, I suggest that in this manner, you determine right away which kind of path you want to tread. Of course, you're always free to change, to practice many vastly different paths at once, and to altogether leave this or that practice in the past if it doesn't feel right anymore.

When that is done, there is one key-word to keep in mind: learn, learn, learn. You may want to purchase, or rent books on witchcraft, wildlife, omens, nature in general, folklore, and/or open traditional practices! Explore the many many websites that post articles about witchcraft (A few of my favorites: Round the Cauldron, Tea & Rosemary, Witch of Lupine Hollow, Flying the Hedge, Cailleach's Herbarium because I'm simply obsessed with Scotland, Otherworldly Oracle...). Look thoroughly into anything that piques your curiosity, really! Be open to taking new knowledge in, even on topics that might not have interested you at first. From star maps, to folk recipes, to seasonal holidays, to dream interpretation, to full-scale spells, to element work, to herbalism... There are so many topics to explore that's it's downright dizzying. And all of them are fascinating!

Now, there are also a few forms of practice to steer away from. These are closed practices, meaning that to practice them is to appropriate them, as they belong to groups who still traditionally practice them to this day. White sage smudging, working with deities from closed traditions, and hoodoo are all examples of practices you absolutely cannot engage in, unless you have been properly initiated into them.

With that having been said, I'll jump right into my personal tips. If we're talking concrete, hands-on practice, I do have a few suggestions as to where you can start! To me, cleansing is a very fun and simple way to practice witchcraft on the day-to-day. I usually start my cleaning up the space I mean to cleanse, for example, the kitchen. I simply put away what I can (dirty dishes, groceries and the like), and once that's done, I proceed to the spiritual cleansing. I often burn incense in the room, or I will sometimes "sound cleanse" using a little bell. This helps to keep unwanted spirits away, and to protect the home (I very much value hearth work). Brewing a tea and charging it with intent, working with sigils, and learning simple spells to say out loud are also extremely simple ways to start becoming familiar with witchcraft.

Finally, there are also a few questions I suggest you try answering as you begin your journey in witchcraft: "What do I believe in when it comes to magic? How do I think it works?", "What type of change do I want to create using magic?", "What local/family traditions am I attached to? How can I integrate them into my craft?", "Can I believe this or that piece of information?". In general, it's important to keep asking yourself these types of questions! Never mindlessly accept information you receive, and find your own answers with time and experience.

[brookston]

Holidays 6.27

Holidays

Atari Day

Attwari (Tharu people; Nepal)

Black Pound Day (UK)

Canadian Multiculturalism Day (Canada)

Captain Kangaroo Day

Celebrate Joy Day

Commemoration Day for the Victims of the Communist Regime (Czech Republic)

The Day of the Apocalypse (in the TV show “Dark”)

Day of Workers of Culture and Art (Turkmenistan)

Day of Unity (Tajikistan)

Decide To Be Married Day

Dragon Festival (Guild Wars)

Festival of Neither Nor

"Happy Birthday To You" Day

Helen Keller Day

Industrial Workers of the World Day

International Day of Deafblindness

Kent Flew the Coop Day

London Tube Day

Lottery Day (in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”)

Magtymguly Poetry Day (Turkmenistan)

Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith (Mormon)

Micro-, Small-, & Medium-Sized Enterprises Day

Mixed Race Day (Brazil)

Multiculturalism Day (Canada)

National Bingo Day

National Chirashi-Zushi Day (Japan)

National Fatherless Children’s Day

National Fink Day

National High School Mountain Bike Day

National HIV Testing Day

National Jim Day

National Journalist Day (Día del Periodista; Venezuela)

National Orange Blossom Day

National PTSD Awareness Day

National Sunglasses Day

National Women’s Fly Fishing Day

National Young Rider Day (UK)

NPE Awareness Day

Parosmia Awareness Day

Press and Media Workers Day (Uzbekistan)

Shirley Jackson Day (North Bennington, Vermont)

Siebenschläfertag (Seven Sleepers Day; Germany)

Sturge Weber Syndrome Awareness Day

Sunglasses Day

To Have or to Be?, by Erich Fromm (Science Book; 1976)

Unity Day (Tajikistan)

World ATM Day

World Fisheries Day (Russia)

World Fragrance Day (Germany)

World Microbiome Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Absinthe Day (a.k.a. Wormwood Day; French Republic)

International Pineapple Day

National Ice Cream Cake Day

National Indian Pudding Day

National Lemonade Day

National Onion Day

Orange Blossom Day

627 Ale Day (Hoops Brewing)

Independence & Related Days

Djibouti (from France, 1977)

Europa (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Thursday in June

Festival of the Tarasque (France) begins [Last Thursday]

National Bomb Pop Day [Last Thursday]

National Handshake Day [Last Thursday]

National Relationships & Sex Education Day (UK) [Last Thursday]

National Work From Home Day [Last Thursday]

RSE Day (UK) [4th Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 27 (4th Full Week)

National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness Week (thru 7.4)

Watermelon Seed Spitting Week (thru 6.30)

Festivals Beginning June 27, 2024

Ashland BalloonFest (Ashland, Ohio) [thru 6.29]

Beauregard Parish Watermelon Festival (DeRidder, Louisiana) [thru 6.29]

Bixby Green Corn Festival (Bixby, Oklahoma) [thru 6.29]

Cotton Fest (Lubbock, Texas) [thru 6.29]

Festival International De Jazz De Montreal (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.6]

HellFest (Clisson, France) [thru 6.30]

Jazz à Vienne (Vienne, France) [thru 7.16]

JazzBaltica (Niendorf, Germany) [thru 6.30]

Linn County Fair (Central City, Iowa) [thru 6.3]

L'International des Feux Loto-Québec [Montreal Fireworks Festival] (Montreal, Canada) [thru 8.1]

Luling Watermelon Thump (Luling, Texas) [thru 6.30]

Monmouth Fair (Monmouth, Maine) [thru 6.29]

Montreal International Jazz Festival (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.6]

OpenAir St. Gallen (St. Gallen, Switzerland) [thru 6.30]

Provinssi (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 6.29]

St. Helen Bluegill Festival (St. Helen, Michigan) [thru 6.3]

Turku Medieval Market (Turku, Finland) [thru 6.30]

Feast Days

Anansi’s Day (Pagan)

Arialdo (Christian; Saint)

Blue-Footed Booby Day (Pastafarian)

Crescens, one of the Seventy disciples (Christian; Saint)

Cyril of Alexandria (Coptic Church, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion and Lutheran Church)

Dan Jurgens (Artology)

Day of the God of Walls and Ditches (Pagan)

Day Sacred to the Lares (Ancient Rome)

Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Festival of Jupiter Stator (Ancient Rome)

George Mtasmindeli (Christian; Saint)

Gilson Lavis (Artology)

Helen Keller (Writerism)

Initium Aestatis (Old Roman Summer Festival)

James Dean Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

John of Moutier and Chinon (Christian; Saint)

Kate Carew (Artology)

Ladislaus I of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Christian)

Paul Colin (Artology)

Philip Guston (Artology)

Richard I (Positivist; Saint)

Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

Sandy the Snake (Muppetism)

Seven Sleepers Day (Siebenschläfertag; German-speaking Culture)

Sun Dance Ritual (Plains Indian tribes; Everyday Wicca)

Voyage of Maelduin (Celtic Book of Days)

Write Your Own Prayer Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Zoilus and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Airplane! (Film; 1980)

Babooshka, by Kate Bush (Song; 1980)

Bathing Beauty (Film; 1944)

Belladonna of Sadness (Animated Film; 1973)

Captain Video & His Video Rangers (TV Series; 1949)

Cosmic Thing, by The B-52s (Album; 1989)

Country Grammar, by Nelly (Album; 2000)

Days of Thunder (Film; 1990)

Destination Moon (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1950)

Dream On, by Aerosmith (Song; 1973)

Face/Off (Film; 1997)

Freak Out!, by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (Album; 1966)

Girl Meets World (TV Series; 2014)

Good Old Irish Tunes, featuring Candy Goose (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1941)

Hawaiian Aye Aye (WB MM Cartoon; 1964)

Hercules (Animated Disney Film; 1997)

The Ipcress File Len Deighton

Labyrinth (Film; 1986)

Larry Crowne (Film; 2011)

Live and Let Die (James Bond Film; 1973) [#8]

Live Free of Die Hard (Film; 2007)

Manhattan Island (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1947)

Mirror Ball, by Neil Young & Pearl Jam (Album; 1995)

Nightfall and Other Stories, by Isaac Asimov (Short Stories; 1969)

Oddities, Abnormalities, & Curiosities, by the Circle Jerks (Album; 1995)

The Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling (Novel; 2003) [Harry Potter #5]

The Other Side of Midnight, by Sidney Sheldon (Novel; 1973)

The Penultimate Truth, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

Pink Streaker (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1975)

Postman Pat: The Movie (Animated Film; 2014)

Presto (Pixar Cartoon; 2008)

Really Scent (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Symphony No. 2 (a.k.a. The Nottingham Symphony, or Robin Hood), by Alan Bush (Symphony; 1949)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, recorded by Gene Autry (Song; 1949)

Ruthless People (Film; 1986)

The Saint See Through It, by Leslie Charteris (Novel 1946) [Saint #27]

The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson (Science Book; 1951)

Snowpiercer (Film; 2014)

The Stunt Man (Film; 1980)

Sweet Smell of Success (Film; 1957)

Tom Tom Tomcat (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

To Sir, With Love, by E.R. Braithwaite (Novel; 1959)

Trail of the Lonesome Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1974)

28 Days Later (Film; 2003)

Twinkletoes: Where He Goes — Nobody Knows (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

Wall-E (Animated Pixar Film; 2008)

Wanted (Film; 2008)

West End Blues, recorded by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five (Song; 1928)

When I You Hoo (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Who Killed Cock Robin? (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

Zapped (Film; 2014)

Today’s Name Days

Cyrill, Heimo, Hemma, Maxim (Austria)

Ćiril, Ladislav, Vlatko (Croatia)

Ladislav (Czech Republic)

Elfi, Elfriide, Elva, Elve, Elvi, Elviira, Viire (Estonia)

Elvi, Elviira (Finland)

Fernand (France)

Cyrill, Daniel, Heimo, Hemma (Germany)

Pierre (Greece)

László (Hungary)

Andrea, Cirillo, Leilo, Tosco (Italy)

Malva, Malvīne, Malvis (Latvia)

Ema, Gediminas, Norgailė, Vladas, Vladislovas (Lithuania)

Aina, Ina, Ine (Norway)

Maria Magdalena, Władysław, Władysława, Włodzisław (Poland)

Samson (România)

Ladislav (Slovakia)

Cirilo, Ladislao, Socorro, Zoilo (Spain)

Fingal, Selma (Sweden)

Lacey, Laci, Lacie, Lacy, Lance, Lancelot, Schuyler, Skye, Skylar, Skyler (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 179 of 2024; 187 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 26 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 19 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 22 (Red-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 21 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 29 Blue; Eighthday [29 of 30]

Julian: 14 June 2024

Moon: 64%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 10 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Richard I]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 8 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 7 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.27

Holidays

Atari Day

Attwari (Tharu people; Nepal)

Black Pound Day (UK)

Canadian Multiculturalism Day (Canada)

Captain Kangaroo Day

Celebrate Joy Day

Commemoration Day for the Victims of the Communist Regime (Czech Republic)

The Day of the Apocalypse (in the TV show “Dark”)

Day of Workers of Culture and Art (Turkmenistan)

Day of Unity (Tajikistan)

Decide To Be Married Day

Dragon Festival (Guild Wars)

Festival of Neither Nor

"Happy Birthday To You" Day

Helen Keller Day

Industrial Workers of the World Day

International Day of Deafblindness

Kent Flew the Coop Day

London Tube Day

Lottery Day (in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”)

Magtymguly Poetry Day (Turkmenistan)

Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith (Mormon)

Micro-, Small-, & Medium-Sized Enterprises Day

Mixed Race Day (Brazil)

Multiculturalism Day (Canada)

National Bingo Day

National Chirashi-Zushi Day (Japan)

National Fatherless Children’s Day

National Fink Day

National High School Mountain Bike Day

National HIV Testing Day

National Jim Day

National Journalist Day (Día del Periodista; Venezuela)

National Orange Blossom Day

National PTSD Awareness Day

National Sunglasses Day

National Women’s Fly Fishing Day

National Young Rider Day (UK)

NPE Awareness Day

Parosmia Awareness Day

Press and Media Workers Day (Uzbekistan)

Shirley Jackson Day (North Bennington, Vermont)

Siebenschläfertag (Seven Sleepers Day; Germany)

Sturge Weber Syndrome Awareness Day

Sunglasses Day

To Have or to Be?, by Erich Fromm (Science Book; 1976)

Unity Day (Tajikistan)

World ATM Day

World Fisheries Day (Russia)

World Fragrance Day (Germany)

World Microbiome Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Absinthe Day (a.k.a. Wormwood Day; French Republic)

International Pineapple Day

National Ice Cream Cake Day

National Indian Pudding Day

National Lemonade Day

National Onion Day

Orange Blossom Day

627 Ale Day (Hoops Brewing)

Independence & Related Days

Djibouti (from France, 1977)

Europa (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Thursday in June

Festival of the Tarasque (France) begins [Last Thursday]

National Bomb Pop Day [Last Thursday]

National Handshake Day [Last Thursday]

National Relationships & Sex Education Day (UK) [Last Thursday]

National Work From Home Day [Last Thursday]

RSE Day (UK) [4th Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 27 (4th Full Week)

National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness Week (thru 7.4)

Watermelon Seed Spitting Week (thru 6.30)

Festivals Beginning June 27, 2024

Ashland BalloonFest (Ashland, Ohio) [thru 6.29]

Beauregard Parish Watermelon Festival (DeRidder, Louisiana) [thru 6.29]

Bixby Green Corn Festival (Bixby, Oklahoma) [thru 6.29]

Cotton Fest (Lubbock, Texas) [thru 6.29]

Festival International De Jazz De Montreal (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.6]

HellFest (Clisson, France) [thru 6.30]

Jazz à Vienne (Vienne, France) [thru 7.16]

JazzBaltica (Niendorf, Germany) [thru 6.30]

Linn County Fair (Central City, Iowa) [thru 6.3]

L'International des Feux Loto-Québec [Montreal Fireworks Festival] (Montreal, Canada) [thru 8.1]

Luling Watermelon Thump (Luling, Texas) [thru 6.30]

Monmouth Fair (Monmouth, Maine) [thru 6.29]

Montreal International Jazz Festival (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.6]

OpenAir St. Gallen (St. Gallen, Switzerland) [thru 6.30]

Provinssi (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 6.29]

St. Helen Bluegill Festival (St. Helen, Michigan) [thru 6.3]

Turku Medieval Market (Turku, Finland) [thru 6.30]

Feast Days

Anansi’s Day (Pagan)

Arialdo (Christian; Saint)

Blue-Footed Booby Day (Pastafarian)

Crescens, one of the Seventy disciples (Christian; Saint)

Cyril of Alexandria (Coptic Church, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion and Lutheran Church)

Dan Jurgens (Artology)

Day of the God of Walls and Ditches (Pagan)

Day Sacred to the Lares (Ancient Rome)

Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Festival of Jupiter Stator (Ancient Rome)

George Mtasmindeli (Christian; Saint)

Gilson Lavis (Artology)

Helen Keller (Writerism)

Initium Aestatis (Old Roman Summer Festival)

James Dean Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

John of Moutier and Chinon (Christian; Saint)

Kate Carew (Artology)

Ladislaus I of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Christian)

Paul Colin (Artology)

Philip Guston (Artology)

Richard I (Positivist; Saint)

Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

Sandy the Snake (Muppetism)

Seven Sleepers Day (Siebenschläfertag; German-speaking Culture)

Sun Dance Ritual (Plains Indian tribes; Everyday Wicca)

Voyage of Maelduin (Celtic Book of Days)

Write Your Own Prayer Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Zoilus and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Airplane! (Film; 1980)

Babooshka, by Kate Bush (Song; 1980)

Bathing Beauty (Film; 1944)

Belladonna of Sadness (Animated Film; 1973)

Captain Video & His Video Rangers (TV Series; 1949)

Cosmic Thing, by The B-52s (Album; 1989)

Country Grammar, by Nelly (Album; 2000)

Days of Thunder (Film; 1990)

Destination Moon (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1950)

Dream On, by Aerosmith (Song; 1973)

Face/Off (Film; 1997)

Freak Out!, by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (Album; 1966)

Girl Meets World (TV Series; 2014)

Good Old Irish Tunes, featuring Candy Goose (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1941)

Hawaiian Aye Aye (WB MM Cartoon; 1964)

Hercules (Animated Disney Film; 1997)

The Ipcress File Len Deighton

Labyrinth (Film; 1986)

Larry Crowne (Film; 2011)

Live and Let Die (James Bond Film; 1973) [#8]

Live Free of Die Hard (Film; 2007)

Manhattan Island (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1947)

Mirror Ball, by Neil Young & Pearl Jam (Album; 1995)

Nightfall and Other Stories, by Isaac Asimov (Short Stories; 1969)

Oddities, Abnormalities, & Curiosities, by the Circle Jerks (Album; 1995)

The Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling (Novel; 2003) [Harry Potter #5]

The Other Side of Midnight, by Sidney Sheldon (Novel; 1973)

The Penultimate Truth, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

Pink Streaker (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1975)

Postman Pat: The Movie (Animated Film; 2014)

Presto (Pixar Cartoon; 2008)

Really Scent (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Symphony No. 2 (a.k.a. The Nottingham Symphony, or Robin Hood), by Alan Bush (Symphony; 1949)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, recorded by Gene Autry (Song; 1949)

Ruthless People (Film; 1986)

The Saint See Through It, by Leslie Charteris (Novel 1946) [Saint #27]

The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson (Science Book; 1951)

Snowpiercer (Film; 2014)

The Stunt Man (Film; 1980)

Sweet Smell of Success (Film; 1957)

Tom Tom Tomcat (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

To Sir, With Love, by E.R. Braithwaite (Novel; 1959)

Trail of the Lonesome Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1974)

28 Days Later (Film; 2003)

Twinkletoes: Where He Goes — Nobody Knows (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

Wall-E (Animated Pixar Film; 2008)

Wanted (Film; 2008)

West End Blues, recorded by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five (Song; 1928)

When I You Hoo (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Who Killed Cock Robin? (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

Zapped (Film; 2014)

Today’s Name Days

Cyrill, Heimo, Hemma, Maxim (Austria)

Ćiril, Ladislav, Vlatko (Croatia)

Ladislav (Czech Republic)

Elfi, Elfriide, Elva, Elve, Elvi, Elviira, Viire (Estonia)

Elvi, Elviira (Finland)

Fernand (France)

Cyrill, Daniel, Heimo, Hemma (Germany)

Pierre (Greece)

László (Hungary)

Andrea, Cirillo, Leilo, Tosco (Italy)

Malva, Malvīne, Malvis (Latvia)

Ema, Gediminas, Norgailė, Vladas, Vladislovas (Lithuania)

Aina, Ina, Ine (Norway)

Maria Magdalena, Władysław, Władysława, Włodzisław (Poland)

Samson (România)

Ladislav (Slovakia)

Cirilo, Ladislao, Socorro, Zoilo (Spain)

Fingal, Selma (Sweden)

Lacey, Laci, Lacie, Lacy, Lance, Lancelot, Schuyler, Skye, Skylar, Skyler (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 179 of 2024; 187 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 26 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 19 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 22 (Red-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 21 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 29 Blue; Eighthday [29 of 30]

Julian: 14 June 2024

Moon: 64%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 10 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Richard I]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 8 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 7 of 31)

[progressivemother]

The True Meaning of Thanksgiving, Our Thanksgiving, and The History of Thanksgiving

In the USA during Thanksgiving, families gather, friendships are renewed, and everyone will exclaim what they are “thankful for” or “giving thanks for the blessings they have received during the year.” Enormous plates of food will be served, including turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. It’s an American eating tradition. Through this blog, I will talk about our simply Thanksgiving and the history of Thanksgiving and where is comes from.

Our Thanksgiving was simple yet fun. I didn't have to cook the meals. We had Thanksgiving at my in laws home. My husband and I hardly ever host Thanksgiving under normal circumstances, especially now that we have kids and the holidays have become a special time for us to visit family.

It's a simple holiday. There are no presents to give, no menu to reimagine (although we don't usually fo turkey ), and the whole day is focused on the one thing we all could use more of: gratitude. Gratitude is one of the greatest practices we can teach our children. But sometimes, moms have a hard time feeling grateful, even if they lead seemingly rewarding lives. In reality, life is stressful. We take care of the bills, the house, the kids, the pets, etc. We have a lot to worry about and that can make us feel a little less grateful for our lives despite being well off and relatively happy. So we can focus on what we lack (time, money, extended family) or, more importantly, on what we have (this moment, our immediate family, our home). I would rather think about what I have compared to what I don't. We are better off than most families and I should be grateful for that.

Now for the history of Thanksgiving.

It has much more meaning than a simple family holiday and no, it isn't anything to do with the natives and pilgrims; although for many this doesn't have anything to do with the holiday either. For most, it is simply a family holiday to get everyone together and be thankful for what we have and our family.

Throughout history people have gathered together for great feasts celebrating the harvest or the first beers being brewed, or any of a number of celebrations tied to the earth. And anyone who is anyone knows that earth-based anything has its roots in paganism.

The great civilizations of the past had their own versions of Thanksgiving. The Romans celebrated a holiday called Cerelia where the festivities included feasting while thanking the Goddess of the Harvest, Ceres. In ancient Greece they honored Demeter, the Goddess of the harvest and agriculture. The Celts and Anglo-Saxon’s had many celebrations connected to thanking the gods for a productive harvest. Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain were the names of the three great harvest festivals of the ancient world. For the Celts, it was called Mabon and it marked the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are equal, making it a time of balance, equality and harmony. In ancient times Mabon was a celebration of the second harvest (Lughnasadh was the first) when farmers gathered hearty foods like gourds, grapes and apples.

As time progressed, these events were adopted and adapted. In England, an autumnal feast called Harvest Home was celebrated and was derived from a variant of the ancient Celtic Pagan feasts. Harvest Home was a three-day feast that began with a special church service followed a communal dinner. Later, the Puritans would shun Harvest Home as well as Christmas and Easter on the grounds that they had pagan origins. Let's face it, the Puritans were never any fun. They were much too strict within their religion. But since many Christians still celebrate this holiday, thanking their god for the things and family in their lives seems just fine.

The holiday was later shared with the Natives of the americas. It can be said that the Natives most likely gave thanks to the spirits and celebrated their creator.

Symbols of Thanksgiving & Their Meaning:

Cornucopia – A Cornucopia is a horn shaped basket, usually filled to the point of overflowing with the bounty of the recent harvest symbolizing "plenty". The cornucopia dates back to ancient Greece.

Corn – One of the easiest symbols of Thanksgiving to recognize is corn. Native Americans would know it as maize or maiz. Native Americans had been growing corn a long time before the pilgrims arrived in the new world, and they taught pilgrims how to grow corn and help them survive the bitter winter. Corn was from that day forward, a part of the Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey – Long before the pilgrims sat down to eat with the Native American’s who saved them from starving, the turkey was associated with abundance and being thankful. It is native to the americas.

We have to remember and respect where this holiday comes from and what it means to each person. But no matter what religion or non-religion, this day is a time to be thankful for what we have, even if it is only a little, and look to the future while we spend time with those that we love. Our children should also be educated on what this day means and where it came from.

I hope everyone had a great holiday.