#pagan secret santa

[secretmagicalgiftswap]

Secret Magical Gift Swap: November Newsletter

Hi everyone! There is a week left to sign up for the 2024/2025 New Year Swap! The deadline is November 28th and you can sign up here!

Please also give a warm welcome to our new Newsletter editor, Matilda, who does not have a Tumblr but has done a marvellous job on this first Newsletter! We plan to expand this in the future with short interviews with various practitioners, a recipe here and there and maybe the occasional spell or feel-good ritual, along with witch tips and maybe even some divination - such as a Tarot card of the month. We decided to keep our first Newsletter short and sweet, but plan to write them as the year goes on with more pages and potentially in a digital magazine-like style. If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see in these Newsletters, please let me know on Tumblr either here or at @fernsinthemist or reply to our e-mail if you are subscribed to our e-mail newsletter. We'd love to hear from you!

And our Discord server is coming soon too!

Without further ado, here is our Deity Spotlight for this month! Do we have any Boreas devotees here?

(All images used with the exception of the SMGS banner have been found on stock websites - please let us know if you are the owner and do not want us to use them)

[elhoimleafar]

(TO DELETE LATER) ~ My Seasonal Reminder for everyone, now that we are in Pride Month and many people are gonna be sharing Santa Muerte statues with rainbow colors to sell you stuff and books, that this book is a whole offense to Brujas and Bipoc authors everywhere.

It is not a Mexican Author "elder" behind this book, but a British white privileged woman and her American white man friend who is so arrogant to call himself "the biggest authority on La Santa Muerte" who wrote this.

And no editor, no publisher via email, and not pathetic soulless white bullies without understanding of Hispanic Culture, and definitely not white cis straight man with a blog gonna make me stop saying it ✌🏼

Not especially white bloggers offering money via DM to silence me.

Not care how many reviews you buy on AMZN this is a work without heart just make it to take the money from Bipoc readers looking to fool everyone.

This is a literal act of cowardice and black facing.

This work is a total offense to real devotees of La Santa Muerte.

PS: I appreciate a real devote of La Santa Muerte took the time to read the book and make a decent review with perspective, not another Instagram influencer who Just make a video to sell you the book they didn't even read 👎🏽

#Racism #Racist #culturalappropriation #blackfacing #cressidastone #lasantamuerte #Secretsofsantamuerte #Santamuerte

[fernsinthemist]

🌿🎁🔮 Secret Magical Gift Swap 🌳🎁🌕

Sign ups are still open for the Secret Magical Gift Swap 🖤✨🔮🍂🌳

You can find all the info and how to sign up on my sideblog - @secretmagicalgiftswap 🖤

It is essentially a secret Santa style event for pagans, witches, polytheists, astrologers and anyone into our kind of thing. Send a gift, receive a gift!

I'm still working on the Discord server and I'm looking for some moderators to help out with the event if anyone is interested, you can DM me for a link to the form.

I hope everyone enjoys it this year, it's been 6 years since the last one 🖤

[bucephaly]

Hey I think I'm a little late but you asked about history book recs I think? Is there a time period or something specific you're interested in? I read almost exclusively nonfiction and a lot of history/philosophy so I might be able to help find something specific for you

Oh yea! I love prehistory in general, paleolithic, then some prechristian religion studies, old English/ anglo saxon, indigenous north america, uhh and general religious studies stuff particularly europe and the middle east. Not history but linguistics too are really cool, I've been particularly interested in old English linguistics. I'd love to find some good books on pre christian anglo saxon culture, an anthropology / religious studies perspective on European folklore and what has roots in pre christian culture and what doesn't, etc. I guess I'm more interested in specifically prehistory and religious studies more than regular history haha. And it'd be cool to find some cool research on indigenous north america religious studies or culture that is fairly modern, or preferably from an indigenous perspective, but I kinda don't have much hope that that exists. I may look into that book about paleolithic north america or whatever it's called, I need to see if that's considered accurate and trustworthy

I just wanna make sure any books I get are reliable and well researched and not just a guy writing what he thinks. I've found a few books that caught my eye on particular topics, but they're often like. Upwards of $100 and sometimes up to like $500 lol.

[burnthoneydrops]

Home for the Holidays (s.o. x reader)

pairing: sam obisanya x reader

word count: 2.3k

warnings: none? let me know if i missed anything! (not proofread haha)

a/n: a little christmas post for my favourite boy! I got a little carried away with this and basing it off the christmas special from season 2 but I hope you enjoy!!

“I thought you were spending Christmas with your mom,” Ted comments as you sit in his office, a semi-pitying look from both him and Keeley making you want to cover your face in your festive jumper. 

“She picked Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day so to the hospital she goes,” you reply, twirling your phone in your hands. 

“What about your sister?” Nate asks from his perched position. 

“Her girlfriend invited her on a surprise trip to Paris until the end of the month. She invited me to come after but it felt weird y’know?” 

“Damn, where’s she been hiding that money?” Coach Beard asks. 

“No idea. My sister says she’s good at investing or something but I also have a sneaking suspicion she’s a nepo baby”. The group in the room do a collective ‘ah’ in understanding. Keeley asks about Sam, to which you explain that he doesn’t celebrate Christmas and since the relationship was relatively new, you didn’t want to scare him off with how intensely your mum and your sister love to celebrate. That was before you found out neither of them were going to be there of course.

Ted looks to Coach Beard, asking what he’s doing for Christmas. 

“I thought you two broke up?” Keeley asks as he announces that he and Jane are going to a pagan tradition at Stonehenge. 

“We did, but we bought the tickets before we broke up so we’re going as friends,” he replies with slight distaste. 

“Well that’ll be….what about you Higgins?” Ted changes the subject. 

“We open presents and then host a party for any members of the team who don’t have a place to go on Christmas. We usually get about two but Ted and Y/N, you’re more than welcome”. 

“I appreciate the offer Higgie Smalls but once Henry wakes up in,” Ted checks his phone, “about an hour, he wants to open presents together and spend the whole day on FaceTime”. 

Higgins looks at you for your response. You nod, a small smile on your face, “yeah, sounds like it could be fun. Thanks Higgins”. 

After the boys had finished their Secret Santa exchange, you wait for Sam out in the hallway of the facility, saying hi to the other players that walked past and getting a high five from both Colin and Isaac. Sam was second to last to leave, still slinging his coat over his shoulders as he and Dani walked out together. 

“So I will see you at Higgins’ house later mi amigo?” Dani asks Sam, who nods and gives him a firm handshake before they bump chests, both with big smiles on their faces. 

“Ay I got invited to that too,” you smile at the two boys as Sam grabs your hand to walk to his car. 

“I thought you were spending the day with your mum and sister?” Sam asks, looking down at you with scrunched eyebrows.

Your face falls as you realise you hadn’t told him. You quickly apologise, explaining that because work had been so busy the past few days, you thought you had told Sam that your family was going to be gone, but apparently that was not the case. He is quick to shush your apology, claiming that it’s fine because now the two of you will get to spend your favourite holiday together after all. 

“I guess that means we could head over to your place for a bit before we go to the Higgins’?” you look across at Sam as he starts the car, but he is quick to shut it down. 

“Do you not want to get changed before we head over? I can drop you off at your home and pick you up when you are ready,” he replies, looking straight at the road. “Besides, I have a dish I need to pick up as a housewarming present”. 

“Oh,” you slump, a little defeated, “ok”. 

Getting ready for the party did not take nearly as long as it felt like Sam had expected, as it took him forever to respond to your ‘I’m ready!’ text. Something felt weird about the whole ordeal but you push it off, wanting to enjoy your favourite day with some of your favourite people. By the time Sam pulls up in front of your house, you’d checked your makeup a million times in the mirror, made sure you’d unplugged your curling iron about the same amount, and was watching cat TikToks when the doorbell rang. “You look lovely my love,” Sam compliments as you open the door. You thank him, holding out your hand for him to take before you close and lock your door, making sure not to trip on the front steps. 

The drive to the Higgins house is short, meaning you two are still somehow early for the event. It comes as a relief, though, when they open the door, as Sam had informed you in the car that he was in desperate need of the restroom. You hold back a laugh as the smallest of the Higgins boys answers the door, and you and Sam both look down with a little ‘hello’ and a wave. You take the dish from Sam as he enters the house first, but Higgins is soon to join you both, showing you two to the living room where all the appetisers had been laid out. 

“What a wonderful spread,” you compliment, to which his wife Julie replies with a thank you and a large smile. As Higgins asks what Christmas makes Sam think of, to which you can’t help but laugh again as you know the answer, Julie offers you a glass of wine (which you gladly accept). 

“Colonisation,” Sam replies, “but I am more than happy to celebrate the day with you. It’s Y/N’s favourite holiday anyway, so it won’t be my last,” he smiles at you. “We also have some friends in Lagos who celebrate with jollof rice and goat meat, so I made you some”. You hand the dish to Higgins, who looks sceptical. 

“But don’t worry, I used chicken,” Sam clarifies. 

“Thank God,” Higgins mutters, looking down at the dish before one of his older sons walks up, complimenting Sam on his protest against Dubai Air. Hearing Higgins swear in support of his son surprises both you and Sam, causing a round of light laughter before Sam is asking about the bathroom again. 

“If it’s your favourite holiday, why aren’t the two of you doing something separate from the party?” Julie asks as she comes back in with the wine. 

“I forgot to tell him that my family wasn’t going to be available, and when we celebrate, we go all out, so I didn’t want to scare him off when we’ve only been together a few months”. 

“I doubt anything could scare that boy off,” Julie chuckles, “he’s the happiest, most dedicated boy on the entire earth. Plus, he’s in love with you”. 

You blush, not expecting to get so personal with the Higgins family quite yet. 

“She’s right, Y/N, we’ve all noticed it around Nelson Road,” Higgins joins in, standing next to the arm of the couch. 

“That’s…nice,” you nod, not entirely sure what else to say. 

The next chunk of time is spent voluntarily helping clean up the house before everyone else arrives, Sam having turned gathering the wrapping paper into a game with the youngest. You smile from the corner of the couch you were picking extra pieces of tape off of; watching Sam play with kids always made your heart melt. 

“Did Santa bring you something good this morning?” Sam asks. 

“It’s ok, I know there’s no Santa,” the youngest shrugs as Sam sits down at the dining table. 

“But of course there is!” You comment, making your way over to the two, positioning yourself in the doorway. 

“How could he possibly deliver presents to everyone in one night?” The boy questions. 

“Ah see, but it is one night split between 24 different time zones. Santa’s true power is not his speed, but his endurance,” Sam explains. 

“Wow,” the boy’s face lights up, “he got me a bicycle,” he smiles. 

“Brilliant,” Sam gives him a double fist bump before the youngest runs off at the sound of the doorbell. 

You walk over to where Sam is sitting, running your hands down his shoulders as he wraps one of his hands around your arm. You lean your cheek on the top of his head, muttering about how wonderful he is before he laughs, planting a kiss on the hand he grabbed, and shaking his head. The next to arrive are Dani, Jan Maas, and Richard-who also brought a date- all with something to offer in their arms. They look a bit like the three wise men, but with alcohol instead of gold. Zoreaux follows quickly after, looking incredibly smiley as he announces he had previously gone to the wrong house. As more and more people arrive, you start to feel that warm, tingly feeling that reminds you why you love Christmas in the first place. So many people around, all happy to see each other, brings so much joy, especially when it brings on a Nerf battle to which all members (children and adults) are very dedicated. Putting dinner together is a sight to see, considering the regular dining table was conjoined with a surfboard and a pool table in order to fit all of the guests. 

You rest your head on Sam’s shoulder as he grabs a dish from one of his fellow players, smiling at the mention of goat meat and laughing as the youngest Higgins boy tries to sneak himself some wine from Richard’s bottle. “I’m glad we got to do this together,” you whisper into Sam’s turtleneck. 

“Me too my love,” he replies, looking down at you and trying to kiss the top of your head. 

Higgins stands up as everyone passes dishes around and makes joyful conversation, clinking his wine glass to make a toast. “I just want to thank everyone for coming,” he starts. 

Sam raises his glass as you take your head off his shoulder, “to the family Higgins!” Everyone begins to cheer, Jan Maas clapping his hand against the table. 

“You’re going to make me cry,” Higgins continues, “to my lovely wife, Julie, my sons, to you and all your families back in Lagos, Guadalajara, Groningen, Cordon, Montreal, Benin City, Harare, Kingston, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. I know you would have preferred to be with them,” Sam reaches under the table and grabs your hand, “but it was truly an honour to have you with us, to share our traditions and help us make some new ones. To the family we’re born with, and the family we make along the way.” Sam squeezes your hand as Higgins finishes his little speech. “And most importantly, to Richmond!” “To Richmond!” Everyone cheers in response-you included, raising their glasses. 

There was suddenly a sound similar to feedback from outside and the youngest Higgins goes out to check for the cause of the commotion. “Ho ho ho Higginses!” Ted calls from the street.

The team all crowd around the window, greeted by the sight of Ted and Rebecca with three buskers, all in festive outfits. 

“Holy shit,” you laugh to Sam, who grabs your hand again before leading you out the front door. After spending a good bit of time outside with the team, dancing in the snow, everyone starts to say their goodbyes. You and Sam give parting hugs to everyone before getting in his car. He wordlessly starts to drive, and you assume he’s going to drop you off at your house, but as you miss the turn, you open and close your mouth in question. 

“I thought we could continue the festivities at my place if that’s ok,” Sam comments, glancing at you before looking back at the road. 

“Yeah, ok,” you smile, looking at the few houses decked out in Christmas lights as you keep driving. 

“Now this sounds weird, but I need you to close your eyes as we walk in. I promise it’s nothing scary,” he adds that last part in response to the way your face scrunched up. 

“Ok…” you laugh uncomfortably, covering your eyes with your hands as Sam links one of his elbows with yours, guiding you up to his kitchen before informing you that you can drop your hands. 

The sight in front of you is truly amazing, and you almost start crying on the spot. Sam stands off to the side with a nervous smile as you scan the room, looking at all the Christmas decorations and a full table of your favourite desserts that stand in front of you. A trifle and a Christmas pudding, a spiced Victoria sponge and a pitcher of mulled wine. You turn to face Sam, still with the nervous look on his face, before running to close the distance with a bone crushing hug. 

“I take it that you like it?” He asks, slowly wrapping his arms around you. 

“I love it!” You sniffle as you let go, looking at him in admiration. “But how? Why? I mean you-” 

“Your sister told me when she accepted that trip to Paris that both she and your mum would be gone, and I know how much you love Christmas, so I decided to put a little something together”. 

“A little something? Sam, this is amazing! Thank you so much,” you hug him again tightly. “Why did you agree to go to Higgins then?” 

“You love celebrating with other people, and I figured we could just add on to the celebration. Initially we were just going to come back here after Secret Santa, but it ended up working out because the Victoria Sponge wasn’t ready yet. So, I dropped you off first, and a little extra celebration time wasn’t going to do any harm,” he shrugs. 

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Only for you my love,” he chuckles, grabbing your face lightly, pressing a soft kiss onto your lips before turning back to the feast. “Now, let us not put this all to waste”. 

You turn excitedly to the table, wondering how you got so lucky with such a wonderful boyfriend. 

[egypquotes]

It's the end of the year, with Christmas and New Year's celebrations. Did you know that the ancient Egyptians already had the notion of 12 months in the year and the celebration of the New Year? This makes me wonder what the gods were doing at these times. After all, regardless of the Christian meaning they forced on this date (since it was a pagan date before), it's a time for gatherings

It's Horus' birthday, so he clearly spends the whole day talking about it and wanting to receive gifts. Unfortunately for him, he's the typical case of people who only get one gift for Christmas and their birthday

Hathor is definitely organizing a huge family dinner and setting up a shiny Christmas tree in the middle of the palace. She lets Ihy put up the Christmas star

Imseti and Hapi definitely still think Santa Claus exists

Seth didn't want to go, but since he was forced, he's going to make it everyone's problem and bring the silliest arguments to the table. Unfortunately, no one is immune to Seth's annoyance, so they end up arguing a lot all night long

Isis just wanted an excuse to get the family together and celebrate, but half of the family hates each other and the other half is so distant that it's hard to find them. She spent most of the year getting them together for this party, so Isis definitely brought a lot of good food and several gifts for the ones she really loves

Thoth and Ma'at show up for two minutes to wish Horus a happy Christmas/birthday and then disappear back to their work

Anubis didn't want to be there and he really isn't. He stayed for the first half hour, saw the first fight and then sneaked out. He won't be seen again until January

Nephthys loves family gatherings and is the one who brings albums and takes lots of pictures

Sekhmet and Sobek keep betting on who can set off the most fireworks and have already burned a few things in the process

Osiris is wearing his beloved custom sweaters for Christmas. He makes Isis and Horus wear them too. And he is definitely the uncle who makes the stupid jokes at Christmas dinner, sorry but I don't make the rules

Serket keeps changing the song every five seconds because nothing pleases her, ignoring the others' complaints by skipping songs they like

Wadjet and Tawaret are trying to keep the children busy so they don't turn the palace upside down, but they keep getting distracted by talking and the cute decorations in the house

Ptah and Khnum are just in the corner, enjoying the few snippets of music they can hear while they talk about life. There might be a lot of crying in a few minutes

Kebechet really wanted to stay awake and see in the New Year with her parents, but she fell asleep in a few minutes and didn't wake up even with the noisy family

Gebe and Nut spend New Year's Eve in love and ignoring the rest of the family

Anput gives the best gifts for Secret Santa and New Year's Eve, but she always ends up getting things like socks and picture frames

On New Year's, it must be a different kind of gathering. Everyone gathers at the Pharaoh's (Horus) palace and there are drinking competitions, lots of beautiful fireworks and dancing. Everyone looks forward to the flooding of the Nile as the main attraction of the night and it is generally a very good time of year. I wonder if there would be as much chaos, but I can definitely imagine Ra making all the silly "I'll do it next year" jokes.

I really love the end of the year, I hope everyone is having a great holiday!

[cooliofango]

Shedding Some Light

Pairing: Nikolai x Cameron

Word Count: 1044

A/N: IM SO SORRY THIS TOOK AO LONG BBYYYY 😭😭😭 It’s be an incredibly hectic holiday at my mother’s and I’m only just getting the time to write this short little gift for you. I hope you enjoy it regardless but!!! Surprise!! I was your Secret Santa! Happy Yuletide @ohworm-writes !!!!

CW: Pagan holiday, exclusive to Cam and Cam only!!!!!, possible tradition inaccuracies ;-;

The spoon clinks with each turn it makes in the rich and warm chocolatey liquid. The smell brings a smile to their face. They’re already looking forward to diving into the treat alongside their lover as they stand here making it. The spoon drips hot cocoa as it is lifted out of the mug and is set inside the sink. The soft and fluffy marshmallows are easily plucked from the bowl that was set aside just before starting the creation of the hot drink. The marshmallows are large, squishing pleasantly in their fingers as they drop three into each mug. The creamy fluff immediately melts on the surface, covering the entirety of the beverage.

“That should be enough marshmallows.” Cameron mutters to themself, lifting one of the two mugs into each of their hands before turning to walk out the kitchen.

But they pause and observe.

The home is beautifully decorated for the solstice. Garland made of evergreen and fresh pine cones topped with a thin layer of fake snow lace the entryways of the home- including the one to the kitchen Cam stood under currently- as well as across the fireplace and a bookshelf that stood in the entryway hall. On those shelves, however, are also a few candles that are placed carefully in the middle of the garland. They gave a warm, dim glow into the comfort of the home the two shared.

A Yule tree is decorated with garland that Cameron and Nikolai spent hours putting together, as well as dried slices of orange and lemon that Cam had put hooks though to hang on the tree’s branches. Nikolai had brought miniature fake candles and sun shaped ornaments to put on the tree too.

A special gift that Nikolai had created by hand was the metal tree topper that was also sunshapped. It was something that the both of them were surprised that it was kept quiet about until the surprise was revealed to Cameron just earlier this week. It did explain a lot to them, though. Why Nikolai was suddenly spending an incredible amount of time in the shop- which, in itself, is saying something, as we all know that Nikolai would gladly spend hours upon hours working on his helicopter- was a big question that occured often. Turns out he had even used scrap metal from his precious helicopter to make it, cutting, bending, engraving, and heating the metal to give it the yellow, shiny appearance it has now. A light shone behind it to make its silhouette glow against the walls around it.

The smell of warm cinnamon lingers in the air and Cameron turns their attention to its source.

Nikolai is sitting at the coffee table putting together the dried sticks of the spice around a glass dish meant to catch the wax of melting candles. His tongue is pressed against the inside of his cheek and his brows are furrowed with concentration. One stick of cinnamon is held in one hand while the other carefully applies the hot glue against the side of the glass with a steady hold on the hot glue gun. The glue gun is set back down on a piece of cardboard- it being used to keep the hot glue from dripping on the glass table and ruining it- and the cinnamon stick he held is pressed carefully on top of the hot glue and beside the already glued down cinnamon. It was gently pushed up with a large finger to make sure it was even before Nikolai picks up another stick from the package to his left and the hot glue gun to his right.

Cameron felt their heart soar a moment more for the man who stole their heart almost a year ago. The effort Nikolai was putting into enjoying the holiday lined with their belief made them feel so much more grateful to have Nikolai in their life once more. They should’ve known that once Nikolai set his heart on celebrating Yuletide, there was no stopping him. He truly went above and beyond, and is still doing so, just for them.

Nikolai sits in jeans and a fluffy, white sweater that matches his love’s, as well as some fluffy socks they just insisted that he wore too. He doesn’t notice Cameron yet, too busy focusing on the mini project he was determined to finish. That was until they placed his mug on the coffee table in front of him, causing him to pause and look up at them.

A large and loving smile easily pulls at his lips, setting both items back into their respective places. “С��асибо, дорогой!” His eyes lit up at them, almost hesitating to look away as he reaches for the hot ceramic mug. Cameron sits beside him, carefully blowing the steam from her own drink.

“Thank you,” Cameron emphasizes, “You didn’t have to do all of this.” A hand gestures to the flurry of decorations around the house as Nikolai takes a sip.

A hum of satisfaction slips past closed lips, visibly relaxing at the warmth the hot cocoa provided for him. The mug is rested carefully against his thigh, one hand holding the cup up. His other hand rests on their thigh, each of them holding a soft and grateful look in their eyes.

“Do not thank me, дорогая. I’m more than happy to celebrate your traditions with you,” Nikolai says firmly and confidently, “I’ve had a great time enjoying this holiday with you, Cameron.”

They smile back lovingly up at him, eyes moving from his own to his lips. A sudden snort of amusement follows, biting onto their bottom lip as they look back up at him. Nikolai raises a brow at the evolving giggles falling from their lips. “What’s so funny, дорогая?”

Cameron clears their throat, smile still present. Their hand raises and points at the area above their own lip, “You’ve got a little something…” Their voice trails off as Nikolai carefully raises his own hand and wipes the fluffy marshmallow from above his lip with his thumb. There was a moment of silence as he stared at the sugary substance before he too laughed at the sight, Cam’s laughter joining in as they enjoyed the serenity of the moment together.

Taglist 🏷️

@bunnyreaper @bookobsessedram @a-very-bored-blogger @hawsx3 @ohworm-writes @tokusho @kitkatscabinet

[rain-day-today]

Hi @inkperch I’m your secret santa! Heres a little ficlet for you!

If you dont have ao3

Holiday season

A chill had crept through the window wrapping around the room, but she was warm. Under the covers snuggled tightly between a blue cat and a pink dragon, she felt warm inside and out. Slowly though she opened her eyes, and so did they. Leaving the solace of the pillows behind Some were ready for the new day, others, well mourned their morning cuddles.

——

“Natsu get up! And why are you in my bed!!! Happy you too!”

“So cold-“

“YOU DON'T GET COLD”

——

The morning of course started out perfectly hectic, it was that time of year of course, Christmas . And Lucy Heartfilia was a big fan. The bustle and taste of a perfect Christmastime breakfast was paid for by her two boys by their hands in the decorations she had pulled from boxes upon boxes.

—-

“No no no. The wreath goes on this way!”

“Its a circle!”

—-

“Lusheee there's a Creepy little man in the kitchen!!!”

“Thats Gnombert, he is a symbol of the history of Christmas. It could be said that his red hat represents the role fairytales played in the blending of pagan and church traditions which led to the creation of modern christmas ....(10 minutes later)… He is an important part of the Christmas tradition that has stood the test of time and left a real imprint on many people around the world.”

“Whatever he is, Get him ouuut!!!”

—-

“Lucy,Why are there lights on my scarf?”

“I love christmas lights!”

“ I love you”

“What?!”

“What?”

—

One by one each piece of the small apartment was transformed, turning it into a spectacular Christmas wonderland. As the noon bell rang the final pieces of the Christmas puzzle were completed.

——

“Ok so where do we put the maid ornament?”

“Why do we have that?!”

“Why wouldn't we have it?”

“touche”

“…tushie?”

——

“WHERE'S CANDY RUDOLPH?”

“ I *chew* have no *swallows* clue.”

“…i want you to know that you will never be aloud to set foot in my house ever again.”

____

“Awww look at the snowglo- is that a bear?”

“Fredrick the face biting bear!”

“I remember that guy!”

“Do i want to know?”

——-

As each ruby and gold ornament came out, followed by dozens of hand made and given ones; they giggled at the memories and stupid joy of their stories.

——

“ look at this one is us! It has to go on top!”

“Its us as fish, Happy! Put it in the back”

“But we looked so tast-cute!”

“Fine second row.”

“Yay!”

——

“ look its the paw print one I made!”

“ why Doe It look so funky…”

“LUSHE NATSU’S BEING MEAN”

“Natsu dont be mean to the baby”

“Yeah Natsu don't be mean to the bab- ……WAHHHH YOUR BOTH TERRIBLE.”

——

Finally the last piece of their holiday preparations fell into place.

——

We should put the dragon on the top!”

“The star goes up there!”

“It can guard the star.”

“Well ok then”

“Can we put the tiger too?”

“Of course! The star needs Two super awesome bodyguards!”

——

“ok and Up you go!”

“NATSU”

“Put the star on lushee!”

——

Lucy lightly placed the star at the top of the glimmering evergreen. Looking down at her handwork from her throne on Natsu's shoulders, her heart soared, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

——

“What's so funny luce?”

“Nothing. I just love christmas!”

——

And so, as the day came to an end, little family in the apartment down on strawberry street giggled merrily as christmas had truly come.

[useless-catalanfacts]

When Catalonia's National Art Museum (MNAC) acquired this piece, they thought it represented Jesus Christ on the cross. On a closer study, they realised it represents a woman: Saint Wilgefortis (Santa Lliberada in Catalan, which means "Saint Liberated").

This wooden sculpture was made by an artist called Andreu Sala around the year 1689 for the church of El Carme in Barcelona, Catalonia. But why does a female saint have a beard? This is not a shock to anyone familiar with this saint's story.

According to the legends, Wilgerfortis was the daughter of a pagan king of Portugal. She converted to Christianity in secret and made a vow of chastity. Her father gave her hand in marriage to a pagan or Moorish king, but she refused to marry anyone. To avoid marriage, she prayed to God to disfigure her to make men find her ugly. God answered her prayers and blessed her by making her grow a beard. The marriage was broken and that made her father angry. He accused Wilgerfortis of witchcraft and had her crucified, like Christ had been.

There are different hypothesis about the origin of this legend:

Some say it might be related to ancient intersex divinities, such as the Ancient Greek Hermaphroditus.

Others say it might have its origin in a side-effect of malnourishment that many nuns had. In convents, it was very common to fast (=not eat for long periods of time for religious reasons), so many nuns had hormonal imbalances that can result in growing facial hair.

The most widespread hypothesis seems to be that Saint Wilgerfortis and similar legends were created to re-interpret the Christs in Majesty that culturally didn't seem male anymore. Because of Byzantine influence, in the Romanesque period (11th-13th centuries), sometimes Christ on the Cross was represented wearing a long tunic tied at the waist and looking calm. After that period, Christ on the Cross was always represented half naked and suffering. They are so different that they look like different saints and the long dress fitted at the waist was associated with women at the time, so people who saw the old representations of Christ would assume it was a woman with a beard, and came up with legends to explain the beard.

Here you can compare the two ways of representing Christ. On the left, the statue called Majestat Batlló, made in the 1100s in la Garrotxa (Catalonia) in Romanesque style. On the right, the Calvari painting made around 1470 in Granollers (Catalonia). Both of them are kept in MNAC.

There are some other saints with very similar stories to Saint Wilgefortis, like Saint Múnia of Barcelona.

Now you might be wondering, how do we know this statue represents Saint Wilgefortis and not Christ? First of all, this statue is from the Baroque period, where Christ was never represented wearing a long tunic and hadn't been for centuries. Culturally, it would not make any sense for a Catalan artist in the 1600s to represent Christ or any normative man wearing what by then was a woman's dress. Secondly, if you look at the statue from the side, you can see that she has some boobs. And lastly, when the statue was restored, they found a textile fragment at the bottom of the tunic, which was a stitching work made from lace. Traditionally, lace has been a type of decoration used in women’s clothing.

So there is no doubt that this statue, like others that can be found all around Europe, represents Saint Wilgefortis. The woman who was blessed with a beard, and who we call Saint Liberated because her beard liberated her.

Couplets in honour of Saint Wilgefortis for the church Sant Cugat del Rec in Barcelona, Catalonia. 18th century. Source: Mediateques Montpellier. Here, the images represent her without a beard, but the poem explains her story.

Traditionally, Saint Wilgefortis has been patron saint of agriculture, travellers, children who were stunted or had difficulty walking, skin diseases, pets, laundresses, and the agony of the dying. In more recent times, two more were added: Saint Wilgefortis is the patron saint of transgender people and has been claimed as a lesbian martyr.

Source: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.10

Holidays

Bob Dylan Day (Minnesota)

Chief Red Cloud Day

Dewey Decimal System Day

Flag Day (Guinea)

Flipadelphia (from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”)

Grub-Hoe Day (French Republic)

Human Rights Day (UN)

International Animal Rights Day

International Human Rights Day (Namibia)

Jane Addams Day

Mari Alphabet Day

Merlinpeen (Festival of Mouth Pleasure from Secret Santa; Verdkianism; on “30 Rock”)

Namibian Women’s Day (Namibia)

National Cancel Caillou Day

National Corey Day

National Day of the Clown

National Derek Day

Nobeldagen (a.k.a. Alfred Nobel Day; Sweden)

Nobel Prize Day

Sister-Friend Day

Victory Day (Iraq)

Whirling Dervishes Festival begins [thru 17th]

Women’s Day (Namibia)

Women’s Rights Day (Wyoming)

World Digital Detox Day

World Football Day

World Human Rights Day (UN)

World TRAP Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Do Something Wild and Crazy with Velveeta Day

International Tokaji Aszú Day

National Lager Day

National Pancetta Day

Suspended Coffee Day

Terra Madre Day (Slow Food)

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Thailand)

Mississippi Statehood Day (#20; 1817)

Tortuga (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

2nd Tuesday in December

National Belgian Waffles Day (Belgium) [2nd Tuesday]

Table Tennis Tuesday [2nd Tuesday of Each Month]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tomato Tuesday [2nd Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 10 (2nd Full Week of December)

Human Rights Week (thru 12.17)

National Groundwater Awareness Week (thru 12.12)

Festivals Beginning December 10, 2024

The Bracebridge Dinner (Yosemite National Park, California) [thru 12.23]

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market Expo (Grand Rapids, Michigan) [thru 12.12]

Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo (Grand Rapids, Michigan) [thru 12.12]

Nebraska AG Expo (Lincoln, Nebraska) [thru 12.12]

Nobel Prize Award Ceremony (Stockholm, Sweden & Norway (the Nobel Peace Prize))

Stalker International Human Rights Film Festival (Moscow, Russia) [thru 12.15]

Western Alfalfa & Forage Symposium (Sparks, Nevada) [thru 12.12]

Feast Days

Adriaen van Ostade (Artology)

Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Cornelia Funke (Writerism)

Emily Dickinson (Writerism)

Eulalia of Mérida (Christian; Saint)

Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales (Inuit)

Giovanni Gioseffo dal Sole (Artology)

Greta Kempton (Artology)

Hanukkah Day #3 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

International Human Rights Day (Pastafarian)

Karl Barth (Episcopal Church USA)

Llys Don (Celtic Book of Days)

Lux Mundi (Light of the World; Roman Goddess of Liberty)

Melchiades, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Miltiades (Christian; Saint)

Purification Rites begin (Ancient Inuit; Everyday Wicca)

Rumer Godden (Writerism)

Sedna’s Day (Pagan)

Thomas Merton (Episcopal Church USA)

Tidy Up Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Toves (Muppetism)

Translation of the Holy House of Loreto (Christian)

Vieta (Positivist; Saint)

Zinaida Serebriakova (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fatal Day (Pagan) [24 of 24]

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

Premieres

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain (Novel; 1884)

Bedazzled (Film; 1967)

Bedknob and Broomstick, by Mary Norton (Novel; 1943)

Being the Ricardos (Film; 2021)

Big Fish (Film; 2003)

The Billy Goat’s Whiskers, featuring Farmer Al Alfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1937)

Boris Bashes a Box or The Flat Chest (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 237; 1963)

The Cider House Rules (Film; 1999)

Counterpart (TV Series; 2017)

A Day at the Races, by Queen (Album; 1976)

Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1999)

Donald’s Ostrich (Disney Cartoon; 1937)

The Ethics of Ambiguity, by Simone de Beauvoir (Philosophy Book; 1947)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

Fernando, by ABBA (Song; 1975)

The Fighter (Film; 2010)

48 Hrs. (Film; 1982)

Gandhi (Film; 1982)

The Glenn Miller Story (Film; 1953)

Gopher Spinach (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1954)

The Green Mile (Film; 1999)

Guided Muscle (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

Guys and Dolls, by Damon Runyon (Short Stories; 1932)

A Horse Tale (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1928)

The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector (Novel; 1977)

Islands in the Stream, by Ernest Hemingway (Novel; 1970)

The Last Detail (Film; 1973)

Lawrence of Arabia (Film; 1962)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Film; 2004)

Mood Indigo, recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (Song; 1930)

A New Villain, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 25 & 26; 1967)

Ocean’s Twelve (Film; 2004)

One, Two, Three, Gone! Or I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 238; 1963)

Santa’s Workshop (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1932)

Shoah (Documentary Film; 2010)

The Silver Sword, by Ian Serraillier (Novel; 1956)

Sleuth (Film; 1972)

Sophie’s Choice (Film; 1982)

Swiss Family Robinson (Film; 1960)

The Tempest (Film; 2010)

Tennis Chumps (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1949)

Three’s a Crowd (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

The Tourist (Film; 2010)

Toyland Premiere (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1934)

Wayne’s World 2 (Film; 1993)

West Side Story (Film; 2021)

Wings Over America (Live Album; 1976)

The Year Without a Santa Claus (Animated TV Special; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Angelina, Bruno, Emma, Herbert (Austria)

Edmund, Gregor, Mauro (Croatia)

Julie (Czech Republic)

Judith (Denmark)

Juta, Juudit (Estonia)

Jutta (Finland)

Eulaire, Romaric (France)

Emma, Imma, Loretta (Germany)

Judit (Hungary)

Loreto (Italy)

Cera, Guna, Judīte, Sniedze (Latvia)

Eidimtas, Eularija, Ilma, Loreta (Lithuania)

Judit, Jytte (Norway)

Andrzej, Daniel, Judyta, Julia, Maria, Radzisława (Poland)

Ermoghen, Eugraf, Mina (Romania)

Radúz (Slovakia)

Eulalia, Loreto (Spain)

Malena, Malin (Sweden)

Angeline, Marian (Ukraine)

Emely, Emilee, Emilia, Emilie, Emily, Eula, Eulalia, Ula (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 345 of 2024; 21 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 17 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 10 (Wu-Shen)

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

Hebrew: 9 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 8 Jumada II 1446

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

Julian: 27 November 2024

Moon: 72%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 9 Bichat (13th Month) [Fermat / Wallis]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 79 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 19 of 30)

[hayatoseyepatch]

surprise, surprise! it’s your secret santa popping in for a visit ☃︎ how have you been lately? good i hope! of course, i have couple questions if you don’t mind answering ^_^

would you prefer to have your story with your name in it, or second pov (like x reader?)

what’s your favorite thing to do to celebrate the holidays (if you do!) with your f/o? anything in particular you both enjoy, or perhaps a bit of coaxing into something? (like going skiing, etc, etc.)

what’s your love language? how do you two spend time together?

+ anything else you’d like to share with me! i can’t wait to see what you have to say, and i hope im able to make something super special for you 🎄❄️🤍 !!! wishing you a lovely friYAY!

HI OH MY GOD IM SO SORRY THIS SAT FOR A BIT IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO THINK OF A RESPONSE (I'm bad with this stuff dont look at me) I'm also so excited I'm scaling the walls. ( ≧ᗜ≦)₊˚⊹

As far as having my name in it I dont mind at all! But if it's easier for you and if you would prefer a reader insert syle that is so fine by me whatever youre most comfy with!!

I absolutely LOVE the holiday season! I'm pagan so I celebrate yule and Christmas. One of my most cherished traditions (its a family one I've had since I was little) is decorating gingerbread houses, like as a little competition.

But everything about the holidays (escpecially decorating, looking at the lights, and baking) itches my brain!

OOO LOVE LANGUAGE OKAY I am really big on physical touch. And that doesnt even inherently mean sexually, I just love cuddling up, holding hands, or like wrapping arms around from behind (thats that good shit right there). Also big on words of affirmation, ya girl is soggy and insecure at times.

I hope this helped, please let me know if theres anything else you'd like to know! I am so so excited to find out who you are and see what amazing thing you'll create I just know I'll love it. MWACH

[secretmagicalgiftswap]

Secret Magical Gift Swap 2024/2025 - Sign-Ups Open! 🔮🌿🍄

Hi everyone! ✨

After a break of 6 years, the Secret Magical Gift Swap is back!

The aim of the swap is to create friendships within the pagan/witchcraft/heathenry/other spiritual community and spread the gift of giving through a postal Secret Santa style event where you send a gift and receive one in return. It's tailored to witches, pagans, heathens, non-religious and religious people alike, Kemetics, Hellenics, polytheists of all sorts, those interested in nature paths, those that follow folk religions, astrologers and others on a path of alternative practice or magic.

In the past this was an annual event but we are now back with a plan to keep the Swaps going a few times a year, more than likely quarterly, with one for every season.

To start this new chapter off, I decided to create the first Swap now, around the very season of giving. However, with the way the financial situation is around the world right now and many post offices being closed for the end of December and start of January, this first Swap will go on from now until the end of January, with a short break in February before we jump into the second Secret Magical Gift Swap!

🍄✨ How to Join The SMGS 24/25:

Read the event rules here and here.

Fill out the Sign-Up form here.

Reblog this post to spread the word!

Join our Discord server if you have a Discord account, for which an invite will be sent to you some time after joining the Swap (this may take time as I'm currently setting up the server :'D)

If you have any questions, please send an ask or message to here or to the organizer, @fernsinthemist The deadline for joining the Swap is November 28th!

Participants will be paired up and sent out within a few days after the deadline.

Enjoy the Swap, everyone!

I am also looking for help! If you are interested in helping to organize this Swap or future Swaps, please fill out this form to apply for a moderator role!

[hexehaus]

Santa Negra Work

Protection trabajo. 💖 Saturn square. Black Hen oil plus homemade La Negra oil. Love Black Hen!! Got cigarellos and mezcal! Santa is happy!!

Like talks of muertos and Muerteria? Check out my other blog here!

nfumbewalk .tumblr.com- you'll enjoy REAL secrets from a 32 year veteran of the Craft. This is not the a Wiccan or pagan based place. I'm monotheistic, a lot of my beliefs are Ifã based, spiritual wise, but I don't practice religion. My path is Muerteria - a practice I developed and I'm still working it. Muerteria is growing. Its necrosophy and necromancy. It takes a lot of time and practice, but what you get in return is valuable and it gives you a feeling of completeness and richness.

Any questions you have about Muerteria? Inbox me!

[fernsinthemist]

Hey guys. I used to organize a witchy/pagan secret Santa of sorts on here around Samhain time some years ago, and I want to get back into it. However, Samhain proved to be difficult for some people to send packages in the lead-up to the holidays. (While it was international, many people were from the US, and now that one of my day jobs is working with people in the US so I realize how busy it gets there in October/November/December!)

So, with that said, I think I will organize another one just after the new year, with some new fun ideas and options for everyone.

Keep your eyes peeled... An info post is coming soon :)

[bibliophileiz]

A Charming Carol

For Meli @perhapsblues for the 2023 Charmed Secret Santa. Happy Holidays and I hope you like your story! (Sorry it's a little late, I ended up with a ton of family stuff, plus this story got a little out of hand length-wise.)

Note: I am not Wiccan or Pagan and have never celebrated Solstice, so I did a little Google research while writing this story to get an idea of Solstice celebrations. They seem to vary a lot, but I made sure to include candles for light and acknowledge the importance of the shortest day of the year. Any outright errors are entirely my own.

Christmas Past

Prue didn’t know how it happened. One minute she was standing in the kitchen, checking the Book of Shadows to make sure she’d added all the potion ingredients right, and the next she felt a blast of heat at her back and was hurtled forward, just managing to catch herself on her hands as she fell to the kitchen floor.

“Ow.”

She scrambled to her feet, ready to yell to the rest of the house that she was fine. But there was no inquiring shout from either of her sisters. In fact, the house was oddly still, with the only sound she heard now being the distant notes of … was that the Trans Siberian Orchestra?

Perplexed, Prue glanced behind her at the kitchen’s island counter to see if the potion had exploded.

The potion was gone. So was the pot it had boiled in and the smattering of leftover ingredients.

And so was the Book of Shadows.

“Oh no,” Prue said. “Oh no, no, nonono. PIPER!”

She stood frozen, staring at the empty counter. How had the Book of Shadows disappeared so quickly and how had she not realized it, and was it the potion or was it a demon or was it….?

“Hey, Mom’s not here right no—who are you?”

Prue whirled around to see two tall young men, one blond, one brown-haired, and instead of bothering to ask them what the hell they were doing in her kitchen, she just raised her hand to throw them out.

Only the blond one immediately brought up a shield of blue light, which seemed to deflect Prue’s powers. Both men—boys really, she could see now how young their faces looked—stared at her with wide eyes. “Aunt Prue?” the brown-haired one said.

“Aunt … Prue—what now?” Prue blinked several times.

“Oh, I think she got blasted here from the past,” the blond one said to the other. “Did Mom ever mention anything to you about this?”

“Rules of time travel, Wyatt, how do you always forget?” the brown-haired one said. “If it goes right, they don’t remember anything when they go back to their own time.”

The blond rolled his eyes. “’I’m Chris and I know all about time travel because an alternate version of me went back in time and saved my big brother,’” he said in a mocking voice.

“Well, I did. You’re welcome.” The brown-haired one turned back toward Prue. “Aunt Prue? How you doing?”

“Not good,” said Prue. “Because I’m not your aunt. I’m not anybody’s aunt. You’re just two demons who shimmered into my house and stole my book and now are trying to trick me by claiming to be family, which, by the way, get a better story next time because I’m not convinced.”

She punctuated this with another sweep of her hand, which she hoped would toss them across the room. Instead, it just made their shield flutter a little.

Even that seemed to alarm them. “She’s powerful,” said the blond in awe.

“Yeah, we knew that already,” said the other. “Listen, Aunt Prue, we really are your nephews, you’re just in the future. In the year 2023. And the Book’s upstairs in the attic, like always.”

“Why should I believe you?” Prue demanded.

“Believe this.” The brown-haired boy tossed something rectangular shaped, which sailed harmlessly through the shield and which Prue caught automatically. She glanced at it. It had a picture of the two boys on it under the digital time—6:00 p.m. exactly—and in the top left-hand corner was the date. Dec. 21, 2023.

She held up the rectangular thing. “What is this?”

The brown-haired one nodded impressively. “That’s what a cell phone looks like in the year 2023.”

“Well, it doesn’t flip open.”

“They tend to not, anymore.”

Prue looked wildly around her. Now that she was paying attention to something other than the Book being gone, she noticed subtle changes to the kitchen. The egg yolk yellow paint on the walls had been replaced with a soft, muted gray. Piper’s snarky hand towels hanging on the oven had been replaced with different towels that were still snarky but didn’t have curse words. The photos on the fridge were sleeker and featured a veritable herd of mostly dark-haired children she’d never seen before.

“I’m … in … the future?”

“Yep,” said the blond. “Now we’ve got to figure out how you got here and how to get you back.”

Prue tried to sound sternly maternal. Or aunt-like. Whatever. “Where is your mother?” She frowned. “And who is your mother?”

“Piper is our mom, Leo is our dad,” said the blond. “I’m Wyatt, and this is my little brother Chris.” Chris held up one hand in a casual wave. “He’s a pro at the whole time-travel thing.”

“And Mom and Dad are visiting Aunt Phoebe right now,” Chris said. “She’s living in a loft downtown.”

Prue let out a bark of laughter. “Phoebe lives in a loft? Who’s paying for it?”

“She is,” Wyatt said brightly. “She’s a celebrity now.”

Prue opened her mouth to say something sarcastic, but then stopped herself. Phoebe had been working hard lately to get her life on track. If everything Chris and Wyatt said was true, then she was succeeding … had succeeded … would succeed?

The point was, she didn’t need her big sister second guessing her.

And Piper and Leo had made it. Prue felt the beginnings of something warm fill her stomach. “So … so you two are … the next generation? Which means … we survive.”

Wyatt opened his mouth, but Chris stepped on his foot. “Yes, Aunt Prue,” Chris said. “The Charmed Ones survived.”

Wyatt lowered the shield and gave her a quick, cautious smile. Prue didn’t miss the way his eyes darted to Chris’s. There was something the boys weren’t saying.

But Prue knew better to interrogate. For one thing, they were limited in what they could say, due to the whole butterfly effect. For another, she probably wouldn’t be able to remember any of this anyway once she got back to her time. And for the last thing, she had more immediate problems.

“Great, so.” She wracked her brains, trying to think what to do next. “This has been fun meeting you and everything, glad to know your parents make it work—and your Whitelighter shield is very impressive, Ch—Wyatt, sorry, it’s Wyatt, right? But we’re in the middle of a major demon hunt—Belthazor, the Triad, the Source—so in order to make sure you two get born and don’t have demons breaking down the door every day, we need to get me back to the year 2000.”

“Agreed,” Wyatt said brightly. “Chris can help you with that.”

***

It turned out working with her nephew was a lot like working with her sisters, except Chris actually listened to her.

“Don’t worry,” he said grinning when she made a comment about it. “It’s only Wyatt I don’t listen to.”

He also had the same power as Prue did, which he demonstrated by closing the attic door with the same casual hand wave she did.

“Cool,” Prue said, grinning. “Can you astral project too?”

“No, but I can orb.” Chris frowned. “Astral projection. What if it was your astral projection powers that interfered with the potion to send you to our time?”

As they’d headed to the attic, Prue had explained to Chris the spell she’d been working on in 2000. A time management spell—with everything going on, the manor had needed a little organization, dammit.

But Prue didn’t think astral projection would have anything to do with that spell. “I move through the astral plane, not time,” she said.  

Chris held up one finger. “But time is different in the astral plane. Especially on nights of concentrated magic. Like, say, December 21?”

Prue frowned. “Okay, I didn’t think of that.” She peered down at the Book. It was much thicker in 2023 than it had been in 2000. She pointed to a passage. “And I probably used too much cayenne pepper, which could have reacted with my powers—”

“—And mistletoe—”

“And all of that together on a powerful night like the winter Solstice caused a time travel blip,” Prue finished. “Ok, note to self: no more cooking with cayenne on Wiccan holidays.”

“Better leave the cooking to Mom anyway,” Chris said, closing the book. “Simple accident should require a simple solution. Luckily, I’m an expert at the spell you need to travel through time.” He took a piece of chalk and began sketching a large, long shape on the wall while Prue watched.

While he worked, Prue opened the book and began paging through it, pausing to look at spells and creatures she didn’t recognize.

“It’s nice to know all this keeps going,” she said. After I’m gone, she added in her mind. It hadn’t escaped her notice that almost none of the new spells were in her handwriting. She was torn between wanting to ask Chris how much longer she had and being terrified of the answer.

She looked up to see Chris had drawn a giant triquetra on the wall. “If you call your mother and Phoebe, we can do the Power of Three spell,” she said.

“We don’t need to,” Chris said. “This is my own spell, sort of.” He frowned as he stepped back. “Unless you want Mom and Aunt Phoebe.” He looked at her uncertainly.

Prue chose her words carefully. “How would they react to seeing me?”

Chris gave her a small, understanding smile. “I think they’d be really happy to see you.”

***

Christmas Past

The last time Phoebe approached the manor with this much trepidation, she’d been twenty-two years old and coming home from New York with no money to pay for her cab.

Now she was anxious about seeing the same person—but in a completely different way.

Leo was in the front seat driving, with Paige in the passenger seat. Phoebe sat in the back with Piper, who grabbed her hand as they turned into the driveway.

Paige had offered to orb them, but Phoebe wanted some time to ground herself. More than twenty years as San Francisco’s preeminent advice columnist, and never once had anyone written her asking what to do when their dead big sister shows up from 2000 and asks to see her.

Leo parked the car, and they all got out silently. Phoebe was still holding Piper’s hand.

They got to the door. “Should we knock?” asked Phoebe.

Piper scowled, looking for a moment like her old self. “It’s my house, I’m not knocking.” She opened the door.

They were greeted by Wyatt, sitting on the bottom step playing on his phone. He looked up and flashed them a grin as Piper and Phoebe came in, followed by Leo and Paige. “Where is she?” Phoebe asked, suddenly desperate to see her.

“In the sitting room with Chris,” Wyatt said. “He made her stay put because she was pacing so much.”

Phoebe started running.

She skidded to a halt in the living room, causing Piper to nearly crash into her. Prue jumped off the couch and for a moment, they all stared at each other.

It was like looking at a video of a Christmas past. Prue looked thirty years old, her dark hair long and lustrous, wearing a tight t-shirt with cookies and milk on it that said I PUT OUT FOR SANTA. She was beautiful. She was home.

Then the Halliwell sisters all squealed like a bunch of teenagers and crashed into each other in a hug.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Phoebe said, smushed between her two big sisters.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” Prue said. They all squeezed tighter, giggling and sliding on Piper’s slick floor. After several long moments, they let go and Prue blurted out, “You guys look so old!”

“Hey, watch who you’re calling old, lady!” Piper said, but there were tears running down her face. Prue kissed the top of her head, and Piper fit her head in the space between Prue’s neck and shoulder, looking like a little girl again.

“I heard you finally got your restaurant,” Prue said.

“Yeah, after demon vanquish number 60 million.”

Phoebe leaned her head on Prue’s other shoulder, and Prue brushed some of her hair out of her face. “And you’re giving people advice for a living?”

Phoebe stiffened. “Surprised?”

“Not at all. I … actually feel like I should have seen it coming.” Prue seemed thoughtful.

Phoebe sniffed. “Well, I’m the one with the power of premonition.”

“And … empathy and levitation?”

“Eh.”

Prue finally looked away from her sisters to the rest of the people gathered in the living room. Chris and Wyatt were standing back like they didn’t want to intrude on an emotional moment, but Leo and Paige were in her line of sight. Prue grinned. “Hey, Leo. Looking good.”

Leo let out a laugh through his front teeth. “Thanks Prue. It’s good to see you.”

Prue disentangled herself from Phoebe and Piper and pulled Leo into a long hug. When she released him, she turned to Paige. “And you must be Paige.”

It had been a long time since Paige looked uncertain, but as she cast a quick glance at Piper and Phoebe, she reminded Phoebe so much of the first time they’d met that for a moment Phoebe wondered if they weren’t the one who had time traveled. She gave Paige as encouraging a smile as she could, and her baby sister squared her shoulders and turned back to Prue. “And you’re the famous Prue. It’s … really great to meet you.”

She held out her hand, but Prue shook her head. “Sisters hug,” she said firmly, and Paige laughed as the two embraced.

“So Chris and Wyatt explained everything to you?” Piper said shrewdly as they two women released each other.

“Yes.” Prue pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She looked exactly the same as the last time Phoebe saw her—thirty years old, beautiful, and much more confident than the rest of them. “I kind of figured it out when I noticed none of the new spells in the Book of Shadows were left by me.” She took a breath and let it out slowly. “I was upset, at first, but mostly I just want to see you guys.”

“What time are you from, exactly?” Paige asked.

“December 21, 2000,” Prue said. “Exactly twenty-three years ago.”

“Wow,” Phoebe said. “We’re so old.”

“Belthazor just killed the Triad, and then you killed Belthazor,” Prue said, gesturing to Phoebe who tried not to wince. Somehow, she had never thought about how the last Christmas she’d spent with Prue, she’d been lying to her. “And now we’re trying to deal with the Source. And Piper and Leo are on probation, but it looks like that works itself out.”

“Yeah, after a couple of hiccups,” Piper said.

Leo held out his hand, and his wife took it with a small smile. “It was worth it, though,” Leo said, bending to kiss her.

“And you’ve got amazing kids! I mean, I can’t believe that Chris wrote a working time travel spell that doesn’t even require the Power of Three,” Prue said.

“Yeah, and that spell is ready whenever you are,” Chris volunteered from the corner where he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Wyatt.

“Oh, you don’t have to go now, do you?” Phoebe blurted out.

“Yeah, it’s Christmas!” Piper said. “You can stay for Christmas!”

“Or at least Solstice,” Paige said. “I mean, the power’s going to be really easy to tap into until midnight, so we have a few hours, and even after that we can still get you back, whenever you want. I mean, if you want,” she added. “I know we all look different and you just met me and you probably want to get back to your own time, but … I’d love to get to know my big sister.”

“I do need to get back,” Prue said. “But I think it can wait a few hours.”

“Then let’s do Solstice and Christmas!” Phoebe said. “I have the candles and all the shopping’s done. I can have the girls bring over the presents.”

“Yeah, Henry can bring over ours,” Paige said.

“But I haven’t done the baking yet!” Piper said.

“We’ll just order pizza,” said Wyatt.

“Pizza? On the Solstice? In my house?” Piper said. “Who raised you?”

What followed was a flurry of activity. Piper went to the kitchen to bake cookies and canapes (though Wyatt still ordered four pizzas for everyone). Phoebe and Paige got on the phone with their respective husbands to tell them what was going on and that Christmas would be a couple of days early this year so they could spend it with Aunt Prue. Within an hour, the house was filled with the sound of children’s shrill laughter and the smell of Piper’s baking.

Witches and Wiccans celebrate Solstice a variety of ways, but since the Charmed Ones celebrated it and Christmas—and since demons still tended to crash any bashes they threw—they kept their celebrations simple. As the sun set, they gathered in the living room to light a candle and pass it around, each saying what they were thankful for and expressing their hopes for the coming season of light.

Piper tried to get Prue to start, but Prue patted her knee. “I think it should be you, since you’re the head of this family now.”

Piper’s eyes filled with tears, but she gave Prue a quick smile and began to speak, talking about the importance of the shortest day of the year. As they moved from the darkness of winter toward the light of spring, she said, it was important to hold onto hope and remember what all they had.

“This year, I’m thankful for our family, like every year,” Piper said. “For my wonderful, loving husband. For my talented boys. For my spirited nieces and nephew. For my supportive brothers-in-law. And for my sisters, who have always been there for me.” She glanced at Prue. “Especially when I didn’t expect them.” She continued. “And my hopes for the new year are that we will all stay together and remember how—” her voice caught. “—how lucky we are to have each other,” she finished tearfully, and then quickly passed the candle to Phoebe.

Phoebe took it and spent a silent moment centering herself, like always. “This year, I’m thankful for the peace and joy we’ve had together as a family. For my beautiful girls. And I’m thankful for this time I get to spend with Prue.” She beamed at Prue, who had tears running down her cheeks. In fact, almost everyone in the family was crying now, so Phoebe decided to lighten the moment. “And I hope next year I make lots of money.”

Everyone chuckled, and Phoebe quickly added, “And I hope that we all grow stronger and more confident in our power and our love for one another.”

She passed the candle to Leo, who passed it next to Chris (“I’m thankful I finally get to meet Aunt Prue so we can bond over our kick-ass power.”) and then to Paige (“I’m thankful to meet Prue and find her as warm and down-to-earth as I always hoped, while still being the hot, bad-ass goddess I was always a little intimidated by.”) and on and on until finally Prue was the last one holding the candle

“I’m thankful for this opportunity to see my family,” she said. “To see what we become.” Her voice caught, just like Piper’s had. “And I know now that I don’t have much longer left, but … I am so happy to see the legacy we have. And I’m sad, but I’m not afraid.”

She handed the candle back to Piper, who said, “So mote it be,” and blew out the candle.

Food and a much less quiet, more chaotic Christmas celebration followed. No one had bought presents for Prue, of course, but she still somehow ended up with elf ears, a sparkly Santa hat, several pieces of both store-bought and homemade jewelry, Parker’s old phone, and a lap full of chocolate coins. Phoebe and Paige’s kids sat around her in a circle listening to her tell stories while Piper filled and refilled everyone’s plates and Wyatt made a circle of white lights float over the Christmas tree.

As midnight approached, the younger children nodded off on the living room floor, while the men started discussing football. The sisters retreated to the kitchen to help Piper clean up.

Prue put an arm around each Piper and Phoebe. “I just want to say I am so proud of you guys.” She glanced at Paige. “And you too, although it sounds like you were always going places.” Paige grinned.

Phoebe put an arm around Prue. “We couldn’t have done it without you,” she said in a slightly higher voice, the kind she used to use when Prue was alive.

“Yeah, not without our big sister,” agreed Piper.

“Also, not to give too much away about the future—”

“I already know I die—”

“But you have some kickass astral projection stuff coming up. Also a demon wrestling match.”

“Ugh,” Prue said. “That makes me feel sore just thinking about it.”

“And Piper’s going to table dance!” Phoebe added.

“Don’t tell her that, it’s bad enough living through it once,” Piper said.

At midnight, the sisters, including Paige, went upstairs to the attic with Chris. To Phoebe’s surprise, Prue gave her nephew a tight hug. “Proud of you, kid,” she said.

Chris grinned broadly.

Another round of hugs went between the sisters. Everyone was crying again.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Piper said, squeezing her eyes shut and burying her face in Prue’s shoulder.

Prue sniffed and wiped a tear from her cheek, but said, “You’ll see me again. Just, like, summon my ghost or something.” Piper let out a watery laugh as she released her.

She hugged Paige next. To Phoebe’s surprise, Paige was crying too. “It’s been so great meeting you,” she squeaked through her tears.

“You too,” Prue said, squeezing her tightly. “I’m glad to know the Charmed legacy is in such good hands, though.”

Last, she hugged Phoebe. Phoebe sank against her, inhaling the smell of her perfume that brought back memories of being in college and confused and in love with Cole and in awe of Prue. Prue kissed her hair. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered in Phoebe’s ear. Phoebe could only blubber unattractively.

Finally Prue stepped back and smiled at all of them. “I love you guys.” She looked at Chris. “I’m ready.”

Chris handed her the Book.

“Hear these words, hear the rhyme, heed the hope within my mind,” Prue read slowly. “Send me back to where I’ll find what I wish in space and time.”

The triquetra on the wall suddenly glowed blue, and all the air in the room seemed to hum. Prue gave them one last smile, turned to the portal, squared her shoulders, and walked through the shape on the wall.

There was a sound like a gust of wind. And then Prue was gone.

***

Christmas present

Prue ended up back in the kitchen, looking at a now empty bowl of potion, trying to figure out both what had happened to it, and if she’d just had some sort of dream, and if those two things were related.

She raised her wrist to push her hair back and saw a childlike bracelet she’d never seen before around her wrist. Between pink and purple beads were some with blocky letters that said PEYTON.

“Peyton?” she said.

At that moment, Phoebe walked into the room. Her hair was blond and she was twenty-four. “My finals are supposed to be posted tonight, and I have no idea how I did,” she groaned, helping herself to one of the early Christmas cookies Piper had left cooling on the table after an afternoon of baking. “Are you prepared to continue supporting me if I flunk out and have to do college all over again in another two years?” Prue continued to stare at her bracelet. “Who’s Peyton?”

A small suspicion was growing in Prue’s mind. “Did you cast a time travel spell?”

“No, why?”

Prue held up her wrist and shook it. “Because I just time travelled. How else do you explain this?”

“Usually you don’t remember time travel,” Phoebe said. “Why do you think you went back again?”

“Something about too much cayenne in this potion… maybe? I don’t know, I just have a feeling, that’s all.”

Phoebe sat on the table and dangled her legs. “Do we need to go to the Book?”

“No, I … I think we should fine, as long as it doesn’t happen again.”

“Well, do you happen to have a feeling about my exams?” Phoebe said hopefully.

She meant it as a joke, but Prue looked at her, beginning to smile. She wasn’t quite sure why, but she was absurdly proud of her little sister.

Phoebe reached up to her face self-consciously. “What? Do I have something on my nose?” A small smile crept across Prue’s face. “No. But I think your exams are going to be just fine.”

[elhoimleafar]

Maria Lionza, Lady of the spirits and souls.

The cult of the indigenous goddess Yara de la Onza or Maria Lionza in Venezuela, the same spiritualist cult that has spread to other countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, ultimately transcends the comprehension of those occultists and sorcerers who do not reside there.

Maria Lionza is cited in a few books. Most define her as a Venezuelan indigenous legend, a female spirit of native origin, or a "local goddess" of spirits and nature. In Venezuela, Maria Lionza is all of these definitions and more. She is a high magic spiritual entity that assists all those who feel isolated, unappreciated, belittled, marginalized, and mistreated. She and all those who oppose the ideas of the system brought by the colonizers: racism, transphobia, homophobia, religious imposition, patriarchy, etc.

Maria Lionza represents the wild, free, indomitable, and matriarchal aspect of Nature. It is the old story of an indigenous woman who rebelled against the religious institution and freed enslaved people. It is the never-written tale of a powerful woman who discovers in her femininity an intimate connection to divinity and, through it, finds the power to lead the rebellion and claim her role until death and beyond.

Between Animas & Spirits

Maria Lionza acts as a liberator of the Animas and souls from purgatory, just as she was a liberator of the indigenous peoples enslaved by the European colonizers.

She is the central character in the spiritist cult of the animas and spirits in Venezuela. Although the term "Animas" has a massive variety of results according to each Latin American country, in the spiritist aspect, it is the term commonly used to refer to those lost souls, martyred souls, and souls that wander aimlessly in pain, either for having committed suicide or murder, for having seriously harmed others, or (following Catholic tradition) for not having received baptism, although today the latter can be referred to more broadly in the aspect of being an anima that did not follow an established religious current or another spiritual path, and simply has no direction of ascension to follow in the afterlife.

Maria Lionza is the leader of her own spiritual court, and contrary to Santa Barbara, another character of great relevance in the spiritualist cults of the region, who appears as a more modern character and is linked to the Catholic people, Maria Lionza represents the indigenous ancestors and pagan warriors of the past, native sorceresses and their pre-colonization magic, nature's herbal and medicinal secrets, and a connection to all the wild animals of which she has been proclaimed queen.

The animas and spirits serve as messengers of Maria Lionza, a queen in the world of spirits and fairies, the latter being very different characters in Latin America from their European version, darker in character and with a very different origin.

Being a Marialioncero, a priest of Maria Lionza, also implies being a sorcerer who agrees with all these spirits that are present, working at their service and charging them through favors. Conquering the world of spirits is a particular task that requires years of training and constant practice. These are esoteric mysteries not found in books and encyclopedias but hidden in plain sight and in constant and changing practice.

The spirits of low light and the animas act as servants of the queen. They come to the sorcerer or the Chaman to agree in exchange for mutual favors, thus being for them a mission to fulfill beyond life, thus allowing them to somehow way to free themselves from the chains and agony of being souls in pain and serve, beyond death, a purpose superior to them, a spiritual entity of greater power, and work shoulder to shoulder with priests, warriors, and sorcerers of the goddess.

Here Below Classes, Books, and More Content about our Goddess

Save Your Spot for my Upcoming Classes:

Maria Lionza, Goddess of Witches CLICK HERE 

Herbal Traditional Magic for Protection CLICK HERE 

Other Posts Of Mine To Follow The Topic:Maria Lionza: The Queen of Witches & Fairies.Maria Lionza: A  Feminist And Indigenous Cult of Latin American Origin.Marialionceros: The Tradition, Cult, and Spiritism of the Goddess Maria Lionza.A Special Post Made by Me for Tess Whitehurst's Blog:

An Introduction to Queen Maria Lionza, Goddess of Witches, and a Ritual in her Honor.

Pre-Order My Book DREAM WITCHERY:

On Llewellyn Page Click Here 

On AMZN Click Here 

On Barnes & Noble Click Here 

On Bookshop Org Click Here