#pomegranate cultivation

[just-a-ghost00]

Their energy towards you now

This reading is meant for romantic connections that are currently in a separation, whether you have been in a relationship or not. When I talk about separation, I mean that you and this person are having minimal to no contact, whether they live near you or far from you. If you do interact, it is not in a romantic context. This separation can be on a mutual accord or happened progressively over time.

Group 1

6 of cups

What caught my attention about this card was the hourglass. It was beautifully drawn and surrounded by the water spilling from the cups. It gave me the impression of someone wishing strongly that their feelings toward the other could turn back time. But this is something that is not one sided, because the two rows of cups were spilling water that is interconnecting around the object. They are being nostalgic about the times spent together and the memories you shared. And they may be feeling like you are too, which both comforts and saddens them. I got a feeling like this person is wondering : if we’re both regretting what happened and missing each other, why are things still the same?

Ace of cups

On this card, a cup is sheltering a flower in blooming. Out of that flower is rising a water droplet that kinda looked like a pearl. Not only does this person like you but they are cultivating those feelings. They nurture them, water them, like they would a flower. Those feelings are precious to them because they were shared. Despite everything that happened, they still love you as if it were the first day. They don’t want them to disappear. Because if they do, then you will fade into their memory. I feel like this person is sometimes crying over your absence at night. They feel like the situation is out of their hands but they hope that, if they keep loving you, if their love is strong enough, you’ll come back around.

4 of wands

The wands are kinda placed like a fence and at their feet lie two halves of a pomegranate as well as a maple leaf. It made me feel like this person still wishes to protect the foundation that you had built with them, whether this took the form of a friendship, a partnership or more. After all this time, they still perceive you as their one. As the person they wish to build a future with. They still think of this being a possibility. They still wish to work toward that goal. Not only that but they also want to support you more than anything and be by your side. I feel like this person wants to protect you from the world and keep you to themselves.

High Priestess

A woman is having her back on the quarter of a moon. Around her lays a snake. When nighttime comes specifically, this person is filled with desire for you and intentions of transforming this connection. Most of these person’s feelings and thoughts may be subconscious or repressed. Even if they’re aware of the attraction they have for you, this person doesn’t wish you to know. This is something they want to keep to themselves for now. A part of them is afraid you wouldn’t understand them. Another just wants to lay low and observe what your reactions are, to gain knowledge and heal.

3 of wands

What you may also not suspect is that this person wishes to close the distance and come to you. They may be planning a travel near your home or a way to get into contact with you again, reignite the flame. This person wishes for this separation to end and pick up where you left the connection in hopes that something good will come out of it. For those of you that live at a distance from one another, I’m getting the impression you may have felt it coming but were not sure of your intuition. You may hear about it soon, either through someone else or in an indirect way. For instance, this person may post on their social media about one thing but their post will make you feel like something is brewing.

Group 2

Page of cups

This person has developped feelings for you but they may still be thinking about the past or afraid that their past will have an influence on your connection, which may be one of the reasons why you are in separation at the moment. They feel emotionally linked to you and wish to come towards you. However, something is holding them back. They may be afraid that the past will repeat itself or that you may not understand them, share the same point of view about the connection. They however still care about you and feel positively towards you.

10 of wands

They have a lot on their plate. A lot of worries about what the future holds, about whether a reconciliation is possible. They may also be busy with a lot of other responsibilities, which may burden them and interfere in how they feel towards you. I feel like this person is tired of being played with and bearing the weight of their feelings. Though they like you a lot, the fact that they cannot express their emotions freely is taking a toll on them. This person is also tired of being held back by their past trauma, of having to fight to feel loved and cared for. They may be feeling like they've given more than they should have and may be waiting for you to make a move, if you wish for the connection to progress.

Black Numen

Despite their feelings, this person kinda has lost hope about your connection working out. The fact that nothing is happening in the 3D and that they don't see the changes they hoped for may be adding to their disappointment and sadness. Again, I get a feeling that a lot of other things are happening to this person and it really tires them out. They may be in a phase of doubt where they are not sure whether how they feel towards you is enough to keep the connection alive. They may also doubt your intentions towards them and feel like you tricked them. Overall, I just get the feeling that they just wish to be at peace with this connection, whether it's with or without you. They want to be freed of this feeling of confusion and waiting for things to unfold.

The Sun

In another context, this card may have been a positive one but I feel like here this card is showing that this person is slowly retreating their energy and focus from the connection and trying to move one without you. The character one the card is walking towards the left. This person is determined to get back to a state of hapiness, even if that means cutting ties with you, because they feel like this has been going on for too long and isn't going anywhere. They feel like there ain't nothing much they can do about it so they might as well focus on themselves, like they used to before they met you. I feel like they don't hold any grudges or resentment towards you. They are grateful for your shared experience but they are in an energy of prioritizing themselves.

Queen of cups

This person intends to nurture themselves and love themselves first, however they still care about you and appreciate you. They have decided that they will leave the outcome of this connection up to fate and in the meantime, they will fill their own cup and learn to become one with themselves. I get the message that even if you're apart and even if it turns out you won't be together, this person will always hold a place for you in their heart because your connection is special and precious to them. They will always think of you fondly and speak about you with a warmth in their voice because what you have shared is unforgettable in their eyes. Deep down, they will still keep the hope that you can be united again, but they will no longer chase after it. Should you want to come back, they will leave the door open.

Group 3

Hermit

During your separation, this person has thought a lot about you, the connection, what they wanted out of it, what they felt like they could bring to the table. They've really pondered about the meaning of your encounter, the importance you had to them and the lessons they could learn from this experience. And it feels like they have had an epiphany. They realized a lot of things that they may have repressed in the past and really came to terms with it. I get a message of someone looking at the sky and the stars, wondering what the other is up to, whether they are thinking about the connection as well. I feel like this person never lost hope of coming back to you and the whole time, they were only thinking of you and the future.

White Numen

While in separation, they hoped that you would come rushing to them. But realizing that you didn't, they started to question their methods and their feelings. And they understood that if they wanted to see a change, they had to make a difference. They had to create the reality they wanted to see and be the author of their own story. This person understood that, yes of course you had your role to play, but they also had their own script to follow to ensure the play would get its happy ending. Basically, they learned that it takes two to tango and that for a relationship to work out, both parties need to be walking in the same direction and find a common ground they can build on. This person is creatively inspired and the puzzle pieces are starting to assemble in their mind's eye. They now know where they stand and where they want to go.

Ace of cups

Their feelings for you have been renewed. As you were no longer in contact, they realized the value of your affection, how good you were to them. They found out that they missed you dearly and that they took you for granted. Now, they want to give your connection another chance. They wish to reconcile and reciprocate your feelings. They want to get into contact with you again and put an end to the separation. They may be thinking of ways to reach out to you without you freaking out or rejecting them right away. They are hopeful.

Chariot reversed

Though they want to come back to you, they feel a little scared to do so. They don't just want to mindlessly rush into this, without thinking of the consequences and without being sure of your position as well. They just don't want to be disappointed. Another thing I am picking up on is that this person is being delayed. Things and people are trying to get in the way of your reunion right now. Part of it is related to this person's fear of rejection. But not just that. For some, I am getting that this person planned to travel towards you but their trip got delayed or canceled for some reason. Think of traffic disturbances, a flight being cancelled because of a natural disaster, them having to postpone their travel because of financial issues or family matters. Their work could also be a factor in this situation. Their boss could have refused their request to get some time off of work for example.

10 of pentacles

Even if obstacles are stending in the way of your connection, this person is determined to put in the work to see it prosper over time. They are aware that it may be difficult and take a lot of time to flourish, but they are confident that it has the potential to grow into something valuable, that will last. This person feels lucky that they have you and the connection. They see the value in what you share and they intend to protect it and guard it against anyone or anything that would try to keep you apart. This person may be envisioning a partnership with you, whether that is on a professional level, on a friendship level, a familial level or romantic level. They want you to be a part of their legacy and their inner circle. And if they have to start from scratch to ensure that, they will without any hesitation, because they know it is worth it.

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A bowl of avocado spread sculpted into a pattern, topped with olive oil and garnished with symmetrical lines of nigella seeds and piles of pomegranate seeds; a pile of pita bread is in the background. End ID]

متبل الأفوكادو / Mutabbal al-'afukadu (Palestinian avocado dip)

Avocados are not native to Palestine. Israeli settlers planted them in Gaza in the 1980s, before being evicted when Israel evacuated all its settlements in Gaza in 2005. The avocados, however, remained, and Gazans continued to cultivate them for their fall and winter harvest. Avocados have been folded into the repertoire of a "new" Palestinian cuisine, as Gazans and other Palestinians have found ways to interpret them.

Palestinians may add local ingredients to dishes traditionally featuring avocado (such as Palestinian guacamole, "جواكامولي فلسطيني" or "غواكامولي فلسطيني"), or use avocado in Palestinian dishes that typically use other vegetables (pickling them, for example, or adding them to salads alongside tomato and cucumber).

Another dish in this latter category is حمص الافوكادو (hummus al-'afukadu)—avocado hummus—in which avocado is smoothly blended with lemon juice, white tahina (طحينة البيضاء, tahina al-bayda'), salt, and olive oil. Yet another is متبّل الأفوكادو (mutabbal al-'afukadu). Mutabbal is a spiced version of بابا غنوج (baba ghannouj)‎: "مُتَبَّل" means "spiced" or "seasoned," from "مُ" "mu-," a participlizing prefix, + "تَبَّلَ" "tabbala‎," "to have spices added to." Here, fresh avocado replaces the roasted eggplant usually used to make this smooth dip; it is mixed with green chili pepper, lemon juice, garlic, white tahina, sumac, and labna (لبنة) or yoghurt. Either of these dishes may be topped with sesame or nigella seeds, pomegranate seeds, fresh dill, or chopped nuts, and eaten with sliced and toasted flatbread.

Avocados' history in Palestine precedes their introduction to Gaza. They were originally planted in 1908 by a French order of monks, but these trees have not survived. It was after the Balfour Declaration of 1917 (in which Britain, having been promised colonial control of Palestine with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1, pledged to establish "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine) that avocado agriculture began to take root.

In the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, encouraged by Britain, Jewish Europeans began to immigrate to Palestine in greater numbers and establish agricultural settlements (leaving an estimated 29.4% of peasant farming families without land by 1929). Seeds and seedlings from several varieties of avocado were introduced from California by private companies, research stations, and governmental bodies (including Mikveh Israel, a school which provided settlers with agricultural training). In these years, prices were too high for Palestinian buyers, and quantities were too low for export.

It wasn't until after the beginning of the Nakba (the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from "Jewish" areas following the UN partition of Palestine in 1947) that avocado plantings became significant. With Palestinians having been violently expelled from most of the area's arable land, settlers were free to plant avocados en masse for export, aided (until 1960) by long-term, low-interest loans from the Israeli government. The 400 acres planted within Israel's claimed borders in 1955 ballooned to 2,000 acres in 1965, then 9,000 by 1975, and over 17,000 by 1997. By 1986, Israel was producing enough avocados to want to renegotiate trade agreements with Europe in light of the increase.

Israeli companies also attained commercial success selling avocados planted on settlements within the West Bank. As of 2014, an estimated 4.5% of Israeli avocado exports were grown in the occupied Jordan Valley alone (though data about crops grown in illegal settlements is of course difficult to obtain). These crops were often tended by Palestinian workers, including children, in inhumane conditions and at starvation wages. Despite a European Union order to specify the origin of such produce as "territories occupied by Israel since 1967," it is often simply marked "Israel." Several grocery stores across Europe, including Carrefour, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, and Aldi, even falsified provenance information on avocados and other fruits in order to circumvent consumer boycotts of goods produced in Israel altogether—claiming, for example, that they were from Morocco or Cyprus.

Meanwhile, while expanding its own production of avocados, Israel was directing, limiting, and destabilizing Palestinian agriculture in an attempt to eliminate competition. In 1982, Israel prohibited the planting of fruit trees without first obtaining permission from military authorities; in practice, this resulted in Palestinians (in Gaza and the West Bank) being entirely barred from planting new mango and avocado trees, even to replace old, unproductive ones.

Conditions worsened in the years following the second intifada. Between September of 2000 and September of 2003, Israeli military forces destroyed wells, pumps, and an estimated 85% of the agricultural land in al-Sayafa, northern Gaza, where farmers had been using irrigation systems and greenhouses to grow fruits including citrus, apricots, and avocados. They barred almost all travel into and out of al-Sayafa: blocking off all roads that lead to the area, building barricades topped with barbed wire, preventing entry within 150 meters of the barricade under threat of gunfire, and opening crossings only at limited times of day and only for specific people, if at all.

A July 2001 prohibition on Palestinian vehicles within al-Sayafa further slashed agricultural production, forcing farmers to rely on donkeys and hand carts to tend their fields and to transport produce across the crossing. If the crossing happened to be closed, or the carts could not transport all the produce in time, fruits and vegetables would sit waiting in the sun until they rotted and could not be sold. The 2007 blockade worsened Gaza's economy still further, strictly limiting imports and prohibiting exports entirely (though later on, there would be exceptions made for small quantities of specific crops).

In the following years, Israel allowed imports of food items into Gaza not exceeding the bare minimum for basic sustenance, based on an estimation of the caloric needs of its inhabitants. Permitted (apples, bananas, persimmons, flour) and banned items for import (avocados, dates, grapes) were ostensibly based on "necessary" versus "luxury" foods, but were in fact directed according to where Israeli farmers could expect the most profit.

Though most of the imports admitted into Gaza continued to come from Israel, Gazan farmers kept pursuing self-sufficiency. In 2011, farmers working on a Hamas-government-led project in the former settlements produced avocados, mangoes, and most of the grapes, onions, and melons that Gazans ate; by 2015, though still forbidden from exporting excess, they were self-sufficient in the production of crops including onions, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, almonds, olives, and apples.

Support Palestinian resistance by calling Elbit System’s (Israel’s primary weapons manufacturer) landlord, donating to Palestine Action’s bail fund, and donating to the Bay Area Anti-Repression Committee bail fund.

Ingredients:

2 medium avocados (300g total)

1/4 cup white tahina

2 Tbsp labna (لبنة), or yoghurt (laban, لبن رايب)

1 green chili pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp good olive oil

Juice of 1/2 lemon (1 1/2 Tbsp)

1 tsp table salt, or to taste

Pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds, pine nuts, chopped dill, nigella seeds, sesame seeds, sumac, and/or olive oil, to serve

Khubiz al-kmaj (pita bread), to serve

Instructions:

1. In a mortar and pestle, crush garlic, pepper, and a bit of salt into a fine paste.

2. Add avocados and mash to desired texture. Stir in tahina, labna, olive oil, lemon juice, and additional salt.

You can also combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

3. Top with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Add toppings, as desired.

4. Cut pita into small rectangles or triangles and separate one half from the other (along where the pocket is). Toast in the oven, or in a large, dry skillet, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Serve dip alongside toasted pita chips.

[darkforestfae-tea]

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲!

Mabon marks the Fall Equinox! Typically observed on September 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, Mabon spans from September 21 to September 29. It is a time of balance, when day and night are equal in length, symbolizing harmony and equilibrium. Many cultures celebrate this period as a time of thanksgiving and reflection, honoring the bountiful harvest and the changing of the seasons. Traditional festivities might include feasts with seasonal foods like apples, pumpkins, and squash, along with activities such as gathering with loved ones, giving thanks, and preparing for the colder months ahead.

People often take this opportunity to connect with nature, perhaps by taking walks in the crisp autumn air, collecting colorful leaves, or setting up altars with symbols of the season. It's also a time for introspection, to consider what has been achieved over the past months and to set intentions for the future.

In modern times, Mabon encourages a moment of pause in our busy lives, reminding us to appreciate the abundance around us, to cultivate gratitude, and to seek balance in our own lives. Whether through quiet reflection, community gatherings, or simply enjoying a warm cup of cider while watching the leaves fall, Mabon offers a beautiful reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the ever-present opportunity for renewal and growth.

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This post will consist of several sections:

Correspondences

Activities

Common Rituals

Broom Closet

and more! Ready to begin?

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𝓒𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼:

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Animals:

Coyote

Blackbird

Owl

Goose

Stag

Squirrel

Wolf

Symbols:

Cornucopia

Pentagram

Herbs:

Rosemary

Safflower

Thyme

Rue

Rose Hips

Marigold

Saffron

Dried Apple

Oak Moss

Crystals:

Amber

Amethyst

Tiger’s Eye

Citrine

Garnet

Peridot

Yellow Topaz

Ruby

Decor:

Apples

Autumn Leaves

Acorns

Animal Bones

Sunflowers

Pine Cones

Gourds

Balance Scales

Harvest Foods

Pomegranates

Grape Vine

Themes:

Harvest

Gratitude

Balance

Reflection

Shadow Work

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𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓷 𝓡𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓼:

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-Adorn your space with seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkins.

-Reflect on what the summer season revealed to you about yourself.

-Create an "I let go" list of things you wish to release from the summer.

-Simmer cinnamon to attract abundance.

-Establish your goals for the Fall season, which extends until December 21st.

-Ignite a candle and meditate to catch a glimpse of what the upcoming season holds.

-Tidy up and declutter your home, then pass a cinnamon broom for abundance.

-Indulge in a flavorful spiced tea or coffee. Savor each sip. Take a moment to reflect on your blessings and what you are grateful for.

-The Fall Equinox is on September 22nd at 9:04 pm (EST). Set a reminder and declare, "This season will be my best one yet."

-Trim your hair to release old energy.

-Recharge by visiting a pumpkin patch, farmers market, or spending time outdoors.

-Place an apple beside a coin for good luck and prosperity.

-Create a besom and utilize it to cleanse your home of negative energies.

-Create your own custom Mabon Incense mix.

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𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓸𝓶 𝓒𝓵��𝓼𝓮𝓽

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This list is for those witches who may still be in the closet. These activities can pass as “Autumnal Activities” to others! Here are some subtle yet enchanting ways to celebrate your craft:

Nature Walks: Collect leaves, acorns, and other natural items to use in your spells and crafts. It’s a great way to connect with nature and gather supplies without drawing attention.

Pumpkin Carving: Carve symbols or sigils into your pumpkins. Not only are they festive, but they can also serve as protection or intention-setting.

Candle Making: Create your own candles with herbs and essential oils. You can infuse them with specific intentions and use them for rituals later on.

Baking: Make seasonal treats like apple pie or pumpkin bread. Incorporate herbs and spices that have magical properties, such as cinnamon for prosperity or nutmeg for luck.

Herb Drying: Harvest and dry herbs for your witchy cabinet. Hang bundles of rosemary or lavender in your kitchen to dry; it looks like you're just readying them for cooking.

Gardening: Plant bulbs or prepare your garden for winter. This is a great way to work with the earth and practice your green-thumb magic.

Reading: Dive into books about folklore, mythology, or herbalism. It’s a cozy way to expand your knowledge and connect with ancient traditions. (Kindle has a phone app, if you cannot have physical books)

DIY Crafts: Make wreaths, potpourri, or sachets with found natural items. These can be used for decoration or as part of your magical practice.

Tea Time: Brew different herbal teas. Experiment with blends that have magical properties to set intentions or simply relax.

Moon Watching: Keep track of the moon phases and spend time outside during the full moon. This can be a meditative practice and a way to align with lunar energies.

By incorporating these activities into your routine, you can celebrate your witchy side while blending seamlessly into the autumnal festivities. Happy enchanting!

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𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓼

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Apples are a common symbol of Mabon/Autumn Equinox for many pagans, wiccans, and witches. They can be incorporated into many different kinds of spell work for abundance, health, renewal, planting the seed of an idea/intention & knowledge. Apples can be used in magick by cutting them in half horizontally to reveal the star inside. Spell ingredients can then be sprinkled on top. Other ways of using apples is to dry then to decorate your altar or space with. You can gather apples to return to the Earth by burying them to give thanks for the Harvest. Cooking with apples is a perfect way to celebrate Mabon. Whether you make a warm apple pie, a spiced cider, or a savory apple stew, these dishes can be shared with loved ones to honor the season. The act of cooking itself becomes a ritual, infusing each dish with your intentions and gratitude.

Additionally, apples can be used in divination practices. By peeling an apple in a single strip and tossing the peel over your shoulder, the shape it forms when it lands can reveal the initial of a future partner or give you insight into a question you hold in your heart. Scrying with apple seeds is another method; by placing seeds on a hot surface and watching their movement, you can glean messages and guidance.

Incorporating apples into your daily routines during Mabon can also help you remain connected to the cycles of nature. Enjoying a fresh apple as a mindful snack, reflecting on its journey from blossom to fruit, can be a simple yet profound way to express appreciation for the Earth's bounty. Decorating your home with apple-themed items, such as candles, wreaths, or even apple-scented essential oils, can further enhance the seasonal ambiance.

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𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓷

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Mabon, also known as the Autumn Equinox, is a significant festival in the Wheel of the Year, celebrated by many Pagans and Wiccans. The name "Mabon" itself is relatively modern, coined by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s, yet the festival's roots stretch back to ancient times. It marks the second of three harvest festivals, following Lammas and preceding Samhain. Occurring around September 21-23 in the Northern Hemisphere, Mabon represents a time of balance when day and night are of equal length. This event symbolizes the gradual descent into the darker half of the year, as the days grow shorter and the nights longer.

Historically, many cultures have celebrated the equinox with various customs and rituals. In ancient Greece, the festival of Eleusinia honored Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and her daughter Persephone. The myth of Persephone's descent into the underworld and her eventual return is a powerful allegory for the changing seasons and the cycle of life and death. Similarly, in ancient Rome, the festival of Pomona celebrated the goddess of fruits and orchards, reflecting the importance of the harvest season. In the British Isles, the equinox was a time of thanksgiving and community gatherings, with people coming together to celebrate and share the bounty of the harvest.

Modern Mabon celebrations often involve giving thanks for the earth's abundance, reflecting on themes of balance and gratitude, and preparing for the coming winter months. Rituals may include offerings of fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as meditative practices to honor the seasonal shift. Many contemporary Pagans and Wiccans also incorporate elements of ancient traditions, such as feasting, storytelling, and connecting with nature. Mabon serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of living in harmony with the rhythms of the earth.

𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴. 𝘉𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Thank you for Reading! I absolutely love sharing my knowledge & learnings with others. I try to make posts a few times a week! & they are all organized on my profile.

Until we cross paths once more! Best wishes to all you wonderful witches! Warm regards, Tea.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

For Support on my Blogs:

Facebook: The Black Dahlia Emporium

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Pagans & Witches Amino @ darkforestfae

[honey-crypt]

What do you think Elliott’s family is like? What would happen if they came to the Valley?

a/n: this is such a good ask!!!

warnings: alcoholism, neglect, bad parents, mention of death

★ elliott - family woes (with a dash of elliott x reader) ★

pt. 1 - who are the cunnighams?

★ elliott’s family, the cunnighams, is what people would consider a stereotypical upper class nuclear family.

★ his father, conrad, is an investment banker (think wolf of wall street) who had very little involvement in his children’s lives, other than to reprimand them or hand them some money to get them to go away. he was the breadwinner, too focused on chasing the next investment to participate in silly things like going to elliott’s poetry nights.

★ his mother, makenna, is a socialite, too busy hosting events for the fellow ladies of the community or getting drunk off champagne to properly parent. yet, on the rare occasion when she did express love and affection towards elliott, he always felt gross after the fact because that meant she was too drunk to function.

★ elliott has an older sister, eleanor. she’s the golden child of the family, always striving to please their parents so she could get attention. ever since they were kids, eleanor threw herself into academics and extracurriculars that she believed would impress their parents, such as mock trial and key club. she, to their parents, is the successful one out of the two children; after all, she’s the one who graduated with summa cum laude, the one went to medical school and became a heart surgeon. nonetheless, eleanor loves elliott and vice versa, despite everything.

★ because of his parents being too wrapped up in “other important things” to parent, elliott and his sister were raised by a nanny, an old irish woman named siobhan. elliott considered siobhan to be his true family, as she always encouraged him to express his creativity and always made time to attend his events like poetry night. sadly, she passed away when elliott was in his late 20s, which was the catalyst to elliott leaving home to make a name for himself as a writer.

★ when elliott told his family that he was moving out to pursue his writing career, his father laughed in his face and called him a bloody idiot for thinking he could make it as a writer. his mother was too busy nursing a hangover to criticize him for his choice. however, eleanor was supportive; she embraced him and whispered in his ear to escape “this hellhole of suburbia” and that she would always support him. so elliott sold off anything of value that he didn’t need and with that money, he relocated somewhere where he could embrace his inner hemmingway, a little place called pelican town in the idyllic stardew valley

pt. 2 - the cunninghams visit stardew valley

★ elliott had been living in the valley for about two-ish years and he was on cloud 9 with the life he cultivated

★ he was happily married to (y/n), stardew valley's local farmer and the person he felt head over heels for the moment they entered his cabin with a basket of pomegranates, and his book camelia station was doing well with elliott finishing up his first ever book tour

★ life was perfect... until his family paid him a surprise visit

★ he hadn't been in contact with his father or mother since leaving but he occasionally exchanged letters with his sister, the two of them updating one another on major milestones in their lives

★ conrad and makenna were the picture of faux kindness, subtly jabbing at elliott's spouse for being so rural while praising them for building such a successful farming empire

★ elliott could feel his mother's disappointed glare when she came to the conclusion that elliott got married without informing them but he honestly didn't give a damn

★ (y/n) did their best to be cordial with elliott's parents, they knew that they were major assholes (more so his fathers) so they focused their attention on getting to know eleanor

★ since he last spoke to his sister, elliott was informed that she found out that she was pregnant a few months ago and was now sporting a prominent baby bump

★ (y/n) offered eleanor some fresh produce from the season as a gift for her baby when makenna chimed in about not needing produce from "a little farmer from bum-fuck-nowhere" when they had access to the finest produce

★ elliott... just loses it; he completely loses it and yells to his parents about how shitty they were, how they were never involved in his life or eleanor's unless they did something that bettered their public image, and that they could insult him all they wanted but they could not nor would not insult the love of his life

★ conrad and makenna expected eleanor to come to their defense but she instead sides with elliott, sharing identicial sentiments and how she regrets letting her need for their approval get in the way of having a relationship with her little brother

★ elliott then promptly kicks his parents out but lets eleanor stay, holding back tears in his eyes while he wraps his arms around his spouse

★ eleanor later apologies for bringing their parents, she wanted to visit elliott alone after hearing about his marriage and the success of camelia station but conrad and makenna intervened

★ in return, elliott apologies for not inviting her to the wedding and the two make up, much to the joy of the farmer who finally gave eleanor that basket of produce for her

bonus - the aftermath

★ after that ordeal, eleanor would later visit the valley once a month to spend time with her brother and her sibling in-law; then with her husband jackson and her baby elias when she gives birth

★ elliott may have lost his parents but he found a new family in (y/n) and his sister's little family, working hard to dismantle the standards set by their parents and becoming a doting uncle to elias

★ and soon... he became a parent of his own, promising his newborn baby that they would have a life full of love and wonder and promising to himself that he wouldn't repeat his parents' errors

[ntls-24722]

Domesticated crops! (and secret not-plants)

This post is more for me and actually putting to paper the things that the Bolur species would eat. I had more fun than I thought I would've.

cw? tw? for unsanitary mentions sorta

Going from top-to-right,

Land Barnacles

Exactly what they sound like. Did you know that Earth barnacles are arthropods? That they're crustaceans? I got inspo from that. Juveniles, like Earth barnacles, are mobile and have very inefficient, blanket-y wings that they will use to one day cement themselves onto the ground, hopefully next to another one of their barnacle colleagues for reproductive purposes. Their abdomens are actually folded so that their anuses are right next to their mouths, because like an aphid, they have a very sugary, liquidy waste that (alongside their floral-looking heads) brings in a lot of bugs for them to eat! When bugs try to feed on their waste, they use the remnants of their tube feet to grab them and eat them.

Zebrapeople cultivate land barnacles in order to drill holes right into their abdomens and harvest their honeydew sewage. It's like a gross version of drilling holes in maple trees for maple syrup. I imagine they view it kind of like hot dogs, so tasty but so grossly made...

Floor Climbers

They're these kind of "flatworms" that eat underwater plant growths and store them in their skin to be able to photosynthesize for themselves. Their blankety backsides is the part of them with the most, so they evolved to completely have that part of them be a solar panel blanket and just walk with their front.... well, they never had legs, but they now have "legs." They're handstanding everywhere

They're invasive little shits that reproduce like rabbits. They're introduced to small, usually music man-made bodies of water in order for them to completely take over, and for the music men to harvest. They're really chewy and savory if you cook them right. Might be a little poisonous if you undercook them, so it's better to burn your climbers than have them medium rare.

Bucca

THATS TUBER, BABY

They evolved that Phat Root in order to anchor themselves in the water. They have flowers at the base of their main stem for bugs that walk on water to pollinate, and to make sure they don't move around too much, their stem and leaves became super aerodynamic to the point it looks like a big red feather coming out of the water.

Amber Tree

MISNOMER. NOT A TREE. LAND CORAL! Sometimes called "cow sails" from the way its topmost "branches" and leaves just hang down over everything like a debu's sail does. Since its branches are thin, its limestone outer layer is at risk of breaking a lot, so it evolved this really thick sap so bugs don't try and take advantage of its downfall.

Except, well, Debu took advantage of its sap. It's a cash crop! Badlands Debu harvest its super thick, fast drying sap to kind of make instant-amber, dipping various things in it to make jewlery. Things like...

Thansum

Imagine if a sunflower, when it got pollinated, became a giant dandelion. That's thansum, the complimentary Debu cash crop to amber trees, which is the most popular thing to dip in its amber. But it's not just a Debu cash crop, it's also used to make paper and cloth for zebrapeople, mostly zebraelves. They crush its seedlings up and add water to make a thansum-meal out of it - if they use more seedling and dry it, it becomes paper. If they use more fluff, then it becomes cloth! Or they can eat thansum-meal straight up if they're desperate. It's not poisonous, but it's a very sad meal, don't eat thansum-meal

Spittle Berries

So, i've been excited to talk about this, because lemme tell you the more popular way that Bolur plants reproduce. Spittle berries are fruits, they are Bolur fruits, but bolur fruits are special - they are the flower, the leaf, and the fruit all at once. The method is that fruits are made through leaves, leaves that're inflated full of gametes covered in a soft shell (think like a pomegranate seed) and fruit "meat", which in turn also colors them a striking (ususally cool) color. When something eats a Bolur fruit, the soft shell that their sperm and eggs were covered in gets dissolved and they meet up together in the stomach. The gametes themselves are made of some gross, hard-to-digest material so that they remain unharmed, and so that they can become embryos by the time whatever ate it passes them through their system, right into some fresh fertilizer that they can grow out of. Spittle berries are the least interesting fruit in that it's just a fruit, but they're a perfect introductory fruit for the weirder ones, like:

Seeing-Squash

The only fruit actively being selected for cuteness! It's also a debu specific - the squash evolved to be eaten specifically by mountain cows since the shell their gametes are covered in are too tough to be digested by most other animal. So if a zebraperson wants to eat, they might want to take those out lest those bigass "seed" gametes gives them blockage.

It's less cuteness, but more "liveliness," if that makes any sense? Looking more and more like a little animal, a little dude. The eyes are getting bigger and the originally modest striping is becoming more exaggerated to look like a spitting monkey.

And finally,

Bempo

The only plant here to have a skeleton. It's the "shrub" version of a land coral where its base will have a dense limestone skeleton for its photosynthetic parts to pop out of, and soft pith to be protected underneath. Bempo actually takes forever to grow, because it takes years for it to build up its "pyramid" base. But when it does, then you are set, because fruit-bearing coral-shrubs like bempo have the shortest growth times for its fruit to the point where you can watch and hear the growth of its giant fruit plates that adorn the top of its base.

Those fruit plates also have a skeleton of their own, but it's only a single "bone," like if a plant had a baculum for its fruit.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Tu BiShvat: What and How

By Naftali Silberberg

The 15th of Shevat is the New Year for Trees, known as Tu b'Shevat.

According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, four and five of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Levite. On the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the Maaser Sheni in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished.

[On the Sabbatical year, no tithes are separated. All produce which grows during this year is ownerless and free for anyone to take.]

It was therefore of vital importance to ascertain when the new year started for produce. Our Rabbis established that a fruit which blossomed before the 15th of Shevat is produce of the previous year. If it blossomed afterwards, it is produce of the "new year." [By comparison, grains, vegetables, and legumes have the same New Year as humans, the 1st of Tishrei.] Why is this so? In the Mediterranean region, the rainy season begins with the festival of Sukkot. It takes approximately four months (from Sukkot, the 15th of Tishrei, until the 15th of Shevat) for the rains of the new year to saturate the soil and trees, and produce fruit. All fruit which blossom beforehand are a product of the rains of the previous year, and are tithed together with the crops of the previous year.

Although this day is Rosh Hashanah for trees, we attach special significance to this holiday because "Man is [compared to] the tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19). Through cultivating strong roots – faith and commitment to G‑d – we produce many fruits—Torah and Mitzvot.

Observances and Customs

On this day it is customary to partake of the fruit with which the Holy Land is praised (Deuteronomy 8:8): olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates. If tasting any of these fruit for the first time this season, remember to recite the Shehecheyanu blessing. (A blessing recited on joyous occasions, thanking G‑d for "sustaining us and enabling us to reach this occasion." This blessing is recited before the standard "Ha'etz" blessing recited on fruit.)

Due to the festive nature of the day, we omit the Tachanun sections (petitions for forgiveness and confession) from the prayers.

Source: Chabad.org

[chirpycloudyrobin]

Triple Ghost Guardians of the Bleeding Meadows

(Illustration by Zhang Yang (長陽))

Those who attempted to come any closer and survived speak about three ghosts with claws as sharp as their faces are beautiful. They were docile from afar but if anyone crossed an invisible boundary, they were lucky to survive with their faces intact.

— The Bleeding Meadows of Yiling

The three ghost ladies who accompanied Wei Wuxian during that day in Yunmeng. Wei Wuxian gained their gratitude and loyalty for his help with their unfinished businesses. Afterwards, the three of them decided to remain and wait for him to finish his own unfinished business as they have grown to regard him as their own didi. In the meantime, they stepped up as the guardians of their new home—the Bleeding Meadows of Yiling.

All three ghost ladies are somewhere between the rank of Menace and Savage.

Under the cut are more details about them individually.

Juhua 菊花 / Shou 涭

Faceclaim: Dilraba Dilmurat

Júhuā—chrysanthemum—happiness and vitality

Once a beauty from the far northwest and a famous courtesan of Yiling, Shou—then known as Juhua— was taken in by a nobleman to be his concubine. She perished at the hands of a jealous household and remained a vengeful ghost ever since.

Shou acts as the eldest and the leader of the three. She wears red robes and has a couple of distinct scars. One is a horizontal one across her neck and another runs diagonal across her face.

Wei Wuxian remembers her as one of the kind jiejies who helped him from time to time during his street urchin days.

Baihe 百合 / Xinyi 心怡

Faceclaim: Li Qin

Bǎihé—lily—harmony and unity

Xinyi was the beloved youngest daughter of a scholarly family. A series of misfortunes lead to her being sold off to repay the debts incurred by a careless older brother and soon she was renamed Baihe, the latest flower in a certain Lanling brothel. She died in an attempt to run away with her lover Rěndōng 忍冬 / Míngxuě 明雪 , a fellow courtesan who entered the brothel the same time she did.

Wei Wuxian helped reunite the two lovers and now Xinyi happily goes home to her wife and their library of romance novels after a day of hard work.

She is the only one that Wei Wuxian did not know prior to her death.

Shiliu 石榴 / Fuyan 福燕

Faceclaim: Lin Yun

Shíliú—pomegranate—abundance

Fuyan was born to a courtesan mother and a cultivator father in Yiling. She had inherited her mother's beauty and was thus trained up to be her successor in the future, renamed as Shiliu. Fuyan grew up bitter and resentful of the mistreatment of her mother and the absence of her father. When she and her mother succumbed to an illness that could have been easily treated, Fuyan returned as a vengeful ghost and murdered not only the neglectful madam of the brothel but also her father's entire family.

She holds the most raw power between the two of them but her control is not as refined.

She and Wei Wuxian knew each other in passing when they were children as Fuyan's mother was one of the jiejies who helped him out when she could.

[beguines]

The majority of farmers, many of them Bedouin, and also many women, recounted to us their memory of the landscape that existed, one that was dominated by trees—fig, pomegranate, olive, almond, and of course citrus. And almost all of them had since transitioned to lower-growing and faster-yielding crops to adhere to Israeli-enforced policies of cultivation along the 'border,' fearing the loss or bombing of their lands if they continued cultivating their trees. Today, their farms produce eggplants, watermelons, zucchini, and a whole range of leafy vegetables and herbs including spinach, parsley, and chives—a sharp transition from the landscapes they had grown up witnessing. The scars on this landscape also translated to literal scars on their bodies. Most of the farmers we visited lived on the lands on which they worked with their families. As they would generously share stories of their cultivation history, and the transitions they made to cope with colonial policies of the occupation, climate change and neoliberal shifts in local and international market demands for produce, they would also recount stories of their own injuries from working on their lands. I was repeatedly shown scars and marks on their bodies from shrapnel and bullets shot by Israeli snipers from a distance that hit Palestinian farmers as they worked on their lands. Despite having worked their way through the near-impossible Israeli permit system to continue to cultivate their lands along the border—including having access to their lands at certain hours of the day for harvest and upkeep—almost every farmer I spoke to had experienced being fired at by Israeli snipers while doing this work. Evidently, being a farmer in Gaza literally meant putting their bodies on the line.

Shourideh C. Molavi, Environmental Warfare in Gaza: Colonial Violence and New Landscapes of Resistance

[blossomingsouthernwitch]

August 21, 2024

One of the biggest things that has struck me so far is how little we have remaining from history when it comes to how Hades and Persephone were worshipped. I understand that worshipping Him was a bit taboo, but I’m surprised that I’ve struggled to find evidence of Her being worshiped in isolation from other gods. She’s usually with Demeter.

It seems to me that, other than in a few regions outside of Greece proper, Persephone was mainly worshipped in relation to her Spring aspect, not her role as Queen of the Underworld. I hope I can serve both aspects of her so she’s not limited in any capacity

I feel an urge to give them more of what they have historically been overlooked for: recognition and veneration. Of course there are some stereotypical elements that are associated with them, such as the pomegranate, but I’d like to find ways of acknowledging and praising them that are a bit more individual, tuned to my personal relationship with each of them, as those relationships develop. I think I’m getting stuck in my head and overthinking my struggle to come up with ideas of what to put on their altars, and am overthinking it.

With not as much historical evidence of practices and rituals as other gods may have, I’m going to rely a lot on my intuition and what I gleam from my interactions with them to guide me in what ways are best to venerate Them. I’d love to hear any suggestions you all have or any practices you’ve had experience with that are related! What actions/offerings do you think are appropriate here? I do have a background in history (not much Greek, though), so I do hope in my continued research I’ll find a practice or offering with historical precedence that I can adapt to todays world!

Another thing that’s been on my mind a lot today is that it’s important to me that Lord Hades and Lady Persephone know that I’m seeking to cultivate connections with both of them individually, and not just viewing them as a unit. This is probably just my anxieties flaring up a little in my mind. I’m just in awe that two beings with such power have connected with me, and I want to make sure I do everything “right,” but that’s not really how a practice like this works. There aren’t a set of rules already established for me, especially none set for the 21st century. I need to listen to my gut in my craft, and my gut tells me to focus a lot right now on each of Them as individual gods. Perhaps this means a break from reading about the two of them together and more time meditating on one of them at a time.

[poemnic-tarot]

What Types of Beauty Are You?

(Disclaimer : This is a general reading please only take what resonate. For entertainment purposes only)

Pile 1 -2

Pile 3 -4

⭐️ 🎐 🤍 🌙 You Are Loved 🌙 🎐 🤍 ⭐️

Pile 1🪐

Collage: Just to give you an idea of your beauty type energy

Characters : Erwin Smith (regardless of gender focusing more on the quality of the character)

Colour Palette : Carmine and Royal blue

Animal : Buck

Flower : Iris

Key words: Decisive, Leadership, Firm and Responsible

(your one is shorter than the rest I apologize for that, or your beauty just cannot be describes in words)

"Treat yourself like how you want your parent to treat you"

Pile 1, your Beauty is in your self preservation. How mentally strong you are. How focused and concentrated you are on your goals and what you want. You have an air of Authority, Serenity, no-nonsense type. Regal in your stance literally and metaphorically.

Your Beauty shine most when you make a decision. When you made a difficult decision, it was a difficult decision because the ones for the highest good of all usually are. The one where leaders need to make and it's delicate because there's so much at stake, because there are so much to lose if you made the wrong decision. But you do it anyway with confidence and stood by it, no matter the outcome. You are not afraid of accountability and that’s the most beautiful aspect about you.

You are beautiful in your work ethic, hard working personality and discerning quality. No one is as cut throat as you Pile 1. There will be no bullshit in your present. Not even from yourself. And that's scary to people but they can't helped but admired that.It’s really inspiring to be able to stand up for yourself and others.

You are a beauty that screamed Self-love and Protection. You will alway stand up for injustice, for yourself or others. Protect what's precious to you at all cost. No one shall cross the line at your presence, and the line is called boundary and respect. And they won't cross that line Pile 1, you will make sure of it. The affect you have on people is beauty it self. They would willingly bow down and let you give them your verdict. You treat other fairly, because you cultivated that within first.

You are beautiful when you wielded your mighty sword and declared that "no lies shall surpass". Your beauty has been witnessed in Kings/Queens, Rulers of kingdom, leaders of clans. And your beauty lies in how you exercise your personal power (authority) as a protective shield for those vulnerable, or a wise advice for those who are lost. Your mind is the most beautiful part of you. Your peace of mind is your most precious valuable. How you treat yourself/others, see the world, and accept reality for what they are. Seeking the truth at the cost of comfortability, strong enough to forgive and focused on the things that are more important. Your beauty itself, Pile 1, has rules multiple kingdoms and make it thrived.

Poems: Magician by @cant-find-my-name

You're golden, you're golden

Feather tethered of a phoenix wings

Glowing aura of rainbow light

Shining from within,

When death take charge

To meet new life begins

Where Angel are willing to commit the biggest

Sins

Your pomegranate cloak

Royal mantle

A flower crown

To the power title

You were born to lead

To herd the sheeps

With your natural wands

Where illusion reigns

You are what the Destiny in need

Song: Butterflies by Kacey Musgraves

Now you're liftin' me up, 'stead of holdin' me down Stealin' my heart, 'stead of stealin' my crown Untangled all the strings 'round my wings that were tied I didn't know him and I didn't know me Cloud nine was always out of reach Now I remember what it feels like to fly You give me butterflies

Kiss full of color, makes me wonder where you've always been I was hiding in doubt 'til you brought me out of my chrysalis

And I came out new All because of you

⭐️ 🎐 🤍 🌙 You Are Loved 🌙 🎐 🤍 ⭐️

Pile 2🍉

Collage: Just to give you an idea of your beauty type energy

Characters : Moana (regardless of gender focusing more on the quality of the character)

Colour Palette : Aztec Gold and Turquoise

Animal : Blue whale

Flower : Plumeria

Key words: Revolutionary, Unique, Brave, Bold

"I haven't met all of me yet"

Pile 2, your Beauty lies in your Acceptance. Your acceptance of your Root, your origin, people’s origin, where you came from and honouring your family lineage, instead of running from it. You accept this aspect of you and still seeking to changed some part for the better. Pile 2 you know that in order to changed anything, first we must accept it for what it is.

Your Beauty lies in how you ended your ancestry karma, specifically, in the feminine side. How you single handedly overcome generations after generation of pain, lost, oppressions and grief. It all ended with you. Your beauty lies in how you are convicted to see the end of this karmic cycles that ran amog your families lines for ages. ‘It been long enough’ you said, 'I will end this with me’ you declared. And it will end.

Pile 2, Your ancestors see your beauty, it's radiated from your soul and they want to thank you for your hard work. Your beauty shine in how you go against the grains, stood up against toxic traditions, toxic family dynamic patterns. You vowed, no more, and has changed and will continue to changed your family line for the better. Pile 2, Your don't know how beautiful and Brave that is, how beautiful and brave you are.

It wasn't without sacrificed and suffering on your part. Pile 2, you knew exactly what it has cost you to break generation of pain and you still went for it. It wasn't easy, in fact, it was the most difficult thing anyone can do in this lifetime. That is why it took you several lifetimes to accomplished your goals. It took you several lifetimes to do this, that how much you are dedicated to your loved ones, and that is beauty in it self.

That is how beautiful you are pile 2. You never give up, you stood your ground and stand up for what's important to you. Your values, your love, gentleness, UNCONDITIONAL love. You are grounded in what needed to be done, whereas a lot of people would ignored or even play into the toxic dynamics pattern, because they don't want to be outcasted. Pile 2, your beauty lies in your authenticity, true connection base on unconditional love, mutual respect and healthy boundaries and harmony. In a way, these are your deepest values and what you want to bring forth in all of your connections. Pile 2, you will never stand for conflict, resentment, and more pain. You will do anything within your power and take it upon yourself to clear that dense, negative energy from your life. You are the one who is brave enough to stand up to the toxic structures and question, why do we want to continue hurting others and ourselves?, what can we do to bring more harmony and peace into each other lives?.

Pile 2, you go on to do all those things in a gentle, loving manner with compassion and understanding. You don't come in like a wrecking ball and wreck it all down. Just because we want to build a new root/tower, doesn't mean we need to do it in the most destructive way. No, Pile 2 your beauty lies in your patient, how you would take down the tower piece by loving piece. Understand each brick and why it was there and does it align with your values?. If not, then, we removed it. Your beauty lies in how you alchemised pain into renewal. You would do it no matter how long it takes, no matter how many lifetimes. That's how beautiful your soul is pile 2.

You know what you are doing is important pile 2, and it is. Your love and dedication towards your family (alive ones and the ones before that) is the most beautiful things about you. How you honour them, understand them, and how you want to heal yourself (and indirectly heals them too, cause you understood generational karma)

The type of Beauty you are Pile 2 is witnessed in how your beautiful heart can changed your lineage line towards prosperity, abundance in every sense, towards true harmony and more love. You would alway rise above, like the Phoenix from the ashes, you would rise up again and again to finish what you started.

Poem: Guiding Light by @cant-find-my-name

Walk with me

Take my hand

I'll guide you to where I am

Passing hidden memories

The illusion that drown out the

Objectivity

I'll replay it back to you

And showed you the

Objective truth

So walk with me

It wasn't how it was

And still could be

What it could have been

Not to late to see

And opened up your heart

It's not too late to be vulnerable

It's the right time to start

Song: I'm still here by Jim Theme

And how can the world want me to change? They're the ones that stay the same They don't know me 'cause I'm not here

And you see the things they never see All you wanted I could be Now you know me and I'm not afraid And I wanna tell you who I am Can you help me be a man? They can't break me as long as I know who I am

(An animation called Treasure Planet I highly recommend you watch it Pile 2 and give this song a listen to as well)

⭐️ 🎐 🤍 🌙 You Are Loved 🌙 🎐 🤍 ⭐️

Pile 3🌺

Collage: Just to give you an idea of your beauty type energy

Characters : Mulan (regardless of gender focusing more on the quality of the character)

Colour Palette : Emerald and Chinese Ink

Animal : Dragon fly or a dragon

Flower : Purple lotus

Key words: Masculinity, Reliability, Stable, Protector

“It’s okay that you’re not who you thought you would be”

Pile 3, your beauty lies in your inner stability. It lies in how you know yourself, sure of who you are, what you stand for, your moral your values, your integrity. You are a steady pillar for people to relied on. When all is lost and no one know what's going on, Pile 3, you would step up and tell people what to focus on and why they need to keep going. Not in a domineering way but in an inspirational way. You are the guardian, the protector,the reliable father energy that most of us never have.

Your beauty can be seen in this metaphor scenes, An immense storm passed by and on it way it uprooted every trees, everything in it path got destroyed except for one. And that one tree is you pile 3. This tree stood tall and grounded, the root is too deep to be carry away with the wind, no matter how strong that wind is. That is your beauty Pile 3, you are an immovable force, a high wall that no one dare to breach.

Because behind that impenetrable wall is what you are protecting. Whatever that is, your dreams/goals, family, values, moral, inner child, the list goes on. Pile 3, you would protect it at all cost. Your beauty lies in how you know what to protect, you would stand guard at the front line with your fearlessness and your skills, no one shall defeat or shake you. Whether it is the outside circumstance beyond your control, the situation you find yourself in, the people who doesn't have your best interest. In fact, Pile 3, you often find you in a 'dangerous' situation'. Dangerous meaning situations, people, places that often would threatens what's important to you, whether it your moral, values, goals and dreams, telling you to settle, and tempting you to go against your value, your integrity. Trying to change who you are, trying to take what is yours. Tempting you to stray from your path or your goals. E.g. baiting you to drink alcohol when they know you don't drink. Not respecting your values. Something like this, the list goes on, people just want to try to break you pile 3, for what ever reason.

Your beauty lies in how you stand firm and stood your ground. Society, even your family? would point a finger at you to tell you ,’this is who you are’ but pile 3, you are so beautiful in how you don't just accept that, you would go, no, that is not who I am, that just the person you want me to be, which is not me. This is me and go on to show them who you are. People want to paint you as a fool but deep down Pile 3, you are a king/Queen and you know that.

You are beautiful in your healthy masculine energy (regardless of gender). You are a go getter, an achiever, you will find a way to get to where you want to go in life, no matter the weather. But one thing you will never do is compromising your moral/values/integrity. Because you know that those things make you who you are at the core. And pile 3, you know that if you lose those things, in a way, you have lost yourself. That is why it is very important to you not to compromise your core values. e.g. not cutting corners just to get ahead. A decision on something like this in a way, will changed who you are forever.

What is more beautiful about you is that Pile 3, you are not perfect by any means and you embraced that, nor are you so strict in life that it become dull. Your beauty lies in how you understand yourself more than most pile 3, and embrace your shortcoming. You accepted things or situations that you can't control, and let it be. Even though you have such a stable beauty/energy, it is not rigid by any means. Your beauty lies in when you know what you can compromise on and what you would never do. No one can stop you when you decided to do something Pile 3, and they shouldn't try either or else. They will find themselves unaware that suddenly, they had become one of your supporter and admirers. You just have that affect on people Pile,3 that is the type of beauty you are.

Poem: Strength @cant-find-my-name

They couldn't have been more wrong

They underestimated my strength

They thought I wasn't strong

But as hurricane came hurling in

And storm blown passed

Everything got destroyed

Everything crushed, in it path

However, when all was dark

And everyone was down

The only person remains was I

The one they thought won't last

I had stood my ground

Song: Radio by Lana Del Rey

Not even they can stop me now Boy, I'll be flying overhead Their heavy words can't bring me down Boy, I've been raised from the dead

No one even knows how hard life was I don't even think about it now because I finally found you Oh, sing it to me

⭐️ 🎐 🤍 🌙 You Are Loved 🌙 🎐 🤍 ⭐️

Pile 4🌈

Collage: Just to give you an idea of your beauty type energy

Characters : Aladdin (regardless of gender focusing more on the quality of the character)

Colour Palette : Aubergine and orange

Animal : Horse

Flower : Hibiscus

Key words: Free spirit, Generous, Self-focus, Expansive

"You deserve someone who is terrified to lose you"

Pile 4, your Beauty lies in how, there are no terrains you won't explore, there are no wisdom/knowledge you would not seek. And there are no topics you would not learn, there are no stone on this earth (or even outside of it) you would not upturn.

Your beauty lies in your hunger for life, for true freedom, freedom of mind and spirit, hunger for adventures and exploration, for knowledge. You should know Pile 4, that you bring so much to the table. Sometime or most times, it's not as obvious what you bring but the people with a higher perspective would be able to comprehend how much it is that you bring. It is a blessing alone Pile 4, just to be in your presence, your energy field. Your beauty lies in your energy, that is what you bring to the table Pile 4, and no one can compared. You have so much to offer to the world, the people around you, people who come into contact with you and get to know you, their life is changed forever.

You are so generous, so kind, so unconditional loving. You see every living being as an equal and accept people for what they are, but you don't limit them to who they can be. Just like how you see yourself, Pile 4, you can see so many possibilities, infinite possibilities. There are so many new things to discover, so many places to travel, so many people to meet and get to know, so many new culture to learn from and new scenery to see. You love these things Pile 4, different food, culture, languages. The world have much to offer you, in terms of who you can be and where you can go (infinite possibilities). And Pile 4, you cannot wait to explore them all. You are limitless and you know that pile 4, that is what make you so beautiful.

You don't settle for normality or the ordinary, the conventional, the stifling of routine. You don't look down on them or anything, it just not compatible with you. You crave excitement in your life and you took it upon yourself to create it.

Your beauty lies in how you listen to your intuition and instinct. You go where it tell you to go, where you are called. You don't question it, you listened, to your heart, your desires, your spirit teams, your soul. That's harder to do then people think because sometimes there so much resistance in the 3D that will go against your intuition. And we can perceived ourselves as stuck to one place, one life, one place forever. But Pile 4, you know better, your beauty lies in how you helped people feel unstuck in life.You helped them expand their world view, you somehow able to show them the world through your eyes, and the infinite possibilities you see. ( I'm getting A whole new world by which you are Aladdin and the people you met is Jasmine) You are brave enough to go into the unknown, explore the places where people are not even dare to step into(physically and metaphorically). They might be scare or think that they are not worthy to go where they want to be, but Pile 4, your beauty knows no bound. You are inherently worthy, as a living being, you go by this philosophy, that is why anywhere you go or any room you step into, you rest in the knowledge that you belonged. Pile 4, you see everyone as an equal no matter the status, hierarchy, or ranks. Because you see people as a soul, into their soul, we are all just a soul.

Your beauty lies in how you see the world as your playground to play in. The world is your oyster might be your catch phrase. Your spirit is free, even when the world is shit sometimes, you can count on yourself to rise above it. Your enthusiasm for life is so strong it's contagious. That how beautiful you are, never dimmed your light or your energy. Your energy alone can raise the frequency of a room. Remember that.

Poems: STARS by @cant-find-my-name

We all have dreams

Trying to reach the stars

But as we traveled

The ugly realisation

That the stars is too far

Not yet, I cannot see

The Divine plan for me

But I must believe

In myself

My own heart

My unwritten destiny

Songs : Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

I am unwritten Can't read my mind I'm undefined I'm just beginning The pen's in my hand Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten

⭐️ 🎐 🤍 🌙 You Are Loved 🌙 🎐 🤍 ⭐️

Thank you for reading! I would love to know what you think. Thank you so much see you soon!!!🧿

🥐Check out @cant-find-my-name for more of my original poetry

🐚Check out my Tarot YouTube video : PoemNic-Tarot

🌈Donate Paypal: https://paypal.me/Poemnic

[11queensupreme11]

I think that regardless of the divorce between Hades and Persephone the seasons will continue to happen, if we think about the myth we will remember that the reason why Persephone was permanently trapped in the underworld was because before returning to her mother she ate some seeds of pomegranate, so following this reasoning we can think that their marriage was just a formality to preserve Persephone's honor since she was kidnapped and probably abused by Hades (we know that at that time if a woman was abused she should marry the abuser to preserve her and her family’s honor)

We know that some curses cannot be broken even by the gods (Beelzebub as an example) so we just need to think that the curse present in pomegranates (it is in all underworld foods) are so strong that even the gods who eat them are forced to be trapped in the underworld without being able to free herself, so Persephone would still be forced to spend 6 months in the underworld but now she is no longer forced to be imprisoned in the Palace of Hades and is free from the obligations of a wife

As the curse still forces her to spend part of the year there, the seasons continue as her mother is still unhappy with the situation but now the seasons (mainly autumn and winter) are much milder as Demeter is happy with her divorce. daughter, the seasons being milder (autumn and winter) and stronger (spring and summer) is not necessarily good since climate change can accidentally destroy the existing ecosystem, it would practically be divine global warming melting the ice areas, leaving deserts and hot areas in hellish temperatures, plants and food would ONLY be able to grow in spring since this would be the only climate that would not have an excessive change, which although it doesn't seem like it is very bad since planting only in one area for just a long period of time without giving the soil time to rest will deplete all nutrients from the soil leaving it infertile

Due to the changes, it would be impossible to plant food in other seasons as fruits and vegetables would not be able to adapt to climate changes and it would be unnecessary to resort to the use of pesticides and other artificial cultivation techniques to keep the few harvests alive, this would affect the quality of the crop. food would decline and would cause prices to increase since with the drop in food production it would not be able to match the great demand of the population and this would cause an increase in world hunger and food insecurity for the poorest people since we know that when there is a large demand for a limited quantity of a product the price of that product will naturally rise

The problem will be so big that it will probably also affect animals, wild animals will have difficulty adapting to climate change (probably these animals died from heat and cold as their bodies were not adapted, in fact now that I think about the high temperatures can lead to natural fires that would devastate entire forests) and many will die due to lack of food (without plants, herbivores will not be able to feed themselves and without herbivores, predators will not be able to feed themselves and this will probably collapse many ecosystems), the Livestock industries will also be affected as they, in addition to having difficulty feeding animals, will have to worry about them dying due to the climate (many industries will probably go bankrupt) with the drop in production products such as meat of any kind will probably rise in price which will undermine people's purchasing power, which will generate even greater food insecurity

In short, everyone on earth will suffer because Percy indirectly destroyed a harmonious ecosystem thousands of years old because she is so hot and charismatic, I can't imagine the look on her face knowing that humans are dying as collateral damage of her being in an ALMOST relationship romantic relationship between her and the yanderes, not to mention the damage that Poseidon can do with the tides, Beelzebub with diseases and violence and Apollo with literal Global warming, our girl is indirectly leading humans to extinction just by exist

BRO???? 💀💀💀

i have to ask, but are you an environmentalist major or something related to that????

cuz i remember you (or at least i think it was you) sending a previous long ask about the consequences of poseidon making it dangerous for humans to be in the sea, you were talking about pearls, medicine, sea food, etc and it was sooooo well-written and detailed omg 😂

but everything you wrote is EXACTLY why i'm making it so all four seasons still exist 💀 talking about the aftermath with the ecosystem is just give me psychic damage cuz i'll feel like i'm back in my bio class again 🫠

[mariacallous]

While Rosh Hashanah is generally known for its sweet foods like apples and pomegranates, there’s an ancient, slightly less-sweet, Sephardic tradition of eating foods for what they represent rather than what they taste like. Dark and leafy beet greens, plucked from their sweet, earthy roots are one of those foods.

It all stems from the fact that beet greens were once the favored part of the crop. Gil Marks wrote in “The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food” that early Mediterranean farmers cultivated beet greens and not their roots, which were stringy and small — and not desired until much later. It wasn’t until the mid 1500s that the modern juicy red beet root was cultivated, in Germany or Italy. 

On Rosh Hashanah, beet greens or chard (“silka” in Aramaic) became a symbol for the new year, along with squash, fenugreek, leeks and dates, each with their own symbolic meaning. 

These foods are served and reflected upon with special blessings full of word play and puns during the the Sephardic Rosh Hashanah seder. Beet greens (“selek” in Hebrew and “silka” in Aramaic), for example, embody the hope that all enemies will be removed in the new year. Both “selek” and “silka” resemble ways of saying “removal” in Hebrew and Aramaic.

Over time, beet roots were favored over their leafy tops, but today, resourceful cooks are using the whole plant. If it’s there, why not put it to use? You’ll reduce your food waste and boost your meal with added vitamins and minerals while you’re at it.

You can find beets and their greens at farmers markets or in well-stocked produce sections. You’ll have to remove the greens from the beets yourself, and it’s best to do this as soon as you can — that way, the beets stay firm and the leaves stay fresh. I often remove the leaves and place them in a separate bag right after I purchase them at the farmers market, so that they don’t get damaged on the way home.

Cooking the greens is the easy part — just use them in place of spinach or Swiss chard. And don’t worry, you can cook the stems too — my favorite thing to do is add them to vegetable stock or saute them with the leaves. 

Here are five recipes that might inspire you to bring the beet greens into your Rosh Hashanah tradition:

Iraqi False Mahshi: Layered Swiss Chard, Beets, Rice and Beef  from The New York Times

Fried Beet Greens Meatlessballs from Food 52

Greek Beet and Beet Greens Pie from The New York Times

Sauteed Beet Greens with Garlic and Walnuts from Edible Berkshires

Salad of Beet Greens and Walnuts from the Los Angeles Times

[laurelindebear]

Ardeth Bay Headcanons

As well as his native variant of Arabic, he is fluent in a number of other regional dialects, and proficient to fluent in English, French, German, Italian, some Coptic and some Middle and Late Kingdom phrases.

Is an avid reader, especially of poetry. He'll pick up any volume of poems he can, ancient, modern, or anything in between, in any language he knows.

Poetry and storytelling are extremely popular pastimes amongst the Medjai. As well as readings, Ardeth writes some poetry of his own.

When they are invented and he gets a chance to experience them, he loves roller-coasters.

Drinks alcohol sparingly, but has been known to indulge in pomegranate wine if he's feeling laid-back.

Beverage of choice is strong Turkish coffee, which he drinks anytime he has the water to spare.

Has a sweet tooth, and gets sparkle-eyed for strawberry tarts when he first tries them while visiting the Carnahan-O'Connells in England.

Strong coffee + sweet tooth means his favorite treat would be a cafe mocha, full fat milk and whipped cream with cinnamon on top.

Has a younger sister, Nesreen, with whom he is very close (even though she is prone to teasing him, as little sisters do.)

His mother is deaf, so he signs with her using a Medjai variant of Arabic sign language which incorporates some of their signal codes and other gestures.

Has always had a falcon named Horus since he was first old enough to learn. Horus I was presented to him by his father. Subsequent birds all take the name (Horus II, Horus III, etc.) like a little dynasty.

Has cultivated a good rapport with a merchant in Cairo who makes and sells the highest quality soaps and emollients. Ardeth keeps his spare money aside to pick up the best shampoo and hair oil when he's in the city. Those luxuriant locks don't happen by accident.

(He may ignore the question, if asked about it, but Nesreen will happily spill the beans.) If he shares his hair care secrets and products with you, you have made it to his innermost circle.

Surprisingly good with children. When interacting with young kids, he will squat down to talk on their level, face to face. Enjoys giving piggyback rides to young family members, and lifting them up to sit on the saddle in front of him when they are too young to learn to ride yet.

Has a great dry sense of humor he shows only around people he's comfortable with (and when he's not in Serious Medjai Chieftain mode).

He inherited the knife with the elaborate handle (seen on his back in the first film) from his grandfather.

Slow to open up and trust people, but once you've earned it, you have a friend for life.

With thanks to @nnobodoodles, @belphegor1982, @picklebrinedgoblinmind, @nooneleavesforgood, and @tinydooms for letting me share some of these before and sharing some of their own ideas with me for brainstorming! ❤

[haggishlyhagging]

The original "medicine men" in history were actually women. Briffault writes on this subject, "The connection of women with the cultivation of the soil and the search for edible vegetables and roots made them specialists in botanical knowledge, which, among primitive peoples, is extraordinarily extensive. They became acquainted with the properties of herbs, and were thus the first doctors." He adds:

The word "medicine" is derived from a root meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom" - the wisdom of the 'wise woman." The name of Medea, the medical herbalist witch, comes from the same root.... "The secret of the witch," said an Ogowe native, "is knowing the plants that produce certain effects, and knowing how to compound and use the plants in order to bring about the desired result; and this is the sum and essence of witchcraft." In the Congo it is noted that woman doctors specialise in the use of drugs and herbal pharmacy. In Ashanti the medicine women are "generally preferred for medical aid, as they possess a thorough knowledge of barks and herbs." In East Africa "there are as many women physicians as men." (The Mothers, vol. I, p. 486)

Dan McKenzie, in The Infancy of Medicine (1927), lists hundreds of ancient remedies, some of which are still in use without alteration, while others have been only slightly improved upon. Among these are substances used for their narcotic properties. A fleeting review indicates the astounding scope of these medicinal products. Useful properties were developed from acacia, alcohol, almond, asafetida, balsam, betel, caffeine, camphor, caraway, chaulmoogra oil (a leprosy remedy), digitalis, gum barley water, lavender, linseed, parsley, pepper, pine tar, pomegranate, poppy, rhubarb, senega, sugar, turpentine, wormwood, and hundreds more. These came from regions all over the globe-South America, North America, Africa, China, Europe, Egypt, etc. Not only vegetable but animal substances were made into remedies; snake venom, for example, was converted into a serum to be used for snake bites, the equivalent of today's antivenin.

According to Marston Bates, very little had been added to this remarkable ancient collection of medicine, until the discoveries of sulfa and antibiotics. "How primitive man discovered the ways of extracting, preparing and using all of these drugs, poisons and foods, remains one of the great mysteries of human prehistory," he writes (The Forest and the Sea, p. 126). But it is not so mysterious when we look in the direction of the female sex and become acquainted with the hard work, vast experience, and nimble wits of primitive womankind, preoccupied with every aspect of group survival.

Not only medicine but the rudiments of various other sciences grew up side by side with the craft and know-how of women. Childe points out that to convert flour into bread requires a knowledge of biochemistry and the use of the yeast microorganism. This substance also led to the production of fermented liquors and beer. Childe also gives credit to women for "the chemistry of potmaking, the physics of spinning, the mechanies of the loom, and the botany of flax and cotton" (What Happened in History, p. 59).

-Evelyn Reed, Woman’s Evolution: From Matriarchal Clan to Patriarchal Family

[alexanderlightweight]

Can you write something that dragon Alec has Kleptomania (i don't know if has is the right term.🙃)

He keeps stealing things that he doesn't need.

İn his little dragon form, somehow he stumbles upon Magnus's lair and couldn't help himself but take away something with him. And after that he keeps coming back, drawns to the magic that surrounds the place.

Magnus, notices the missing things and the magic signature that a dragon leaves,after a while. And decides to meet his little intruder.

okay so i loved this prompt so much (i also have another amazing prompt that is about dragon/alec and magnus also can shift. anon requested cat and my go to cat for magnus is a size-changing clouded leopard for the most part).

so i created a verse for the two prompts because i fell in love with the idea of alec carefully stealing from magnus and falling in love with the taste of his magic (which is why thats the name)

which means this fic actually gets tags. i'm trying to start tagging fics with their verse tags. which means naming things lol (i'm terrible at naming things, my least favorite part after posting).

dragon!alec and able to shift into a clouded leopard!magnus

<3 lumine

i hope you enjoy!!!

-

Magnus isn’t sure what first alerts him to the intruder, but he’s fairly certain it’s when his peony pearls start to disappear. Each pearl is an effort of magic and time and the ones that Magnus helps grow are incredibly valuable.

It means that he is utterly furious at the theft and doubles his wards, seething at the fact that somehow, someone snuck into his own garden above his personal lair.  Magnus shifts as he stalks the boundary of the roof and lets his claws unsheathe and sheath for a moment as he settles himself and then he viciously, furiously rubs himself against every inch of his garden.  When he’s done, his magic and scent are strong, a potent threat to anyone who dares try and trespass again.

For two weeks he thinks he’s won, until he goes to dig up his tulip opal bulbs and finds only actual, organic bulbs instead. Magnus has never had a harvest of less than five opals to a dozen bulbs before, which is unheard of from other cultivators, and it’s with a resurgence of his anger that he turns the bulbs into pulp.

They’re essentially useless now.

They won’t regrow, not after all of the energy they gave to the opals and while it’s not exactly a waste since the opals exist, it is a waste to be deprived of both the gems and the flowers.

It’s with a roiling inferno of anger that he strips down his wards and reconstructs them from the bare bones that he leaves behind, even calling over Ragnor and Cat to help at one point though he doesn’t explain why.

Three days later, the pomegranates that should have been a harvest of magical rubies are gone and the koi pond is void of the diamond drops that are created from the bubbles of the koi.

Magnus is no longer content to be a bystander and so it’s with a feral, primal rage that he begins to cultivate the lilies he’s going to lure in the damned thief.  Magnus is nearly undetectable when shifted and he’ll be unnoticeable as long as he stays where the plants are strongest with his magic.

Five nights he waits on the roof, waiting for the right night and on the night of the full moon, they bloom.

Magnus knows somehow that the thief will come, and he settles into the shadows, his whiskers twitching as he thinks of the various ways, he is going to demolish his prey.  The different ways he is going to make them writhe with agony and scream with pain. Magnus is going to inflict on the intruder magic the likes of which is unheard of by any other living warlocks and — he shudders.  The feel of a delicate, almost cool touch of magic across his wards is like a soothing balm to the heat of his anger and Magnus breathes out a thoughtful gust. 

Magnus’ uninvited guest doesn’t rip or sneak past the wards, they slide through like they are a part of the wards, and the wards welcome them eagerly enough.

It takes a minute for Magnus to work through the live feedback of his wards as he twitches his whiskers, flicking his tail in tempo to call up a breeze that will temporarily scatter the fairy lights up high.

It’s a small, black dragon who lands almost hastily when the lights go up. His wings snap shut, and he dives into a roll, as if afraid to hurt the little globes of light that dance through the breeze around him.  As the wind settles, the fairy lights dim and gently set back to rest on moss and rocks alike. 

Magnus’ magic shares the information found greedily, the wards reacting to his curiosity.

Magnus’ dragon is a gorgeous thing and just when Magnus is cursing, wishing for a better look, the moonlight shifts.  At the same time, there is a clatter and Magnus’ little dragon freezes, caught in the moonbeam as his tail stays where it is, curved through the air as he waits for the pot it knocked into to settle back into place.  As soon as the pot is safe, Magnus’ dragon gives a little huff and then shrinks his form even more, condensing to the size of rather large and less soft Maine Coone.

Magnus suddenly understands how his daring little thief got into the roof, as warding against dragons is nearly impossibly until after you’ve met the specific dragon you’re trying to protect against. Not to mention that Magnus hasn’t thought to try to ward any of his more modern lairs from dragons in almost two centuries and he’s delighted at his mistake since it’s earned him an exquisite little treat.

His dragon walks around, sniffing the various flowers and trilling over certain ones, sometimes nipping the buds of flowers and swallowing them down with happy shifting of his scales and the spines on his spine. There’s a moment of clear indecision as he looks longingly to the little brook where the trap is set and then he nose dives into the pond. Magnus had only checked the bubbles and he mentally counts all of his koi. 

It takes only a moment of reaching out to brush against their magical signatures to realize that while he isn’t shy about stealing flowers and magical artifacts of great craft and expense, Magnus’ little intruder is much more polite with the koi.  Magnus is almost impatient with how little he gets to see his dragon now that he’s fully submerged.  It’s nearly two, painfully long hours later that he finally emerges.  He’s glistening in the moonlight and Magnus’ fairy lights have turned on for the night, floating through the sky and showing off how sharp and gleaming his scales and horns are. 

The dragon goes straight to the brook where Magnus has been cultivating his trap. 

Moonlily tears would be irresistible to any thief but considering that half of the reason he keeps coming back is clearly because of Magnus’ magic, Magnus dragon won’t be able to stop himself. The tears are formed in the heart of moonlight lilies and can only be harvested on full moons. The reason for their rarity is that they are created from the condensed magic of a warlock or seelie. The amount of control it takes to materialize a physical manifestation of your magic and then condense it to clarity is difficult to learn and Magnus knows his boy will go straight for them.

They’re rare enough that Magnus has even smacked Ragnor and Cat’s sticky fingers away from his moonlily tears, but he just sits back.  He could spring the trap at any moment, but he delights in watching as tiny, undoubtedly deadly claws try to pry open the large flowers.  His dragon is being so delicate, trying not to damage the actual lilies which are magical treasures themselves. Magnus has to hold back a purr and pushes down the urge to rip the flower apart in order to offer the tears quick. 

When his thief finally succeeds, it’s to lick inside the flower with a chiming sound as the tears slide down his throat. He seems blissed out the moment he’s done, licking his lips and ignoring the rest of the flowers to topple over.  He’s intoxicated by Magnus’ magic and he’s enjoying it, basking in the moonbeams and the trickling of cool water over his scales as he tries to curl up in the small burble of water.

Magnus chuffs, low and nearly inaudible but no longer able to contain himself. 

Apparently, his little dragon has a taste for Magnus’ magic and has been raiding Magnus’ garden consistently in the hopes of finding more. Becoming entranced with the taste and energy of Magnus’ magic is a delightful little compliment and Magnus suddenly has the urge to make even more enticing gems to lure his find in if the first trap doesn’t work.

After all, why bother creating priceless treasures for potions when you can use them to lure a dragon.

[happy-emmdings]

Yeah I know they wanted that romance for some reason. And you could easily explain Persephone’s absence by her being with Demeter, since she spends only 1/3 of the year in the Underworld (if I remember correctly). But to be honest I didn’t care for the Hades/Zelena romance.

I have this little AU where, as Killian steps into the light to move on after his quest with Arthur, he meets Persephone as she’s returning to the Underworld for the first day of winter. And since Hades is the way he is in OUAT’s version, I guess in this version Persephone would be glad to see him gone? And maybe Killian’s and Emma’s story would remind her of Orpheus and Eurydice whom she would have a soft spot for?

Ouat Zeus just weirds me out a tiny bit because I know about Zeus and uhm...why do you ship Captain Swan enough to send my guy back from the dead🤨 Like I know why he's special to me but why is he special to you good sir? True love?? Didn't you cheat on your wife?? HMMM???