#queer wicca

[wiccan-twink]

Happy Sauin, gays!!!!

[mxmorbidmidnight]

Often the idea of divine feminine in spiritual contexts is based entirely on reducing AFAB people to their reproductive organs.

The mother, maiden crone archetype or the “life cycle” of a female revolves around reproduction and whether or not it is being done. Ones “divine feminine” and spiritual wellness is judged on reproductive factors being “in sync with your cycle” and the like.

I think it is time we move on from this. We are not defined by our ability to reproduce, witchcraft and paganism claims to be a freedom for women free from the misogyny that plagues all other faiths. Yet just like these other religions spirituality, paganism and witchcraft reduces AFAB people to breeders.

People with children are first and foremost people. Their spiritual purpose is not just child bearing and should not be forced into a lifestyle where they are treated as nothing but a mother.

A person who chooses to not have children is not “out of touch with the divine feminine” one does not need to have children to “spiritually level up”.

People who do not have sex or are perhaps on the asexual spectrum are still divine. Getting your tubes typed or going on birth control doesn’t make you of less value. Those who can have children are not any more divinely feminine then those who cannot

AFAB people who have periods and female anatomy but do not associate them with femininity should be respected. Reproductive organs do not define a person.

Trans women who cannot have periods are not any less divinely feminine. A trans woman who never got to be a maiden in the outdated, traditional sense should not be considered any less.

If the language you’re using to describe AFAB people is the same way that a dog breeder describes a breeding dog, you’re doing something wrong.

[witchescollection]

literally why is dating so hard... where are the polyamorous pagans??? i know they exist!!

[ecosensual]

Growth.

[newblvotg]

[samwisethewitch]

Pagan Wedding Flowers (and other plants) Cheat Sheet

Flowers have been associated with weddings for almost as long as humans have been getting married. In fact, the use of flowers in ritual may actually be older than humans! Neanderthal graves in Iraq suggest that Neanderthals buried their dead with flowers. There are mentions of flowers in our earliest recorded accounts of weddings, such as in Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Historically, couples would have used whatever flowers were available to them. While some cultures had flowers they preferred for weddings because of their symbolism, couples would have been limited by what grew in their area and by what was in bloom at the time of their ceremony. To be truly as historically accurate as possible, consider using flowers you grew or foraged yourself. Bonus points for native blooms!

For those who aren't into growing or gathering your own wedding flowers, modern florists and greenhouses allow us to choose from a wide range of flowers, many of which aren't native to our homes. This makes it much easier to choose flowers based on their symbolism, history, or cultural meaning.

Historic Wedding Flowers + Plants

Roses have been the flower of choice for Western weddings pretty much forever, and with good reason. The rose is associated with several ancient goddesses of sex, fertility, and/or romance, such as Inanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite, and Venus. (Later, medieval Christians would also associate this flower with the Virgin Mary.) Including the goddess's flowers in a wedding may have been a way of invoking her blessing on the union. Sappho called rose "Queen of the Flowers."

Roses are held in a high regard in pretty much every culture with access to them. They're strongly associated not only with love, but also with beauty, wholeness, blessings, and even spirituality.

Rose was included in wedding celebrations in Ancient Hellos (Greece) and Rome. It is associated with the planet Venus and the water element.

Wheat was also a popular inclusion in weddings in ancient Greece and Rome. Hellenic brides would carry sheaths of wheat or another grain to invoke fertility and good fortune. Wheat was strongly associated with agrarian goddesses like Demeter, Persephone, Ceres, and Proserpina. Carrying wheat may also have been a way of expressing a wish for the marriage to produce many children. Pliny the Elder explicitly says in his Natural History that wheat was included in weddings to honor Ceres.

In modern occult systems, wheat is associated with fertility, the conception of children, and wealth. It is associated with the planet Venus and the element of earth.

Olive branches also featured in Hellenic weddings. Olive was an important crop in the ancient Mediterranean, and olive branches were a symbol of peace and friendship. Olive was also used in the victors' crowns in the Olympic Games. In Athens, the olive tree was a symbol of Athena. It was also carried by worshipers of Apollo when they visited the Oracle at Delphi. Olive was also important to the Romans, who associated it with Mars in his aspect as a protector of peace.

In modern magic traditions, olive is associated with beauty, healing, stamina, wealth, fertility, protection and of course, peace. It is associated with the sun and the fire element.

Orange blossoms were included in Hellenic weddings as a sign of happiness. These strongly scented white flowers also sometimes appeared in Roman weddings. Thousands of years later, Queen Victoria wore a crown of orange blossoms at her wedding, but for her they were a symbol of chastity.

In modern systems, orange is associated with joy, partnership, sweetness, and good luck. It is associated with the sun and the fire element.

Hawthorn appeared in weddings in ancient Rome. Pliny the Elder said that Roman bridal processions included a hawthorn torch dedicated to the goddess Ceres. In Rome, hawthorn was more generally associated with love and good luck.

In Celtic cultures, especially Ireland, hawthorn was believed to be a fairy tree. For this reason, cutting a hawthorn tree or bringing hawthorn branches inside was considered bad luck.

The blooming of hawthorn trees was used to determine the date of Bealtaine, and hawthorn boughs were often decorated with flowers, ribbons, and egg shells to make a May bush, which was placed by the front door for good luck. In Britain, hawthorn wood was used to carve maypoles. Hawthorn flowers may be especially appropriate for a May wedding or handfasting.

In modern occultism, hawthorn is associated with protection, healing (especially healing the heart), romantic love, fertility, granting wishes, and happiness. It is still strongly associated with weddings and marriage. It is associated with the planet Mars and the fire element.

Lotus may have featured in ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) weddings. The lotus was an important symbol in Kemetic religion, and was associated with the sun, rebirth, and the creation of the world. Lotus flowers featured in festivals to honor Hapi, the androgynous god of the Nile. The lotus is used in art to represent Upper Egypt. An Egyptian poem from 1100 BCE connects the lotus to marriage.

Lotus flowers were also popular in ancient Chinese weddings, and they're still used by some Chinese couples today. In Chinese culture, lotus represents purity, honor, and long life.

In modern traditions, lotus is associated with protection, spirituality, and blessings. It is associated with the moon and the water element.

Yellow flowers were used in pre-Christian Ireland for blessings and protection. The exact flower used for these rituals is not specified, so it seems like the color was what mattered. Modern pagans looking to carry on this tradition have lots of yellow flowers to choose from. Some popular choices include yellow roses (see above), yellow amaryllis (associated with creativity, playfulness, and joy), chrysanthemum (associated with long life, optimism, and protection), marigold (associated with happiness, rebirth, and vitality), and/or daffodils (associated with love, fertility, and luck).

Modern Wedding Flowers

We've gone over some of the flowers that were popular in historic pagan weddings, but it's also easy to pagan-ify the flowers that are most popular in modern weddings. Here's a quick rundown of some popular wedding blooms and their neopagan and occult symbolism:

Peony is associated with purification, healing, prosperity, and success. In ancient Rome, peony was believed to be sacred to Mars. It is associated with the sun and the fire element.

Dahlia is associated with mystery, occult wisdom, and transformation. It is associated with the moon and the water element.

Lilac is associated with balance, peace, romance, protection from evil, and attracting friendly spirits. It is associated with Venus and the water element.

Sweet Pea is associated with comfort, charm, and sweetness. It is associated with Venus and the water element.

Hydrangea is associated with healthy boundaries, breaking negative patterns, hex breaking, and protection. It is associated with water and with both the moon and Neptune.

Tulip is associated with beauty, desire, gratitude, love, prosperity, and simplicity. It is associated with Venus and the earth element.

Orchid is associated with beauty, elegance, sexuality, fertility, and romance. It is associated with Venus and the water element.

Lily is associated with spirituality, beauty, harmony, and protection from the evil eye. It is associated with Venus and the water element.

Carnation is associated with beauty, love, rebirth, strength, and healing. Carnations are associated with same-gender love and especially love between men because of Oscar Wilde's fondness for them. They are associated with the sun and the fire element.

Gardenia is associated with love, peace, healing, and spirituality. It is associated with the moon and the water element.

Resources:

"New Neanderthal remains associated with the ‘flower burial’ at Shanidar Cave," Cambridge University Press

"History of Wedding Flowers" by Benna Crawford

The Roman Wedding by Karen K. Hersch

"The Olive in the Ancient Mediterranean" by Mark Cartwright

"The History, Mythology, and Offerings of Hawthorn" by Meghan Pivarnik

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

The Magic of Flowers by Tess Whitehurst

The Magic of Trees by Tess Whitehurst (see my disclaimer about Whitehurst's books, but these are some of her better ones)

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

[breathing-in-waves]

The world is anything but normal right now and it's okay to feel scared, anxious, sad, angry, etc.. I don't care whether we've followed each other for forever or we've never spoken, if anyone needs to talk, please feel free to dm me. ❤️❤️❤️

[bodhrancomedy]

And when I say 1700s, I’m being REALLY generous. Hell, while interest in the “pagan religions” (because that’s a catch all term for a LOT of religions) really blew up during the late Victorian spiritualism craze, modern Wicca and Paganism really started 1930s at earliest and gained a hell of a lot of ground in the 50s & 70s.

Sandman’s start date (the comics at least) are based on that boom in the 30s mentioning Alistair Crowley.

Your religion isn’t new and that’s not a bad thing. All religions have to start somewhere. But don’t cosplay other people’s persecution, ok?

[satyrmagos]

Large bronze pendant in the image of the Horned God, beloved of Wiccans, inspired by the Gundestrup Cauldron, with a bronze snake in his left hand and a silver torq in his right hand.

This piece is the first in planned series of increasingly intricate devotional images exploring the power and potency of this mysterious unnamed god.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1321487758/horned-god-sculptural-pendant-no-1

[wiccan-twink]

Happy Mheillea gays!!!!!!

whether you call it Mheillea or Mabon or the Equinox or any other name you want i hope you have a wonderful sabbat ✨🍂🔮🍁

[the-mountain-flower]

Revisited a story that was very important to me as a child, and learned about the author being very vocal about the harm gender roles & stereotypes cause. I thought "oh that's great!" but was afraid. What if she only applied that logic to cis ppl?

I did some searching, and found out that not only does she support trans ppl, but has also spoken multiple times about how important it is to be able to see protagonists outside of the perceived norm. A.K.A., she doesn't see my very existence as wrong.

I let out a deep sigh of relief. I could continue to enjoy this thing that had been so important to me growing up.

But this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Too often I discover a new artist, or even be unsure of one I've enjoyed the work of for a long time up to the present; and I have to desperately search to know if I can enjoy their work. Either I am extremely relieved, or absolutely crushed.

This shouldn't be necessary. I shouldn't be feeling this deep fear that something so important to me, was created by someone who despises my very existence. That I, as a disabled queer femme ex-mormon Pagan witch who was raised like a girl, will be shoved off the emotional cliff of "this person you looked up to hates you for the same reason all bigots do".

I was so terrified that something that meant so much to me as a kid could've shattered me emotionally. Simply because I didn't know if the person who made it hates people like me.

We shouldn't have to live like this.

[ilovemygfz]

Agatha All Along—I’m a bit disappointed (Spoiler alert for ep. 4-8)

i love ALL witchy stuff. Literally all Witchy media, as hocus pocus, wanda vision, coraline is kinda witchy, all of it. Or i guess coraline is more whimsigoth. Whatever. Anyways, i was raised a Christian and around age ten, I realized, I’ve never believed or felt any connection with this religion.

In fact, I honestly was mad at Christianity (and colonialism) for stealing things from other religions such as Easter from Eostre, the goddess of Spring and Fertility, or the Christmas tree, two examples from paganism. Yet, I’ve always respected Christians otherwise, and all religions.

So i started researching other religions to find mine. Because I’ve always believed there’s someone up there. But I believed there was someone, and others, as I am a pantheist. And I’ve always had a strong connection with nature and the five elements and I’ve always believed in reincarnation. I also started using crystals and incense around age thirteen and fourteen. I’ve found that those beliefs, and more I hold, strongly align with Wiccan Paganism.

i felt it was perfect for me because ive also always been…different. I’ll hear or see things others dont. I see visions of the future (though usually not immensely important ones 😒) and I strongly believe in ghosts and the like. (I believe you can be a ghost with the classic ‘limitations’ unfinished business etc and be reincarnated after theyre solved or never if theyre not.)

ANYWAYS. I’ve always loved “witchy” media, even before that journey through the past years, and I was so excited for this one. I loved it SO MUCH…until episode five.

The end, where Alice died and Teen through Lilia and Jen off the road, very much disappointed me in Marvel yet again. I know they love killing people off and making people mad but come on, don’t make teen evil. Alice was enough.

then Lilia and Jen came back to help with the next trial right? Until Lilia died. Like what the fuck. Anyways, I was satisfied with hers because it was a death that was actually meaningful. I was not happy with Alice’s because it was just…I dunno. You know what I mean.

i thought she was going to die when that thing landed on her in the trial with fire, where they had to play music. Which was in episode four i think, maybe early five. That wouldve meant something. But, no. I’ve forgiven it, though, because I’m happy with the queer roles and the fact that Alice worked at hot topic.

Now, i REALLY wasn’t happy when Teen turned out to be partially Billy. I would be okay if he was a random kid, but I expected him to be Agatha’s son until the sleepover trial. And i did not like the fact that the road was created, but especially with his magic. I really hoped if it was fake that at least it became real with their magic or something, but ugh.

It’s marvel. Disney marvel. a disney marvel SERIES. I really should’ve seen this coming from a year away. Its giving the disappointment with she hulk, but a weaker dosage. I liked all of it before these parts. Finally, I wish there was more to it instead of that abrupt ending.

Perhaps they could write a season two with the place Agatha and Teen (i refuse to call him billy, and its easier than william) went next. Maybe we could run into Jen in a future show or movie, or even episode. It’s okay, though, in total i’d give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[newblvotg]

[samwisethewitch]

Reblog for a bigger sample size, etc.

[fliegenengel]

You know what God did, and God did it for us. God put the moon into the night to show our endless pride. The moon resembles our beauty and grace because God got gay gaze

[gaaaaaaaayypr]

Sex in the city but for lesbians:

Yearning in the Forest