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high-priestess-house · 2 months

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𝕬 𝕲𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝕾𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖜 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖐

Shadow Work is a psychological and spiritual practice that involves exploring the unconscious or hidden parts of oneself, often referred to as the “shadow.” This concept, popularized by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, refers to the aspects of our personality that we reject, deny, or are unaware of. These can include repressed emotions, desires, and impulses that we consider unacceptable or undesirable.

The Purpose of Shadow Work

The goal of shadow work is to bring these hidden aspects into the light of consciousness. By acknowledging and integrating these parts, individuals can achieve greater self-awareness, healing, and personal growth. This process can lead to improved relationships, reduced emotional reactivity, and a more balanced, authentic self.

Steps to Begin Shadow Work

Self-Reflection: Start by setting aside time for introspection. Journaling is a powerful tool for this. Write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, especially those that trigger strong emotional reactions.

Identify Triggers: Pay attention to situations and people that provoke intense emotions or reactions. These triggers often point to unresolved issues or aspects of your shadow self.

Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness and meditation to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help you become more aware of your inner landscape and the patterns that arise.

Inner Dialogue: Engage in a dialogue with your shadow self. This can be done through journaling or visualization techniques. Ask questions and listen to what your shadow has to say. This helps in understanding its origins and messages.

Seek Guidance: Working with a therapist, counselor, or spiritual guide can provide support and insight. They can help you navigate the deeper aspects of shadow work and offer techniques tailored to your needs.

Creative Expression: Use art, music, or other creative outlets to express and explore your shadow. Creativity can be a safe way to bring unconscious material to the surface.

Incorporating Shadow Work into Spirituality and Witchcraft

1. Rituals and Ceremonies:

Moon Phases: The waning moon is an excellent time for shadow work, as it symbolizes release and letting go. Create a ritual where you write down aspects of your shadow you wish to address and burn the paper as an act of transformation.

Samhain: This Sabbat festival, marks a time when the veil between worlds is thin. It’s an ideal period for introspection and shadow work. Set up an altar with symbols representing your shadow aspects and meditate on them.

2. Divination:

Tarot and Oracle Cards: Use these tools to gain insights into your shadow self. Draw cards with the intention of uncovering hidden aspects or issues that need attention.

Scrying: Practice scrying with a mirror or a bowl of water to tap into your subconscious mind. This can reveal images or messages related to your shadow.

3. Spellwork:

Protection and Grounding: Perform spells for protection and grounding before engaging in deep shadow work. This ensures you are energetically protected and stable.

Shadow Integration Spells: Create spells designed to help you integrate your shadow aspects. This can involve using herbs, crystals, and symbols associated with healing and balance.

4. Journaling and Grimoire:

Keep a dedicated shadow work journal or section in your grimoire. Document your experiences, insights, and progress. This not only tracks your journey but also provides a reference for future work.

5. Working with Deities and Spirits:

Dark Goddesses: Invoke goddesses such as Hecate, Lilith, or the Morrigan, who are associated with the shadow and transformation. Ask for their guidance and support in your shadow work.

Spirit Guides and Ancestors: Call upon your spirit guides or ancestors for assistance. They can offer wisdom and protection as you navigate your shadow.

Benefits of Shadow Work in Spiritual Practice

Enhanced Self-Awareness: Understanding your shadow leads to a deeper awareness of your true self, fostering spiritual growth.

Emotional Healing: By addressing repressed emotions and traumas, shadow work promotes healing and emotional well-being.

Greater Empathy and Compassion: Integrating your shadow helps you become more empathetic and compassionate towards others, as you recognize similar struggles in them.

Empowerment and Authenticity: Embracing all parts of yourself, including the shadow, empowers you to live more authentically and confidently.

Shadow work is a profound journey of self-discovery and healing. By courageously facing and integrating the hidden aspects of yourself, you can achieve greater harmony and balance in your life. Incorporating shadow work into your spiritual and witchcraft practices can deepen your connection to yourself and the spiritual realm, fostering a richer, more authentic experience.

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greenwitchcrafts · 1 year

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October 2023 witch guide

Full moon: October 28th

New moon: October 14th

Sabbats: Samhain

October Hunter's Moon

Known as: Blood moon, drying rice moon, falling leaf moon, freezing moon, migrating moon, moon of the changing seasons, shedding moon, ten colds moon, winterfelleth & windermanoth

Element: Air

Zodiac: Libra & Scorpio

Nature spirits: Frost faeries & Plant faeries

Deities: Apollo, Astarte, Belili, Cernunnos, Demeter, Hathor, Herne, Horned God, Ishtar, Kore, Lakshmi & Mercury

Animals: Elephant, jackal, ram, scorpion & stag

Birds: Crow, heron & robin

Trees: Acacia, apple, cypress & yew

Herbs/Plants: Angelica, apple blossom, burdock, catnip, pennyroyal, sweet Annie, thyme & Uva ursi

Flowers: Calendula, cosmos & marigold

Scents: Apple blossom, cherry & strawberry

Stones: Amethyst, beryl, obsidian, opal, tourmaline & turquoise

Colors: Black, dark blue, Dark greens & purples

Energy: Artistic works, balance, creativity, harmony, inner cleansing, justice, karma, legal matters, mental stimulation, partnerships, reincarnation & uncovering mysteries or secrets

It is believed that this name originates from the fact that it was a signal for hunters to prepare for the upcoming cold winter by going hunting. This is because animals were beginning to fatten up in preparation for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals.

The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves.

Samhain

Also known as: All Hallow's Eve, Ancestor Night, Feast of Apples, Feast of Sam-fuim, Feast of Souls, Feast of the Dead, Geimhreadh, Hallowmass, Martinmass, Old Hallowmas, Pagan New Year, Samana, Samhuinn, Samonios, Shadowfest & Third Harvest

Season: Fall

Symbols: Apples, bats, besom(brooms), black cats, cauldrons, ghosts, gourds, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, scarecrows & witches

Colors: Black, gold, orange, silver & white

Oils/incense: Basil, cloves, copal, frankincense, gum mastic, heather, heliotrope, mint, myrrh & nutmeg

Animals: Bat, boar, cat cattle & dogs

Stones: Amber, anatase, black calcite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, brass, carnelian, clear quartz diamond, garnet, gold, granite, hematite, iron, jet, marble, pearl, pyrite, ruby, sandstone, sardonyx, smokey quartz, steel & tektite

Foods: Apples, ale, beef, cider, corm, fruits, garlic, gourds, grains, hazelnuts, herbal teas, mushroom, nettle, nuts, pears, pomegranates, pork, poultry, pumpkin pie, sunflower seeds, thistle, turnips & wine (mulled)

Herbs/plants: Acorn, Allspice, catnip, corn, dittany of Crete, hazel, mandrake, mugwort, mullien, oak leaves, pine, rosemary, sage, straw, tarragon, thistle, wormwood & yellow cedar

Flowers: Calendula, chrysanthemum, deadly nightshade, rue & fumitory

Goddesses: Al-lat, Baba Yaga, Badb, Banba, Bast, Bebhionn, Bronach, Brunhilde, Cailleach, Carlin, Cassandra, Cerridwen, Copper Woman, Crobh Dearg, Devanyani, Dolya, Edda, Elli, Eris, Erishkigal, Fortuna, Frau Holde, Hecate, Hel, Ishtar, Kali, Macha Mania, Morrigan, Nemesis, Nephthys, Nicneven & Rhiannon

Gods: Arawan, Baron Samede, Belenus, Coyote, Cronus, Dagda, Dis, Hades, Loki, Nefertum, Odin, Osiris, Pluto, Woden & Xocatl

Issues Intentions & Powers: Crossroads, darkness, death, divination, honoring ancestors, introspection, the otherworld/underworld, release, visions & wisdom (of the crone)

Spellwork: Divination, fire magick, night magick, shape-shifting, spirit calling & water magick

Related festivals:

• Day of the Dead- (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed & is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. Although related to the simultaneous Christian remembrances for Hallowtide, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

• All Saints Day- is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honor of all the saints & martyrs of the Church, whether they are known or unknown

Activities:

• Dedicate an altar to loved ones who have passed

• Boil a simmer pot to cleanse your space

• Have a silent dinner

• Light a candle for your loved ones & yourself

• Decorate your house and/or altar

• Release negative energy & cleanse your with a ritual bath

• Pull tarot cards to see what may be in store for you ahead

• Cleanse, clean & de-clutter your space

• Leave offerings to the Fae

• Journal & reflect on your accomplishments, challenges & everything you did this year

•Go on a nature walk

• Learn a new form of divination

• Have a bonfire with your friends and/or family

• Carve pumpkins

• Express yourself creatively through art, music, ect

• Visit a cemetery & help clean off areas that need it or to visit a family member/ ancestor & leave an offering

• Hold a seance

• Bake spooky treats & bread as offerings

• Refresh your protection magicks, sigils & rituals

Samhain is a Gaelic festival on 1 November marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year. Celebrations begin on the evening of 31 October, since the Celtic day began and ended at sunset.

This fire festival is celebrated on October 31st & is considered the Pagan New Year. It is the first Sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, a cross-quarter festival & the third (final) harvest festival of the mundane year. This is the time when the veil between the worlds of the living & those who have passed is the thinnest, which allows greater communication between the two

Some believe this is the time of the Goddess's mourning of the death of the God until his rebirth at Yule. The Goddess's sadness can be seen in the shortening, darkening days & the arrival of cold weather

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's 2023 magical almanac: practical magic for everyday living

Wikipedia

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

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tarot-dreams · 2 years

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Save The Date : 2023

Full Moon Dates.

🌕 Full Moon : Jan 6th

🌕 Full Moon : Feb 5th

🌕 Full Moon : Mar 7th

🌕 Full Moon : Apr 6th

🌕 Full Moon : May 5th

🌕 Full Moon : Jun 3rd

🌕 Full Moon : Jul 3rd

🌕 Full Moon : Aug 1st

🌕 Full Moon : Aug 30th

🌕 Full Moon : Sep 29th

🌕 Full Moon : Oct 28th

🌕 Full Moon : Nov 27th

🌕 Full Moon : Dec 26th

Northern Hemisphere Sabbats.

🕯️ Imbolc - Candlemas : Feb 1st

🌸 Ostara - Vernal Equinox : Mar 19th

🔥 Beltane - Mid Spring : May 1st

☀️ Litha - Summer Solstice : Jun 19th

🌾 Lammas - Harvest Festival : Aug 1st

🍁 Mabon - Autumnal Equinox : Sep 20th

🎃 Samhain - All Hallows’ Eve : Oct 31st

❄️ Yule - Winter Solstice : Dec 21st

Southern Hemisphere Sabbats.

🌾 Lammas - Harvest Festival : Feb 1st

🍁 Mabon - Autumnal Equinox : Mar 19th

🎃 Samhain - Witches’ New Year : May 1st

❄️ Yule - Winter Solstice : Jun 19th

🕯️ Imbolc - Candlemas : Aug 1st

🌸 Oatara - Vernal Equinox : Sep 20th

🔥 Beltane - Mid Spring : Oct 31st

☀️ Litha - Summer Solstice : Dec 21st

Celestial Signs.

♑️ Capricorn: Dec, 22nd - Jan, 19th

♒️ Aquarius : Jan, 20th - Feb, 18th

♓️ Pisces: Feb, 19th - Mar, 20th

♈️ Aries : Mar, 21st - Apr, 19th

♉️ Taurus : Apr, 20th - May, 20th

♊️ Gemini: May, 21st - Jun, 20th

♋️ Cancer: Jun, 21st - Jul, 22nd

♌️ Leo : Jul, 23rd - Aug, 22nd

♍️ Virgo : Aug, 23rd - Sept, 22nd

♎️ Libra: Sept, 23rd - Oct, 22nd

♏️ Scorpio : Oct, 23rd - Nov, 21st

♐️ Sagittarius: Nov, 22nd - Dec, 21st

#witchcraft #zodiac #full moon #full moon dates #sabbat #sabbats #get to know me #spread the love

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deepintheground · 1 year

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•~• Some Basic Pumpkin Magic •~•

Even though July isn’t even over yet and autumn is not as near as I would like it to be, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite things in the world - pumpkins! I always love when these bad boys come around in the autumn, so to be prepared for the coming autumn months, I thought I’d make a little summary of some pumpkin associations and magic!

Colors

When we think of pumpkins, we tend to think of the color orange, which is associated with attraction, creativity, and new opportunities. But pumpkins can also be found in other colors, such as green, yellow, and white! If you want the general associations of a pumpkin but want to use a different kind of color magic, maybe look into the less iconic but still wonderful varieties of pumpkins.

Pumpkin Associations and Uses

Pumpkins are often associated with abundance and prosperity due to their large size and many, many, seeds. The seeds are also a feature that promotes new life and expansion. Pumpkins also tend to last long periods of time when not disturbed, so the expansion aspect of the seeds can be longer-term as the pumpkin itself can last longer.

Pumpkins are also ruled by the moon and their element is water. Doing spells and rituals regarding the moon and/or water can be amplified by the pumpkin’s natural associations with these things.

Pumpkins are also used to ward off evil and for spirit protection. Carving them into faces is a common tradition and they became used in what we know as a jack-o-lantern as a replacement for the traditional turnip. If you want to double up on the protection aspect, carve a sigil, rune, or other protective symbol into the pumpkin instead of a face.

Which also leads me to the time of year that these are around. Pumpkins are an autumnal plant and are heavily associated with harvest festivals and spiritual festivals. The most well known would be Mabon and Samhain, with our modern day Halloween coming from Samhain, thus the jack-o-lanterns at this time of year outside of the magical community.

Other Magical Uses

Aside from the jack-o-lantern spells, the most obvious and my personal favorite way to use pumpkins is kitchen magic. I have sweet pumpkin tea that I stir clockwise to attract abundance and prosperity. You can also use them in baking, such as a pumpkin pie, or regular cooking, such as pumpkin soups and stews. They work really well with spices. If you’re working on spiritual protection with the pumpkin, using cinnamon to enhance the protection properties. Also cinnamon and pumpkin is one of my all time favorite flavor combinations so it also tastes amazing!

The pumpkin’s physical characteristics can also be used in spells. Carve out your pumpkin and use it as a bowl or container for your spellwork.

And last on this post but definitely not the last way to use it is the drying of its seeds and using the seeds throughout your magical year. As mentioned, these seeds are great for new beginnings, and as they are connected to a moon associated plant, new moon spells and rituals of attracting abundance and new beginnings work really well when adding some pumpkin seeds.

I hope y’all found this helpful and let me know if you want basic breakdown of anything else!

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vertigovineyard · 11 months

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Samhain: Agere edition!!

For those of you that don’t know Samhain (pronounced “sow-win”) is a pagan religious festival taking place October 31st-November 1st. This Celtic tradition acted as a celebration to welcome in the harvest and “the dark half of the year”. This time of year is significant because many believe that the veil between the spiritual and physical world is thinning and therefore creating more paranormal or supernatural occurrences.

Originally fire was used as a community after harvest for the participants to take home and light the hearth. It was also belief that celts would dress as the “monsters” of their time in an attempt to prevent fairies from kidnapping them when the veil was thinned. During the Middle Ages people turned towards more personal fires and used carved turnips known as jack-o-lanterns which Irish tradition later switched out with pumpkins.

“Dumb Supper” was another practice during in which a feast would be set up for the ancestors the celts were expecting to cross from the other side and then be used by the physical people after the spiritual had their fill.

(Under the cut is my personal experience and practices)

Samhain is one of my favorite sabbaths to celebrate because it is during the time of year at which I feel most connected with my spirituality. I love to combine agere with these types of things as a way to bring together two different parts of myself that I chose.

List of things I do from Mabon(autumn equinox) to October 30th:

- Color magick: rearrange my wardrobe and current makeup styles to simpler and muted pieces as a way to slow down and focus on nature and the items I use

- Watch moon phases: keep an eye out for the phases of the moon during this time of year, this is because I feel more connected to the moon specifically and begin to write letters to her(the moon) as a way to manifest her energy and change with the seasons. This also allows for more rituals to be done during this time including lots of energy cleaning (I stay inside most days and I don’t want things to feel stagnant)

- Journal: journal all dreams, signs, numbers, or deck spreads that you happen to come across and stick with you. Intuition is very important during this step but don’t be scared and overthink things. Trust yourself so the self trusts you.

- Shopping!!: This one may not be seen as magickal as the others but for me it plays a big part in setting my energy for my space and my mental. This includes things like candles, blankets, books, incense, certain herbs, and even a new deck. I’ve also found that I tend to buy new jewelry before every season that sets myself up for the energy required to be attached spiritually so that may be a good subtle way to achieve this connection if you’re still in the broom closet.

During Samhain Activities:

- first things first is have my costume ready. I prefer to go by a more closet cosplay like take on my outfits so I can wear them for the entire day without any strange looks or restrictions. This is just a way for me to enjoy myself and also view it as a way of protection.

- Act as usual: seriously, I don’t spend all day thinking about the sabbath. I know a lot of witches may have a full day to celebrate but unfortunately I know a few who definitely don’t and I don’t want it to seem like you have to be dedicating all your time to it to be celebrating correctly. Spend time with your friends. Listen to loud rave music. Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable during this time and be grateful that you made it to this part of the year. This is usually the time where my age regression joins the most: I spend most of the day coloring spooky Sanrio Sheets, watching kids Halloween episodes, and eating whatever I want. Many people view being a witch as being strict with sabbaths and having a certain aesthetic when doing so, I don’t follow this belief and I just allow my kid-self to have the Halloween he’s used to as a way to have nostalgia and think of the good times the year has offered me before this moment.

-Dumb Supper: My favorite was of celebrating is having a dumb supper, which can be even more special as a kitchen or hearth witch. I do this at my working altar currently because I'm still in the broom closet but I still set up a simple dinner, light my ancestor candles, and do a few readings to listen to their advice. I am usually regressed during this because to me it feels like the one time of year I get to sit at the adult table and ask them questions and listen to their stories about their lives and all the things they learned they want to pass on to me.

-Lighting: I always use candles on this night and other light up items such as star projections to bring a child-like thing into the night of Samhain.

-Journaling: after doing all of this I sit in bed and read through my journal from the month before and make any editions or notes, also documenting all that happened that night

I write this post to explain the origin, traditions, and personal practice of Samhain and I hope many of you can learn that it’s ok to incorporate age regression into spiritual or “adult” practices <3 Happy Samhain and Halloween everyone!! (Feel free to add on or tell me your costumes through reblogs or comments!!)

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boyneptunee · 23 days

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Phoenix!Harry who accidentally (not) saves Tom from impending death. There's also a Magical Alley.

2500 words

Time Travel! Short wip.

Tom Riddle walked through the narrow streets of Calea Vrăjitorului, the magical alley somewhere deep in the city of Sighișoara, Romania.

It was absolutely bursting with people coming to and from, both local and tourists preparing for the Samhain festival. The excitement was palpable through the air, and magic lingered like a heavy blanket above the streets of the medieval city.

The citadel sat upon a hill, surrounded by mountains and stretches of land on every side. The forest surrounding the city seemed to have prepared themselves for the occasion, painted in oranges and yellows and deep set greens, blending into one another in one big sea of colours.

Tom Riddle however had no time for festivities. He was on a hunt for Vlad The Impaler, the infamous son of the Vampire that inspired the tales of Count Dracula.

The Vampire had something Tom wanted. It was not an object, or a person. It was not even Vlad himself. It was knowledge.

Somewhere along the line, decades, perhaps even centuries ago, the arrogant creature had let slip one little, insignificant secret. Insignificant of course, for those that didn't value the information brought upon them.

Vlad knew (or perhaps it was more correct to say, had known) the only Wizard who had been capable of producing a Horcrux successfully in all known history.

And Tom craved for the information with a hunger only few men had the opportunity to have ever experienced. It was all encompassing, bleeding his vision black around the edges and making his heart beat insistently strong, excited.

So far, the Vampire had alluded Tom successfully.

But no longer.

Tom had been able to pick a trail of Death that could only come from a living being no longer alive somewhere near the entrance of the magical alley. It seemed the Vampire had gone out to hunt for muggles, sometime recent.

His percepcion of the world was wrapped in colours and shapes, in magic and dust residue, bright everywhere he looked in the magical world, and terribly dull and boring in the muggle world. Every person that carried magic in their body shone a different light, some dim and pale and others as bright as the moon. None shone like a star.

None shone like Tom.

Muggles, in comparison, where all gray and dull, devoid of light and colours to accompany their lack of magic. In Tom's experience, he often wondered if the lack of magic made them more violent. If perhaps they knew they were missing something important, something vital that pulsed through the very veins of the earth. They were creatures living on borrowed land.

They destroyed everything they touched.

As it was, his Magic was able to pick a trail from the deserted street just outside the Alley like it was a beacon calling home. Even Vampires carried their own, unique magic, and surrounded by the grey world of Muggles it was a child's play to grasp the thread and memorize the feeling of it, the cold residue, the edges of death and bloodcurling hunger.

If it was not Vlad then he was following another Ancient Vampire around like a fool. The odds were on his favour.

Tom stepped around people and carts, through archways and up the hill. Tables had been set for a night market, trinkets and crafts and talismans on display and blocking the already narrow road.

He was annoyed to no end.

He had been chasing the thread of magic for no less than five hours, ever since the moment the sun had dipped beneath the mountains and the feeling of the Vampire moving had finally alerted Tom of his location.

He couldn't seem to catch up to him.

Just when he thought he was just ahead of him, on the bend of an alley or a side street, hiding behind curtains hung around stalls or walking up the stairs to a crowded bar, he seemed to be playing Tom.

He was annoyed, now.

The goose chade counting for another hour, before the scenery around Tom started to change.

He was at the very edge of the Magical Alley, where the cobblestone road had given away to a dirt path that ended on a wooden bridge crossing over a small stream. An arc made of tangled vines with a crooked sign at the very top indicated the end of the Alley, and the entrence to the forest surrounding the city.

Tom sighed. He was being lured into a trap, he knew.

Going into an unknown forest at night while chasing a vampire would be a terrible decision, no matter the gain.

He would try again, tomorrow. After all, ge already had the unmistakable feel of the foul Vampiric Magic imprinted on his mind.

Tom chose early midday to explore the forest.

If the creature wanted him here, then he would investigate his surroundings first before deciding the next course of action.

However, he was unaware of a small, tiny, truly insignificant flaw on his rather simple but logical plan. He hadn't thought to ask the locals.

Had he been more aware, better prepared, he wouldn't have walked into the dense tree line with the confidence of someone who was sure a Vampire would not hunt while the sun was out.

However.

The sun dissapeared not ten steps in.

Tom spun on his heel, almost blinded by the lack of light, but it was too late.

The path he had just been following had dissapeared into the shadows. The trees had grown crooked all of a sudden, reaching in his direction with no leaves on sight. It was a stark difference to the pretty oranges and yellows that had swayed on the breeze not a moment ago.

He stood still and stretched his senses.

He could not feel any magic distorting his vision. It was not an illusion.

And if it was, it had been placed around every single inch of the forest, every single tree and branch had to have been drenched in magic so subtle, so powerful it made his senses miss it completely.

It was illogical.

It was the only explanation.

He walked.

He walked with no direction for what felt like hours. He passed by the same trees at least ten times, gritting his teeth at being turned around without rhyme or reason.

It was a nightmare come true.

Finally, it seemed the Vampire had tired of watching him make a fool of himself.

He appeared out of no where and blended right out of the shadows.

He wore old fashioned clothes, was the first thing Tom noted.

His red eyes were wide and deep set, an insane and gone glint on them that warned Tom more than the long fangs or the bloodied lips ever could.

"Vlad the Impaler." He said, back straight. He was confident he would be able to fend him off, if push came to shove. He was not there for chatter after all, and ripping into the mind of the undead was unpleasant but not impossible. The long stretches of their minds sometimes made Tom's own head pound for days in response to the centuries of information crammed into one being, but he had enough practice to know it was a necessary evil. Vampires didn't mix with Wizards, after all. They kept their best secrets tucked deep into their hollow chests.

The creature only smiled in answer, showing off his crooked fangs. His teeth were yellowing, and his once pristine and fine clothes had turned to rags. Covered in maroon splotches that could only be dried blood in some places, broken off in others, as if they had caught onto the low hanging branches of the trees surrounding them and had simply decided their fate was best served by the trees.

"Wizard." The creature uttered with disgust. His red eyes kept looking Tom up and down, assessing him. Possibly sizing him up as a snack.

"I have a few questions for you, and then I'll be on my way." On my way with your head on a spike, Tom didn't say. But he didn't plan the Vampire surviving past his need. It was necessary. No one could know where he had been snooping.

The creature tilted his head, matted brown hair haging off a shoulder.

"I guess I could feed." And that was that.

The Vampire attacked with impressive speed despite the clear state of decay about him. Feeding on Muggles surely didn't compare to the magical blood. It was outlawed to feed on humans without explicit consent, however, and no respectable Witch or Wizard wanted their blood drawn by a bloodsucker, no matter how ancient.

Vampires could not survive only on pig blood.

Hence the hunger.

He was no match for Tom Riddle.

The man had no trouble pinning him to the ground with a wave of his hand, roots ripping from the dirt to wrap around the body. No matter how much he struggled, how much superhuman strength he had, he was no match for the raw magic that made the makeup of Tom.

All that was needed was a moment, a fragment of a second for red incredulous eyes to lock onto stormy blue ones and he was in.

Tom lost himself on the memories, disjointed and unorganized, much of them covered in bloodlust and dark shadows so dark it was impossible to discern their contents.

He was not there for those, however.

He delved deeper, onto almost forgotten territory.

He found what he was looking for.

Triumph tasted sweet on his tongue, and he viewed each precious memory of Herpo the Foul with greedy eyes.

He was so deep into the creatures mind, he didn't pick on the feeling of alarm rising through the back of his neck, down to his arms and to the very tips of his fingers.

The creature attacked while Tom still had his back turned, deeply concentrated on the man tied on the floor.

He was slammed against a tree trunk far from where he had stood, and he grunted in pain.

It was not the hit that had him the most hurt. It was the sudden severed connection from another mind that made his head ache impossibly bad and blood drip down his nose like an open fountain.

When he tried to move, he discovered one of his arms had been broken.

He snarled and looked through the haze of pain and tethered memories at the creature trying to rip the roots off the vampire. It was another one, impossibly older.

It would pay, too.

He tightened his hold on the wood surrounding the fallen man and with a burst of magic impaled his body full of wooden stakes. He struggled no further.

It wood wouldn't kill him, Tom had brought plenty of other methods to end his miserable eternal life.

The other man turned on him with an inhuman screech and– Tom miscalculated.

This man, impossibly older than Vlad the impaler and remarkably similiar to the now dead man– he could be no other than his father.

His vast, or rather– hollow feel to him felt impossibly old, eternally big.

He was on top of him before he could even blink or orient himself.

A slash on his neck was all he needed to be reminded of his mortality, of the reason why he had sought out Vlad the Impaler on the first place.

He had no Horcrux to fall back on, not yet.

He would die here, of blood loss and possibly mutilated by a creature centuries his senior, with hatred and the same insanity that had been on his son's eyes. He would die alone, as he had always been, somewhere deep in a magical forest and would be remembered by no one.

He would not even have an unmarked grave.

He would not be granted such clemency.

Tom struggled to breath, to move his Magic to the source of his pain, but it was like trying to hold onto water, it just kept slipping through his fingers.

His pulse slowed.

He watched with narrowed eyes as the creature kneeled by his son and caressed his matted hair with stilted motions, as if he didn't remember how to do it properly.

Tom struggled to breath.

His vision was turning dark around the edges, his fingers were growing cold and his eyes were closing on their own volition.

Minutes passed like this.

He didn't want to die.

He didn't want to die alone in some fucking forest forgotten by the rest of the world.

He didn't want to be cold.

The creature approach him. Had he been able to, Tom was sure the man would have been crying.

As it was, a stone hard face greeted him on his final moments.

And, just then– a ball of flame slammed onto the creature.

The man promptly set on fire.

But Tom could not hear the screams of agony, see the twitching limps trying to rip it's own flesh apart to save whatever it could–

He had closed his eyes, and his breathing had slowed.

He was cold.

A warm weight dropped on his chest, making it even more impossible to breath. It was a losing battle. At least the ball of fire was chasing off the cold.

He supposed he didn't mind.

Then, the most extraordinary thing happened.

His body was enveloped in a gentle sheet of magic, so thin it was almost unperceptive save for the warmth it gave off.

A warm liquid wrapped around his torn throat and willed his own magic to cooperate.

His skin closed slowly, reluctantly, and his blood started pumping more fiercely.

His breathing deepened and his headache receded just the tiniest of stretches to the back of his mind.

His bones mended back together. The bruises remained. The creature seemed to deem those unimportant.

The warmth stayed for what felt like hours, while Tom tried and failed to regain consciousness.

Finally, an eternity later, he was able to open his eyes without pins and needles stabbing straight through his eyeballs.

He was back at the entrence of the forest, where the light shone through the dense canopy of trees and struggled to make it's way down to the ground.

A bird was sat on his chest.

It's red head was tilted, ginormous green eyes staring down at him with curiosity. Some of it's feathers were ruffled, and the small ones around it's black peak looked silvery wet. The creature was impossibly warm.

It was a phoenix, no doubt.

It had cried on him.

It had also set fire to the Vampire trying to kill him.

It was warm.

The Phoenix on his chest thrilled a gentle song, making his attention snap back like a rubber band. His head still throbbed faintly.

He was– terribly confused.

How in the seven hells had he stumbled upon a Phoenix? Why was the bird still here? Why had it cried–?

His head threatened to split open.

He would wonder another time, then.

Now– now, he needed proper rest. He had what he had come looking for, after all.

And– maybe more.

#ao3 #i wrote this while the archive was down #soulseeker #tomarry #tom riddle #phoenix harry #creature harry #fic rec #one shot #i might write more idk

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thorsvinur · 2 years

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Resources for Those Wanting to Learn about Pre-Christian Time Reckoning in Northern Europe and its Application in Modern Heathen Traditions

Throughout the history of the modern Neo-Pagan movement, the calendar that has been used by most practitioners has been either the Wiccan Wheel of the Year or another calendar heavily influenced by it. The Wheel of the Year draws largely upon a mixture of Celtic (Gaelic) and Anglo-Saxon traditions, splitting the years into quarters with quarterly and cross-quarterly celebrations and beginning the year at the end of October with the originally Gaelic festival of Samhain.

The calendars that have come to be popular for the majority of the modern Heathenry movement have undoubtedly been based in this calendar, with the major changes being to the names of certain celebrations. On the calendar created by Stephen McNallen for the AFA, Lammas became Freyfaxi, Mabon became Winter Finding, Samhain became Winter Nights, etc. Other organizations such as Forn Sidr of America, The Ásatrú Community, etc. have created their own versions of the calendar as well, but at their roots they all exist essentially as a modification of the Wheel of the Year concept.

More (relatively) recent research and scholarship has brought a greater awareness of older time reckoning systems within Heathen circles as well as amongst history enthusiasts. Some of this has focused on the Old Icelandic calendar as well as the primstav tradition, and while both of these have validity to them the Old Icelandic calendar already had some changes to how it worked from the older system and the primstav used a standardized dating system based in the Julian calendar. Still, these are both useful tools in attempting to reconstruct the pre-Christian (or at least pre-Julian) calendar systems of the Germanic, and particularly Scandinavian, peoples of Northern Europe.

Why is this at all important in an age with the Gregorian calendar used most everywhere and especially for those outside of Scandinavia? Because for those trying the build an understanding of or relationship with these cultures, or even just more connected to the earth in general, the way they reckoned time helps to understand their relationship and connection to their environment, the flow of seasons, how they viewed the different parts of the year and adjusted their activities accordingly, etc. It helps to understand the "why" behind the ritual cycle, even in the names of the months themselves.

Below are a few of the primary resources that I have found helpful in learning about these topics, as well as a graphic representation that I have made based on my research so far to represent the reconstructed Old Norse lunisolar calendar. Note that I don't claim to be an expert on this topic, so I could certainly be wrong in some of the details, and some of the months also have multiple names from which I chose one to use. Also, there were multiple time reckoning systems in use during the period, including a week-counting system, so there can also be conflicting information depending on which is being considered.

Sources:

"Jul, disting och förkyrklig tidräkning: Kalendrar och kalendriska riter i det förkristna Norden" by Andreas Nordberg

- Available as a free PDF, the majority of this is written in Swedish, but it contains a fairly concise English summary at the end. It focuses primarily on Old Norse Jól (Yule) as well as the Dísaþing/Disting and Dísablót in Sweden, but it touches on other celebrations and uses these to establish the overall scheme of the lunisolar calendar system.

"The Festival Year: A Survey of the Annual Festival Cycle and Its Relation to the Heathen Lunisolar Calendar" by Josh Rood

-Also available as a free PDF, this paper expands upon Norberg's work as well as others' and goes through the overall festival year of the pre-Christian Scandinavians.

"The Lunisolar Calendar of the Germanic Peoples: Reconstruction of a bound moon calendar from ancient, medieval and early modern sources" by Andreas Zautner

-This book is sort of a dive into a number of different ancient to early modern calendar systems, but it uses all of these to reconstruct lunisolar time reckoning systems not only for Scandinavians, but for other Germanic peoples as well. It's a great read for those interested in pre-Julian time reckoning in Northern Europe as well as Medieval calendar systems in general.

"The Nordic Animist Year" by Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen

-Similarly to Zautner's book, Rasmussen draws upon a variety of Medieval calendar systems in his work, but his goal, rather than reconstructing an Old Norse calendar is to create a modern calendar based in animist traditions of Northern Europe. It undoubtedly uses the lunisolar system as a base and takes a lot from Old Norse sources, but it also incorporates later traditions which are based in animist knowledge and have value in establishing a system of seasonal animism.

And lastly, my Old Norse lunisolar calendar representation. Each month starts on a new moon, represented by a black dot, and the festivals are shown at the full moons, being white dots. You may notice the lack of Þorrablót and Miðsumar (Midsommar) on here. Regarding Þorrablót, I'm not as well researched on the origins of it and how widespread it may have been. For Miðsumar I have long refrained from including it due to the absolute lack of mentions in literary material from during or shortly after the period, but I have been pointed to some instances of it marked on primstavs as July 14th (Julian calendar), suggesting a possible lunisolar observance of it earlier similar to Jól's relationship to the winter solstice.

#heathenry #fórn siðr #asatru #forn sed #pagan #lunisolar calendar #norse #heathen #forn sidr

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fernthewhimsical · 2 years

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Original Content Masterpost

A masterpost for all original content (I could find) here on this blog. Some of it is old and doesn't really apply to my path anymore, so please be aware of the dates. In no particular order.

Magic and Spells: Enchanted Spoon rack Burnable Spellboxes Spell Sugars How I made Spellcandles LED Spellcandles I LED Spellcandles II Full Moon Powder See the Truth Poppet Spell Binding and Banishing Jar Pride Witchcraft WarWitch Spellbottle Pendant Imbolc Creativity Spell Litha Spell Samhain Remembrance Sigil Samhain Remembrance Spell Stones for the Cosmic Witch Elemental Bottles Reclaiming Sigil Strength Bindrunes Daily Practice with Sigils

Text Posts: Gender in Witchcraft, pt. 1 Gender in Witchcraft, pt. 2 Write your Witchcraft WYW original questions Travel Altar Challenge MTG cards as oracle deck Birthday Magic Fiction as Shadow work The magic of fabrics

Witch Tips: You’re allowed to have pretty things House Candle Holders Enchant your Keys Snow Globe Home Cleansing Spell Recipe Cards Moonwater Washi Tape Candles Baby Blessing (reply) Save your Apple Seeds

Poetry: Stars Moon phases Nehalennia Find Me, Sister (Baduhenna) Wings

Art Grimoire: Moon phases Moons of the Year Star Stuff Perpetual Wheel of the Year the Festivals Elements Make your Mark Altered Cover My Grimoires

Art: Queer Witch Witchy Self Portrait Botanical BOS cover Travel altar miniature Travel altar miniature 2 Altar Hearth Prayer Beads Sleep Spelljar Magic Mirrors Mini Moonstone Runes Imbolc Greeting Card Autumn and Pronoun Pins Galaxy Drum Labyrinth Travel Altar

Deity: Sources of Dutch deities masterpost Fern’s Introduction to Nehalennia Fern’s Introduction to Cernunnos Fern’s Introduction to Baduhenna Fern’s Introduction to Liyesa Deity Bindrunes Nehalennia Candle Shrine Nehalennia Wood Statue Nehalennia Mood Board Baduhenna: Valkyrie or Dutch Morrigan? Offering Bowl Restoration Baduhenna Mood Board Baduhenna Drawing Cernuna? Liyesa Mood Board Stardew Valley Shrines Cozy Grove Nehalennia Shrine Nemetona and Sacred Space Nemetona Mood Board Elen of the Ways Art Page Arcanua, Dutch deity of magic and the dawn? Journey through the Gods (personal) Dutch Deity Oracle Cards

Personal Practice: (mostly photos) Temple Room (wip) Bedside Altar Spooky Story Time! 2019 Wicker Wolf Shell Collection Litha Altar Self Care Altar Ancestor Altar (reply) Old Altar pic Old Altar tour Leiden Botanical Gardens

[Updated Feb 11th 2023)]

#masterpost #original content #witchblr #baduhennasraven #was my old blog name

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the-little-spiritual · 1 month

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Different celebration?

As usual, I would like to explain that it is my beliefs that I practice spiritual syncretism and therefore that I put lots of small beliefs and traditions together to go with my practice. I'm sharing it all on this blog to help other people who are doing this and to provide them with a place where they can sometimes turn to help themselves in their research. I'm absolutely not saying this is something you should do, I'm just sharing something important to me.

In my beliefs there are several types of celebration. The Sabbaths, the esbats and the festivals that I call honoring.

This is how I celebrate the Sabbaths. Be careful, not everyone necessarily celebrates them on the same date.

Samhain (Oct 31 to November 1

Yule (December 21)

Imbolc (February 1)

Ostara (March 20-23)

Beltane, (May 1)

Litha (June 21)

Lughnasadh (August 1)

Mabon (September 22-23)

Then we have full moons, quarter moons and new moons. So the lunar phases as a whole. I do this because I have several deities who are hugely linked to the moon.

And on top of all that I do honors. But then what is it?

well it's quite simply a celebration in relation to one of the deities that we honor daily.

In addition to sabbats and esbats which can be used for honoring. There are days that are linked to deities. You can find them depending on the deities you wish to honor by searching on the internet or in books. Especially on pagan calendars.

So you can have a certain number of holidays celebrated, per month or not years.

In addition to all that you can also make a chart where each month and each day of your week is linked to one of the deities that you wish to honor. So every day of the week or every month of the year you can honor your divinity.

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copiousloverofcopia · 6 months

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HI there Ghesties!!!

I know it's been another long one since I posted, but your girl has soooooo much on her plate right now.

it's been really hard to find time to do my stories justice and I don't wanna just give you guys anything that I am not happy with.

So, thank you all for being so patient with me and I am back with some Hunter's Moon celebrations with our beloved Secondo x OC Marcus content for the lovely @ashley-ghuleh

Commissions are OPEN, please see pinned post for Carrd info!

💗 Special thanks to @gothdaddyissues for the beautiful dividers!

The Hell Torn Heart

After a recurring dream leaves Marcus, a half-demon/half-hellhound, dealing with the ghosts of his troubled past and visions of a place he has never been. He is unexpectedly thrust into an unknown world. Guided by a mysterious couple to the Ministry, surrounded by ghouls and siblings of sin. The once outcast struggles with what haunts him and learning to find himself—until he meets Secondo.

Chapter 5: Hunter's Moon

Also available HERE on AO3! Haven’t started yet? Read from the beginning HERE!

Definitely NSFW below the cut!

The sound of the ice clinking in the glass filled the otherwise hollow of the room. Secondo sat sullen at his desk, pulling out his bottom drawer and retrieving an old, leather-bound ledger. A group photo tucked inconspicuously inside. Between the faded and tattered pages—a totem of times long passed.

He sat back against his chair, looking down at the old Polaroid held in his right glove. Recognizing the handwriting of his elder brother—Samhain celebration. The year written now faded into a smear of ink. With only the faint hint of 19 still visible.

It was bittersweet now to look at it. More bitter than sweet if Secondo was being honest. A group of clergymen, all much younger than they were now, dressed in their best robes for the autumnal festivities. Primo, Secondo, Terzo, and even Nihil all in attendance, but it was the man standing just beside Secondo that held his attention. The man that held that bitter taste that lingered in Secondo’s mouth. James, his once good friend and colleague—Marcus’s father.

He had been sitting with the knowledge of Marcus's lineage for weeks. Holding in close to the chest while he waited for the right time to reveal it to his brothers. Debating to himself on whether or not Marcus would be safe if he chose to reveal it to the whole of the Ministry. After all he wasn’t the only one who James had betrayed.

Staring at them in the picture. The perfect portrait of gluttonous fools who were high and mighty in both their lust for power and pursuit of sin. Each of them at one time like brothers to one another. Even James who at one time even Nihil considered a “son”.

The pain of his betrayal still ached deep inside Secondo. A thought he had worked hard to push deep in the recesses of his mind. Finally, he became sick of looking at it. Crumbling up the photo in his hand and tossing in the dusty forgotten corner of the room.

“Satana, potrebbe davvero provare a tornare?” he whispered to himself before finishing up the watered-down spirits in his glass. Just as he resigned to moving on with his work, there came a knock at the door. Secondo letting out a deep sigh as he called them in. His brothers just on time.

“Fratello. You asked to see us.” Primo said, stepping into the office. Head held high and prideful as expected. He was always such a source of knowledge and reassurance for Secondo. Having practically raised both him and Terzo for their entire childhood, Primo was a father figure unlike anything Nihil could ever be.

“That I did, thank you for coming. I know it's a busy afternoon for us all.” he acknowledged watching as Terzo came following shortly behind. Secondo’s head had already begun to pound. Rubbing at his temples before motioning for his brothers to take a seat—they had much to discuss.

“What's this about? You know I'm missing confessional for this.” Terzo huffed, slouching down in his chair like a petulant teenager who had convinced himself he had better things to do with his time. His annoying, although all too predictable behavior, sending Secondo and Primo’s eyes both rolling in their skulls. Knowing that the only reason Terzo would be miffed at missing his duties at the confessional, was because he was planning on spending the day fucking inside it.

“There is a situation that has been brought to my attention and I think you all should know.” Secondo began, his eyes traveling over to the crumpled-up photo. Terzo, noting it. Hopping up from his chair to retrieve it, unwrinkled it to see the daunting image staring back at them.

“It's…” he began, his mind flashing back to the night of James’s uprising. A night that his head was inches away from being served on a platter. Handing over the photo to Primo for him to see. The air in the room turned ominous as they all sat in a moment of silence.

“He is Marcus's father.” Secondo admitted, breaking the quiet between them. Both Primo and Terzo's eyes widened at the news.

“Oh cazzo. You have to be fucking joking.” Terzo sighed, taking a seat on the edge of Secondo's desk. Primo allowed himself to slowly sink back into his chair. The audible sounds of his bones and joints settling filling the space between them.

“Are you sure?” He asked him, even though he knew that Secondo would not be the one to joke about such a thing. Understanding that for Secondo, it was especially devastating, if their new resident Hellhound and his brother’s unsung lover was the spawn of one of the Ministry’s, and the Emeritus line’s, greatest adversaries.

“I'm sure. He told me himself. Seems that he finally managed to summon a Hellhound of his own.” Secondo explained, exhaling hard with his words.

“More like found her, knocked her up, and took advantage of her, it sounds like.” Terzo hissed.

“Do you think he knows? Is war on the horizon for us?” Primo asked, worried that Marcus's appearance at their Abbey had been no coincidence.

“You don’t expect James to just come strolling back, do you?” Terzo asked.

“If he is being used to infiltrate us, I can assure you, he knows nothing of it.” Secondo groaned, realizing what Primo was implying. It was certainly something he himself had considered in the beginning. From the moment Marcus told him, there was always the fear in his mind that they were being set up. However, he couldn’t bring himself to think Marcus was involved.

His feelings for the wayward dog were growing stronger with each passing day. Though he had yet to fully admit it to anyone. Maybe Marcus was trying to get close to him in order to give his father the upper hand. It would be his former best friend who would be most devastated to be betrayed once more by him again. He just couldn't bear to think it—something told him Marcus was genuine.

“Aware or not…this spells trouble. We need to talk to him, find out more…”

“In time Terzo, I don’t think it would be wise to bring it up before the celebrations. Maybe after—until then we will need to keep our eyes open and our ears to the ground. I suggest we notify the clergy of possible threats and have the ghouls keep a keen eye out until we know more.”

“I agree, no need to ruin the Hunter's Moon Hunt over sheer speculation.” Primo began, rising up from the chair so that he and Terzo could get things settled, “but fratello, make no mistake, we have to do something soon.”

“Agreed.” Secondo nodded as they headed out the door.

The night sky was illuminated with brilliant shades of indigo, amber, and vermillion. The sun, having begun to set as the Hunter’s Moon hung high in the above. The enchantment, circling the grounds, emanating a haunting, green light. It had become something of a sport for the Abbey to celebrate this night. The night of the Hunter’s Moon—a time honored tradition.

It started as a celebration of the feral nature of all Hell beasts. A time when their powers would be at their utmost capacity. Usurping the otherwise willfulness of them to be tamed—to follow commands. Now it had now become an opportunity for bets placed and gleeful indulgence. Everyone, excited to see who would be caught and when.

The ghouls would be “hunted”—chased down and caught once again by their prospective Papas. The evenings celebrations, all culminating in a night of sin, power, and depending on the relationship between them, carnal desires and lust. The entirety of the Abbey, benefiting from the Hellish impulses and debauchery the night created. A perfect and proper display of their faithfulness of sin, meant to please Lucifer himself. And tonight, Marcus would officially join the pack.

Far down in the bowels of the Abbey, the dungeons were filled with ghouls. All of them snapping and snarling as they waited for Sister Imperator's command for the gates to be open. Releasing them onto the grounds while Primo, Secondo, and Terzo awaited them. Cardinal Copia, along with Aether and Dew and the rest of the newly summoned ghouls watching in awe. Their time to come once Copia would be allowed to ascend. Leaving them for now to be delighted spectators to the night's events.

“Well now.” Primo remarked, noting the list of ghouls taking place in the hunt. “I see that although Copia brought him in, Sister is allowing the Hellhound to run for you huh fratello.” he finished, smirking at Secondo. The three Emeritus sons already prepared to take off on horseback after their ghouls. Like an old English foxhunt, ready to capture their prey.

“I think we all know why.” Terzo jabbed back, “...seems the old man has grown quite smitten with the puppy.”

“Ah…non riferirti a lui in quel modo.” Primo chided, worried about Terzo's lack of decorum towards their brother’s new charge.

“It is alright Primo. It's a term of endearment...I think.” Secondo winked, knowing that the ghouls too called Marcus, “puppy”. A friendly nickname given to the new guy who they had only ever accepted as their own.

“Whatever you say then fratello.” Primo nodded as Aether, Dew, Copia, and Sister Imperator approached them. The mass of siblings, clergy, and remaining ghouls, all filing in on the back courtyard as they waited.

The sound of anxious hoofs, shifting around on the old stone pavement echoed in the cold autumn night. Secondo exhaled as he waited patiently, his breath just visible in the air. All of them all bundled in their winter vestments. The hint of pinkened noses noted just beneath the brother’s papal paints.

“Well now, have we all placed our bets?” Copia asked, smiling with his ledger and quill ready in hand. He was honored to be serving as unofficial bookie for the event. The Ministry, choosing to “look the other way” at the betting practice. It was a position that had long since been held by the Ministry treasurer. Which at this time, and for many years now, had just so happened to be the Cardinal.

“We all know who's getting caught first.” Terzo chuckled, popping his neck from side to side, ready to ride.

“That's because the two of you just want to fuck each other's brains out… no respect for the sport of it.” Primo scoffed. It was always Omega, Terzo’s ghoul and lover, that was caught first. The two of them barely able to contain themselves long enough before they would spend the evening entangled with one another, and usually a very willing sister, deep in the western wood. Showing more appreciation for lustful endeavors than they ever did for the Hunter's Moon celebration itself.

“Pff.” Terzo shrugged, smirking once more as he still knew it was true. The youngest Emeritus son winking to Sister Jillian who stood amongst the crowd. The obvious choice for their lascivious plans with her ample bosom and bedroom eyes.

With Omega surely on his way to being “caught” first, it was more exciting to see who would be caught last—the one to hold out the longest. Would it be one of Primo or Secondo's ghouls? Would Marcus even have a chance of out running Secondo? Only the night would tell.

“Ok last call for bets!” Copia announced as he finished up inscribing the last bit of guesses from the siblings and, although she was officially not supposed to, Sister Imperator. Who had discreetly managed to slip Aether a 20.

“My money's on the dog." she winked. Aether, chuckling to himself as he quickly took the bill from her and made his way over to Copia.

“Best betting pool the Abbey has seen in decades.” Father Jim delighted as he Copia and Dew stood at the bottom of the steps in the courtyard. Aether approached them, sending a wink to Copia as he handed him the money. Nodding in Sister’s direction as Copia immediately caught on. Jotting down her initials in the ledger.

“Sí, Mammon would certainly be proud.” Copia said, nodding as well back towards her.

Marcus was absolutely feral. Teeth bared as drool rolled from within his mouth. His full Hellhound visage on display. Staying true in form along with all the ghouls around him. Their usual glamours, falling to the wayside as they all roared, hissed, and growled. Ready for the indication that the hunt had begun. Releasing them from their hold within the dungeons.

“That old man better be ready” he growled. Pacing back and forth along the dirt floor.

“Don’t get too cocky, Cucciolo. That old man is one of the best I have ever seen.” Earth snapped. Playfully nipping at Marcus like they were a pair of hyper littermates. Playing with one another to prepare for the hunt. Marcus’s tail, wagging with excitement as he waited anxiously for things to begin.

Then it happened, the shot rang out from Sister Imperator’s gilded pistol and the gates lifted. Unleashing them onto the Abbey grounds. Taking off full force into the woods beyond them. Only moments could they hear Sister Imperators voice on the megaphone.

“Let the Hunter’s Moon Hunt begin!” she called, allowing the Papas now to take off after them. Following them deep into the woods to be tracked and caught. Marcus began panting and howling as he ran. Deeper and deeper into these woods he had only recently come to know. Still a novice as he allowed his wild nature to take over—guide him on his way.

He had never felt so alive. The cold wind, flowing through his hair as he ran. The light of the moon, highlighting his silhouette in an eerie reddened hue. Marcus, feeling his true power. What it really meant to be a Hellhound for the first time in his life. Unabashed, wild—free.

I don’t care what the others might say. The old man will never catch me, he thought. Reveling in this newfound freedom. Losing himself as he began frolicking, prancing, and running. Paying little attention as each of the Papas managed to capture a ghoul or two around him.

Marcus didn’t care. He was thrilled to remain uncaught. Feeling smug with his ability to evade his would-be captor. Feeling confident enough in his lead to stop. Hollowing up at the orange devil in the sky. Barking and running in circles when he heard the faint snap of a twig from behind him. It was Secondo, jumping down off his horse to pursue him on foot. The “old man was surprisingly fast for his age.

“You will only get so far, Cucciolo! My track record is perfect.” Secondo yelled into the woods, only seeing a small speck of his target running in front of him.

“Sure, old man, we'll see about that!” Marcus snarked, tongue hanging from his mouth as he panted his way up a hill.

A group of ghouls; Water, Earth, Alpha, and some of the others joined him on each side. All of them happily ran beside him. Stopping again for only a moment together to howl at the moon.

“Gotcha!” Terzo beamed, snagging up Omega swiftly and with ease. The big ghoul, who had shockingly held out longer than expected, melted into his Papa's touch as they kissed against a tree. Marcus couldn’t help but blush at their fervidness and passion. Wondering if he would allow himself to be caught. If only just to have Secondo once more in his arms, his mouth—.

Back at the Abbey’s courtyard, the crowd waited for the return of the ghouls and Marcus. Primo proudly had caught all of his ghouls in record time. Terzo was still, as expected, in the middle of the woods with Omega. Sister Jillian, now suspiciously missing from the rest of the group. Secondo too had managed to retrieve everyone—everyone except Marcus.

“Cucciolo! Torna qui, piccolo stronzo!” Secondo yelled out. The whole of the Abbey listened as he spouted his frustrations in strings of profane Italiano. His boisterous rant pouring over the wind scorched trees and echoing towards them. The lot of them, amused at his vexation.

Secondo couldn’t care less what they thought. Still hoping to get the jump on his new pet. The young Hellhound, however, was proving to be more of a challenge than he'd imagined. Feeling the age difference between them in a way he never had before.

“How long should we let this go on?” Copia asked, struggling to hold back his own amusement. Watching as Marcus managed to evade Secondo's every move. His tail wagging behind him as Marcus did everything he could to mess with him. The siblings, clergy, and the rest of the ghouls all became dizzy as they watched Marcus running in circles around one another.

“Just a bit longer….one of them will fall out.” Sister Imperator hummed, satisfied with the turn of events. Reaching back to grab her lump sum of winnings from behind her from Aether as she smirked.

“When this is over I am never letting you off the leash again.” Secondo hissed. Angrily tapping the wrapped-up leash between his hands as he saw Marcus along the precipice of the woods.

“Is that so?” Marcus grinned, running back inside. Secondo gritted his teeth. He needed to catch his willful pup, lest he’d never hear the end of the ribbing from his brothers. He yanked back on the reins, tapping his horse.

“Yah!” Secondo yelled, the horse taking off fast after Marcus. The sound of its hoofs, loud in Secondo’s ears. Gaining on Marcus quickly. Delighted that he finally seemed to be slowing down.

“Oh fuck!” Marcus yelped, looking over his shoulder to see Secondo following closely behind. He continued to run, flying past the blur of trees and brush. Secondo, still maintaining a close distance behind him when suddenly the sound of hoofs stopped. Marcus halting in his position and slowly turning around.

Sniffing the air around him for Secondo’s scent. The air, so muddied with the scent of all the rest of the ghouls and the Papas, including Secondo, that it was almost impossible to discern him. Marcus, panting hard as he frantically searched his surroundings for a sign of movement. His ears piqued to any noise from within the trees. Reverting to his human form, wiped from all his expended energy.

“Gotcha!” Secondo proclaimed, snatching Marcus up by his collar and throwing him up against an old corkwood tree. Marcus, turning to face him as their mouths came crashing together like ferocious waves. Tasting, needing—desperate for one another.

“I need you.” Marcus moaned. As Secondo began undoing his belt. Marcus naked as the day he was born in the chilling air. The heat between them, keeping him warm.

“I need you too.” Secondo groaned as he freed his hard cock from his pants. Leaking and throbbing with his intentions. Marcus practically salivating at the sight of him.

“Then take me.” Marcus purred, turning around to rub his ass against the swelling of him.

“I will do with you as I please.” Secondo hissed, attaching the leach to Marcus’s collar as he licked his lips. Sinking his own teeth into his young lover's shoulder—asserting himself as the dominant one between them.

“Ah fuck.” Marcus mewled. Secondo, already nudging his cock against the tightly ribbed opening. Using his hand to smear the wealth of precum along his shaft. Easing his swift gliding straight into Marcus’s ass.

“Make no mistake. You belong to me now.” Secondo groaned as he began fucking him. His cock, quickly spreading out his hole to house him deep inside. Withdrawing back only to slam harder and deeper inside him.

“Mmm…yes Papa….” Marcus moaned, bending further forward. His new position, allowing Secondo deeper inside.

“Such a good pet you are, taking my cock so well. I’ve dreamt of this moment.”

“Mmm...Secondo…ah! Fuck me too.” Marcus cried out as Secondo reached around to take Marcus's cock in his still gloved hand. The cool leather slick from Secondo’s cum along Marcus’s shaft.

“That's right you little mutt, cum for your Papa. Cum in my hand while I cum in your ass.” Secondo demanded as he yanked back on Marcus’s leash once more. Railing him into complete submission. The sounds of his lap pounding against Marcus’s ass surely heard all the way back at the Abbey.

“Oh yes! Yes!” Marcus called out, tears streaming down his face with the mix of pain and pleasure. Secondo, buried deep in his asshole. Practically impaling him on him, pressing hard along his weak spot. Marcus, quickly cumming all over Secondo’s hand. Face bright red and eyes almost crossed as he burst in his hand.

Soon Secondo too couldn’t help but cum. Thrusting and pounding harder and harder until the warm liquid from Marcus’s orgasm ran over his wrist. The feel of it sending him over as he slammed Marcus’s ass down hard against his lap. Pouring ropes of cum deep in the back of him.

When it was all said and done, they both laid spent on the ground. Breathing, slowly settling as Marcus laid his hand against Secondo’s warm chest. His Papa, wrapping them both in his vestments as best he could. The cold, now beginning to settle in as the sweat from their efforts evaporated from their skin.

“You were amazing tonight.” Secondo hummed.

“Really?” Marcus asked, a bit surprised that Secondo was so impressed with him. Both of them, still reveling in descent from their orgasms.

“Truly. Everyone else had been caught tonight before you. You should be proud, Cucciolo.” Secondo explained. Marcus felt warm inside. Proud of himself for his efforts but completely enamored with Secondo that the victory paled in comparison.

“Thank you.” was all he could muster. Secondo, pulling out a cigarillo to puff on before they’d head back in.

“You’re welcome.” Secondo began when the post-coital reality began to set in. There was still so much to learn about Marcus—and if he truly knew about his father. Secondo knew he would have to tell him, but tonight was certainly not the night. For now, he would enjoy this moment between them—a rare moment of happiness.

“Happy first Hunter’s Moon.” Marcus smiled in his adorable naive, but charming tone.

“Happy Hunter’s Moon.”

Notes: Satana, potrebbe davvero provare a tornare?- Satan, could he really be trying to come back? non riferirti a lui in quel modo.-do not refer to him like that. Cucciolo-Puppy torna qui, piccolo stronzo- come back here you little shit.

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breelandwalker · 2 years

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2023 Witch's Calendar

For all my witches out there, here's a handy list of the 2023 dates for the major holidays, full and new moons, and special events. I've listed my sources at the bottom. Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed. Enjoy!

WOTY Holidays and Solstices

February 1-2 - Imbolc

March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

May 1 - Beltane

June 21 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer

August 1 - Lughnasadh

September 23- Autumn Equinox / Mabon

October 31 - Samhain

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 6 - Wolf Moon ♋

February 5 - Snow Moon ♌

March 7 - Worm Moon ♍

April 6 - Pink Moon ♎

May 5 - Flower Moon ♏

June 4 - Strawberry Moon ♐

July 3 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 1 - Sturgeon Moon ♒

August 31 - Blue Moon ♓

September 29- Harvest Moon ♈

October 28 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon) ♉

November 27 - Frost Moon ♊

December 26 - Cold Moon ♋

Fun Fact: The title of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October full moon, whichever falls closest to the autumn equinox. In 2023, as in 2022, that month will be September.

New Moons

January 21 ♒

February 20 ♓

March 21 ♈

April 20 ♈

May 19 ♉

June 18 ♊

July 17 ♋

August 16 ♌

September 14 ♍

October 14 ♎

November 13 ♏

December 12 ♐

Special Events

February 20 - 2nd New Moon in lunar month

April 20 - Solar Eclipse

May 5 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

August 30 - Blue Moon

September 29 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

October 14 - Solar Eclipe (Annular)

October 28 - Lunar Eclipse (Partial)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

Dec 29, 2022 - Jan 18, 2023

April 21 - May 14

August 23 - September 15

Dec 13, 2023 - January 1, 2024

SOURCES:

Moon Info - Full Moon 2023

Calendar-12.com - Moon Phases 2023

Full Moonology - Full Moon Calendar 2023

Moon Calendar - Full Moons and New Moons in 2023

Yearly Horoscope - Mercury Retrograde 2023 Dates and Times

Your Zodiac Sign - 2023 Astrology Calendar

The Pagan Grimoire - The Wheel of the Year: The 8 Festivals in the Wiccan Calendar

If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

EDIT: Updated Jan 6, 2023 to correct full moon signs and include additional celestial events. Enjoy!

#Posting it early bc why not #witchcraft #pagan #witchblr #wicca #witch calendar #baby witch #witch tips #lunar calendar

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grim-wildwood · 6 months

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Fruits in Ritual

These kinds of fruits are very common in every household and grocery store, yet many rarely think of the magickal properties of these sweet gifts from nature. Herbs are aromatic and sensual, but thinking outside the box, especially with food items, is a great way to expand your understanding of the craft.

Apples

•☽────✧˖°˖⛤˖°˖✧────☾•

Surround the Empress card from the tarot with apple slices (dried or fresh) and leave them on the altar for help with fertility.

Pour a libation of apple juice during your ritual to ask for the gift of insight or to seek help with life decisions.

Add apple peels to a large pot or cauldron of water with cinnamon, allspice, and/or ginger root to infuse your home with romance.

If you cut an apple in half, you will find a pentacle star in the middle. Press spell ingredients into the flesh or use it to symbolize earth on an all-natural altar.

Apple branches make gorgeous wands. Leave yours natural, or decorate it with gemstones, shells, sea glass, feathers, etc.

Burn apple blossom incense to enhance your connection to other realms.

The bitter seeds of an apple make excellent additions to mojo bags, spells, or amulets for protection.

Plant an apple tree in your yard to bless your home for prosperity.

Blackberries

•☽────✧˖°˖⛤˖°˖✧────☾•

Blackberry leaves can be used in sachets and spell jars for protection and prosperity.

Blackberries are considered sacred especially to Goddess Brigid.

A blackberry bush forming a natural arch is considered a good omen and a great aid to magickal healing.

One traditional use consists of crossing the brambles to get rid of evil spirits.

The leaves of the blackberries have stomach settling and anti-inflammatory properties.

Eat blackberries or drink their juice before divination.

Blackberry bushes were also used for home protection under the assumption that any malevolent spirits would be compelled to count all the berries, and that would prevent them from entering your home.

Juniper

•☽────✧˖°˖⛤˖°˖✧────☾•

Juniper has strong cleansing properties in magic. Traditionally, it was used in burial rites, in protective rituals, and to eliminate evil spirits.

The house can be smudged with smoke from burning juniper needles to cleanse the energy.

Juniper twigs are hung on the front door for protection from people with impure thoughts and from evil spirits. A properly planted juniper, with magick, care, and love, can protect the home from thieves and general bad vibes.

Juniper is widely used to remove unwanted love spells.

Juniper attracts good luck and protects against diseases. Juniper woods are burned, and their pleasant fragrance is suitable as an incense for ritual offerings during the autumn Samhain fire festival at the beginning of the Celtic year to honor the Gods and Lunar Goddess.

If you feel like your body has absorbed so many negativities and need healing, Juniper Berries can be used as an amulet to facilitate much stronger healing.

Juniper Berries can be used in love spells to draw love to your circle or eliminate undesired emotions and suitors.

There is also an opinion that magick wands and staves can be made of juniper. Juniper wands enhance the psychic abilities of the owner as well as protect them from curses and evil spirits.

Pomegranate

•☽────✧˖°˖⛤˖°˖✧────☾•

Pomegranate juice can be used as a symbol for blood in a spell.

Pomegranate juice and seeds can be used in love spells as well as protection spells.

Make an ink using pomegranate leaves and vinegar and use it to write fertility, prosperity, and protection spells.

Give pomegranates as a housewarming gift to bestow the blessings of abundance and prosperity on a household.

Hang branches near or above your door to ward off evil.

Drink the juice or eat the seeds while working with the moon. Meditate and ask for guidance, knowledge, or wisdom.

Oranges

•☽────✧˖°˖⛤˖°˖✧────☾•

Valencia oranges, associated with the high midsummer season, can be placed on the Litha altar.

Dried orange peel can be included in creativity sachets. For example, try combining dry orange peel and coffee grounds to break through writer’s block.

Oranges are a sun symbol. Use them in sun magick and solar rites.

Leave dried orange peel by the bathroom sink or wherever you get ready in the morning. Oranges have an energizing effect.

Associated with abundance, oranges make the perfect addition to spells of monetary success.

Blend dried orange into ritual incense. Orange peel blends well with a variety of other scents, particularly spicy ones.

During the solar holidays, fill your chalice with orange juice to welcome the sun back at Yule, or bid him farewell on Midsummer.

Combine a few drops of orange essential oil with a natural alcohol base like vodka, put it in a spray bottle, and spritz it over the altar for a lovely energy cleansing.

For the kitchen witch, make some orange marmalade from scratch and bless it for joy.

#witchcraft #nature #paganism #witch tips #Wildwood Witchcraft

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