#sweetgrass spiritual uses

[asanee44]

10 Powerful Sacred Herbs for Spiritual Cleansing and Protection

In spiritual practices around the world, sacred herbs have long been revered for their powerful spiritual cleansing and protective abilities. These herbs offer physical benefits and carry metaphysical properties that can aid in many functions. As such, they can impact our overall well-being.  Whether you’re looking to clear your space, purify your aura, or protect yourself from negativity, these…

[headspace-hotel]

in the future, Braiding Sweetgrass will be assigned to all students to read in school, and mostly they will hate it, because it seems to them like poorly structured rambling about nature and vignettes from the author's life. Soooooooo boring!

We will struggle to explain to them: no, no, this book was actually completely revolutionary for its time. When Kimmerer talks about the honorable harvest, learning to listen to the teachings of the plants, understanding nature as animate and alive, and the relationship of reciprocity and mutual dependence between humans and other life forms, these are ideas that were genuinely new and mind-blowing to us when we were young.

It wasn't just those in power that saw nature as "Resources" or some kind of mechanical system that would be better off without human interference—almost no one else knew another way to think. Yes, yes, we knew about symbiosis, but we hardly ever applied it to ourselves. Kimmerer is serious when she says her cultural perspective was almost wiped out; the culture we inherited as children literally didn't have the concepts she is talking about, and that's why the book was so important!

We will tell the students that it would have been weird even among "environmentalists" of the time to think of trees and insects as your family. I mean, well, yes, we knew that everything was related, but we thought Charles Darwin was the first to come up with that. You don't understand, we will say, most of these ideas about living in right relationship with nature would have been thought of as extra-scientific, sentimental or spiritual crap.

"Did you just not know where food and clothes came from?" they will ask, with eyebrows raised. Yes, but back then, food was mostly grown in enormous fields of only one crop where everything else had been killed with chemicals. We didn't really think of agricultural environments as "ecosystems"—"nature" was a separate thing—I mean yeah, we harvested logs from forests, but that was different. No, we basically thought Earth was divided into "human uses" and "nature," and that people shouldn't be in the "nature" parts. No, really!

The students will be fascinated and ask things like "But what about parks?" "Would a hay field be nature or human uses?" "How about pollinator gardens?" "What about the ocean?" and we will try to explain to them that we really just didn't think that hard about it

[southernmermaidsgrotto]

Herbalism book reccomendations 📚🌿

General herbalism:

The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook by Green J. (2011)

20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs by Zak V. (1999)

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guid by Easly T. (2016)

A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions by Gaby A.R.

American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook (2013) 

Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine by Hoffman D. (2003)

Herbal Medicine for Beginners: Your Guide to Healing Common Ailments with 35 Medicinal Herbs by Swift K & Midura R (2018)

Today's Herbal Health: The Essential Reference Guide by Tenney L. (1983)

Today's Herbal Health for Women: The Modern Woman's Natural Health Guide by Tenney L (1996)

Today's Herbal Health for Children: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Herbal Medicine for Children by Tenney L. (1996)

For my black folks!!!

African Medicine: A Complete Guide to Yoruba Healing Science and African Herbal Remedies by Sawandi T.M. (2017)

Handbook of African Medicinal Plants by Iwu M.M. (1993)

Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing by Lee M.E. (2017)

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Mitchell F. (2011)

African American Slave Medicine: Herbal and non-Herbal Treatments by Covey H.C. (2008)

The Art & Practice of Spiritual Herbalism: Transform, Heal, and Remember with the Power of Plants and Ancestral Medicine by Rose K.M. (2022)

Indigenous authors & perspectives!!

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Kimmerer R.W. (2015)

Gathering moss by Kimmerer R.W. (2003)

The Plants Have So Much To Give All We Have To Do Is Ask by Siisip Geniusz M. (2005)

Our Knowledge Is Not Primitive: Decolonizing Botanical Anishinaabe Teachings by Djinn Geniusz W. (2009)

Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge: ethnobotany and ecological wisdom of indigenous peoples of northwestern North America by Turner N. (2014)

A Taste of Heritage: Crow Indian Recipes and Herbal Medicines by Hogan Snell A. (2006)

Medicines to Help Us by Belcourt C. (2007)

After the First Full Moon in April: A Sourcebook of Herbal Medicine from a California Indian Elder by Grant Peters J. (2010)

Latin american herbalism works!!

Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera by Cocotzin Ruiz F. (2021)

Hierbas y plantas curativas by Chiti J.F. (2015)

Del cuerpo a las raíces by San Martín P.P., Cheuquelaf I. & Cerpa C. (2011)

Manual introductorio a la Ginecología Natural by San Martín P.P.

🌿This is what I have for now but I’ll update the post as I find and read new works, so keep coming if you wanna check for updates. Thank you for reading 🌿

[witch-in-the-dirt]

My Honest Review of ‘Slavic Witchcraft; Old world Conjuring Spells and Folklore’ , By Natasha Helvin

Before I start, I am not here to question Natasha’s heritage or place in the Caribbean African diaspora spirituality’s. If you have comments on that, that’s up to you. I neither have the background or place to discuss that.

My review is also on my Goodreads,

Review

Natasha Helvin, as described in her own words, is an occultist, hereditary witch, and priestess of Voodoo. Born in the Soviet Union and later moving away at 18. She claims to have learned from her mother and grandparents, the traditions of old world Slavic paganism.

All this and yet, she cannot source anything she says, save a very unfounded “Just trust me.”

The book is separated into 10 chapters, the first two and introduction focusing on ‘The traditions,’ and other folklore information as well as history. The later 8 sections are all about Spells and spell work, and superstition.

Introduction; Sorcery as a Living Tradition.

Slavic Witchcraft was published in 2019, deep into the popularization and hype of witchcraft and paganism in the 21st century. And yet, Natasha chooses to open her book with a Cautionary Note, which warns the reader that what is inside is ‘taboo’ and ‘forbidden.’ Which is what initially made me raise an eyebrow at what I was reading.

The majority of this section was just discussing her childhood, and experiences to solidify her position as the teacher in this book. Nothing too unusual, and nothing of note. I won’t comment on someone’s life experiences as a point of note. But it’s hard to see the point in bringing it up, when it just loops over itself, as if to philosophize on it rather then make a point. Nostalgia is a valid place to write from, even in Spirituality and Nonfiction, but there are ways to go about it, to make a point. As an example; Braiding Sweetgrass, By Robin Wall K. She makes many points of talking about her life, that ultimately ends with her informing the reader of a life lesson. In Slavic Witchcraft, this just becomes a loop, that is hard to read.

1, Pagan Christianity or Christian Paganism

This Chapter highlights the most glaring issue in the entire book. There are NO SOURCES. Throughout this chapter Natasha Heavily references historical events and real life situations that do have the history to back them up. The Indoctrination into Orthodox Christianity, and the way they amalgamated pagan practices into their religion, are true historical facts. The way paganism out beat Christianity in Russia multiple times, are facts. However, the author refuses to use references and build a bibliography which makes everything she says feel less credible.

Here I will also address the 4 Elements. This isn’t the first and won’t be the last time I bring it up in a Spirituality book review.

Where is your information on the four elements as the building blocks of the universe coming from. It’s not a universal idea? Multiple other cultures have elements ranging from 3-5 or six. I would love genuinely a reference from where Natasha has the Ancient Slavs using these elements as a structure of their beliefs.

2, Slavic Magic Power and Sorcery

There’s a lot of things in this section that just require the reader to trust that Natasha is telling the truth without any resources to reference. Once again a lot of this book would have benefited from sources but because there are none, you just have to trust her.

An example is the Sorcerers Song. She dedicates quite a bit of this chapter to ‘folklore’ and often references this thing called the sorceresses/sorcerers song. The song in question is the dying sorcerers last words, before they transfer magic to someone else. A lot of the stuff in here is very fantastical, and there is a level of difficulty in understanding what is just fun storytelling on the authors part and what is to be believed as fact.

Here she also contradicts herself on the facts of who can and cannot be a witch.

What a witch is according to folklore, where the unfortunate use of a Romani slur is used, in a sentence that is just a repetition of really old racism. How can you write the sentence that describes witches as “ugly iron toothed and (racial stereotypes)” without also clarifying that these are all descriptions from a post orthodox and heavily antagonistic mindset?

These chapters really clarified for me that this book is not about Slavic paganism as a religion but rather, Ms Helvins Experience as a pagan with a post Christian Russian heritage. Everything is still very Christian. Which isn’t bad and not wrong, most folk magics we see today come from a Christian background because that is the most common religion of all our ancestors. This book isn’t a reconstruction of Slavic paganism, or Slavic pagan as a broad term regardless. It’s Natasha’s paganism.

The rest of the book focuses on Spells, which are for the most part fine.

I have personal issues with her opening comments on All people were made by god as man and woman and our true desires are to find our other halves. Okay, no.

I have issues with the amount of times she references everything and everyone around us as “manipulatable” that all things fall under our whims. Which is morally uncomfortable. I don’t think our ancestors who worked alongside animals and plants always saw them as lower, as seen in, still Alive and well, Indigenous American beliefs.

In the end, this book isn’t for beginners, it’s not for Slavic pagans, it’s for Natasha. And that’s fine.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Sasha García monitors the candles that she is burning for a limpia, a spiritual cleanse. :: [NY Times]

* * * *

" [...] and as far as erasing emotions are concerned... Because emotions are magnetic fields, you can erase them with stronger magnetic fields."

[Dr Jerry Tennant]

+

“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

+

“The brain-disease model overlooks four fundamental truths: (1) our capacity to destroy one another is matched by our capacity to heal one another. Restoring relationships and community is central to restoring well-being; (2) language gives us the power to change ourselves and others by communicating our experiences, helping us to define what we know, and finding a common sense of meaning; (3) we have the ability to regulate our own physiology, including some of the so-called involuntary functions of the body and brain, through such basic activities as breathing, moving, and touching; and (4) we can change social conditions to create environments in which children and adults can feel safe and where they can thrive.

When we ignore these quintessential dimensions of humanity, we deprive people of ways to heal from trauma and restore their autonomy. Being a patient, rather than a participant in one’s healing process, separates suffering people from their community and alienates them from an inner sense of self.” ― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

[barncultus]

Developing Local Cultus: A Companion Library

In preparation for the revamping of my Local Cultus series over on wordpress, I have begun to gather this small reference library for anyone who may be interested. Containing mostly works which inspired me to set out on the path of developing a localized religious practice, as well as some of my research materials. For those interested in the series, and the topic which it covers, I absolutely recommend giving these titles a flip through.

The first of this series, an introduction and mapping out of what is to come, will be up on the Barn Cultus website by the end of July.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Indispensable knowledge of ecological relationships as written by an indigenous woman and professor of environmental biology.

The Green Mysteries by Daniel Schulke An encyclopedia of the spiritual, magical, and folkloric qualities of plants. Written by the Magister of the Sabbatic tradition.

The Golden Bough by James George Frazer Frazer tracks the role of religion and magic up until the modern day, introducing along the way some of the key ideas behind my style of cultus developing (such as re-enchantment). This book is always on my reference shelf, close at hand, and while the anthropology is at times laughably outdated, it is a beautiful read with some interesting groundwork.

Viridarium Umbris by Daniel Schulke I'd be remiss to not include this in my list. Another Schulke work and a comprehensive grimoire of verdant magics. I personally view this book as overhyped, though a should-read, perhaps not a must.

Demons & Spirits of the Land: Ancestral Lore and Practices A foundational text of folkloric land spirits and the operations used by Pre-Modern Europe to interact with them.

Roman Cult Images: The Lives and Worship of Idols from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity In my own eyes, the finding of localized images. Images references the faces, attributes, and fauna of the region in which each divinity of the cultus is depicted. The crafting of cult images, in the forms of eikons and idols, is another aspect of this.

Idolatry Restor'd by Daniel Schulke Schulke speaks to the ensouled fetish, which connects greatly to the idea of the Living Statue and the cultic image. More of a sorcerous read, but worth it nontheless.

We Are In The Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices of Turtle Island on the Changing Earth I hold the strong conviction that those of us in America who find our bloodlines here through the powers of colonialism absolutely must be listening to indigenous wisdom- full stop. Publications like this one are a huge boon to the mending of the rift between the descendants of colonialism and the land which they inhabit. I think this becomes doubly important to those practices land-based religions.

The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade I come with the bias of studying the anthropology of religion full time. This book has in many ways aided in bridging the gap between my academic studies and the building of my theologies, and is a profound read by an author with a storied collection of publications within the field.

Mystai: Dancing out the Mysteries of Dionysus An interesting look into the mystery cult of Dionysus during late antiquity. Mystery cults often operated regionally and with localized aspects to their mysteries.

Eleusinian Mysteries and Rites by Dudley Wright All literature on the Eleusinian mysteries is a boon- this is my recommendation. Following the ritual life of the local agriculture cult which has gone down in history as one of the largest surviving cults into the Christianization of Greece.

Walking the Worlds: Building Regional Cultus Less of an academic read than the others on this list, but one I found equally as inspiring. The articles speak to diaspora and tensions of modern polytheism, and I think without some kind of academic pre-knowledge of these topics the articles themselves would fall a little flat, but a worthy read for the genuine pursuant.

Mystery Cults in the Greek and Roman World by the MET

Kongo in Haiti: A New Approach to Religious Syncretism by Luc de Heusch This article explores religious syncretism through the lens of Vodou, an African traditional religion known for its syncretic relationship with Christianity here in the US and Haiti. De Heusch explores a little bit of the roots in West Africa, and how the religion operates in both syncretic and nonsyncretic ways across the African diaspora.

Why Cecropian Minerva?: Hellenic Syncretism as System by Luther H. Martin This article explores syncretism in a western context, from the other side of the isle. This is not syncretism brought on by oppression and colonialism, instead highlighting syncretism theologically proposed by the oppressors, a favorite of the Romans. Martin explores the theology of this, the politics of this, and offers interesting analysis of the historical evidence.

Epithets in the Orphic Hymns by W. K. C. Guthrie There's powers in names. You know it, I know it, Guthrie certainly knows it. Behind that power is meaning. While Guthrie does not particularly touch on regionalized epithets, I still find this to a be a great read to get one thinking about cult specific poetic titles.

[vitagraphia]

“Joanna Macy writes that until we can grieve for our planet we cannot love it—grieving is a sign of spiritual health. But it is not enough to weep for our lost landscapes; we have to put our hands in the earth to make ourselves whole again. Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”

— Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

[shamandrummer]

Honoring the Spirits of the Home

Shamanism is a way of perceiving the nature of the universe in a way that incorporates the normally invisible world where the spirits of all material things dwell. Shamans have different terms and phrases for the unseen world, but most of them clearly imply that it is the realm where the spirits of the land, animals, ancestors, and other spiritual entities dwell. Spirit encompasses all the immaterial forms of life energy that surround us. We are woven together into a net of life energies that are all around us. These energies can appear to us in different forms, such as spirits of the land or spirits of the home. Spirits of the home are the spirits that inhabit our place of refuge: where we live, where we work and where we play. These kinds of spirits share our homes with us and help us in our times of need.

Honoring the spirits that share our homes is important for our well-being. House spirits in many ways are the heart of the house itself and can affect the home's atmosphere as well as influencing the occupant’s moods and physical health. All homes have spirits, and in many cases there are layers of spirits. Spirits of the home are the echoes of people, of events, of ideas which have become imprinted upon a location, for better or for worse. House spirits may manifest as vague feelings or impressions associated with an area, but more often they appear with a clear physical form. Spirits of the home may be the manifestation of a home's spirit or they may be a spirit that is strongly tied to a home, but either way they have the ability to influence a person or family's luck, health, and mood. Most homes will have several different spirits associated with them, usually at least one with the home itself and in homes with an attached yard possibly more.

Honoring the spirits of a home is much easier than most people realize. It requires being open and aware of their presence without judgment or expectation. Know that the spirits are there and acknowledge their presence. Be respectful of them in word and action. Here are some good ways to honor the spirits of your home:

Cleanse Your Home

Honoring the spirits of your home begins with cleansing your abode. Your house holds the energies of all your emotional ups and downs. It collects the energies of all of your houseguests, domestic disputes, family emergencies, holidays, and so on. Picking up negative energy that is not ours can make us less balanced and can cause blockages to the natural flow of energy in our body. We may feel tired, unbalanced, anxious, depressed or even sick. The most important thing you can do is to smudge yourself and your home each day. Smudging is a method of using smoke from burning herbs to dispel negative energy. Sage, cedar and sweetgrass are traditionally used for smudging. To smudge, light the dried herbs in a fire-resistant receptacle, and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your hands to fan the smoke around your body and home. I recommend cracking a window or door for ventilation and for releasing unwanted energies.

Bless Your Home

Blessing a home, similar to cleansing one, is merely working to keep certain energies flowing within the house. We perform blessings on our homes to attract harmony, happiness, and prosperity to our dwelling and that can be done as often as we feel the need to. Many shamanic practitioners recommend the use of holy or consecrated water for blessing a home. The practice of charging water with intention, words, and sound is widely practiced in indigenous cultures throughout the world. In fact, people have believed in our ability to influence water since the days of antiquity. The Christian tradition is the obvious example, with the ongoing performing of rituals that turn regular water into holy water. Essentially, holy water is water with salt added during a rite of blessing. Learn how to make your own consecrated water, and use it for cleansing, protection and blessing. Pour some holy water into a spray bottle. To bless and protect your home, spray holy water around the perimeter of your dwelling and yard. You can also incorporate an incantation or spoken prayer into your blessing. This can be as simple as saying, "I bless this home with happiness. I bless this home with love. I bless this home with prosperity…"

Make Offerings to the Spirits

Offerings are a beautiful way to acknowledge and honor your household spirits. Giving and receiving are an essential part of any relationship. Anything can be used as an offering, but food is common in many cultures across the world. A simple way to incorporate food as an offering is to simply leave a portion of your meal for the spirits near the hearth or on an altar. An altar is any structure upon which we place offerings and sacred objects that have spiritual or cosmological significance. It represents the center and axis of your sacred space. A simple altar can be created with a cloth, a candle and other symbols that mean something to you. Offerings can be made weekly, monthly or annually and might include fresh flowers, herbs, incense, fruits, milk, or wine. The offerings serve as an acknowledgement and sign of gratitude for the spirits presence and beneficial activity.

Listen to the Spirits

Developing a relationship with your house and its spirit is very important for your home is your sanctuary; it keeps you safe and warm and protected from the elements. Let your home speak to you. As shamanic practitioners, we are often able to hear things that others cannot. And we know that it is not uncommon for spirits to speak up when they want something specific. Our houses can be the same way. Take some time to sit quietly in your house and listen to it. Be open to communication and let it tell you what color walls it was happiest with, what kind of music it prefers, or what holiday traditions it was fondest of; and let these messages guide your offerings.

As with any relationship it takes time and effort to build a connection with your house spirit, but it is worthwhile. Most home spirits are more open to human connection than the spirits of the land. Keep in mind that spirits choose to come into relationship with the person seeking. You can seek a connection, but the spirits must choose. Respect and connection to spirits is what makes for an authentic relationship, which is what the shamanic practitioner yearns for in a society that has severed itself from nature and spirit. Humans have lost touch with the spirit world and the wisdom of inner knowing. The spirits, however, have not forgotten us. They are calling us to a path of environmental sanity, to rejoining the miraculous cycle of nature.

[missbookiverse]

Despair is paralysis. It robs us of agency. It blinds us to our own power and the power of the earth. Environmental despair is a poison every bit as destructive as the methylated mercury in the bottom of Onondaga Lake. But how can we submit to despair while the land is saying “Help”? Restoration is a powerful antidote to despair. Restoration offers concrete means by which humans can once again enter into positive, creative relationship with the more-than-human world, meeting responsibilities that are simultaneously material and spiritual. It’s not enough to grieve. It's not enough to just stop doing bad things. We have enjoyed the feast generously laid out for us by Mother Earth, but now the plates are empty and the dining room is a mess. It’s time we started doing the dishes in Mother Earth’s kitchen. Doing dishes has gotten a bad rap, but everyone who migrates to the kitchen after a meal knows that that’s where the laughter happens, the good conversations, the friendships. Doing dishes, like doing restoration, forms relationships.

ROBIN WALL KIMMERER: BRAIDING SWEETGRASS (P. 328)

[gisellelx]

By any other name (literally, ANY other)

I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass for pleasure and for work and there's a chapter which reminded me of something I knew but had not truly ever reconsidered--"Carlisle" is a place name. It's a city in England, and gave rise to the same name across several towns in the U.S. Most famously in the U.S., Carlisle, PA is home to the US Army War College, which sits on the former grounds of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the main boarding school (though there were many) where Indigenous American children were sent to be stripped of their languages, tribal identities, spiritual beliefs, and not too infrequently, their lives. It is the place of origin of the phrase "Kill the Indian in him and save the man" and served as the model for the many other schools across the United States where this took place in the early 1900s. And like...I'm sure it was technically unintentional and yet at the same time, SM and I aren't that far apart in age. This same fact was rattling around in the far reaches of her brain and when she went searching for the name of the patriarch (who by all accounts, in 1640s England, should be "John" or "William" or "Thomas" which is why I hold my hc that he's just basically forgotten his own first name) she came up with Carlisle. Because that name was ringing some bells as she thought about writing a book about vampires and Native humans.

What in the fresh hell, Stephenie.

[secondspookyseason]

At some point I’m going to post about my personal practice bc it’s really solidified within the past year. It started as grounding rituals to maintain my day-to-day sanity, and now it is both more profound and more connected to community.

A short version:

- The Orphic Hymns Grimoire by Sara L. Mastros is pretty damn cool! I appreciate her approach to modernizing language so modern practitioners can use it and make it their own. The poems are fun to read aloud! The whole thing is a devotional to Hermes! And it’s got simplified suggested spells from the PGM. Love that. I have picked up lots of books but this one grabbed me with its writing style, which is important to me as a words person.

- I am a little bit involved with the Temple of Dionysus in RI. They seem like like-minded nerds.

- I read a book* that laid out the difference between Indigenous & colonialist relationships to the natural world and finally started to comprehend the scope of what we’ve lost by thinking of humans as separate from nature (and how that leads to, yknow, huge scale environmental destruction). I believe more completely and profoundly that magical practice is about knowing and understanding local ecology and tending garden and building relationships. It is not about shopping. I want to keep a closer eye on making all of my personal doings produce less waste.

- I’m very attached to the idea that paganism isn’t about ‘belief’ but about doing and sharing. It is not central to my practice that I feel that gods hear me, or that I hear them. My idea of what a god is is probably a bit more lax than other practitioners. But last week something in life knocked me for a loop, and felt like an answer. I did some divination (tarot) with a deck I had set aside for spiritual use, and in asking questions I believe that in this instance I got answers from someone other than me (and that I know who it is). This is new, and rare. I genuinely hope it stays rare, because it’s A Lot.

*The book is Braiding Sweetgrass. You’ve probably heard of it.

[headspace-hotel]

Howdy! I've been following your discussions of ecology and spirituality and indigenous ways of knowing with interest! If it's alright I'd like to share some thoughts. A commonality I've noticed in a lot of the people who object to a lot of the things you're saying, and I think you've noticed as well, is that they seem to see science as a way of accessing reality without filtering by bias and belief. I think that idea comes from how we teach science in the US, and probably more broadly. We tend to teach science as a set of objective unchanging facts and truths without much detail or thought on how we came to know these things. My personal belief is that it would be far better to teach science as a process. Maybe have a class tracing the history of scientific ideas and understanding previous scientific or even pre-scientific thoughts and theories.

I've commented on your posts a few times and you may know I'm a geologist. As I've gotten further into my studies, I've had to change my idea of what science is. I now see it as a living process of making ever more useful simplifications about the world. The world itself is far too complex to understand even one aspect of it in its totality, so we observe patterns and try to simplify them to make models and rules out of them to understand behaviors of the world around us. Scientific models aren't always true in a simple direct way, but what they are is useful. If it isn't useful get rid of it and make a new hypothesis or conjecture or theory. I think one culture difference between different scientific disciplines is in how the subject matter confronts you with complexity. Much of the rigour that gives physics and chemistry their prestige for being able to explain so much stems from the fact that they remove as much complexity and impurity as possible. I think that baked into that sort of hierarchy of sciences is how close they are to pulling all of the different theories within the discipline under a universalizing theory (ie., quantum mechanics/relativity for physics being the best example) but I'm now off topic so I'll stop.

That turned into a bit of a stream of conscious mess, but I think I put down what I wanted to. I've been really enjoying your thoughts, and it's been (as you may be able to tell from the length of this) food for thought for myself in a similar way as reading Braiding Sweetgrass was for me. Keep it up!

basically, yes, correct. and also that, in times and places where "spirituality" and "science" are not culturally considered separate, you can't bring your "science is about the real world of real things, spirituality is about things that can't be measured or proven" framework because it Doesn't Work

The oldest mathematicians viewed mathematics as what we would today call "spiritual;" that doesn't make mathematics not real. Just because shamans with a framework that deals in the world of spirits use X plant for medicinal purposes, doesn't mean the plant doesn't have medicinal properties or that the shaman's usage isn't rooted in observations of what that plant does.

And if you went back in time to a Neolithic shaman with nothing in common with you and tried to explain the germ theory of disease to them, through a universal translator so both of you could understand, you could explain that mammoth pox isn't caused by a slight to the mammoth god by accidentally knocking over the mammoth god idol.

But you couldn't explain that mammoth pox isn't caused by evil spirits that leave the body of a mammoth when it is killed. It would be literally impossible to explain this. Because the Neolithic shaman's conceptual framework for "evil spirits" doesn't have a stipulation that it excludes microorganisms. It has no reason to.

And instead of trying to explain to the shaman THAT "demon=things that don't exist in physical reality" and THEN explain that demons (by this definition) aren't real, you would have to realize that you and the shaman are using different models for the same thing, and the shaman isn't fundamentally misattributing the cause of illness in any meaningful way, they just don't know exactly how it works.

[nightjasmine]

I'm not one for new years resolutions, but into 2023 I've set myself the incredibly lofty goal of reading one occult or otherwise spiritually useful book a month. It's not much, but I'm doing an intensive course of study for the next 18 months and I needed a way to balance my spiritual life - and working off the bookpile of shame - with my considerable lack of free time and energy.

So far on the list is:

Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer. I'm about 3/4 of the way through this already, but it's like being very, very gently punched in the face with spiritual wisdom every chapter, so it's taking a while to digest

Magic in the Middle Ages - Richard Kieckhefer. My copy is in German

Ascendant: Modern Essays on Polytheism and Theology - edited by Michael Hardy

The Hidden Lives of Trees - Peter Wohlleben (de)

A mystery book on local German witchcraft in the early modern era which I picked up from a second hand shop for a couple of euros.

+1 pop sci book I picked up which might be a dud

Other likely additions (currently sitting in my shopping cart) are:

The History of Astrology - Kocku Stuckrad (de)

Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses and Traditions of Ancient Egypt - Geraldine Pinch

The Greatness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth - Robert E. Svoboda. Should probably have picked this one up before Saturn started kicking my ass.

I'm also looking for (more) books on Greco-Egyptian religion and magic which don't have too much of a textbook/manual style.

Mostly I'm posting (and pinning) this to force myself into actually doing the reading and not just buying the books, because if I'm not posting book quotes on the regular, you'll know I'm not doing it 🤷‍♀️

[overwitchiever]

7 Spiritual Benefits of Sweet Grass

The main use of sweetgrass is smudging as it is belied to cleanse and purify a space, as well as invite in positive energies. However, it also has numerous other benefits including protection, as well as a number of medicinal uses. Below are 7 ways you can use the powerful properties of sweetgrass in your own life:

1. Keep sweetgrass under pillow/mattress for sweet dreams

In Native American tribes, sweetgrass is believed to be distasteful to evil spirits and is even thought to lessen their powers. So, it is a great herb to place under your pillow at night to protect against nightmares that can be caused by restless spirits.

Its revered calming properties can also help you to de-stress as it can aid the removal of the stress hormone cortisol. This will help you fall into a deep, restful sleep, especially if you are prone to tossing and turning at night.

2. Smudge/Burn sweetgrass for positive energy & cleansing

Smudging has been the most popular use of this herb throughout history. Usually, the grass is braided (to represent Mother Earth) and then left to dry as this intensifies its sweet scent. Sweetgrass is believed to be incredibly efficient at removing negative energies so is the perfect smudging tool if you have just moved into a new house or just after an argument.

In addition, sweetgrass is an excellent aid for meditation as it instills a sense of calm and will cleanse your aura of any stagnant energies or negativity. Meditating whilst burning sweetgrass is also believed to bring forth your dreams from past lives.

3. Use sweetgrass essential oil for relaxation

Sweetgrass oil is commonly used as a massage oil because its calming scent is believed to help with concentration, relaxation, serenity, and mindfulness. When used on the skin it can help with rejuvenating cells and increasing blood circulation, which leaves your skin feeling nourished. The unique scent of sweetgrass is caused by the presence of coumarin which has blood-thinning, anti-fungicidal, and pain relief qualities however, it should not be used continuously as it can be toxic if used in large amounts.

4. Drink sweetgrass tea for cleansing your aura

Herbal tea made from the leaves of sweetgrass was commonly used by Native Americans to treat sore throats, fevers, and venereal diseases. When drunk, it is also thought to be able to cleanse the aura and invite in a sense of serenity.

Although, it must be noted that Sweetgrass contains a substance called coumarin which can cause liver damage if taken in large doses. For this reason, it is recommended that you speak to a trained herbalist before ingesting this herb. Luckily, there are no known dangers associated with inhaling sweetgrass through smudging.

5. Carry sweetgrass as a protective totem

As sweetgrass is believed to repel negative spirits, it can be carried around with you or worn as an amulet to protect youself against negative energies. Many Native cultures believe that sweetgrass symbolizes peace, healing, and spirituality, so carrying a sweetgrass braid will also help to stabilize your emotions, protect your aura, and uplift your spirits. Historically, Ojibwa men wore sweetgrass as a cologne and commonly wore two sweetgrass braids around their necks for protection.

6. Keep sweetgrass braid at home or car for protection

When hung in your home or your car, sweetgrass can prevent negative energies from entering the space. This makes it the perfect herb to use when you are planning on taking a long trip, to ensure a safe journey, or to hang in your new home to dispel any negativity that may have been left by the previous occupants.

7. Grow sweetgrass in your home garden for protection & good luck

Sweetgrass is an extremely positive herb so plant it in your garden to shroud your home in positive vibes. Planting it by your front door will also protect your home from negativity and instill a sense of focus, peace, and tranquility which will make you more open to receiving new opportunities. As an added benefit, sweetgrass also has mosquito repelling properties.

Bear in mind that sweetgrass can grow fairly tall (up to 60cm) so it is best to plant it at the back of your garden or in the center. It can also spread to be over 2ft wide so ensure it is planted in a place where it can be restricted a little.

How to smudge with sweetgrass for cleansing and protection?

Here are three simple steps you can follow while smudging with sweetgrass.

Step 1: Light the sweetgrass

When dried and braided sweetgrass is burned, it tends to smolder rather than produce an open flame. This makes it a fairly easy herb to smudge with, however, you should still ensure you have a fireproof bowl to prevent the ashes from falling onto your carpet.

Simply light the end of a sweetgrass braid or smudge stick then gently wave it to release the smoke around your space. When doing this, make sure you pay close attention to the areas that you feel would benefit the most from cleansing, including all four corners of your home.

Step 2: Set an intention

Always remember that it is important to set your intention when smudging; what do you want to achieve with the smudging process? A happier family? To clear negativity after an argument? The more specific you are the better. It can be beneficial to solidify your intent with the use of a smudging prayer which can be simple or elaborate, as sweetgrass is believed to carry your words to the creator. The most important thing is that the words mean something to you. Here are a couple of short examples below:

“I pray for the health and wellness of my family.” “Thank you for protecting this home and my loved ones.”

Step 3: Relax and cleanse your spirit

Once you are done, you can leave the sweetgrass in a fireproof bowl to burn down on its own. It is also a good idea to sit and relax in the area you have cleansed, to inhale the sweet scent and cleanse yourself too!

Many people choose to burn sweetgrass and sage together as sage works to intensity the cleansing properties of sweetgrass.

Conclusion

Sweetgrass is one of the four plants that is considered to be sacred by many native cultures including Inuit and Metis tribes, earning it the name of Holy grass. Throughout history, sweetgrass has been revered for its soothing and calming properties which work to repel negative energies and lift the spirit.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Photo: Mitch Warnick (2022)

* * * *

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders — the glistening white sands of New Mexico. U.S. Department of the Interior: At White Sands National Park, great wave-like gypsum dunes cover nearly 300 square miles of desert. The sand is soft and cool under your feet and provides a beautiful contrast to the bright blue sky. The dunes are ever-changing, growing, cresting, but constantly advancing. One of the best ways to experience the park is sand sledding, a popular activity and great fun for children and adults alike.

[Scott Horton]

* * * *

“Despair is paralysis. It robs us of agency. It blinds us to our own power and the power of the earth… Restoration is a powerful antidote to despair. Restoration offers concrete means by which humans can once again enter into positive, creative relationship with the more-than-human world, meeting responsibilities that are simultaneously material and spiritual. ... Restoration is imperative for healing the earth, but reciprocity is imperative for long-lasting, successful restoration. Like other mindful practices, ecological restoration can be viewed as an act of reciprocity in which humans exercise their caregiving responsibility for the ecosystems that sustain them. We restore the land, and the land restores us.”

― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

[rogue-coyote]

tag game

tagged by @spielbrgs ty <3

name: raven! or asche, w.e.

pronouns: she/they/he/whatever

where do you call home: treaty 1 territory on turtle island aka canada

favourite animals: cats and horses

cereal of choice: i don't really eat cereal anymore but when i did... something cinnamon flavoured and granola adjacent

are you visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner: visual and kinaesthetic. if i can't use my hands i won't remember shit.

first pet: a tortoiseshell kitty (smokey) who lived to be about 19 🥹

favourite scent: cedar, sweetgrass, sage, leather, wood smoke, petrichor, rosemary. basically if it smells like ceremony it’s my happy place

do you believe in astrology: eh... i think it’s a fun spiritual thing that can bring meaning if you’re struggling to find meaning but i'm not going to organize my entire life around it. also there’s a distressing amount of right-wing radicalism and weird gender essentialism attached. so long story short: i believe in like 45% of it for my own purposes while also recognizing it’s all made up horseshit and i’m fine with that. it's simply one of many lenses to see the world with.

how many playlists do you have on spotify / apple music: babygirl i have playlists for characters and moods you can’t even imagine... aka i'm not counting all that

sharpies or highlighters: i'm so baffled by this question? why not both???

song that make you cry: the national - vanderlyle crybaby geeks + noah and the whale - first days of spring

song that makes you happy: the andrews sisters - boogie woogie bugle boy + the strokes - under cover of darkness

and finally, do you write/draw/create: i write, draw, create gifs and graphics. i used to post a lot of art and writing for my OCs but... i've become far more private over the years + went through a period of not making much of anything. i've only recently started writing and drawing again.

honestly i get anxiety about tagging people so! go wild if you want to ~_~ or don't idk lmao