Latest Posts by dipstickflopdoodle - Page 2
Odysseus's fixation upon his son could possibly be explained by the timeline.
A small thing that needs to be said is that according to Homer Odysseus left Telemachus a "newborn" (or at least so Menelaus says in the Odyssey). Interestingly is hard to tell how long Odysseus and Penelope have been married before they had Telemachus because the time line is not cut and clear.
It seems like their marriage took place during the oath of Tyndareus period when Odysseus was at Sparta as a suitor to Helen. From the Oath till Helen's infidelity or abduction or forced seduction by Aphrodite we see there were around 10 years of difference (quite frankly according to some accounts Helen mentions she was 20 years in Troy). That means that he and Penelope were potentially married at least a decade (which makes sense given that he made a wedding bed for her from scratch making it seem that their palace was also being rebuilt at that time)
But if Telemachus was newborn or almost newborn (like let's say about 1 year old tops) that means that Odysseus and Penelope were childless for almost a decade. Either that means they were having some issues aka Odysseus running errands in the kingdom or that they were trying very hard to have children and somehow they couldn't
Do you imagine what this means?
Odysseus potentially had to leave behind a son he wished for for almost a decade full and not to mention that Palamedes nearly killed him, that very son that he potentially tried so hard for and wished for so much!
Hell no wonder he names himself "Father of Telemachus" and quite frankly one can understand why he would hold a grudge against Palamedes (be it Higenius you follow where he frames him or be it Pausanias who says he drowned him) one can imagine why his brain would snap like that! If this hypothesis is correct that is.
Odysseus's fixation upon his son could possibly be explained by the timeline.
A small thing that needs to be said is that according to Homer Odysseus left Telemachus a "newborn" (or at least so Menelaus says in the Odyssey). Interestingly is hard to tell how long Odysseus and Penelope have been married before they had Telemachus because the time line is not cut and clear.
It seems like their marriage took place during the oath of Tyndareus period when Odysseus was at Sparta as a suitor to Helen. From the Oath till Helen's infidelity or abduction or forced seduction by Aphrodite we see there were around 10 years of difference (quite frankly according to some accounts Helen mentions she was 20 years in Troy). That means that he and Penelope were potentially married at least a decade (which makes sense given that he made a wedding bed for her from scratch making it seem that their palace was also being rebuilt at that time)
But if Telemachus was newborn or almost newborn (like let's say about 1 year old tops) that means that Odysseus and Penelope were childless for almost a decade. Either that means they were having some issues aka Odysseus running errands in the kingdom or that they were trying very hard to have children and somehow they couldn't
Do you imagine what this means?
Odysseus potentially had to leave behind a son he wished for for almost a decade full and not to mention that Palamedes nearly killed him, that very son that he potentially tried so hard for and wished for so much!
Hell no wonder he names himself "Father of Telemachus" and quite frankly one can understand why he would hold a grudge against Palamedes (be it Higenius you follow where he frames him or be it Pausanias who says he drowned him) one can imagine why his brain would snap like that! If this hypothesis is correct that is.
I just found this and thought this was cool! Please don't ask where I found this at this time because I don't want it to be pulled down and people lose access to it on the internet forever. In case that happens, I'm posting this here for all the Prince of Egypt fans! Enjoy!
my 10 holy grail pieces of writing advice for beginners
from an indie author who's published 4 books and written 20+, as well as 400k in fanfiction (who is also a professional beta reader who encounters the same issues in my clients' books over and over)
show don't tell is every bit as important as they say it is, no matter how sick you are of hearing about it. "the floor shifted beneath her feet" hits harder than "she felt sick with shock."
no head hopping. if you want to change pov mid scene, put a scene break. you can change it multiple times in the same scene! just put a break so your readers know you've changed pov.
if you have to infodump, do it through dialogue instead of exposition. your reader will feel like they're learning alongside the character, and it will flow naturally into your story.
never open your book with an exposition dump. instead, your opening scene should drop into the heart of the action with little to no context. raise questions to the reader and sprinkle in the answers bit by bit. let your reader discover the context slowly instead of holding their hand from the start. trust your reader; donn't overexplain the details. this is how you create a perfect hook.
every chapter should end on a cliffhanger. doesn't have to be major, can be as simple as ending a chapter mid conversation and picking it up immediately on the next one. tease your reader and make them need to turn the page.
every scene should subvert the character's expectations, as big as a plot twist or as small as a conversation having a surprising outcome. scenes that meet the character's expectations, such as a boring supply run, should be summarized.
arrive late and leave early to every scene. if you're character's at a party, open with them mid conversation instead of describing how they got dressed, left their house, arrived at the party, (because those things don't subvert their expectations). and when you're done with the reason for the scene is there, i.e. an important conversation, end it. once you've shown what you needed to show, get out, instead of describing your character commuting home (because it doesn't subvert expectations!)
epithets are the devil. "the blond man smiled--" you've lost me. use their name. use it often. don't be afraid of it. the reader won't get tired of it. it will serve you far better than epithets, especially if you have two people of the same pronouns interacting.
your character should always be working towards a goal, internal or external (i.e learning to love themself/killing the villain.) try to establish that goal as soon as possible in the reader's mind. the goal can change, the goal can evolve. as long as the reader knows the character isn't floating aimlessly through the world around them with no agency and no desire. that gets boring fast.
plan scenes that you know you'll have fun writing, instead of scenes that might seem cool in your head but you know you'll loathe every second of. besides the fact that your top priority in writing should be writing for only yourself and having fun, if you're just dragging through a scene you really hate, the scene will suffer for it, and readers can tell. the scenes i get the most praise on are always the scenes i had the most fun writing. an ideal outline shouldn't have parts that make you groan to look at. you'll thank yourself later.
happy writing :)
In regards of the Trump government scraping all trans inclusion in its queer information portion of its websites I have made this thing. Spread the word. Don't let them pretend we never existed.
P.S: Don't like! Reblog! <3
THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS SNEAK PEEK AT THE NEW DESIGNS
YOU GUYS
what simons playlist would look like
I just know hes a spotify premium king { i would make it a playlist if it didnt link to my irl account LOLZ } you also can't tell me that every song added isn't a banger
his normal rotation
you can guarantee hes at least going to play of these songs everyday. whether its getting ready in the morning with you, or when hes doing his routine work out. he loves these ones with all his heart.
for the love of god - steve vai get some o'deez - snot r.o.m.p. - tomorrows bad seeds devils door - slightly stoopid i don't like me anymore - nofx princess - failure savory - jawbox third eye - tool coming right along - the posies its gonna kill me - filter wait - earshot brodels - 311 buried myself alive - the used creep - stone temple pilots
when hes thinking of you
simon when hes emotional is always a simon with a straight and blank face. his heart aches thinking of you back home while hes away on deployment. the sound of it can be heard coming from his headphones when he gets too close to anyone else.
why i like the robins - hum the background - third eye blind wish you were here - incubus orgasm of death - the growlers reckoner - radiohead lovesong - the cure pet - a perfect circle look at you - screaming trees sometimes - my bloody valentine incinerate - sonic youth her - the american dawn
when hes feeling himself on a whole new level
hes finally been home from deployment long enough for you to not feel guilty about going out with your friends. this is what's hes playing when hes cleaning up and doing the normal chores you would. and inevitably listening to them in the car while he has to come pick you up because of a few too many drinks you may or may not of had.
still a g thang - snoop dogg dry spell - pepper survival of the fittest - mobb deep c.r.e.a.m. - wu tang clan drift away - the expendables fastlane - king geedorah eye for an eye - mobb deep get a hold - a tribe called quest payback - flaw
ೃ࿔* tag list: @simonskitty @cu456 @silverwoodlynx @mlthree @vint4geroses @ktmjoslin @darlingchanse @xangelbnnyx @tslmvn @gogeroni @1pps @jgissle12 @asherscove @bunty-girl @yu-rikaa @mara-018 @diorpar @sky-robin @ray-19 @ldrtypeofgirl @mentalhorror @teranya
We need to talk about Titus
Out of all the discussions around the Hunger Games, the one discussion I have yet to see is one around the past Tribute and "cannibal", Titus.
It strikes me as an extremely odd detail to be randomly thrown in, not only being one of the only past non-victor tributes to have a name, (and the only one that isn't from the 10th and 74th games or Maysilee Donner, who has further significance to the plot) but also having such a wild story. Titus being relegated to a one-off line is extremely confusing to me.
But what's more confusing is how he's treated, both in-universe by other tributes, and irl by readers/fans. And I think Capitol Propaganda has a lot to do with it.
The little we do know about Titus is:
He was from District 6
He was anywhere from 12-18 years old
He was killed by an *avalanche*
He was "crazy" and snapped during the games
He cannibalized the hearts of the tributes he killed
Right away, this tells me that there's more to Titus than just having lost it, or even being mentally ill prior to the games, though that may have had a part. However, it's definitely not the main factor at play.
Firstly, we need to look at how the Capitol treats these literal children in the short time that they're being prepared to fight to the death. They're almost constantly in the public eye, pushed to train, and treated like commodities for the residents of the Capitol. Residents who live in opulence, compared to the poverty and struggles of the rest of the districts. District 6 especially, where Titus is from, seems to have had a rough time, what with an implied morphling problem and their focus being Transport, meaning that their tributes have absolutely no prior skills that would be useful in the games.
Combining all of these factors, and we don't have to make a leap to assume that Titus would already be under a lot of stress from the get-go.
Then, consider the Arena. This is where the avalanche comes into play. An avalanche would mean snow, which would mean that the arena was likely some sort of tundra, or at least was winter-like. From other games, it has been shown that the gamemakers will purposely make it difficult for tributes to access basic resources like water or food. If Titus had been unlucky at the cornucopia, he would be hard-pressed to find food in a snow-covered environment.
And these two factors, stress and hunger, make it pretty clear to me why Titus did what he did, and why that's so important to the rest of the story as a whole.
Titus. Was. Starving.
Desperation for food, stress from what he'd already gone through, and the fact that Titus was a child makes it pretty clear that if he "snapped", it wasn't because he was insane, it was because of the Capitol.
And the tragedy of this is that the Capitol pushed this boy to desperation, and because he lashed out at them for it (and they found his actions in desperation "unsightly"), they tazed him, they killed him, and they framed the entire situation as this "monstrous crazy person gone rogue".
The Capitol once again kept the people blind to their cruelty, but this time, they even did so to us, the reader.
The Devil's Wheel
The Devil’s Wheel
“If you say yes,” said the Devil, “a single man, somewhere in the world, will be killed on the spot. But three million dollars is nothing to sneeze at, missus.”
“What’s the catch?” You squint at him suspiciously over the red-and-black striped carnival booth. You’re smarter than he thinks you are– a devil deal always has a catch, and you’re determined to catch him before he catches you.
“Well, the catch is that you’ll know you did it. And I’ll know, too. And the big man upstairs’ll know, I ‘spose. But what’s the chariot of salvation without a little sin to grease the wheels? You can repent from your mansion balcony, looking out at your waterfront views, sipping a bellini in your eighties. But hey, it’s up to you– take my deal or leave it.”
The Devil lights a cigar without a match, taking an inhale, and blowing out a cloud of deep, sweet-smelling tobacco laced faintly with something that reminds you of rotten eggs. If he does have horns, they’re hidden under his lemon yellow carnival barker hat. He wears a clean pinstripe suit and a red bowtie. No cloven hooves, no big pointy fork, but you know he’s the Devil without having to be told. Though he did introduce himself.
He’s been perfectly polite.
You know you need the money. He knows it too, or he wouldn’t have brought you here, to this strange dark room, whisking you away from your new house in the suburbs as fast as a wish. Now you’re in some sort of warehouse, where all the windows seem to be blacked out– or, maybe, they simply look out into pitch darkness, though it is the middle of the day. A single white spotlight shines down on the two of you.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” you say. “I bet the man is someone I know, right? My husband?”
“Could be,” the Devil says with a pointed grin. “That’s for the wheel to decide.”
He steps back and raises his black-gloved hand as the tarp flies off of the large veiled object behind him. The light of the carnival wheel nearly blinds you. Blinking lights line the sides. Jingling music blares over speakers you can’t see. The flickering sign above it reads:
THE DEVIL’S WHEEL
“Step right up and claim your fortune,” the Devil barks. “Spin the wheel and pay the price! Or leave now, and a man keeps his life.”
You examine the wheel.
The gambling addict
The doting boyfriend
The escaped convict
The dog dad
The secretive sadist
“These are all the possible men I can kill?” You ask, thumbing the side of the wheel. It rolls smoothly in your hand. Then you quickly stop, realizing that this might constitute a spin under the Devil’s rules. He flashes a smile at you, watching you halt its motion.
“Addicts, convicts, murderers– plenty of terrible options for you to land on, missus!”
“Serial wife murderer?”
“Now who would miss a fellow like that? I can guarantee that the whole world would be better off without him in it, and that’s a fact.”
The hard worker
The compulsive liar
The animal torturer
The widower
The desperate businessman
The failed musician
The beloved son
“My husband is on here too,” you say.
“Your husband Dave, yes. The wheel has to be fair, otherwise there’s simply no stakes.”
“I know what’s gonna happen,” you say, crossing your arms. “This wheel is rigged. I’m gonna spin it around, and it’ll go through all the killers and stuff, and then it’s gonna land on my husband no matter what.”
“Why, I would never disgrace the wheel that way,” the Devil says, wounded. “I swear on my own mother’s grave– may she never escape it. In fact, take one free spin, just to test it out! This one’s on me, no death, no dollars.”
You cautiously reach up to the top of the wheel and feel its heaviness in your hand. The weight of hundreds of lives. But also, millions of dollars. You pull the wheel down and let it go.
Clackity-clackity-clackity-clackity
Round and round it goes.
The college graduate
The hockey fan
The Eagle Scout
The cold older brother
The charming younger brother
The two-faced middle child
The perfectionist
The slob
Your husband Dave
Clackity-clackity-clackity.
Finally, the wheel lands on a name. A title, really.
The photographer
“Hmm, tough, missus, but that’s the way of the wheel. But hey, look! Your husband is allllll the way over here,” he points with his cane to the very bottom of the wheel, all the way on the other side from where the arrow landed. “As you can see, it’s not rigged. The wheel truly is random.”
“So… there really isn’t another catch?” You ask.
“Isn’t it enough for you to end a man’s life? You need a steeper price? If you’re really such a glutton for punishment, I’ll gladly re-negotiate the terms.”
“No, no… wait.” You examine the wheel, glancing between it and the Devil.
You really could use that three million dollars. Newly married, new house, you and your husband’s combined debt– those student loans really follow you around. He’s quite a bit older than you, and even he hasn’t paid them off yet, to the point where the whole time you were dating you watched him stress out about money. You had to have a small, budget wedding, and a small, budget honeymoon. Three million dollars could be big for the two of you. You could re-do your honeymoon and go somewhere nice, like Hawaii, instead of just taking two weeks in Atlantic City. You deserve it.
Even so, do you really want to kill an innocent photographer? Or an innocent seasonal allergy sufferer? Or an innocent blogger? Just because you don’t know or love these people doesn’t mean that someone doesn’t.
The cancer survivor
The bereaved
The applicant
Some of these were so vague. They could be anyone, honestly. Your neighbors, your father, your friends…
The newlywed
The ex-gifted kid
The uncle
The Badgers fan
“My husband is a Badgers fan,” you say.
“How lovely,” the Devil says.
Then it hits you.
Of course.
The weightlifter.
The careful driver.
The manager.
The claustrophobe.
Your husband Dave lifts weights at the gym twice a month. You wouldn’t call him a pro, but he does it. He also drives like he’s got a bowl of hot soup in his lap all the time, because he’s afraid of being pulled over. He just got promoted to management at his company, and he takes the stairs to his seventh-story office because he hates how small and cramped the elevator is.
“I get your game,” you announce. “You thought you could get me, but I figured you out, jackass!” “Oh really? What is my game, pray tell?” The Devil responds, leaning against his cane.
“All these different titles– they’re all just different ways to describe the same guy. My husband isn’t one notch on the wheel, he’s every notch. No matter what I land on, Dave dies. I’m wise to your tricks!”
The Devil cackles.
“You’re a clever one, that’s for sure. I thought you’d never figure it out.”
“Thanks but no thanks, man,” you say with a triumphant smirk. “I’m no rube. No deal. Take me back home.”
“As you wish, missus,” the Devil says. He snaps his fingers, and you’re gone, back to your brand-new house with your new husband. “Don’t say I never tried to help anyone.”
Wall have ears. They also love gossip and having your attention 🫶✨
Recommended tips for research as a beginner witch/practioner:
Research as a beginner can at times feel stressful if you don't know credibilties or anything about the craft really. So, I'm going to share some tips I use in my practice and would recommend when researching witchcraft.
Research what interests you. If research begins to feel like a task instead of genuine interest or fun, there will be problems down the line with researching thoroughly. That isn't to say don't research things that bore you, it means that you should take what resonates with you and from there you can begin to build the framework for your personal craft.
Does the source align with your moral standing and personal beliefs? If the answer is no, time to find a new source. For example, if a source is fully against any harm towards another person and tries to push that narrative on the reader/viewer (or vice versa) and it's not something you personally align with, find another source. The most important example of this is many authors are bigots, terfs or cultural appropriaters. Remember to research the author and their practice before trusting what they have to say.
What may work for some people will not work for you. Do not feel inclined to do everything a certain way as said by a certain practioner. The point of witchcraft is to develop your own habits and outlooks. Crystals and astrology may work best for someone, but you may have an inclination towards herbs and palmistry for example. You do not need to practice every form of witchcraft out there. So circling back to the first point, pay mind to what sparks joy and what aligns with your abilities.
Take everything with a grain of salt. Learn to question what you learn. As witchcraft and spirituality have been practiced in many cultures for many years, things have evolved and been taken from one context to the next. Research various practices and rituals as well as the authors and cultures who promoted said practices
Use multiple sources. Blindly believing one post can be harmful, especially when concerning topics that can be a manner of physical safety (fire hazards, dressing candles, consumption and burning of herbs) or spiritual safety (spirit work, baneful work, trickster spirits). The more research the better, as it solidifies understanding too.
Do not rely solely on social media, but use it as a crutch to what you already know. Many content creators care more about views or aesthetics than educating. But many creators also DO care about what they're putting out there and have genuinely good tips and tricks for various practices. Just be wary.
Don't worry about aesthetics or perfection when you're just learning. Don't let pinterest photos of altars downplay your own craft and beauty. Right now, you're learning new topics and there's plenty of time later to find pretty altar tools or to neatly scribe in a leather journal. Don't let it distract you from research, and ultimately, the goal is to grow.
Have fun with it! There are so many research topics, and it can be as expansive or specific as you make it. Remember this isn't supposed to be stressful, it's supposed to be rewarding.
(Please add your own tips too if you'd like!)
Types of Protective Magick:
Apotropaic: Usually in the form of amulets, written charms; used to turn away an undesired force. Examples include the Gorgoneion, a holy scripture (such as the Bible, Quran, Havamal, the Bhagavad Gita or the Devi Gita), Iron or Iron-Based Items.
Decoy: Instead of the Malefic Force hitting the practitioner, it gets distracted with an item or representation. Like a poppet, piece of meat.
Spirit Trap: The Malefic Force is given a distraction that prevents it from hurting the practitioner. Can include a layered plant like onion. Some make use of grains of sand, salt or rice which supposedly forces the spirit to count it rather than enter the house.
Offering: An item that is desirable is placed outside the house, the spirit partakes of that rather than entering the home. Especially suited for the Deipnon.
Warding (Spatial): Items are placed around the space that set up a protective barrier. Can become an issue when filtering, make sure to set the intent that malefic is kept out and benefic is allowed in.
Guardians: Statues can be infused to keep watch, allowing good in and evil is warded off. Some animals are very lucky and can be used for magnetizing and pacifying (reducing negative qualities and instilling positive ones in the home)
Floor Washing: Particular herbs or items are noted for their protective qualities. Might not mix Fire Herbs with Water, but it also depends on the space. Martial Herbs might be preferred outside but not in the living space where relaxation and peace is sought. Most basic is basil or salt.
Door Guarding: An item is placed over the door to ward off evil forces, horseshoes, iron, signs with sacred scripture, chalking and so on. A plant can be kept by the front door.
Binding: More active form of pacifying, enemy or force is stopped and blocked by methods. Prevents movement and action being taken against the practitioner. Useful for spirits, a spirit may be bound to a tree or item to prevent it from doing harm until it is decided or mediated. Can be used to help with illnesses and fevers.
Bodily Warding: Amulets worn on the body, strengthens spiritual connection in some cases while preventing unwanted forces from interacting. Veiling is common. St. Cards, Spiritual Scriptures and others can be kept or recited over the self. Useful before rituals.
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reminder that now more than ever, participating in small scale acts of community aid and activism is extremely important. there is a lot you can still do despite shifts in government figures. people feel defeated when certain laws and bills are passed, and certain politicians shuffle in and out of office. it's okay to feel this way, but there is so much we can still do to help each other that isn't illegal and/or you will not be stopped or killed for
participating in food distributions is vital. check to see how your local food bank/s distribute food and how you can help. many churches have food and resource distributions, as well as libraries. libraries in general have amazing resources on top of the books they provide and i highly recommend volunteering at a library when and where possible. it's vital for helping people get resources and apply for government aid when and where possible
see if you can get involved with local groups like Food Not Bombs who distribute free, generally vegan or vegetarian, hot meals to anyone who shows up who is not a cop. preparing meals is easy when a lot of people are participating. you don't have to be able to donate food in order to help with distributing it
check to see if there are safe injection sites in your area. check to see if there are any programs to help homeless substance users get clean needles and sharps disposals. check to see if there are harm reduction events and other outreach programs that provide narcan and other important life saving medications and information
contact your local homeless shelters and see what you can do to get involved with homeless outreach programs for all kinds of people, especially those that fall through the cracks of common programs. see if you can provide or run crowdfunding events for heaters, blankets, food, socks, jackets, hygiene products and other necessities to homeless people in your area.
check to see if there are lgbt spaces in your area and if they need volunteers or anyone to help them. you may be able to help run groups for specific queer groups or attend them and help boost numbers to get those programs more funding. see if you can help give information to queer folk in your community who need resources including but not limited to trans friendly primary care providers, OBGYN services, HRT, surgery, hair removal procedures, and so on. see if it's possible to arrange programs for queer people who need safe transportation
there are a lot more options but if you're feeling down about how things are currently, there are a lot of ways you can help your community with minimal effort much of the time. it doesn't take much at all to help your local community. you'll get help in return by gaining exposure to new resources you weren't familiar with previously. there's a lot we can do for each other
Unsolicited Witch Tip 24
Catching a falling leaf before it hits the ground is supposed to be good luck. Add it to your altar for good luck, protection, and abundance throughout the autumn season.
nature witch tip🪵🌱
Wood barks/chippings promotes protection (esp from an oak tree!)
i used the skin of a fallen branch for this, i used the wood for other witchy projects, and saved the skin for my jars and mesh bags!
i used it for car protection; in a mesh bag i placed:
wood bark and chippings
rosemary
chamomile flowers (i used dried flowers)
a bay leaf with my chosen rune of protection
cloves
hanged it up my rearview mirror, then cleansed my car (before and after) and visualized white energy flowing around inside and outside the car
Lately there was a level 4 Hurricane here in Florida, tried my best to physically protect my home (and it’s energy too).
Just did a grocery run yesterday, i was nervous to see my car with water damage, but it was safe 🥹 no flooding, no water that got in my engine 🥹 and the mesh bag hanging still on my rearview mirror.
i hope this tip can help my fellow witches, (and for our baby witches too🥹)
Hunger Games OC from district five.
Practicing witchcraft without relying on pseudosciences involves focusing on the aspects of the craft that are rooted in personal empowerment, psychology, and symbolism. Here are some suggestions:
Intention Setting: Clearly define your intentions and goals. This is a psychological practice that helps you stay focused on your objectives.
Symbolism: Use symbols and tools that hold personal meaning for you. The power comes from your connection to these symbols rather than any inherent magical properties.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices to enhance your focus, mental clarity, and connection to your inner self.
Energy Work: Instead of viewing energy in a mystical way, consider it as a metaphorical representation of your mental and emotional state. Practices like grounding and centering can be beneficial.
Herbology and Aromatherapy: Explore the psychological and physiological effects of herbs and scents. Use them for their known properties rather than relying on magical attributes.
Candle Magic: Utilize candles as a symbolic tool. The act of lighting a candle can represent bringing light to a situation or setting an intention.
Oracle Cards: If you use Oracle cards, treat them as a tool for introspection and self-reflection. It can be a way to access your subconscious thoughts rather than using Tarot for predicting the future.
Moon Phases and Seasons: Align your practices with moon phases and seasonal changes. This can be a way to stay connected to the natural cycles of life.
Journaling: Keep a magical journal to document your experiences, thoughts, and the results of your practices. This can help you track your personal growth and insights.
Self-Reflection: Regularly reflect on your beliefs, practices, and experiences. Be open to adjusting your approach based on what resonates with you personally.
Remember, the key is to find practices that align with your own beliefs and resonate with you on a personal level. It's even more beneficial to add practices to suit your understanding of the world and your own psychological well-being.
Magickal Properties of Trees
Acacia: purity, air, and used in initiations, psychic workings, and protection.
Alder: resurrection, rebirth, and fire.
Almond: divination, clairvoyance, wisdom, money, loans, business.
Apple: healing, prosperity, love, peace, happiness and perpetual youth.
Apricot: love
Ash: healing, protection and sea magic
Aspen: Used for phyllomancy (divination by leaf rustling) and for protection.
Birch: new beginnings and births, protection, fertility, purifications and blessings.
Cedar: purification, prosperity, and longevity, spirituality, self control.
Coconut: purity, chastity, healing
Cypress: easing losses, healing, past life workings, and protection. Represents earth.
Elder: healing, love, protection, and prosperity.
Elm: female powers, protection.
Eucalyptus: healing
Fig: fertility, strength, energy, health
Fir: youth, vitality, prosperity magic.
Hawthorn: female sexuality, cleansing, marriage, love and protection.
Hazel: fertility, divination, marriage, protection, reconciliation.
Holly: protection
Juniper: protection, cleansing
Lemon: divination, healing, chastity, neutrality
Linden: Used for prophesies and protection.
Maple: Used for love and divination.
Oak: Used for healing, strength, protection, masculinity and for fertility magic. Represents fire.
Mulberry: knowledge, divination, wisdom, the will
Olive: peace, fruitfulness, security, money, marriage, fidelity
Orange: love, marriage
Palm: Used for male fertility, strength, and virility.
Pine: Symbolizes immortality and represents earth. Pine cones represent fertility. Used for purification, health, fortune, fertility, and prosperity.
Rowan: Used for protection, healing, and strength. Represents fire.
Willow: Represents water. Used in moon, wishing magic, healing, protection, enchantments, and easy delivery of babies.
Tip Jar
How to Enchant Items 🔮
To enchant an item is to infuse it with magical energy. This energy can come from a variety of sources, including celestial bodies, elements, crystals, herbs, or even yourself.
Some individuals use the words “enchant” and “charm” synonymously as a way to describe the process of infusing something with energy, but for the sake of this post and due to my own beliefs, you enchant something and it then becomes a charm. Alternately, a charm can be something with its own innate energy, like a crystal or herbal amulet.
Enchanting items to turn them into magical objects involves more than just intent - you must learn to channel and manipulate energy, and direct it into that item for enchanting to be successful.
Although, the process of enchanting is extremely versatile and there are many ways to do it.
Here are a few ideas on how to enchant items, in no particular order:
Surround the item with crystals of corresponding intent
Surround the item with herbs of corresponding intent
Place the item in a jar filled with herbs that represent your intent
Place the item in front of a candle and meditate on your intent
Anoint the item with an oil, charged water, or crystal elixir of corresponding intent
Hold the item in your hand(s) and visualize it filling with the appropriate energy
Hold the item in your hand(s) and speak or sing your intent aloud
Craft a symbol to keep near the item in an envelope or sachet
Sew, stitch, or carve a symbol into the item
Write your intention on paper and keep in an envelope with the item
Pair the item with a corresponding runestone or tarot / oracle card in an envelope
Take the item and put it in a box with other items that represent your intent such as crystals, herbs, talismans, amulets, etc.
Bury the item in soil with herbs and/or crystals that match your intent (please don’t put salt on your lawn though, unless you want dead grass)
Pass the item through incense smoke that matches your intent
Pro Tip: Time your enchantments with the appropriate planetary hour, day of the week, time of day, or lunar phase to increase your chances of creating a successful charm.
© 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙰𝙳-𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙰
All of the Prehistoric Pride guys in one collective post to celebrate pride month. Choose your fighter and have an awesome time :D
More suggestions are always welcome, I sadly was not able to cover everyone, but I will do more of these in the future!
I am going to add more and more to the collection as I get them done :D
If you would like to support my silly little dinosaur art, then you can buy any of these Prideaurs as stickers from my Etsy shop, which I just set up recently. I am pretty new to this entire business side of art things, but I am trying my best :D so a like or a reblog would go a long way. Thank you guys so much for all your kind words and support!
What are the different “types” of witches?
During the infamous witch persecutions that happened across Europe and America between 1450 and 1750, the members of the Church that led the inquisitions had a very clear idea of what they meant by a “witch”. These were mostly women, but sometimes men, who had entered into pacts with the devil and his servants.
But the term “witch” has been used to refer to many different types of people across the centuries. In the Viking age, Norse witches were principally seeresses who could also detect negative energies that might be affecting a household or community. In the Greco-Roman world, witches and magicians were again principally diviners. In ancient Egypt, they wrote down spells to heal or remove hexes. In early medieval Europe, they were often wise women and healers who provided alternative medical care.
In the modern world, when someone refers to themselves as a witch, it could mean various things. Witchcraft is a very open practice, and you do not need to fit into a specific mold. That said, the witchcraft community has coined some terms to help define the different types of witches. Below is a list of some of the most common types of witches.
Coven Witch
A coven witch is a practitioner who is a member of a coven, which is simply a community of witches. Covens gather to teach one another and to pool their energy and power to have a greater impact on the world around them. Covens will sometimes have formal structures and admissions processes and are usually led by a high priestess or priest.
Solitary Witch
A solitary practitioner is a witch who prefers to practice on their own. Their journey of learning and self-discovery is between them and a higher power, and they may choose not to tell others about their calling and practice. Solitary practitioners choose this approach and are not simply solitary due to a lack of other witches.
Hedge Witch
Hedge witches tend to be natural witches who use the power of nature to create remedies and harness certain powers. They have great respect for nature, will often work with the elements, and tend to be knowledgeable herbalists. Hedge witches are often minimalist and practical, cutting away much of the ritual that has developed around certain magical practices.
Ceremonial Witch
Ceremonial witches actively engage in rituals and ceremonies to tap into the magic that exists within the universe. This often involved being part of an order that teaches the required rituals. The most well-known example of a ceremonial magic order is the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
Baby Witch
The term baby witch is used for someone who is just starting out on the witchcraft journey, so it is just another term for a beginner witch. Very often, baby witches have eclectic interests as they are still exploring broadly to find the type of witchcraft that they feel most connected to. There is no specific point when a person stops being a baby witch, but it is usually when they feel confident to speak authoritatively about their craft.
Eclectic Witch
Not every witch chooses to specialize in a specific area, and some continue to have a broad and eclectic practice incorporating several different traditions. These types of witches are called eclectic, and they will often mi traditions to create new rituals and approaches.
Divination Witch
Divination witches concentrate principally on seeing the future or gaining a deep understanding of the current reality to make educated inferences about the future. The method of their practice can take many different forms. They may read the Tarot, cast runestones, read palms, commune with the spiritual realm, or something else.
Cosmic Witch
Cosmic witches, also sometimes called Lunar witches, use astronomy and astrology as the basis of their craft. They are highly aware of the impact that the movement of the heavenly bodies have on the earth, especially the moon. But rather than just telling you your horoscope, they use their knowledge of these energies to affect active change in the world.
Death Witch
A death witch is another term for a necromancer, but rarely does their practice involve bringing back and controlling the dead. Witches who work as mediums and gain insight and power by asking the deceased for their assistance.
Green Witch
Green witches are very connected with nature and the elements and principally work towards healing and nurturing. They may create herbal remedies or engage in natural powers, such as the chakras, to nurture balance and alignment in the body and spirit.
Kitchen Witch
Kitchen witches are a variety of green witch, but they focus on imbuing their cooking and baking with magic, often to heal and invigorate those who eat. They use their knowledge of the magical properties of ingredients and may engage in rituals to imbue their baking with specific energies.
Energetic Witch
Energetic witches are often drawn toward the vibrations of crystals and the auras of individuals. They are good at reading, harnessing, and directing the natural energies of objects to influence the energies of individuals and situations.
Sex Witch
Sex witches use the power and clarity that comes with orgasm to push into the spiritual realm. This can be a solitary practice, or one done with others. Probably the most famous sex magic practitioner was Aleister Crowley.
Folk Witch
Folk witches tend to preserve, maintain, and recreate historic magic and ritual practices established by pre-Christian ancestors.
Hereditary Witch
Hereditary witches come from a family of witches and will inherit or learn their practice from their elders. Their family has often been the shamanic heart of a community for generations.
Innate Witch
Innate witches are individuals born with certain abilities that look like magic. These can be hereditary, but this is not always the case. The ability, whether it be mediumship or the ability to heal, can vary greatly.
Grey Witch
People will often talk about black and white witches. The idea is that black witches use their power for their own personal gain, while white witches use their power for the greater good and follow the principle of “do no harm”. Grey witches, like white witches, tend to be driven by their desire to do good in the world, but they may be willing to do curses or hexes to punish those they see as evil doers.
You can see the broad number of different ways that a person may consider themselves a witch, and this is far from a comprehensive list. Plus, not every witch will fit into one of the categories that the witchcraft community use as shorthand to communicate about their practice. So, how would you define yourself as a witch?
[Full article here]
Please fucking lie to your employer. Like they don’t need to know your mental health issues or what drugs you do. Ffs
Devotional Acts
For love or beauty deities
Skin care
Make up (or embrace your natural beauty)
Dress up a little
Paint your nails
Love letters
Self /love/ iykyk
Change your bed sheets/clean up your room/space
Listen to love songs/songs about sex/loving yourself
You know that trend of people, typically women, painting a canvas black and then painting their legs/ass/hands/boobs and making a form of silhouette art for their partners?
Read romance novels
Play Interactive romance novels/romance games (stardew valley, dream daddy, The Arcana, etc)
For war deities
Listen to angry music
Advocate for yourself
Reinforce your boundaries
Cut out the negative people in your life
Feel your anger, recognize your anger, don't force it down, but don't lash out to others. "I am angry. This thing made me angry. It's okay that I am angry, it is not okay to cause harm to those who do not deserve it." Etc etc
Read biographies or accounts of war, or dystopian novels (accounts of war like Night by Elie Weisel, dystopian like Divergent or Hunger Games)
Learn self defense
Learn about how your area was used in past wars.
Play fighting games (call of duty, mortal combat, etc)
For music/art deities
Create! Learn an instrument
Write a song
Paint for them
Listen to experimental or storytelling music. All music is art, so find a vibe for your deity.
Take pictures of nature, art is everywhere in nature, from the paintings on butterfly wings to the sunset
Read/write poetry
Read poetry books, or books about music or art (think biographies from musicians/artists, or books like Guitar Notes by Mary Amato or such) (guitar notes is a midgrade book but it's the only one I could think of the name of)
Visit galleries or local shows, support local artists
For wisdom deities
Read books, any type, but mostly classics like Sherlock Holmes or Jane Austen
Watch documentaries
Take free online courses on subjects that interest you
Visit and support your local libraries and independently owned bookstores
Find old unloved books at thrift stores
Learn a new skill
Listen to music from different time periods
Visit museums
Play strategy games (chess, supreme commander, etc)
Do puzzles
For nature deities
Raise a plant, or a garden
Listen to nature sounds, or music with nature sounds
Observe nature persevering, vines crawling up a building, dandelions in cracks in the pavement.
Read wilderness guides
Learn about your area's native flora and fauna
Visit local parks
Open windows and let the fresh air in
Scavenge/forage (in safe areas)
Play cozy games (animal crossing, etc)
For death deities
Visit local graveyards/cemeteries (don't forget to be mindful and conscious of others and the spirits there)
Listen to music by artists who have passed on, or music about death
Learn about different cultures' funeral practices
Safely move roadkill out of the road, leave a small offering if possible (again, do so SAFELY)
Read books that have death themes (like Edgar Allen Poe, Wuthering Heights, or They Both Die In The End)
Think about how you want your body to be treated in death. Do you want to be buried? Cremated?
For home/hearth deities
Read cozy books
Play cozy games (sims, animal crossing)
Make your house seem warm and inviting to visitors
Learn how to bake, either from scratch or a box, both are acceptable
Learn how to sew or knit or crochet.
Watch cozy movies
Light candles if you don't have a fireplace
Listen to soft music
Visit your friends or family and bring them baked goods
For strong parental deities
Take care of your friends
Make sure your friends eat and are drinking water, do the same for yourself
Tell the people in your life you love them, you're proud of them, they're doing a good job
Read books about found family, self help books
Listen to music that makes you feel safe and loved
Carry a figure that represents them
Take care of yourself the way that they would take care of you.
Cook for yourself. Make yourself feel safe and loved
For health deities
Carry bandaids and Tylenol and extra pads/tampons for people who may need them
Learn about the human body and how it works
Take your meds
Make art out of old pill bottles for them
Know and respect your limits
Watch documentaries about doctors or health sciences
Research holistic remedies and see if any might be of use to you (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE THEM FOR MODERN MEDICINE) be careful of misinformation, and any interactions that certain things might have with your meds
For sea/ocean/water deities
Have a small fountain in your home (you can find them at some dollar stores, or if you're mechanically savvy, make your own)
Salts in your baths
Visit local streams, creeks, rivers, or beaches.
Read about marine life / river life
Read about your local water sources, learn about the water cycle
Collect rain water
Stand in the rain, feel it on you, let it ground you
Listen to music about water/with water sounds/the ocean/the beach
Have pictures in your home/space of the ocean
If you visit the ocean, collect some water and sand and seashells (make sure you follow your own personal gratitude system) to have in your home
Don't fret if you're landlocked, you're practice is valid, you don't need to be at the ocean all the time to feel it's presence. The rain clouds blow in from hundreds of miles away. The ocean is always with you.
Drink water
Carry a small vial of water with you (could be ocean water, river water, or tap water with or without salt in it) you can keep it in your car, in your pocket, or wear it as a necklace
Carry a small vial of salt with you (could be hand harvested from the ocean, table salt, or any kind of off the shelf salt)
For sky/wind/air deities
Let the air in, open windows when possible
Let yourself be free.
Sit outside for a few minutes a day, or longer.
For traveler deities
Pick something up for them on your travels, could be a rock, could be a souvenir
Put a symbol of them in your car
Wear shoes that are good for walking
Drive/walk around to explore new places (you don't even have to leave your town)
Take backroads
Be a (respectful) tourist in every new place that you visit, don't be afraid of looking stupid.
For queer deities
Educate yourself on queer history
Express yourself truthfully
Listen to queer music
Read queer books
Embrace your identity
Read queer poetry, like that of Sappho
Keep yourself safe in spaces that are less open to identities.
Support local queer owned businesses or artists.
Queer art
Love yourself and take care of yourself.
Go to drag shows
Relish in the fact that queerness has been around since the very first civilizations
For Inventive Deities
Do a metal puzzle
Learn metalworking, or just read about it
As always, please feel free to add on, I only work with one deity so please tell me if anything is incorrect or confusing.
Blessed be <3
My bestie sent me this and beg for fanart lol meet Hunter
Truly underappreciated library resource: Kanopy!
It's a movie-and-tv streaming service that many libraries offer. If your library supports it, you can get a free account with your library card!
It works similarly to Hoopla, with monthly checkout limits, but the amount of movies and tv they have is astounding. They focus on indie movies and documentaries, but they have an impressive variety. A few days ago, some friends and I watched an experimental Afrofuturist queer surreal-cyberpunk musical movie just to try it, and it was a strange and fascinating experience that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else. (Neptune Frost, by the way. It's interesting!)
Kanopy has animated movies like the French/North African The Rabbi's Cat (Le chat du rabbin), popular indies like The Secret of Kells, up to well-known ones like ParaNorman. It has popular quirky successes like Everything Everywhere All at Once, But I'm a Cheerleader, and Lady Bird, award-winning dramas like Moonlight, classic movies like The Graduate, Dial M for Murder, Roman Holiday, Rashomon, and Seven Samurai. It's got Charlie Chaplin. It's got some classic musicals, like Oklahoma! and Guys and Dolls. It's got classic horror like Suspiria, Nosferatu, and Night of the Living Dead, and a plethora of modern horror as well. It has cheesy old-timey sci-fi from the 50s and 60s, genuinely good classic sci-fi like The Boys from Brazil, cult classics like Donnie Darko, modern feel-good quirky sci-fi like Jules, and just, a WHOLE lot of super interesting creative modern indie sci-fi to browse. It has documentaries. It has quite a lot of PBS and BBC series. It has anime. It has all of Farscape for some reason. It has a really impressive collection of LGBTQ+ film from around the world.
See if your library offers Kanopy, and browse the genres you like - you are sure to find something fascinating that you had never heard of before!
⛤Love Spell With A Pink Satin Ribbon⛤
This is a ritual that serves to attract love.
You’ll need:
A pink satin ribbon
A pink candle
It is necessary to prepare one pink ribbon of satin so that it does not have a knot, which we will wrap around the candle of soft pink color.
Then the following is written on the paper:
"I am asking Venus, the goddess of love, to send me true love (say what virtues and characteristics a person should have)."
This paper is left next to the burning candle.
Before the candle burns out, take the pink ribbon and carry it in a wallet or purse.
⛤Isidora ⛤
Romance Attraction Spell Jar
1. Get your jar
2. Cleans your jar
3. Add your ingredients (I used these, but you can add, take out what feels right to you)
Jasmine flowers
Rose buds
Lavender
Dill
Rose quartz
Lemon balm
Cinnamon
White Willow bark
Sage
Lemongrass
Sigil for love
4. Seal with red and pink wax while repeating the phrase “I attract healthy romance” or whatever phrase feels right to you
then you’re done!
Happy witching!!
Focus spell jar
cleanse first
salt
eggshells
rosmarie
wax: yellow
love manifestation 💋
You will need ~
-A piece of paper
-A pen (preferred red/pink)
-Red/pink lipstick
-Crystals (optional)
-Red/pink/white string
-Red/pink/white candle
Get a piece of paper and fill it with how much said person loves you (eg; __ is obsessed about me, __ dreams about me .etc)
Add hearts to the page
Fold it towards you and turn clockwise about three times
Hold it to your heart and visualise the paper being engulfed by a glowing red/white light and think about said person being in love with you
Label the paper ‘LOVE’ like your sending a letter
Put on lipstick and kiss the paper a couple of times
Drip candle wax on it
Leave it on your alter to charge for atleast a few hours (optionally with crystals around and on top of it)
After it’s charged, remove the crystals and tie a red string around it
Leave it in a manifestation box or at least store it in your alter
hope this helps <3