Link with 1 note
This Is Not a Game →
I have this chess board…
In actuality it is a board that I purchased as a gift for the Giant many winters back. To my knowledge, I’m the only one who’s touched every piece and inch of it…
This new Tumblr-posting-blog-link-auto-quote-format thing is weird…
Quote reblogged from with 227 notes
…witchcraft arises from the world. It comes from the land, the people, the plants, the animals, the whole web of life. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Witchcraft is here in present time.
Post reblogged from Primal Heart with 267 notes
Shit They Never Tell You
Did you know that Palo Santo is an endangered species? That the collection of the wood is a regulated business, where ONLY deadfall is permitted to be collected for the trade?
This is why Palo Santo is expensive, and why it’s a really bad idea (and morally questionable as fuck) to buy the “cheap stuff”. Because either 1: It’s not Palo Santo, or 2: It’s poached.
Did you know that White Sage is becoming scarce in the wild due to over-harvesting for the Newage market? It’s not the only one, either. Aloeswood, Sandalwood, Dragon’s Blood, Frankincense and several others are under serious, dangerous, levels of pressure.
If you have to call on these “allies” - you need to be responsible with your use of them. This is not an issue of “feel-good” ecology, this is an issue of essential conservation - so that there is not an age where Dragon’s Blood is as mythical as it’s namesake.
The great thing is that there are analogues, and there is horticulture. With enough effort you can find decent substitutes or begin growing your own plants (try Alchemy Works for seeds). Combining this with respectful, carefully-sourced, purchases will go a long way toward ensuring these species don’t go extinct because of the newage market.
Additionally? This is also a spot where it’s a really great idea to evaluate whether these things have any actual place or purpose in YOUR practice. Are these things, which are often from disparate cultures, of particular value to your specific culture and practice? Because consumption of the limited resource may prevent a person native to that culture from obtaining it - and uh… that’s something that bears a lot of intense thinking-on and probably some backing-the-hell-off-at-a-high-rate-of-speed.
Thought provoking info people.
I tell people this when they come in and are shocked by the sage and palo santo prices, which are reasonable really. We JUST got in some more palo santo in after having to find another ethical source for it. You don’t actually need that much. A stick of palo santo will last a long time. Don’t throw out the little nibs, it’s still good, promise.
Also there are a LOT of other options as far as cleansing and blessing methods go. Around here I point out Rosemary most often (not just because it happens to be my favorite, along with Juniper, because Sage just does not resonate and makes me cough) because it actually is EVERYWHERE. Most people have a bush of it growing in their yards, or a neighbors, or walk past it on the way to work. Great for cleansing, protection, blessing all of the above. You can burn it, you can use it with salt and holy water to asperge, You can hang it from the doorways.
Possibilities they are out there.
Source: rootandrock
Photo reblogged from A Changing Altar with 164 notes
![achangingaltar:
ancientpeoples:
Erotic Magic in Ancient Greece
Some “binding” curses in Ancient Greece were said to physically bind victims and inflict injury upon them. Another type sought to bind victims in a different way. The goal was to incite an uncontrollable passion (eros) in the victim.
The common name for these curses, or spells, was agoge or agogimon spells meaning ‘a spell that leads’ because the aim of the spell was to lead the victim to the practitioner.
Some of these curses mention body parts, often in violent overtones, by which the speaker wishes to enjoin their invisible agents to retrieve the victim. Often spells of this type are accompanied by a figurine depicting the victim bound.
One example of erotic curses comes from a 4th century AD magical handbook which refers to spells dating back further. Philtrokatadesmos thaumastos IV.296-469 is a ‘Wondrous Erotic Binding Spell’. It instructs its user to create two figurines; a male in the form of Ares holding a sword, and a female kneeling with her arms behind her back about to be stabbed by the sword. Various vocae magicae or magic words are to be written on the female figures head, eyes, ears, shoulders, arms, hands, breast, belly, genitals, buttocks and feet. The female figure is then to be pierced with 13 copper needles- one in the brain, two in the ears, two in the eyes, one in the mouth, two in the midriff, one in the hands, two in the pudenda, and one in each foot.
During each piercing the practitioner said:
“I am piercing [body part] of her, [name of victim], so that she may remember no one but me, [name of practioner].”
The spell was then written out on a lead tablet and recited.
In Egypt, a single lead tablet and a female kneeling figure, pierced with 13 pins matches this spell has been found in a pot. However the figure itself is not inscribed. It is now housed in the Louvre and has been dated to the 2nd/3rd century AD. In this example a man named Sarapammon who wishes to attract a woman called Ptolemais. His curse tablet reads:
“I deposit this binding charm with you, chthonic gods, Pluto and Kore Persephone Ereskhigal and Adonis, also called Barbaritha, and chthonic Hermes Thoth Phokensepseu erktathou misonktaik and mighty Anoubis Pseriphtha, who holds the keys of the gates to Hades, and chthonic daimones, gods, men and women who suffered an untimely death, youths and maidens, year after year, month after month, day after day, hour after hour, night after night. I adjure all the daimones in this place to assist daimon Antinous.
Rouse yourself for me and go into every place, into every quarter, into every house, and bind Ptolemais, who Aias bore, the daughter of Horigenes, so that she may not be screwed, not be buggered, not do anything for the pleasure of another man, except for me Sarapammon only, whom Area bore, and do not allow her to eat, to drink, to resist or go out or to get sleep apart from me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore. I adjure you, corpse-daimon Antinous, by the dreadful and frightful name of the one at the sound of whose name the earth will open, at the sound of whose name the rivers and the rocks break. I adjure you, corpse-daimon Antinous, by Barbaratham cheloumbra barouch Adonai and by Abrasax and by Iao pakeptoth pakebraoth sabarbaphaei and by Marmaraououth and by Marmarachtha mamazagar.
Do not disobey, corpse-daimon Antinous, but rouse yourself for me and go into every place, into every quarter, into every house and bring me Ptolemais, whom Aias bore, the daughter of Horigenes. Keep her from eating and drinking until she comes to me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore, and do not allow her to have experience of another man except me Sarapammon only. Drag her by the hair, by the inward parts until she does not stand aloof from me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore, and I have her, Ptolemais, whom Aias bore, daughter of Horigenes, subject for me the entire time of my life, being fond of me, loving me, telling me what she has in mind. If you do this, I will set you free.”
Along with underworld Greek gods, a Babylonian goddess, Egyptian divinities, daimones and the dead are invoked to carry out the curse.
As Bayoread said, “That’s a lot of deities!”
Very interesting.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6njupOrOW1ryfivao1_r1_400.jpg)
Erotic Magic in Ancient Greece
Some “binding” curses in Ancient Greece were said to physically bind victims and inflict injury upon them. Another type sought to bind victims in a different way. The goal was to incite an uncontrollable passion (eros) in the victim.
The common name for these curses, or spells, was agoge or agogimon spells meaning ‘a spell that leads’ because the aim of the spell was to lead the victim to the practitioner.
Some of these curses mention body parts, often in violent overtones, by which the speaker wishes to enjoin their invisible agents to retrieve the victim. Often spells of this type are accompanied by a figurine depicting the victim bound.
One example of erotic curses comes from a 4th century AD magical handbook which refers to spells dating back further. Philtrokatadesmos thaumastos IV.296-469 is a ‘Wondrous Erotic Binding Spell’. It instructs its user to create two figurines; a male in the form of Ares holding a sword, and a female kneeling with her arms behind her back about to be stabbed by the sword. Various vocae magicae or magic words are to be written on the female figures head, eyes, ears, shoulders, arms, hands, breast, belly, genitals, buttocks and feet. The female figure is then to be pierced with 13 copper needles- one in the brain, two in the ears, two in the eyes, one in the mouth, two in the midriff, one in the hands, two in the pudenda, and one in each foot.
During each piercing the practitioner said:
“I am piercing [body part] of her, [name of victim], so that she may remember no one but me, [name of practioner].”
The spell was then written out on a lead tablet and recited.
In Egypt, a single lead tablet and a female kneeling figure, pierced with 13 pins matches this spell has been found in a pot. However the figure itself is not inscribed. It is now housed in the Louvre and has been dated to the 2nd/3rd century AD. In this example a man named Sarapammon who wishes to attract a woman called Ptolemais. His curse tablet reads:
“I deposit this binding charm with you, chthonic gods, Pluto and Kore Persephone Ereskhigal and Adonis, also called Barbaritha, and chthonic Hermes Thoth Phokensepseu erktathou misonktaik and mighty Anoubis Pseriphtha, who holds the keys of the gates to Hades, and chthonic daimones, gods, men and women who suffered an untimely death, youths and maidens, year after year, month after month, day after day, hour after hour, night after night. I adjure all the daimones in this place to assist daimon Antinous.
Rouse yourself for me and go into every place, into every quarter, into every house, and bind Ptolemais, who Aias bore, the daughter of Horigenes, so that she may not be screwed, not be buggered, not do anything for the pleasure of another man, except for me Sarapammon only, whom Area bore, and do not allow her to eat, to drink, to resist or go out or to get sleep apart from me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore. I adjure you, corpse-daimon Antinous, by the dreadful and frightful name of the one at the sound of whose name the earth will open, at the sound of whose name the rivers and the rocks break. I adjure you, corpse-daimon Antinous, by Barbaratham cheloumbra barouch Adonai and by Abrasax and by Iao pakeptoth pakebraoth sabarbaphaei and by Marmaraououth and by Marmarachtha mamazagar.
Do not disobey, corpse-daimon Antinous, but rouse yourself for me and go into every place, into every quarter, into every house and bring me Ptolemais, whom Aias bore, the daughter of Horigenes. Keep her from eating and drinking until she comes to me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore, and do not allow her to have experience of another man except me Sarapammon only. Drag her by the hair, by the inward parts until she does not stand aloof from me, Sarapammon, whom Area bore, and I have her, Ptolemais, whom Aias bore, daughter of Horigenes, subject for me the entire time of my life, being fond of me, loving me, telling me what she has in mind. If you do this, I will set you free.”
Along with underworld Greek gods, a Babylonian goddess, Egyptian divinities, daimones and the dead are invoked to carry out the curse.
As Bayoread said, “That’s a lot of deities!”
Very interesting.
Source: ancientpeoples
Photo reblogged from Graveyard Dirt with 61 notes
Necro-Fetish, by Ms. Graveyard Dirt
A necro-fetish in the making!
Knowing that the stag’s organic fibre body will absorb - and most importantly, stain - I’ve begun marking my spectral herd spirit doll with the physical essence of every roadkill deer that I have the honour of rescuing, so when their sacred remains are sold on I still have a spiritual reminder of all of the deer I’ve helped “resurrect”.
It’s impossible to make out in this photo, but the first spot of blood to mark this necro-fetish is a third eye fingerprint of my New Year menstrual blood on the deer’s straw-coloured forehead.
Beautiful. This is a great idea… and he’s so cute!
Post reblogged from Immi Gnatos Deuom. with 15 notes
Question about ancestors
I really want to start honoring and connecting with my ancestors in some intentional sense, but I’m stuck on one thing: Who should I include?
The person who functioned as my father’s grandfather was not blood related, so I’m wondering if I should pursue research into his family line or my blood family line or just go as far as those who were ever connected with my father/grandfather and leave it at that? It just isn’t sitting right with me ad I’d appreciate some guidance from anyone who has some experience with this sort of thing, so…help?
There are plenty of people who honor adoptive relatives. It’s completely up to you: did you have a connection with them? Do you find yourself having a connection to them now? Do you feel it’s okay to honor them?
There’s really no guideline here: honor those of your ancestors (adopted or biological) that you wish to honor. don’t honor those that you don’t want to honor (for whatever reason.)
Edit: Also, if you have the privilege of being able to afford doing a family tree or have relatives who can relay information to you, I completely recommend it. But honoring your ancestors doesn’t have to stop at the ones you know personally, but it can.
Don’t forget about cultural ancestors too! I know it’s not a great solution, but I think it’s important to honor both. Could be a nice alternative for someone who doesn’t know much about their ancestry.
Yes, all of that.
I’d say also to be open to ancestors of vocation. If you are a doctor or a painter, then honoring those past doctors or painters who you feel a connection with or who answer your whispers… who whisper to you in the shadows as you move your brush or strike your blade… these can be very intense relations.
And avenues through which you can learn a lot.
Photo reblogged from Sonneillon V. with 93 notes
A bindrune to alleviate chronic pain and a little chant to go with it:
Laguz, sained with blood thou be,
loosen now the flow in me
Jera turn the wheel
my body bring to heel
Eihwaz straighten at the bend
power to this bindrune lend
Wunjo set the pain to flight
Naudhiz bind it out of site.
Yes, I meant ‘site’, not ‘sight’, as in ‘off-site’, as in, ‘away from me’. I like my plays on words.
I think will be of interest to some of you…
It’s very good. I don’t work with runes, they just aren’t for me… but this caught my eye for sure. I’ve not seen much in respect to chronic pain within witchcraft… except for the occasional ‘don’t do it’ nonsense.
Anyway… Beautiful.
Post reblogged from Primal Heart with 22 notes
A witches tools:
I use a ritual knife. I don’t call it an athame because whats an athame? My knife is used to cut stuff, pretty much any cutting gets done with this bit of equipment.
I have 2 sticks. One is small and used to carry fire from one place to another, the other is large and supports me, it stops me from slipping or otherwise losing balance.
I have altars. They are sometimes the kitchen side, sometimes the workbench in the shed and sometimes any nearby clear surface. I store my tools in a drawer.
I have a ‘shrine’ set up for a spirit ally, that’s where I leave offerings. Its basically our agreed meeting place.
My circle is the light cast by my fire, or as far as I can swing my big stick.
When you take a tool such as a knife and stop it from being a knife, giving it a new name and not using it to cut stuff… What are you left with? If anything you have refused its abilities to change the world, how can you then expect to use it to make change in a magikal way?
By using magikal tools for standard tasks I make everything magikal, rather than harming the magik of the tools. The advice against letting magikal tools be used for standard tasks is that in the hands of the inexperienced the results could be un expected and unpleasant.
Source: cultofthedead
Post reblogged from Primal Heart with 29 notes
A glamour and other tid bits
This is great… as if there could be any doubt.
I love when we’re so in sync.
While waiting for a pot of coffee to finish peculating to be used in a dye bath, and taking a break from the mountain of crochet projects I am happily working through. I thought I’d pop on here and give you guys some actual content lol.
It’s getting slightly colder around here and the rains have begun, which amounts to winter around here. But more telling is that my skin has begun to get annoyingly flaky. Despite the fact that I only use oil on my face every winter it just decides that now is the time to peel off and be unsightly.
That’s alright I have an arsenal at hand to battle this. Being the somewhat vain creature that I am. And it means that I’ll start my winter time regime of witchhazel, weekly facial scrub.
As an aside I have to tell you all that I adore and love Thayer’s Rose Petal Witchhazel, I don’t remember where I picked up before and I’m out but I plan on ordering some. It has that wonderful rose water smell. Pour this stuff in an enchanted beauty bottle or scribe a beauty sigil on the plastic bottle with sharpie and you are good to go.
But back to the matter at hand and my weekly glamour and facial scrub.
For the scrub I use:
2 tblsp of honey (the better quality the better) heated
2 tblsp of sugar (white or brown works either way)
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of rose petals
Pinch of chammomile
1/2 LemonYou might want to grind the petals and chamomile up a bit if it’s extra dry and pokey, but this is an exfoliant so that isn’t really a bad thing.
Mix your ingredients up sans Lemon in a bowl. Go to sink or get in shower. If you’re showering go about your business letting the hot water open up your pores and so on. If just washing the face then get a wash cloth hot and lay that on your face to open up the pores.
Then smear that sticky honey goodness all over that beautiful gob of yours. Pay attention to the planes of your face, your lips, and all the details. Don’t get it in your eye, because ow. In the shower I like to put it on my neck as well. Once on let it sit for 2-3 minutes.Now the fun part. Take your half a lemon, the lemon is your paintbrush. Your eraser. Botticelli hands. In small circles start to rub it over your face and the scrub. Concentrating energetically on bringing out the beautiful features of your face. While doing so you can recite a chant or charm, here is the one that I made for myself moons and moons ago:
Beings of beguiling beauty, I call out to thee
To aid in transfiguring my beauty
Shine into my eyes the power of one blessed
Onto my lips place wanton’s sweet caress
Smooth out my skin to supple surrender
Onto each curve accentuate my splendorWherever I choose to present my shining face
Let all who witness wonder at such grace
Ever mirror, ever eye, shall see
The beauty that radiates from meCouplets. Gotta love them.
Once you’ve gotten every nook and craney of your face. And licked your lips a couple times going “Omgs so tasty” then you can rinse you face in cool water. Sometimes if I need a little extra ‘Oomph’ I’ll rinse my face in holy water.
Pat dry and enjoy the silky smooth beautiful goodness.
This has been brought to you by your friendly everyone deserves to feel beautiful Taurus witch.
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