Sketching Some Ideas 🌿

In Irish mythology, Brigid is the daughter of the Dagda and had two sisters also named Brigid and is part of the Tuatha de Danann, the supernatural Irish race. The three sisters made up the triple aspect of the one goddess: Brigid of the hearth, Brigid of the forge and Brigid of Inspiration. She is a goddess of spring, fertility, family, the hearth, childbirth, fire, blacksmiths, scholars, physicians, prophets, healing, poetry, occult knowledge, and justice. She was said to be born at sunrise and is often depicted with solar rays coming out of her head, making her one of the Irish solar deities alongside Lugh. It is said that wherever she walks four leaf clovers and flowers will grow. She also created the tradition of “keening” when her son Ruadan died in battle, a song-like wail used by women at funerals. In some cases she is also the goddess of sacred wells, springs and healing waters.  

History

Her name comes in different spellings like Brig, Brighid, Brigit, or Brigid but it means “Exalted one” or “Fiery arrows”. She is a goddess of Pre-christian Ireland but versions of her are found all over Europe; she has ties to Brigantia, a warrior goddess of the Brigantes tribe of Britain. She was a beloved goddess of the Celts and has survived through centuries including the Christianization of Ireland and the rest of Europe where most traces of Druidism and Paganism were forgotten. The people of Ireland loved her so much and refused to let her be demonized by the church -like the rest of the gods- that they converted her into a saint known as St. Brigid of Kildare. There are also three rivers named after her one in Ireland, Wales and England: Brigit, Braint and Brent.The river that runs through Wales is known to have healing properties.

Imbolc

Also known as Brigid’s day, Candlemas or St. Brigid’s feast, Imbolc is one of the four fire festivals in Celtic paganism and celebrates the return of spring. Since Brigid is the goddess of spring and was said to go away during the winter, people would light a candle in honor of her return. Offerings of milk, bread, and corn cakes were set out and a seat at the dinner table was left open for her presence.  Cows and sheep were seen as sacred to the goddess because they would provide milk for the town during the cold months and they would give birth around Imbolc. This festival celebrated the Maiden aspect of Brigid and young women would carry corn dollies dressed in white which represented the goddess. The women would also dress in white and attend a special feast for Imbolc where young suitors could mingle with the ladies. Imbolc is a time of fertility, cleansing and the light returning after a long winter.

Correspondences

Elements- Water & Fire

Animals- snakes, ewes, cows, bees, oxen, owls and hibernating animals. Vultures

Plants- blackberry, hawthorn, basil, mugwort, apple, heather, dandelion, snowdrop, willow, oak, shamrock, crocus, trillium, corn, lavender and sage. Personal one is cinnamon and chamomile.

Crystals- amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, garnet, moonstone, clear quartz, and peridot.

Symbols- Brigid’s cross, candles, triquetra, faeries, four leaf clover, cauldron, chalice, corn dolly, anvil or hammer, poetry, forges, hearths, wells, rock formations.

Colours- green, red, white, gold and blue

Devotional Acts

offer her blackberries, baked goods, milk and honey or beer

dedicate a piece of your art to her like painting, knitting, singing, etc.

meditate with fire

savour the warmth of the sun or fire

incorporate the elements of water and fire into your craft

write her a poem

watch the sun rise

say hi to cows and sheep :)

hang a Brigid’s cross above your doorway for protection and blessings 

study healing magick, reiki, herbalism and faeries

wear the colours of fire or white

plant a bee garden

All too well

Grounding & Centering

In my practice grounding and centering have been valuable tools to working magic and managing my energy and emotions. Centering is important to put you in the correct mind frame to perform spells and grounding aligns your energy with that of the Earth. 

For some, grounding and centering may be separate practices. However, in my practice they are one combined process. Some form of grounding and centering is often present in meditation, martial arts, and psychology. I personally use it to bring my awareness back to reality when I am feeling anxious or dissociating. 

The technique I use to ground and center is visualization. This involves using your mind to imagine things that are not normally visible. If you feel this process worsens your distress from psychosis, this method may not be for you. 

To begin grounding and centering, you can sit, stand, or lay, however feels comfortable to you. Some of the resting yoga positions can be beneficial for this. I recommend closing your eyes but it is not necessary if that feels uncomfortable for you. 

First, we center. Visualize your energy pooling within your body. What color is it? Pay attention to how far your energy extends. Is it within your body or does it radiate outwards? Extend your awareness to the bounds of your energy. Imagine that energy contracting and forming a sphere within your body.

Next, to ground, extend your awareness to the energy of the Earth. It can help if you are outside or on a ground floor but you can just as easily ground in an apartment building or high rise. Visualize waves of energy radiating from the center of the Earth. Allow them to pass through you. Begin shaping that energy towards you. Visualize your energy and the Earth’s energy combining. Maybe a beam of light connects your orb to the Earth. 

While doing all of this you should focus on breathing. If breathing deeply is uncomfortable for you, just breathe normally. But it is important to stay aware of your breath. This can also keep you focused.

If you find your attention drifting, just guide it back gently. The first handful of times you ground and center you may have difficulty keeping your attention. This is okay, it will get easier the more your practice. Forgive yourself for getting distracted and bring yourself back to the task at hand. 

After this process, you may feel more connected to the Earth or you may feel energy surging within you. You might feel a bit warm. Or maybe you will feel none of these things. It can be a different process for everyone. We all respond to magical energy differently. Note how you feel. 

You should now be prepared to do spellwork. Remember, that this can take practice.

Let me know about your experience or if you have any other tips for beginners!

(image from pixabay)

Catnip - Magical Uses

Gender: Feminine Planet: Venus Element: Water Deity: Bast Plant type: Perennial

Uses: Invite more love into your life, remind yourself to play, enhance your good looks

Sprinkled in the corners or around the rooms, makes guests seem happier, long lost friends can reappear

Used in conjunction with love petals in love sachets

Hold it until warm, then hold someone else's hand. Keep the catnip somewhere safe, they'll be your friends

Make catnip tea to become more radiant and beautiful (1/4 cup of dried catnip leaves in 2 cups of water for 10 min, add to your bath water)

Had a very magical evening.. 💭✨🌿

(as always I apologize for low quality gifs due to tumblr)

Animal Preservation

Here’s a post to preserving animals in as many forms as I can shove in here/am aware about. Please feel free to reblog and add more links!

Taxidermy

Mountable vs Non-mountable Pelts (visual guide)

Mountable Pelt (visual)

How to Reshape a Face on a Pelt

Making a Soft Mount Coyote

Mounting a Persian Leopard (gore tw)

Salt and Alum Tanning Rabbit Hides

Finger Fleshing Rabbit Hides

Tru Bond Tanning

Egg Tanning

Fleshing a Coyote (video)

Taxidermy Quality Pelt

Collecting

Bone Collecting for Beginners

Bone Collecting in Scotland

Roadkill Collector’s Arsenal

Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Whiten Bones

Whitening Tutorial

Why to not Boil or Bleach Bones

Degreasing Tutorial

Processing and Cleaning Bones

Feather Identification

Decomposing in Pots

Choosing the Right Method for Cleaning

Cleaning With Maceration

An American Vultures Guide to (legally!) Working Around the MBTA

Studying Owl Pellets

How to Clean Feathers

How to Blow Out Eggs

Preservation

Forum Thread on Rat Preservation

Preserving Animals

Alcohol Preservation

Preserve Moss

Preserve Bird Nests

Dry Flowers

Salt/Borax Drying

Preserve a Wasp Nest

Insects

Relaxing Jar Tutorial

Basic Insect Pinning Tutorial

Insect Relaxing

Insect Pinning

Carving

Bone Carving Tools

Working With Horn

Legal Issues

United States Animal Parts Laws

Legal Birds to Collect From (US)

Migratory Birds Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Wild Bird Laws (Scotland)

Birds Protected in Canada

Schedules (UK)

US Cat & Dog Fur

International Shipping

Taxidermy Regulations

Misc

Vulture Culture shirt by NaturePunk

Book Suggestions

Vultures Around the World

Fur Sewing

Another Masterpost by Pastoriagym

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Cedar - Magical Uses

Gender: Masculine Planet: Sun Element: Earth Deity: N/A Plant type: Evergreen Tree

Uses: Remove negative energy, open up to higher levels of spiritual consciousness, chase away nightmares, attract love, cocoon with your spiritual essence

Burned as incense to banish negative energy, raise spiritual vibration

Used to aid during meditation

Put inside of the pillow for a good night's sleep

For protection, keep a cedar box or animal carved in cedar wood in your home

Hung in the house to protect from lightning

Keep in pockets/wallet to attract money

A cedar stick carved into 3 prongs, placed into the ground near home protects from evil

Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 minute version)

“And did the twin flame bruise paint you blue?”

moon signs and what makes them cry

Aries Moon: Disappointment, defeat/failure, not feeling good enough, getting last place, anger, frustration, limitations, injustice, guilt

Taurus Moon: When they’re hungry, when they’re drained, when they’ve bottled up their feelings for too long, animal cruelty, rejection, feeling alone, being proven wrong

Gemini Moon: Talking about their feelings, lack of intellectual stimuli, lack of ways of self-expression

Cancer Moon: Sad movies, other people’s pain, family issues, cruelty of any kind, emotional music, receiving criticism, hurt/sick children

Leo Moon: Losing an argument, not feeling good enough, hurt pride, animal cruelty, not knowing how to comfort others, bullying/humiliation, the thought of aging/dying, when they’re at their breaking point, being a third wheel, being ignored

Virgo Moon: Other people’s pain, self-reflection, animal cruelty, will cry for joy before crying for sadness, when plans change, betrayal, not feeling good enough, making mistakes at work, stress, feeling incompetent 

Libra Moon: Being overwhelmed, anger, being ignored, frustration, sad movies, relationship issues, other people’s pain

Scorpio Moon: Self-defeating attitudes, aggression directed at them, being yelled at, being overwhelmed, rejection, having to repeat themselves, animal cruelty

Sagittarius Moon: Other people’s pain, being overwhelmed, feeling alienated or alone, anything that has to do with them, having to express their emotions in words, anger

Capricorn Moon: Family issues, music, sad movies, animal cruelty, not having access to money, having fewer hours at work, not being taken seriously

Aquarius Moon: Pretty much nothing.

Pisces Moon: Animal cruelty, heartbreak, sad movies, extreme anger/frustration, other people’s pain, being yelled at, death, being cheated on, loss of loved ones