GRIMOIRE TIPS&IDEAS

The old gods are not dead

I hear Athenas war cry in the shouts of protests,

fighting a war now closer to home,

I see her in the young women with picket signs

clenched tightly in their fists

Hera curses the names of the abusers

The ones who break families and marriages

Her voice heard in the wedding bells of young lovers

Poseidon now resides in a beach home

Going out every night to pick of trash left by the day

Shooting daggers at the drunk men letting their bottles be swept away

Demeter can be heard cursing the politicians refusing to believe in global warming

Names of scientists and studies on the tip of her tongue

She is found teaching young children how to grow their food at the community garden

Ares is found on the front lines of a different war, not fighting but protecting the innocent

Guiding classrooms of children away from gunfire,

His shield protecting the terrified

Apollo can be found at opens mics

Reciting his latest works

Or walking down the street in docs on his feet and a guitar on his back

He knows he’s the coolest

Artemis is seen on the streets

Her bow and arrow have long left her

Carrying nothing more than a knife and mace

She hunts a different kind of monster now

Hephaestus resides in a workshop at all hours of the night

Creating custom pieces for the right price and a warm smile

The hammer making him feel invincible

Aphrodite’s song is heard in the breathy kisses of teenagers

Shes found walking down the street, lips a blood red

Punching the men who dare disrespect her  

Hermes is seen with a smirk as he walks long well-traveled roads

Delivering the messages of those needing to be heard

Traveling, telling stories, and wearing out another pair of shoes

Dionysus’s voice heard only over the pounding bass in the bar

Keeping watch over young girls drinks

Dancing, partying and living as he throws another one back

Hades is seen weeping over the graves of those taken much to soon

Looking to his wife for comfort

He’s long lost his faith in humanity

Persephone found in the gardens beside her mother in the spring

Brushing off girl’s dirty knees and putting flower crowns on their heads

She can be seen holding onto hades as he mourns the loss of life

Hecate will be found running metaphysical shops

Bringing hope to powerful women wanting more

Selling potions, nobody thinks will work

And collecting graveyard dirt for a new spell

Zeus is watching over everyone

Watches Athena cry

Hera curse the men, he being one of them

Poseidon’s glares

Demeter’s harsh words

Ares raising his shield

Apollos singing

Artemis as she tracks a new beast

Watches Hephaestus work

Sees Aphrodite punch

Hears Hermes words

Sees hades weep

And Persephone plant and comfort her partner

And grins as Hecate keeps magic alive

The old gods are not dead

They are alive

And they are watching

- Sayali C.

Sea Fetches and their Symbolic Meaning

mer interruption: the following text is from one of my favourite books. a part II will follow on, but do consider buying the book for yourself to get more interesting lore!

Animals can act as messengers as well as sources of inspiration, healing, and guidance. Those associated with the sea are generally considered wise and powerful. A totem animal or sea fetch can remain with you for your entire life, or it may come briefly into your life to guide you through a particular phase or turning point. Some are merely messengers that have one brief communication or idea to relay. You may also encounter one that may be difficult to deal with at first. This type of fetch usually appears to draw out a side of you that has been ignored. At first this fetch may seem fearsome or contrary, but in the long run what it helps bring to your surface level of consciousness can be very important. According to Caitlin Matthews, "the appearance of talking beasts in folk story denotes a shift of emphasis to a deeper level of awareness; such beasts are not an- thropomorphic animals, but archetypal forms." Animals that present themselves to you may symbolize who you are, or they may possess qualities that you would like to express in your life. Let's take a brief overview of qualities associated with several potential sea fetches. We'll look at them in more detail over the following pages.

Twelve Sea Fetches and Their Associated Qualities Albatross: Solitude, survival, the ability to wonder. Crab: Adaptability, clarity of vision, creativity, growth, renewal, rebirth. Dolphin: Communication, community, intuition, joy, serenity, strength. Manatee: Gentleness, ability to nurture, relaxation. Otter: Companionship, duty, friendship, loyalty, transformation. Penguin: Balance, independence, inner strength, wisdom. Polar Bear: Ability to nurture, protection, power, spiritual guidance, strength. Salmon: Cycles, determination, healer, progress. Sea Gull: Communication, freedom, responsibility, simplicity. Seal: Balance, creativity, curiosity, playfulness. Turtle: Fertility, immortality, longevity, opportunity, perseverance. Whale: Communication, community, creativity, cycles, harmony.

Some of the animals' qualities, such as the crab's, may surprise you. However, the crab is associated with health and vision (mental and psychic), and its energy is useful for protection from negativity. Perhaps the inclusion of the polar bear surprised you, too. While all of its relatives are clearly earthbound creatures, the polar bear is also known as the water bear and the ice bear. It is very much at home in the waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

A fetch can make itself known in various ways. In fact, its image may continually appear to you until you realize and acknowledge it. Thereafter, an appearance may indicate a need for contact or reassurance or it may be a signal that only you and your fetch will understand.

One way that birds communicate their presence and intent is through the gifting of a feather. I have been drawn to seagulls since I was a child and I have felt comforted by their calls. When I moved into my house in Maine and stepped out onto the back porch for the first time, I was greeted with the cry of gulls and a snowy white feather on my steps. I felt that I had truly come home. Still, as with the "signs" communicated by seashells, I believe that a touch of skepticism is healthy. The difference between a message and an ordinary experience is the timing and the undeniable feeling that it holds meaning. Keep your senses open, ask questions of yourself and the fetch, then trust your intuition. If you are still unsure, ask for further signs. If a fetch was communicating with you, you will receive them. The sea journey presented here* will help you find your sea fetch. Of course, there is the possibility that a mythical creature may present itself to you. Don't reject it out of hand. Go with the flow if your intuition tells you that there is something to be learned. Examine why you might be drawn to it and then research as much as you can about it. Our feelings and inner experiences are valid and do not require a stamp of approval from other people. Stay truthful to yourself. * mer interruption: i will post the sea journey separately! Below the cut are the 12 fetches in detail.

Twelve Fetches in Detail Let's look at these fetches more closely. But remember, this is by no means a complete list of potential candidates. Any animal connected with the ocean can act as your sea fetch. Sea birds-see the albatross and sea gull- have a special spiritual energy that crosses the realms of heaven, sea, and land, energetically linking the three permanent elements of air, water, and earth. But every creature has its own totemic power. Which one speaks to you?

Albatross This rare oceanic wanderer can show us the ethereal realms beyond this world and within our hearts. At one time the albatross was seen as the "restless spirits of drowned sailors" because of its cry and its endless soaring. With a wingspan greater than other sea birds', albatross can shepherd us on our journey and steer us in the direction we are meant to travel. Albatross teaches us the value of nurturing even the male sits on the nest as well as the skills to survive any turbulence we may encounter. With albatross as a guide we can learn to see the magnificence in the world around us and the worlds within us. Associations: Solitude, survival, the ability to wonder.

Crab The crab may seem an unlikely guide; however, it has a place in legend and is associated with magical powers. Crabs are found in all oceans. They shed their shells as they grow, which symbolizes renewal and rebirth. As a result, crab can instruct us not to be afraid to change and grow. Crab is adaptable and sensitive, with a clarity of vision that can teach us to keep an eye on our goals and unfold to our own potential. Although crab is shy by nature and stays near shore, we can learn how to come out of our shell and explore the spiritual depths that await our discovery. Crabs may walk sideways but from this we can learn how to sidestep trouble when necessary yet still meet important issues head-on. As a zodiacal sign, crab is associated with the moon and brings creative energies into play as a spirit guide. Associations: Adaptability, clarity of vision, creativity, growth, renewal, rebirth.

Dolphin The dolphin is an ancient symbol of love goddesses: its name comes from the Greek delphinos, meaning "womb." The Celts believed that dolphins carried departed souls to the Isle of the Blessed. To early Christians the dolphin symbolized the resurrection and salvation of Christ. Fond of people and music, dolphin helps us value communication, community, and play. Strength, joy, and serenity are qualities that dolphin can help us cultivate. Ancient mariners believed that dolphins could warn them about approaching storms. Their oracular ability can help us find the way to our individual enlightenment. Dolphin offers support in finding our unique path through life. Associations: Communication, community, intuition, joy, serenity, strength. Manatee In 1493 Christopher Columbus noted in his logbook that his ship encountered sea maidens, which contributed to the scientific order's name of Sirenia. Today, our best guess is that Columbus and his crew had spot- ted manatees. These graceful, slow-moving swimmers have a gentle demeanor and a great deal to teach us. Manatee is shy but curious, teaching us the importance of remaining open to experiences even if they seem frightening. A strong bond develops between a mother manatee and her calf, teaching us that nurturing and gentleness are of utmost importance in relationships. Manatee's lovely, relaxed pace beckons us to take our time and slow down. In rushing, we miss so much of the flavor of life. Associations: Gentleness, ability to nurture, relaxation.

Otter The Celtic people believed otters to be magical animals because they inhabit the netherworld where land meets sea. In legends, otters were shown to be helpful to travelers. The Celts called them "water dogs" because of their appearance as well as their speed and skill. Otter symbolizes companionship and encouragement. Such traits make otter a wise and dutiful guide. As legend suggests, with loyalty, friendship, and playfulness, otter guides us on a quest where the unexpected can occur and deep transformation begins. Associated with the sea god Manannan, otter knows how to keep confidences in order to serve. Otter brings brightness and joy into our world and shows us how to find it on our own. Associations: Companionship, duty, friendship, loyalty, transformation. Penguin Portrayed as a little tuxedoed comic, penguin is anything but this inaccurate caricature. Penguin teaches us that we cannot make quick judgments about people because things are not always what they seem. Penguin gives us an example of how we can be true to ourselves and march to our own rhythm. As fathers, male penguins usually share in the egg incubation process and nursery duties, reminding us that males can be as nurturing as females and also serving as a model of balanced energy. Able to hunker down and weather the harsh Antarctic winter, penguin also teaches us about strength and survival. Emperor penguins in particular spend a lot of time in winter twilight; thus they are familiar with that Otherworldly betwixt-and-between state. With the moon providing the brightest light for several months, penguin gains the wisdom of Luna and passes it to those under its guidance. Associations: Balance, independence, inner strength, wisdom.

Polar Bear In general, bears are earthy and grounded, but then there's the polar bear. These indefatigable swimmers, whose massive paws serve as paddles, are equally at home in the water and on land. It has been said that polar bears "could be considered the link between sea and land in the Arctic". Polar bear is a solitary wanderer, spending much of the year on pack ice, going where the floe takes it. As a nomadic wanderer, polar bear is an excellent guide for inner journeys. Strength and protection (especially in Otherworld realms) are hallmarks of polar bear's mystical and spiritual significance. Polar bear has also mastered the art of survival in the physical realm, demonstrating the power of selfless nurturing better than anyone. All who travel are guided by polar bear through the constellation of Ursa Major-the great bear. Polaris, the North Star, the final star in her tail, was used for navigation by sailors for centuries. But polar bear has a playful side, too: the ethereal spirited movement of the Aurora Borealis is also called the "dance of the bears." While polar bear teaches us the joy of dance and play, her semi-hibernation habits also show us the importance of stillness: self-work begins in active stillness. Associations: Ability to nurture, protection, power, spiritual guidance, strength. Salmon Celtic people considered the salmon the oldest and wisest of all creatures. In some legends, salmons were the guardians of sacred pools and wells. Salmon teaches us about determination, fluidity, and cycles. With its exhausting journey home-upstream to its spawning grounds salmon reveals the importance of epic life-changing voyages, unstoppable progress, and the capacity to overcome great obstacles. A leap of faith can be exceedingly frightening and yet the most healing of experiences. Salmon can help us find focus for the soul, which can carry us through any turbulence. Follow salmon if you seek wisdom and inspiration, and you will be led on a journey through the depths of your soul. Associations: Cycles, determination, healing, progress. Sea Gull Sea gulls seem to come in all shapes and sizes, but the quintessential is the herring gull. Stately and large, with a fifty-eight-inch wingspan, this gull is indeed a master of the wind. For centuries mariners relied on the flight line of gulls to find land-so this bird reminds us that duty and responsibility are to be gladly assumed and never shirked. Sea gull also teaches the importance of clear communication. We can gain more nuanced un- derstanding by asking mindful questions. From sea gull we learn adaptability, helping us go with the flow when necessary, and we see how and when to clear things from our life. Through sea gull's lessons we can learn to soar to new heights, finding freedom of spirit as well as the beauty in simple things. Associations: Communication, freedom, responsibility, simplicity.

Seal Stories abound concerning these playful, active creatures. The legendary selkies of Scotland were said to live most of their lives as seals, but on certain nights they came ashore, shedding their skins and turning into beautiful women. In Iceland, seals were said to come on shore on St. John's night (Midsummer, June 23) to dance on the beach. Celtic people believed them to be guides for sailors and fishermen because of their link to the powers of the deep. As a guide, seal helps us center and find focus in our life. Seal's Otherworld associations aid us in maintaining the deep level of spirituality we need to keep in balance. The shy but curious nature of seal leads us to enlarge our own capacity to explore the world through our creativity. Associations: Balance, creativity, curiosity, playfulness. Turtle Sea turtles spend their lives at sea, most often as solitary wanderers of the deep. Traveling hundreds of miles to lay eggs on the beach where they themselves and their ancestors before them hatched, turtles have earned the name of "ancient mariners." Through this feat of navigation, turtle teaches us to pay attention and remain aware about the truly important matters in life. In Eastern mythology, turtle symbolized longevity and immortality, fertility and perseverance. Through these attributes, turtle teaches us how to awaken to opportunity those presented to us as well as those we create for ourselves. Associations: Fertility, immortality, longevity, opportunity, perseverance.

Whale The largest creature on earth derives its name from the Norwegian word hval, meaning "wheel." And "wheel-like" aptly describes whale's diving motion. It also implies cycles, which are inherent in whale's migratory and musical patterns. Through these habits, whale reveals the importance of freeing our creativity and remembering to sing. Like all marine mammals, whale's rugged and adaptable ancestors left the changing environment on land about 55 million years ago for life in the sea. Perhaps this fact can remind us that we can always change our lives around. Whale's sounding dive teaches us the value of exploring our inner depths. Communication and community are other areas where whale guides our focus for developing cooperation and harmony. Associations: Communication, community, creativity, cycles, harmony.

Text - Sea Magic - Connecting with the Ocean's Energy, Sandra Kynes Cute sea dividers - kaitsawamura

Intended for reference and educational purposes - please supplement with your own research and knowledge!

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

Animorphs Battle Markings AU

This was actually an AU I came up with quite a while back but haven’t gotten time to develop. 

The premise is that in canon Animorphs (including Ax, and also any other morph-capable beings) don’t develop physical scars on their natural form from battle wounds received in morph. But in this AU, any injuries they receive in morph appear as skin discoloration/marks/conditions in their natural form.

Rachel and Jake develop freckles.

Marco’s skin peels.

Cassie has discoloration.

Tobias develops striping/speckles on his feathers.

Ax’s fur brightens and spots (and this happens with all Andalites).

As all scars, these marks can and will fade. But with their constant battling, it always comes back. Some of the more severe injuries leave very permanent/long lasting marks.

(meat of the post under the cut!)

Seguir leyendo

I love seeing people’s passion for their deities

I love seeing people’s eyes light up when their deities come up in conversation

I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE LOVING THEIR DEITIES 💞

ok but can we just talk about how deep reggie’s abuse of his children goes? like first, we have ben, who has repeatedly established himself to be the kindest and most understanding among his siblings. despite the fact that klaus has been treating him more of a show pony than a brother for most of season 2, ben still tries to be the angel on his shoulder and offers advice when he can. he even lets it slide when klaus tells their siblings that he didn’t travel back with them, even though it’s so obvious that the remark hurt, because klaus of all people knows just how much ben misses their family, misses being alive.

but the minute klaus insinuates that he sounds just like their father, he finally shows an emotion that is anything but calm, and even goes so far as to attack his brother. this alone should be enough of an indicator as to what kind of man hargreeves was in life.

oh, and should i add that reggie just upped and decided to turn ben’s funeral–a painful occasion on it’s own–into yet another scarring life lesson for the ones he’d left behind? just imagine being shy of seventeen and having at least half the guilt in the universe weighing you down, and ben–who is right there–just wanting to tell all of them that it was “never your fault, diego, please don’t listen to him, we both know you’re better than that,” but of course he can’t, because he’s nothing more than a ghost now, so yes, welcome to powerlessness.

five goes missing and what does he do? nothing. absolutely nothing, aside from having a painting commissioned, but who’s to say it wasn’t a memorial like ben’s statue and more of a warning to the other children instead? something along the lines of look at how this brat disobeyed me; do you want to disappear, too?

there’s luther, who even after everything their father has done to them–to him, most of all–still manages to make up bland, half-baked excuses that he himself is starting to lose faith in, and all that rage and resentment keeps stewing inside him until he reaches his breaking point, rips off his shirt, and yells at his father to look at me! look what you did to me! and it’s even more heartbreaking because reggie does look, he just doesn’t care

let’s move on to allison. it was mentioned at one point that she was something of a daddy’s girl growing up, and even though we aren’t really shown much of their time together, remember when he made her rumor vanya? how she clearly didn’t want to? imagine being so heartless as to instruct a four-year-old child to wipe her sister’s precious memories, all because you were scared of being unable to control her.

and who’s to say there were no repeats after that: of allison turning people’s minds and bodies against them, every single one under her father’s orders as part of her “training”, and when allison fails because her conscience has finally caught up with her, who would stop him from hurting her?

definitely not her siblings or grace, and certainly not pogo.

moving on: oh god, klaus. it’s really not a no-brainer why his son barely has any respect for him, even going so far as to put out his cigarette in his father’s ashes as a final fuck you, because who could respect somebody who forced you to confront your worst fears at thirteen with no safety net whatsoever, even as you screamed yourself hoarse in that damp tomb, with only your nightmares for company

later on, when klaus honest-to-goodness dies and meets him for the first time after so many years, what’s the first thing reggie does? insult him. no “i imagined it’d be a few more years before you joined me here” or “are you okay? why are you even dead, son?”

instead, reggie debunks his accusations as excuses and outright states that he will not accept a single one. instead, he reminds klaus that he is–and always will be–his father’s greatest disappointment, that him never achieving his full potential was klaus’ fault and his alone.

and when klaus chastises him for being so harsh on them and leaving luther on the moon as an easy out for his shortcomings, what’s his greatest takeaway? that he should have burned every single package luther sent back to earth instead of keeping them under the floorboards. 

no apologies, no owning up to his mistakes whatsoever. 

he just deflects his child’s accusations, and even attempts to gaslight klaus once more into thinking that everything he did was to make them stronger and how dare you disobey me, i made you children what you are today and this is how you repay me? what a bunch of disobedient and ungrateful brats you all are indeed

don’t even get me started on vanya’s treatment at his hands. otherwise we’ll be here forever.

and then, we have diego. 

time and time again, diego has proven himself to be tough and capable; whose soft interior is something of a privilege bestowed only to those he truly cares for. and even though he’s come so far in life and helped so many people, the minute reggie takes a shot at him with a few select words? 

nope, never mind, he’s eleven-years-old and back at the academy again.

the man sitting in front of him may not be their father just yet but it’s the exact same words he’s heard for most of his life, the exact same weaknesses gleaned from a single glance, and even in an alternate timeline, his father just knows where to strike, every observation landing dead center like diego’s precious knives. 

(and judging from his siblings’ reactions, this speech is just a rehash of something they’ve all heard before, but it definitely doesn’t mean that it’s going to hurt their brother any less.

no, it will hurt more because he’d actually thought he was finally untouchable after all these years.)

i mean, just look at him: at the way his shoulders shrink inward subconsciously, the excited light in his eyes fading, his stutter reappearing. and despite the fact that he has spent a decade away from this bitter old man, it only takes a minute for his hard earned self-worth to crumble, and suddenly it’s so clear to us just how deep his self-esteem issues go:

because aware or not, everything diego has done and said so far (“he’s an asshole; i’m amazing”) has simply been his way of coping with the fact that no matter how many acts of heroism he performs as an attempt to live up to the “perfect superhero” mold reggie forced them to fill at such a young age, their father will never view them with anything less than contempt, not even luther who barely had to work for approval and their father’s twisted version of “love” because he used to be his loyal lapdog favorite, and that is the real reason why i’m gonna hate this jackass forever, in this essay i will

I love it how when Snape draws out his wand there are audible gasps but when Mcgonagall draws her wand there people are screaming out of the way.

Sacred Plants & Flowers ~ Hellenic Gods

Part 1 of ?: The twelve Olympian Gods

Because I keep looking it up myself, I decided to write down a handy list with sacred plants/flowers and plants/flowers strongly associated with the Theoi. Feel free to add on to this list.

Find more lists of sacred plants/flowers here.

Aphrodite Rose, Anemone, Myrtle, Myrrh, Apple, Lettuce, Pomegranate, Linden, Lime (large-leafed)

Apollon Laurel, Larkspur, Cypress, Palm, Sweet Violet

Ares none known

Artemis Cedar/Juniper, Chaste Tree, Cypress, Laurel, (Persian) Walnut

Athena Olive Tree

Demeter Wheat, Poppy, Barley, Mint, Chaste Tree, Fig Tree

Dionysos Grapevine, Ivy, Bindweed, Pine Tree, Elm Tree, Fig Tree, Fir, Calamus

Hephaistos none known

Hera Pomegranate, Apple, Chaste Tree

Hermes Crocus, Strawberry Tree

Poseidon Pine Tree, Wild Celery, Parsley, Rock Rose

Zeus Oak Tree, Olive Tree, Manna (Ash), Wild Celery, Parsley, White Poplar

Resources: theoi.com, plants of greek myth flora 1 & flora 2 Dividers by: @firefly-graphics

After Ursula, here comes Vanessa’s story 😈🐙🏰

Entitled moms and dæmons

So I was browsing r/entitledparents the other day and I had a thought: Karens like these would be so much worse if dæmons became corporeal.

Think about it:

They don’t respect boundaries

They don’t think their kids should have to respect your boundaries

In some of them, the entitled parent goes so far as to break the law

They probably wouldn’t care about the taboo

“Your dæmon is really cute! Can my kid pet them?” Yeah, hell no!

It would be awful (and probably illegal, falling under the definition of “assault”) it would be especially bad for cute, but uncommon forms. (Penguins, small owls, primates, small wild cats etc.)

Especially if they became corporeal in our world, instead of a world like Lyra’s where they’ve always been corporeal. The taboo wouldn’t be a thing at first, and it would be a while before the laws were revised to classify it as assault.