#Local

[grickle14]

The artist.

[theonion]

“I was having such a good time picking out the stationery to write the suicide note on and thinking of everything I wanted to tell my friends and family in it, but now that I’m here, it’s kind of boring. It’s like, you plan and you plan and you plan, and then you finally get to the actual moment and you’re like, ‘This is it?’” At press time, Clark had resolved that, after so much planning, she owed it to herself to try her best to still find some enjoyment in jumping to her death.

Full Story

[homeofhousechickens]

"To the St. Louis Board of Aldermen:

After decades of continued exposure to chemicals in St. Louis, there is another proposed hazardous chemical facility in the works – Israeli Chemical Limited (ICL). Not only do the chemicals and weapons produced in this facility pose another risk to residents of the St. Louis Metro Area, but they are also produced using our tax dollars to continue the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. With a second ICL Facility constructed in St. Louis, we would be added to the list of military retaliation zones. St. Louis didn’t ask for this. We call on you to halt the plans to open the facility. As of right now there is not an active resolution to block the development of this facility -- we call on you to introduce such a resolution and actively work to stop it. We don't want ICL anywhere in Missouri!"

[pphoto]

Los Angeles, July 2025

[yamasakiko---ji]

After the move I was free from the agony of riding the bus...

[annapolisrose]

Healing mural.

[astra-ravana]

That Midwest Magick

Witchcraft in the American Midwest is a complex blend of indigenous traditions, European folk magick, spiritualism, and the influence of modern witchcraft movements. Unlike New England, which is infamous for its witch trials, the Midwest has a more subtle but rich history of magickal practices, folk beliefs, and occult traditions that have shaped the region’s spiritual landscape.

Indigenous Traditions and Early Beliefs

Before European settlers arrived, the Midwest was home to numerous Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk. Many indigenous spiritual traditions involved rituals, spirit communication, and herbal healing, practices that were later viewed as "witchcraft" by European settlers.

Common Indigenous Spiritual Practices:

Shamanic Healing - Medicine people or shamans used herbs, songs, and rituals to heal illnesses and communicate with spirits.

Dreamwork & Vision Quests - Dreams and visions were seen as powerful messages from the spirit world.

Shape-shifting Legends - Many tribes had stories of beings that could transform between human and animal forms, such as the Wendigo or the Skinwalker.

When settlers arrived, they often misunderstood these practices, sometimes labeling indigenous spiritual leaders as witches or sorcerers. The suppression of indigenous spirituality through boarding schools and forced Christianization led to many traditional practices being hidden or adapted.

European Settlers and Folk Magick

The Midwest was settled by diverse groups, including Germans, Scandinavians, Irish, and Eastern Europeans, each bringing their own folk magick traditions.

German Powwow & Braucherei - German immigrants brought Powwow (also called Braucherei), a Christian folk magick system that blended prayer, herbalism, and magical charms for healing and protection. Powwow practitioners were sometimes accused of practicing witchcraft, but the tradition survived in rural Midwestern communities.

Scandinavian Trolldom - Scandinavian settlers brought Trolldom, a form of folk magick that included protective charms, rune work, and spells to ward off evil. Many Midwestern Norwegians and Swedes retained aspects of their magical traditions in the form of folk remedies and rituals for protection.

Irish & Scottish Witch Lore

Settlers of Irish and Scottish descent brought Faerie Beliefs and Second Sight traditions, which influenced local folklore. Stories of banshees, faerie rings, and "the Evil Eye" persisted in rural communities.

Witchcraft Accusations in the Midwest

While the Midwest did not experience the large-scale witch hunts of New England, accusations of witchcraft did occur in rural communities, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Cases of Witchcraft Accusations:

The "Hex Murder" of York County, Pennsylvania (1928) - Although not in the Midwest, this case involved a Powwow healer who was murdered because his client believed he had been cursed. It highlighted the persistence of belief in hexes and folk magick in rural America.

Witch Scares in Rural Communities - Throughout the Midwest, stories circulated of "witches" who could curse livestock, cause illness, or use the Evil Eye. These fears often led to quiet shunning rather than full-blown trials.

The Rise of Spiritualism and Occult Movements

The Midwest played a significant role in the Spiritualist movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spiritualism—centered on communicating with the dead—was often seen as a blend of science, religion, and occult practice.

Key Spiritualist Centers in the Midwest:

Camp Chesterfield (Indiana) - A spiritualist community founded in the late 19th century, which remains active today.

Lily Dale Assembly (New York, but influential in the Midwest) - A center for mediums that inspired similar gatherings in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

Harry Houdini (Wisconsin-born Magician & Skeptic) - Houdini, originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, became famous for exposing fraudulent spiritualists, highlighting the region’s deep engagement with occult practices.

Many Midwestern towns had local mediums, table-tipping séances, and Ouija board enthusiasts, blending occultism with folk spirituality.

20th-Century Witchcraft and the Occult Revival

By the mid-20th century, British Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft spread to the Midwest. Key developments include:

Raymond Buckland's Influence - Though Buckland introduced Wicca in New York, his teachings spread widely through the Midwest in the 1960s and 1970s.

Festivals and Pagan Gatherings - Events like Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG), held in the Midwest since the 1980s, became major hubs for modern witches and pagans.

Hoodoo and Folk Magick in Midwestern Cities

Cities like Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis became centers for Hoodoo, a form of African American folk magick that includes rootwork, candle magick, and mojo bags. The Great Migration brought these traditions from the South, influencing local magickal practices.

Occult Bookstores & Influences

The Occult Bookstore (Chicago, IL) - One of the oldest metaphysical bookstores in the U.S., operating since 1918.

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick (Cleveland, OH) - Founded to preserve the history of witchcraft and the occult.

Modern Practices and Traditions

The Midwest remains a thriving area for witchcraft, paganism, and occult traditions. Some key features include:

Eclectic Witchcraft - Many practitioners blend Wicca, folk magic, and indigenous spirituality.

Revival of Traditional Witchcraft - Some Midwestern witches focus on Appalachian and Ozark folk magic, connecting with their ancestral roots.

Urban Witchcraft - Cities like Chicago and Minneapolis have vibrant witchcraft communities, including LGBTQ+ and activist-oriented witches.

Midwestern Witchcraft Gatherings & Groups

Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) - A major annual pagan and witchcraft festival.

Michigan Pagan Fest - A gathering for witches, pagans, and occultists.

Local Covens & Meetup Groups - Many small covens and informal groups operate throughout the Midwest.

The history of witchcraft in the American Midwest is one of quiet resilience and adaptation. From indigenous spirituality to European folk magic, from 19th-century spiritualism to the modern occult revival, the Midwest has fostered a unique blend of mystical traditions. Today, it continues to be a thriving center for magical practitioners, blending old traditions with new interpretations.

[newx-menfan]

Really need @captainamateur-artistt to make “Distracted Boyfriend” of Laura 🤣🤣🤣

Prodigy and Anole were around for this insanity- David and Victor probably remembers Laura’s meltdown over the Surge kiss 😬😳🤣🤣

[whataniceone2]

The pretty blossom falls :)

[theonion]

Ninja Parade Slips By Town Unnoticed Once Again

[heckcareoxytwit]

Laura Kinney and her friends are going to the Dazzler concert when the former (Laura) sees someone familiar. It's Local, the mutant technopath minion of Mojo. Local wants Laura/"Scratch" to follow him (though he doesn't know that "Scratch" is actually Laura Kinney doing her undercover work) into the room while her friends must stay outside and mind their own business. As Laura's friends insist on following them, Local (under Mojo's control) is working on another scheme - Local using his technopath abilities to insert subliminal frequencies in all of the Dazzler concert recordings. Laura Kinney, Kamala Khan and Prodigy follow Local to the recording room while Anole and Sophie Cuckoo stay behind to watch over the concert for any sign of danger.

Laura, Kamala and Prodigy find Local in the recording room where they try talking him out from disrupting the concert. However, Mojo has taken in full control of Local that he zaps Laura while the tentacles snare Kamala and Prodigy. Meanwhile at the concert, Sophie and Anole are trying to tell the concertgoers not to look at Mojo on the screen but it doesn't work as the crowd are too hypnotized to listen to them. Everyone seems to be doomed until a mysterious girl arrives to save the day with her time manipulation powers. Laura Kinney looks up and recognizes the girl as Kiden Nixon, the old friend from a run-down neighborhood at New York City. Seriously, there are way many freaking superpowered people in New York! Anyway, Laura cries in tears of joy as she hugs Kiden in a reunion. Then, Laura and Kiden depart the place, leaving Prodigy and Kamala confused. Also, Local had fled the scene. In the end, the Dazzler Show eventually goes on as well as Anole, Kamala, Sophie and Prodigy watch the concert.

NYX v2 #6, 2024

[alyaxd]

Me when cute Nuzi edits/arts

She doesn't have hands, she has paws btw

[pratchettquotes]

"Anyway, it'll be int'resting to see if it works."

"Yes, but it's wrong," said Granny.

"Not for these parts, it seems," said Nanny.

"Besides," said Magrat virtuously, "it can't be bad if we're doing it. We're the good ones."

"Oh yes, so we is," said Granny, "and there was me forgetting it for a minute there."

Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad

[annapolisrose]

Boundary Bay

[postcard-from-the-past]

Local guide with her wife from Diego-Suarez, modern-day Antsiranana, Madagascar

French vintage postcard