artemisian-dragon

[artemisian-dragon]

🌠 Subtle Nyx Worship 🌌

Go star-gazing, especially out in nature where you can see the stars more clearly

Learn about the different constellations as well as any Greek myths associated with them

Pay attention to the phases of the moon; learn what their meanings are

Try veiling

Get a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Wear silver jewelry

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have a stuffed animal horse or owl; have a stuffed animal of any nocturnal animal

Have imagery of the night sky, stars, space, horses (especially in a chariot), owls, nocturnal animals, or foggy nights around

Meditate at night; try to relax at night; sit in darkness silently for a bit

Get a telescope; use it to observe the stars

Leave a glass of water/salt water on your windowsill at night

Take a bath/shower with only the light of candles/dim lighting (SAFELY!!!!)

Support space-related organizations such as NASA

Learn more about space, stars, planets, etc.

Engage in relaxing activities or ones that you're passionate about

Have a bedtime/nighttime routine

Keep a dream journal; write down your dreams; try to interpret them

Drink black tea or coffee (or anything that relaxes you); add honey if you want

Drink red wine or red sparkling grape juice; raise a glass to her

Pick and save flowers still wet with evening dew; dry or press them; great if the colors are ones you personally associate with her

Feed neighborhood cats, dogs, birds, etc., especially at night (please make sure it's safe to leave food out in your area; do not attract predators!!!!)

Burn a relaxing incense at night; lavender, jasmine, patchouli, etc.

Write poetry about the night, stars, space, etc.; it doesn't have to explicitly name her

Try to practice meditation; practice mindfulness

Ground yourself regularly, especially at night

Make your space comfortable and relaxing for yourself; sleep with cozy blankets, decorate with dim fairy lights for nighttime, sleep with stuffed animals, etc.

Learn getting comfortable with change; go outside your comfort zone, do something spontaneous, cope with stress during an unpredictable situation, etc.

Let go of things that no longer serve you

Dance or sing at night; enjoy yourself at the end of your day

Play with pets before bed to tire them out so that they can sleep better c:

Watch movies or shows at night with loved ones; something you'd all enjoy

Light a bonfire or small fire at night; enjoy the peace of the night around you

Go camping; sleep under the stars

Keep a personal diary; write down positives and negatives; make it your own

Make a list of things you enjoyed and disliked about your day at the end of your day

Feel your feelings; cry if you need to, etc.

Practice listening and observing your surroundings/people around you; don't make yourself paranoid, just passively observe

Practice patience and compassion, especially towards yourself

Spend your evenings decompressing, whatever you need to do to unwind; drink a warm drink, eat something comforting for dinner, read a book, etc.

Try to cut down your screentime before bed

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I'll likely add more later, but for now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Nyx. I hope it's helpful, and take care! 💜

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[artemisian-dragon]

✨ Subtle Deity Worship Master List ✨

Greek Deities:

Subtle Aphrodite Worship

Subtle Ares Worship

Subtle Apollo Worship

Subtle Artemis Worship

Subtle Athena Worship

Subtle Dionysus Worship

Subtle Eros Worship

Subtle Hephaestus Worship

Subtle Hermes Worship

Subtle Demeter Worship

Subtle Hera Worship

Subtle Zeus Worship

Subtle Circe Worship

Subtle Hestia Worship

Subtle Helios Worship

Subtle Persephone Worship

Subtle Poseidon Worship

Subtle Hekate Worship

Subtle Hygeia Worship

Subtle Nemesis Worship

Subtle Psyche Worship

Subtle Asklepios Worship

Subtle Haides Worship

Subtle Harpocrates Worship

Subtle Erebos Worship

Subtle Medea Worship

Subtle Tyche Worship

Subtle Lethe Worship

Subtle Selene Worship

Subtle Eris Worship

Subtle Themis Worship

Subtle Talos Worship

Subtle Thanatos Worship

Subtle Nyx Worship

Subtle Phobos & Deimos Worship

Subtle Nike Worship

Subtle Pan Worship

Subtle Hypnos Worship

Subtle Charybdis Worship

Subtle Skylla Worship

Subtle Harmonia Worship

Subtle Galatea Worship

Subtle Hyacinthus Worship

Subtle Himeros Worship

Subtle Triton Worship

Subtle Gaia Worship

Norse Deities:

Subtle Sigyn Worship

Subtle Loki Worship

Subtle Baldr Worship

Subtle Freyr Worship

Subtle Odin Worship

Subtle Heimdallr Worship

Subtle Freyja Worship

Subtle Thorr Worship

Subtle Tyr Worship

Subtle Jormungandr Worship

Subtle Hel Worship

Subtle Sleipnir Worship

Subtle Idunna Worship - created by @soil-and-stanzas :)

Subtle Fenrir Worship

Subtle Frigga Worship

Egyptian Deities can be found on @wanderingskemetic 's blog!

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This list will be updated as I make more posts! I will be making separate lists for these pantheons because I have too many links lol.

[artemisian-dragon]

Who has some good resources for godspousal/spirit spousal? Send em my way!

[artemisian-dragon]

Misconceptions about Godspousery and intimate relationships with the divine Part 2

Disclaimer; This post is written from my perspective and experiences as a godspouse ( being married to two demonic divine dark lords for 6 years and having almost 16 years of experience connecting and working with deities, demonic divine beings and spirits), in connecting with others who are genuine godspouses and also has input, information and insight gained from various conversations with Demonic Divine beings- DL’s, other gods and spirits around these topics. I obviously do not speak for all Godspouses, however these are some similarities and trends I have noticed amongst those genuinely in these relationships.

follow on from here

On discernment:

Most if not all of the human spouses have been or are devotees to the god before they become a spouse and may even be clergy already. Some people have stated that a “god” supposedly asked for their hand when they hadn’t even worked with the god. This is not something that happens. Even if the person did not know the deity to begin with, the deities usually guide the person to a working relationship with Themselves and a deeper relationship before they would consider asking, if that had been something the deity was even interested in to begin with.  The human can also recognise throughout their life signs of the deity being present and feeling very intensely drawn to areas that the deity works within, as though it is natural to the person, it can feel like coming home in a sense ( though this can go for any deep connection to a deity as well). And it also plays into the future human spouse’s choice in the matter as well. To see if they truly resonate  and want to engage that way with the god. You can still have wonderfully loving and beautifully profound, close relationships with deities without being espoused to Them. So it is not something that should be overly sought after in my view.

Something that has come up fairly recently it seems is the notion of “dating” a deity. I honestly find this exceptionally problematic, even more so when one has never worked with the deity before, or the deity has never indicated They are interested in such a relationship with the person. How can one possibly discern its actually the deity  connecting- if they have never worked with said deity?, how would they even be attuned to their energies enough to get clear communication with them? The deity is the one who chooses this, Its not as much “up to the human” as people/ the egoic human mind, would like to believe it is. This attitude of actively seeking to date a deity seems to carry with it the assumption that a deity is automatically interested just because the person is and the expectation that They would want to marry the person just because the person is interested. All divine beings I know do take marriage seriously- it is not a game, pokemon-collect them all or a roulette wheel of options for the human to pick who they like best. Desiring this, does not make it so. To my eyes this practice and attitude that it is simply the humans choice, diminishes what godspousery actually is.

Some others have stated they have past life connections and so the “deity” is demanding they resume that or state that they have some claim on the person. Any “deity” or spirit doing this should be treated with a lot of caution and it most likely is not a deity if they are demanding you reunite with them. Each life is individual and it is helpful to remember that this is your life not what you were in the past. Past lives only have such importance if we choose to assign this. Past life connections and deeper soul level can hold weight in this- though it is usually something that is discovered along the journey and should not be a sole reason for marrying.

Another important thing to note is Respect and Consent. You cannot force a deity, spirit or being to marry you if they haven’t consented to it, nor should they force you either. Some  divine beings may not even be interested in engaging this way either, it can even be hubris and offensive to Them to ask or attempt to connect with Them in this way, not all are open to this. Usually if not always it is the deity that asks in godspousery not the human.

Another thing to note also is on interpretation of energies and how humans interpret these feelings. Love in and of itself is not a very well elucidated energy among the human realm. It is common parlance from a human perspective to feel loving energy from another being and assume that it means the same thing as it does when you feel it from another human or even that the intentions of the being and their response to love will be the same. This is often not the case with otherworldly beings. There are many forms of love as well, not all of them lead to romance, or even have the same end result. While Love is often stated as part of Godspousery relationships it can take on different forms then what humans may conceive of love to be. Often while it is part of the relationship and allows us to interact with the god or god level being in a way many do not( which is a very sacred and humbling experience to be granted such insight and interactions with them), it is not the only or even in some cases the main part of the relationship.

 The same concept goes with sexual energy; just because a person feels what they may interpret as sexual energy from a being, does not mean that the being wants to engage sexually with them or even needs to.  It should also be noted that not all godspousery relationships have a sexual component either.  Godspousery can be a truly amazing and profound experience opening you up in ways you never thought possible, but it can equally be more challenging and more devastating in its ability to transform you and in some of the things you undergo, then any human relationship ever would be. There are two sides to it. And it “expects” a lot from us. Most of those who are godspouses also have open senses, as an accurate and reliable way of communicating with the deity by yourself is necessary.

If someone feels that a god or any spirit is suggesting marriage to them it is important to do divination once you have determined it is actually the deity and not a thoughtform, fantasy or someone using the name as a mask.  One should be questioning themselves a lot, to see whether this is just an egoic desire on their part, self examination is also key here to determine why you might be considering it, it is not something to be rushed into out of infatuation or from an egoic perspective, nor “status”. Listen to your deeper soul self too, but divine for yourself, then have trusted other divine for you and then another who does not know you personally or the situation. As this is quite a lifechanging experience as well, if there are clergy for the god or those who work closely with the god then seeing what they have to say about it and learning about if this has been practiced with the god in the past can also be helpful. Usually there is some kind of contract for the actual marriage and it can be really helpful to have one that is agreed upon, so you know what to expect around this, if there are taboos of things etc.

Also in terms of “status.” It doesn’t necessarily lend you any status at all, actually being married to a deity. Usually if they have other spouses and it is hierarchical you tend to be lower down on the rungs, you could also end up being part of a harem, or a concubine in a way. So something very important to ask yourself is if you would be okay with that. Also would you be okay being celibate from humans if the deity asked this, even though the deity was polygamous? In my experiences most deities and demonic divine - if not all, are polygamous, you will not be their “only” spouse. Also if you do otherworldly work, it is important to get to know and understand the culture you are going to be marrying into as well as if the deity or divine being has a certain rank, then the politics around that. Mostly the human partners are not so involved in the politics but it does still have some effect. It is also important to note that marriage may not look anything like the human idea of marriage especially with otherworldly beings- the more otherworldly the less likely this is. That is why it is important to drop preconceived notions around this and have clear communication with the beings to establish what the marriage will actually look like. These are just some of the questions one should be asking before even considering this.

It is also important to note that genuine godspousery is not just “taking an oath” either. Genuine godspousery is  a lifelong commitment. While the marriage can involve such things and often will, it is not all it is. And oaths are not just for godspousery, oaths are used in many situations. It is not so particular.

One other key area I feel should be addressed, wishing, desiring and hoping from the humans behalf and even acting on that wish, does not make it so. There are two (or more) beings to any relationship especially with deities and spirits and they have a say in this as well. and all parties can say no. To my eyes claiming you are something you are not or in a certain type of relationship with a being when you are not- is deeply disrespectful to the being and one would be lucky if the being actually chose to interact with them again. Even though ultimately god level beings and demonic divine can definitely take care of themselves (as can most other spirits) and are quite unaffected by what people claim about them. It is still inherently disrespectful thing to do.

So some areas to look out for in determining if the being is more legitimate or not; One of red flag to watch out for is people claiming DL’s or deities are “thirsty” for them, DL’s and deities do not lust after us, they have no need to and are perfectly able of finding their own satisfaction with their own spouses, consorts etc. of their own kind.

Another red flag to watch out for is the supposed god, DL or spirit “claiming” that the person is their one and only and is oh so special and how important the person is, always telling them to best things about themselves and never criticising them nor pushing and aiding in for their growth. Also isolation tactics and claiming to “own” them without a prior arrangement or agreement in that manner. It is most likely a parasite wanting to feed or something trying to trick you into giving them you power and energy. These are just a few among many other issues that can arise in this which is why discernment is so important in this. One of the key ways to differentiate just in general also; is to be able to read the beings core energy. It is also useful to note that those who are genuinely married to divine beings, very often keep it private due to the nature of it being an intensely personal relationship. How private they keep it varies and is of course up to the individual and their Spouse. It is not something that is talked about very often. And they are not likely and don’t tend to use it as a status symbol to lord over other people or boost their egos either.

A final aspect I wanted to address is when people are claiming they have many godspouses. Anyone saying they have more then 1-3 godspouses is suspicious and most likely into delusional territory or interacting with sock puppets. Deities and divine beings understand humans well and that we are while here living a human life and are in “linear time”. The divine are not that “irresponsible” that many of Them would dogpile all on one person for marriage. They have plenty of devotees to choose from, if They were even interested in such a thing anyway. Also one or two deity spouses are rare enough let alone 8 or 14 to one human. In genuine godspousery because of the depth of connection and time commitment these marriages and path requires from a person, a single human does not have enough time to build such a deep connection with so many entities ( I have heard people mention they have like 5,7 or 14 deity spouses- to my eyes honestly if there even is anything there in these cases it is sockpuppeting or thoughtforms- genuine deities/divine beings/DL’s do not do this.) Especially since the human has a life here to attend to. Not only that; but the depth of connection also carries the majesty and gravity of energy of the divine being, so much energy from so many separate beings at the level and depth of connection- would wreck a humans energy system. As such I would be wary of those who claim so to have many spouses.

art by NanFe on deviantart

[artemisian-dragon]

Nazis will never be welcome in paganism. They have no space in our communities, we will have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to nazis. You have no right to the cultures, gods and religions you hijack to spread your disgusting ideologies. You will find no refuge or comraderie amongst pagans.

Reblog to let nazis know they’re not welcome here.

[artemisian-dragon]

How would you go about becoming a priest with an invitation from the god? Like what resources, and what would you learn?

Honestly it depends on the god! Each god is different, and therefore there's no set way on learning priesthood because there is no definitive guide on each and every deities method. However, I can tell you how it works for me as someone training under Hermes (and I'll make a longer more in depth guide on my process sometime soon):

Studying:

A lot of researching your deity. Learn their epithets and how to spell/write/say them. Invoking a specific epithet will help you be able to draw on their power through your future tasks from them.

Also, become knowledgeable and understanding of how the ancient Greek themselves worshipped our gods. Particularly Ancient Greek Cults and Ancient Greek Religion should basically be required reading (both of which are available for free in my tiny library!)

Communication:

Constant constant CONSTANT communication with your deity. You'll be training under them personally, so get used to constantly running to them for guidance and tasks. Communication is key, and finding your best method for receiving answers will save you a world of headaches.

Training Tasks:

Tasks are required for training. Ask your deity what it is they'd like your task to be, and they'll provide you with one. Tasks heavily depend on your deity. My first task was delivering a message from a goddess to a potential future devotee because I train under Hermes. However, a task from Aphrodite may involve providing advice to a specific pair of lovers or even required self reflection. A task from Apollo will look different from a task from Hades. A task from Dionysus will look different from a task from Ares.

Shadow Work:

We should all strive to be our greatest selves for our gods, and this is especially true on the path to priesthood. The more we understand ourselves, the clearer things can become spiritually. This isn't a hard requirement! Simply something I personally think is incredibly important.

The path of priesthood is a long and difficult one, and nay seem fun looking in but it's definitely hard work and you should be sure that this is a path you really want to walk (not talking to you specifically but anyone and everyone considering priesthood).

I hope this helped!!

[artemisian-dragon]

a+ witchy pickup lines

• “the demon that follows me around says you’re cute”

• “I did a tarot reading and it said we should date. I kept shuffling until I pulled The Lovers.”

• “you’re absolutely bewitching”

• “are you my crystal collection… ? because uh you’re really pretty and you rock.”

• “are you using Fae glamour magic or are you actually just that beautiful”

• “I like to call on deities and spirits but you can call me anytime”

• “I read your palm and it says you should hold mine”

[artemisian-dragon]

Where you can see Nyx:

In the night sky;

In the constellations;

In falling stars;

At the edge of vision when looking through a telescope;

In distant nebulas;

In galaxies and black holes;

She rests at times near different planets, Jupiter, Saturn, and many others;

In the pleasant coolness of the evening and night;

Early in the morning, when She is replaced by Her daughter, Hemera;

On the pillow when you go to sleep after a long day;

In the softness of blankets and sheets, when the mind falls into sleep;

In the chirping of crickets;

In black clothes, especially black silk;

In the silence, when at a late hour you go out to get some air;

In the black feathers of birds;

In black animals;

In white and black flowers;

In the warmth or cold on the body during divination;

In fairy lights with the lights off;

In the poppies growing here and there;

Somewhere close to Her children;

In the peace of sleep;

In the confidence that your magic will work;

In the shadows that flicker at the edge of vision;

In the northern lights;

In the sea, when fish scales play in the light;

When there is something singing in the winds when you walk at night;

In heavy floral incense;

In various witchy things;

In the spreading sky above;

In an article, a note, a project made at night;

In dark makeup;

In a glass of dark red wine;

During a late night dinner, be it a quick snack or a full meal;

In ancient and modern maps of the sky;

In Earth's orbit.

I see my Mother in many things, in every thing in the world there is a piece of Her night. Hail, Nyx, Whose eyes shine like stars, Cosmic Mother!

Translation of my russian post below.

[artemisian-dragon]

Southern Appalachians. Appreciation post.

📍Blue Ridge Mountains, view from VA

📍Great Smoky Mountains, view from NC

📍Appalachian Trail, TN

Remember, we have our questions open for any idea or requirement for a post.

If you want to enjoy something in particular, ask for it!

wildtrail

[artemisian-dragon]

Offerings to Nyx

So to go along with the epithets post, here’s a list of offerings! It’s in the same vein as the epithets post, meaning there’s not a lot of historical evidence available, so it’s largely what I’ve come up with based on historical references, experience with other Gods, and just generally what feels appropriate. If anyone who actually regularly works with Nyx has any input (additions or corrections), please let me know!

Offerings to Nyx:

Black animal votives

Dew (particularly that which gathers after sunset)

Dark feathers

Starry/celestial images and items

Dark liquors/beers

Red Wine

Black Tea/Coffee

Symbols of Her children (torch, skull, scissors, etc.)

Black fabric/veil/cloak

Dark chocolate

Honey/molasses

Roses/Lilies/Poppies/Dark Flowers

Night-blooming flowers

Incense/Resin (watery, musky, earthy)

Viniq (that shimmery liqueur that looks like a galaxy in a bottle, because galaxy)

Dark berries (blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, etc.)

Sources:

http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Nyx.html

[artemisian-dragon]

Mother May I

Spend my years in your embrace.

Live a life filled with chase.

Build for women a sacred place.

Be the one to open gates.

For you are the spark of my desire.

And my feet go where you require.

Forever I will carry your fire.

It is true I cannot deny Her.

[artemisian-dragon]

APPALACHIAN FOLKLORE 101

Appalachia has a rich history in the united states, which goes farther back than most tend to give it credit for. The Appalachian mountains are millions of years old, and humans have only lived in the region for 16,000 years or so, which means the mountains are bound to hold some mysteries and legends.

Many of these stories, and folk practices originate from the Native Americans, specifically Cherokee, and are mixed in with the superstitions brought over from the old world specifically English, Irish, and Scottish. As well as the practices brought over from the African Continent During the Slave Trade. The Native population assisted the early settlers in Appalachia with ways to survive the area, grow food, and even forage for one of Appalachia's staple foods, RAMPS!!!

Let's delve into the history of Appalachian Folklore and the origins of everyone's favorite stories.

Cryptids and Myths

This is one of the most famous aspects of Appalachian folklore and one which outsiders know the most about, Appalachian Myths and their Cryptids that follow. Below I will go over a few of the more famous ones, which many have learned about, either second-hand or through living in the area.

The Moon-Eyed People

There was a group of humanoids called the Moon-Eyed People, who were short, bearded, and had pale skin with large, bright eyes. They were completely nocturnal due to their eyes being extremely sensitive to light. Although not mythical, they were considered a separate race of people by some. The tribes viewed them as a threat and forced them out of their caves on a full moon night. They were said to have scattered to other parts of Appalachia as the moon’s light was too bright for their eyes. There are some early structures that are believed to be related to the Moon-Eyed People, dating back to 400 BCE. Some theories suggest that they were early European settlers who arrived much before Columbus discovered the Americas. Other theories suggest they were people who had Albanism.

Image of The Moon Eyed People Statues in Murphy, North Carolina

Spearfinger

Spearfinger is a Cherokee legend of a shapeshifting, stone-skinned witch with a long knife in place of one of her fingers. She often was described as an old woman, which she would take the form of to convince Cherokee children that she was their grandmother. She would sit with them, brush their hair until they fell asleep, and then kill them with her “spear finger.” She had a love of human livers which she would extract from the bodies of those she killed. It was said she left no visible scars on her victims. She carried her own heart in her hand to protect it, as it was her one weakness. As the legend goes, she was captured and defeated with the help of several birds that carried the information to defeat her. Though she has been destroyed, sometimes you can hear her cackles and songs throughout the mountains. 

Image of SpearFinger Cherokee Legend

W*ndigo

This spirit is said to go to where its name is called allowed so since most of us already know the name I won't be writing it out in completion. So out of respect for some of our native readers, it will remain censored

The W*ndigo is a creature, sometimes referred to as an evil spirit, that is said to be 15 feet tall with a body that is thin, with skin pulled so tight that its bones are visible. Many native legends view it as a spirit of greed, gluttony, and insatiable hunger. It is a flesh-eating beast that is considered most active during the colder months, and its presence is easily felt and smelt. It has been described as having a distinct smell of rot and decay due to its skin being ripped and unclean. It produces an overwhelming urge of greed and insatiable want. Most notably, it is not one to chase or seek after its prey; instead, it uses its terrifying mimicry skill. It often mimics human voices, screams, loved ones, or anything that might entice its victim to come to it. In some cases, it is believed the W*ndigo is a spirit that can possess other humans and fill them with greed and selfishness, turning them into W*ndigos as well.  

Appalachian Folk Practices

Many of the common Appalachian folk practices stem from things the Native Americans and Enslaved Africans taught them mixed in with cultural practices from Europe. Here I will go over some of the most common practices done by the Appalachian people

Water Dowsing

water dowsing is a practice that has been done for hundreds of years in many different cultures. This practice was brought over by the European settlers and was how many people of the time found where to dig for their water. The practice itself is simple in nature, you take a forked branch from a tree and hold it in both hands and walk around once the stick points down due to the electromagnetic current that's where you dig your well.

this isn't exactly the best way to find water but many people still do it to this day.

Image of Someone Using A Dowsing Rod

Bottle Trees

This practice originated in the Congo area of Africa, in the 9th century A.D. brought to America by the slave trade, in the 17th century. Bottle Trees, were popular in the American South and up into Appalachia, the spirits are said to be attracted to the blue color of the bottles, and captured at night, then when the sun rises it destroys the evil spirits.

This is still practiced in the modern era by many Appalachian Folk Practitioners

Image Of Bottle Trees

SIN EATING

This practice originates from the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians, it branched to many different cultures and has been practiced since antiquity by many Christian and Catholic tribes. And later making its way to America via immigration. The process was once a profession in Appalachia, in which food was placed on or near the deceased and a person dressed in all black would eat the food absolving the dead of all of their earthly sins. This essentially cemented their ability to get into heaven. The practice while sparsely done any more as a profession, it can still be found in many peoples funeral services to this day around the world.

Many cultures still do this practice and the sin eaters usually choose to hide their identity as the practice is seen as taboo to this day.

Popular Herbs To Forage In Appalachia Folk Practices

Wild Leeks or RAMPS!!!

Allium tricoccum, are a species of wild onion native to North America. They are a delicacy, and hold a special place in the hearts of many Appalachians. Native Americans such as the Cherokee ate the plant and used it medicinally for a variety of purposes including as a spring tonic. Early European settlers learned how to Forage from the Indigenous People and continued to eat and use ramps medicinally. Ramps provide many nutrients and minerals and historically have been used to nourish people after harsh winters.

*RAMPS poisoness Look Alike

False hellebore (Veratrum) is a highly poisonous plant that can be mistaken for a prized wild edible, the wild leek, or ramp (Allium tricoccum)

Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus sulphureus. Chicken of the woods is a sulphur-yellow bracket fungus of trees in woods, parks and gardens. They are delicious and are loved by many foragers, Native Americans, and Appalachians alike. The Native Americans taught the early settlers that these were edible and have been a favorite ever since. Chicken of the Woods is most likely to be found from August through October, but it can be found as early as May and up to December depending on where you live.

*These have a poisoness look alike, Jack O Lantern mushrooms

The Jack-o'-lantern mushroom should not be eaten because it is poisonous to humans. It contains toxic chemicals that can cause severe stomach upset accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and headache

PawPaws

The Pawpaw Asimina triloba, is well loved by Appalachian locals as a native fruit with a tropical taste. Pawpaw fruit is the largest tree fruit native to the United States, and its custard-like flesh has been said to taste like a combination of banana, pineapple, and Mango. The pawpaw has been used by Native Americans for centuries for both its fruit and its medicinal properties. Many tribes, including the Osage and Sioux, ate the fruit; the Iroquois used the mashed fruit to make small dried cakes to reconstitute later for cooking. PawPaw season is late summer, look for the smell of rotting fruit, eat the ones that are squishy to the touch.

*They resemble mangos on the trees, many options to eat the ones that are on the floor already as they usually have ripened, but you can also ripen them at home.

Appalachia has a rich and beautiful history filled with magic and delicious food. But the only real way to learn about Appalachia is to visit it. Go and speak with locals, learn about the history, their delicious foods, and powerful Grandma magic, and you too will fall in love with Appalachia.

Thank you for sitting down and having Tea with me on the Other side of the Great Divide

[artemisian-dragon]

Music for Dragons and Dragon People

Do you like music? Of course you do. Here are some playlists I use for my practice and personal listening.

General Listening/Upbeat: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2elzSFhkKsHSyXHAxi6dGc?si=b6e846ae44cc45e2

Meditation: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7DuQqYlOdAuaBI2npPRv5U?si=51f67ca2fbac44c7

Enjoy! Please feel free to throw recommendations my way, too!

[artemisian-dragon]

Draconic Witchcraft & Working With Dragons💫

What is Draconic Witchcraft?

Draconic witchcraft is witchcraft performed with or taught by dragons. Some people do not believe in the existence of dragons but I would argue that working with them is similar to working with any other deity. Dragons and their energy is often connected to the four elements and can be very draining to work with. Unlike a relationship with a deity, which can place them on a pedestal, dragons expect equality. Therefore, if they give you something (knowledge, help, etc.), they expect to receive something in return. Draconic magic relies heavily on visualization, meditation and other forms of messaging through the subconscious. Their messages are often very hard to decipher so practitioners are reliant on divination and intuition to understand signs. In order to work with dragons, you must have a strong mind and a strong will. They put practitioners who want to work with them through many trials/tests in order to prove their worthiness.

Why Work With Dragons?

Although draconic witchcraft can be challenging and the information regarding this practice is limited, it can also be extremely rewarding. Dragons help facilitate change and personal growth (although sometimes forced). They are also incredibly knowledgable and can be amazing teachers and guides. Many draconic witches find that the bulk of their knowledge and experience comes directly from the dragons they work with rather than books or research. Dragons appear in nearly every culture in the world and posses great cultural significance.

The First Steps:

These steps come before you even interact with dragons and will help you prepare to begin draconic witchcraft.

Research- the golden rule of witchcraft and the starting point for every new avenue. Forming a basic understanding of dragons and their practices is the first step in beginning draconic witchcraft.

Practice meditation- developing a meditation routine is important because dragons rely on messaging through the subconscious to communicate. Being able to meditate for long periods of time can be difficult so practicing it bit by bit will help you in the long run.

Determine your method of divination- divination is an important tool in draconic witchcraft so determining your favourite method and developing your skills is vital.

Practice visualizing- this one is going to be different for everyone because not everyone can see images in their mind. The way I like to practice is by picking an object in my room and starring at it until I have it memorized. Then I close my eyes and try to recreate it in my mind in as much detail as possible. If you do not see pictures in your mind, try looking online for other ways to practice.

Connect with elemental energies- having an understanding of elemental energies is important because dragons are often very closely tied to the elements. Knowing what the energies of each element feels like to you will be helpful later on.

*All images are from Pinterest*

🖤Check out the author D.J Conway for more information on dragons and draconic witchcraft.

[artemisian-dragon]

I truly wish there were more authors versed in dragon magic and we weren't essentially forced to read these books when starting out...

If anyone knows of dragon books that aren't Wicca based and aren't D&D books (yes I've seen practioners recommend a dragon D&D book), do send them my way!

Ok been trying to get into dragon magic. I was recommended this book as a basis of draconic magic. I finished it today. Do I recommend it? Hnnnmngggghh maaaaybeeeee???? I stuck with it the best I could despite some obvious cultural and lore inaccuracies but I ended skipping a lot of the ritual work, all of it. I recently learned why Conway isn't really respected in the witch community and... I totally get it.

I don't enjoy dunking on things recommended to me especially since there aren't a lot of dragon magic books out there. I kept in mind who the author is and at what time this was written. It was published in 1994 so I tried my best to keep by opinions to the side because of the time and person it was written by. I have my own draconic teacher and the amount of times he corrected something was at least once every chapter but that's my own experience. Of you read the book yourself you can obviously make your own observations.

But generally speaking this book is under HEAVY assumption that you are Wiccan and it comes across as witchcraft = wiccan practice. We all know it's not. Shit, I'm Catholic and sometimes it felt like I wasn't welcome to read this book because of a lot of anti-christian sentiment in here. (Yes I know. Christianity is the reason why the craft is demonized but I don't think it's right to have a personal vendetta against people who are Christian and it comes off as that sometimes. As a Catholic witch I think it's safe for me to say not all of us demonize the craft).

Lore wise there is definitely things taken out of context and misinformation. A ton of it. If you pick it up be very critical of it. Also, do not be afraid to dabble in draconic magic. Conway has this very high and mighty stance of sort of, not so much shaming but putting people down for dabbling in magic and goes so far as to say to put the book down and don't even try draconic if you're gonna dabble. An attitude of "SERIOUS MAGICIANS ONLY" sort of gatekeeping and honestly it bothered me A LOT. From personal experience the dragon I am learning under said dabbling is ok, especially if you are new to witchcraft or want to explore a certain path because you don't know if that path is what you really wanna do and you won't know until you dip your toes into the water.

Conway just has this sort of arrogance in the book as if she's the expert on dragons. Granted! She has worked with dragons for over 20 years so some things she has to say can be helpful like understanding the basic elements of the dragons but there is just a lot of lore misinformation and she tends to act as if the way she does her rituals are the correct ways to practice dragon magic when really every witch has their own way of doing things. It all depends on you and if you made contact with a dragon they'll surely assist you in how you will practice the draconic craft.

Bottom line: do I recommend this book? With a heaping pile of sea salt. Would I say this is a very small foundation to explore draconic craft? Sure but with that heaping pile of sea salt. Personally I recommend trying to make a connection with a dragon first before reading this book. Find other draconic witches like alchemy.of.spirit or that.dragon.witchh on Instagram and check out their content. Dancing with Dragons is the bare bottom of the barrel minimum of you really need a book to start somewhere. Keep the salt around while you read it and thanks for listening to my TED talk!

Happy Mabon!

[artemisian-dragon]

Jes' Collection of Witch Books

I said I would make this list, so here I am, making this list.

These are all the Witchy (and witchy-adjacent) books I own and/or have read. It's a long list, so it's going under a cut!

Key of Symbols:

📗 Read

📖 Reading

📚 Not Yet Read

Books that I own

📗 Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox (Review)

📖 A Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft by Fire Lyte

📚 Spellcrafting by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

📚 The House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

📗 Witchery by Juliet Diaz (Review)

📚 A Witch's Guide to Spellcraft by Althea Sebastiani

📖 All That is Sacred is Profaned by Rhyd Wildermuth (edit: nevermind, he's a transphobe now)

📚 Reclaiming Ourselves by Emma Kathryn

📖 In the Midnight Hour by Anthony Rella

📚 Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

📚 Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

📗 Grovedaughter Witchery by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📗 The Sisters Grimmoire by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📚 Witchcraft by Anastasia Greywolf or Tamsin Chamberlin (don't buy this one: here's why)

Books I read from the Library

📗 The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book by Skye Alexander (don't buy this one: here's why)

📗 Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

Zines and Pamphlets

📗 A Pagan Anti-Capitalist Primer

📗 Brainscan 33: DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Brainscan 34: A Dabbler's Week of DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Everyday Magic #1

📗 Everyday Magic #2

📗 Exploding the Tangerine by Clint Marsh & Oliver Bly

📗 Five Principles of Green Witchcraft by Asa West

📗 Hex Your Ex

📗 The Witchy Zinester's Pocket Book of Spells

📚 Twin Peaks Tarot Spreads

📚 Sow Sprout Grow Tarot Spreads

Charity Bundle E-Books

These all came as a bundle, so the quality will vary as it does with any bargain grab-bag. I'm not linking these unless I've read (or am reading) them because it takes a long time, and I have no idea if they're good or absolute shit. If you want to learn about these, you know how the internet works.

📚 City Magick by Christopher Penczak

📚 Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller

📚 Herbal Magick by Gerina Dunwich

📚 Hex Twisting by Diana Rajchel

📚 Italian Folk Magic by Mary-Grace Fahrun

📚 Love Magic by Lilith Dorsey

📚 Magic When You Need It by Judika Illes

📚 Magickal Astrology by Skye Alexander

📚 Personal Magic by Marion Weinstein

📚 Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

📚 Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein

📖 Queering Your Craft by Cassandra Snow

📚 Reading the Runes by Kim Farnell

📚 Spellcrafting by Gerina Dunwich

📚 The Big Book of Tarot by Joan Bunning

📚 The Study of Witchcraft by Deborah Lipp

📚 The Witch's Eight Paths of Power by Lady Sable Aradia

📚 The Witch's Guide to Wands by Gypsey Elaine Teague

📚 True Magic by Draja Mickaharic

📚 Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon

📚 Wicca Made Easy by Phyllis Curott

📚 Wishcraft by Sakura Fox

📚 Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

📚 Witchcraft Activism by David Salisbury

📚 Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden

[artemisian-dragon]

White spring at Glastonbury - Avalon