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[bornbruja]

"So how come all the worst days, are in the time of my life?"

This is pick a card meant to provide uplifting messages or insight for those who are having trouble entering or coping with adulthood. Pick the picture(s) that you’re drawn to the most, then scroll down for its corresponding message.

Song Theme: UPSAHL - Time of My Life 

Post divider credit to @cutesyidol

~•★Picture 1★•~

The energy that I’m feeling in your spread is very harsh. I’m picking up a scenario where there are some in this group is feeling frustrated at their family members for being hostile over the choices you’ve made in your life. You guys could be creatives or unconventional your approach of how to set yourself up for a grounded life. A lot of you either are in college but didn’t want to and and are seriously wanting to drop out or chose not to go because it isn’t what you believe is for you. 

There’s an authoritative figure, can be more than one, in your life that has a sick way of trying to get you to follow what they want you to do for your life even though it’s not theirs to dictate. You could be in a vulnerable situation right now, financially, and instead of them helping you because it’s the right thing to do, they’re withholding it and/or hanging it over your head as a way to manipulate you into doing what they say and I’m sending my love for you pile 1, because that is extremely abusive. 

Your message is that even though you’re in a landslide right now where it feels like everything around you is collapsing, it will all eventually fall into place the way that it should but you’re being urged to stick to your guns, stick with your passion, and trust in your intuition about where to go in life. It may be confusing, isolating, and feel like you’re being set up by the universe but you’re not. Being comfortable with the unknown is not an easy thing, and I’m still learning myself, but from what I’ve learned, it’s just another way of gaining your independence because everyone’s path is unique and there’s no formula or key to success for your life that anyone outside of you knows better than yourself.

~•★Picture 2★•~

Right off the bat, I’m getting the message that some of you are thinking about leaving a job that isn’t serving you and this is your confirmation to do it. If that doesn’t apply to you then I’m feeling like you’re in an environment/community that isn’t very authentic. This feels very deceptive and superficial, like you are pressured to wear a mask to fit the quota of an institution or opportunity that could benefit you materially but is not as fulfilling, emotionally. I’m also getting that this environment isn’t healthy for your mental health at all because you may be around people that aren’t friendly, I keep getting this vibe where there are people gaslighting you or are talking behind your back. Whatever the situation may be, you know firsthand that you’re uncomfortable but you don’t know how to fix this situation.

A lot of you could be into or studying for a journalist or political science profession, something that involves writing. Okay, I’m listening to this song by Astral Weeks called “This World”. The lyrics that stand out to me the most are

This world can make you feel alone But sometimes when you need it The music makes you feel alright You just gotta feel it

It’s a miracle of chemicals Floating through your mind But you were waiting for Something more Some kind of happiness

And then you’re out there In the distance Glowing in the dark In all your life Criticized For being who you are

Many of you longing for belonging somewhere and you need to trust that it’s possible but it’s not in anywhere that you have to change who you are and this place that you are currently in, is absolutely not it. Whoever is ostracizing you, those people are jackasses, and I’m strongly being pulled to tell you again that you must leave. If this is a company, it isn’t the brand that contributes to its success, it’s the people. You have to recognize the power that you already have within yourself and break free from the mindset that you need this place or these people to get to where you want to be. This obstacle is preventing you guys from manifesting the life that you want and is stunting your creativity and ability to turn your visions into a reality. Invest your heavy emotions into your craft and continue to build your portfolio because you will find a place that will accept and appreciate what you bring to the table.

~•★Picture 3★•~

I’m feeling that this pile is struggling with trust issues. I know that there are people that screwed you over in the past, but whoever is reading this, you must stop self sabotaging yourself. I love that fire that you have inside yourself and and the way that you’re passionate about standing up for yourself but you cannot burn all of your bridges. And you cannot just give up on an idea before it even has the chance to bloom. And I’m not saying you’re a rehabilitation center for grown adults or have to wait for people to get themselves together, and definitely trust when you see a red flag in something, but what I’m getting from spirit and that you must learn the beauty of structure, patience, and the the truth that people can change.

People are not perfect, but you are guarding yourselves from people that could really positively shift your life and prove to you that unconditional love (this can be romantic or platonic) does exist.

~•★Picture 4★•~

I’m getting that there’s an addiction (could be to drugs, alcoholic substances, or sex, etc) present in order to cope with your emotions and past trauma that’s taking a negative toll on you. Not just because it’s unhealthy but instead of healing through your pain, this addiction is actually delaying it because of your fear of feeling. And I don’t blame you, the pain of anyone’s past should not be minimized or underestimated, healing is hard, and it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, it can be brooding and lonely, it’s naturally unpredictable, it’s not linear, and there’s no end goal. So if you feel like you aren’t where you’re supposed to be, don’t beat yourself up over your progress, and know that whoever is instilling this idea that it’s supposed to look perfect, that is a lie. 

But if you’re dealing with addiction, your message is to research and practice holistic remedies, especially if you deal with anxiety. This can be but not limited to aromatherapy, herbal teas, essential oils, etc to help you cope with what you’re going through instead and again, if making this transition is not looking the way you want it to, do not beat yourself up over it, making the first step is the biggest step and if you know the saying “do nothing without intention”, taking the initiative to make changes because you want yourself be in a healthier mindset and way of living is something to applaud yourself on.

[bornbruja]

The Reckoning of Your Generational Curse

Pick the picture(s) that you're drawn to the most, then scroll down to read its corresponding message regarding the nature of the generational curse(s) in your lifetime.

*°•~☆🚀☆~•°*☆🚀☆~•°*☆🚀☆~•°*☆🚀☆~

~•Picture 1 •~

Your generational curse reenacts itself by starting off with a "splatter". A deformity in your reputation that may have made your family ostracized by society.

The nature of your curse is a trickster. It doesn't necessarily damage you on the outside , however, it does damage you from the inside. I see a consistent chain of success, driven by fear and mental exhaustion of trying to correct a mistake but failing to realize that it was never yours to correct in the first place.

I'm strongly picking up the theme of opposing energies. In your picture, there's Saturn, but I see two moons facing inside it, both waxing and waning. I feel that this represents the duality of your curse. The moon and Saturn are opposites, but are also known as sisters based off how unifying they are despite their differences. Pile 1, on the outside you embody Saturn. You are hardworking, disciplined with the expectation of being the next to justify your family's legacy and honor which is without a doubt, pressuring because so much time was given with the belief that slow and steady is what it took to win the race, therefore, years and lifetimes were the price. Inside, you clearly embody the moons that I saw inside that ball of Saturn, but overtime, it's powerful influence starts to seep in onto its lunarian polar opposite.

Another Karmic pattern that I'm noticing here, that seems very sacral, mainly revolves around the women in the family. Saturn also represents authority, no matter the moral, because I feel that there's a prominent dictatorship on what the women in your family do with their womb. I'm getting unwanted pregnancies, early parenthood, arranged marriages, gender roles, and shame around sexuality. This can even mean controlling and withholding what to do with your creative energies or when to use them. Whatever your situation may be, it all boils downs to the two oppressors present in this ordeal. One being the external world and two is simply yourself, yet ironically the most difficult out of the two. Simultaneously, the obstacles thrown in your way and the abrasive voices shouting at you with the intent of forcing you into a mold, there's also the universe harmoniously aligning you with the path that's truest to yourself. The people before you were met with the same proposition but blindly did they walk pass it. With the two of swords here in your spread, it shows a woman sitting down, blindfolded, with a sword in both of her hands, and peering in the back is the Moon in its waxing crescent form. The phase represents new and beginnings and with the opposing energies that I mentioned earlier is this resistance to allow these new beginnings to happen, to allow space for change, and to allow these "splatters" to be recognized as also a masterpiece. Instead of melting away the traditional facets that worked once before, fear to stray away and follow your heart allows the reckoning of the curse to happen because of how your bloodline was scrutinized in the past, but instead of creating anew based off what felt right, your people turned around to instead do what looked correct to society, so then lied the untouched potential, the neglected passion, what could have been their happiness, therefore, their new beginnings had also become a thing of their past.

The curse isn't the only thing that you inherited. There's an heirloom in your lineage that isn't of this material world. It's spiritually embedded. It is your courage to spontaneously embrace who you are, flaws and all, as a person that actively lives out their ambition and dreams. It's your birthright, so why aren't you using it?

There's also a message from this pile's inner child to not be afraid or procrastinate in creating the new pages in your bloodline's story. Like the sister signs, accept your curse as it's duality was meant to teach you what it meant to break free from those barriers as a complex individual and not simply just black and white. For so long, those pages were kept blank in order to halt any opportunity for another mistake, flaw, or "splatter" to happen, when really all along they were meant for you to finger paint it.

~• Picture 2•~

Your generational curse is hidden under the guise of "purification". There's a subtle occult vibe here that's not directly shown on any of the cards, it presents itself as a mellow secret as if that's the point.

Many of you in this pile could be healers, spell workers, lightworks, and/or diviners. There's this spiritual warfare in your lineage, a division between ancestors relating to religion vs the "taboo". A battle between philosophies.

For those that were raised in a strict religious environment, you probably believe yourself to be the first in your family to practice outside of religion but you are not. You are actually bring back out a light that was wrongfully convicted of being the likened to the dark.

There's magic in your lineage meant for you to reclaim after so many years of it being locked away and forgotten.

Instead of the these traditions and sacred knowledge preserved and passed down, they were believed to stray away from because some of your ancestors believed that it only contributed to their demise.

You're being called to go back to your roots by not just continuing on with your interest in the occult but by also studying your genealogy and searching for lost archives because you may find out the truth about something in your family that might shock you. As it may shock you, it isn't meant to scare you but to enlighten you. One part of your people in the spirit realm aren't that concerned about you dwelling more into the occult. They care more about your autonomy, and to partake in it because you want to do it, but without persecution like they have faced in their days of living.

They watch over you, closely, and have witnessed your independent tenacity and anger over feeling like you have to constantly defend yourself. They also know about your silent woes and weariness of feeling like you're the black sheep. They admire your strength and they urge you to keep rebelling against anyone and anything that interferes with you creating the life that you want. The people around you may not understand, your family might not either, but it isn't your responsibility to make them. This is your life.

~•Picture 3•~

The reckoning of your curse lies in the thin line between codependency and hyper-independence. I'm picking up two groups in this pile, this could also be present in both sides of your family.

For the first group, I kept channeling "We Know the Way" from Moana. This could mean traveling literally, but metaphorically, I'm seeing a certain individual that's constantly looking for a home outside of themselves. They know how to adjust and blend into different environments and are always willing to merge, but they end up losing sight of who they are by themselves. They live their life through mirroring others.

In the second group, I'm seeing kind of the opposite. This individual is not necessarily mean, but is not a social butterfly like the other person. They are more of a hermit. While the other person is knowledgeable because of their humble nature, this person is more arrogant. However, they are talented with their innovative thought process. They have a tantalizing way of using their voice and their words are extremely effectual, but they use it to their demise and seem to always get themselves in trouble.

Whichever the scenario may be, the main thing that they have in common is their lack in using their abilities to create a name for themselves. They either stay on the sidelines or follow behind others when really they're meant to lead and actually guide others through humanitarianism.

~•Picture 4•~

Your generational curse is actually subjective. You view it as a curse, others share the same perspective, while some may view it as a blessing.

There's this enticing beauty that runs in your family. Even if you don't feel like it, there's this femme fatale energy that other people accuse you/your family members of having. You tend to be in the spotlight, but you absolutely do not like the attention, because even the good gets overwhelming with the bad. Your curse embodies the post hoc fallacy. Whenever you accomplish something or encounter a tower moment, people automatically assume that it's because of your looks. The whispers turn into a cacophony of taunts and the people that do it, never seem to realize that they are cruelly dehumanizing you.

The people with the lens that see it as a blessing are able to because they notice your resilience and confidence to shake it off and say to hell with what other people think of you because their opinion isn't really needed nor does it matter. You're able to pinpoint that you aren't defined by your beauty, mistakes, or the way that other people treat you. You define that all on your own and I think that's powerful.

[bornbruja]

“You have emerged from the depths of sleep, with stars and seashells in your hands and in your eyes the dark coolness of seas.”

— Alexander Matsas, tr. by Kimon Friar, from Modern Greek Poetry; “Of Sleep,” (via violentwavesofemotion)

[bornbruja]

it's just so pretty

[bornbruja]

The US is not just withholding a truce. It’s actively participating in the eradication of Palestinians.

[bornbruja]

[bornbruja]

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Known as: Allheal, angel flower, arrowroot, bloodwort, cammok, carpenter's weed, death flower, devil's mustard, Devil's nettle, eerie, field hops, gearwe, green arrow, herbe militaris, hundred leaved grass, knight's milfoil, noble yarrow, nosebleed plant, plumajilo, seven year's love, snake's grass, soldiers thousand seal., squirrel tail, stanch grass, tansy, thousand-leaf, thousand weed, woundwort, yarrowway & yerw

Related plants: Is a member of the daisy family Asteraceae that consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within it such as chamomile, coneflowers, dahlia, daisy, dandelion, goldenrod, lettuce, marigold, mugwort & sunflower

Parts used: Leaves & flowers

Habitat and Cultivation: This hardy plant is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe & North America

Plant type: Perennial

Region: 3-9

Harvest: Harvest yarrow when the blooms only when they have fully opened. It should be cut right above the leaf node to encourage the plant to potentially flower again. Many choose to harvest the flowers in the late morning when the dew has dried before so that the plant is not stressed by the extreme heat. Hot, dry spells right before bloom seems to be ideal for producing the most fragrant leaves.

Growing tips: Plant in an area that receives full sun to encourage compact growth and many flowers about 1-2 feet apart. In partial sun or shade, yarrow tends to grow leggy. Yarrow performs best in well-drained soil. It thrives in hot, dry conditions; it will not tolerate constantly wet soil. Loamy soil is recommended, but yarrow can also be grown in clay soil as long as it does not always stay saturated with water. While this plant is technically considered invasive only in noncultivated settings, common yarrow still needs to be planted in an area where you don't mind proliferation. 

Medicinal information: Yarrow has a history of being used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating. Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache. Yarrow is applied to the skin to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids; for wounds; and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women. Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

Cautions: Yarrow is commonly consumed in foods, but yarrow products that contain a chemical called thujone might not be safe because it is poisonous in large doses. Yarrow is not recommended for use during pregnancy or chestfeeding as it causes risks of miscarriage. Yarrow might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking yarrow might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders. In some people, it also might cause skin irritation & is toxic to cats & dogs.

Magickal properties

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Venus

Element: Air & Water

Deities: Achilles, Aphrodite, Cernunnos, Faeries, Oshun & Yemaya

Magickal uses:

• Add the flowers to a satchet or dream pillow to encourage prophetic dreams

• Hang a bundle above your bed on your honeymoon night to ensure lasting love for 7 years

• Place across your thresholds or plant near doorwaysto prevent negative energies & influences from entering your home

• Burn as an incense before or during divination to increase psychic abilities

• Wear as an amulet to attract love, friendships & give courage

• Place yarrow under your pillow & if you dreamt of your love, it was a positive omen. If you had a bad dream, or dreamt of other people, it wasn’t

• Combine with mugwort as tea to drink before divination to increase psychic powers

• Put near yourself while practicing divination to increase your psychic abilities

• In spells, use to re-establish contact with long-lost friends or relatives & attract their attention

• Braid into your hair to tap into inner wisdom

• The I-Ching divination was originally performed with dried yarrow stems

• Wash crystals& crystal balls with a yarrow rinse to bring about clarity of vision

• Drink yarrow tea & a cinnamon stick to  release hidden truths

• Place on a coffin or grave to help the spirit cross over/ let go

•For powerful protection, pick yarrow flowers and charge them in the sun. Once charged, take the flowers and sprinkle them outside your home to prevent negative influences and energies away from entering your home

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

The Encyclopedia of Natural Magic by John Michael Greer

Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

A Compendium of Herbal Magick by Paul Beyerl

The Herbal Alchemist Handbook by Karen Harrison

The Book of Flower Spells by Cheralyn Darcey

[bornbruja]

March 2024 witch guide

Full moon: March 25th

New moon: March 10th

Sabbats: Ostara-March 19th

March Worm Moon

Known as: Crow Moon, Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Hrethmonath, Lenting moon, Lentzinmanoth, Moon of Snowblind, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon, Sore Eyes Moon, Storm Moon, Sugar Moon & Wind Strong Moon

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces & Aries

Nature spirits: Air & water spirits & Mer-people

Deities: Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Cybele, Isis, Luna & Minerva

Animals: Boar, cougar & hedgehog

Birds: Sea crow & sea eagle

Trees: Alder, dogwood & honeysuckle

Herbs: Apple blossom, broom, high John root, Irish moss, pennyroyal, wood betony & yellow dock

Flowers: Daffodil, jonquil & violet

Scents: Apple blossom & honeysuckle

Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jasper, opal &topaz

Colors: Pale-green, red, violet, yellow & white

Energy:  Balance, beginnings, dream work, energy breaking into the open, exploring, fertility, inner development, karma, prosperity, spirituality, success & truth seeking

For many years, it was thought that the name "Worm Moon" referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring.

However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.

March’s full Moon often plays a role in religion, specifically in Christianity, this Moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it is the last full Moon of the winter season (i.e., if it occurs before the spring equinox) or as the Paschal Full Moon if it is the first full Moon of spring (i.e., if it occurs after the spring equinox).

Ostara

Known as: Alban Eiler, Lady Day & Spring/Vernal equinox

Season: Spring

Symbols: 8-spoked wheel, butterflies, chicks, decorated baskets, eggs, feathers, jellybeans, lambs, rabbits, seeds, shamrocks, spring flowers & sunwheels

Colors: Green, indigo, light blue, pastels, pink, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: African violet, florals, ginger, jasmine, lotus, magnolia, rose, sage & strawberry

Animals: Cormorant, hare, hawk, rabbit, sheep, sparrow & swallow

Mythical: Dragon & Unicorn

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, red jasper & rose quartz

Food: Dairy foods, eggs(hard boiled), fruits, honey, honey cakes, leafy greens, vegetables, pine nuts, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, sprouts & waffles

Herbs/Plants: Acorn, cinquefoil, dogwood, ginger, Irish moss, olive, strawberry & woodruff

Flowers: Celandine, crocus, daffodil, dandelion, Easter lily,  jasmine gorse, honeysuckle, hyssop, iris, jonquil, linden, narcissus, peony, snowdrop, tansy & violet

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Ariadne, Artemis, Athena, Coatlicue, Cybele,Demeter, Diana, Eos, Eostre, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Idunn, Iris, Ishtar, Juno, Minerva, Persephone, Venus & Vesta

Gods: Adonis, Attis, Celi, Cernunnos, Coel, Dagda, Dalon ap Landu, Dumuzi, Green Man, Lord of the Greenwood, Mithras, Odin, Osiris, Ovis & Pan

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, balance, beauty, fertility, growth, life, love & rebirth/renewal

Spellwork: Air magick, fertility, new beginnings & water magick

Activities:

• Go on a hike/walk & look for signs of spring

• Add Ostara symbols to decorate your altar space

• Plant vegetable &/or flower seedlings

• Decorate eggs with bright colors

• Set your intentions for the weeks/months ahead

• Start a new class or hobby

• Create eggshell candles

• Make plans & new routines for the future

• Participate in rituals & ceremonies that connect you with energy & the life force of nature

• Have a feast with your friends &/family with sprouts & leafy greens

• Bake hot cross buns or lavender/lemon flavored treats

• Clean & de-clutter your home

• Try a re-birthing/ renewing ritual

• Bring fresh flowers or plants into into the home

• Host a spring & floral themed tea party

• Make egg based food dishes & desserts

This holiday marks the Spring Equinox, which happens before March 19-22. It is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane)  during which light & darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings & of life emerging further from the grips of winter.

There is much debate regarding the origins of Ostara due to the lack of primary sources about this sabbat. One theory is the name of Ostara came from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Another theory is that Eostre is more of a localized goddess in Kent County, England. Despite the questions of her origins, Eostre is associated with modern-day Pagan traditions of Ostara.

There is no evidence that the ancient Greeks or Romans celebrated Ostara, although they did celebrate their own spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Floralia & the Greek festival of Anthesteria. It was a time to honor the returning sun, fertility & rebirth.

Related festivals:

• Nowruz- March 19th

Nowruz marks the first day of spring & renewal of nature. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. It is also celebrated as the beginning of the new year by people all around the world for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East & other regions.

It promotes values of peace & solidarity between generations & within families as well as reconciliation & neighbourliness. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect & the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. 

Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire & water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects & more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples & countries that celebrate the festival.

• Holi- March 25th

Holi is a popular & significant Hindu festival celebrated as the The festival of colors, Love &Spring. It commemorates eternal and divine love of the deities Radha & Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebratess the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi originated & is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions of Asia & parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring in India, the end of winter & the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night & a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling on the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.

• Easter- March 31st

also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival & cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, & penance.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world & include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations & exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross & the decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb) among many others. The Easter lily is a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day & for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter & are observed by both Christians & some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing, the Easter Bunny & egg hunting.

Other Celebrations:

• Festival of Luna- March 31st

Is a feast day honoring the Goddess Luna who is seen as the divine embodiment of the Moon.

The Temple of Luna was a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Luna, the moon goddess. Its dedication was celebrated on March 31st, thus the celebration.

According to Tacitus, it was built by king Servius Tullius. However, the first confirmed reference to a temple to Luna dates to 182 BC & refers to one of its doors being knocked off its posts by a miraculous blast of air & shot into the back of the Temple of Ceres. That account probably places the temple at the north end of the hill, just above porta Trigemina. The temple was struck by lightning around the time of the death of Cinna, as was the temple of Ceres. After the destruction of Corinth, Lucius Mummius Achaicus dedicated some of his spoils from the city to this temple. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD & not rebuilt.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[bornbruja]

unfolding into another spring

mahmood darwish, sylvia plath, v.e. schwab, ana mendieta

buy me a coffee

[bornbruja]

Lily of The Valley.

[bornbruja]

"who radicalized you" ever since i was a child i wanted other people to be treated nicely and fairly because i didnt understand why theyd deserve otherwise and it fills me with disgust seeing how people treat their fellow human beings sometimes

[bornbruja]

Could you tell us about Seshat?? Why do you like her so much? What stories does she appear in?

Thank you for the ask, anon!!

This got long so everything will be under the cut :)

So, Seshat is the goddess of writing (her name literally means 'female scribe') and for that she's usually depicted with Thoth, her male counterpart. One thing you oughta know about Ancient Egyptians, they loved their duality, everything was dual back then lol. Anyways, she was the patroness of libraries, written records, and buildings, as she appeared in all foundation rituals for new buildings (this is the closest thing to a cult she had). Her duty among the gods was to inscribe the regnant years and jubilees of the king in the leaves of the ished tree, which was this divine tree of life and time. In fact, in almost all of the depictions of her she's doing that - usually accompanied by Thoth as well -; this is the most famous depiction of her, inscribing the regency names alongside Horus and Osiris, while the king (I think it's Seti I? Not sure about that tho) watches over:

And here's how she's always depicted, she doesn't have any zoomorphic features or anything, she's just a girlie with a plant on her head :)

She doesn't have any stories or myths associated with her that I'm aware of? The ished tree thing is the closest bit of mythology she has. About why I like her so much, well first of all she's the goddess of writing and I have always been fascinated with the relationship between religiosity and literacy so that's a given lol. Also I love what she represents, as, while Thoth displays more of a practical use of literacy (with scribes, judges, writing tools almost always appearing in his hymns, etc), Seshat has more to do with cultural memory and the immateriality of literacy. And I am a sucker for cultural memory (I wrote my master's thesis about it and want to dedicate a considerable amount of my PhD to talk about it in some way) so yeah. Basically, through her role as the writer in the ished tree she is creating cultural memory and as such presides over the past and the rememberance of it (just like Mnemosyne and my girlies the Muses). In the Late Period, where everything just gets super convoluted, she was associated and ultimately equated with Shai, the personification of fate, destiny and luck, and who got syncretized with Tyche in the Greco-Roman period. Seshat also became a goddess known for dictating the fate of mortals, so I also really love how she evolved from presiding over the past to also knowing about the future as well.

Sorry for this taking so long by the way, but I hope this answers your question 😅

[bornbruja]

Seshat Egyptian Writing Goddess

Goddess Seshat

From “She Who Scrivens” by Laurie Brockway

Seshat is the ancient Egyptian Goddess of writing, wisdom, reading, arithmetic, record-keeping, measurement, libraries, astronomy, astrology, and architecture. She is often depicted as the wife, consort, daughter, or female counterpart of the wisdom god Djeuty/Thoth. Her name means “Female scribe.”

Appearance:

Seshat was the first female scribe, often seen wearing a leopard-skin dress or leopard over her shoulder, holding a pen and stylus, with a seven-pointed star on her head. The leopard skin over her shoulder represents power and triumph over danger. Seven is a sacred number/seven planets, seven chakras etc. representing completion. The star relates to the realm of the gods. The seven-pointed star represents seven as a scared number (seven chakras, seven meaning completion). The star could also represent a cannabis leaf, and the symbol over her head could resemble a bow and arrow, the curved arch representing dexterity and precision. The arch could also symbolize a halo. The notched palm-leaf rib where she etched the years of the pharaoh’s reign, represents the passage of time.

Role:

Seshat appeared in the second dynasty as a female scribe. She assisted the pharaoh in a ritual called Stretching of the Cord. The ritual took place before the building of a temple, the goddess was consulted before the building’s creation. It consisted of the measuring of the temple’s dimensions, measuring by the positions of the stars. Seshat’s helped measure the structures of temples, pyramids, and buildings for pharaohs and the gods/Neteru, with astronomy and astrology. She etched the pharaohs’ years of reign on palm fronds/papyrus scrolls. She also recorded the king’s speeches during the Sed Festival, the number of foreign captives, number of cattle, and other goods gained in the pharaoh’s military campaigns.

Seshat was considered the patroness of libraries, and keeper of the House of Books. It was believed by the Egyptians that actions and written works on Earth would be transferred to Seshat, who placed them inside the celestial library. She took care of Thoth’s library of spells and scrolls. What happens on earth would be reflected in the celestial world/spirit realm. As above, so below. The written words from mortals would be housed in the celestial library, immortalizing them. Creativity and the written word grants immortality.

Like many Neteru, she also guided the dead in the afterlife. Seshat was often depicted alongside Nephthys, in reviving the dead in the afterlife so they could face judgment from Osiris, helped soul access spells in the Egyptian Book of the Dead to make it to the hope of paradise.

Unlike other Neteru, she didn’t have a temple of her own. In her time, she was one of the most widely known deities, but she is not as popular in modern times.

Colors: gold, blue, yellow, midnight blue

Symbols/tools:

Ankh

Blue candles

Blue lotus

Calculator

Cannabis leaf

Egyptian stencils

Feather quill

Knotted cord

Leopards and leopard clothing

Measuring tools

Palm-leaf rib

Papyrus scrolls

Pens and pencils

Seven-pointed star

Sistrum

Stylus

Tablet

Writing journal

[bornbruja]

~ How to Do a Stichomancy Reading ~

Stichomancy is the use of a book to divine. It’s not a hard concept to wrap your head around, but it seems like there aren’t many resources on it. So here I am with one! :D

Alright. So first you need to choose a book.

Any book will do, but I like to choose one based on the situation; if it’s a situation in which I need very blunt and honest answers, I might choose my book ‘Wuthering Heights’  because I get very obvious answers from it.

I could potentially choose ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for a more of a creative answer, or for a problem dealing with art, motivation, etc.

If you have a favorite book, use that one for your first stichomancy reading :)

If you wish to use a bible, you would actually be doing a bibliomancy reading, but it is indeed the same method- just with the bible instead of any book.

I personally do this when I need a good saying for the day; the different verses can be modified for anyone to use as little reminders and inspiration :)

Continuing on, you take this book, and begin meditating on your question. You can say it aloud, repeat it over and over in your head, or write it down. Just get the question out as a certain phrase. Define it, be confident in it, and don’ be iffy with it. Assert that this is the question you wish to answer. :)

Now flip open the book to the page that feels right to you, and flick your eyes over it until you find a paragraph, sentence, or simply a word that helps you with your problem. It might be a symbolic response, a literal one, or simply a little push to give you an ideas as to what you should do.

Whatever you read, record the answer and then interpret the meaning. If you feel like it wasn’t a good response, you may want to repeat the process and try again.

I get off readings every now and then, and it’s usually because I wasn’t focused. But some of the time, I just need to switch books and start over. You might find that only one book works well for you, or certain books work for certain problems. It all depends on you, your book, and your ability to interpret the meaning of what you read :)

I hope this guide helps you out and provides a little insight as to how you might go about doing a Stichomancy reading! :D Good luck divining!

[bornbruja]

~ How to Do a  Shufflemancy Reading ~

Shufflemancy is this awesome form of divination in which you use songs/song titles as a method of divination. It is literally one of the easiest things I have ever done ,and is very good for diviners that need to divine on the fly!

Grab your  mp3 player, phone, tablet, or whatever else you’ve got with a lot of songs on it. Click on that button of yours that shuffles all the songs, and think of a good and specific question.

Now come up with the number of skips you would like to use to find the answer. Ask your question, aloud or in your head, and shuffle your songs as many times as you have planned. Once you’re finished skipping to the song, read the title and take a listen to it to find out what you should do/need to know about your problem/question :)

And that’s it. I’ve seen it get more in depth where the diviner will listen to the song until a certain set of lyrics feels right, and goes with those as the answer, but it doesn’t have to be that precise.

It’s a nice method for beginners and avid diviners alike, a fun and fresh way to do a quick reading :)

I personally have a lot of instrumental music on my playlists, so I often will use the energy they give me/meaning they are conveying as an answer, so that’s just a small little thing you can do as well ^_^

Hope I explained everything well enough so that you guys can try it out! :D Good luck ^_^

[bornbruja]

~ Blessing Water for your Divinatory Tools ~

I like to bless and consecrate my tools before I use them, and I make a little bit of this water each time I want to do so. It protects and strengthens me when I use them, and keeps them nice and energized while they’re put away.

Hopefully it helps some of you, or gives you some inspiration to create your own :)

What you’ll need:

Amethyst Gem Elixir

Mugwort

Lavender

Moon Water

Cheesecloth/Breathable Sachet Bag

Bowl or Jar

Mix together your moon water and gem elixir into the bowl, infusing the moon’s cleansing and intuitive energy with the amethyst’s guiding and protective qualities. Stir clockwise to draw in more of this energy, and add your own clairvoyance to the mix.

Bundle together your lavender and mugwort, and place them in a square of cheesecloth. Tie the ends together, and secure it so that the herbs won’t fall out. You can dip it into the water or let it sit there for a few minutes to steep.

The mugwort is great for scrying and ‘clear seeing’ divination. Lavender can be useful in strengthening spiritual protection, so I always include some in my divination blessing water.

When you feel satisfied with your blessing water, take out the herbs, and use to bless any tool you may need to. You might incorporate a sigil by drawing it onto your tool with the water, or say a chant over it. Add some personal touches to make it special.

I pour the remaining water into the ground as an offering to spirits around my home, but you may keep it if you desire (cool and dry places are good for things like this, and always make sure there is no mildew or anything of that sort if you do keep it longer than a few weeks)

It’s super simple to make, works really well, and is overall a great water to use as a blessing ^_^ Good luck!

Mugwort side effects

Lavender side effects

[bornbruja]

How to Record Your Divination Sessions ✍

Hey guys! :D

So I talk a lot about journalling your divination sessions, but never really expand on what that means. A major reason is because here are so many ways to do it! :D This is my personal method of journalling. Feel free to use it, take a pieces of it, gather inspiration from it, or throw it out the window! :)

This a template for you to go off of and doesn’t have to be followed at all ^_^

Heading: Type of Divination Used

Date: 12/12/12

Time spent: Minutes/hours/etc.

Symbols seen/cards drawn/etc: Write it all down. Everything.

Feelings about the above: Write down what you feel about it, what energy comes along with it.

Other senses used: Sometimes smells, sounds, etc. come along. jot it down.

Immediate interpretation: What you think it means all put together

After thoughts: what you think it means after some thought and time goes by.

What happened: Was the reading accurate? Did the events occur?

Other notes/observations: whatever else you feel should be added.

Did the reading go well: Yes/No/Unsure

Do you trust this method of divination: Yes/No/Unsure

So that’s my way of doing it! :D Good luck!