krakagrennir

[krakagrennir]

[krakagrennir]

idk thinking about how sometimes you have to show up for people you aren't that close to, because sometimes you're just the person who's there. sometimes you invite a new friend to a party and end up having to sit with them through a panic attack. sometimes you run into an acquaintance on their worst day and they need to talk about what happened. sometimes someone is crying in a stairwell and you're the only one around to ask if they're okay. and none of this is "trauma dumping" or whatever the fuck it's just being there for people because you're the one in the room with them.

[krakagrennir]

Just had a UPG moment that shattered all initial perceptions of Odin as like, the ancient mysterious grandfather entity in favor of the kooky old man with wild eyes whose unintelligible ramblings are exactly the advice you need. Odin is now King Bumi of Omashu my mind.

[krakagrennir]

A Prayer to Odin and the Blessings of Gebo

Allfather Odin, wise and strong, Bearer of runes and seer of song, You who wander through realms untold, Keeper of mysteries, bold and old.

Grant me the wisdom to seek and find, The gifts of exchange, both heart and mind. Teach me the balance of give and take, The sacred bond that we must make.

Gebo, the rune of gift and grace, A sacred pact in every space. Through giving freely, we are whole, Binding threads of heart and soul.

Odin, who hung from Yggdrasil's tree, To gain the knowledge that sets us free, Guide my hand in acts of care, To honor connections, here and there.

Bless the bonds of kin and kin, The ties we share, the love within. Through Gebo’s light, may we all see, The sacred gift of reciprocity.

Hail to you, the One-Eyed Sage, Your wisdom deep, your timeless age. May your blessings guide my way, In the dance of gifts, each passing day.

[krakagrennir]

what does a heathen pray for?

Printable version available here

[krakagrennir]

Bealtaine Customs

Bealtaine is almost here!

Bealtaine (bee-YAL-tin-eh) is the ancient Irish fire festival that starts the night of April 30th- Oíche Bealtaine- and is celebrated May 1- Lá Bealtaine (though festivities can last longer). Bealtaine marks the beginning of summer. In modern Irish Catholic tradition, May is celebrated as the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

These quatations are all pulled from the dúchas.ie folklore collection. To learn more, go to https://duchas.ie

Significance of Fire

The ashes was never put out on May Day long ago.

-Mrs. French, Co. Mayo

A central theme of Bealtaine is fire, as it is with all the Irish fire festivals. On the eve of the holiday, all fires were put out. A central fire was lit at the heart of the island, which spread throughout:

On May Eve the Druids lit the great sacred fire at Tara and as the signal flames rose up high in the air and then a fire is to kindled on every hill in Erin; till the whole island is on fire with fires.

-Patrick Healy Co. Galway

A similar tradition has been revived at the Hill of Uisneach.

Having a bonfire and spreading the light from that central point would be a great way to honor the sacredness of fire and celebrate Bealtaine.

Back then, people would also guide their cattle through two bonfires at Bealtaine, to cleanse and bless them for good health and abundance. Speaking of cattle...

Protecting Cattle

The people also tie a piece of red cloth on each cows' tail. This they tie on in the morning before letting them out. They do this to prevent the fairies from taking the cow's milk. Sometimes they tie a horse-shoe-nail or "táirgne crúth" in the cow's tails

-Mrs. Nora Maloney, Co. Mayo

On May Eve now people sprinkle Easter water on all the crops, cattle etc. and on the boundary fence. Perhaps this is apart from it's religious aspect a survival of the old dread of 'pishogues' when people dreaded harm to their crops and cattle.

Long ago the people went out on May morning and blessed the cow with a lighting candle.

-Patrick Lally, Co. Galway

And while we're talking about protection...

Yellow Flowers- Festive Protection

In years gone by the people used to throw a primrose in the byre door so that the fairies would not take away the milk from the cows for the year. It was at May eve that they threw this primrose in the byre door.

-William J Mc Laughlin

It is the custom for children to pick May flowers or Marsh marigolds on the last evening in April. These they throw on the doorstep or on the windowsill.

-Mrs. Norah Maloney, Co. Mayo

The first of May is called May Day or (Lá Bealtaine). On the eve of this feast the children gather may-flowers and place them on the window sills of the houses. 

-P. Mc Closkey

"Cow-slips were hung on the door that day to bring good luck for the year."

-Martin Costello, Co. Mayo

Try hanging up yellow flowers at your doors and windowsills for protection and good luck! If don't have any flowers, don't worry. There's another way to welcome in good luck...

May Day Dew

It is also said that if you get up early on that morning and wash your face with the dew on the grass you will be healthy during the year.

-Collected by Anthony Clark

They washed their faces in the dew on May morning before the sun rose and and they would not get sunburned again for the year.

- Mrs. French, Co. Mayo

If a person wanted to preserve their beauty , they would have to get up one hour before sun-rise and wash their face in dew off the grass on May morning.

-Collected by Amy Gilligan, Co. Mayo

That's all well and good, but there is something more sinister that May morning dew is useful for...

Baneful Butter Stealing

Long ago, on May morning, lots of old woman went out in the morning before the sun arose and swept the dew of the grass by pulling a long rope after them and calling, "Come all to me, come all to me.” This was a kind of witchcraft, taking away butter of other people’s milk.

-Collected by Rudy Stronge, Co. Donegal

It is also believed if one goes out early and milks the neighbour's cow, they will be able to get all the butter from that cow's milk so they will have double the supply while their neighbour will not get any.

Long ago on May morning some people used pull three ribs from the cow's tail and take clay from her hoofs and bring it home. Then that person would have butter from the cows she did this to and the person to whom the cows belonged would have none after churning.

-Michael Costello, Co. Mayo

Some women used get a twig of mountain ash and put it under the churn on May Day and so get all the butter from her neighbours churn, on condition that she said she wanted the butter from her neighbours churn while making her own.

-Mrs. Butler, Co. Mayo

While I don't condone butter theft, Bealtaine seems to be the right time to do it. Let's look at another way to celebrate!

The May Bush

On May day morning, children get a small haw-thorn bush or at least a branch of one on which there is haw-thorn in bloom. On this bush they tie all kinds of coloured ribbons, papers, tinsel or other decorations left after the Xmas decorations till it is a gorgeous sight.

-Collected by Joan Martin

While hawthorn is the traditional tree chosen for the May bush, it's important to remember that the Irish tradition states to never ever bring hawthorn indoors.

This quote's sort of a miscellaneous one, but I thought it was interesting.

On May Night long ago the people used to leave a cake and a jug of milk on the table because they thought the Irish who were buried in America and other countries used come home on that night and visit their own home. Another old custom was to leave the doors unlocked that night. They considered it unlucky to give butter or milk way to any person on May Day as they would be giving away their luck. No stables were to be cleaned out on that day. The first person to go to the well in the morning was supposed to have luck for the rest of the year. It is not right to give money to anyone on that day. But if you get money on that day you will be getting it for the year."

-Mrs. Joyce, Co. Mayo

Ah, can't forget the ancestors. Or the diaspora! ;)

An incredibly common tradition I saw while scrolling through dúchas (I really recommend you do it yourself! They have everything!) was that milk, coals, salt, money, or really anything isn't to be given away at Bealtaine, or you'll lose something for yourself. Something supernatural about Bealtaine surpasses the Irish tradition of hospitality. This to me really highlights a theme of abundance. Welp, that's all I have for now!

🌼☀️Beannachtaí na Bealtaine oraibh!☀️🌼

[krakagrennir]

Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir, en þú ráð nemir, njóta mundu, ef þú nemr, þér munu góð ef þú getr: hvars þú bǫl kannt, kveðu þat bǫlvi at, ok gefat þínum fjándum frið.

I counsel you, Loddfáfnir, and you should take my counsels; you’ll profit if you take them, they’ll be good for you if you get them: wherever you perceive evil, declare it as evil, and don’t give your enemies peace.

Havamal 127

[krakagrennir]

here's a funny conversation topic i had a with a friend: if you're over the age of 25, when's the last time you really *ran* in a panic, like you were gonna be late? (things like a marathon don't count) and what was it for?

[krakagrennir]

i can't stand these new fountain machines they dispense watered down piss

[krakagrennir]

I Have Written Books!

Hello all! I'm happy to FINALLY announce the reason for why I've been so quiet this past however long, and that's because I was busy writing books! Books that are now published!! :0 Wow!!!

These are the first two of the series, one on Odin and one on Loki, and they go into dang near everything I know about each of them, respectively. These books are also beautifully illustrated by the Saxon Storyteller, so you're in for a real treat!

So far I know they're available on Amazon, but I'll keep you all updated on where else you can find them, when I know!

[krakagrennir]

[krakagrennir]

sometimes I feel bad about banishing spirits from a new space because its like. they were here first. maybe I'm the evil spirit for kicking them out of their home like some kind of settler. is there literally any merit to this worry or is it simply anxiety and overthinking getting the better of me?

This is an interesting way of looking at the process of claiming a space and banishing spirits, and it certainly is a good idea to be consciously decolonizing our thinking whenever possible.

However, in the context of most homes (I assume that's what you're referring to), they probably haven't been around long enough to really build up a strong ancestral energy presence. The land the structure is built on might have residual energy, but whether that rises to the level of a conscious entity is a debatable topic and depends on your own background, the history of the site, and the entities which could be argued to be present. (See Also: Genius Locii, land spirits, elementals, fae, etc.)

And even assuming that is 100% possible, there's the additional layer of how often it happens and how many / what type of buildings it affects. Really more of a question for spirit workers and hardcore animists in that case, cause you're getting into philosophy and a lot of conflicting theoretical ideas.

And yes, to answer the back half of the question, I DO think that some of that is anxiety and overthinking putting a word in.

If it helps, you might look at the cleansing and claiming of a new space as less of a fire-and-brimstone banishment and more of a notice of new occupancy. "Hi it's me, I live here now, this is me putting up new drapes and changing the locks, as all new tenants do. Previous residents sentient enough to notice are kindly asked to either go to the place best suited for them or remain here peacefully. If you can do that, then we'll get along fine. Hope you like the new decor!"

If you regularly engage in spirit work, you can go a step further and invite any peacefully-remaining spirits to use your pre-existing system of communication to alert you of danger, provide small requests, or help out with the household. Think of it like asking the neighbors what day the trash goes out and occasionally borrowing a cup of sugar. Giving them a little honorary spirit house or symbolic place to live can be a nice gesture. (I've done this for household spirits before.)

Hope this helps!

[krakagrennir]

We have 30 days until the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws are rescinded. This is the 50-year bedrock of American conservation. Normally, these actions take years but the administration has provided 30 days for public comment gutting clean water and clean air. Drop what you’re doing, before you make any more calls or read any more social media posts, please populate the Federal Register with dissent.

A. Go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/25/2025-03014/removal-of-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations

B. Click on the green rectangle in the upper right corner ("SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT") .

C. Fill in your comment, and info at the bottom, and SUBMIT COMMENT.

[krakagrennir]

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[krakagrennir]

I'm starting to question how much the "old" pagan costumes and festivities were indeed about fertility, sex, etc.

Ronald Hutton claims that there is no evidence in history that the maypole was saw as a phallic symbol, for example. And there are other possible meanings. But you usually just read in books as a matter of fact that it was a phalic representation and the dance around was about fertility etc

I recently read the witche's bible because I was curious about traditional wicca rituals and there is suuch a high focus on how every single costume or holiday was about fertility and sex that honestly it makes me wonder, how much it was indeed about those things and how much is just the interpretation of modern people like Gardner making it about those things

You're hitting the nail on the head without even realizing it, Anon.

SO much of what we think we know about "old pagan customs" comes from books written by Victorian-era occultists. And if there is one thing to be said about Victorian-era occultists, it was that they were horny as FUCK. (And the Edwardians weren't any better.)

These people went around rubber-stamping FERTILITY in big red letters on anything to do with goddesses or springtime or even the most passing reference to pregnancy, childbirth, midwifery, or babies. Literally any excuse for ritual nudity or a sacred orgy. And no, that is not satire. Or a euphemism.

The other thing that can be said about Victorian-era occultists is that quite a lot of them were history buffs and very prolific writers. (If you look at the roster of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and their regular guests, it reads like a Who's Who of the writers of fantastical fiction and poetry at the time.) So the result of that is a whole lot of literature about folklore and "ancient pagan customs" written by people who were filtering what little historical information they had at the time through the lens of their own opinions and those of their colleagues.

(It's worth noting that that "lens" often consisted quite heavily of free-associated ideas not supported by history or things they completely pulled out of their own asses. Leland's "Aradia" is a good example of the "Ancient Sacred Text Given To Me By A Real Witch Who Totally Exists And I Definitely Didn't Write This Myself And Make Up This Claim For Clout" genre.)

Quite unsurprisingly, a lot of these beliefs got absorbed into the roots of the modern witchcraft movement a few decades later, since those were the popular resources available at the time and the same generally-prevailing opinions and biases were still present. So this started WELL before Gardner and his coven were on the scene. They just picked up the thread.

And as we all know, once there's a generation or so of removal from the founding beliefs of a movement, people tend to take the older texts as gospel, regardless of how flawed they might be.

See Also: We Still Have To Talk About The Witch-Cult Hypothesis Because Margaret Murray Wrote The Encyclopedia Britannica Entry On Witchcraft And It Wasn't Updated Until The 1960s.

See Also: We Still Have To Explain The Difference Between Historical Fiction And The Historical Record Because Of The White Goddess And The Mists Of Avalon.

See Also: We Still Have To Talk About The Burning Times Myth Because Raymond Buckland Made That Stupid Fucking Documentary.

See Also: Why The Hell Is Anyone Still Recommending Silver Ravenwolf.

Anyway, the short answer is that yes, your impression is correct, and I'm glad you're reading Hutton and forming that practical context for the witchcraft/pagan literature and media that you encounter.

Keep honing that bullshit detector and best of luck!

[krakagrennir]

I will keep on saying this: If the mass deportations of Black and Brown people was considered racist under Trump, it doesn’t magically stop being racist just because a Democrat™ is doing it now. The silence from “allies” who were screaming bloody murder about immigration abuses under Trump is as deafening as it is hypocritical.

And I will keep saying this too: Abolish ICE. ICE is beyond “reforming.” And prosecute ICE and Border Patrol agents who commit human rights abuses.