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lailoken · 8 hours
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The Gloaming Tethers
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The Gloaming tethers are a pair of ritual fetishes that hold great significance in my personal tradition.
The first of the two pictured here (from left to right) serves a talismanic link to my Witch-Queen—who I often call Bone Mother—and to the Chthonic Realm of the Underworld that she oversees. It was fashioned from a Black Basalt Hagstone, secured by a cord strung with 13 bone beads, including six beads made from Prehistoric Horse Bone, six beads made from Prehistoric Deer Bone, and one bead made from Antique Whale Bone that I inherited. The end-piece is a token of 6,000 year old Bog Yew, carved with a triskelion, and glazed with a wood varnish made using Storax resin. I utilize this Talisman when working with Ancestral Spirits, or with Chthonic Wights, such as psychopomps.
The second of these serves a talismanic link to my Witch-Father—who I often call Wilding King—and to the Upper Realm of the Elemental World that he oversees. It was fashioned from a White Quartz Hagstone, secured by a cord strung with 13 handmade wood beads of alternating Elder, Hazel, Hawthorn, and Rowan. The end-piece is a token of local Elk shed-horn, carved to resembled a great tree, and glazed with a wood varnish made using Amber resin. I utilize this Talisman when working with Animistic Spirits or Elemental Wights.
Each of these Ritual Tethers are sacred to me. They each rest in places of power, pertinent to their respective magical nature, when not in use.
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lailoken · 9 hours
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Hello there, would you be so kind to share a very basic glamour charm to look favourable in other people's eyes and make a good impression, if you know any?
The first thing that popped into my head is a recipe I shared here in the past for an Enchanted Detergent that aids with swaying those around you. For your needs, I would suggest making this same detergent, but replacing the Coriander Seeds with Vanilla Bean and Calamus Root with High John Root.
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lailoken · 2 days
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Happy Spring Equinox to all. It was a lovely Burgeoning Day on our end, which we spent amongst the buds and blossoms, being serenaded by the drumming of Grouse wings.
As we prepared an Ancestral Feast—which we hold on the Spirit Nights preceeding each of the Cardinal Sabbaths we observe—a small Moth flew to us and landed on our Votive Urn, where it stayed for most of the ritual. This felt quite propitious, since the moth represents an especially potent animal emissary of the Dead in our tradition.
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lailoken · 3 days
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I decided to add two last options to this poll.
I have been curious to look at a statistical insight into the different Elemental associations people have with the Cardinal Directions. There are 24 different ways that the directions and elements can be grouped together, but tumblr won't allow me to do a poll with 24 options. I could do an individual poll on each element, but I specifically want to look at which pairings of the four elements/directions are the most common, so I'm going to do a Part 1 and a Part 2 for this poll. Together, these will give all the options for how someone might associate the elements and directions together, so if you don't see your particular pairings in this post, then stay tuned for the follow-up poll.
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lailoken · 3 days
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I have been curious to look at a statistical insight into the different Elemental associations people have with the Cardinal Directions. There are 24 different ways that the directions and elements can be grouped together, but tumblr won't allow me to do a poll with 24 options. I could do an individual poll on each element, but I specifically want to look at which pairings of the four elements/directions are the most common, so I'm going to do a Part 1 and a Part 2 for this poll. Together, these will give all the options for how someone might associate the elements and directions together, so if you don't see your particular pairings in this post, then stay tuned for the follow-up poll.
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lailoken · 3 days
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I have been curious to look at a statistical insight into the different Elemental associations people have with the Cardinal Directions. There are 24 different ways that the directions and elements can be grouped together, but tumblr won't allow me to do a poll with 24 options. I could do an individual poll on each element, but I specifically want to look at which pairings of the four elements/directions are the most common, so I'm going to do a Part 1 and a Part 2 for this poll. Together, these will give all the options for how someone might associate the elements and directions together, so if you don't see your particular pairings in this post, then stay tuned for the follow-up poll.
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lailoken · 3 days
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hi! Do you practice types of handful magick or spells? If so, what are some simpler ones you know of and how do you do them? I’m learning about different types of magick and and beginning my journey into witchcraft. Thanks!
I'm struggling to understand what you're trying to ask me here, but if if you're asking me to help you get started as a magical practitioner, that isn't what this blog is for. It's not what I do. There are other bloggers who actively like to do things like give mini 101 lessons on tumblr, though, so you're better off looking elsewhere.
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lailoken · 3 days
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Hi Lailoken! The spirits told me to craft my own amulet and though I'm new at this I want it to be sturdy. What would you recommend? Do you make your own eyepins or are the store bought ones strong enough? Which wire strength have you found best? Thanks!
It's tricky to make across the board suggestions, as I often experiment or use different kinds of materials in my work. That being said, though, I do make my own eye-pins, and I generally use wire that is between 20 gauge and 24 gauge, depending on the project.
Good luck!
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lailoken · 3 days
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Cernunnos Devotional Beads (For Sale)
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This set of unique devotional beads was ritually crafted and consecrated in the name of Cernunnos—Horned God of Celtic antiquity.
It was constructed from beads of Moss Agate (a stone strongly associated with the Wilderness), along with counter beads of scavenged Serpent Vertebrae (serpents being a greatly sacred animal to Cernunnos), which are bracketed with small beads of Jasperized Wood (beautifully embodying an amalgam of botanical and chthonic virtues.) On one end of the garland is secured an Arrowhead Pendant, hand-carved from Stag Antler (a potent token of his roles as Horned Lord and Master of the Wild Hunt). On the other end is secured a hand-forged Steel Pendant (chosen for the magical potency of/ancient reverence for Iron, as well as the piece's resemblance to both a coiled serpent and the coiled germ of a seedling preparing to sprout.) Once the Garland was constructed, the piece was hallowed in a sylvan ritual beneath the light of a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
This piece measures approximately 23.5 inches/60 centimeters long, and all connecting rings and pins are made from stainless steel. If interested in acquiring it or inquiring about it, please feel free to reach out here. It can also be purchased directly through my shop, Wending Wares.
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lailoken · 3 days
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Good morning!
I was wondering if you knew the magical properties and uses of Bloodroot (Sanguiarua canadensis) and Dutchmans breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). I've had an attraction to both since I was little.
I know Bloodroot can be used for dyeing and some forms of love magick, but I was wondering if you knew of any other properties of the plant?
I know that, traditionally, Bloodroot has been used for magic having to do with love and relationships, as you said. However, it has also traditionally been used in magic that aims to protect the home and family. Extroplating a bit further, I believe that it would make a suitable additive in magic that specifically aims to ward off spirits that draw their power and sustence by sowing discontent and enmity amongst friends, lovers, and family members.
As for Dutchman's Britches (as I learned to call them), I believe there is a traditional belief amongst certain indigenous North American tribes that it can be used in love-drawing magic. Beyond that, I'm not aware of other folklore surrounding them, but I have come to develop my own beliefs through experience. In particular, this plant (and all other members of the Bleeding-Hearts genus) is one beloved by the Fae. Like most things held dear by the Folk, it can be used in two paradoxical ways. On one hand, it can be used to appease or even lure Fae Spirits. On the other hand, however, it can also be used to ward against Fae Spirits when properly employed.
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lailoken · 3 days
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This is a very good breakdown.
It's neat hearing you talk about the virtues of these materials—chile pepper and bay laurel—in ways that I very much recognize. What's really interesting, though—if bit tangential—is that in my practice, I have used those same qualities to very different ends as well.
When you talk about how chile pepper is good for banishing because it posesses virtues (magical and chemical) of irritation, pain, and repulsion, you are completely right. In fact, I would say that it's probably the main way I use chile for magical operations. However, those same virtues can be applied to healing as well—particularly healing from infections. Growing up in New Mexico, I learned this approach through both a local cultural belief that hot chiles help the body to recover from things like a cold (which is totally true in my experience), and a local culture of curanderismo which occasionally utilized chile against illness. In the same way that chile can be used to drive out a person, it can be used to drive out an infectious agent.
In thay same vein, I totally agree with you about the qualities of Bay Laurel. They're a bit hard to put into words, but describing it as a plant spirit that shines a "very bright light" upon things absolutely makes sense to me. I believe it is because of this same quality that I—and other practitioners throughout history—have utilized Bay Laurel in a mantic capacity. Because of that esoteric spotlight it wields, Bay Laurel helps to reveal the hidden, as well as helping one to "see further down the path." As such, it represents one of the central plants I use in operations having to do with intuition, revelation, divination, etc.
This just goes to show how silly Correspondences Lists are when they equate one material exclusively with one use. If I ever write a correspondence list based on my own experience, it will be arranged in two different sections. One section would list plants alphabetically and describe the myriad of virtues that each one possesses (in order of most prevalent virtue to least), and the other section would list virtues and then describe each plant that can be used to call upon them (also in order of most prevalent to least). There would be a lot of overlap, but it would much more accurately depict my beliefs, and I think it would be more useful overall as well.
different anon but would you be willing to give an example of two herbs that have the same abilities but provide different results? idk why i just can't like imagine what that would be like 😭 no worries if you're not willing, thank you if you are!
Hi! We are in reference to this ask.
My take on this is that we gotta ask ourselves WHY an herb has a certain correspondence.
WHY is spicy red pepper so good at banishing? I mean there are lots of ways we can explore correspondences, and lots of frameworks we can use to find these answers - but a popular reasoning we can apply is that capsaicin, the chemicals that make peppers so spicy, is a defense mechanism of the plant to burn and irritate many animals that want to eat its fruit.
Capsaicin creates discomfort, burning, irritation, distress, and even outright mindboggling pain when it's interacted with.
This is one justification for why it's such a good banishing agent - it causes active distress and pain to its target until the target chooses to leave, or is literally forced out by the snapping, biting hounds made of dripping, crystalline fire, conjured by the Witch and set loose upon the target.
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So spicy red pepper banishes because if you're staying, you're getting burned.
Another banishing plant is bay laurel.
Bay Laurel is very closely associated with the Sun, Apollo, divinity, wishes, and oracular power. As opposed to spicy red peppers, it doesn't have irritating properties. But I find bay laurel to be an immensely powerful banisher.
I personally find bay laurel to be a powerful banisher because of its close connection with the sun and the celestial realms. When a Witch works over bay laurel, these virtues can be evoked to drive away shadowy and chthonic powers.
I don't experience bay laurel manifesting in a manner similar to fiery hounds. I find it to be like someone turned on a very, very bright invisible light - a light so bright that all shadows disappear, a light blessed with very celestial virtues. In the face of this high power, it's very difficult for incompatible presences to stay in the same area. It's not like screaming bloody murder and chasing after the target with an axe - it's more like the most revered magistrate just stepped into the room, and everyone stops talking and cleans up their act real fast.
Practically speaking, how is there a difference in manifestation? The following is completely hypothetical and I'm not speaking about any particular personal experiences:
I'm imagining I've got an unwanted houseguest that (due to Social Reasons) I can't ask to leave, but I want them gone. Which agent has a better chance of getting them to leave - an attack dog made of fire, or a celestial, far-seeing magistrate?
I personally might suspect that bay laurel is going to have a much better chance of banishing that houseguest's unwanted behavior (as opposed to getting them out of the door that very day) and putting them on track to making new plans and leaving ASAP. This manifestation might be less explosive, and fix ongoing problems, but it might also result in the houseguest staying for a longer period of time while they make new arrangements.
Bay laurel may also assist in banishing by causing people involved to have sudden insight into the reality of the situation, providing clarity, and helping people see the inevitable unwanted results of the houseguest continuing to stay. Perhaps bay laurel will banish by providing insight into new, helpful, and better housing circumstances for the guest. Perhaps it will also function to maintain order, clarity, and order within the household while these arrangements are put in order.
On the other hand, when people are being terrorized by invisible bitey fire dogs, they can experience a sudden onset of stress that makes them want to immediately get up and leave, like now - even if they don't have any other plans for where to stay. Bitey fire dogs might make that person get out of my house real quick, but this movement could be due to sudden intense upset, a blowout with family members, their behavior getting worse resulting in them being thrown out, or a temper tantrum or meltdown where they realize they've got to leave and make their exit post-haste.
Or, perhaps they could experience a feeling that they're completely unwanted in the house and it really, really irritates them to stay. Which, if I already couldn't kick them out due to Social Reasons, might bite me in the ass - maybe they're going to complain to family members that I was a shitty, unwelcoming host, and it tends up just as badly for me on a social level as if I kicked that person out.
Both of these plants can banish. To me, at least, they do not provide the same results.
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lailoken · 6 days
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I almost never do this with the asks other people get, but please feel free to reach out to me as well. This is a situation I have actively dealt with before in my work as a Pellar.
do you have advice for breaking a family curse on my friend? we have tried cleansing but it didn't work much, it seems something more serious would be called for...
I may have useful thoughts but it's going to have to be a conversation. Feel free to DM me.
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lailoken · 6 days
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A while back, my husband and I took in an injured rooster we found wandering a rural highway. We called him Gentle Pete, as he was unusually docile and affectionate. He recovered well from his initial injuries and had a happy life with our chickens for several months. Recently, however, he appears to have suffered a stroke. We were sad to see him struggling, but we dedicated ourselves to giving him a loving and comfortable last few days. To prevent him from being picked on, we brought him into our greenhouse and set up a little shelter and feed station for him. He spent much of his time sitting in potted plants and letting us gently stroke his back or feed him treats.
He finally passed away as a result of his health issues, but he died peacefully while sleeping in his favorite plant (a small lemon tree). I am grateful for chances like these to not only spread kindness to animals in need, but to familiarize myself with Death as an old and loving godparent.
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lailoken · 7 days
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Ivy Wand (For Sale)
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This listing is for a wand of Ivy wood (Hedera helix) that measures approximately 13 inches/33 centimeters in length.
This length of wood was harvested from a massive growth of Ivy creeping along the trunk of an old-growth Oak tree. Having dried and cured this length of wood, I next went about debarking and sanding the piece by hand until I was satisfied with the texture. Once the wood was suitably smoothed, I then lightly stained it with a pigment made from Oak Galls—to honor the Ivy's Oaken host—which brought out lovely patterns of warm marbling. After that, the piece was sealed with Wisefool's Glaze (a ritually consecrated wood varnish made using a number of potent arboreal resins, such as Storax, Dragon's Blood, and Black Frankincense,) and then polished with hallowed oil.
Between the powerful folklore of Ivy, and the care that went into crafting this piece, I believe it will serve as a wonderful tool in the hands of its chosen wielder. If you're interested in acquiring it, feel free to message me here on Tumblr, or purchase it directly through my shop.
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lailoken · 7 days
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Thank you so much to every single person who has offered your feedback, kind words, and/or thoughtful prayers. I'm touched by the sense of community that can arise amongst strangers. ♡ And to any who might be worried, Rowland is recovering very well.
I will have a better idea about whether the raffle idea proves viable soon!
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lailoken · 7 days
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I really hate doing this, but earlier today, my puppy Rowland was running outside with his brother when he took a tumble and ended up running straight into an old metal tool of my father-in-law's. The metal caught the flesh on his side in three spots and tore some large and deep gashes in his hide and underlying muscle. Initially, between the blood and the way he was crying and limping, I really thought he had managed to stab himself in the gut, which was a particularly horrifying thought since I was alone in the countryside with no way to get him quick medical help at the time.
After soothing him enough to get a better look at his wounds, I was deeply relieved to see no signs of abdominal perforation, but I was still taken aback by how bad his injuries were and how much he was bleeding. While I waited desperately for my father-in-law to get home and lend me his truck, I gently cleaned Rowland's wounds, and I thank all the gods that I was able to work a successful Blood Stanching charm on him despite the severity of the bleeding. He was already beginning to shiver and drool with nausea, making me think he was starting to go into shock, so I'm not sure how much worse it might have gotten if I hadn't stemmed the flow of bood.
I managed to get him to the vet, where he had to stay for the day being cleaned, treated, and given 15 stitches. He is clearly in a lot of pain and fear, but he should recover fine, which I am beyond grateful for. That being said, though, the veterinary bill was $864 (everything on the itemized invoice below plus an additional $17 for anti-nausea meds that prevent him from throwing up after anesthesia, which could tear his sitches) and while we were able to pull from our savings to pay for this, it's still a rather disheartening financial turn of events. Especially since I've been mostly working free cases the past few weeks, meaning that I've taken in very little money recently. While I trust my spirits to keep our needs met so long as I honor my vows, it would still be nice not to be forced into depleting our life savings.
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I held a raffle once to help fundraise for my older dogs who had started a regimen of expensive pain medications at the time, and I am now considering doing this again. Specifically, I am considering raffling off a handmade wooden stave that I'm currently selling for $200. I was thinking that, since this piece is highly unique and fairly expensive, people might want to enter the raffle for $5 a person (using the link I end up providing) and then the winner would be chosen by a random number generator. Whoever won would end up with a $200 Stave of braided thorny Crabapple wood that was harvested from a 120+ year old tree and sealed with a traditional black Hearth Soot stain, for only $5.
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Of course, a raffle like this would only be of use if enough people think they would actually consider entering the raffle. After all, if only 20 people entered, I would be selling this $200 piece for $100, which wouldn't help me fund this medical care and would actually lose me money overall. As such, I figured I would make poll to help me gauge the viability of this idea, like I did the last time.
Sorry again to be doing this. I hope you can understand. ♡
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lailoken · 8 days
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I really hate doing this, but earlier today, my puppy Rowland was running outside with his brother when he took a tumble and ended up running straight into an old metal tool of my father-in-law's. The metal caught the flesh on his side in three spots and tore some large and deep gashes in his hide and underlying muscle. Initially, between the blood and the way he was crying and limping, I really thought he had managed to stab himself in the gut, which was a particularly horrifying thought since I was alone in the countryside with no way to get him quick medical help at the time.
After soothing him enough to get a better look at his wounds, I was deeply relieved to see no signs of abdominal perforation, but I was still taken aback by how bad his injuries were and how much he was bleeding. While I waited desperately for my father-in-law to get home and lend me his truck, I gently cleaned Rowland's wounds, and I thank all the gods that I was able to work a successful Blood Stanching charm on him despite the severity of the bleeding. He was already beginning to shiver and drool with nausea, making me think he was starting to go into shock, so I'm not sure how much worse it might have gotten if I hadn't stemmed the flow of bood.
I managed to get him to the vet, where he had to stay for the day being cleaned, treated, and given 15 stitches. He is clearly in a lot of pain and fear, but he should recover fine, which I am beyond grateful for. That being said, though, the veterinary bill was $864 (everything on the itemized invoice below plus an additional $17 for anti-nausea meds that prevent him from throwing up after anesthesia, which could tear his sitches) and while we were able to pull from our savings to pay for this, it's still a rather disheartening financial turn of events. Especially since I've been mostly working free cases the past few weeks, meaning that I've taken in very little money recently. While I trust my spirits to keep our needs met so long as I honor my vows, it would still be nice not to be forced into depleting our life savings.
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I held a raffle once to help fundraise for my older dogs who had started a regimen of expensive pain medications at the time, and I am now considering doing this again. Specifically, I am considering raffling off a handmade wooden stave that I'm currently selling for $200. I was thinking that, since this piece is highly unique and fairly expensive, people might want to enter the raffle for $5 a person (using the link I end up providing) and then the winner would be chosen by a random number generator. Whoever won would end up with a $200 Stave of braided thorny Crabapple wood that was harvested from a 120+ year old tree and sealed with a traditional black Hearth Soot stain, for only $5.
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Of course, a raffle like this would only be of use if enough people think they would actually consider entering the raffle. After all, if only 20 people entered, I would be selling this $200 piece for $100, which wouldn't help me fund this medical care and would actually lose me money overall. As such, I figured I would make poll to help me gauge the viability of this idea, like I did the last time.
Sorry again to be doing this. I hope you can understand. ♡
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