paganravennest

[paganravennest]

The Charge of the Dancing Maiden

Children of the Moon gather near,

The Maiden who dances has a message you should hear:

The Nectar of Life is so sweet to taste,

Yet we often miss it in our frenzy and haste,

For wonder and enchantment does truly abound,

But only through curiosity may it be found,

Look at the word with a child's eyes,

For this is how the magic of life is realized.

Do not be so quick to judge the differences in others,

For we are all uniquely beautiful in the eyes of the Mother,

Being accepting of others is only half of what you should do,

Never forget to wholly accept yourself too.

It may sound cliched and untrue,

But the drum beat you should dance to is unique to you,

And though the pain of time will come, it does not keep us apart,

For I am the song in your soul and the dance in your heart.

So make music, laugh, dance, and sing,

Though the body may age the soul is unchanging,

Be true to yourself and drink deep of the Nectar of Life,

For the happy memories you make will buoy you through the moments of strife.

[paganravennest]

A Guide To Magickal Names

“The Name is the Word, and the Word is the Will.”

The History and Occult Roots of Magickal Names

From the twilight of ancient priesthoods to the shadowed circles of modern covens, the use of a magickal name has endured as a sacred rite of passage. In ancient Egypt, priests adopted hidden names known only to the gods. In Greece and Rome, initiates took new names upon entering mystery schools. Even in early Christian Gnosticism, secret names of power were uttered in rites to awaken divine sparks.

In the grim days of the witch trials, names became shields—aliases to protect one's identity from persecution. Yet behind this guise, magickal names always held a deeper purpose: to declare the soul’s rebirth upon the path of power.

The Power of the Name

To name is to claim. To name with intent is to shape reality. The magickal name is a spell in itself: a sigil woven from sound, meaning, and will. It becomes a mask and a mirror—both concealing and revealing.

Empowerment:

• Your magickal name is your chosen self, free of mundane bindings and societal labels. It is the spirit clothed in its true title.

• It helps focus your will, anchoring your magick in identity. When you invoke your magickal name, you invoke your deepest current of power.

Protection:

• A magickal name can shield your mundane identity from spiritual and psychic intrusion.

• It acts as a boundary, separating the profane from the sacred. Spirits and energies know you by the name you give them, and this name grants you dominion in the unseen.

Names as Living Spells

Names carry vibration and intent. In Qabalistic tradition, names are numerically charged (via Gematria) and hold divine archetypes. In Thelemic thought, one’s True Will is embedded in the formula of the name, consciously or unconsciously.

Your magickal name is your word of power, a compact spell that resonates with your path, strengths, spirits, and purpose.

It should:

• Reflect your magickal current (death, transformation, lunar energy, chaos, wisdom, etc.).

• Be distinct and sacred—not something you casually utter.

• Hold personal meaning, whether derived from myth, dreams, visions, or gnosis.

Choosing or Receiving a Magickal Name

Some witches choose their name. Others receive it in dreams, trance, or ritual. A magickal name should never be rushed. It may take time to emerge, much like a familiar spirit.

How to Discover Your Name:

• Meditation and Introspection- Ask, "Who am I becoming?" "What archetypes walk with me?" "What symbols have followed me through life?"

• Divination- Use tarot, runes, or pendulum to explore name fragments or themes.

• Dream Work-Set the intention to receive your name in sleep. Record symbols and sounds that appear.

• Scrying or Automatic Writing- Enter trance. Let syllables or words come. Don’t judge—some names may feel alien or wild at first.

• Astrological or Numerological Construction-Choose a name whose number aligns with your birth chart, life path, or desired magickal vibration.

Living with the Name

Once chosen, baptize the name in ritual. Declare it to the spirits, the elements, and the powers you serve. From then on, use it only in sacred work—unless you're in a tradition or community where names are spoken among initiates.

With time, the name may evolve. You may shed one name and take another, just as the serpent sheds its skin. This is natural. You are a work in progress, and your name is a living glyph that grows with you.

Examples and Symbolic Structures

• Luna Corvina – “Moon Raven” — lunar wisdom, shadow flight.

• Azariel Nocturne – angel of fire and harmony in darkness.

• Thornshade – guardian of wild, liminal spaces.

• Seraphina Lux – burning seraph of divine light.

• Malphas Vex – a rebellious echo of daemonic command.

Some practitioners even use multiple names:

• An Inner Name- Known only to you and your gods.

• A Coven Name- Known to fellow witches.

• A Public Name- For writing, art, or spiritual leadership.

You are the word made flesh. The name you wear in the circle is your sigil, your spell, your crown. Speak it with reverence. Whisper it into fire and fog. Let it echo through the veil and mark your place among the stars.

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

— A name chosen in Will is a sword of spirit.

[paganravennest]

Charge of the Weaving Crone

Gather round children of the moon,

Sit and listen to the Crone, who weaves at her loom:

My lessons are bitter and salty with tears,

Formed from the pain that accumulates over the years.

Do not fear these lessons that I teach,

For my guidance is always within reach,

As I am the strength that is found within,

Like the willow that bends but never breaks in the wind.

Ever mind your actions and deeds,

For the change we create, these are the seeds,

And while you shall never reap more than you sow,

Would you rather your harvest be sweet or filled full of woe.

No matter what though there shall always be rain,

But the community you create can soften the pain,

So keep your bonds strong but be mindful of rot,

Whether from false friends or your own tongue and thought,

Age and illness will come for us all,

But loneliness is built from your own spit and gall.

When the time comes for me to cut your thread,

And for you to rejoin your beloved dead,

What is remembered shall live on,

So be a spark of inspiration that will shine long after you're gone.

[paganravennest]

Absolutely buckwild thread of ChatGPT feeding & amplifying delusions, causing the user to break with reality. People are leaning on ChatGPT for therapy, for companionship, for advice... and it's fucking them up.

Seems to be spreading too.

[paganravennest]

She Waits Where The Hemlock Grows

Beneath the yew where silence feeds,

She sings in tongues of rusted reeds,

Her crown of thorns, her breath of rue,

A kiss of belladonna’s dew.

She walks where bones are sown like seeds,

Through fields of wolfsbane, nightshade weeds,

Her veil is smoke, her voice a flame,

Each whisper carved in blood and name.

Threefold she stands at dusk’s decay—

Hekate, Hel, and Morrigan’s sway,

With voids for eyes and stars for skin,

She guards the gates of death within.

She dips her hand in poppy wine,

Stirs dreams with datura and brine,

She weaves a thread from marrow’s sigh,

And strings it to the blackened sky.

At the crossroads veiled in thorn,

With snake and vulture she is born,

The sigil drawn in menstrual red,

The incense lit for hosts long dead.

Hemlock tongue and amanita breath,

She grants her gift through sacred death.

A pact in smoke, a pact in scar,

She knows you—child of ash and tar.

Lay down your blood upon the stone,

Mark time with teeth and ancient bone,

Speak true her name, then drink the moon,

She’ll come to hear you hum her tune,

Not cruel, but endless, wise and vast,

She gathers witches, outcast, cast—

And gives them coins and graveyard keys,

And cloaks them in the dead's decrees.

So bow your head and break the seal,

Let thorn and opiate reveal,

The poison path, the crooked throne—

She waits where hemlock makes its home.

[paganravennest]

Elemental Energy Raising Chant

I was designing a spell that is calling on the four elements so I wrote an energy raising chant to go along with it. This is meant to be recited while raising energy though physical activity such as dancing, rubbing hands together (the method we'll be using), drumming, rocking/swaying, stomping, muscle tense and release, etc:

Air, Fire, Water, and Earth

Speed along this spell's birth

Fire, Water, Earth, and Air

Infuse this spell with power & care

Water, Earth, Air, and Fire

Work this spell to our desire

Earth, Air, Fire, and Water

Tend this spell like a son or daughter

(repeat the first 8 lines till energy has hit its peak, then)

Elements all listen to me:

By your might and my will So Mote It Be!

As usual, if anyone else uses this I would love to hear how it goes!

[paganravennest]

When I die, I don't want to be embalmed. I don't want to be cremated, I WANT TO ROT.

I want my body to be buried as it is and an apple or walnut tree planted over me. I want to go back to being a part of mother earth and I want my body to feed that tree so that i can continue to care for my loved ones well after my death.

I want my grand babies' grand babies to pick the fruit of that tree, knowing their mammaw is buried underneath, feeding, and caring for them the way I would my own babies. I want them to climb into the branches like they were climbing into my arms so that I can hold them and let them know they are loved even after I am dead.

When branches die and fall from my tree, I want them burned to provide my family with warmth in the winter. I want the children to roast marshmallows and cook over the fire that is fed by the wood from the tree I am buried under. I want to never not be a part of the family bon fires. My children will drink beers and tell stories around the fire as we do now, always knowing Mama's spirit is there.

I grew my babies in my body fed them with my body as infants, and when I die, I want my body to continue to provide for and nurture my family for countless generations to come.

Also I don't want the government knowing where I'm buried

[paganravennest]

[paganravennest]

Next up on my to-read pile!

This will be the 4th book from Llewellyn's magical tool series that I have read. So far I have already read their books on the Athame, Book of Shadows, and Altar, and enjoyed all of them so I imagine I will enjoy this one too 😊

[paganravennest]

Review Time!

So I have found myself recommending this book to quite a few people lately (both online and off), so I thought it might not be a bad idea to pull it off the shelf and give it a quick reread and review it for here.

Some people may know that October of 2010 was when I started my journey on the path of the witch. After practicing for a good 4-5 months I had been making good headway with forming relationships with Selene and Pan (the first 2 deities I worked with) and getting pretty good with using my Druid Animal Oracle cards, yet I still had not worked a successful spell. This book was quite new at the time and caught my eye and let me tell you, it was a game changer. The activities in this book not only helped with my spell crafting and casting but also vastly improved my visualization ability which ended up aiding me in meditation and journeying.

Rereading it, now that I have been practicing for almost 15 years, I found it still held up well. The exercises in it are solid and should help any beginner build a strong foundation as long as they actually do them for the minimum length of time recommended in the book. Some of the ideas the author presented no longer resonate as strongly with me as they once did however I found that even the parts I outright disagreed with did not impact the overall usefulness of the book.

Overall I would give this a 10/10 and highly recommend for any new witches (or witches who find themselves struggling with spell crafting and casting).

[paganravennest]

my queer rendition of Joseph Kuhn-Régnier's painting "Bacchanal and Panthers"

I really love the original painting, but I wanted to add my own style and make it more modern and Dionysian

//print

[paganravennest]

Happy Pride Month!!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[paganravennest]

Hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources

Updated 23 February 2022

The Homeric Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html              

The Homeric Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis are also available to read online for free: 

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00home 

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00atha

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns0000unse

The Orphic Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html

The Orphic Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis:   https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196

The Delphic Maxims: https://www.scribd.com/document/186693295/Delphic-Maxims

Many other primary sources from ancient Greece can be found in English translations at theoi.com, which is a fantastic resource for information about the Theoi.

Modern prayers to the Theoi:

Hearthstone: https://greekpagan.com & https://greekpagan.tumblr.com/ Note: downloads of Hearthstone’s two books of Hellenic prayers can be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/shop/HearthfireHandworks

winebrightruby: https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/devotional

Some of the best and most essential sources to start with - and for continuous reference, in my opinion:

Adam, John. The Religious Teachers of Greece. Clifton, New Jersey: Reference Book Publishers, Inc, 1965.  https://www.giffordlectures.org/lectures/religious-teachers-greece

Adkins, Lesley and Adkins, Roy A. Handbook To Life In Ancient Greece https://archive.org/details/handbooktolifein00adki

Betegh, Gabor. Greek Philosophy and Religion. https://www.academia.edu/4990433/Greek_Philosophy_and_Religion

Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion  https://archive.org/details/greekreligionarchaicandclassical

Angelos Chaniotis, “The Life of Statues of Gods in the Greek World’” Kernos  [Online], 30 | 2017, posted on October 01, 2019. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/kernos/2492 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/kernos.2492

Dignas, Beate, and Kai Trampedach, eds. 2008. Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Figures from Homer to Heliodorus.Hellenic Studies Series 30. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.  http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_DignasB_and_TrampedachK_eds.Practitioners_of_the_Divine.2008

Dillon Matthew. “Household, Families and Women” in Kindt, J. Eidinow, E. (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Religion in the Ancient World, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015. https://www.academia.edu/7974646/HOME_AND_HEARTH._THE_CLASSICAL_GREEK_EXPERIENCE_OF_DOMESTIC_RELIGION_in_Kindt_J._Eidinow_E._eds_The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Religion_in_the_Ancient_World_Oxford_University_Press_Oxford_2015

Furley, WIlliam D. and  Jan Maarten Bremer. Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Part One: The texts in translation.Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001.  https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/uploads/tx_sgpublisher/produkte/leseproben/9783161586552.pdf

Garrett, Jan. Did Socrates ‘Teach New Deities’? Or: Homer’s Gods, Plato’s Gods  http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/pgods.htm

Hesiod. Theogany  https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html 

Hesoid. Works and Days https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodWorksDays.html

Kearns, Emily. The Nature of Heroines in The Sacred and the Feminine in Ancient Greece edited by Sue Bundell and Margaret Williamson, Routledge, 1998. pp. 96-110.  http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1500680.files/kerns%20nature%20of%20heroines.pdf

Kindt, Julia. “Personal Religion: A Productive Category for the Study of Ancient Greek Religion?” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 135, 2015, pp. 35–50., www.jstor.org/stable/44157346

Kitts, Margo. What’s Religious about the Iliad? Religion Compass 7/7 (2013): 225–233, 10.1111/rec3.12050 Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2013.  https://www.academia.edu/5744383/_Whats_religious_about_the_Iliad_Religion_Compass_7_7_2013_225_233_draft_version_

Koutoupas, A. “The Meaning of Reciprocity in Ancient Greek Religion.”  https://www.academia.edu/12126893/The_Meaning_of_Reciprocity_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion

Meyer, Marvin.The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World   https://archive.org/details/ancientmysteries0000unse_p7i2

Morford, Mark, P.O., Lenardon, Robert J. and Sham, Michael. “The student companion to Classical Mythology, Tenth Edition”: https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199997329/

Otto, Walter.The Homeric Gods  https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.4448/page/n5/mode/2up

Petrovic, Andrej, and Petrovic, Ivana. “Introduction” in Inner Purity and Pollution in Ancient Greek Religion Vol I.  https://www.academia.edu/30262742/Introduction_in_Inner_Purity_and_Pollution_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion_Vol_I

Pirenne-Delforg, Vinciane and and Francesca Prescendi. Feeding the gods? Sacrifice and representation of the divine.   https://books.openedition.org/pulg/1604

Rask, K.A. “Devotionalism, Material Culture, and the Personal in Greek Religion.”  https://journals.openedition.org/kernos/23

Seznac, Jean.The Survival of the Pagan Gods: The Mythological Tradition and Its Place in Renaissance Humanism and Art, Princeton University Press, 1953. Chapter One, pp. 11-36. http://people.bu.edu/bobl/paganchristian.pdf

Smith, William. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities John Murray, London, 1875. Articles on Greek and Roman religion, including divination, festivals, funerals, magic, priestly officers, and rituals: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA/Religion/home.html

Von den Hogg, Ralf. “Images and Prestige of Cult Personnel in Athens between the Sixth and First Centuries BC” in Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Officials from Homer to Heliodorus, edited by Kai Trampedach, and Beate Dignas. Kolloquium. pp 107-141 http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/2166/1/vdH_Images_Prestige_2008.pdf

Webster, Michael. Reading Hesiod’s Theogany. 2005.   https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/Hesiod2.htm

Webster, Michael.

Ways of Interpreting Myths

. 2005.   

https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/ways.htm

Weddell, Poly. Touching the Gods: physical interaction with cult statues in the Roman world. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/555/1/Touching_the_Gods.pdf?DDD3+

Whitmore, Emily. Personal Religion in ancient Greece.  https://www.academia.edu/8729313/Personal_religion_in_ancient_Greece

Woodward, Roger D. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology https://archive.org/details/TheCambridgeCompanionToGreekMythology/page/n1/mode/2up

____________

Find more information at my Masterpost of Resources for Hellenic & Roman Polytheism: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/masterpost

Please feel free to ask me questions or contact me about books/articles on specific topics related to ancient Greek religion and modern Hellenic polytheism!

[paganravennest]

Review Time!

So I will start off by saying that while I do not know this author (Nathan King), I have met this author. In person he is very personable and wordy, but not in a bad way, also quite theatrical, and that definitely comes through in his writing as well. I had attended a workshop of his on the use of theater in ritual and really enjoyed that, so of course I wanted to see what else he had to offer.

I did have to set this book down quite a few times, not because I was bored with it but because I did need a break and needed time to process the information I had read. This book covers a lot of ground.

I kept waffling back and forth on whether this book is better for beginners or for more advanced practitioners and I have come to the conclusion that it is for both. Like I said this book covers a lot of ground which necessitates less depth on many of the topics than I would've liked. Thankfully he suggests further reading for almost everything covered and there is an extensive bibliography in the back which I appreciate. In this way I find this book ideal for beginners because it's going to expose you to many different ideas, and give you just enough info to decide if it's something you want to learn more about and then point you in some direction to do just that. Where it strays from beginner territory is in the exercises that it suggests. Not that they are dangerous or difficult but they are provided as a rough outline that someone without more experience may have a hard time making use of. There are also a few fairly well fleshed out rituals and a nice little collection of spells at the end.

As far as the title and the premise of the book to "enliven and quicken the metaphorical Witchblood that courses through our veins", it definitely hits its mark. The history and folklore covered in here is fascinating and even aspects that I was already familiar with were presented in a thought provoking way that had me considering angles I hadn't thought of before. Even as an eclectic witch who has been practicing for almost 15 years, I still found this book fanning the flames of my Craft.

I would recommend this book for anyone who considers themselves a witch, especially those practicing traditional and/or folk craft.

[paganravennest]

Sound In Magick

Sound has been used in magick and ritual practices across nearly every spiritual and mystical tradition, because it is one of the most primordial forces—vibrating through all levels of existence. In magick, sound is more than just a sensory experience; it is a tool of transformation, manifestation, and alignment.

The Foundational Principle: Vibration

In Hermeticism (especially the Kybalion), one of the fundamental laws is:

“All is vibration.”

Sound is vibratory energy, and when directed with intention, it can shift consciousness, environments, and outcomes.

Types Of Sound In Magick

Voice (Chanting, Speaking, Whispering):

• Chanting (mantras, divine names, affirmations)- Repetition of sacred phrases raises energy and focuses intent. Often used in Wicca, ceremonial magick, and Eastern traditions. Examples include “So mote it be,” “Om,” “Eh-heh-yay,” etc.

• Spoken Words / Enchantments- Words of power are believed to shape reality. The act of naming or commanding (e.g., “I banish thee…”) holds deep magical authority. In chaos magick, sigils are activated with spoken intent.

• Whispers or Breath Magick- Used in folk magick for secrecy or stealth (e.g., whispering into herbs or charms). Breath combined with spoken words transfers life force (prana, chi) into the object.

Musical Instruments (Drums, Bells, Bowls, Rattles):

• Drums- Used in shamanic and tribal traditions to induce trance states or call spirits. Beat mimics the heartbeat of the Earth—steady rhythm grounds and aligns.

• Bells- Clear stagnant energy and banish negativity. Used in ritual openings or closings. In some traditions, they “wake up” spirits or deities.

• Singing Bowls / Gongs- Create harmonic frequencies that balance chakras or sacred spaces. Used for healing, meditation, and raising vibrational resonance.

• Rattles- Shake up and move energy, break energetic blocks. Often used in indigenous or animistic practices.

Tones and Frequencies:

• Solfeggio Frequencies- Specific tones thought to heal, cleanse, and activate different aspects of being. Examples: 396 Hz (liberation from fear), 528 Hz (DNA repair, love).

• Binaural Beats- Used in modern magick to alter consciousness—help induce theta (trance) or gamma (mystic unity) brain states. Often paired with visualization or journeying practices.

• Harmonics and Drones- Used in eastern tantra and western esotericism to induce deep trance or inner stillness. Drones dissolve linear time, anchoring the mind in timeless space.

Music:

• Ritual Music- Custom compositions or ambient tracks are used to build atmosphere, open portals, and align energy with specific deities, elements, or spirits. Often employed in Wicca, ceremonial magick, and Thelemic rites.

• Personal Power Songs- In shamanic traditions, practitioners discover or craft a song that embodies their spirit or their intent. These are used in healing, travel, or battle.

Elemental Correspondences:

• Air- Whistling, flute

• Fire- Drums, crackling sounds

• Water- Singing, flowing melodies

• Earth- Deep tones, stomps, didgeridoo

Sound As A Magickal Tool

• Raising Power- Chanting or drumming raises a group’s energy (in coven or circle work) before directing it toward a spell’s goal.

• Trance and Meditation- Monotone chanting or rhythmic music slows the brainwaves and opens the door to altered states—critical for astral projection, pathworking, or deep magick.

• Clearing and Consecration- A bell, tone, or clap of sound can banish negative entities or cleanse tools, rooms, or auras.

• Invocation and Evocation- Sound acts as a call or signal—vocal invocation draws spirits, gods, or forces; sound shapes the subtle energy that forms the bridge between realms.

• Creation of Sigils and Talismans- Whispering intent or chanting during the crafting of a sigil or talisman imbues it with life—turning symbol into spell.

Cultural Examples

• Vedic Hinduism: The universe is created through sound (Shabda)—Om being the primal sound.

• Kabbalah: Hebrew letters are said to carry vibrational power. Vocalizing them in rituals opens specific spiritual pathways.

• Druidry: Bardic traditions hold that song and poetry are magickal acts that can influence minds, nature, and spirit.

• Voodoo / Afro-Caribbean Traditions: Drumming and song are essential to call the Loa or Orishas.

Sound Magick In Practice (Examples)

• Chakra Alignment with Vocal Toning- Toning “LAM,” “VAM,” “RAM,” etc., to align each chakra during ritual.

• Bell & Candle Banishing- Ring a bell three times around a space while intoning a banishing phrase.

• Trance Drumming- 4–7 beats per second drum rhythm to induce a shamanic state and journey to the Lower or Upper World.

• Mantra Spellwork- Repeating a deity’s name or power word (e.g., “Brigid,” “Awen,” “Lux”) while visualizing your intent.

Sound in magick is not just decoration—it is a primary force of will and manifestation. It bridges the seen and unseen, the body and spirit, intention and outcome. Whether through ancient chants, primal drumbeats, sacred names, or crafted harmonics, sound moves energy, and with it, the world.

[paganravennest]

Not to reinvent the wheel over here but humanity is sooo right about tea. It really is the perfect finnicky little thing to do. You can use it as an excuse to get up and transition to the next thing for yourself or with others; you can use tea as the centerpiece for socializing; you can use it as a meditative device or a comfort ritual or as medicine or to soothe pain or to set intentions or go to bed or to wake up. And most tea is pretty inexpensive, healthy and sometimes you can just harvest the ingredients yourself. And there's a set amount of time it takes to heat up the water and prepare your cup and let it steep, which is all part of a ritual that makes it fast but not instantaneous which is. Good.

[paganravennest]

Details of “Apollo & Dionysus” by Leonid Ilyukhin

In some psychological & artistic disciplines, Apollonian & Dionysian are words used to describe opposite impulses- artistic, controlled, skillful, vs hedonistic, emotional & wild.

However, anyone who knows the details of Apollo & Dionysus’ history knows they are very intertwined. They share a reputation of youth & beauty, & Dionysus was said to take domain over Delphi, Apollo’s most holy site, during the winter months. Art & music are key elements of Dionysus’ worship, representing pleasure & luxury. They’re not even two sides of the same coin, they’re puzzle pieces fitting together side by side.