#[Most cultures please their ancestors with food and drinks]

[legalbrats]

"We don't celebrate Halloween in Khura'in. Though, we have a different holiday on a different day of the year..."

"It lasts for 10 days, durin' which the dead are offered food, drinks 'n such, while new family members dress up nicely for their introduction to the ones who passed. There's always lotta people in front of the main temple, who're prayin' to the Holy Mother to keep their loved ones safe and happy in the afterlife. Some desperate folks even ask the Queen for a seance."

"Though, recently, people started givin' kids some sweets for the holiday, too. Must be Halloween influencin' here."

[nardo-headcanons]

National Holidays in the Ninja Villages + Bonus

I've had this idea in mind for a while, and now I finally got to write it down. Feel free to use these for your own works. Please tag me so I can read em all! <33

Iwagakure: The Lunar Lights of Gratitude The moon has a special place in the heart of every Iwa citizen. To them, it is a part of the earth, now observing its mother body from space. So naturally, the spectacle of a blue/super moon is a special occasion in Iwagakure. To honor and greet the moon, which is actually called "daughter" in the earth country's language, large fireworks are organized every new moon after a blue moon. As previously established, the earth country's firework industry is the largest, which Iwa shinobi are very proud of. Lighting the sky on fire and turning night into daytime is the Iwa way of giving back some of the light that the moon gives us at night.

Kirigakure: The Moonshine Sea Festival Despite the rivalry between the land of earth and the land of water, there is one thing they have in common, which is their spiritual connection to the moon and space. To water country citizens, especially the fishermen, the moon is a protector and guardian of the night, along with the stars. They strengthen the their connection to their biggest source of both faith and fear: the sea. The special climate in the water country, combined with its great biodiversity give a great habitat for biolumescent plankton, turning the sea itself into a starry night sky. It is one of the only pieces of culture that has been preserved, since the celebration itself was founded by the water country's union of fishermen, who don't belong to a particular clan with a kekkei genkai; most of the kekkei genkai wielders in Kiri have been wiped out, along with their culture, traditions and religions.

Sunagakure: Winter's Return The wind country is often ravaged by agonozingly hot summers, sand storms and heat waves are not a rarity in this country. While foreigners might groan and roll their eyes at the thought of the return to cold, foggy winter days, in Sunagakure it is a day for celebration. On the day where the sun stays for the longest, in the middle of the year, a large celebration is held across the nation. The way it is celebrated is different from family to family, and every Suna family is convinced that their way is the right one. Typically, markets are closed the whole day, and any missions rank B or below are halted for the day.

Kumogakure: Whale Festival of Generosity During winter, whales can be found emigrating along the lightning country's coast line, towards the land of iron. This holiday once came to be to celebrate the whales emigration towards a more prosperous habitat to mate and provide enough food for their young - a truly generous gesture. Over the years, many kumo shinobi have forgotten the old tale behind this festival, and it has turned into more of a mere gift giving occasion. And yet, it is widely popular and celebrated throughout the whole country.

Konoha: Cherry and Plum Blossom Viewing In Konoha, Hanami is annually celebrated. It is a custom celebrating the transitionary nature of cherry and plum blossoms blooming in spring.

BONUS: Uchiha Clan Honoring one's ancestors and traditions is of high importance to the Uchiha. Every year, on a clear fall night, the whole clan gathers together to light up little candles using their katon. The tealights are arranged in the Uchiha crest and left to light up the night and the clan share the evening together eating dinner, drinking hot tea and praying at the nakano shrine.

That's all, folks!

[broomsick]

hi. im sorry if im bothering but you're a norse pagan and i am too but i joined recently and haven't been able to gain much knowledge yet. i have a few questions, if you would like to answer them i would be very grateful:

• other than the eddas, is there any book that can help me as a beginner to the norse faith or maybe witchcraft?

• yule is coming up and it is my first pagan festival so could you please help me understand how to celebrate it, is there any norse deities in specific that i should give offerings to? (i plan on making offerings to skadi right now)

• i'm may have some european amcestors cause im indo european but i doubt that any of my ancestors were norse...could i still practice norse paganism?

•lastly, what are blots?

Hello there! Thank you so much for the ask. And welcome to this faith! I hope this path is as fulfilling to you as it is to me.

You'll be happy to know there are so much great ressources for norse pagans to use for research. I've actually listed a bunch of them in this previous post, in which I identified what sources were books and which were online ressources.

Now, Yule is a very exciting celebration for heathens! We know that it was a major festival in Iron Age Scandinavia. Traditionally, there would be a toast made in honor of the ancestors, one made in honor of the One-Eyed, to ask for success (he is even called Jólnir, "Figure of Yule"), and one made in honor of Yngvi-Freyr and Njörðr, to ask for fertility and prosperity. This is why these three deities are most often viewed as the main deities of Yule in nordic tradition. Thórr also has some associations with Yule, primarily due to the traditional yule goat decoration still present in Scandinavia today, which may or may not have had ties with him due to his association with goats. Whatever the case, he is also a popular choice within modern practice when it comes to the deities honored during Yule celebrations. You could also very well include Sól in your practice around that time of the year. After all, winter solstice celebrations often serve to rejoice and welcome the return of the sun as the days grow longer once again. It's for this reason that lighting candles or bonfires on the longest night of the year is a popular way to celebrate Yule: it symbolizes the return of light and warmth as the second half of winter commences. There are a few accounts of some sort of "yule log", a very long log decorated with candles, being burned during the twelve days of Yule, though the veracity of this story is debated. Still, it can be fun for us to incorporate a similar tradition into our own celebrations! For example, by decorating a piece of wood and burning it during a ritual as our own yule log. Decorating using greenery (real or fake) is also a popular way to celebrate Yule! It's a way to remind ourselves that despite the cold and the snow, the earth still lives and nature still thrives! Traditionally, one would use plants such as holly, ivy, or any evergreen tree, which stay green throughout the winter. I also can't forget the eternal norse pagan tip: when in doubt, hold a feast! To invite your loved ones around a table and eat homemade food is always one of the best ways to honor the Gods, and this goes for any festival. So much can be done even if you prefer to celebrate alone, or with just a few close friends! Just treat yourself to a hearty winter meal, and save some of it to offer the Gods, along with a glass of the alcohol of your choosing (I generally go for winter drinks, such as mulled wine, warm ice cider and the like). There is only so much I can list at the top of my head, and there are countless ways for you to celebrate Yule. Feel free to dig around for more ideas, and to experiment with whatever feels right! I'll now direct you to this wonderful video, which I discovered a while back and which does a wonderful job of explaining everything we currently know about Yule and midwinter festivals in the nordic cultures.

Now, norse paganism is a fully open practice! Everyone is free to practice it, no matter their ancestry. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise, they would not be speaking the truth!

As for your last question, blót is an Old Norse term meaning "blood", which can seem scary when you put it that way, but it's nothing to be worried about! It merely refers to the act of sacrifice, or as we neo-pagans often say, offering. A blót is a ritualized offering made to the norse Gods! The celebrations around such an event can also be refered to as blót: the term "Yule" originally came from the Old Norse name for the main midwinter sacrifice, Jólablót, which is the name I give to my own winter solstice celebration. We know that during the Scandinavian Iron Age, there were many blóts scattered across the calendar! Among those: Þorrablót, or Husbands' Day, allegedly celebrating the God Thórr, Góublót, or Wives' Day, a celebration of the end of winter, Sigrblót, a festival to ask for victory, Alfablót, celebrated at the end of the harvest season during which offerings to the elves were made, Jólablót, and Dísablót, when offerings to the Dísir were made. Most solitary practionners of norse paganism do not celebrate all of these. After all, little is known about them! Scholars cannot even pinpoint the exact moment of the year when Dísablót was performed. For this reason, we are all free to practice them based on our own interpretations. Since I am a devout worshipper of Yngvi-Freyr, I offer to him along with the elves on Alfablót. Though Jólablót is arguably the most popular blót to perform among heathens, I have met practionners who did not practice it. The blóts you choose to perform are all up to you!

I have only scratched the surface of how norse pagan holidays can be celebrated! I hope you'll find as much information as you need to prepare for Jólablót, and I also wish for you to have lots of fun celebrating it! Do be sure to trust your gut when it comes to celebrating pagan holidays. It all comes down to you, your preferences and what feels right. Have a great rest of the day, and please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any other questions!

[lunastrophe]

I love your posts. They're truly amazing. I've been doing a lot of my own research into Lolthian Drow culture as well, but have been unable to find much about formal holidays or the nedeirra. Anything you might know about any of that?

Hello! As for the festivals traditionally celebrated by Lolth-sworn drow, in books about Menzoberranzan for 2e and 4e there are mentioned three annual festivals specific to this city:

🕷️ Ceremony Of Graduation - celebrated by all the houses that have a member (or members) graduating from the Academy that year. Basically, a great feast with lots of dancing and drinking that spreads to the entire city - younger students and masters leave the Academy this day to visit their families, and graduated students and priestesses celebrate with wanton abandon as equals.

According to tradition and Lolth's will, on the day before, on the day of and on the day after the ceremony any conflicts between houses are forbidden. Most house servants and warriors are allowed three days of leisure, all trade is forbidden and the entire city is closed for the outside visitors. Many drow during this time, especially younger, are generally more relaxed, fun-seeking, drunken and less vigilant than normally.

Description of the main graduation rite can be found in R. A. Salvatore's Homeland, and an adequate summary is on FR wikia.

🕷️ Festival Of The Founding - celebrated on 20th day of Ches, on anniversary of the formal founding of the city. Drow celebrate this festival with their families, dining together - participants of the feast raise toasts to Lolth, to Menzoberranzan and to the founders of their family, and they tell tales about their ancestors.

The entire day is one of leisure and all the shops are closed, but the dinner lasts only for the second half of a day.

It is also believed that during this time, Lolth herself walks through the city in a form of a drow, listening to her people and judging them, rewarding those who please her and bringing death upon those who displease her (by making their food deadly poisonous, for example). It is a custom to offer hospitality to any drow stranger on this day - because who knows, it may be Lolth in disguise.

🕷️ The Open Days - celebrated from 23rd day of Flamerule to Midsummer (eight days). This festival encourages trade and resembles a trade fair when visitors are allowed to freely wander into the city, even into the districts normally reserved only for nobles.

During these days, all the drow houses put on special demonstrations of magic and martial readiness, to show their strength, impress the visitors and overawe their rivals.

🕷️ In other drow cities, there may be similar festivals - at least the Festival of the Founding and the Open Days sound like they could have their own versions in other Lolth-sworn drow communities.

🕷️ About nedeirra - it is a kind of dance popular among ...younger and wilder drow. Seldom attended by high priestesses, these wild, acrobatic "sweat dances" usually leave young drow drenched in sweat, dancing to the syncopated, driving rhythms of drumming and piping music. A wizard or two is often hired to create fun: illusions, tickling and slapping cantrips, and so on. (from Menzoberranzan, 2e)

In Daughter of the Drow by E. Cunningham nedeirra is described as dance competition of sorts (in the chapter where Liriel Baenre is throwing a wild party).

Hope you will find these information useful! 🙂

[alchemy-arts-bookstore]

Constructing an Ancestor Altar

As the veil is thinning, and the days draw closer to Samhain and Halloween, you may want to start adding more items to your altar (or, make a separate altar) to honor your ancestors, your beloved dead. The people you count as ancestors do not have to be blood relatives; they can also include those who were unrelated, but close to you, like found family, or others whom you admire.

Here are a few ideas for how to create an Ancestor Altar. Feel free to add your own ideas as you construct it; the most important thing is that the altar reflects who your beloved dead truly were, and how much they meant to you.

Your altar can be on a shelf, a small table, or any other space that works well for you. Cover it with a cloth if you wish, in any color or pattern that pleases you. After you add basic altar items, you can personalize the altar with photos of those you wish to honor, and add any mementos you have of your times together. Candles can be white, or their favorite colors.

When you honor your ancestors at Samhain (or Halloween) or commune with them at any other time, you may want to play music that they liked. You can leave offerings of their favorite flowers, favorite food or drinks, or any other items you think might please them; let your memories of them be your guide. The essence of the offerings you leave is ‘consumed’ by the spirits.

The method of disposing of food or drink offerings will likely vary depending on your culture or family traditions. If you don’t have such a tradition, there are various ways in which you can dispose of your offerings. Drinks can always be poured out on the ground. Some choose to eat food offerings, as a way of sharing them with the spirits of ancestors. If you’d prefer not to do this, food offerings can also be buried, burned, added to a compost heap, or left out for animals, as long as they are safe for wildlife to eat.

As for how long to leave a food offering – again, this varies. Some choose to leave food offerings on their altar for just a few hours, others choose to leave them overnight. Do whatever works best for you. If there are young children or pets around who might be able to easily reach your altar, you might wish to put food offerings in a covered container, or dispose of them sooner rather than later.

After the Samhain and Halloween season passes, you may wish to keep your Ancestor Altar up in order to ask for their blessing or for their assistance with a problem, or just to visit with them now and then. Let it help you find peace and comfort, in this season and those to come.

[minhosimthings]

Je Te Veux: A Jay Fic

Chapter 2: Cupcakes and Construction Sites

Important Note: This Chapter will be posted in two parts, which will be linked. A part of this chapter is also in screenshots and the very end. I apologise for the inconvenience because Tumblr has not been working properly lately. I promise I will fix the problem soon, but please bear with me for some time and enjoy this chapter.

Summary : Lee Y/N, youngest daughter of the Lee empire which rules of South Korea, meets a stranger one night at a Christmas party. Only fate knows what happens to both of them.

Pairings: Reader × RichHeir!Jay, includes rest of Enha. Mentions of Itzy, stray kids and other groups

Warnings: Mentions of food and alcohol, mention of dead bodies and blood, descriptions of falling and reader has an accident

A/N: second chapter yayyy. I know it seems kinda predictable from now on but I have something planned hehe

Part 1 ||| Part 2

Champagne is considered the most elegant of all alcoholic drinks because of its fine golden colour and it's sparkly little bubbles. But you disagree. You think that wine is the most beautiful alcoholic drink to ever exist. It was the first alcoholic beverage ever to be created in ancient history and there's even a colour named after it. The smooth blend of aged grapes with certain flavours to make this melancholic drink made you feel at ease. The colour was also such a calming one, one that could comfort you when no else did. Wine had different flavours which only a person with super taste buds could venture upon. Wine wasn't alcohol, it was nectar. And all of that came rushing into your brain as you came back home with Riki, Sunoo and Yuna,who were all oblivious to the current state of your very delusional brain.

Afternoon came surprisingly sooner than it had felt in the morning as you waited for Jay beneath the sycamore tree with a glass of red wine from Bordeaux, your favourite. You wore a simple lilac sundress which reached your knees with your favourite sandals from Spain. You always admired cultural art of different countries. Whether it be traditional leather puppets from India or Gothic wood carvings from Germany, your eyes always seeked out delicate pieces of fine art, usually made by families who had passed the tradition down from ancestors to ancestors. Those sandals you were wearing were a gift from your best friend Chaeryoung who also had a leather empire of her own in Spain and France. You admired her a lot, calling her your unofficial wife, and always supporting her even when she had nothing at all. After all female friendships are something that you had ways cherished your entire life, having grown up with six boys your entire life. You still had distinct memories of dealing with and period days, heart wrenching breakups, sudden thoughts about death and life and crackhead moments with Chaeryoung and your girl group which consisted of Giselle, Lia, Wonyoung, Gauel and Yunjin. You had obviously told them about your recent delusion with Jay to which Lia, Gauel and Yunjin added more to the delusion and Giselle and Wonyoung shook their heads.

Minutes turned into hours as you waited and waited for Jay to arrive. Horrible thoughts filled your head as to why Jay hadn't come yet. 'Does he hate me?' 'Did he ghost me because I'm not interesting?' 'Am I too ugly?' 'What if someone kidnapped him?' That last one felt unlikely because Jay had bodyguards much buffer than yours and he was with your family too. The heat from the warm afternoon sun sang you a lullaby as you slowly drifted off to sleep, dreams now flooding your brain.

"Y/N. Y/N wake up." You felt a gentle shake of your shoulders as you slowly opened your eyes and blinked twice to remember who and where you were. You hair was disheveled now and your dress covered with grass. Sitting beside you was a broad shouldered figure, clad in a tight blue shirt with white trousers. He had a greenish-black watch on which further accentuated his beautiful arms. Jay sat beside you and woke you up from your slumber. He was clutching a bottle of wine and a tiny pink box which had 'Minho's Bakery' written on it. You stared at him for a solid minute until you snapped back to your senses and blurted out "You look beautiful." Jay gave you that soft smile with his eyes and chuckled "You look beautiful too Y/N. I got a bottle of wine but it seems like you've already gotten one. And it's my favourite kind. Bordeaux does have good grapes. I also bought you this." He motioned towards the tiny pink box. "Sunoo told me you like this bakery a lot so I got a cupcake for you." The way he talked and the way he pronounced his words was so soothing and it made you want to sleep even more. Hearing the fact that he had gotten you a cupcake and that your favourite wine was also his favourite wine, fed your delusions even more and heart was doing gymnastics inside of your body. Slowly taking the box, you peeled open the pink stickers and opened the box to find two mint chocolate cupcakes inside. You smiled at the thought of Sunoo telling Jay all of your favourite things so that his OTP (which he is dying for) can be completed. You offered Jay one of the cupcakes but he simply shook his head. "I don't really prefer mint choco. Sunoo tried to get me into it, but I think there's room for only one mint choco maniac and it's already occupied by Sunoo. So go ahead and have both of them. I'm just going to enjoy this beautiful glass of wine." You laughed at his mint choco joke and helped yourself to the pretty little cupcake. It was moist and stuffed with chocolate inside and it slowly melted in your mouth as if it had been waiting a long time to meet your taste buds. Jay just simply drank his wine and you slightly admired him from the corner of your eye. How can this one man in just a basic blue shirt look more prettier than any other man in a basic blue shirt? "So how did the meeting with my family go?" Jay stopped his sip of wine halfway, turned to you and said in a buisness like tone "It was good. Your father signed yet another contract for five years stating that my family will be providing your family with weapons at a lower rate. Heeseung was against it but this has been going on for 16 years so not even fate could rewrite this event." "At a lower rate? That's weird. Usually dad pays a higher rate for friends and family. He considers it his own little 'gift'. You could have said something though couldn't you?" Jay gave you a sad smile and said "Well I could have. But who would listen to boring old me? I just run the money part of our company. Sunghoon does all the designing part. Businessmen like me aren't really that respected in this field of work. Even my parents rarely listen to the 'money talk' as they say in their words. All I have left at the end of the day is this glass of wine." He raised his glass slightly as the liquid inside splashed around gently. You stared for a while, yet again into his magnificent eyes, which held the moon and Venus inside of them. "Do you ever think about running away? Starting your own empire of whatever good you want to produce? It would be better than whatever we do now.", you questioned Jay. For a moment, Jay looked moved and for the first time you saw his eyes slightly falter. He composed himself again as he slowly said "I did think about it once. When I was 16. When I was young, dumb and stupid. I used to think I could become a billionaire with my sewing business.". You noticed as his ears became red as he said that so you asked "Are you quite good at sewing?" "I think I am. I used to embroider on handkerchiefs to give to the local orphanage sometimes."

I would once again like to apologise for this inconvenience. Tumblr hasn't been allowing me to post the full fic since a day cause this was supposed to be posted last night. If incase it does get better, I will probably edit this to remove the screenshots and just type the remaining part in. But this chapter will probably be divided in two parts forever. This my fate I guess. (Hehe fate)

[percico-sea-of-darkness]

Post for all the fans of Nico di Angelo who want him to be loved by the rest of the cast:

WARNING: I talk extensively about another culture (Mexican 🇲🇽). You can ignore. All this post is personal. I think this can be a good way to make Nico proud to be a son of Hades.

I feel that visiting Mexico (or at least the appearance of a mexican character) would be without a doubt one of the most important adventures that Nico could have, both for the development of the character and to include other cultures (unfortunately I haven't seen anyone talk about this, so I have to talk about this  (o^^)o.

Rick, this is for you, man.

But, why do I think that?

Apart from... the fact that it's my home, I think about it particularly because Mexicans have developed a very particular attitude towards death.

Mexico has a very special relationship with the culture of death that has even come to fascinate the rest of the world.

Hence, the indigenous celebrations of the Day of the Dead were declared by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Literally our most famous poet, Octavio Paz, winner of the Nobel Prize in 1990, talks about our fascination with death.

“Our cult of death is also a cult of life. Both are inseparable. A civilization that denies death ends up denying life.”

And it's not only that. Mexico is almost a synonym for the word 'death'. Apart from the Day of the Dead, one of the most recognized symbols of the country is a skull. An emblematic figure is 'La Catrina'.

Our most representative flower is the Cempasúchil, which was considered by our ancestors, the Mexicas and Aztecs, as a symbol of life and death, as well as two of our native dogs: the Xoloitzcuintle, which is the guide through the Micltán: the Mexicas underworld. (And to be honest, I don't like how Disney portrayed it in the movie “Coco”, but considering it's a family movie and Disney has its magic "slapstick" and "mickey mousing" formula to please little kids, even I don't like it, it's... cinematically correct). Xoloizcuintles are dogs that are recognized for their intelligence, their easy training, their resistance, their protection to its owner, and their friendly and calm nature. And the Calupoh, a specimen that was found in such special places as the Temple of Quetzalcóatl as adornments for the Warriors elite, in the Pyramid of the Moon as an offering, and in the Templo Mayor in Mexico-Tenochtitlan associated with sacrifices. These were animals with a very high spiritual significance associated with death and war.

Literally the celebration of the dead is related to national pride.

This love for death is not for fashion, it's not just to please someone or whatever. Even, many people think that this celebration is similar/copied from Halloween. Actually, it's not. Unlike Halloween, you don't go trick or treating, in here you offer to family and dead people (yes, in their graves). Death isn't chased away, it's represented and accepted. Hence the Catrina parades.

Children are familiar with the subject, there are candies with funeral motifs, there are numerous terms to refer to death: La Huesuda, la Calaca, la Catrina, la Parca, la Dama de Negro, la Santa Muerte, la Novia Fiel, La Patrona, and many more. Dead people are exhibited in museums (it sounds strange, but it's common), there are thousands of rituals to remember the deceased. Like, put paths of cempasuchil petals throughout the pantheon so that the dead who return to the land of the living can live together and walk with us. And always we have an offering for them, such as food, drinks, things that the deceased liked in life.

There is merchandising: just like hanging a crucifix around your neck or putting on a The Beatles shirt, in Mexico there are pendants, key chains, earrings, backpacks, but with the Holy Death.

By being in Mexico, or being a friend with a mexican character, Nico wouldn't be ignored or described as creepy like most of Rick Riordan's characters do, literally in here he would be one of the most revered (like Percy Jackson in CHB). Nico could learn a lot about what death looks like in another part of the world besides USA. And I won't say “another part of the world besides North America”, because Mexico is actually a North American country.

Finally Nico di Angelo could take pride in his connection to death, and therefore to face this, who knows? Maybe change the mindset most RR characters have towards Nico and their immediate fear of death that he tends to radiate.

Good night :)

[coinandcandle]

Are You too Tired for Yule Tide?

Let's face it, holidays are tough, no matter what religion or belief system you follow. We don't always feel up to a full-blown celebration or ritual. So what can you do?

Read to find out!

This post will focus on the solstice and Yule since they are part of open practices/religions.

(photo credit: Jessica Lynn)

Here are a few ways to celebrate the pagan holiday season that are low-energy or low-cost.

Questions about the Yule or the Solstice? You may find your answers here on my other post about the holidays.

1. Divination

Whether it's tarot, runes, or through meditation, do some divination this holiday season to see what the world has to say to you!

This could mean asking about how the coming year will go, what advice the world has for you, or even connection to your ancestors/deities/spirit guides, the world is your oyster!

2. Set an Intention

For the coming year, the holiday season, or just for today, set an intention and allow yourself to be filled with the power and energy of it.

You can use physical means to do this, such as writing it down, carving it into a candle, or you can just use visualization to set your intention.

3. Make or redecorate an altar

This might seem like it would take a lot of energy, but an altar doesn't have to be an elaborate space set up all by itself on a shelf or table somewhere. And it doesn't have to stay for long either!

Set up an altar by placing a few candles, holiday-relevant decoration, some herbs, and whatever else you want all together. It doesn't have to take up a lot of space, a side table somewhere or any available space can do.

(Some people even do online altars, while I have not dug into this concept yet, it sounds like a great idea for broom closet witches and those who don't have the space, time, or energy to create a physical altar space!)

4. Cleanse your space

Regardless if it's your whole house, bedroom, witchy workspace, or just yourself, cleansing is always a good way to celebrate a solstice. Imagine you are cleansing the old energy from the area and welcoming in the new beginnings that the world has in store for you.

5. Make something

Baking, cooking, drawing, painting, any type of creation is a goo way to celebrate the solstice and holiday seasons! We're stuck inside more often this time of year so why not make the most of our time and do a little crafting?

There are many religious and culturally significant holidays around this year, and with them many recipes! Get your festive aprons out (optional) and start making something delicious! Imbuing your food with intention for the holidays welcoming energy is a great way to celebrate.

This may take a bit more energy or resources but don't stress! You don't have to paint the Mona Lisa or cook an entire feast, even a doodle or making a grilled cheese will do~

Mixing holiday-specific drinks (alcoholic or no) is always a wonderful and easy way to make something for this holiday season.

Bonus: Consider setting out your creations for your ancestors/deities/spirit guides to take part in. Some cultures have the tradition of setting food out for any wandering souls who are in need of a meal or some festive spirit this time of year.

6. If possible, donate your time or money to charity organizations

I know this is a low-cost low-energy focused post, but hear me out:

This time of year is hard on everyone for one reason or another, so if you aren't able to lend out a hand or money for charities there is no shame in that!

However, if you're in a good spot to do so, donate to those in need. Many charities also take donations of canned/boxed food, sanitary items, blankets, and clothes.

-----

There you go, some easy or cheap ways to celebrate the solstice and yule! If you have anything to add or other ways people can celebrate that don't cost a lot of money or energy then please let me know :)

[school-of-roses]

What are Spirits?

What are Spirits?

Spirits have many definitions. In general, though, when we reference spirits in terms of spirituality, religion, or magical practice, we are referring to either 1) the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person, or 2) a supernatural being or essence. There are multiple categories of spirits, in which an individual entity may be in one or multiple: local spirits, nature spirits, culturally or religiously tied spirits, and deities.

What are Local Spirits?

Local spirits are, well, local to you. They often involve house spirits, plant spirits, and bound spirits.

House spirits are deities or spirits that protect the home, looking after the household or certain members. They’re a common belief in paganism as well as folklore across many parts of the world. They fit into two main types: a specific deity that is often associated with the home and hearth, such as Hestia (Greek) or Frigg (Norse); and animistic deities or other spirits such as brownies (Anglo-Scottish) or domovoy (Slavic). They are recognized in the home via things such as small idols, shrines, amulets, paintings, or reliefs; and would often be treated as members of the family and invited to join in on meals or given offerings of food and drink.

Plant spirits are exactly what they sound like. Plants have spirits, same as anything else. Sometimes they’re well-known, like the dryads in trees or basilisks associated with your basil, and sometimes it’ll take you a hot minute to realize the poison ivy popping up is doing so for a spiritual reason. If you have access to plants, such as a yard or something potted indoors, you may benefit from forming a connection with them.

Bound spirits come one of two ways: they are either spirits left here when their meaty fleshsuit gave up the ghost and the ghost lingered around, or they are spirits of any sort magically tied to an object or place.

Ghosts can stick around for any reason, whether it be something cute like wanting to watch a grandchild grow up for a little while longer, or something sinister like unfinished business and a need for vengeance. It is important to note the difference between a ghost and an impression. If a spirit is doing the same thing at a certain time, every time, like clockwork, there is a good chance that there is no actual ghost, and that something happened that left an impression on the place/land itself that it essentially burned into the very essence of the area. Impressions are often seen in places of great tragedy or trauma, such as battlefields.

Spirits that are magically bound are often tied to objects or areas against their will. How ethical that practice is gets to be a bit tricky, and not everyone agrees on the morality of those practices. Our school does not agree with the practice of non-consensually binding a spirit with the intent on using its energy or abilities to enhance our own practices; however, we do see the necessity of binding a spirit that is otherwise wreaking havoc in an area to contain said spirit, with the expectation that all available resources will be put towards learning what that spirit is (if unknown) and how to appropriately relocate or remove said spirit in such a fashion that minimizes harm for all parties involved.

What are Nature Spirits?

Nature spirits are forces or personifications of the forces of nature. They are often defined by a particular relationship with some specific form or function within the natural environment of the earth. While many categorizations of spirits may find entities also tied to nature, ranging from deities to your friendly local tree spirit, we’ll be discussing the fey and elementals in this category.

The fey (also known as fairies, faeries, fay, fae, and fair folk) are often found in the folklore of multiple European cultures. They have multiple origin stories, and the label does not necessarily have any hard definition. Some use it to refer to specific entities (usually a humanoid with magical powers and a penchant for trickery), whereas others may use it to describe any magical creature, such as gnomes and changelings.

Elementals are generally regarded as inhabitants of one of the occult or primal elements. They are seen as entities that personify a particular force of nature, and exert powers over those forces. Some definitions may refer to any nature spirit as an elemental. Many sources that use the classical elemental system tend to classify the elementals with names for their specific element: all air spirits are referred to as sylphs, all fire spirits are referred to as salamanders, all water spirits are referred to as undines, and all earth spirits are referred to as gnomes.

What are Culturally or Religiously Tied Spirits?

Culturally or religiously tied spirits are spirits associated with particular pantheons or cultures. These may or may not be tied to closed practices, such as angels within the Abrahamic pantheon (generally open, ask first), or the Haitian lwa (closed).

Messengers of gods come in many forms. Their forms tend to run animalistic, humanoid, or the stuff of eldritch nightmares. Signs usually come in the form of dreams or waking visions, or physical signs such as certain plants or animals either being heavily featured or acting out of character. Please note that not all physical signs will involve a person or animal actually approaching you. If you live in the middle of New York City, the chance a wolf is going to trot down Park Avenue to boop its snoot on your hand is incredibly low. If, as an example, someone wishes to use a wolf to give you signs, you are more likely to see them using more modern techniques, such as having wolves being featured more heavily in advertising near you, or people that are wearing wolf hoodies getting in your way constantly until you take the hint.

Minor deities and major messengers tend to blend quite a bit. Gabriel (Abrahamic), a messenger, is an archangel and is quite highly revered. Iris (Greek) is a minor deity that is one of the quintessential messengers within her pantheon.

Negatively associated spirits, such as demons (in any culture) or poltergeists, are entities generally thought to be malefic. This is not necessarily always the case; however, as with any entity, it is best to practice caution when interacting with them. It’s important to be aware there may be spirits that would, in fact, like to cause harm or mayhem in your life (not necessarily because you are important, some entities are just dicks and you may be an easy or otherwise available target), and is even more important to know how to protect yourself and others without needing to obtain that knowledge as an immediate, pressing issue.

Ancestors are the souls of departed family members. Many cultures have one way or another to revere them, and there are people who may find that inviting them in may provide them with benefits such as wisdom from those departed or a sense of peace. Ancestor worship or reverence tends to vary in practice from culture to culture, and with many people now coming from blended backgrounds, you may see more heavily individualized variations. However, it is important to note that dead people are still people, and their wisdom and opinions may not be the most up-to-date or best for you. As with everything else in this lesson, their importance and influence in your life is up to you.

What are Deities?

Deities are gods or goddesses in religions. They are considered to have divine status, quality, or nature; and may be considered to be a creator or supreme beings depending on individual status and/or religion.

Pantheons refer to the groupings of deities and other entities in regards to particular cultures or religions. Every deity will be within at least one pantheon; some, such as one known by names such as Hekate (Greek) or Ereshkigal (Sumerian) may be found in multiple.

What are Offerings?

Offerings are objects or actions given to or done in the name of a specific entity or entities. It is advisable to research what the offered entity enjoys, though going with your intuition is generally safe. Offerings are generally given out of respect or reverence for the entity, though they may also be used for other purposes such as attempting forming relationships or as thanks for something the entity has done.

[minjeongwinters]

a letter to the rpc about visayan (filipino) faceclaims! please read!

some faceclaims with resources that i’ve seen be used in the rpc, who are of visayan descent.

saweetie. she mentioned in an interview while listing places in the philippines that she’s vacationed in that she has family in boracay (west visayas) and cebu (central visayas). 

eva noblezada. the miss saigon and yellow rose star mentioned that her filipino family are bisaya (from maguindanao) and ilonggo (from iloilo and bacolod).

louriza tronco. louriza, who is best known for her role in netflix’s the order, has said that her family has roots in cabatuan, iloilo (western visayas).

charlotte nicdao. her family is bisaya, from ormoc.

maja salvador. her family is bisaya (central visayan) and waray (eastern visayan).

notes

“bisaya” people in this context = people from cebu/sugbu and bohol, or those who speak “cebuano” and “boholano” and are descended from these peoples. the reason we use the word bisaya here is not to erase other visayans, but because we have nothing else to call them. bisaya is the endonym. if other visayans wish to call themselves bisaya too, it’s no problem for me. but cebuano and boholano are invented colonial terms, which is why we just call ourselves and our language bisaya. (cebuano and boholano are the same language.)

there are many visayan migrants in southern/central leyte and mindanao as well, and most of them can be assumed to be specifically bisaya (as in originating from cebu or bohol, though there are some ilonggo migrant families in mindanao too). although cebuano and boholano are actually separate ethnic groups, we feel a close connection due to our common language, and for diaspora (i.e. those of us bisaya speakers who live in leyte and mindanao), whether our ancestors were from cebu or bohol (or perhaps both?) becomes even harder to trace. (a good chunk of the bisaya people in leyte, however, probably have roots from bohol thanks to the migrations from bohol in maasin, southern leyte.)

ilonggo/hiligaynon = people from western visayas, who speak the language hiligaynon

waray = people from samar and northern leyte, who speak the language waray

there are other visayan ethnolinguistic groups not mentioned here, such as karay-a speakers. these are all distinct ethnolinguistic groups, but we do share a lot of cultural stuff and are closely related to each other. it’s not uncommon for visayans to have roots in various different visayan ethnic groups. 

[line break.]

filipinos are, again, not just one people. we are a collection of 170+ ethnicities and languages. the peoples of the philippines’ visayas region have suffered so much, and continue to. tw for racism & imperialism below.

i won’t go into detail about historical atrocities, but please know that visayans were among the ethnic groups brought to america in the 1900s to either die and become white anthropologists’ scientific specimens or be displayed in human zoos. currently: visayan children are fined for speaking their languages in school. tagalog people have slurs for visayans (such as “bisakol,” even though the original meaning isn’t even derogatory) and many call us monkeys bc of our languages (mostly directed towards bisaya speakers tho).

it may not be a big deal to you. “they’re all filipino anyway,” right? what difference does it make if a celebrity is of visayan heritage? but please, i am once again asking you to properly represent visayan faceclaims and write visayan characters. mentioning their heritage in their biographies or character pages is not hard. googling some visayan foods/drinks (according to their specific group) or phrases or customs is not hard. i just want to see visayan representation, it’s a very simple request. we’ve suffered a lot even under our fellow filipinos especially because of the tagalog-dominated imperial manila. it’s simple! i know some of you are using these people or other celebrities who are of visayan descent for your original characters. it won’t take a lot of time to just tweak their character pages a bit or allude to eating batchoy or cebu’s famous dried mangoes or making them say something in a visayan language in your next reply. this also goes for writing that isn’t in the roleplaying community. please do not be afraid to represent visayans, please.

[jheslyn-d-uclusin]

Sure! ILOCOS asSURes relaxation😌💖

Let's take a tour and go back and forth to this pleasant place!

Good day tourists! I am Jheslyn D. Uclusin, a member of Department of Tourism assigned to promote tourist spots in Ilocos Sur that assures happiness, greatness, refreshment, felicity and relaxation. I will make sure that you might encounter the best travel experienced here in Ilocos Sur. What are we waiting for? Come on, join me to enjoy the beautiful places here in Ilocos Sur😉.

The province is known for its rich culture, arts and history, the heritage sites, adventure parks, and of course, the food. But this time, we'll be putting the highlight on the beautiful places to visit here in Ilocos Sur.

Vigan is the capital of the province. Vigan is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Colonial town, historical Vigan tourist spots, and delicious food and delicacies. Because of its charm, it has been inscribed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Joining a day to trip to Vigan is a good idea if you want to explore other tourist spots as well.

1. Calle Crisologo

Calle Crisologo is Vigan’s most popular tourist attraction. The grounds and pavements of this preserved street are made of cobblestones, and both sides are lined with ancestral houses that are reminiscent of old Spanish towns.

During the daytime, the street is a busy commercial district, with most shops selling quality antiques, furniture, and jewelry pieces.

You can indulge yourself in souvenir shopping, including native food products and delicacies, or snag world-class hand-woven clothing, blankets, and other accessories at Rowilda’s Weaving.

You can ride a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage), which is the only vehicle plying Calle Crisologo.

A kalesa ride is good for an hour and can take you around Calle Crisologo and the rest of the Vigan Heritage Village, including the Vigan Cathedral and Plaza Burgos.

It’s a totally different scene at night, as Calle Crisologo transforms into a dining strip where loads of people eat alfresco and enjoy drinks to cap the night off.

There are a lot of Calle Crisologo tours to try from, make sure to choose the one that fits your budget, schedule, and type of experience.

2. Pagburnayan Jar Factory

The address is Liberation Blvd, Vigan City. One good thing about touring Vigan is that you get to learn a lot about its history, culture, and way of life through the town’s homegrown establishments.

Take for example Pagburnayan Jar Factory, one of the very few remaining jar factories around Vigan. It’s a popular must-try cultural activity in Vigan.

In order to help people appreciate the industry of jar-making, the factory is open for tourists who want to see and experience pottery making first hand, from simple, basic designs to more artistic earthen jars.

​The staff will also tell you an interesting background about the origins of pagburnayan, the art of producing jars, which was inspired by Chinese traders who came to settle in Vigan and then later intermarried with Ilocanos and Ilocanas.

Located within a good walking distance from Plaza Salcedo, this plaza is named after Padre Jose Burgos, whose statue stands as a reminder of the priest’s martyrdom in fighting the Spanish regime.

Here, you can take pictures, go people watching, or simply give your tired legs some resting time after a long walk around the area.

If you’re feeling hungry, you can grab a quick bite of the best-selling empanada, a kind of pastry turnover filled with minced meat, vegetables, and egg, which is one of Ilocos’ specialty food products on this side of the town.

It’s best to come here in the late afternoon or just before the sun sets since it can get pretty hot in this open space.

If you want to visit more tourist spots in Vigan, City just click this link:

3. Kaparkan Falls 

Kaparkan falls located at the Tineg, Abra. Abra’s falls come alive during the rainy season which is sometime from August to September. The rest of the year it stays dry leaving the limestone terraces empty. Even if you want to visit during the dry season, you won’t be able to because the area is closed off.

As mentioned, Kaparkan Falls is regulated by the local government. The max carrying capacity of the falls is 100 people at a time so visitors are only allowed in batches. Three hours are allotted per batch so maximize your stay at this natural wonder! Keep in mind that you might have to wait for your turn if a group arrives before you.

You can further climb down the pools to explore the area more. The limestone steps are not slippery despite being wet, but exercise caution anyway. Please be advised that there is no rest room in the area.

4. Sangbay ni Ragsak (Falls of Happiness) 

Sangbay ni Ragsak is located at the Suyo. It was first named as Burayok and named Sangbay ni Ragsak by Barangay Captain of Patoc-ao August of 2007. It is approximately 30 m in height. Its natural formation is inherent to mountain terrain. It attracts local and foreign tourists seeking ecological and natural surroundings to enjoy. Its pool area is not deep for diving. Nevertheless, it’s good for dipping with its cool waters.

5. Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) 

The Banaue Rice Terraces are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao, in the Philippines, by the ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are occasionally called the "Eighth Wonder of the World". It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The whole address is  Nueva Vizcaya - Ifugao - Mountain Province Rd, Banaue, Ifugao.

8.  Yamashita Cave 

Yamashita Cave is located at the Cervantes. Yamashita cave was the barracks of General Yamashita during the World War II wherein he and his soldiers executed their last stand in the war. The cave was found in the depths of the mountains. Rumors said that treasures are found beneath the cave which has the range of 64 meters.

9. Skyline 

The whole address of this skyline is Santiago - Banayoyo - Lidlidda - San Emilio - Quirino Rd, Quirino, Ilocos Sur. Visitors planning to visit the place would have to travel roads that could remind them of their Baguio City trips with all the long, winding and steep roads.  As visitors traverse the twisty mountain road, they would surely feel the temperature getting much cooler.  Drivers really need to be more defensive as visibility sometimes gets reduced due to fogs.

So you can witness for yourself the unfolding of the breath-taking yet sometimes rare sea of clouds, it is advised to travel early so you can arrive at around 5 AM.  If you are lucky as we were, the clouds will be there for your enjoyment.

Skyline has a view deck and they are currently constructing a new one.  When it is clear and it’s not foggy, the view deck offers a bird’s eye view of Quirino, Ilocos Sur, Tubo mountains and the Abra river.  Often in late afternoons, fogs would descend and there won’t be much of a view.  Your only consolation would be the teeth-clattering wind.

The place is gaining popularity here in Ilocos Sur and in our neighboring provinces like Abra and La Union.  Some riders from Baguio and Manila even take a detour to Quirino just to avail themselves of the sea of clouds without having to see one in Mt. Pulag.

For the hungry visitors, there’s a nearby store that offers hot water and cup noodles.  But of course, you can always bring your own coffee and snacks.  Just be sure to leave nothing but your footprints.  For a better outdoor experience, some visitors would even bring their camping tents and stay there overnight.

10. Hidden Garden

The address is  008 Katipunan St, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.  Hidden Garden features a restaurant and a cafe in a relaxing setting filled with tropical plants and flowers, carved wooden sculptures, and lots of clay pots. Taste some local delicacies at the restaurant or just walk around the garden past a bonsai corner, an artificial grotto, and a large birdcage housing white cockatoos. You can also buy some plants and burnay jars--unglazed traditional pots typical for Vigan. So you must bring money and personal hygiene etc.

Ilocos Sur Province Vacation Packages

Want to book a vacation to Ilocos Sur Province? Whether you're off for a romantic vacation, family trip, or an all-inclusive holiday, Ilocos Sur Province vacation packages on Tripadvisor make planning your trip simple and affordable.

Find the perfect vacation package for Ilocos Sur Province on Tripadvisor by comparing Ilocos Sur Province hotel and flight prices. Travelers like you have written 3,514 reviews and posted 43 candid photos for Ilocos Sur Province hotels. Book your Ilocos Sur Province vacation today!

Now that you already know the example tourist spots I mentioned or discussed a while ago, it’s time for you to book a flight or ferry trip. Enjoy at sure Ilocos asSURes fecility!

[elminx]

My Personal Death Witch Correspondence List

It’s my opinion that correspondences should always be personal - if you don’t connect with a particular plant or crystal, it won’t do anything to help your work.  But here are some that have worked well FOR ME as a starting point for your own personal exploration.

Botanicals

Acorns/Oak - oak is a very prevalent tree spirit where I live and it’s kind, protective nature works well with the dead.  I love to bring fresh-picked acorns as a seasonal gift.

Chrysanthemum - An Autumn flower that is closely associated with the dead and often planted in cemeteries.   Dries beautifully and can be used as a later Winter offering when flowers are scarce.

Frankincense - an OG spirit scent, frankincense has been used for centuries for worship and spirituality.  This works especially well for spirits of the jeudo-Christian faiths, but I have never found a spirit that didn’t enjoy a good frankincense.   Bonus: incense sticks are easy to bring to a cemetery.

Lavender - lavender is sweet, floral, and calming which I find works well when dealing with restless spirits.  It also can be extremely calming for you if you are nervous and dealing with your spirits.

Marigold - Closely associated with the Mexican festival Dia de Muertos, marigolds are a beautiful and colorful addition to any ancestor altar. They are also cheap and readily accessible where I live.   They also dry well and make a great option for a later Winter offering when local flowers are harder to come by.

Rosemary - Rosemary is for remembrance, right?   Rosemary has been connected with the dead since the ancient Greeks used to throw it in the graves of the recently deceased.   I burn it, decorate my house with it, and use its essential oils in ritual.

Roses - another plant that you often find in cemeteries, roses were a favorite scent in a time before modern perfumes were made popular.   Roses are great because they can symbolize a lot of different things based upon color associations and so you have many choices.

Tea - a nice and sweet gift that you can bring for the spirits in general or make for a particular spirit that can be “poured out” in the cemetery.   This can be herbal tea made with other correspondence from this list or more traditional black tea as you feel called to make.  Bonus, bring some for yourself in the thermos and have tea with your spirits.

Stones/Earth/Dirt

Obsidian - this seems like a no-brainer to me.   I always have imagined that Tartaris/Hell/your name of choice is made of obsidian.  I keep a chunk of obsidian that is personally dedicated to Hades but also use a bunch of raw Apache’s Tears in my protection work.

Lava stone - do you sense a theme here yet?  I’m a bit of a volcano witch which is sorta funny given that I live in the Northeast where there are no volcanoes.  Sometimes you don’t choose the magick, the magick chooses you.  Lava stones, also known as basalt, is deeply grounding which is important when dealing with the spirits.  Plus, it was born of the creation of the Earth itself which is wicked cool.  Extra bonus, you can use it to carry the scents of EO from the botanicals above while interacting with spirit.   This is also a great connection to the goddess Hel/Helya/Hella if you are interested in working with her.

Smokey Quartz - you must see my theme by now.  Quartz is good for boosting magick and smokey quartz adds the deeper lower chakra energies which send us into the ground.

Graveyard dirt - I’ll be specific here.  Dirt from a graveyard with which you are intimately familiar.   That you collected yourself.  Buying graveyard dirt offline is super weird and do you even know where it came from?   I use the graveyard dirt from my cemetery in protective and darker magicks - it is my way of involving my spirits when they could not otherwise be there.

Ancestor Dirt - I separated this out because I think that it is important if you wish to practice death witchcraft to involve and venerate your ancestors.  If you can, get dirt specifically from their graves.  My dirt comes the grave of my Grandmother who was my closest family member.  I use this primarily in protective and ancestor work.

Crossroads Dirt - not all death witches work with crossroads deities, but I suggest making friends with one.   This is very helpful for liminal work in general and all road opening work.  If you’re not good with working with deities, there are multiple liminal animals (crow for instance) who can also be cultivated for this purpose.

Bones - not technically dirt or rocks, but connected to the ground.  Please ethically source!   I tend to pick up everything that I can that is made of bones - I have a rune set made of cattle bone and a few years ago my brother gifted me with a set of dominos from the Civil War that is also made from bones.  These always sit on my ancestor altar.  I also have the bones of a bear spirit that I recovered and cleaned myself.

Cremains - still not technically dirt or rocks, but this is an amazing connection to your family and your past pets if you can get your hands on it.  I have my spirit familiar Elric’s cremains in a beautiful wooden box gifted to me by the cremation company - it sits on my ancestor altar.  One of my coven mates was able to get some of her Grandfather’s ashes to add to her altar recently too.

Other

Booze - spirits for the spirits is an obvious one.  There is an age-long connection between the dead and their love of alcohol whether it be wine or something harder.   I find that some spirits are picky about what they want to drink and others are just happy to be remembered, so listen carefully and take note.

Water - I have a lovely teacup that belonged to my Nana.  I keep it filled with water and a bit of the dirt from her grave.  Watering it is one of my weekly rituals that keeps me connected to her.

Food - Did your family members have foods that they specifically liked to eat?   I give my Nana candy because she had a major sweet tooth.  I also try to make my family’s recipe of tourterie (French meat pies) once a year for the ancestors.  For the most part, I keep food to an inside offering though as I don’t want to sicken wild animals with food that they shouldn’t eat.

Items of Cultural Significance - Though I practice paganism, my ancestors were primarily Catholic and I honor that tradition.   I have gifted them with a number of beautiful pieces of Catholic memorabilia that I collected from around the world.  My husband's family is Scottish, so Scotch is one of the things that gets offered up to those ancestors.  I also make a point of harvesting Scottish thistle for our ancestor altar.

******

This list is by no means exhaustive, but merely what I thought of in two sessions of brainstorming.  I may add more later as it comes to me. Like my work?  Please consider Buying me a Ko-Fi

[hyssopandbee]

I contacted the Landreth Seed Company about their African American Heritage Collection, made with recommendations by Michael Twitty. While they no longer carry the collection, they did share this graphic with me so people can still follow these guidelines!

I’ve transcribed the info below in case the image quality doesn’t carry over and to make this more accessible:

Recommendations by Michael Twitty, Culinary Historian of Traditional African American Food Culture

Michael Twitty is a community scholar of traditional African American food culture, a Hebrew school teacher and an independent living history interpreter. For ten years he has been involved in many projects related to exploring foodways from the Smithsonian to Colonial Williamsburg and has presented at conferences related to the subject. His personal initiative is to document the West and Central African heritage in the regions where his ancestors were enslaved. His first book, Fighting Old Nep: The Foodways of Enslaved Afro-Marylanders 1634-1864 is a compendium of his extensive research enriched with recipes which he has collected from the descendants and writing of enslaved peoples.

Mr. Twitty has generously given of his time, knowledge, and experience to assist and guide the D. Landreth Seed Company in assembling this unique collection of heirloom seeds-- seeds that were carried by enslaved peoples from Africa and the Caribbean. The fruits and vegetables harvested from these seeds became the dietary staples of the African American family. On the anniversary of its 225th year, Landreth is pleased to offer this collection for all peoples who treasure freedom.

Vegetables

(H) Brown Crowder (A Cow Pea) - Brought from West Africa to America during the slave trade, it was noted in antebellum Mississippi in the 1860′s

(H) California Black-eyed Peas (A Cow Pea) - This prolific cowpea has assumed mystical properties-- attracting money, giving fertility, and bringing good luck on New Year’s Day

Sieva (Carolina) Butter Bean (A Pole Lima Bean) - Called “sivvy” or butter beans by generations of Southerners, and especially loved in the Charleston area

(H) Cabbage, Charleston Wakefield - Used in generations by Black cooks as a base for Low Country “vegetable bunch” soup

Cabbage, Late Flat Dutch - Praised in Black folksongs from Virginia, “biled down” and eaten with hoecakes

(H) Georgia Southern Collards - Captaincies. William Feltman rode through Virginia in the 1760′s and saw enslaved Blacks growing “snaps and collerds” (sic) in their gardens

(H) West India Burr Gherkin (A Pickling Cucumber) - Introduced by Minton Collins in Richmond in 1793, the plant was originally brought from Angola to the Caribbean 

(H) Eggplant, Louisiana Long Green - Introduced by Africans and Spaniards into Southern and Creole cuisine, they were grown in the gardens of enslaved Louisianians 

(H) Gourd, Long Handled Dipper - Immortalized in “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” this was the most common vessel used in the rural South gracing most fences

(H) Gourd, Birdhouse/Bottle - Used to carry beverages to the fields and hung to attract purple martins to deter other birds from the crops

(H) Mustard, Southern Giant Curled - Grown in the Upland South since the 1740′s. Different mustard greens were sown with tobacco in beds to deter pests

(H) Burgundy Okra - A beautiful red okra that turns green after cooking

(H) Cowhorn Okra - The oldest variety of okra grown in the U.S., less mucilaginous, it makes excellent okra soup and gumbos

(H) Jumbo Peanuts - Brought to Virginia during the slave trade, peanuts were called “goober” from the Kimbundu people of Central Africa

(H) Hot Pepper, Caribbean Red (A Red Habanero) - Known as the Scotch Bonnet Pepper, it may have been grown in the South since the 18th century

(H) Hot Pepper, Long Red Cayenne - 1,000 were ordered by Josiah Collins in the 1700′s to season the food of his slaves, brought directly from Africa to North Carolina

(H) Hot Pepper, Fish Pepper - A favorite in Maryland brought From Africa or the Caribbean and used to season seafood, shellfish, terrapin, and chicken dishes

(H) Hot Pepper, Habanero - Another variety of Scotch Bonnet, it’s the secret to perfect Jamaican “jerked” chicken, meat, or fish

(H) Pumpkin, Green Striped Cushaw - Known as the “sweet potato pumpkin,” it was brought from Jamaica to the Chesapeake in the late 1700′s

(H) Pumpkin, White Cushaw - Another variety of “potato pumpkin,” more popular in the Lower South

(H) Spinach, Climbing Red Malabar - The crisp green known as “calalloo” in the West Indies 

(H) Summer Squash, White Bush Scallop - Known as “cymling squash,” this was one of the most common vegetables purchased by the Jefferson family from their enslaved workforce

(H) Tomato, Cherokee Purple - Representative of the great Southern folk tomatoes grown on family farmsteads, cold tolerant and flavorful

(H) Tomato, Purple Calabash - Enslaved Africans were among the first to popularize the tomato in the American South

(H) Turnip, Seven Top - The classic Southern “turnip green,” it produces a woody inedible root but luxurious, self-replenishing greens 

(H) Watermelon, Georgia Rattlesnake - Watermelons were introduced from Africa during colonial times; this variety reflects heirloom varieties grown from the 1830′s onward

Grains

(H) Dragon Finger Millet - Representative of the staple grains grown in West Africa. Millet is a sacred crop used to bless homes. A highly ornamental, yet productive grain used for cereal or flour. The seedhead resembles a dragon’s foot. Plant is 3 ft tall.

Herbs

(H) Basil, Genovese - Grown for good luck and to prevent negative energy near the doorway of the household

(H) Cress, Upland - Known as “creasy greens,” they provided a spicy contrast to other leafy vegetables

(H) Dandelion - Beloved for their greens and the wine-flavoring blossoms

(H) Parsley, Plain or Single - Used by Mary Randolph to top off okra soup and fried chicken in the Virginia Housewife

(H) Sage - Used to season “kush,” an enslaved precursor to Southern cornbread stuffing; also made into a medicinal tea

(H) Spearmint - Used to make mint teas for centuries in West Africa, and iced tea and mint juleps in the South

(H) Thyme - Used as a flavoring herb and to curb the growth of bacteria

Business note: We warrant that our seed conforms to the label description as required by federal and state seed laws. We make no other warranties express or implied, of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise. Liability for damages for any cause, including breach of contract, breach of warranty, and negligence, with respect to this sale of seeds is limited to a refund of the purchase price of seeds; this remedy is exclusive. In no event shall we be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, including loss of profit.

[zutaradreams]

Day 5: Southern Water Tribe Culture

When Lu Ten dies, Iroh flees with his nephew to the Southern Water Tribe. This takes place closer to the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War; Zuko and Iroh are not royalty.

AO3

@zutaramonth

In the Fire Nation, he would be training in the Academy. He would be learning drills, formations, weapons, and achieve mastery of his bending. 

But he would likely be dead by his eighteenth birthday, just like the cousin he couldn’t mention anymore on account of his uncle’s enduring grief. When his cousin died in the fighting, his uncle reacting by renouncing the Fire Nation and its war, removing Zuko from the Academy, and relocating the two of them to the farthest point of the world, the South Pole. 

Uncle fit in instantly. In no time at all, he was a tribesman. He hunted, and played music, and brewed their neighbors the most delicious pots of tea. But Zuko had never felt more like an outsider. He looked nothing like these people. He didn’t bend their element. He didn’t like their food. He didn’t want to learn to hunt or sail, but that was the way of life here, and as much as he wanted to change it, this was his life now. 

After some time, he grew to like the nights. Under the colors of the Southern Lights, the village gathered together. They ate, and drank, and danced. They laughed and told stories. Zuko liked the stories. He liked watching the young children gather in front of the elders and listen. It reminded him of the way he and Lu Ten would sit at his uncle’s feet and listen to stories from his youth. It was the only time he got to hear about his mother and father. Then those stories ended, and the children would go to bed. 

The adults stayed up a little longer. This was their time to drink more, dance more, and indulge in stories with more adult content. Zuko was sixteen, and he recently completed the rite of passage for boys in the Southern Water Tribe--commanding a large umiak through ice-ridden waters. He was a man by the tribe’s standards. He was happy to stay with everyone a little longer, because, though he would never admit it, he really liked watching the girls dance. 

“You should ask one of the pretty young ladies to dance with you,” his uncle encouraged one night. “There are many your age.”

“No, thanks, Uncle.”

“They would not say no to such a handsome young man.”

He sunk lower in his seat in embarrassment, pulling at his parka. “No, thanks, Uncle,” he grunted. 

“The Chief’s daughter is a very nice girl.” 

His eyes snapped to her, dancing in the middle of the room. She had a tiny drum in her hand, and she beat it in perfect rhythm with the others playing the song. Her hair was falling out of its style, and her cheeks flushed from the exertion, but she looked so happy. He knew her. Everyone knew her. Everyone loved her. He couldn’t dance with her. Katara was the prettiest girl of them all, and the kindest. There was no way she would dance with him. There was no way he could even presume to ask her. 

“It is also very attractive to young women when a man makes their interest known.”

“Please stop.” 

“Oh, the sensitivity of youth.” 

A few more nights passed like this, eating salty food, listening to the stories, enduring the pestering of his uncle, and watching Katara dance. He used to appreciate looking at all the girls his age, but he found himself more and more entranced by Katara. 

She approached him eventually, and he thought he was about to face the most humiliating moment of his life. He thought she’d finally caught him staring at her and had come to tell him to get lost. But then she smiled at him. 

“Do you like to dance?”

“Not really. I’m no good at it.” 

She laughed. “Neither am I.”

“No, I’ve seen you. You’re amazing.” 

When he admitted that, he blushed, thinking he’d said too much, but she smiled wider and her nose crinkled in the most charming way. “Everyone says girls aren’t supposed to ask boys to dance, but I’m tired of waiting. Would you like to dance with me?” 

In a minute, his heart belonged to her. He finally understood every love story the elders ever told. “Yes, I would. Very much.” 

“Well, come on then.” 

He knew enough about Southern Water Tribe culture to know that dances were their own language. One dance among men and women meant “nice to meet you”. Two dances, “I enjoy your company”. Three dances, “we should discuss entering an official courtship”. Zuko and Katara danced seven, every dance until the night ended.

He was carving her betrothal necklace within a year. During that time, Zuko learned to appreciate life in the Southern Water Tribe even more. As Katara’s betrothed, he developed a good relationship with Chief Hakoda, who he often accompanied on hunts and trips to trading posts. 

He now knew the stories well enough to recite them to the young boys he taught to carve weapons. The most important story of all was the story of the Underworld. 

We go to the sea when we die. We bury our dead at sea, so their souls may find their bodies below. Our ancestors live in the Underworld. They push the tides, and they send us fish, and they guide our ships home. 

It was the most integral belief of the Southern Water Tribe, the faith in an afterlife below the sea, and it was the story Zuko loved the most. On every fishing trip, at every trading post, he liked to believe his parents and his cousin played a part in guiding him home to his uncle and Katara. 

Oftentimes, at the trading posts, they received updates about the war. The airbenders had all been killed, one man said, and the Earth Kingdom was preparing their military for a retaliatory strike against the Fire Nation. They were never going to win, though, even with the numbers. Like he told Katara, it was the responsibility of every married woman in the Fire Nation to bear at least two sons to be absorbed into the Academy at the age of six. His mother died before she gave birth to a second; he still didn’t know what happened to his father. 

He married Katara under an archway of ice, adorned with frost-covered vines and carvings of their Gods for protection. She used her bending to help him build the home they would share for the rest of their lives. He developed a taste for the salted meats and burning alcohol. The bitter cold of day became worth it for the encompassing warmth of their marriage bed. 

This was why Uncle brought him here. This was true family, community, safety, peace, and love. 

Then came the black snow. Fire Nation steamships charged through their icy waters and unloaded Academy-trained soldiers on the shores of their village. These were the men who looked like him, who thought like him, who could control their inner fire as precisely as he could. These were the kindred citizens of his homeland who had come to destroy his home. 

And they wanted Katara.

She fought alongside him and the other warriors. Male and female waterbenders joined her, and it became obvious the waterbenders had been the target all along. Bone clashed with steel; fire fought fire; water subdued flame; and somewhere in the middle, Katara’s body laid still along the ice. 

They left the dead as a “kindness”. They took prisoners as another, his uncle among them. The world was a darker place after that, a place he didn’t want to live anymore. 

Our loved ones live in the sea when they die. They have no need to breathe air, for they are immortal. They have no need to hunt. They do not know cold or strife. They just live. 

When the tribe sent Katara’s body with the rest out to sea, he followed her. He could hear the shouts for him to come back. He could feel Hakoda grab his soldiers and try to pull him from the water, but he had to follow her. The ice-cold waves lapped around his hips, then his shoulders, and then they rose above his head. He was sinking, drifting deeper and deeper, closer and closer, on his way to meet Katara in the Underworld. 

[rockofeye]

Can you talk a little about how Vodou looks at death and how it's dealt with religiously?

Hi there,

I can definitely try...there's a lot to talk about!

Death is a very present reality in Vodou, because it is a very present reality in Haiti. People die with frightening frequency in Haiti, and from things that, in Western cultures, can appear to be so minor. Roughly 72% of children born in Haiti do not live past the age of 5, and things like diarrhea can be a death sentence. Death is sort of a specter hanging over everything.

How that manifests in the religion is via Gede; Gede is embodied hope. Not also does Gede represent the joys of life (sex, drinking, good food, laughter, dirty jokes, children, etc) that fly in the face of what might be daily pain but Gede brings the promise of everlasting life and a release from our burdens. Gede is freed from social conventions and the pains of daily living, and he reminds us that we are people of happiness, too, even when there is suffering, and that our lives are not in vain because we will not be forgotten.

So, in that way, death is always present with us and, like Gede, can come at any time. The djevo can be our respite from death, as that is the one place Gede cannot follow us. He sits outside the djevo and awaits our return to life, as it were, but death and the dead cannot step into that form of life and re-birth.

In fact, the asson speaks to that; Gede is not welcomed or called with the asson because it is a symbol of life and re-birth. Instead, he can be welcomed with the tchatcha/kwakwa as a nod towards Gede as an ancestor of us all.

When someone who has passed through that sort of re-birth dies, particular ceremonies are done to make sure the different parts of their soul go where they are supposed to; back to God and under the water to rest for at least a year and a day. If a soul has a family to claim it, it can be lifted from anba dlo to be welcomed as an ancestor.

If it is a soul that has no one to claim it, it remains anba dlo to rest for eternity or, if Bawon Samdi wills it, to be elevated after a period of time to serve as Gede. New Gede are born all the time. Some say Gede are simply the forgotten dead, some say Gede are the dead who have burdens to work off from their lives or how they lived.

And...we believe that the ancestors seek to return home to the family. In Western parlance, this is a belief of reincarnation of sorts. It isn't like how it is described in most new age media; there is no determining who is/isn't an ancestor or any pomp and circumstance, we simply believe that the lwa facilitate the ancestors finding their way back. We live in faith with that, and so we act accordingly and treat all people who come to the door as if they are our beloved grandmother or cousin or parent returned to us. If it is truly where they are meant to be, they will find home there, and if not...their soul/higher self continues to seek that right place where their family lives. Our job as priests are to be good hosts and to make sure the doorway is swept clean for them because they are who allow to stand where we are; each priest is backed by the unbroken lineage of priests who birthed their parent and by their own personal dead.

So...death permeates so much of the religion and is a key piece of so much of what is believed and practiced. I hope this touches on what you were asking; please let me know if you have more questions or if I can expound on any of this.

[ashandboneca]

The Gods and UPG

I should start out by saying that this is my own viewpoint, but I know a number of people who see things similarly to me. Theology, religion, and spirituality have always been an interest of mine. I'm drawn to it, because my scientific mind is always trying to make sense of the things I read, see, hear, and experience.

The questions we really need to ask are this: what are gods? Who are they? Why do they differ depending on culture, and why are there similarities in tandem with the differences? How do we define them in our modern age of reason?

To me, the gods can be many things. I have seen them described as an energy force, as living beings, as archetypes, as parts of a giant whole, as venerated ancestors. Depending on the culture and the other permeating beliefs, you see different parts of these more predominantly in some cultures than others. To the Egyptians, the gods represented the natural world - figures melded with animal parts, with recurrent themes of life, death, resurrection. To the Greeks (and Romans), the gods were tempestuous archetypes, mingled with sex and fear and anger, full of vengeance. To the Celtic, Germanic, and Scandinavian people, the gods were living beings, venerated ancestors or great kings and queens who were mortal and flawed but wise and eternal. In some cultures, the gods represented a physical feature - a hill, a mountain, the sea.

The ancient people were superstitious and wary. They did not have the scientific enlightenment we do now, but they had a very deep relationship with the land. Even the ancient kings and queens relied heavily on their farmers and serfs to provide food for their people. Everything that we know now - ph levels of the soil, herbicides to keep pests away - would have been considered magic back then. We have science and reason to explain things (and even so, we cannot explain everything), they had the gods. Whether the gods themselves existed before the people started praying to them, or the prayers brought the gods into being is a chicken/egg question. The people were seeking to please the gods, or work the will of the gods, or curry the favour of the gods. In the case of venerated ancestors, the same clause stands. You have someone who is renown for being brave, wise, and cunning - people admire, honour, and seek to emulate that person. Stories are told, embellished, and gods are born.

The gods, like most deities, are products of their time. Practices that would have been very common 2000 years ago are not something we would necessarily practice today - at least, not in it's original form. We may offer sacrifice, but it is doubtful we would use a human, or even an animal (without consuming the animal, at least). We do not necessarily fear the gods, as most cultures did then - we now seek to work with them and gain their favour, and we relish their attention. We live in an age of advanced science, where it is unlikely we are surrounded with likeminded believers. While we all recognize that each sect of pagan theology is gaining and maintaining followers and celebrants, we are not as populous or plentiful as we once were. To most modern day people, believing in any of the old gods seems silly and superstitious (and to some, outright stupid). It goes against the grain, and we are the minorities.

There are theories that the belief in something somehow makes it’s stronger - many people funnelling their energy and focus to one being gives that being more standing and power. Could it not be said that the opposite is also true? As people converted their belief from the pagan gods to the Christian god, would those beings not wane in power? The centres of power for these gods - the Parthenon, Gamla Uppsala, and Stonehenge, for example - have been christianized, left to ruin, or left to neglect.

Thus, I wholly believe that in order for the gods to survive, they need to adapt. They need to evolve and grow, as people and society have done, in order to remain in tact. I think that recognizing our roots, ancestry, and where we come from is very, very important. I think honouring those things is also important. However, I think that everyone experiences the gods in a different way, and I think these gods are wise enough to be able to choose with whom they cavort. People, especially in North America, are more diverse than we would have been 2000 years ago - how many of us can claim a vast cultural canvas as our genetic makeup? I myself have French, English, Scottish, German, Swedish and Danish (with bits of Dutch, Luxembourger, and Irish), but large parts of my family have been in Canada since the 1600’s. Which parts of our genetics should we tap into? Should the circumstances of our birth force us to turn our backs on what we are drawn to work with? What about those who are adopted, should they just guess, or choose the genetics of their adoptive families?

The gods, if they are as powerful as I believe they are, are not foolish. They know that to survive, they must adapt. It is a very scientific way of thinking - sort of like behavioural modernity. Just as we evolved to start making clothes out of animal hide or how we evolved lactase persistence (which allows modern humans to continue drinking milk past childhood), the gods have had to be less picky and learn new ways in which people worship. It’s not that they are settling or that it’s somehow lesser than it was - it’s more learning to work with new tools. Like moving to a new climate and having to adjust how you dress and travel.

This theory that I hold is why I am so vocal in supporting people working with whichever pantheon they are drawn to, and why I think UPG is so important.

UPG (unverified personal gnosis) is almost essential when you are working with gods or doing any manner of ecstatic practice. Wikipedia states

“…attempts at recreating or restarting ancient religions continue, the difficulty in telling the difference between historically attested sources and modern, personal interpretations grows. All myths and legends started at some point in the human past with one person or group's experience; thus it would be inappropriate to dismiss out-of-hand a new experience. UPG grew out of the need for a shorthand in differentiating the two.”

Dismissing someone’s experience simply because it is not something you experienced is like dismissing someone’s pain experience with a sunburn because you have never had one. All we have as human beings is experienced - we are constantly taking in information, and outputting thoughts and ideas. All of our innovations and inventions came from experiences that the inventors had that others hadn’t.

If someone’s personal experience isn’t the same as yours, it is not a slight. It’s simply something they have experienced that you haven’t that holds significance to them and not you. That is okay and perfectly normal.

I think if we constantly work in a state of historical accuracy, we are missing the mystic, and if constantly work in a state of UPG, we are missing the sage. There is wisdom in the lessons and words of others - we need those to ground us and centre us. There is enlightenment in personal experience - we need to think outside of the box. It is a beautiful marriage of both of these halves that gives us the enriching experience of working with magic, the gods, and the universe. We seek to emulate the gods, and so we should evolve as they do.