#Eclectic Book Blog

[booksteacupandreviews]

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune - uplifting cozy LGBTQ fantasy

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a heart-melting, uplifting cozy LGBTQ fantasy about love, kindness, and the power of family. Somewhere Beyond the Sea SynopsisReviewMy favorite QuotesBook Links Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by T.J. Klune Publication Date : September 10, 2024 Publisher : Tor Books Read Date : November 13, 2024 Genre : Fantasy / LGBTQ Pages : 416 Source :…

[freyjalestrange]

Candle Color Correspondences from Wicca Wicks Storefront - https://www.amazon.com/stores/WiccaWicks/Homepage/page/8C2DBB99-E443-49CF-84A2-A2E359778B07?ref_=cm_sw_r_apann_ast_store_VNGDJVC31BEW62V3H7K5&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto

[occultismtomorrow]

THE EASY MONEY SPELL THAT GOT ME 100$ IN THREE DAYS! (beginner friendly!)

INGREDIENTS:

Incense

Spell Jar

Cinnamon

Salt

Cloves

Cinnamon sticks

Bay Leaf

Moon water

Candle (Preferably Green or White)

My story:

So when it comes to finances, I’ve been down on my luck. Job searching hasn’t gone quite the best, and I needed money QUICK. I looked at my counter, and I realized I had an empty jar, which I got from the dollar store,

After doing the spell, I carried it with me everywhere, and 3 days later, my absent grandfather (he was never in my life growing up at all, in fact he had abandoned my mother) showed up unannounced and with an invitation to dinner. When there, he handed me 100$ as a gift.

The part you’ve been waiting for, how to make!

Light your green or white candle. Get your spell jar and cleanse with incense, although I also like to double cleanse using a traditional Den-den daiko.

I break the cinnamon sticks (if your jar is big enough, you don’t have to do this), I used 2 sticks. Then, I coated it with another layer of cinnamon.

There, I added in my cloves, and proceeded to coat it with salt.

I got my bay leaf, and with pencil (although you can use marker, eyeliner, etc) I wrote “Money” and put it in the jar.

Here comes my favorite part!

With my candle still on, I close the jar shut, and circle the jar around the candle saying

“Money money come to me

In abundance three times three

May I be enriched on the best of ways

Harming none on its way

This I accept, so mote it be

Bring me money three times three!”

I do and say this three times. Then, I blow out the candle, and pour the wax on the jar to close it shut and seal the spell.

Congratulations! You’ve just done a money spell!

(I’m planning on making a series for easy spells! If you enjoyed, please reblog and follow!)

[light-of-delphi]

Witchy Reminder!!

Don't forget to go through your Book of Shadows and make sure the information is accurate!! As your practice grows and develops, you might unlearn certain things or find new verified sources that don't line up with the information you thought you knew, or that bring it into a new perspective or light. Go back and check! Make sure the information you're learning is the right information!

And most importantly - remember that there is nothing wrong with being *wrong!* In fact, being wrong is an important part of your practice! Admitting you're wrong shows humility and courage. It takes a lot to admit that you're wrong.

And remember to go through your Grimoire and make sure that your spells are up to date, and see if any of them could be improved! I'm not a witch that does a lot of potions or spell jars, rather, I work with sigils, bowls, charms, and enchantments, but I still try to make sure that my spells and such are all up to date and still aligned with my current practice.

Again. It is never a bad thing, to be wrong. And owning up to it is even better. Updates are important in your practice! Yes, tradition is important, especially in folk practices and family-lineage crafts, but it is okay to throw some personality, flair, and nuance into your spells and charms. It is okay to throw in some modernization or updates into traditional crafts. Don't be afraid to stray away from tradition.

That being said, I'm currently going through one of my old book of shadows and cross-referencing information, and I encourage you to do the same when you can! And if you're unsure of the difference between a book of shadows and a grimoire, I'll be making a post on that (will link it here when it's done). Blessed be, and may the Sun be your guide! A domani!

[tadpoles-and-daydreams]

In case anyone needs to hear it, sometimes spellwork looks like this and that's okay.

Like seriously the whole spell I recently did I was sat with Loki, wrapped up in a blankie cocoon, sipping my coffee (which is a glorified caffeinated chocolate milkshake.)

Loki was SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS SPELL y'all. Was insistent that I didn't even have to do "part two" bc "part one" was powerful enough. They told me it was a really big spell, and I honestly felt it- this was some intense work.

Part one was typing with intent and channeling Loki's energy into my intent since Loki wanted to be the main energy source. Literally I looked like that^ the whole time. Spellwork can look cozy if you want it too.

[aerosolspritz]

intro !!⋆˚࿔ 🍂🌖🥮✨

꩜ hii !! i'm celeste, welcome to my blog 😚

꩜ i am 20 yrs old, hispanic/native, and use she/her :)

꩜ this is a personal blog for things like my art, books i'm reading/book reviews, photography/life diaries, and my interests, which i'll list some of below !!

-`✮´- 60's-90's fashion + art

-`✮´- vintage cars (or just cars i like lol)

-`✮´- history, art history, archaeology, linguistics, biology, physics

-`✮´- witchcraft/paganism

-`✮´- nature - hiking, foraging, bird watching, etc.

-`✮´- art - drawing, painting, photography, crochet, sewing + DIY, crafts, clay/pottery

-`✮´- reading and writing

-`✮´- halloween, fall, all things spooky 🎃

-`✮´- movies and tv - especially horror or older comedies. both older classic cinema, newer cinema, and silly "degenerate" cinema (lol)

-`✮´- video games !! primarily switch, or PC (i have a nintendo hyperfixation lol, esp nintendo ds !!)

-`✮´- collecting !! i just love collecting things <3 toys, rocks, keychains, plushies, etc., show me ur collections pls 😞

obviously there is much more, but these are my BIGGEST interests and what i think this blog will primarily focus on.

i'm always looking for moots and new friends, so feel free to send me a dm, follow, or like/rb this to be... bffs? 😳🫣

[iputaspellonyou2024]

Do you have a Book of Shadows? I wish mine was as beautiful as this!

[witchygirlgray333]

Some pages from my new grimoire! (My grimoire is more like a book of shadows but I call it a grimoire)

[booksteacupandreviews]

The Nightmare Before Kissmas (Royals and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch - Holiday themed queer romance

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is an engaging, heartwarming, and magical Holiday themed queer romance with an amazing concept and lovable characters. The Nightmare Before KissmasSynopsisReviewYou might enjoy The Nightmare Before Kissmas if you like,Book Links The Nightmare Before Kissmas (Royals and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch Publication Date : October 8, 2024 Publisher : Bramble Read Date :…

[sporadicarbitergardener]

Weed ashes and Ciggerette ashes II

Also I like to mix both and use the ashes wisely only in oil with a dash and keep reusing the oil while giving it a protection prayer as well.

To keep the balance. Energy and candle work plays a big part as well on how the magic goes as well.

Just some tips.

Felicity Lyn Seymour

A hexe witch, with some lunar, believed to be reincarnated as well. I am Lunar. I am nature. I do use the Bible for refence while studying word knowledge on it as well. Following all rules of the magic no no's written as well.

[occultismtomorrow]

I’ve been feeling such a strong strong strong and powerful connection to the moon!

Kind of unrelated, but on a similar note, last night I had a dream with lots of owls and hawks flying and right before I woke up I heard “Hekate”??? 😭?

[stellaspectral]

I just recently found your blog and to say I absolutely love your writing is definitely an understatement.

I really love your post about Dating rise Donnie headcanons, and was wondering if you could do a version of it for rise Leo? Of course, if this has already been requested or you can’t or don’t want to write it for any reason, no hard feelings!

Remember to take breaks and drink water!

A/N: Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! It truly means a lot! 😊 I can totally do a version of dating headcanons for Rise Leo! I haven’t had that specific request until now, so here they are 💖

(And I appreciate the reminder about breaks and hydration; I need to remember more often!)

Dating Rise Leo (SFW)

💙 ROTTMNT Leonardo/Gender Neutral Reader 💙

CWs: None. All characters are aged-up.

Leo is always trying to look cool to impress you. Expect unnecessary flips to grab something, leaning against walls/doorframes, etc. This is almost always accompanied by a smirk that’s trying its absolute hardest to be charming, and probably a wink or two.

He’ll find excuses to sling an arm over your shoulder, playfully nudge you, or ‘accidentally’ brush hands when reaching for the same thing. It’s his way of breaking the touch barrier under the guise of casual confidence.

Leo frames asking you out as a challenge: “Bet you can’t beat me at [video game/contest here]. If I win, you gotta go on a date with me. If you win …” He’ll pause and smirk. “… you still gotta go out on a date with me. ‘Cause winning is awesome and you should celebrate with someone equally as awesome—like me.” Then he’ll wink, hoping the bravado masks the nervousness.

Get ready for a barrage of cheesy pickup lines, usually delivered with finger guns and a hopeful smirk. “Are you a portal? ‘Cause I feel like I could just fall right into you.” or “Did it hurt? When you fell from … that moderately high ledge I just portaled you away from?” He thinks they’re hilarious and peak romance.

Playful teasing is Leo’s primary love language. He’ll gently poke fun at your quirks, engage in witty banter (or what he considers witty), and try to get a rise out of you. If you can dish it back, he’s absolutely thrilled. It becomes a friendly verbal sparring match he finds incredibly engaging.

He bestows upon you a series of increasingly ridiculous (and often pun-based) nicknames. He uses them frequently, testing them out to see which ones make you laugh, groan, or blush. It’s his way of creating an intimate inside joke between you two.

Leo will turn almost anything into a playful challenge, enjoying the lighthearted competition with you. He’s genuinely happy even if you win, though he’ll demand a rematch.

He’s not shy about showing affection. He’ll sling an arm around your shoulder, casually grab your hand, maybe even attempt a dramatic dip-kiss when the mood strikes. He wants everyone to know you’re his awesome partner.

Forget your jacket? Want snacks from the place across town? He’ll use his portal powers for you (and he definitely also uses them to make dramatic entrances when portalling to meet up with you.)

For dates, there will be rooftop picnics with breathtaking city views, some urban exploration, maybe a visit to the Coney Island Boardwalk. Back at the lair, prepare for extensive viewings of the Jupiter Jim franchise, complete with his commentary.

His gifts are … eclectic. Expect things like:

1. A t-shirt with a terrible pun: I Fell For You (Through a Portal) or You’ve Stolen a Pizza My Heart. 2. A coupon book for redeemable ‘Leo Services’: One free portal ride (destination may vary), One epic training montage soundtrack, or One distraction from boring chores. 3. Occasionally, he’ll nail it with something surprisingly thoughtful he overheard you mentioning weeks ago.

Got a big test, presentation, or event? Leo becomes your hype-man. He might leave encouraging (and pun-filled) notes via portal or send ridiculous motivational voice messages. He believes you’re amazing and wants you to succeed, even if his methods are extra.

While he loves being the center of attention, he also loves seeing you shine. If you achieve something cool or demonstrate a skill, he’s your loudest cheerleader. He’ll brag about you to his brothers and anyone else who’ll listen.

He thinks you’re the coolest person ever (besides himself, naturally) and he’ll hype up your interests, even if he doesn’t fully understand them. If you’re passionate about something, he’ll ask questions and encourage you enthusiastically.

If you’re upset or stressed, Leo’s go-to move is distraction. Feeling down? Suddenly, you’re sharing a pizza on top of the Chrysler Building and he’s cracking jokes to help you feel better. He might not always know the right words, but he excels at trying to make you laugh your worries away, even if just for a little while.

He also quickly learns your go-to comfort foods. He might not know exactly what to say, but he’ll appear with your favorite takeout, a specific type of candy, etc. Whatever you like. It’s his tangible way of trying to make things better.

The smirk drops fast if you’re in danger. One second he’s cracking a joke, the next his katanas are out, and he’s placing himself squarely between you and whatever threat dares approach. He might play it cool afterwards, but the fierce protectiveness in his eyes is unmistakable.

He’s not immune to jealousy. If someone else is clearly hitting on you, he won’t make a big scene. Instead, he subtly reasserts his presence with louder jokes, an arm over your shoulder, or suggesting you two leave for some place ‘way cooler.’

He picks up on your specific slang, your favorite obscure references, the particular way you phrase things. He’ll weave them into his own banter, just to see you smile or playfully roll your eyes. It’s his way of showing he listens and wants to connect on your level.

Just as you learn to read his moods beneath the jokes, he becomes surprisingly adept at reading yours. He notices the slight shift in your tone, the way you hold your shoulders when stressed, or the specific sigh that means you’re overwhelmed. He might not always react perfectly, but he sees it, and his attempts to cheer you up become more targeted.

While he projects effortless cool, you catch glimpses of the weight he feels as leader. He might get contemplative after a mission that didn’t go perfectly or seek your opinion on a tactical decision he’s mulling over. He values your perspective, even if he doesn’t always admit it directly.

Beneath the bravado, there are moments when the façade drops. Maybe after a tough mission or when he’s messed something up. He’ll get quieter, rest his head on your shoulder, and implicitly seek reassurance. He might not say he’s feeling insecure or scared, but you learn to read the signs, and being there for him in those moments deepens your connection immensely.

Leo’s gratitude often comes in quieter moments: a sincere “Thanks for putting up with me,” a hand squeeze after you’ve helped him through a moment of insecurity, or just a soft, genuine smile directed only at you. These subtle moments mean more from him than all the jokes and puns.

[maximumzombiecreator]

Do you often use random dungeon layout generators for your megadungeons? If so, how do you make those randomly generated layouts make sense as a space? I find that the eclectic nature of how the dungeon ends up looking makes it feel weird to consider the area as a real space instead of as the output to a random generator.

I use a lot of random generation when I make megadungeons, but I pretty much never use a layout generator. That's a solution to a different problem from the one that I have. Creating an assortment of rooms connected in random ways is pretty easy for me. The problem, as you note, is making the space engaging, making it make sense, making the connections logical but also interesting, etc.

But I do think random generation is a great way to juice your creativity! Getting external input that you then have to fit your ideas into often produces better results than just trying to create on a blank slate.

My most common random tools are roll tables for generating dungeon rooms and features. Worlds Without Number is the first book I reach for for most random tables, and it has some pretty solid tables for generating rooms, features in the rooms, connections, etc. I also have a bunch of tables saved from OSR blogs for generating interesting traps or dungeon features. Honestly just rolling for the number of exits a space has is one of the simplest ways to force myself to think creatively. When the dice tell me a bedroom has six exits, it means I need to re-evaluate what that bedroom is doing and I probably need to create some unusual exits.

I will use geomorphs sometimes. These are basically bespoke little fragments of dungeon created to be shuffled and combined randomly. Dyson Logos has a bunch of these, and I know @imsobadatnicknames2 has a bunch as well. These are good for creating a bunch of interesting connections and clever tiny bits that are great for finding interesting uses for. I've never used these to generate a whole dungeon, but for small fragments I really like them. I also have a set of them handy when I run a sandbox campaign in case the players somehow end up in a dungeon I didn't prep for at all.

Now, if you do want to use a randomly generated layout, whether from some tool, a dice generator, geomorphs, whatever, I have some advice for making sense of it: embrace the second occupant effect.

It's very common in dungeons that the people who built the dungeon and the current occupants are not the same group. It's an orcish ruin occupied by dwarves, it's an ancient temple being used as a bandit hideout, it's a wizard's keep overrun by demons, etc. The question that a random layout is going to have you asking is, "Why is this constructed this way?" and it's perfectly okay for the answer to be, "there's nobody left who knows." What was this big room with seven entrances built for? Well, nobody knows, but the goblins living there are using it as a dining hall.

If you're designing using this approach, you don't need an answer for every space. You can instead approach it the same way its new occupants did. Take it for granted that this is the space that exists, how would the new occupants use it? That weird room off to the side that's a pain to access? Well, who knows what it was built for, but it's cold storage now. This weird thoroughfare makes a perfectly good guard checkpoint. This big hole in the floor might have been used for casting spells at some point, but now it's a garbage dump. In this way, it's easy to come up with what rooms are now that doesn't require you to answer what a room was built for.

Using this approach, you still want to have good answers for what a room's original purpose was some of the time. If the space just never makes sense, players will stop trying to engage with it logically, and that's a big loss. Plus, using this effect most effectively, you get a lot of value out of knowing the previous purpose of a room. It can be easy for every kitchen to feel similar, but a kitchen that's been built on what used to be a foundry is instantly more interesting and easier to get creative with. But you get to pick and choose the parts of a random layout that look interesting, or that you have an easy time answering for, and make those the parts where the original purpose shines through. And then in the spaces where you're left saying, "What is with this snarl of hallways?" you can just have the answer be, "it's a mystery. Scholars theorize it served a ritual purpose."

[an-indecisive-nerd]

Introduction 2.0 (now with extra... something!)

I decided to make it a whole new post instead of editing the old one (yay new beginnings) partially because it's easier and partially so I could still have the old one so I remember what I said.

Anywhosies, let's get right into it shall we?

About Me!

Deadass forgot to introduce myself in my old intro, so let's do that this time.

My name is Madelyn, but most people on here call me Ain. I answer to either, so take your pick.

As my blog name suggests, I am a huge nerd. I've been writing since I was a youngster, and I assume/hope I'll be writing till the day I die. (When I say writing I do mean fantasizing about my characters and procrastinating doing any actual work.)

I mainly write fantasy or fantasy-esque stuff, usually with a splash of sci-fi and sometimes other stuff.

I have way too many ideas and 0 finished products, so without further ado, let's introduce the gang (wips) shall we?

What's Your Story

What's Your Story is the project I'm currently working on. It's a fantasy/sci-fi series that explores how people's stories are interconnected, how actions have consequences, and how everyone's lives weave together to create the history of the universe.

The first book primarily follows Melantha Tollemache, a sickly young girl who cheats death with the help of a mysterious entity, and now has to learn not only how to use these powers, but why she's been given them. The story watches her grow and her world expand as she tries to find her place in it. All while the threat of cosmic war looms...

Appearances Are Deceiving

Appearances Are Deceiving is a high fantasy/political intrigue adventure, here's the introduction to it:

Kairna and Taren are twin siblings, and the top students of the prestigious Hornfel Academy, the best school in the world. However, with a new and rather strange Director recently being put in charge, the school's reputation may well be on the line. Without the protection of the school, things will go south for the twins fast, but something about the new director seems... off. Whose side are they on?

We All Lie Amongst The Thorns

We All Lie Amongst The Thorns is a dark fairy tale retelling.

The story centres around Rosalie, a young woman who lives in the woods with her adopted mother. She knows she was abandoned by her parents, but her mother won't tell her why or who they are. She eventually decides to try and find out what happened for herself, leading her to be on her own for the first time, putting her at the mercy of the world her mother once protected her from.

Nearly Parallel Lives

Nearly Parallel Lives is a eclectic mix of genres blending together into a self indulgent fever dream.

Strange occurrences have been happening all over the world. Odd, seemingly unconnected events centred around people who have never met. But invisible threads are pulling these people together, as they struggle to figure out why they've been chosen for this unexpected adventure. Or were they chosen at all? Maybe it's all a coincidence. FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON- (shut up)

The Enchanted Forests

Fun little fantasy project inspired by Howl's Moving Castle and a weird dream I had.

The population is expanding, and the cities are expanding with it. They're beginning to encroach on the Enchanted Forests, sacred forests that previously humans never dared touch, and the forests protector, the sorceress Arcana is not having it. But when the media paints her as the villain and all the other sorcerers have long since gone into hiding, fighting against human expansion is becoming an increasingly daunting task, and at this rate the forests are going to be cut down despite her best efforts. Arcana needs allies, more sorcerers to join her cause. And with everyone else in hiding, it looks like she's just going to have to train them herself.

Survival is a Team Sport

Apocalytic sci-fi thing!

It started out as any normal day. Then the world ended. Okay not really, but if apocalypses exist, this is one. Survival Is A Team Sport follows high schooler Camryn Bird and his group of friends as they try to survive the chaos that has descended upon the world. Things like murderous bunny rabbits (Jasper and Zac, the only ones who watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, were terrified), fog that makes you forget your name, and the sky randomly falling are all things these kids have to contend with as they try to find their families if they're still alive, and find out what caused this apocalypse.

Like A Movie

This is a romantic tragedy, also this is the only story I've introduced that doesn't have any fantasy elements in it.

The truth is, Lucian would love to "find someone", as everyone tells him he's supposed to someday. These girls seem very nice, but none of them really interest him, no matter how much they seem to like him. Does that mean he's a bad person? He's not sure, but one night after a particularly awkward date, he wanders into his favourite bar and encounters someone he's never met before. Usually Lucian's not one for socializing, but his name is Caspian and he's got the brightest smile, the most infectious laugh, and no one's ever prepared Lucian for this.

Twisted Inspirations

Woo! This one's new and different. I have no idea what genre you'd call it, but oh well.

The thoughts of a strange and reclusive young woman are written down for all to see. Follow her through her journey as she desperately searches for inspiration and keep her company. Something about this story is odd though. Different versions seem to be happening at once. Which one is real?

This story is actively being posted on my sideblog @the-muse-of-chaos so if you're interested, check it out! It's pretty dark, so tw for mentions of sh and drug abuse and the like.

And I think that's all for now! I'm putting the tag list under here, sorry if you've already seen my old one, but this is just where I keep my tag list for convenience.

@pheonix358 @unforgettable-sensations @littleladymab @megamijadeheart @my-bright-legacy

@ominous-faechild @thecomfywriter @wyked-ao3 @anamelessfacelessnerd @differentnighttale

@mysticstarlightduck @the-letterbox-archives @leahnardo-da-veggie @paeliae-occasionally @tr4sh-p4nd4-404

@oliolioxenfreewrites @aalinaaaaaa @sm-writes-chaos @seastarblue @corinneglass

[homewardskies]

I think the issue with other pagans taking offense to Reconstructionists, especially the strict ones, is a direct result of algorithms (ahem, Tiktok) leading everyone to expect their social media experience to be catered to them specifically. A lot of these folks are used to apps that spoon-feed you quick, comprehensive bites of information that don't require much critical thinking or healthy dissent.

And that's not even touching on the sheer misinformation present out there and the new-age influence, which in my opinion is far more annoying than any pretentious reconstructionists. The Mother-Maiden-Crone thing pisses me off in ways I can not describe.

On that note, I am not a strict recon, or just a Helpol, so a lot of Reconstructionist content is not for me, but that doesn't mean I can't learn from it or allow it to inform my practice. All is can say is do your own research, draw your own conclusions, and as long as you're informed and open to learning we're all good.

This could certainly be my bias as a reconstructionist Hellenic polytheist showing,—and tell me if it is—but I don't think reconstructionists are uniquely more mean or strict than other polytheists. At least, that is my experience as a "reconstructionist Helpol influencer" of several years.

This isn't to say that some of us don't have an issue with acting holier than thou, but you shouldn't be giving space to those people, anyway. You should be preserving your peace and blocking them. I certainly don't keep the company of anyone silly enough to believe that ancient Greek religion can be practiced today with 100% accuracy, yet people talk about recons as if that is our perogative.

More often than not, recons simply post about reconstructionism and people to whom the information doesn't apply get mad about it.

I will say that just because ancient Greek religion can't be reconstructed with 100% accuracy doesn't mean that Hellenic polytheism can't be practiced wrong. It is entirely possible to misappropriate and misrepresent Hellenic polytheism—take Hekate as the Maiden/Mother/Crone, for example.

Reconstructionists are not uniquely mean for saying that, though.