#Local

[theonion]

“I was having such a good time picking out the stationery to write the suicide note on and thinking of everything I wanted to tell my friends and family in it, but now that I’m here, it’s kind of boring. It’s like, you plan and you plan and you plan, and then you finally get to the actual moment and you’re like, ‘This is it?’” At press time, Clark had resolved that, after so much planning, she owed it to herself to try her best to still find some enjoyment in jumping to her death.

Full Story

[annapolisrose]

Healing mural.

[astra-ravana]

That Midwest Magick

Witchcraft in the American Midwest is a complex blend of indigenous traditions, European folk magick, spiritualism, and the influence of modern witchcraft movements. Unlike New England, which is infamous for its witch trials, the Midwest has a more subtle but rich history of magickal practices, folk beliefs, and occult traditions that have shaped the region’s spiritual landscape.

Indigenous Traditions and Early Beliefs

Before European settlers arrived, the Midwest was home to numerous Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk. Many indigenous spiritual traditions involved rituals, spirit communication, and herbal healing, practices that were later viewed as "witchcraft" by European settlers.

Common Indigenous Spiritual Practices:

Shamanic Healing - Medicine people or shamans used herbs, songs, and rituals to heal illnesses and communicate with spirits.

Dreamwork & Vision Quests - Dreams and visions were seen as powerful messages from the spirit world.

Shape-shifting Legends - Many tribes had stories of beings that could transform between human and animal forms, such as the Wendigo or the Skinwalker.

When settlers arrived, they often misunderstood these practices, sometimes labeling indigenous spiritual leaders as witches or sorcerers. The suppression of indigenous spirituality through boarding schools and forced Christianization led to many traditional practices being hidden or adapted.

European Settlers and Folk Magick

The Midwest was settled by diverse groups, including Germans, Scandinavians, Irish, and Eastern Europeans, each bringing their own folk magick traditions.

German Powwow & Braucherei - German immigrants brought Powwow (also called Braucherei), a Christian folk magick system that blended prayer, herbalism, and magical charms for healing and protection. Powwow practitioners were sometimes accused of practicing witchcraft, but the tradition survived in rural Midwestern communities.

Scandinavian Trolldom - Scandinavian settlers brought Trolldom, a form of folk magick that included protective charms, rune work, and spells to ward off evil. Many Midwestern Norwegians and Swedes retained aspects of their magical traditions in the form of folk remedies and rituals for protection.

Irish & Scottish Witch Lore

Settlers of Irish and Scottish descent brought Faerie Beliefs and Second Sight traditions, which influenced local folklore. Stories of banshees, faerie rings, and "the Evil Eye" persisted in rural communities.

Witchcraft Accusations in the Midwest

While the Midwest did not experience the large-scale witch hunts of New England, accusations of witchcraft did occur in rural communities, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Cases of Witchcraft Accusations:

The "Hex Murder" of York County, Pennsylvania (1928) - Although not in the Midwest, this case involved a Powwow healer who was murdered because his client believed he had been cursed. It highlighted the persistence of belief in hexes and folk magick in rural America.

Witch Scares in Rural Communities - Throughout the Midwest, stories circulated of "witches" who could curse livestock, cause illness, or use the Evil Eye. These fears often led to quiet shunning rather than full-blown trials.

The Rise of Spiritualism and Occult Movements

The Midwest played a significant role in the Spiritualist movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spiritualism—centered on communicating with the dead—was often seen as a blend of science, religion, and occult practice.

Key Spiritualist Centers in the Midwest:

Camp Chesterfield (Indiana) - A spiritualist community founded in the late 19th century, which remains active today.

Lily Dale Assembly (New York, but influential in the Midwest) - A center for mediums that inspired similar gatherings in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

Harry Houdini (Wisconsin-born Magician & Skeptic) - Houdini, originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, became famous for exposing fraudulent spiritualists, highlighting the region’s deep engagement with occult practices.

Many Midwestern towns had local mediums, table-tipping séances, and Ouija board enthusiasts, blending occultism with folk spirituality.

20th-Century Witchcraft and the Occult Revival

By the mid-20th century, British Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft spread to the Midwest. Key developments include:

Raymond Buckland's Influence - Though Buckland introduced Wicca in New York, his teachings spread widely through the Midwest in the 1960s and 1970s.

Festivals and Pagan Gatherings - Events like Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG), held in the Midwest since the 1980s, became major hubs for modern witches and pagans.

Hoodoo and Folk Magick in Midwestern Cities

Cities like Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis became centers for Hoodoo, a form of African American folk magick that includes rootwork, candle magick, and mojo bags. The Great Migration brought these traditions from the South, influencing local magickal practices.

Occult Bookstores & Influences

The Occult Bookstore (Chicago, IL) - One of the oldest metaphysical bookstores in the U.S., operating since 1918.

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick (Cleveland, OH) - Founded to preserve the history of witchcraft and the occult.

Modern Practices and Traditions

The Midwest remains a thriving area for witchcraft, paganism, and occult traditions. Some key features include:

Eclectic Witchcraft - Many practitioners blend Wicca, folk magic, and indigenous spirituality.

Revival of Traditional Witchcraft - Some Midwestern witches focus on Appalachian and Ozark folk magic, connecting with their ancestral roots.

Urban Witchcraft - Cities like Chicago and Minneapolis have vibrant witchcraft communities, including LGBTQ+ and activist-oriented witches.

Midwestern Witchcraft Gatherings & Groups

Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) - A major annual pagan and witchcraft festival.

Michigan Pagan Fest - A gathering for witches, pagans, and occultists.

Local Covens & Meetup Groups - Many small covens and informal groups operate throughout the Midwest.

The history of witchcraft in the American Midwest is one of quiet resilience and adaptation. From indigenous spirituality to European folk magic, from 19th-century spiritualism to the modern occult revival, the Midwest has fostered a unique blend of mystical traditions. Today, it continues to be a thriving center for magical practitioners, blending old traditions with new interpretations.

[whataniceone2]

The pretty blossom falls :)

[newx-menfan]

Really need @captainamateur-artistt to make “Distracted Boyfriend” of Laura 🤣🤣🤣

Prodigy and Anole were around for this insanity- David and Victor probably remembers Laura’s meltdown over the Surge kiss 😬😳🤣🤣

[yamasakiko---ji]

After the move I was free from the agony of riding the bus...

[heckcareoxytwit]

Laura Kinney and her friends are going to the Dazzler concert when the former (Laura) sees someone familiar. It's Local, the mutant technopath minion of Mojo. Local wants Laura/"Scratch" to follow him (though he doesn't know that "Scratch" is actually Laura Kinney doing her undercover work) into the room while her friends must stay outside and mind their own business. As Laura's friends insist on following them, Local (under Mojo's control) is working on another scheme - Local using his technopath abilities to insert subliminal frequencies in all of the Dazzler concert recordings. Laura Kinney, Kamala Khan and Prodigy follow Local to the recording room while Anole and Sophie Cuckoo stay behind to watch over the concert for any sign of danger.

Laura, Kamala and Prodigy find Local in the recording room where they try talking him out from disrupting the concert. However, Mojo has taken in full control of Local that he zaps Laura while the tentacles snare Kamala and Prodigy. Meanwhile at the concert, Sophie and Anole are trying to tell the concertgoers not to look at Mojo on the screen but it doesn't work as the crowd are too hypnotized to listen to them. Everyone seems to be doomed until a mysterious girl arrives to save the day with her time manipulation powers. Laura Kinney looks up and recognizes the girl as Kiden Nixon, the old friend from a run-down neighborhood at New York City. Seriously, there are way many freaking superpowered people in New York! Anyway, Laura cries in tears of joy as she hugs Kiden in a reunion. Then, Laura and Kiden depart the place, leaving Prodigy and Kamala confused. Also, Local had fled the scene. In the end, the Dazzler Show eventually goes on as well as Anole, Kamala, Sophie and Prodigy watch the concert.

NYX v2 #6, 2024

[pratchettquotes]

"Anyway, it'll be int'resting to see if it works."

"Yes, but it's wrong," said Granny.

"Not for these parts, it seems," said Nanny.

"Besides," said Magrat virtuously, "it can't be bad if we're doing it. We're the good ones."

"Oh yes, so we is," said Granny, "and there was me forgetting it for a minute there."

Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad

[theonion]

Ninja Parade Slips By Town Unnoticed Once Again

[luna-bimborina]

Top of my favorite Laura's (X-23) ships and which one I think is best

Trigger warning: this contains a lot of text and is more of a vent so I ask for patience, some may count as crack ships and some you may not like, every opinion is valid as long as it is given with respect this just things that I like and that is my opinion.

Please all from respect and understanding 💖.

9. Local

We haven't seen much of this character, that's why he's the last one, but he still has a certain charm that reminds us of Gambit, which fits Laura's personality in my opinion.

8. Jordan

Same case only appeared once but still the way they manage to understand each other is quite adorable, going from hate to understanding being that in the end both try to fight with the trauma, although I can also see it as a sisterhood relationship.

7. Jubilee

Emphasizing this is my opinion, I know many love this ship and I don't really judge them the way Jubilee seeks to support Laura can be fascinating, plus she never judges her just accompanies her, the only thing I think sometimes she tends not to listen to her much out of that I can also see them as sisters.

6. Mercury

I know this may sound weird but in general the way they both grow since they meet is slow but effective, being that even coming from absolutely different lives they seek to connect and manage to understand each other in the end, honestly I hate that Marvel won't continue their friendship.

5. Wind Dancer

I made this one up and it's an absolute crack ship, I mean I know they haven't interacted but I legitimately believe that if they had it would have been a nice friendship or relationship, between Sofia's compression and Laura's overprotection... I'll understand if I'm cancelled or judged for this...

4. Angel

Here we start with strong things, I know that many do not like this ship or its author, but in my opinion it has strong points.

Warren was one of the few people who tried to help Laura when she was clearly not well mentally, especially when she was surrounded by people that he barely knew, the way he enjoys seeing her smile and takes care of her says a lot about him, to the point that he prefers to sacrifice everything to change the destiny and have time with her, plus they both manage to make each other grow. While it has a bit toxic points I also like how they manage to solve things by communicating perfectly and learning to talk to each other being that while it's not perfect they manage to get to solve things just with communication at the end of it all, not to mention the adorable moment where he caresses her head and how he was for her in such strong moments as the funeral of her "mother" and Kimura's death.

It would be higher but I think Warren's only flaw is that he thinks more about Laura changing or reducing her wild personality a little bit which lowers his points in my opinion, plus as such we didn't see an end to this relationship.

3. Kiden

She has been the most recent to give us this ship, the first person to meet Laura and from what they let us see the first to try to understand her, by the dialogues of Nyx #8 she shows us the love she has always had for her, seeing her not only as a friend but as one of the most important people in her life.

She loves her and I'm sure that whether she accepts her feelings or not, it won't affect that she still wants to protect Laura and just be in her life.

2. Synch

I know many don't like this ship either but personally, even though we didn't see much of it, there are things that say so much.

Just starting with spending a thousand years together and constantly protecting each other to the point of preferring to die for each other, not to mention that after leaving the vault Synch still loved his Laura but he knew that the one he saw in front of him was not her, even with that he could not avoid looking at her nor could he live the mourning because.... Do you really know for sure that she is dead? How can you grieve for someone who simply disappeared? The psychological point in this ship is powerful, when they meet again is one of the most emotional moments, even after having spent a thousand years together they don't separate, they treat each other with love and look at each other as if no one else in the world will matter, for me without like those grandparents couples that you want to see together always and even after so much together they still treat each other like two teenagers who just met and treat each other with love.

This ship doesn't have the best of endings however it is still poetic, as to whether I would like to see it with this current Laura? No, he himself says so, maybe she looks like his wife but she is not the one I love.

1. Hellion

Wow in first place? It must be a surprise for those who follow my blog.

Getting serious talking about this ship is a long but interesting one, I would say it is one of the most natural relationships since from the first meeting it is imperfect, however Julian from the first moment he meets her although he doesn't fully understand her he doesn't judge her, for both it is as if they feel a genuine curiosity for each other, being Julian the first person who even seeks to integrate her to his group.

Something that Julian shows many times throughout the comics is his willingness to break the rules or lose everything in exchange for helping her, this even not exactly with feelings involved but because "she's important too" being the first person to make her feel worth it if you ask me; In Nyx's most recent comic #8 she lets us see more of their relationship, talking about the constant support that there was a genuine and pure love, however maybe it wasn't the time to be, after all they were two broken people that no matter how much they wanted they couldn't depend on each other and needed to heal separately.

However, even though this hurt at the time, there are comics that give us to understand that they could at least remain as friends, I will highlight one of the most important moments in Laura's life, which is the funeral of her "mother", where there was only immediate family, important people for her... And Julian, someone who managed to understand her and even when things were over decided to support her, although there is no dialogue in the scene the simple fact of his presence says a lot.

This already became long but Julian in short for me deserves the number one spot for being the first to see her clear and transparent, deciding to love her like that.

As an extra to add I want to say that Marjorie Liu wrote the characters so badly that only two things can be rescued, and also highlight that in an alternate future if they remained a couple and only ended because Julian died, and yet Laura still loved him, so if that is not love, what is?

Honorable mentions

Elixir, Spiderman and Surge

I'm not going to explain my guilty pleasure for these three because this could have been the thesis of my career, I'll just let the images explain themselves.

[annapolisrose]

Boundary Bay

[dudja]

That one friend at the party that's already drunk and just yappin: #memes #smilingfriends

[whataniceone2]

Lovely shadows in Piddington Wood :)

[allyourfavesinoneblog]