#ancestral mythos

[blackcrowing]

Important Facts about Samhain from an Irish Celtic Reconstructionist

Pronunciation

SOW-in or SOW-een ~NOT~ Sam-han, Sam-win etc.

Dates

Most reconstructionists celebrate Samhain on Oct 31-Nov 1, however some may choose to celebrate on Gregorian Nov 13-14 as this would match the Julian dates of Oct 31-Nov 1. Some also believe that it was a three day festival spanning Oct 31- Nov 2 on which Nov 2 is specifically devoted to ancestral veneration, but there is no specific evidence of this, only possible extrapolation from more modern practices.

Following the Celtic method of days beginning at sunset, regardless of the specific dates you choose to celebrate on your festivities should begin at sunset and end at sunset.

Importance in the Mythos

Ná Morrighan has a strong connection to this time of year thanks to the story of Cath Dédenach Maige Tuired (The Last Battle of Mag Tuired) in which she is found depicted as the ‘Washing Woman’ (sometimes washing herself in the river and other times washing the bloodied armor of the soldiers that would die that day), on the eve of the battle which is also Samhain. The Dagda approaches her and couples with her (creating the ‘Bed of the Couples’ along the bank of river and granting Dagda her blessing in the battle to come). This encounter seems to over emphasize the liminality of the encounter by taking place during the changing of the year and with the couple each standing with ‘one foot on either bank’ of the river.

She and her sisters (Badb and Macha) then use various forms of magic to rain destruction on their enemies (in the form of fire and blood). After the day is won Morrighan speaks a prophecy that describes what is taken by some to be the end of days and others to be the events which will later lead to the Ulster Cycle.

Beneath the peaceful heavens lies the land. It rests beneath the bowl of the bright sky. The land lies, itself a dish, a cup of honeyed strength, there, for the taking, offering strength to each There it lies, the splendour of the land. The land is like a mead worth the brewing, worth the drinking. It stores for us the gifts of summer even in winter. It protects and armours us, a spear upon a shield Here we can make for ourselves strong places, the fist holding the shield Here we can build safe places, our spear-bristling enclosures. This is where we will turn the earth. This is where we will stay. And here will our children live to the third of three generations Here there will be a forest point of field fences The horn counting of many cows And the encircling of many fields There will be sheltering trees So fodderful of beech mast that the trees themselves will be weary with the weight. In this land will come abundance bringing: Wealth for our children Every boy a warrior, Every watch dog, warrior-fierce The wood of every tree, spear-worthy The fire from every stone a molten spear-stream Every stone a firm foundation Every field full of cows Every cow calf-fertile Our land shall be rich with banks in birdsong Grey deer before Spring And fruitful Autumns The plain shall be thronged from the hills to the shore. Full and fertile. And as time runs its sharp and shadowy journey, this shall be true. This shall be the story of the land and its people We shall have peace beneath the heavens. Forever

(based on the translation by Isolde Carmody)

It is also mentioned in Echtra Cormaic that on this festival every seven years the high king would host a feast, it was at this time new laws could be enacted. (but it seems that individual Tuathas or possibly kings of the individual providence may have done this for their territories at Lughnasadh).

It seems to be a time considered especially susceptible to (or of) great change as it is the time which the Tuatha de Danann win victory over the Formorians and take control of Ireland, the invasion of Ulster takes place at this time in Táin bo Cúailnge, in Aislinge Óengusa Óengus and his bride-to-be are changed from bird to human and eventually he claims kingship of Brú na Bóinne at this time of year.

Celebration Traditions

Samhain is the beginning of the “dark half” of the year and is widely regarded as the Insular Celtic equivalent of the New Year. The “dark half” of the year was a time for story telling, in fact in this half of the year after dark is considered the only acceptable time to tell stories from the mythological and Ulster cycle (the Fenian cycle being assumed to be no older than the 12th century based on linguistic dating). Traditionally anything that had not been harvested or gathered by the time of this festival was to be left, as it now belonged to the Fae (in some areas specifically the Púca).

This was also an important time for warding off ill luck in the coming year. Large bonfires would be built and as the cattle were driven back into the community from the pastures they would be walked between these bonfires as a method of purification (the reverse custom of Bealtaine where the livestock were walked between the fires on their way out to the summer pastures). Assumed ritualistic slaughter of some of the herd would follow (though this perhaps had the more practical purpose of thinning the herd before the winter and creating enough food for the feasting). In some areas the ashes from these fires would be worn, thrown or spread as a further way to ward off evil.

Homes would be ritualistically protected from the Aos Sí (Fae or ‘Spirits’) through methods such as offerings of food (generally leaving some of the feasting outside for them), carving turnips with scary faces to warn them off (we now tend to do this with gourds), and smoke cleansing the home (in Scottish saining) traditionally with juniper, but perhaps rowan or birch might be an acceptable alternative. It is likely these would be part of the components used in Samhain bonfires as well, for the same reason.

Lastly based on later traditions as well as links in the mythology this is a time where divination practices or those with the ‘second sight’ were regarded to be especially potent.

Art Credit @morpheus-ravenna

[wolverinesorcery]

UNBLENDING CELTIC POLYTHEISTIC PRACTICES

Celtic Umbrella

This lesson is largely focusing on the insular Celtic nations & Brittany (Ireland/Eire, Scotland/Alba, Wales/Cymru, Cornwall/Kernow, Isle of Man/Mannin, & Brittany/Breizh) - traditionally regarded as 6 out of the 7 Celtic nations. Galicia/Galizia is the 7th, but because of a mix of the below + my own lack of knowledge, I won't be covering them.

The vast swath of Continental Celtic cultures are a different but equally complex topic thanks to extinction, revival, varying archaeological artefacts and the work of modern practioners to piece unknown parts back together.

This will serve as a quick 'n' dirty guide to the insular Celtic nations, Celtic as a label, blood percentages and ancestry, the whats and whys of "Celtic soup", and how to unblend practice.

The insular Celtic groups are split into two language groups: Brythonic languages and Gaelic languages.

Brythonic languages are Cymraeg/Welsh, Kernewek/Cornish, & Breton

Gaelic languages are Gàidhlig/Scottish, Gaeilge/Irish, & Gaelg/Manx.

The language split leads to certain folkloric and religious figures & elements being more common within the language group than without. All of these nations had historic cultural exchange and trade routes via the Celtic sea (and beyond). Despite this, it is still important to respect each as a home to distinct mythologies.

Pros/Cons of a broad Celtic umbrella

Pros

- Used within celtic nations to build solidarity - Relates to a set of cultures that have historic cultural exchange & broad shared experiences - A historic group category - Celtic nations’ culture is often protected under broad legislation that explicitly highlights its ‘Celtic-ness’.

Cons

- Can be used reductively (in academia & layman uses) - Often gives in to the dual threat of romanticisation/fetishisation & erasure - Conflates a lot of disparate practices under one banner - Can lead to centring ‘celtic american’ experiences. - Celtic as a broad ancestral category (along with associated symbols) has also been co-opted by white supremacist organisations.

In this I’m using ‘Celtic’ as a broad umbrella for the multiple pantheons! This isn’t ideal for specifics, but it is the fastest way to refer to the various pantheons of deities that’ll be referenced within this Q&A (& something that I use as a self identifier alongside Cornish).

What about blood % or ancestry?

A blood percentage or claimed Celtic ancestry is NOT a requirement to be a follower of any of the Celtic pantheons. The assumption that it does or is needed to disclose can feed easily into white supremacist narratives and rhetoric, along side the insidious implications that a white person in the USA with (perceived or real) Celtic ancestry is 'more celtic' than a person of colour living in a Celtic region (along with other romanticised notions of homogenously white cultures).

Along side this, a blood percentage or distant ancestry does not impart the culture and values of the Celtic region or it's recorded pagan practices by itself. Folk traditions are often passed down within families, but blood percentage is not a primary factor within this.

Connecting with ancestry is fine, good, and can be a fulfilling experience. It stops being beneficial when it leads to speaking over people with lived experiences & centres the USA-based published and authors - which can lead to blending/souping for reasons further on.

What is 'soup'?

Celtic soup is a semi-playful term coined by several polytheists (primarily aigeannagusacair on wordpress) to describe the phenomenon of conflating & combining all the separate pantheons and practices from the (mainly) insular Celtic nations into one singular practice - removing a lot of the regionalised folklore, associated mythos, & varying nuances of the nations that make up the soup.

Why does it happen?

The quick version of this is book trends and publishing meeting romanticisation and exotification of Celtic cultures (especially when mixed with pre-lapsarian views of the Nations). It's miles easier to sell a very generally titled book with a lot of Ireland and a little of everywhere else than it is to write, source and publish a separate book on each.

This is where centering American publishers and authors becomes an issue - the popular trend of USA-based pagan publications to conflate all celtic nations makes it hard to find information on, for example, Mannin practices because of the USA’s tendency to dominate media. Think of Llewellyn’s “Celtic Wisdom” series of books.

It has also been furthered by 'quick research guides'/TL;DR style posts based on the above (which have gained particular momentum on tumblr).

The things that have hindered the process in unblending/"de souping" is the difficulty in preserving independently published pamphlets/books from various nations (often more regionalised and immediately local than large, sweeping books generalising multiple practices) along with the difficulty of accessing historic resources via academic gatekeeping.

All of this has lead to a lack of awareness of the fact there is no, one, singular Celtic religion, practice or pantheon.

Why should I de-soup or unblend my practice?

Respecting the deities

It is, by and large, considered the bare minimum to understand and research a deity's origin and roots. The conflation of all insular Celtic deities under one singular unified pantheon can divorce them from their original cultures and contexts - the direct opposite to understanding and researching.

Folklore and myth surrounding various Celtic deities can be highly regionalised both in grounded reality and geomythically - these aren't interchangeable locations and are often highly symbolic within each nation.

Brú na Bóinne, an ancient burial mound in Ireland, as an entrance to the otherworld of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Carn Kenidjack & the Gump as a central site of Cornish folk entities feasts and parties, including Christianised elements of Bucca’s mythology.

The Mabinogion includes specific locations in Wales as well as broad Kingdoms - it’s implied that Annwn is somewhere within the historic kingdom of Dyfed, & two otherworldly feasts take place in Harlech & Ynys Gwales.

Conflating all celtic pantheons under one banner often leads to the prioritisation of the Irish pantheon, meaning all of the less ‘popular’ or recorded deities are sidelined and often left unresearched (which can lead to sources & resources falling into obscurity and becoming difficult to access).

Respecting the deities

Deities, spirits, entities, myth & folklore are often culturally significant both historically and to modern day people (just average folks along with practitoners/pagans/polytheists and organisations) located in the various Nations

A primary example is the initiatory Bardic orders of Wales and Cornwall.

Desouping/Unblending makes folklorist's lives easier as well as casual research less difficult to parse. The general books are a helpful jumping off point but when they constitute the bulk of writing on various Celtic polytheisms, they become a hinderance and a harm in the research process.

A lot of mythology outside of deities & polytheisms is also a victim of ‘souping' and is equally as culturally significant - Arthurian mythology is a feature of both Welsh and Cornish culture but is often applied liberally as an English mythology & and English figure.

Celtic nations being blended into one homogenous group is an easy way to erase cultural differences and remove agency from the people living in celtic nations. Cornwall is already considered by a large majority of people to be just an English county, and many areas of Wales are being renamed in English for the ease of English tourists.

How can I de-soup?

Chase down your sources' sources, and look for even more sources

Check your sources critically. Do they conflate all pantheons as one? Do they apply a collective label (the celts/celts/celt/celtic people) to modern day Celtic nations? How far back in history do they claim to reach?

Research the author, are they dubious in more ways than one? Have they written blog articles you can access to understand more of their viewpoints? Where are they located?

Find the people the author cites within their work - it can be time consuming but incredibly rewarding and can also give a good hint at the author's biases and research depth. You may even find useful further reading!

Find primary sources (or as close too), or translations of the originating folklore, e.g The Mabinogion. Going to the source of a pantheon’s mythos and folklore can be helpful in discerning where soup begins in more recent books as well as gaining insight into deities' actions and relationships.

Ask lots of questions

Question every source! Question every person telling you things that don't define what pantheon or region they’re talking about! Write all your questions down and search for answers! Talk to other polytheists that follow specific Celtic pantheons, find where your practices naturally overlap and where they have been forced into one practice by authors!

Be honest with yourself

There’s no foul in spreading your worship over several pantheons that fall under the celtic umbrella! A lot of polytheists worship multiple pantheons! But be aware of the potential for soup, and make sure you’re not exclusively reading and working from/with sources that conflate all practices as one.

If you approach any Celtic polytheistic path with the attitude of blood percentage or 'ancestral right', stop and think critically about why you want to follow a Celtic polytheistic path. Is it because it's the most obviously 'open' path to follow? Is it a desire to experience what other folks experience? Being critical, turning inward, and really looking at yourself is important. Originally posted in the Raven's Keep discord server

[fallershipping]

The Arceus Myth

Throughout the course of human history, various tales of the past were either mutated by worth of mouth or lost to time. Extinct Pokémon such as the ancestral relative lineage to Donphan and Copperajah carried on as an elusive long nose, toothed giant. Most of the Abyssal Ruins beneath Unova's waters lies remains unknown, eroding away at the bottom of the ocean floor.

The earliest human history, the dawn of man in a world dominated by nature, left behind only incomplete and broken relics. And yet, there has been one reoccurring figure on a global archaeological scale that has proven to be most enigmatic.

It has been dubbed the name given to it by the last known record of this being, during the founding of Sinnoh.

Arceus.

Many scholars still debate on what Arceus truly can be defined as. Some think it as a general human wide concept of a creator deity. Others think the being is alive, but a misinterpretation of nature's forces, such as the territorial Kyogre and Groudon species.

Perhaps, it is somewhere in the middle.

Arceus as a name is relatively unknown to the grand population, however, as most regions spur religious symbolism with the patron Apex Pokémon of that area. Draconids are tied to the species of Rayquaza, Alolan Ninetales came to be revered as lords of Ula'Ula's mountains. Even Sinnoh has a grand statue made in honor of some sort of amalgamate draconic being that governs time and space.

But all never fit the descriptions of much, much earlier human civilizations. The white beast of the eclipsing sun. The paradoxical prey forever bound to the golden serpent that constricts its abdomen. The crimson eyes of a thousand hands. The one who bears the rainbow upon its mane.

But the recent findings over this enigmatic being have not remained ignored.

A particular religious sect of the western nations had always revered a golden light; a deity who takes a patriarchal role upon the land and His followers. The god depicted is one of punishment if led astray from the holy path of purity and virtue. Thousand lights raining down from the heavens lead to the colloquial term of Judgement, or Judgement Strike, and those of sin will perish under its onslaught.

Another group of peoples to note is the pilgrimage to the once named region of Hisui, though most of this time has been left relatively unknown through various conflicting records. All where trying to connect with a deity known as 'Sinnoh,' the creator of all and the giver of the energy within Pokémon. During a harsher time, it was thought that Sinnoh's blessing would allow for Pokémon and people to finally come together as one, or that perhaps people will finally gain the power long denied from humans. This pilgrimage was overtaken and forgotten as other people began pouring into the region for industrialization and colonialist purposes. The region came to be known as Sinnoh.

There is a relatively smaller but newer community of peoples who tell the tale of a Mother Goddess, the bearer of nature. She who birthed the Pokémon into the world and asked for humans to be their caretakers. Depictions range from a woman of flowing black hair upon a golden leaf crown sits, a galloping Sawsbuck with golden leaves, an entire school of golden Magikarp, and so on. Though she bears life, death is also of great importance. The sect believes in a balance of the world that requires all things valued and all things thought destructive. This Mother is benevolent, but remains protective of nature's balance.

And finally, there is but an odd reaction to the mythos: the Aether Foundation. The company is not so subtle in the way it presents itself with ivory and golden accents. Operating from Alola, they have branches in several parts of the world where they function to care for the environment around them, and provide housing for many Pokémon and children left abandoned. The connection between Pokémon and humanity is a company standard that it wishes to employ.

The resulting Aether Foundation scandal left a clear picture to how far it took to the legend.

The secret development of the RKS System was blown wide open to the public, alongside the artificial Pokémon Silvally. Though the purpose of this creature's creation and whoever funded it [INTERPOL] remains a mystery, the inspiration is clear from the name alone. Memories of different Pokémon genetics were used to create disc drives that changed Silvally's typing, much as the legends tell for the rainbow maned beast.

A Galar based corporation took advantage of this scandal and obtained leaked information regarding Silvally's creation, founding itself as RKS Laboratories. An investigation towards illegal production of Silvally under these laboratories has lead to rumors of genetic manipulation on a larger scale, but the company heads deny of any sort of malpractice.

Regardless, Pokémon are mysterious beings that still baffle modern day science to this day, and this 'Arceus' is but yet another point of contention. Evidence does exist supporting the theory of a 'Big Bang,' or a singularity that all in the universe expanded from. Whether or not something like a Pokémon is able to create and control the very fabric of the universe is yet to be seen or studied.

A being like that would exist beyond a dimension three dimensional beings can comprehend.

And a being like that ominously forebodes that it is not alone.

[whimsyandbooks]

The Hurricane Wars: A Stellar 10/10 True Enemies to Lovers Adventure In "The Hurricane Wars" by Thea Guanzon, the lush tale of a fantastical realm is vividly portrayed. Within this richly woven narrative, the story revolves around Talasyn, the last known light weaver on the continent, and Alaric, the formidable Prince of Kesath and an adept Shadow Weaver. Their world, torn apart by the devastating power of storms wielded by ships, is brought to life with intricate detail. As their paths collide and their magic clashes in unexpected ways, a tale of profound enmity, unexpected alliances, and the delicate balance between love and hate unfolds. Against the backdrop of a nation, Sarodivia, struggling under the oppressive rule of Kesath, these characters come alive, their complexities adding layers to a story that weaves together themes of identity, freedom, and the intricate dance between darkness and light. Join Talasyn and Alaric on a mesmerizing journey where the battlegrounds of the heart mirror the stormy conflicts of their world.

The story begins in the heart of Sarodivia, a nation ravaged by the power and greed of Kesath, whose ships wield the power of storms, giving rise to the name The Hurricane Wars. Talasyn, a Sardovian orphan, emerges as last known light weaver on the continent, her very existence a testament to a power believed long ago eradicated by Kesath. Her nemesis is Alaric, the Prince of Kesath, and a powerful shadow weaver, becomes joined in her fate. When their magic clashes, an unexpected confluence happens between light and dark, and their lives become intertwined in ways neither ever expected. This leads them to the secluded vibrant world of Nenavar, inspired by the Philippines, where even the dragons draw from South-Asian mythology. War-time weddings really are all the rage. Guanzon crafts a complex tale of identity, ancestral Mythologies, the fight for freedom, the nuances of nationhood, along with the passionate tension between love and hate that hinges the precarious balance of the fate of the world.

Guanzon's writing style is eloquent and lush, painting detailed pictures with her words. The pacing keeps readers engaged, although I found myself slightly thrown off by the absence of a world-changing cataclysmic twist in the final 100 pages. However, this might be due to my recent dive into Sarah J. Maas' books, which are known for their intense plot twists. The end of the book is still incredibly satisfying, as well as perfectly having set the gears in motion for epic twists and turns to happen in the following books of the series. The character development is subtle yet profound; both Talasyn and Alaric learn to navigate their brash hot-headedness and gradually understand each other. Themes of opposites, enemies to lovers, dark vs light, war, politics, and destiny intricately intwine throughout the narrative, creating a captivating tapestry.

The world-building in this book is extraordinary. While it began as an epic fan fiction, Guanzon has masterfully crafted a unique world with intricate political systems, customs, and mythos. Guanzon's academic background in international politics shines through, adding depth and realism rarely seen to the fantastical elements of the story.

The romance in "The Hurricane Wars" is a slow burn of the highest order. Guanzon expertly entwines romance and spice, making the reader cheer for these two oblivious souls falling for each other amidst the chaos.

This book is a treasure for fans of slow-burn enemies-to-lovers stories set in a meticulously crafted fantasy world of magic and politics. I wholeheartedly recommend it, rating it 10/10 stars. "The Hurricane Wars" is an excellent book, a testament to Guanzon’s exceptional writing. I loved it and greedily anticipate the next installment.

[cyberpunkonline]

The Role of Voodoo in Cyberpunk Mythos

Cyberpunk, a subgenre of science fiction, is known for its vision of a high-tech, dystopian future, where the line between man and machine is often blurred. Against a backdrop of neon lights, skyscrapers, and rain-soaked streets, this genre delves into the darker aspects of technology and societal development. Surprisingly, woven into this futuristic fabric is a tapestry of ancient beliefs and mystical practices. One of the most fascinating integrations is that of Voodoo. Let's delve into how Voodoo has been utilized and represented within the vast cyberpunk media landscape.

Voodoo: A Brief Overview

Before diving into its role in cyberpunk, it's essential to have a basic understanding of Voodoo. Voodoo is a syncretic religion born in West Africa and carried to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade. It blends African tribal rituals with Catholic practices, creating a unique spiritual path focused on ancestors, spirits, and deities known as "loa" or "lwa". Rituals, dances, and ceremonies are essential aspects of Voodoo, aiming to invoke these spirits for guidance or assistance.

Voodoo in Cyberpunk Literature

Arguably, the most famous reference to Voodoo in cyberpunk literature is in William Gibson's "Neuromancer". In this seminal work, Gibson introduces the Voodoo gods as powerful entities within the cyberspace matrix. These deities represent vast artificial intelligences and are worshipped by a group known as the Rastafarians, who see the matrix as a spiritual realm.

Film and Television

In the realm of film and television, Voodoo and its aesthetic often intermingle with cyberpunk themes. The movie "Strange Days" (1995) is a notable example. While not directly referencing Voodoo, the film touches upon themes of memory, experience, and the transfer of consciousness – concepts which resonate with Voodoo's beliefs in ancestral memory and spirit possession.

Anime and Manga

Japanese anime and manga have a rich tradition of integrating various cultural elements into their narratives. "Cyber City Oedo 808" briefly touches upon mysticism and the idea that the digital and spiritual can coexist. Though not directly Voodoo, it echoes the genre's frequent dance with ancient beliefs within a modern context.

Video Games

Video games as a medium have embraced the cyberpunk genre wholly, often merging technology and mysticism. The game "Shadowrun" mixes cyberpunk with magic, including Voodoo-inspired elements. Players can interact with spirits, engage in rituals, and even become shamans, channeling energies that mirror Voodoo practices.

Implications and Interpretations

Why is there a connection between Voodoo and cyberpunk, two seemingly disparate concepts? It can be argued that both revolve around the idea of connection - be it to spirits, ancestors, or a digital realm. In a world where technology has the power to isolate, there's a yearning for connection, whether to our past, our gods, or each other.

Furthermore, cyberpunk often deals with the concept of dualities – man and machine, physical and digital, past and future. Voodoo, with its blending of ancient beliefs and practices in new contexts, perfectly embodies this duality.

In conclusion, the infusion of Voodoo into the cyberpunk mythos serves as a potent reminder that even in a future dominated by technology, the ancient and spiritual will always find a place. As we move forward, it will be fascinating to see how this relationship between the old and the new continues to evolve.

- REV1

[marimoscorner]

Welcome!🌿

MINORS DNI

Welcome to Marimo's Corner—your corner for chaotic, queer, mindful magic and paganism. This blog is meant as sort of a public grimoire of our path as well as a reference for other witches and pagans who wish to view it. We are by no means the authority on any subject nor perfect, but we want to contribute our small voice to the pot and hope it can help someone out. We want to foster community and find other like-minded souls to befriend! 🌿✨

Blog Content

This blog will widely cover what it is we study on our shared path. We study the following, but branch out as well.

Mythos: Celtic, Hellenic

Deities: Cernunnos, Pan, Danu, Dionysus, the Dagda, Apollo, among others.

Topics: Druidry, Celtic Magic, Hellenic Magic, Ancestral Magic, Green Magic, Kitchen & Home Magic, Knot Magic, Osteomancy, Tasseomancy, Bardism, Queer Inclusion in Magic, Animism, Ecclectic/Chaos Magic, Wheel of the Year, Convergence of Science & Magic, among others.

This blog will also be a sort of journal for us, so please do not expect perfection. We are excited to share with you!

About Us

We are a diagnosed DID system, so you'll see posts from a few of us! We'll do our best to remember to tag who writes what. Here are our primary spiritual alters.

Marimo he/they 🌿

Autumn she/her 🍁

Aekian he/they/she 🐏

Moss they/she 🍀

Bear he/they/it 🌲

Caleb he/him 📙

Gale he/they/she 🔮

Olive she/they🗡️

Rosie she/her ☕️

Jo she/they 🪻

Zephyr he/they 🦴

We all have slightly different interests, and are excited to share with you. We hope to see you again soon! Feel free to follow along on our journey. Thank you!

References

In an effort to make this blog a better resource, we will do our best to remember to log resources we’ve read here for your own research. Most will be directly witchy in nature, but others are simply lifestyle.

Irish Fairytales & Folklore by Y.B. Yeats (1888)

The Spirit of the Celtic Gods & Goddesses by Carl McColman & Kathryn Hines (2005)

The Book of Celtic Myths by Jennifer Emick (2017)

Celtic Mysticism by Tracie Long (2023)

The Book of Hedge Druidry by Joanna Van Der Hoeven (2019)

Queering your Craft by Cassandra Snow (2020)

Feral Self Care by Mandi Em (2023)

Etc. (Others I’ve sold, given, or borrowed)

[brightgnosis]

“Wicca Bashing” Round 2: The Double Standard Of Always Shitting On Wicca But Not TradCraft

What ultimately utterly baffles me the most about the community's constant desire to pull down its pants and crap on Wicca, is that Robert Cochrane (Roy Bowers)?

Was also "A White British Man".

Also claimed the exact same "hereditary Witch Cult" nonsense.

Also created his own Witchcraft Tradition.

In the formation of Cochranite TradCraft, Robert Cochrane (Roy Bowers) also appropriated a lot of practices from other traditions and mythos he shouldn't've. And the tradition is, frankly, a hell of a lot more sex-centric within some strains than Wicca ever is- and that sex-centrism is blatantly erotic and hypersexual, rather than Wicca's focus on the fertility of the land via the Gods. He also decided it too requires initiation to enter his Tradition (even if the Initiation mechanisms are different).

Ultimately Cochranite TradCraft shares a lot of similarities of belief and practice to Wicca. And that's thanks to Cochrane literally having (at least) a 1st degree initiation into Wicca and one of its second major contributors being Doreen Valiente (a Wiccan High Priestess).

Not to mention the Traditions that outright do blend both openly and exist in a weird grey spot that's not quite one or the other. Or the open cooperation of people from both traditions to create materials for both- such as Ed Fitch and Joseph Bearwalker working together to create "The Pagan Way" to meet the demands for outsiders to both traditions. Or, like, y'know, Doreen Valiente whose contributions routinely get ignored and swept under the rug because pissing contests over which White British Man is "The Worst Actually" are more important I guess.

And yet TradCraft is always seen as "more legitimate" than Wicca, and gets absolutely none of the same hyper-policing or discussion of "Red Flags" and dangers, skepticism, outright lies made up about it, (Aleister Crowley and Gerald Gardner co-created Wicca exclusively to groom young hot women into having sex with them? Really? Really ????) etc, that Wicca does. Even despite sharing so many of these very specific similarities of both creator and their creation, structure, and praxis across its own (equally independent) strains of Tradition.

It's almost as if there's a massive double standard and bias in this community about who we police and who we don't ... And once again I have to tell people to pay attention to the crap that lays on their own side of the fence before complaining that their neighbor's yard stinks. Because these problems are not problems with individual groups, but with the community as a whole for a variety of reasons- and it's time to stop assigning all the blame to one singular group and acting like only one of us is "The Worst Actually".

None of us are "The Worst", actually. We all have shit in our own yards to deal with- and a lot of that shit was made by the same group of Dogs howling the same tune at the same damned moon. And we all need to deal with that collectively; this whole "Piss on one another all the time" thing is getting so goddamned old.

Like ... Are y'all not tired of acting like absolutely unnecessarily petulant and petty Toddlers over things, yet? Can you not grow up, stop acting like panicked Evangelist Protestants every 5 seconds, and actually act like the damned adults you're supposed to be, capable of having reasonable discussions already? I know I'm tired. Why aren't the rest of you already?

This is an opinion piece based in 20+ years of experience and research. If you found this helpful or interesting, please consider Tipping or Leaving a Ko-Fi; even $1 helps

This account is run by a Dual Faith «(Converting) Masorti Jew + Traditional NeoWiccan» & «Ancestral Folk Magic Practitioner» with 20+ years of experience as a practicing Pagan and Witch. If that bothers you, don't interact.

[tathrin]

Hi! How does a pirate au with gigolas sound?

From this prompt-meme.

Oh definitely not like something that's been slowly simmering in the back of my mind ever since I first saw this thing months ago.

We're going with a sort of East India Trading Company/Golden Age of Piracy era-mythos for our vibes, and a world that has less magic and epic battles to its history than Middle-earth for our setting, but one that still has our various fantasy species running around.

Númenor is sort of like an England/America hybrid, in that it's a newer land than the main continent, very expansionist/colonialist in attitude, and simultaneously an old power, because it has a bunch of colonies on the old continent now, and a belligerent attitude towards everyone else. They are the largest sea-power and like to claim even more dominion than they actually have.

Meanwhile to the south-west of them we have the islands of the Teleri (Eressëa) which are widely described as "the last free elven isles," and mainly stay that that by being A: not enough trouble to conquer and B: too much trouble to conquer. They keep to themselves (and their waters shrink a little more each year as Númenor keeps pressing in) so no one feels inspired to deal with them, and there's a lot of risk to trying to because water gets weird around those islands. Lots of shipwrecks, lots of strange creature in the waves. (The Teleri get some sort of mingled siren/kraken vibes here.) The eastern elves tell stories of a farther island beyond theirs, where no mortals have ever gone; where the seas themselves are sundered so as to protect their inhabitants from all encroachment...but more people these days know those are just fairy tales. There is no Western Shore; there are no Undying Lands. That's all just old sailors' stories and superstitions.

Anyway, Middle-earth itself: very old-school Europe vibes going on here, with lots of little kingdoms always sniping at one another for advantage, and whose power-balance has been kind of skewed by the Númenorian Colonies of Gondor and Arnor—really not colonies anymore at this point, because Númenor looked back east generations ago and decided to return to their ancestral homeland and claim it again farther back than any living mortal can remember. That doesn't stop Númenor from treating them like colonies still, which Denethor, the current ruling steward, isn't thrilled by. His people are more torn on the issue, with half of them liking the regalness of being Númenorian and the other half resentful at not being able to rule themselves. They even had a king once, for a few generations, but that collapsed during the civil wars called the Kinstrife, which were rumored to have been instigated by Númenor itself, although no one was ever able to prove that. There are rumors that an heir escaped the slaughter (Anastasia vibes!) but no one has been able to find proof of that. It may be no more than a pretty story. At any rate, no king has been seen in Gondor for generations.

Beyond the colonies of Gondor and Arnor, Númenor has other strong allies on the continent as well: Erebor, for one. The dwarves of the Lonely Mountains were driven from their home by the last of the dragons long ago, and the deal that their king made to acquire Númenorian assistance for taking it back from Smaug left the dwarves more indebted to the Númenorians than they intended. If only they could have found the Arkenstone, and been able to buy Númenor off with that the way they had planned...but if the Arkenstone was ever among Smaug's horde, it must have vanished at some point before the siege. (Some dwarves insist that it was there, had to have been there; and the only way it could be gone was if Númenor betrayed their word and burgled it when the dwarves' backs were turned—but that is a claim they cannot prove, alas, and so they must live with their debts to the White Island.) Erebor's might is more of craft than warfare, but those crafts have been put to good work on behalf of Númenor's military, and their armies are now the best-outfitted in the world, thanks to Ereborian smith-craft and manufacturing. They are allies far too valuable for Númenor to ever give up, no matter how richly they repay that debt.

As for the elven-lands, perhaps the most notable is the smallest: Rivendell. Founded by the brother of the First King of Númenor, Rivendell occupies a unique place in Númenorian headspace: it is deeply respected, but also looked down on a little. Elrond was clearly the lesser brother, choosing a life of lore and healing over the leadership that should have been in his blood; and yet, he is known for that wisdom, and his healing arts have saved many lives. He sails to Númenor occasionally to share his knowledge with their healers (although less often with each century) and to walk the lands where his brother once lived and died, and he is well-loved there...but they prefer the legend of Elrond to the reality, and their leaders more and more often welcome him with strained smiles than they do with open ones. Elrond will not participate in any endeavour which would lead to war, and the suffering that comes from such conflict; that does not mean that he approves of Númenors politics in these days of domination, and while he is always polite and respectful, he does not hesitate to offer its rulers his true opinions and advice.

They don't really care for that. But he is Elros's brother, so they force smiles and grateful platitudes, and then try and bundle him back onto his ship and off to his lovely but insignificant little valley as quickly as possible, and try to think about him and his dour warnings as little as they can when he's not around.

Mirkwood is the largest elven-kingdom, and the only one these days that truly counts as a kingdom. The lords of Númenor aren't keen on such a large nation existing without paying even lip-service allegiance to them, but on the other hand...does anyone really want alliance with Mirkwood? It's a terrible place, dark and dour and full of monsters. The elves there aren't like other elves; they're less wise, less refined...more dangerous. Feral, almost. There are rumors that—well, really it would be easier to compile the stories that aren't told about Mirkwood than to start listing all the ones that are. Death lives in those black trees. Even the water is dangerous to drink, more likely to cast you into a hundred years of dreams than to refresh your thirst. There are spiders in there the size of horses, deer with all their bones on the outside of their skin, squirrels that are venomous and moths that suck your blood. It is said that if you hear laughter in those trees, you might as well slit your own throat before the merry sound dies because you'll never escape the terrible, laughing things that hunt there. The stories even say that there are ghosts in those woods, wandering the south lands by the ruined citadel that towers over those gnarled black trees.

No one sane would live in Mirkwood. No one sane would even set foot in Mirkwood. No one sane should want anything to do with Mirkwood—and Númenor does not. Even the Daleman, known for being provincial weirdos, know better than to actually go into those black trees, even if they're deranged enough to trade goods with the elves that lurk there. Well, let them; and on their own heads be it when the wicked elvenking leads his people out for a feast of man-flesh!

(Some of the stories are true, but even the other elf-lords no longer know how many. Mirkwood has done far too good a job of spreading those terrible tales for anyone—maybe even them, sometimes—to remember which are false, and which are real. Even other elves steer-clear of those black trees, these days.)

The last elven-realm, Lothlórien, is something of an outlier among all the lands of Middle-earth: it is a small realm, which neither offers nor seeks trade or commerce with others, and yet which wields an outsize power in the affairs of greater nations. Lórien is a land of lore and mysteries, and it is said that the elf-witch who rules those golden trees can read a man's secrets merely by glancing at his eyes. Númenor wishes no war with the eerie elves of Lothlórien. Lady Galadriel is consequently invited to every grand affair of state, and never ever wanted there. Sometimes she attends (likely just to remind Númenor that she is real, and should not be trifled with) but mostly she stays in her trees, whispered about yet unseen.

As for the other lands of Middle-earth, many of them are tired of being to some degree under Númenor's heel, but not to the point of daring to risk open war against them. They all remember what happened to Eregion when Ost-in-Edhil's smith-lords though to oppose Númenorian domination.

Now, the world has settled into a sort of tense peace, where nation-states fight through commerce rather than the battlefield, and use their armies more for posturing and prestige than actual warfare.

Into this world, enter the pirates.

Númenor's domination of the sea has not gone unopposed. Círdan long defied them, until they sent their entire navy against him, landing soldiers to crush the Havens and take him and his lords prisoner back to Númenor for trial and punishment—but though the Havens fell, Círdan was not found there. Some say that he and all those closest to him were slaughtered, and Númenor covered it up; others say that he managed to slips their nets and sail West, and find the promised shores beyond the islands of the Teleri; still others say he is on those oceans still, hurrying Númenors ships as a rebel captain of a small pirate fleet. Whenever a ship fails to return to harbor, there are whispers that it fell to Círdan's rebels...but more likely it was claimed by waves and weather.

Probably.

The stories spread anyway, and those who sought to defy Númenor's will listened, and so they began too to seek the sea. Small, single pirate ships are no material threat to Númenor: their navy is too large for the sacking or disappearance of a few ships here and there to make any difference to them. But the stories of pirates being able to defy their might and slip away free of consequence...well, that might have more lasting repercussions. Certainly Númenor's leaders must think so, for they have devoted quite an undo amount of effort to hunting down and destroying these pests otherwise. Unless, of course, one believes the rumors that Gondor's lost heir is out there somewhere amongst the pirates, capable at any moment of returning and staking his claim to the throne—a claim which, thanks to the faltering and intermingling of generations since, gives him actually the most direct claim not only to the throne of Gondor but to Númenor itself, now that the line of the founding kings has broken so many times...provided such an heir even exists of course, which he does not.

Clearly.

And now, it's finally time to turn to our cast of characters: the good ship Fellowship was originally a merchant vessel, sailing the waves on behalf of the wealthy Took family. Hobbits do not go to sea very often themselves, but they appreciate life's comforts enough to finance ocean-going vessels, and are quite happy to pay the necessary tariffs to Númenor to have their protection on the waves, and there are always Men in Bree who are happy to sail on Hobbit ships (the rations they provide are always much nicer than you get on any other vessel!). Old Bilbo was one of the rare Hobbits who actually followed his sense of adventure all the way out to the waves, and was captain of the Fellowship in deed as well as name, and when his nephew was old enough he brought young Frodo along with him.

(Every gossip in the Shire said they would both come to a bad end, drowning just like Frodo's parents did; but even the sneering Sackville-Bagginses never expected pirates!)

For many years, the Fellowship went about its trade-routes quite respectably, causing no trouble and earning no malice. But then...well, the trouble started with that fellow called Strider. He was one of many sailors who signed-on from Bree one day, and should have been no more special than any of them. But there was something about him that always seemed a little disreputable, a little dangerous—and so it soon proved.

No one back on shore is quite sure how it happened. The nearest anyone has been able to piece the story together is that there was some sort of shipwreck, or a raft that escaped a shipwreck, and there was something on it—some chest or treasure. Whatever it was, it proved to be too much temptation for the sailors of the Fellowship. Instead of making a quick salvage of the wreckage and continuing on their way, they abandoned their course and their cargo's intended destination, and went from being respectable merchants to pirates.

Old Bilbo (who had retired some years ago) was scandalized, of course; positively scandalized. But of course, Bilbo had always been something of a scandal himself, and there were far too many suspicious eyes on him after everything went south. He sold Bag End, packed up his things, and disappeared from the Shire three weeks after the first wanted-for-piracy posters of his nephew went up. Rumor has it he went to Rivendell, but no one from Hobbitton has ever gone after him to check; Hobbits don't generally care for travel, and Rivendell is such a long was away. Must more pleasant to stay home by the fire, and gossip.

And gossip folk do, and not only in the Shire. Stories of the Fellowship quickly came to spread far beyond Hobbit-lands, and they got bigger as they went. Soon it was being said that Strider was not just a brigand, but a romantic scoundrel too, who had managed to steal the heart of Elrond's daughter before running away to sea before her brothers could revenge themselves upon him. He had a magic ring, which he had used to enthrall Frodo, and declare himself captain of the boat. He had a magic sword, which could break itself into pieces as short as a dagger and then reforge itself as long as a boathook at need. He had elf-blood, and was decades older than he looked. He had served in Gondor's army, and in Rohan's, and had learned healing from Elrond himself. He was one of the Rangers, the secretive wanderers that spread rumors against Númenor and hunted for treasure and forgotten beasts in the wilds.

The more outlandish stories even claimed that he was that lost heir, and his real name was Aragorn or Arathorn or something of that sort. Nonsense, of course—but nonsense that Númenor wasn't happy to hear being whispered up and down the Misty Mountains.

Their displeasure grew when word began to spread of Strider's companions: Frodo somehow recruited three of his friends to the ship (Hobbits at sea! What were the youth coming to?) but he had arranged for one of their more land-locked fellows to act as a blackmarket middle-man, passing coin and supplies and information back and forth between Bree and the boat. Fredagar Bolger was soon caught and arrested, but someone broke him out of prison before his trial could begin, and he disappeared as thoroughly as Bilbo had. (Rumors said that the Brandybuck and Took families had helped in that jail-break, for two of their own were among Frodo's crew, but no one could ever prove that; indeed, no one who had been on duty at the jail that night reported seeing anything. Fredagar had been there when they went to sleep; the next morning, he had been gone, and no one ever saw him in Hobbiton again.)

Even more outlandish than the idea of four Hobbits at sea, the stories insisted that they had a dwarf on the ship as well. Everyone knew that dwarves hated boats, and feared the ocean; everyone knew that a dwarf would sooner shave his beard than go to sea. Nonetheless, the stories persisted: the Fellowship had a dwarf. Rumor claimed that he was a disgruntled son of Erebor, who had joined Strider's band of pirates out of disgust for the debt that Númenor held over the Lonely Mountain; others insisted that his father had been friends with Bilbo (in addition to his other oddities, Bilbo had been known to have friends among the dwarves, somehow!) and that it was Frodo who had somehow coaxed a dwarf away from land and out to sea. Whatever the motivations that had brought that dwarf to the Fellowship, there was soon no denying that he was there: only dwarven craftmanship could have kept that ship afloat through all of Númenor's efforts to sink it, and sailing faster than any of their own vessels could follow.

In addition to the dwarf, there was an elf among the crew as well. A less absurd notion on the surface, but strange when one dug-down to the details, for this was no Teleri; nor was he even one of the elves of the Havens, or from Rivendell. No, this was a Wood-elf of Mirkwood, one of those half-feral creatures of death and shadow and knives in the dark. His eyes were keener than any looking-glass that Númenor could fashion, and he could see as clearly in the starlight as men could under bright sun. With those elven eyes in their crow's nest, there was no chance that the Fellowship could ever be sneaked-up upon again; and those who survived attacks by Strider's pirates told stories of his terrible bright laughter echoing across the waves like the ringing of doom-bells in their dreams.

(There was surely, surely no truth to the rumor that the elf and the dwarf were any more than grudging crew-mates; elves and dwarves were notoriously distrustful of one another's people, and since Eregion's fall there had been no sign of reconciliation or camaraderie between any of their kind again. The sailors who reported that the two had been heard cheerfully competing like friends during the battles taking Númenorian ships were mistaken; the ones who claimed that they had witnessed victory-kisses were suffering from sunstroke; and the shaken survivors who whispered that the elf had lost his mind and slaughtered an entire crew himself when one of their number managed to wound the dwarf were surely just suffering from shock. No single elf, not even a Mirkwood elf, could slay an entire contingent of Númenorian soldiers like that; and no elf would ever be spurred to do such a thing for a mere dwarf. These stories were just one of Strider's many attempts to undermine Númenorian rule, by attempting to foster an alliance between Erebor and Mirkwood based on ridiculous false rumors about the joining of two of their people. Such things simply did not happen.)

The worst of the Fellowship's many assaults upon Númenorian sea-supremacy was when they took a ship that had been carrying Rohan's princess out to make a state-marriage on the White Island. The rest of the Rohirrim they let go, including the king's nephew, whom one might have expected them to hold for ransom; instead they took only the girl, and no ransom demand ever came back for her. Indeed, rumors soon began to whisper that she had been somehow seduced to Strider's crew as well, and could be seen with a cutlass in one hand and her fair hair streaming in the salt-air, a fell smile on her face, whenever the Fellowship boarded their prey, her own unfettered laughter ringing out alongside the elf's deadly merriment.

That was a crime too far. Númenor needed to stop Strider's pirates, and stop them now. Gondor dispatched two of her own to go to sea and hunt him and the Fellowship down: Boromir and Faramir, sons of the Steward and noble warriors of stout heart and stalwart arms. Everyone assumed that that would be the end of the Fellowship, for no pirate had yet escaped bold Boromir, and Faramir's cunning wits would surely be enough to outsmart some ragged Ranger. For months they pursued the pirate vessel, chasing the Fellowship through storm and fog and sun-kissed waves; then, far off the coast of the Teleri islands, a hurricane rolled in, and both ships were lost from sight behind the grey rainclouds.

Imagine Denethor's fury, and Númenor's wrath, when the next stories that came back from the sea told of how bold Boromir and cunning Faramir had joined the terrible crew...

[primordial-shade]

Demi-Gods of Valyria

Ok, so this is the idea. Valyria was meant to be based around the old Roman/Greek empires and their mythos included. Now a fun fact about Some Greek Demi-gods is that sometimes women prayed to give them a child and the gods would do so, but in some instances they would possess the husband of the woman and create a child that way. 

This means the kid has a godly parent, Mortal Father and Mortal mother.

Now do you see where I’m going with this.

Rhaenyra Targaryean, future Queen of Westeros, has been married to a man who is mourning and, after some attempts, cannot give her the children they both want and need.

Laenor tries and tries and and Rhaenyra tries and tries. They both want a child, they both need a child.

Desperate and ardent worshippers of the 14 Gods of Valyria, they pray to their ancestral Gods for help, desperate and pleading. 

And the Gods answer.

They give the two a option, one as fantastical as it is a blessing. They tell them that each of them will come in turn, to give Rhaenyra and Laenor a child, that each one of them will ‘sire’.

They immediately bring in Rhaenys, Corlys and Laena, who brings along Daemon as well. After proving this exsists both agree full heartedly to the deal.

Needless to say Corly’s is stupendously excited and Daemon has to be stopped from exalting his gods in public by Laena. Rhaenys is just happy her son and Rhaenyra get what they want.

Arrax of course comes first. King of the Gods, creator of the first Valyrians, he possesses Laenor that night and sires upon Rhaenyra the future King that night.

Jacaerys Targaryean is born 9 months later. His skin the hue of his father’s, with golden-silver curls and Violet eyes brighter than any Valryian before him. Upon his shoulder is affixed the birthmark of a Crown.

When the topic of the heir of Driftmark is brought up there is much debate amongst the gods but eventually, Caraxes is chosen to sire Lucerys Velaryon. Born with skin almost as dark as his granfathers, silver and onyx curls like his grandmother. His hand marked with the sign that mimics a rolling wave.

Syrax fights her way next, having let her brothers sire the childs to be heirs she claims the right to sire her favourites, the child who named her dragon for her, third child. Joferys Velaryon is born with a mark of crawling vines on his neck.

Despite their arguments Vhagar and Meraxes agree to sire the next two children with Rhaenyra together. The Twin’s Rhaenys and Visenya are born from this union. Rhaenys, child of Meraxes, is born with a twisting wind mark on the back of her neck whilst her twin Visenya, child of Vhagar, is born with the mark of the sword in the same place.

Their Darling Aemma is conceived barely 2 months after by Meleys, a reminder of Rhaenyra’s dear mother who Meleys had adored. Aemma is born with the mark of a heart over her very own heart. 

The Triplets come next. Monterys, Sired by Vermax with high Valyrian marked on his right bicep, Daenaera, sired by Vermithor marked with a smiths hammer on her right bicep, and Valaena, sired by Tyraxes and marked with a bird in flight on her right bicep.

Another set of twins comes two years later. Daenys, child of Tessarion, marked with an eye upon her wrist and Naerys, child of Shrykos,marked with a rising sun in the same place.

Then finally their last triplets. Aenys, born of Aegarax with the mark of a dragon between his shoulder blades, Aemon, Child of Gaelithox and born with a burning star between his shoulder blades, and finally He who comes at the end, Balerion, sires thier final child Baelon, born with a skull between his shoulder blades.

Jacaerys born: 112 AC

Lucerys: Born: 114 AC

Joferys: Born 115 AC

Rhaenys and Visenya: Born 117 AC

Aemma: Born 118 AC

Monterys, Daenaera and Valaena: Born 120 AC

Daenys and Naerys: Born 121 AC

Aenys, Aemon and Baelon: Born 123 AC

Rhaenyra and Laenor are happy, they are beyond at peace with this offer. Laenor gets to go to sleep and wake from a peaceful sleep knowing his best firend and wife carries their new child (He consents to this by the way, just saying it now and long as he isn’t in the drivers seat he is fine.)

Rhaenyra is able to have the children she so desires without hurting her husband and best friend, or seeking elsewhere for seed for her sons. With Daemon and Laena in on it she eventually takes them on as lovers and Laenor does the same with Ser Qarl.

They are happy, especially when Alicent enters the room after Jacaerys is born and see’s the dark skinned curly haired little boy with a crown shape emblazzoned upon his shoulder and nerly faints on the spot. It is not long before Corlys and Viserys both scream of his right to be king to the realm, celebrating the birth of the heir’s heir, born marked by the crown he was destined to wear.

Otto nearly has a seizure back in Oldtown, it unfortunately does not kill him.

Rhaenys is hardly seen without her first born grandchild, often holding him whilst she trains Rhaenyra in the art of ruling and power or simply showing him around the castle that will ‘One day will be his.’

Alicent is screaming somewhere, I don’t care honestly fuck her. Viserys just continues to die somewhere building his model, again don’t really care.

It is the day of Jacaerys birth that the Dragonkeepers find Syrax and Seasmoke with 14 eggs. Every colour of the Rainbow, another sign of Jacaerys and Rhaenyra right to rule they claim. Rhaenyra herself picks a egg of pure red veined with gold for her son and heir, within a month it Hatches into a Dragon named Arrax, for his father. The other 13 are kept in warmers, guarded and precious.

Alicent tries once to claim one for Aegon, still without a dragon, and it burns him in his crib fiercely. She does not try again.

Here is my current list of dragons, and yes I know Jace had Vermax and Luke had Arrax but we are switching things up.

Jacaerys - Arrax. A pure Targareyan red dragon

Lucerys - Caraxes II. A sea green dragon.

Joferys - Syrax II. A deep royal purple dragon.

Rhaenys - Meraxes. A bright sky blue dragon.

Visenya - Vhagar II. A rust red dragon.

Aemma - Meleys II - A pale purple dragon.

Monterys - Vermax. A emerald green dragon.

Daenaera - Vermithor II. A steel grey dragon.

Valaena - Tyraxes. A pale grey dragon.

Daenys - Tessarion. A pale yellow dragon.

Naerys - Shrykos. A bright yellow dragon.

Aenys - Aegarax. A vivid orange dragon.

Aemon - Gaelithox. A bright silver dragon

Baelon - Balerion - A pure black dragon.

All these dragons share golden accents and pure purple eyes. They also grow at a far faster rate than many dragons, think Daenaerys Dragons growth rate. This is especally as Rhaenyra declares the Dragons should roam freely for the first time since Aegon the conquerer.

Jacaerys is pretty much universally loved and the green faction begins to wither especially with Alicent claiming that the children are ‘aberrations’ and that they cannot be trueborn.

Court: looks at Laenor holding baby Jacaerys who looks pretty damn like him.

Court: Looks at Lucerys who resembles his grandfather almost exactly with Rhaenys lovely hair.

Court: Bitch are you crazy??

Otto and Alicent are struggling and I am here for it. They also nag Viserys and give him headaches and I am also here for that. Justice for Aemma Arryn you nasty rotting bitch.

Rhaenyra is just giddy with it all. her kids are Laenors and hers, and if they needed help from their gods well it wasn;t like anyone was going to believe that.

So anyway the young 14 demi-gods grow up pretty much adored by their parents and family. Not to mention their godly parents, by right of helping to conceive them, are pretty much always near them in a spiritual way.

Does Otto and Crispy Cole find a lot of misfortune going their way? Yes. tessarion is a particularly savage goddess in this and makes sure they always manage to catch a wide variety of illnesses and ailments, especially when her own daughter is born.

Are they kind of odd? Do their purple eyes, so unique, pierce your very soul? Does the air simmer around them and luck bend to their whim? Of course, but be damned if you dare say that around any of their parents. Even the Gods have nothing on Laenor and Rhaenyra’s protectiveness over their children.

As they grow older the topic of marriage of course comes up. Whilst Rhaenyra does not get along with Aegon and Aemond, especially after Aemond tried to claim Vhagar despite Laena still being alive which led to him losing an eye to the dragon, she Adores Helaena and Daeron and eagerly plans their marriage to Jace and Baela who adores her cousin.

Of course Alicent then delcares Helaena will marry Aegon and it turns into an argument as Viserys debates because he’s a fucking wet wipe.

Jace does not accept this in any way.

Alicent is horrified when the Prince spirits away Helaena and marries her in the traditions of Valryia before anyone can stop them. She faints when the couple return and Helaena tells her it was her idea and they had already slept together (Jace is 17 at this point and she is 19.)

Rhaenyra is half delighted and hald ‘done with her children’ whilst Laenor immediately begins planning a wedding for the faith with Laena as they both giggle and Daemon howls in the background. Viserys. glad he didn;t have to make a choice, blesses the marriage and declares it done.

(When Alicent tries to wed Daeron to a lady of Oldtown when he is 19 Rhaenys easily spirits him away. They return 6 months later and she is already pregnant and wed. Rhaenyra has to have a strong drink whilst Laenor and Daemon howl with laughter.)

(Daemon finds it less funny when Alicent tries to marry Daeron to a lady of Oldtown and Baela kidnaps him and they come back married and her already 3 months pregnant. Laena and Laenor are delighted and Rhaenyra enjoys her taste of vengeance.)

(Rhaenys, who followed her own Husband for a year on dragonback before she was finally permitted to marry him simply smirks, knowing her genes are strong.)

the other kids also grown up and take either their siblings or other nobility as spouses, as when Rhaenyra becomes queen she declares that any who marry into their family will become Targaryean so replenish their bloodline. It suprisingly is very welcomed.

I have more but this is getting really long. Thank you to the Game of throne roleplaying wiki which gave me the list of gods below so that I could use and abuse it as a reference.

Arrax - Ruler of Gods, law, order, justice, governance, and strength.

Aegarax - God of all creatures that walk, run, swim, or fly. Creator of the first dragon.

Balerion - God of death and the Underworld.

Caraxes - God of the sea, twin of Meraxes.

Gaelithox - God of fire, stars, moon, sun, and the dawn, rival of Meraxes.

Meleys - Goddess of love and fertility.

Meraxes - Goddess of the sky, twin of Caraxes.

Shrykos - Goddess of beginnings, endings, transitions, and doorways.

Syrax - God of wine, fruitfulness, parties, festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, vegetation, and ecstasy.

Tessarion - Goddess of music, arts, knowledge, healing, plague, prophecy, poetry, beauty, and archery.

Tyraxes - Goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, and battle strategy.

Vermax - God of boundaries, travel, communication, trade, language, and writing.

Vermithor - God of smiths, crafts, and artisans.

Vhagar - Goddess of war.

[blazehedgehog]

I mean ignoring that Vertekins confirmed that Eggman didn't inherit the tablets from Gerald, assuming that the murals for SS and Chaos were made at the same time is incredibly naive

Angel Island's mythos would've changed given the amount of time that passed between it's creation after Chaos rampaged, it's literally going to diverge from being separate from the initial ancestral site (which is now Mystic Ruins)

Similarly all murals we see in both the past and Lost World don't show the 3K prophecy. Likely cuz that was made much later, well after Angel Island was formed

The other issue is even trying to circumnavigate that and saying "well he discovered them separately later" would require Gerald interact with Angel Island. Which A, would've absolutely contradicted Knuckles remaining tribe of never seeing other sentient beings, and B, would've definitely been noted by Shadow's game and Battle GBA, neither of which do, C, the discovery of a flying island is way too important/miraculous to keep from the public for profit, or reap for resources

Mystic Ruins being researched and noted for Chaos' connection to the Artifical Chaos? Valid and stated

Super Sonic being Shadow's base? No, it's just Hoshino/Uekawa wanting to make him cool, especially given the redesign was done AFTER script

Perfect Chaos being Biolizard's case? While Gerald actually could've seen the mural, surprisingly not! Biolizard is entirely due to being based on lizards and amphibians reproducing limbs, which given his research on immortality for Maria... https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_Adventure_2_-_The_Truth_of_50_Years_Ago…

This is like when people thought the Ancient Civilization that created the Gizoid were echidnas entirely cuz of Chronicles, despite Battle GBA never saying that, just leaving it blank since Emerl wiped them out completely. It got too accepted of a theory

Like it's a fun theory, but not it

Okay I actually wasn't going to respond to this because you come out the gate being sort of rude but I at least wanted to validate your ask by reading through it. But it's long, and there were faster, easier asks to read/reply to, so I put it off until now.

Since this was long enough ago, this was in response to this and this. And another post I can't seem to find. (Originally, I linked the same post twice, whoops)

The main issue I take with your wall of text is you put words in my mouth.

assuming that the murals for SS and Chaos were made at the same time is incredibly naive

And if you go back and read the two posts, I never actually say when they were made, just that they existed. The murals were made hundreds, possibly even thousands of years ago. And it almost doesn't matter when they were made. You kind of can't make a timeline given Sonic games never really give a specific year on when any of this takes place, but for the sake of argument we could say it's something like

800 AD: Echidna society discovers the emeralds.

825 AD: Echidna society grows to learn that the emeralds have some kind of beneficial power (clairvoyance? strength? who knows). Perhaps scholars see visions of future events and keep records of these visions in secret chambers. Or, perhaps, they learn of them from communicating with "The God of Destruction" that watches over the emeralds.

850 AD: War for control of the emeralds power between different Echidna tribes leads to the God of Destruction disaster. Most of Echidna society is wiped out and Tikal's dying (?) prayer separates the emeralds and quarantines the Echidna homeland where nobody can cause another disaster like that again, forming what becomes known as "Angel Island."

851 AD: Maybe some of the last few remaining terrestrial Echidna, perhaps from a rival tribe, make records of the God of Destruction disaster. Multiple copies of these records probably exist, and they reach as far as the edge of the tribe's domain at the end of the jungle, perhaps simply to serve as a warning for future generations not to mess with that thing.

1948 AD: Professor Gerald is conscripted by The President of the United Federation (or whatever) to conduct dark scientific research into immortality. Gerald only agrees on the grounds he hopes it will cure his granddaughter of her rare degenerative disease.

1949 AD: Professor Gerald somehow learns enough of Ancient Echidna culture that he begins trying to recreate their legends in search of something he refers to as "The Ultimate Lifeform." How this pertains to immortality is unknown. This leads to the creation of Chaos Drives, The Biolizard, Artificial Chaos, and Shadow the Hedgehog. These are all byproducts or direct replications of things described in Ancient Echidna lore.

1950 AD: The government/military grows to fear Gerald's discoveries and attempt to seize control of his projects. While specifically trying to capture Shadow, his granddaughter is shot and killed in the commotion. The grief from her death drives Gerald insane, considering all the sins against nature he committed for her sake.

1951 AD: Somehow Gerald regains access to Shadow and reprograms/brainwashes him with false memories to enact a suicide plot that will cause an extinction level event on planet earth. Gerald is discovered, captured, and sentenced to execution by firing squad for his conspiracy. This may have actually been part of Gerald's plan, given what we see later. Shadow is placed into cold storage to be forgotten.

1994 AD: In the process of chasing down Dr. Eggman (Professor Gerald's grandson), Sonic the Hedgehog ends up on Angel Island, in one of its deepest sanctuaries (Hidden Palace), where he witnesses an ancient mural depicting two figures clashing over a giant emerald, and those figures bare a vague resemblance to Eggman and himself. Less than an hour later, Sonic is living this prophecy.

1999 AD: Dr. Eggman apparently separately researches Ancient Echidna lore and this leads him to straight up release the God of Destruction from its prison within the Master Emerald. Station Square is basically wiped off the face of the map, but Sonic neutralizes the being's anger in the end.

2001 AD: Somehow in no way related to the previous incident, Dr. Eggman's next project just so happens to involve the result of his Grandfather's research into Ancient Echidna lore. Eggman releases Shadow from maximum security military cold storage and he immediately sets about carrying out Gerald's extinction plot, stringing Eggman along until he gets what he needs out of him. At the last second, Shadow realizes what he's doing is wrong, and nearly kills himself in the process of setting things right.

These are not real years. This is just to illustrate how far apart these events are in time.

It genuinely does not matter when the records were originally made, what matters is that it was "a really long time ago."

...would require Gerald interact with Angel Island. Which A, would've absolutely contradicted Knuckles remaining tribe of never seeing other sentient beings

I mean, it's a big island. There are a lot of ways strangers could enter the island, collect resources, and then leave undetected, never to return. But you're right insofar as we don't know where Gerald got his information. That's a bit presumptuous on my part, but again: have some fun, you nerd. It's not like these games are always air-tight with their narratives.

Biolizard is entirely due to being based on lizards and amphibians reproducing limbs, which given his research on immortality for Maria

I mean, yes, if you want to split hairs about this, that's the plain text of what Rouge's report says. But given a confluence of other factors around the Biolizard's existence, and the fact it was codenamed "the prototype of the ultimate lifeform" it's pretty easy to connect the dots that Gerald incorporated other research and the whole "salamanders regenerate limbs" was simply one piece of a larger body of work being referenced into developing the creature.

It literally roars like Perfect Chaos, it literally hangs around the ARK's replica shrine... you think genetic research into salamanders is going to create a being that can shoot energy from its mouth and harness the Chaos Emeralds? C'mon, dude.

Do not try to out-Sonic-lore me.

[the-wayside]

After the great fail of OneDrive, I've not been up to having rewrite work I've already done once before so I started a writing exercise. Write some words for any concept that I'd like to tackle. In true Way fashion, it has...grown.

So, here is about 700 words of about 5k. M for language and implications of future dubcon (A/B/O dynamics [A!K and O!P]). Marriage of convenience. Just for interest, in this universe, the wolves do descend from Gaelic roots as wolves as we know them don't exist in Thailand and hence the familiarity with (summer) Beltane (and Bel) as well as the hunt (Cernunnos). Not that it matters at all as it's more the basis for events rather than a huge mythos piece.

Porsche has been dreading his last wedding celebration with an itch in his canines to rip into everyone and everything. A marriage of convenience, they said. Whose? Definitely not his. Not his husband who comes home smelling of other more obliging omegas. Despite coming so far into the 21st century, some wolves refuse to let go of their traditions and their base instincts. Families bred for power over a true desire to bond. No, this was a marriage of necessity. One he instigated but the further it progresses the more he understands how poor a decision that was.

“We’ll drive out to the campsite before sunset,” Kinn tells him in the sunroom downstairs over coffee and an assortment of breakfast foods.

The only comfort he has is the sickening twist that Kinn looks just as uncomfortable as he feels. All the preparations, the parties and the egregious handholding, were scheduled so that their last feast and hunt would fall on the first day of May, coinciding with their prayers to their ancestral gods Bel and Cernunnos for a hearty bounty in the coming year. Since his new husband doesn’t farm, the bounty they wish for is for a healthy pup inside him. All things befitting a marriage not as doomed as theirs.

Fuck if I let him touch me. Porsche grunts and pushes melon around his plate with a fork. Kinn folds up his napkin and puts it over the top of his plate, pushing back his chair to stand and rebutton his suit jacket. Today’s is different from yesterday's and the days before that. Porsche is sure Kinn has more suits than he has underwear.

“One more night and we can be done with each other,” Kinn says quietly.

“You can be done with me,” Porsche says as he tips his head up to look at Kinn, “You can do whatever you want. Me, I’m stuck with you.”

Kinn searches his face and Porsche fights to keep his face passive and not scowl. In another time, another world, he might have found Kinn attractive.

“You’ve made that clear.”

Porsche narrows his eyes because he doesn’t understand the tone, “Am I wrong?”

It’s the one concession he can make. The day Kinn put the gold wedding band on his finger, he should have placed a corresponding bite on his nape…but he didn’t. The moment he does, Porsche’s future dies with him. All Porsche’s heats are Kinn’s heats; his children are Kinn’s. Less than a slave, he’s a vessel for someone else’s desires.

“You know where the door is,” Kinn stares at him, giving him a hard look and Porsche sighs and leans back in his chair. Everything his family received; the money, the protection, the status in the pack, all disappears.

“Don’t expect me to slick my asshole for you,” Porsche knows he’s being vulgar and Kinn flinches in the way Porsche has come to know him to. His face doesn’t move but his eyes flicker, almost as if his wolf answers Porsche’s anger rather than the man. “Don’t expect to get anywhere near me.”

Porsche realizes that maybe he has pushed too far because Kinn leans down, hand on the table, “If you really thought you stood a chance, you’d have stopped taking those extra strong suppressants.”

Just because he realizes, doesn’t mean he can stop himself: “Sorry if I don’t want the stench of you following me around while I’m trying to eat.”

Kinn leans back and stands up again, “Pretend all you want. You signed yourself up for the task and refused the exit. Your asshole, anyway it comes, is mine.”

Porsche is practically seething and Kinn adjusts his cufflinks, "You'll prepare yourself as you're expected to and we will act out this farce."

"Why are you doing this?" Porsche can't help but ask.

"You asked for my help, not my reasoning," Kinn turns and proceeds to the dining room door before disappearing. Porsche watches him go and sighs, with relief or frustration, he isn't sure.

Marriage of convenience, marriage of the borderline insane, he decides and spears a piece of melon onto his fork before popping it into his mouth. What's done is done and Kinn, despite Porsche's recalcitrance, is right. Porsche chose this repeatedly in the last few weeks and now he has to pony up and deliver.

[yloiseconeillants]

How does your WoL/OC relate to the culture of their species as established in lore? Do they consider themselves a typical example of their kind? Are they in touch with their heritage? How does this affect their interactions with others of their own kind?

@mimble-sparklepudding also asked this!

Both Yloise and Vallerin are pretty separated from what the game considers to be the typical Duskwight experience (Black Shroud, reviled as criminals, disposable mercenary adds, etc) - they were born and raised in La Noscea, in a village comprised mostly of Seawolf farmers. Their primary understanding of their culture comes initially through their mother, Hersande, who comes from the perspective of being a Gridanian foundling with only tenuous ties to Gelmorran Duskwights, and later through their patroness, Mdm. De Neville.

Hersande raised her children with a fairytale version of Duskwight culture, partially through stories by famed Ciw Morran writer Iolanthe Raas and partly from the poetry and stories recited by Julien (Yloise and Vallerin's father). Hersande herself took her surname 'Coneillants' from an old legend about an early Gelmorran hero. The children took these tales and wrapped them into the stories they heard from their neighbors and developed an elaborate mythos of pirates, bandit kings, magic underground lakes, giant glowing ram-shaped ghosts, and evil elementals.

Hersande's patroness, Mdm. De Neville, is herself a Duskwight - but one of Meracydian heritage, a direct descendant of the famous navigator who founded La Noscea. Mdm. De Neville and her children support Gelmorran cultural pursuits, including sponsoring and funding students and guild apprentices. Hersande is a recipient of these grants (in her case, to establish cash crops such as lavender in Halfstone's notoriously difficult soil), and due to both their physical proximity and similarity of their children's ages, Mdm. De Neville often invited Hersande and her children to visit the ancestral manor.

After the Calamity, Mdm. De Neville takes Yloise in as a governess for her youngest children until Yloise is ready to pursue her path as a chirurgeon. Her elder children invite Vallerin to work alongside them on their excavation of Issom Har.

Vallerin, having lived in Gridania, is much more aware of the reputation that Duskwights have in the city (and his harrowing experiences with Foulques and the Lancer's Guild has embittered him to Gridania at large), and he's very much taken an interest in traditional Duskwight culture (to the point of getting an actual tattoo instead of just mimicking the ones he saw in the books, like Yloise still does on occasion). He's *very* defensive of Issom Har but still skeptical of the Redbelly Wasps.

Yloise, on the other hand, is still romantic about the entire thing, including the agenda of the more radical Wasps, and maintains a cordial relationship with them due to her friendship with Dariustel Sompt through the Scions. She's a bit oblivious to the entire dynamic of Wildwood and Duskwight tensions and feels like a tourist on occasion (particularly to Ciw Morra).

(there's. a lot here to say about their father julien who is both actively alive and a gelmorran revolutionary and propagandist who was imprisoned for two decades on false charges but escaped from spirithold in the calamity but i have already written a lot here AND his position in the story has always been Very Nebulous anyway)

a thousand thanks to @mythandral for further Duskwight world building because god knows Square Enix isn't going to do it

[cardicoven]

🥀Book Review: Pagan Portals: Persephone by Robin Corak

Full Title: Pagan Portals: Persephone, Practicing the Art of Personal Power. Author: Robin Corak Published by: Moon Books (John Hunt Publishing) 2020 Good Reads: Link

My Quick Review: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) stars. A good Persephone themed self-help book, touching on shadow work, Persephone's Mythos and with some interesting resources. I recommend it but not enthusiastically.

Official Blurb: Embark upon a powerful journey with Persephone, queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring, as she helps you discover your personal power and take control of your life. Personal Reason for Purchasing: I was familiar with several other Books in the Pagan Portals and bought this one hoping for a primer on Persephone's Mythology and modern pagan practice. (Bought from Amazon UK).

Overview of the book's contents. Introduction: An Introduction to the Author, their Personal Practice and their Experience Working with/Learning from Persephone. Chapter 1: 'From Helpless child to Powerful Woman'. A basic but welcome introduction to the core Myths of Persephone, The Homeric Hymn to Demeter, and a Personal retelling by the Author of the Abduction of Persephone by Hades, told from Persephone's Perspective and with a core theme of empowerment, self-determination/personal sovereignty. Includes journaling prompts. Chapter 2: 'The Eleusinian Mysteries'. An Overview of the Eleusinian Mysteries with discussion surrounding what they may have entailed and the possible lessons/take-aways initiates would have received. Includes journaling prompts. Chapter 3: 'Descent and Ascent'. Primarily a self-help section, discussing Persephone's personal ascent and descent into the Underworld and her growth from it. followed by an exploration of how such an ascent and descent into the shadow self might promote growth in the reader. Including the script for a guided meditation and journaling prompts. . Chapter 4: 'Persephone as a Psychopomp'. An Exploration of Persephone as a Psychopomp (defined as 'a guide with the realm of souls'), touches on the idea of Persephone as a Triple Goddess, with a description of the Nekromanteion. Followed by a discussion of how to access ancestral wisdom, the wisdom of ones own subconscious. Including the script for a guided meditation and journaling prompts. . Chapter 5: 'Persephone and the Art of Discernment'. Focusing on discernment (defined as 'acute judgement and understanding'), with suggestions on how to develop this skill. Includes several divination/discernment techniques using bay leaves. Includes journaling prompts. Chapter 6: 'Rituals for Persephone'. Includes rituals from the dark and light half of the year (one ritual for each) and the script for a guided meditation with the aim of building personal sovereignty and highlights themes discussed in previous chapters. Chapter 7: 'Forging the Path: Additional Methods for Connecting with Persephone'. Begins with an extensive list of correspondences, several chants/invocations, recipes for a Persephone Incense/Bath Tea and an anointing oil, with some discussion of the ingredients' significance. Followed by an explanation for a unique Divination style using Lithomancy dedicated to Persephone known as 'Persephone's Seeds of Wisdom'. Chapter 8: 'Persephone's Feast'. Contains several culinary recipes incorporating foods sacred to Persephone or with 'Greek Flavour', contributed by Steven Corak. (Recipes are as follows: Greek summer salad : Pomegranate vinaigrette : Pomegranate chicken and kale : Pomegranate reduction : Persephone's Pastries) Conclusion: It is a conclusion, with some final journaling prompts.

Personal Thoughts and Review. While I was hoping for an overview of Persephone's: myths, cults, correspondences etc, what this book is at its heart (imo) is a pagan self-help (maybe shadow-work) book using Persephone as inspiration and theming.

While a generally pleasant and quick read (around 95 pages of text) there are portions where sentiment is repeated and perhaps hammered home a little to hard, however for what this book is rather than what I wished it to be, Pagan Portals Persephone is an excellent example of how to learn from myth and grow from the lessons + experiences therein, and I do recommend it to those interested in Persephone from a Pagan perspective, but it probably shouldn't be your first book on the Goddess.

Books Content in detail. General content: Pretty surface level, but well done given the short page count. Journaling exercise: Themed primarily around shadow work, the questions were In depth and thought provoking (however, as a Masc (he/him) individual I did notice they were written assuming for a Fem reader). I found them useful and have completed the exercise twice so far and have learned more of myself each time. Origin Myth retelling: Interesting and inspiring but undoubtedly written with the lens of supporting the ‘self-help’ personal sovereignty narrative of the book. Persephone’s correspondences: Broad but far from exhaustive, simply a non-referenced list. Rituals and Meditations: Interesting as always to see another practitioner’s approach, I did notice certain Wiccan elements (casting circles, Athame/tools, ‘So mote it be’) not a complaint but worthy of note. Recipes: I’m not qualified to answer this, and food quality is always down to personal taste anyway. However, it is an interesting concept. Persephone’s Seeds of Wisdom: A personal highlight from the book, I use a modified version of this method in my own practice.

The most interesting hot takes from the book. Triple Goddess Persephone: While a throw away comment in Chapter 4, the idea of Persephone embodying all Three aspects of the Triple Goddess (namely the Maiden, Mother, Crone archetypes) is interesting, and has inspired me to explore the idea further. Personal Myth Retelling (Mythic fanfic): It is definitely decisive to rewrite myth within pagan circles, but isn’t that what Humanity have done from the Dawn of time, and perhaps by personally retelling Persephone’s transition from Kore to Queen, we might learn which aspects of the Myth, Goddess and their role in our practice are most influential to us as individuals. (Obviously attempting to masquerade one’s personal retelling (myth Fanfic essentially) as the one true version is mind numbing, but on a personal level it may be useful.)

Final Thoughts. While not what I expected, Pagan Portals Persephone has taught me alot, and added to my personal practice, but I am glad I got the this book while equipped to recognise what the text is missing.

[impercre]

A Brief History of The Bene Gesserit

For centuries the Bene Gesserit and their origins were shrouded in secrecy and half-truths. No doubt in an attempt to add a sense of mystique and create a sense of history they did not necessarily possess. Here are the known facts or at least those revealed during the time of the tyrant Leto Atreides II the Younger

Organizations such as the Bene Gesserit have existed almost as long as human history. Usually in a purely religious capacity as priests and priestesses. The Bene Gesserit in particular seem to have originated around the time of the Great Revolt. What makes the Bene Gesserit unique is it's lack of religious focus. Instead basing their organization on the preservatiion of humanity and understanding human nature and motives.

The first known Reverend Mother in our modern sense of the term was Raquella Berto-Anirul who was the first to unlock one's ancestral memory. The first breeding programs were aimed specifically toward creating individuals who could likewise unlock their ancestral memory. As the organization bred for more Reverend Mothers and Fathers they became aware humanity was headed toward extinction with only one road out, the so called 'Golden Path' or Secher Nbiw. Their ability to see within however remained limited with those who accessed such memories only able to access of the memories of those ancestors sharing their gender. This coupled with their focus on breeding limited them as a somewhat gender essentialist group which led to pushback amongst some groups and civilizations such as Ix. While remaining gender essentialist they nonetheless pushed toward breeding an individual who could forsee the Golden Path by seeing the entirety of their ancestral memory as well into the future and thus save humanity from extinction. It was reasoned this individual would have to be male and put in a position where they would have access to all the resources needed to carry out Secher Nbiw. To this end they began to actively court the noble and Imperial houses. The rest as they say is history.

I've changed a lot about the Bene Gesserit if only because I'm uncomfortable wiith how Frank Herbert handled certain aspects, gender in particular.

While the idea of Reverend Fathers might be too much for some I stand by it and would like to point out male Bene Gesserit initiates are canon to the series. To me they also make sense on a breeding level, as male initiates could potentially impregnate sizable groups of women in a much shorter amount of time than it would take a woman to carry a child to term.

Furthermore Frank Herbert frequently alludes to or outright plays with the idea of gender fluidity throughout the series so highlighting it in regards to the Kwizats Haderach seems not only reasonable but necessary given the unfortunate sexist overtones Herbert knowingly or unknowingly baked into his own mythos.

[salora-rainriver]

Its really funny and weird how, of all the european pagan mythologies, greek is the one white ppl know the most of by far.

Like, of course it makes sense, greco-romans were hailed as the peak of civilization by white european elites at least like, twice in history, but it’s still really wild like. We’ll know the names of every olympian and what exactly their deal is, know like 20 different random greek monsters who only appeared in like One Story,

but then u ask abt the british isles, site of a people who would eventually colonize the fucking world, and its like “uhhhhhh theres morrigan? Also some fairies. Is morrigan a fairy? I think there were some tree worshippers. Some dudes put blue paint on their body and had big shields i think?” and a book’s gonna claim there was an irish potato god and you’re going to believe them bcs you’ll be so wrapped up in the potato famine thing that you’ll forget potatos were IMPORTED FROM THE ANDES MOUNTAINS.

And then like folks will be familiar with like 4 norse gods maybe 5, know some words like asgard and ragnarok, but ask them who fenrir is and theyll be like “Is he important?”

Also if you ask them about germanic mythos they will draw a fucking blank bcs even tho the general public are familiar with at least a few germanic mythos things, we completely stripped out the germanic origins from them when we called them generic “fairy tales.” Same for france and the iberian penninsula i think. Also dont ask me which fairy tales come from where bcs i am a prime example of this, i do not fucking know, i just vaguely remember that they came from certain places and then spread from there.

Oh And absolutely FORGET about anything east of germany fucking forget about it. The slavic regions have a rich mythos and even ppl who are pretty knowledgable abt the stuff i said above won’t know shit about it, case in point, me! Go ahead! I know a bunch abt celtic stuff and norse stuff and a lill bit of german stuff, but ask me to bring up ONE slavic story! The only thing my brain is cookin up is that one about the lindwurm, and even that one i cant remember if its actually slavic!

Now Think abt how many white people claim heritage from places in europe that arent greece and italy. Think about how little those same ppl know abt their ancestor’s prechristian stories and beliefs. Im hispanic i know like one thing abt pre-christian spain and its that they had a funny word for fairies (i don’t even remember the name!), just as an example. Like isnt that fucking insane? You’d think a buncha colonizing douches competing with each other to take over the world would put a bit more effort into educating ppl abt the ancestral stories that set these guys apart from each other, but no, not really. And like dont get me wrong its not like this doesnt make sense. It does. The roman empire and later christianity overtook like all these myriad cultures years before colonialism and white supremacy was even a pipe dream, to say nothing about the internal strife that happened in the iberian peninsula and the british isles.

But at the same time, in recent years there’s been massive pushes to recover this lost culture (especially in those british isles places that arent england), and even with this effort, so much is unknown to a fuckton of people who, i repeat, claim heritage from these places. (In fact, one of those efforts probably set us back bcs it got caught up in bullshit ideology and mysticism and grabbed stuff from totally different people to support a bullshit point. Looking at you, nazis.) and it’s just kind of insane. Overall this is just a peak example to me of the hollowness and artificiality of the concept of whiteness. The master race can’t even remember their own ancestors, and ancient history had to be wiped away or made generic in order to support the notion that these people have something in common, and thus, something setting them apart from everyone else.

[sebeth]

Who's Who In The DC Universe #1: Arkham Asylum, Atari Force, Atlantis

Arkham Asylum by Steve Bissette & John Totleben

Located on a wooded acre of land just north of Gotham City

Founded in 1921 by Dr. Amadeus Arkham, a vigorous social reformer, on land left to him by his mother

Amadeus’s mother suffered from mental illness

The asylum was the first facility of its kind in Gotham

Amadeus transformed his ancestral home into an asylum and staffed it with some of the most prominent psychologists and physicians of the time.

One of Arkham’s first inmates was “Mad Dog” Martin Hawkins, who had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in the murders of Arkham’s wife and infant daughters.

Dr. Arkham treated Hawkins with “great concern and compassion”, right up to Hawkin’s accidental electrocution two months after his incarceration.

In 1929, 6 days after the legendary stock crash, Dr. Arkham went berserk and was arrested when he attempted to electrocute his stockbroker. Amadeus wasn’t happy over losing his entire fortune in the crash.

Amadeus was committed to Arkham Asylum. He spent the remainder of his days carving indecipherable inscriptions on the floor of his cell while singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

Amadeus passed away in his sleep on April 7, 1963.

The Asylum wen through a series of state-appointed administrators after Amadeus’s incarceration.

The most recent was Dr. Byron Blaine, who has held the position since his predecessor was taken captive and replaced by Professor Achilles Milo, one of the Asylum’s inmates.

Other notable inmates include Two-Face, the Floronic Man, the Mad Hatter, Clayface III, Maxie Zeus, and the Joker.

Arkham Asylum debuted in the Batman comics in 1974 but has quickly become a foundational aspect of the Batman mythos. Hugo Strange, Harley Quinn, and Scarecrow all worked at Arkham Asylum in the various continuities. Numerous important storylines have taken place at Arkham, including the kickoff of Knightfall when Bane released the inmates to exhaust Batman.

I haven’t read Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum since it came out in 1989 but I think I remember the writer referencing Amadeus’s backstory. I seem to remember Mad Dog’s electrocution wasn’t so accidental after all. The Who’s Who entry (which pre-dates Morrison’s story by 4/5 years hints about the true nature of Mad Dog’s death when Amadeus attempts to electrocute his stockbroker). I don’t blame Amadeus, no one should be tasked to care for his wife and infant daughter’s murderer.

Amadeus played a background role in the Batman Arkham games when Quincy Sharpe, the Asylum’s current administrator, becomes convinced he is the reincarnation of Amadeus Arkham.

Arkham Asylum appears in all the various Bat Family titles and crossover media (cartoons, movies, video games). Notable storylines include the Arkham Asylum GN by Grant Morrison and Arkham Asylum: Living Hell. “Living Hell” isn’t as famous as Morrison’s graphic novel, but I enjoyed it. It follows a businessman who pleads insanity to avoid prison. The judge is fed up and sentences the man to Arkham. It doesn’t end well for him.

The Asylum has appeared in various non-Bat titles, including the Justice League, Justice Society, and Sandman. Arkham made appearances in the Justice League cartoon and a Suicide Squad animated movie.

Atari Force by Eduardo Barreto

Earth has been ravaged by war and ecological imbalance. The Atari Technology and Research Institute sent a specially trained crew throughout the multiverse to find a new world for humanity.

The crew found a new world after months of trials and tribulations. It was dubbed New Earth.

Twenty-five years later, the Dark Destroyer returned to menace New Earth.

Martin Chapman, one of the original founders of New Earth, founded the Atari Force to battle the Dark Destroyer.

The team is composed of Martin, his son, and members of various alien recipes.

DC issued digests in the 1980s (the size of the Archie digests you find in the grocery stores). One series of digests was devoted to the Legion of Super-Heroes (it’s how I read most of the Silver Age appearances of the Legion). Another had random reprints of various DC comics. This digest contained the only Atari Force story I have read. If you’re curious, the other stories in the digest were a Blue Devil story, the “Who Is Donna Troy” New Titans story, and the “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” Legion story (the one where Gim introduces Yera to his parents). I don’t recall much of the Atari Force story.

Atari Force was licensed from the actual Atari company which explains why the group isn’t seen/reference anymore.

Atlantis by Marshall Rogers

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, the continent of Atlantis was one of the first places on Earth where civilization flourished. It was the most sophisticated civilization in the world, establishing twelve scattered settlement cities on other continents.

Magic was the dominant source of power in early Atlantis but science and technology gradually rose to prominence, later Atlantis combined magic with technology

Atlantis launched an exploratory spacecraft in 45,500 BC

King Thorval sent six expeditions in the 9600 BC to find alternate places for Atlanteans to live in the face of an impending natural catastrophe

One of the expeditions founded a colony in a secluded area between the earth’s surface and the hidden land known as Skartaris

Atlantis sank beneath the sea with only two of its cities surviving (Tritonis and Poseidonis)

The Atlanteans constructed protective domes around the cities and developed serums to allow underwater breathing

The citizens of Tritonis had an unexpected reaction to the serum and transformed into merfolk.

The Atlanteans developed telepathic abilities to communicate underwater. (But only Aquaman can command the creatures of the sea).

Tritonis remains secluded but Poseidonis has had more public exposure, including a major exposition held for the air-breathing people.

Remnants of the original Atlantean colony lost beneath the earth have been active again recently, attempting a takeover of Skartaris, which was thwarted by Travis Morgan (the Warlord).

Aquaman, Aquagirl, Aqualad, Arion, and Atlantis itself. Aquaman’s corner of the DC universe was features heavily in the first issue of “Who’s Who In The DC Universe”.

Atlantis has a role in all Aquaman series and other media projects.  Power Girl was connected to Atlantis in a unnecessary post-Crisis retcon. Don’t worry, the retcon was also retconned and Power Girl is once again a Kryptonian. Atlantis and its citizens were featured in Infinite Crisis when an unstable Spectre unleashed his wrath on the area (he was on a rampage against magic users). DC’s Atlantis has made appearances in the Justice League cartoon, Young Justice cartoon and comic, and an animated Justice League movie.