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#genius loci
very-tired-child · 1 year
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MORE SENTIENT ARCHITECTURE !!!!
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lailoken · 5 months
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Not long ago, my husband and I were lucky enough to meet a truly awe-inspiring tree—a centuries old Sitka Spruce that was likely once utilized by the indigenous population for funerary rites.
While the area surrounding the tree was (rightfully) fenced off to prevent disrespect or damage to the site, I was able to lay my hands on the exposed roots that crept beyond the enclosed perimeter, and that still felt very powerful and special.
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clair-audients · 6 months
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genius loci (2020)
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Reddening a moose bone ring to aid in facilitating congress with The Land. As far as I’m aware moose aren’t especially sacred to the tribes here nor could I find any stories where they played a significant role. Tho please do correct me if I’m wrong!
EDIT: there’s a rather funny folk story here regarding “Specter Moose”. Couldn’t help but think of it during the process haha.
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birdmitosis · 2 months
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Look, I just can't stop thinking about this post and, directly related to it, these videos.
This shit makes me want so many very, very specific Slay the Princess AUs.
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uncaffeinatedgoblin · 3 months
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As a mini-holiday gift, and love letter to our scenarios, I made mock movie posters for our Keeper.
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see-arcane · 1 year
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Oof, but I am two ways about Van Helsing in today’s entry. 
And I like it not. And I am afraid, afraid, afraid!—I am afraid of all things—even to think but I must go on my way. 
I’ve always read this section as a combination of the natural fear one would have in the guy’s situation and something unnatural. Going straight into vampire territory with your companion possibly about to become a vampire at any second. It makes sense to be nervous. But at the same time, with Van Helsing being Van Helsing, the sudden leap in anxiety seems out of place on the same guy who was actively mobilizing the youths into a vampire hunting gang.
And I think that’s on purpose. I think it’s tied into the fact that Dracula wants to retreat to his castle and the surrounding land. Yes, it’s described as the seat of his power, both as a boyar and, it’s hinted in one of the Professor’s earlier monologues, a spot potent with ancient supernatural vibes. It’s Dracula’s territory in more ways than one, but possibly even in a way Van Helsing didn’t catch on to. Because for as scared as he is riding into it, as much as any sane person would want to run, guess what?
Transylvania--including the danger zone nearest to the Count--obviously has people. Not a ton, of course. The Count probably started making his travel plans to avoid picking all the human livestock clean. But those locals are still there. Still terrified, but there. Paralyzed as if by some mass basilisk gaze. And I believe that’s the literal will of the land. Dracula’s will. 
Ala a malevolent case of a genius loci, the spirit of a land.
It’s what makes the castle and the land seem almost sentient in its ability to instill automatic dread, to make people quail and fear Dracula and the Brides unless pushed to the absolute brink like that poor mother torn up by the wolves or wall-crawling, shovel-wielding Jonathan balanced on the edge between life and undeath imprisoned in the castle. This place is imbued with intrinsic fear to hamper the prey that live upon it and Van Helsing is getting a full gut punch of that unfamiliar sensation as he heads in.
I do not envy him that. But at the same time...
The stake we play for is life and death, or more than these, and we must not flinch.
I am not digging how clearly his murder pact oath to Mina is apparently hanging at the front of his thoughts. Also, ‘The stake we play for?’ Really, Abe? King Laugh couldn’t pick a better time to drop a stake pun?
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friend-crow · 2 years
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It's pretty interesting seeing the range of what people define as "spirits".
To some people it's strictly the dead.
To others (and I fall more on this side of the spectrum) it's a much broader category which can include the dead, animist spirits of the living/the inanimate, genius loci, fairies, angels, demons and deities. All just various classifications of spirits.
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arron-foster-studio · 2 months
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……….
Out _The Laundromat Edition
Digital output on 80# text weight paper.
20 pages
Saddle Stitch
2023/24
All original photographs and scans with the exception of an original image of lye soap created by Teresa Foster.
#zine #photozines #artistoninstagram #place #senseofplace #geniusloci #ohio #ohioartist #kentohio #laundromat #northeastohio #photography #scanography #art #zine #contemporaryart
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softpovver · 1 year
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sean avery’s autobiography offside, p.124 /  shambles in our brains, sportsnet/ hockeyfeed article
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lifobryan · 11 months
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Genius Loci
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very-tired-child · 1 year
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getting really obsessed with houses that are characters
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lailoken · 5 months
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My husband and I recently saw a place known locally as "The Three Arches" (there are two more natural stone arches in this stone outcropping, though they're not visible from this angle.)
It was a truly wisht location, and felt to me like a "Thin Place", betwixt the veils of worlds. It was long ago made illegal to visit it for the sake of preserving the wildlife there, and I frankly think that's for the best. But my oh my—what I wouldn't give to experience this location up close.
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thehazeldruid · 11 months
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Genius Loci
What is it? What does it mean? It can be translated as “spirit of place” and throughout history different cultures have perceived and connected to it in differing ways.
Every place, be it a park,a forest, a busy city street or your home has it��s own Genius Loci. But what really is it? It is the depth of that place, it’s personality, it’s history, the feel, smell, look, taste, and sound of the place. All of these things together create it’s spirit. It is the sense of calm you feel when you look over a lake at sunrise, the sense of mystery in the foggy woods you wander through, the sense of connection, sadness and respect you feel walking through a graveyard, the feeling of peace within your home. There are many ways to view it, to feel it, to connect to it, to let it fill you and so on.
How to connect to it?
There are many different ways to connect to the spirit of a place. But first you have to be aware of your own spirit and how it fits into the spirit of the place. When you look at a sunset and feel your soul stir, you are passively connecting to the spirit of it. The way I most often use to connect with the spirit of a place is to meditate.
Like any meditation, sit, get comfortable, and start by focusing on your breathing. Then, use your other senses to get a better ‘feel’ for the spirit of place.Listen to the place, breathe in rhythm with how the place sounds. With the breeze, with the animals, with the sound of the water moving (if there is any near). Let your own sounds, your heartbeat, your breathing, your own soul sync up with those sounds. (this can be difficult with people around, though a busy street or park has as much spirit and personality as an ant hill!) Feel the grass or the dirt, the trees or the water, the sand or the couch, the sidewalk… wherever you are. What does the place physically feel like? Is it rough or smooth? Soft or jagged? What do you feel like compared to the place? Do you leave footprints? Indentations? How does your physically being there change it, if at all? Smell the world around you, what scents do you smell? Is there a fresh garden nearby? Do you smell food? Trash? Salty air? Fresh water? Damp earth? Does your own scent stick out or does it match/ belong in the place as a part of it. Look around you! This might seem obvious, but it is probably the easiest way to get a general feel for the spirit of a place. Is it busy and bustling? Is it calm and serene? Are there old buildings or new? What is the history of the place that you can see outright? Is it run down or well kept? What do the things you see about the place make you feel? Taste (perhaps not literally, and definitely only if safe) this is not to say stick dirt or grass in your mouth and eat it…. that’s just silly. But smell and taste are linked, so simply opening your mouth wide and taking a deep breath can allow you to ‘taste’ the air. Is the breath you took clean? Or is it dirty? Was it refreshing, or not? This is the sense that can be most difficult if not impossible to use to get a sense of spirit of place.
Those senses simply give an idea of what the spirit of place is. For simply going out for a quick meditation and finding your place within that space, it can be a great exercise to do all of these and then journal about them. Continuously doing so in the same place can help you get a real sense of the spirit of the place.
Another way to get to know the spirit of a place is to research its history. What has happened in that place? Who lived there? Who died there? If it is a forest, was it always? Was it always a swamp or lake? Were battles fought there? Was it once farmland? Knowing these things about a place before you go out and explore or meditate there can help you protect yourself from lingering negative energies and emotions that still persist in a place.
On top of that even, would be learning weather patterns in the area. What seasons does it experience? What direction does the water flow (and what could that represent?)
Genius Loci In History
The Romans viewed genius loci as a protective spirit of a place, often giving the spirit of a place a physical embodiment. Spirits that walked the world in physical form to protect forests, rivers, mountains, swamps and so on. Fairys, elves, dryads, satyrs, unicorns and all manner of mythical creatures are representations of the spirit of a place. Other times, the spirit of a place (on a larger scale than a single spot next to a river) can be seen in the art style, furniture style, food and home style of an area and the people who live there. Animals, too, are often symbols of the spirit of a place.
Different native cultures around the world have all been highly concerned with the spirit of place. They held sacred rituals in the same locations, and gave offerings to spirits, ancestors and the land itself to bring about manifestations of good harvest, good fortune and the like.
Through myth and tale, the stories of the spirits of these sacred places have been preserved and passed down. Even though times have changed and humanity as a whole continues to change the phsyical face of the world we live in, the spirit of the place persists and often changes with us. Those old spirits still feel, and their pain at the changes we have made can be strongly felt at times. Other times, in gardens or wild places, we can feel their happiness and joy or even rage that we are trespassing in sacred places.
Spirit of Place in the home
In your own home and at work there is a spirit of place. And at home it is especially prudent to keep the spirit of that place ‘appeased’ and protective. It does your spirit no good to be at home and not feel safe or at peace. The general feel of your home is the spirit of place. Do you enjoy a cozy and cluttered atmosphere? Or a minimalist and clean or organized space? Is your home warm and welcoming to others? Or do you more prefer to keep to yourself?
Within your home, the spirit of place (at least I believe) is a very good reflection of your own personal spirit. It is the place your spirit should feel as if it belongs and where it should be able to go to recharge. If your spirit feels out of place there, like a puzzle piece in the wrong spot, then you should try and arrange that space to better refelct you.
For me, my home is warm, welcoming, and my door is always open to friends and family. I’ve always got a teapot on the stove, ready to make a cup for anyone who comes over, candles lit to give light and warmth, a puppy who fills my home and my own spirit with joy and boundless energy, a bookshelf, organized and never covered in dust, my altar where i go to do my spiritual recharging, and a general sense of peace and calm (I feel) permeates my apartment. My table is always set for more than myself, though I most often eat alone, and my spare bed is always open to any friend who needs a place to sleep.
I’d like to think that what I feel in the spirit of place of my home is the same welcoming and warm feeling others get when they arrive. It all boils down to you, here, and what kind of spirit of place you bring to your home.
~If you’re still reading at this point, I thank you, and if you’d like me to ever add to this post, please feel free to message me with info, links, or ideas~
/l\
M.G.
TheBasilDruid
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vargamormusings · 1 year
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Intoxicating
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coinandcandle · 2 years
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Spirits of Place - Genius Loci
Ever since I was young I always felt that the world around me was full of energy, of spirit. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized that what I was feeling exists, and there's a name for it. I’m talking about the spirits of place called Genius Loci.
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This is going to be a brief guide to Genius Loci. I’ll put links throughout the post so that you can read more if you’re interested!
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What does it mean?
Genius Loci is the term used most often and it is essentially a spirit of a place, often cities or towns but can be anywhere.
The name is Roman, the plural being Genii Loci, and they were sometimes depicted in art as human-like beings holding a cornucopia, a patera (libation bowl) or a snake. There would be altars set up for these Genius Loci all throughout the western Roman Empire.
The idea of a spirit of a place exists in so many cultures. In some places like Thailand there are Lak mueang (Thai: หลักเมือง)--or city pillars erected and often placed in shrines dedicated to the city's deity (or deities).
In other places, like in Southeast Asia, spirit houses are created and placed in or near businesses, shrines, and sometimes houses.
The Romans also had household spirits or deities called Di Penates as well as Lares–guardian spirits/deities.
The term Genius Loci is sometimes used in a more modern way to indicate a nonliteral version of “spirit of a place”, similar to the “vibe” or feel of a certain architecture, design, or environment of the place.
How is it different from Animism?
The short explanation of animism is that everything, animal, plant, object, the ground, etc. has a spirit or spiritual essence. The difference lies in that Genii Loci are the spiritual embodiment of a place, meaning they embody all of its vibes and don't represent only one aspect of it.
How is it different from a Tutelary deity?
As mentioned before, a Genius Loci embodies the place, whereas a Tutelary deity/spirit is the guardian or protector of that place. Tutelary deities/spirits can be Genii Loci and vice versa, but they aren’t always one in the same.
Does every place have one?
Yes! Every place can (and probably does) have a Genius Loci, some places may even have more than one. They may have different names for them depending on the culture and lore they come from, though. If you plan on interacting with them make sure to ask what they prefer to be referred to as. (See Types of Household Deities at the bottom)
How do I interact with them?
First of all: you never have to interact with them if you don’t want to. 
If you would like to interact with them, though, there are a few ways that you can achieve this:
First spend some time with them. Hang out in the area that you'd like to interact with the Genii Loci. Get to know them.
Make sure you're being respectful!
Set up a spirit house or shrine.
Leave offerings out (but make sure they are safe to leave outside and are biodegradable OR that you come retrieve the offerings later) and let them know that it's there for them specifically.
Clean up the area. No one likes when their space is dirty!
Listen. What do you hear? The spirits may just reach out to you after you've shown your willingness to hear what they have to say.
You don't have to literally hear voices, there are several different ways that you can talk with spirits and metaphysical beings. You can use divination methods like tarot, runes, oracle cards, or you can meditate and see if you get any visions/information that come to you.
Also, you don't have to wait for them to reach out, chances are they won't try and contact you first. Feel free to let them know that you'd like to speak with them and that you're open to communicating with them.
Ps: A Genius Loci likely isn't going to tell you to hurt yourself or others. If it seems like the spirit you're speaking to is being very hateful and/or aggressive it's probably best to back off. Even if it is a Genius Loci (a really mad one) you should leave them be if they are being aggressive towards you. Especially if you're pretty new with spirit work.
If you’re interested in this, you may want to check out:
Genius Loci: The Ancient Worship of Spirits of Place or Land Spirits
Animism - The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology
Tutelary Deity - Academic 
Lares and Penates - Encyclopedia.com 
Types of Household Deities by culture (not a complete list)List of Tutelary Deities
Edit: When first posted I wrongly wrote that the plural of Genius Loci was Genius Locorum. Since I have changed it to the true plural form Genii Loci.
Genius Locorum is a spirit that presides over multiple places.
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