#juniper kynes

[graphicwitchsblog]

Her Soul for Revenge Juniper and Zane 🖤

Characters Zane and Juniper belongs to Harley Laroux

[thatpunkmaximoff]

[Book Two of Three]

Story: 4 out of 5 Smut: 3 out of 5

Holy hell! What a wild ride Juniper and Zane put us through. I honestly thought this book was gonna be half of what we found out in book one and half of this mortal/demon couple figuring their shit out now that Juni’s deal had been completed. But nope. I was wrong. The entire book was just filling in the blanks of what we already knew- and I am so glad we got those details!

Juniper, for me, was a little hard to like just because she was such a b-tch. Then again, almost being sacrificed and hunted would do that to a person.

Enter Zane who’s been craving her soul for years, and who will do strike whatever deal to get it, and it makes one twisted and delicious story.

I LOVED reading the downfall of the Hadleigh’s almost as much as I loved reading as Zane brought down Juniper’s walls piece by piece.

On a side note, did anyone else want to attend that demon party as well? Lol.

Now here are my rambling thoughts...

*Of course Juniper was befriended by Victoria and Jeremiah. Ugh. I bet that betrayal stung. I’m so glad she got her revenge in book one, though I’m excited to hopefully read the details of all that went down here in book two.

* Holy shit. Victoria really gave her friend acid and then sacrificed her. SHE WAS ONLY FIFTEEN!! Now what I wanna know is how the hell Juniper got out of that mine shaft 😬

* Damn. She escaped and tried to kill Victoria. Good for her. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but they did lock her up for three years because they thought she was delusional. And now she’s out.

* Lol only Zane would laugh at being shot and think Juniper is being flirty.

* Hot damn. Zane fucking Juniper on the forest floor. Loved it. But of course it was ruined when Juniper saw what Zane really was.

* Aw man. Juniper got the text of her brother’s murder. And now it’s back to Abelaum we go.

* Damn. She saw Leon take her brother’s body from the grave. I don’t know how she remained quiet.

* Zane would be turned on by getting stabbed 😂

* Dammnnnnn. Zane claiming Juniper’s soul, fucking her throat, and then pinning her to the tree..? Fuck, I want a demon now 😏

* Aww he bathed her.

* lol Juniper stabbed him. Again.

* Goddamn. What is it with guns going into no-no areas 😂

* Holy shit. They went and retrieved Marcus’ body. And were attacked 😬

* Juniper is really annoying me. I get it’s your brother, but those monsters outnumbered you greatly… and you still ran into the middle of them to fight for a corpse that was already half eaten? I hope Zane punishes you.

* So… Heidi helped her out of the mine shaft? Wtf. Why?

* Ouch lol. Zane did not have a good first meeting with Callum lol. Such a protective Archdemon.

* “I don’t fuck around when I find something I want.” // “But you already have me.” // “Body and soul. But I decided I want something else too.” He laid his hand around my neck, and pressed his thumb against my pulse. “That right there. I want that next.”

* Wow. She bound and gagged him, and rode his cock while carving her name into his flesh. I love these kinky fucks.

* Zane is my fucking spirit animal! Tripping children who annoy him in the store..? Yess! 😂

* “Fuck, I’d look hot as hell in this. And I’d still dick you down good. Demon maid at your service.” — 😂 omfg.

* Yesssss. Fucking Kent got what he deserved.

* Demon party. Hell yes.

* And now Juniper has Zane’s metal. I fucking love how demons give metal to show their love, loyalty, and devotion to a person.

* Goddamn. Jeremiah is ruthless. I know he killed his sister, but to read about how he snatched her off the street and everything… yikes.

* Damn, Zane. You really ripped through J’s little cult like it was nothing 😏

* Oh shit. Jeremiah/The Deep One really fucked up Zane. I knew it was going to end well, but I hate seeing the close calls. My poor baby demon 😩

[bougainvillea-and-saltwater]

hello! I give you 💌 and 🔥 for Jia and Miraak! 💖

💖ask game💖

💌 : How would they plan a romantic evening for a significant other?

Jia: Living in Heljarchen Hall, there's plenty of space for Jia to plan a romantic idyllic evening outdoors—she and Miraak are both very attuned to nature, after all. I imagine her baking her favorite snowberry or juniper berry tarts, lavender dumplings, or crunchy bread warm from the oven with some fresh cheese, along with apple juice and later on, ale or wine to drink, she packs them all together inside her basket and plans their picnic! She will spread her blanket on the tundra (in a spot where they can marvel at the Throat of the World) and will demand Miraak to take off his shoes, just as she will, and sit by her side on the blanket, together enjoying their meals and their drinks, talking, and joking with each other... 🥰

Miraak: In continuance to Jia's romantic evening, Miraak will patiently wait for the sun to fall, so he will be able to take her to a spot where the cypresses are so stout and high that they hide the light of the moons and is completely dark. Then, he will ask her to lie on the earth, and they'll look up at the night sky together. The beautiful sparkling stars, Kyne's Lights, the constellations under which they were born—Jia's the Lord, Miraak's the Ritual—and who knows, amidst the various constellations they might be able to discern their own as well, their crescent moon... 🥰

I can see this romantic evening ending up being quite intimate...👀

🔥 : What’s a surefire way to make your OC get flustered?

Jia: She gets flustered at the slightest compliment she possibly receives (and receives more than she can handle from her Miraak). It doesn't matter whether it's for something in her looks or something she has a skill in doing, such as alchemy or cooking. She receives flattery about anything, and has this exact pattern of behaving: her leg will start jiggling, or she'll start tapping her foot, and there'll be a very noticeable flush, creeping from her chest until her face, and ears, and she becomes as red as her hair, the poor thing… 🥺

Miraak: Miraak is as bad as Jia in being flustered. He is very proud and a bit insecure/afraid to let this be seen, maybe because during his days as a Dragon Priest his face was Konahrik, an expressionless mask, so every emotion was being suppressed, even forbidden to show. But now that he doesn't wear any kind of mask on his face, they all get to see how expressive he truly is, as every single word of kindness, intimacy, and compliment can make him flustered/awkward/grateful, a mix of emotions, really. Besides, the times he's experienced kind words in his life can be limitedly counted, so he receives a compliment/a nice gesture/an intimate touch from his counterpart? His eye start twitching, and his moon-pale cheeks are magically sun-warmed! 🥺

[leondxs]

⚜- What is the most precious thing you own?

Getting to know you Questions for the Mun!

@cicero-the-assassin

⚜- What is the most precious thing you own?

My girls! Noodle, Juniper, and Kyne (in order).

[bn-brightflower]

Her Soul For Revenge

By: Harley Laroux

My Rating: 5/5

Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Kindle: Yes

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Paperback: Yes

Hardcover: Yes

Amazon Link

Trigger Warnings: Human Sacrifice, Cults, Gore, Drug Use, Sadomasochism, Extreme Kink Play (Knife Play, Gun Play, Blood Play, Scarification)

Who I'd Recommend It For: Those into dark romance with a real taste for sadomasochism. And again, those that want to fight God lol.

Find Book 1s Review Here

Summary: Juniper Kynes had a purpose: to be sacrificed to an ancient God. But she escaped it, and she refuses to be dragged back without a fight. She survives, fighting on her own against monsters until the death of her brother draws her back to the scene of her own crime.

When she's offered a deal, her body and her soul for the revenge she so desperately seeks, how can she refuse it?

Zane has been hunting souls for centuries, gathering deals wherever he goes. When he's offered one a little over his head, he finds it too hard to resist. Why is it that suddenly, a body and a soul isn't enough?

He wants her heart and he'll stop at nothing to get it... unless she gets them both killed first.

~~ SPOILERS AHEAD ~~

What I Loved:

The kink in this book is out of control. It touches what the first book offered and pushes it to the extreme.

Knife play, gun play, there may even be a little sexy stabbing. You can do that when you're immortal.

The book covers the same events as the first does, but from a different side of the story. They are interwoven wonderfully and can be enjoyed in any order, or you can pick one. Knowing the ending doesn't detract - instead each books fills in the blanks of the other and answers questions that were left.

Juniper is hardened, Zane is a bit more carefree. The characters are their own, different enough to be distinct from the couple in the first book.

Things That Could Have Been Better:

I'm making myself find a gripe with every book whether I want to or not.

Early on its established that Zane is a very experienced soul hunter, and that he finds the broken souls most interesting and fun. The author seemed to feel the need to re-establish this in several of his POVs near the beginning of the book, and it got repetative.

[highqueen-feyre]

TOP FIVE FAVORITE FEMALE CHARACTERS IN BOOKS??

Why you gotta give me such a hard question? How am I suppose to pick out of all the badass bitches out there?? Here is a list that almost killed me to make:

Inej Ghafa

Feyre Archeron

Manon Blackbeak

Nina Zenik

Aelin Galathynius

Honorable mentions: Jude Duarte, Juniper Kynes, Emilia di Carlo, Alina Starkov, Zoya Nazyalensky, and all of the Savoie sisters.

[whirlwindsprint]

sonic biography!

NAME: Sonic the Stead-Fast RACE: hedgehog... biracial / wood elf & nord inspired CLASS: dual class - rogue / scout ALIGNMENT: chaotic good PLACE OF ORIGIN: small fishing village that has now been turned into a bandit hideout, just on the outskirts of riften's hold RELIGION: fairly open minded & mixed due to having different cultures in his heritage, but mainly gravitates towards kynareth (the human god of wind/sky/rain) and y'ffre (the bosmer god of storytelling & the now.) OCCUPATION: dragonborn adventurer SKILLS & PERKS: ★★★★☆ one handed (dual wielding focused) ★★★☆☆ sneak ★★★★☆ speech (persuasion focused) ★★★★★ light armor ★★☆☆☆ archery ★★★☆☆ restoration ★★★☆☆ alteration SPELLS (if any): fast healing healing hands iron flesh water breathing SHOUTS (if any): WULD NAH KEST whirlwind sprint KAAN DREM OV kyne's peace SU GRAH DUN elemental fury ZUN HAAL VIIK disarm VEN GAAR NOS cyclone LOK VAH KOOR clear skies WEAPONS: two ebony swords elven dagger long bow (weak paralysis enchantment) ARMOR & APPAREL: dragon scale armor + minor health enchantment dragon scale boots + minor stamina enchantment dragon scale arm guards + minor archery enchantment novice mage hood amulet of kynareth ring of the wind (artifact of kynareth) wearer's movement speed increases 40% & is said to grant incredible agility POTIONS: so..so many magica potions…… INVENTORY: cooked salmon, rabbit haunch, & pheasant breast juniper berries, snow berries, & mountain flowers bed roll & tent cup, plate, fork, ink pen, journal, torch, his father's lute BACKSTORY: - grew up in small fishing village on the outskirts of riften hold, home was ransacked by bandits & his mother sent him away with a blessing from kynareth that would grant him the speed he needed to always get away safely - as he got older & began to understand what happened he made a vow to never run away again, now travels the land in search of new adventures and people that need his help - got caught up in an imperial ambush & was taken prisoner. they planned to execute him despite the fact that he clearly was not with the stormcloaks. before he could be executed, alduin attacked and he was able to get away in the midst of the chaos - goes through main dragon born quest line !

[grandmawitch]

The Magic of the Pines & Correspondences 🌲

“In the pines, in the pines, where the sun never shines And you shiver when the cold wind blows”

--Dolly Parton

Pine Tree (pinus spp.)

Energy:  Both hot & cold

Planet:  Mars

Element:  Air  

Associated Deities:  Aphrodite, Astarte, Attis, Cybele, Dionysus, Pan, Venus, The Horned God

Fertility • Love • Purification • Healing • Banishing • Protection • Abundance

There are around 115 types of pine trees and, aside from oak, pine trees are the most successful and widely ranging trees in North America.  Pinyon pine nuts are edible and can be ground to make flour, pine oil is used as an antiseptic, pine rosin can be used in soaps and sealing wax, and some Native American tribes used pine gum to treat boils.

The ancient Romans used pine trees cut from sacred groves in a manner similar to modern-day Christmas trees.  They would take the trees the night before Saturnalia and place them in temples to be decorated and used as a fertility symbol.

Dreaming of tall straight pine trees means that you will receive good news.

Pine needles can be burned to cleanse and purify the home (mix equal parts juniper & cedar) and to reverse spells and hexes made against you.  Scatter the needles on the floor to drive away those with ill-intent.   Add crushed pine needles to bath sachets in winter for a relaxing magical cleansing.  They can also be used in sleep and dream sachets—just make sure they won’t poke through!

Use branches of pine to sweep an outdoor area before performing magic.  Branches can also be placed above the bed to keep sickness away, above the entrance to the home to ensure continual joy within, and a cross of pinch branches or needles above the fireplace will keep evil from entering through it.

Pinecones can be carried or hung in the home to increase fertility and to stay well in old age.  Place one near your bed or under your pillow to draw or keep a lover.

Burn pinecones in your hearth to protect (and warm!) your home.

Place pinecones in your office to draw prosperity and success.

To draw positivity and blessings to you tie a bundle of pine needles with thread and burn them.  Pass pinecones through the smoke and place them on your altar or in a place you will see them often.  Send grateful energy toward them as you pass by them and good things will flow toward you.

References:  Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Whispers from the Woods by Sandra Kynes, Magical Folkhealing by DJ Conway

[clavicuss-vile]

i cant remember if I asked this before bc I have the memory of a goldfish but I am thinking of They (ur ocs) again like always and I had a question!! what would be a super meaningful gift they might receive from their loved ones? and how would they react? for kaos, ime, nep, and anaelle and whoever else u want to ramble abt, u know I love all of them ❤

xoxo from @reachfolk

AAAAAA COZY <333

oooooookay okay okay hmm. this is such a good question i will need to put my thinking hat on

Kaos left his home in Valenwood when he was very young and subsequently doesn't Know where "home" is. valenwood was his home, and so was bruma, and so was skyrim, but at the same time none of them were. Because his family grew up very poor, he honestly prefers quality time/moments to physical gifts, but i think the MOST impactful gift someone could give him would be something that fits every "piece" of his home into one object. He quite likes necklaces - i think a carved pendant featuring bosmeri designs, bruma-mountain wolves and an emblem of Kyne would be super important to him.

Ime actually very much likes giving and receiving gifts! He's recieved lots of daedric gifts from his patrons over the years (a white stag from Hircine, a dragon from Dagon), but the most impactful gift they've ever recieved is after they half-mantle Konahrik, Miraak takes the mask and carves runes, symbols and charms into it, before returning it. it's a small gesture, but it carries the meaning that ime made him proud, they're worthy of the mask, they're worthy to carry the title Warlord, they don't have to run anymore. they're strong enough to carry the title of Konahrik and wear it proudly.

NEPHTHYSSSS sorry i love him. anyway!! it's not. exactly a gift from a loved one but by FAR the gift he holds the absolute most sacred is after he ran away from the Sanguine cult into the worship of Azurah, she gave him the opportunity to sculpt the absolute ideal body he wanted, and she would grant it to him. Honestly he kept a lot the same but as a trans man, being able to have that much control over his outward appearance is the reason he adores Azurah so much, and is willing to do absolutely anything for her.

Anaelle wants ulfric's head on a platter. nah but seriously though JHSDHS we all know just how much she adores her pup Juniper, i think the gift most special to her would be something someone made for Juniper. something as simple as a special meal or a pretty brush for her coat would immediately get you in Anaelle's good books, no questions asked.

bonus round !!!

Gonna twist the question slightly, the most important gift Marrow would give would be their cookbook. It's been passed down from khajiit to khajiit in the tribe that took him in, and she's been adding recipes and cooking and baking from it their whole life. giving that cookbook to someone says i'm passing the torch to you and you're family. family is SO important to her. her khajiit tribe mean everything to her and when he finally finds his original dunmer family they mean everything to him too. extra fun fact: they give the cookbook to Kin'aru :)

OH OH EXTRA BONUS ROUND!!

Juniper Lily! She's my reachfolk girl who's at the college, the best gift someone could give her is honestly: news. she's so far away from her people, there's no other reachfolk at the college, she has to live every day not knowing whether or not her clan woke up too. i havent figured out the exact order of events yet but i think Ime helps them retake Markarth before joining the college, which means that when they do, Ime gets to tell her that yes, your clan is alive. you retook Markarth. the Reach is yours. your mother misses you. she doesnt like talking to people outside of other reachfolk, and she's still very wary of Ime because of that, but the fact that they both helped her people and told her definitely cements him as one of the better non-reachfolk in her mind. (He's also the only one she lets call her Einilja which is the non-translated version of her outside-of-the-Reach name, which is a big honour for her! only other reachfolk are allowed to use her Reach name though, which is Tocca!)

[sabrinasgrimoire]

Beltane Series: Correspondences

Other Names: Cetsamhain, Lá Bealtaine, May Day, Walpurgisnacht

Holidays & Traditions Occurring During Beltane: Rowan Witch Day, Sacred Thorn Tree Day, Festival if Shashti, Earth Day, Walpurgis Night, May Day, Mother’s Day

Planet: The Moon

Moon Phase: Full

Season: Spring

Element: Fire, Air

Colors: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow

Trees: Apple, Ash, Birch, Cedar, Elder, Fir, Hawthorn, Juniper, Linden, Mesquite, Oak, Pine, Poplar, Rowan, Willow

Plants: Angelica, Blackberry/Bramble, Bluebell, Cinquefoil, Gorse, Honeysuckle, Lemon, Meadowsweet, Mint, Mugwort, Mushroom (Fairy Ring), Sweet Woodruff

Flowers: Daisy, Ivy, Lilac, Lily of the Valley, Marigold, Primrose, Rose, Violet

Scents: Frankincense, Jasmine, Lemon, Mint, Pine, Rose, Woodruff, Ylang-Ylang

Stones: Bloodstone, Emerald, Rose Quartz, Sapphire

Metals: Copper, Gold, Silver

Magickal Beings: Faeries

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Bona Dea, Chin-hua-fu-jen, Cybele, Danu, Diana, Don, Flora, Freya, Frigg, Horae, Maia, Prosperina, Rauni, Rhea, Rhiannon, Sarasvati, Venus

Gods: Apollo, Baal, Baldur, Belenus, Cernunnos, Chung K’uei, the Horned God, Cupid, Eros, Faunnus, Freyr, the Green Man, Odin, Pan, Pluto, Ra, Wotan

Animals: Bee, Cattle, Dove, Frog, Goat, Rabbit

Archetypes: Earth Goddess, the lover preparing to lie with her Beloved, Maiden Goddess, Mother Goddess, Dying and Resurrecting Gods, Green Man, Horned God, Lord of the Wild Wood, the lusty young man getting ready to fertilize the goddess, Sun Gods

Symbols: Flowers, Maypole, The Priapic Wand

Workings: Sacred Fires, Offerings, Handfastings, Protecting Belongings, Visiting Sacred Wells, Work with Faeries, Bringing in the May, May Bush, May Baskets, Divination, Feasting, Fertility Magick, Maypole Dancing, Nature Walks, Purification Ceremonies, Sacred Sex, Singing, Planting Trees

Tarot: The Emperor, The Empress, The High Priestess, The Magician

Food: Honey, Light Cakes, Lemonade, May Wine

Issues & Intentions: Abundance, Agriculture, Cooperation, Creation, Creativity, Fertility, Growth, Love, Lust, Manifestation, Marriage, the Otherworld/Underworld, Passion, Pleasure, Psychic Ability, Purification, Protection, Sensuality, Sex, Sexuality, Union, Visions, Warmth, Youth

Works Cited:

Sandra Kynes (2013), Complete Book of Correspondences, Llewellyn, Page 397

Melanie Marquis (2018), Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, and Lore for May Day, Llewellyn, Fourth Edition, Print, Pages 181-190

[mariananautius]

From Hammerfell: Aloe Vera, Basil, Ginkgo, Juniper, Mountain Tail, Poppy, Yuin Root

From Skyrim: Canis Root, Hibiscus, Juniper, Kyne’s Breath, Lavender, Mountain Flower, Mountain Tail, Snowberry Bush, Snow Lily, Spiky Grass, Tundra Cotton, Wormwood

From across Cyrodiil: Alkanet Flower, Arrowroot Plant, Bergamot, Blackberry Bush, Columbine, Fennel, Flax, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Goldenrod, Lady’s Mantle, Lady’s Smock, Lavender, Mandrake, Milk Thistle, Monkshood, Morning Glory, Motherwort, Peony, Primrose, Sacred Lotus, Somnalius, St. Jahn’s Wort, Tiger Lily, Viper’s Bugloss 

From Elsweyr: Arkay’s Lash, Blue Poppy, Durian Tree Fruit, Honey Flower, Samar Pekoe, Springmint, Sugar Daisy, Waning Lily

[graphicwitchsblog]

HER Soul for Revenge

Juniper and Zane - characters belongs to Harley Laroux

[geminilily]

The Winter Solstice in Wicca

From Samhain through Imbolc is my favorite time of year. This season is the time that my heart swells with joy and I feel it is easier to communicate with the living and the spirit world.

The Winter Solstice is one of the eight major holy days in Wicca and venerated across most pagan paths. This holiday occurs around December 21. “Yule” is the Anglo-Saxon word for the Winter Solstice. On this day, the sun is at its lowest point, producing the shortest day of the year as reckoned by daylight hours.

In myth, this is the time of the death of the old Sun King and the birth of the new one in the form of the Divine Child. Mithras was said to have been born at this time. The Christians simply adopted it for their use in 273 C.E. The Norse knew this celebration as the Night of the Three Mothers, or Mother Night. Celebrations on the Winter Solstice have long been religious customs of many ancient civilizations, particularly those whose holy days revolved around the solar calendar.

The decorated evergreen tree symbolizes the offerings made on the Tree of Life, while the holly represents the Holly King, or one aspect of the god, who rules the season. The custom of decorating with holly boughs at Winter Solstice is an ancient Pagan custom. Candles and lights on the decorated tree represent the growing light in the darkness.

To contemporary Wiccans Yule is a reminder that the ultimate product of death is rebirth, a comforting thought in these days of struggle. Wiccans sometimes celebrate Yule just before dawn, then watch the sunrise as a fitting finale to their ritual. In honor of the sun’s rebirth many Wicca light fires or candles to welcome the sun’s returning light. The full moon right after the winter solstice is considered the strongest of the entire year.

Herb & Garden:

Holly, mistletoe, ivy, cedar, bay, juniper, rosemary, pine.

Offerings:

Apples, oranges, nutmeg, lemons, and whole cinnamon sticks on the Yule tree.

Ritual Traditions:

Fires are lit within cauldrons; candles may be carried around the circle; trees or potted evergreens may be honored as symbols of continuing fertility of the earth; a Yule log may be lit if a fire is physically within the circle.

Symbols:

The colors are green and red. A wheel symbol in the form of a wreath; evergreens; holly; Yule log; small potted tree.

Sources:

Celtic Wicca

D.J. Conway

Llewelyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences

Sandra Kynes

Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Scott Cunningham

Wicca: The Complete Craft

D.J. Conway

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Scott Cunningham

[wandererfromthenorth]

Valkar’s Letters #4

                                                                                   21st of Mid-Year, 4E 181

Arwulf,

          I remember that Peverelle fellow. If you keep after him eventually he'll deliver what you need when you need it. If you drop in on him, that usually gets him moving. I always found it easier to work with Henric though, the younger brother. You might try that as well. He's more pleasant, and doesn't have his head stuck up his own arse.

          Hally says thank you for the dolls you sent. I was not certain she would take to them – she's not show much interest in that sort of thing before – but I must say, they've become her new favorites. Anka wanted her to write a note herself – mostly so she could practice writing -- and I'm enclosing it for you. I expect you'll enjoy her drawings at the bottom more than the very formal letter which was dictated to her. It is a scene of the dolls playing with a family of netch, in case you were uncertain.

          Anka's been going over the Commands with Halldis lately. I doubt it means all that much to her yet, but she can recite most of them without much trouble. I mentioned wanting to introduce her to Kyne, but Anka seems to think it will confuse her, since she's already learned the Eight. I don't see how it would be confusing, but I've decided not to press the matter. It's best to pick your battles with Anka, and I just haven't the energy for this one. Perhaps when Hally is older I may broach the subject again.

          And since Anka still insists that the big horses are too rough for Halldis, and thus will not let me begin riding lessons with her, I’ve decided to see about getting a pony. Perhaps a smaller mount will make her less nervous. I understand why she's protective, I do, but sometimes it's simply too much. There's no reason for Hally to be cooped up in the house reciting Commands and learning to courtsy. 

            We'll be going to Dawnstar next week to pick up a few things. Hally's going to pick out some gifts to send for your children, and I've got another crate of the juniper mead for you. I know I have said this before, but it's always so good to hear from you. I wish travel were easier, it would be good to sit and talk with you and Hjald again. Someday we will manage it, I'm sure. Please take care, and give my best to Nilda.

                                                   – Valkar

[zabizilla]

Witchcraft

It's the manipulation and harmonizing of energy to cause a desired outcome or change. How does it work? By combining ritualized actions with intention aka willpower. Let's go through a spell together so I can show you an example of how magic works. Let's say I want to draw a new lover to myself so I pull out my copies of Judika Illes book of 5000 spells and Llywellyn's complete book of correspondences by Sandra Kaynes. I flip to pag 628 (love spells) and start reading. I find on pg 634 a spell headed 'Candle spell (3) New Moon'. I have the two figure candles and my own hair to be used as a taglock. She lists needing a taglock of the one you wish to attract but since I don't have a specific person in mind, I leave that taglock for the second candle out. I feel like this spell could use a bit more than just burning candles so I turn to my book on correspondences to see if there is any harmonizing energy I can add to boose the spell's power. Under the heading of "Love", pg 86-87, Kynes has a bunch of herbs listed. But how to use them? In 5000 spells, the spell we are looking to preform mentions that the left over wax can be used to make a talisman. I can add the herbs to that. I will mold the wax into a heart shape while still soft and add the herbal power to it. This will increase the love drawing power of the talisman. Since there are so many herbs listed, how many should I choose? I'm trying to attract a new lover so I check what the correspondence book has to say about about attraction. On pg 19 it says that the numbers associated with it are 4 and 5. I check my herb cabinet and find I have 4 of the herbs mentioned. They are rose, juniper, nutmeg, and apple. This is the art of Numerology. I choose red apple peel and red rose petals as red is also associated with love. I can also grind these up into a loose powder that I can burn on a charcoal tab to be used as incense. That sounds great and I make a note to do so. Judika Illes states to burn the candles over the course of a few nights for a set number of minutes. But how long for both? I again turn to Numerology. I already looked up attraction and found the numbers 4 and 5. Since the candles are big I add 4+5 to get 9. 9 nights seems ideal to me so we will go with that. But the burning time? 4-5 minutes is too short of a time for my liking. So again I add 4+5 to get 9. 9 minutes a night should do well for my spell. 9 is also a number associated with love. Perfect. Up to this point we have covered ritual actions (burning candles and incense) but not energy raising. So lets have a look at energy and why correspondences work. The harmonics of all matter are easy to see since everything is never static. Everything vibrates. All objects have a vibrational waveform of energy and this can ether grow with the addition of complimentary items like certain herbs, crystals, or color (as well as like minded witches). But adding the wrong thing could interfere with the spells energy reducing it effectiveness or canceling it out completely. (Thank you Ben Heathorn for this info!) All objects have this vibratory nature due all matter being composed of vibrating particles. Nothing is truly solid. (Science bitches XD) This energy put off by the vibrating particles fuels the intention and willpower of the witch's spell. By adding more 'energy' I up the spells power. But what about raising energy? Do I really need fancy tools and items to raise energy? No. There is always the energy put off by sound or movement. Through dancing, singing or chanting I can also cause more vibrations to occure and harness that energy for my spell. I am causing sound waves to permeate the incense and wax figures which empowers them with my intentions. When they are burned this energy is released into the universe. Since I suck at singing and dancing, I decide on a quick chant to be done for the 9 minute burn time. Lover sweet Lover kind Come to me You are mine Yeah that works. Looking back at the spell it says to start it on the new moon. Curiously, I flip to my correspondence book. I find 2 things. 1) on page 380, Kynes has one of the numbers associated with the moon as being 9. This ups the power of the spell through Numerology yet again and it was an unforseen energy amp, and 2) the new moon - full moon (called waxing) is also associated with love as well as drawing energy twards you. My 9 day burn time falls within this time frame. There are several other correspondences I can use to highten the power of my spell more. These can include preforming the spell on a Friday (Kynes book pg 392) or at dawn for a bit of romance (pg 394), or even carving sigils (on the other candle) of attributes I want my new lover to have such as kindness, a sense of humor, or a love of animals. Looking back at the forming of the extra wax into a heart talisman, I think I wouldn't want to get wax all over my pocket so I opt to make a red pouch out of felt to carry it in. It's protected that way from getting scuffed up. Again red is associated with love so I chose that color correspondence. Here is the spell in order as it should be preformed. Supplies: 2 red figure candles, needle, red thread, scissors, red felt, rose petals, nutmeg, juniper berries, dried red apple peel, lighter, charcoal block and censor, mortar and pestle, taglock of hair. As I am a straight woman I chose a female candle and a male candle. Obviously change em up to suit the gender of the person you wish to attract as well as your own. Preform opening rites Light the charcoal block and set it in the censor. Grind the herbs up in the mortar with the pestle and chant while you do so Lover sweet Lover kind Come to me You are mine. (The incense doesn't have to be a fine powder but should be fine enough to mix easily with the wax on day 9.) I place a small amount of the incense on the lit charcoal. Next I grab my male candle and carve with the needle the things I want my lover to embody and put it on one side of my altar. To the female candle I melt a wee bit of wax on top of the head and press my hair into the head. I set her facing the male candle but on the opposite side of the altar. (This represents how you are now. Separate but seeking. This is symbolic magic. The candle with the hair is symbolic of me and what I want.) Light the candles and let them burn while chanting for 9 minutes. Set a timer if need be. Snuff the candles and preform your closing rites. Repeat every day but each day move the candles closer together. On the final night have the candles touching, let the wax intermingle and candles burn out. This represents the desired outcome. Togetherness. Once the candles are out, pick up the left over wax (you may need to reheat it) and add the herbal mix. Form into a heart shape. Leave it to harden. Cut out 2 squares of red felt and sew a pouch together. Add the heart and sew closed. All while still chanting. Seal the spell Closing rites. This can be carried for 1 moon cycle. After that you can dispose of it by breaking it apart and burying it. Repeat every new moon till a lover comes. Notes: Because opening rituals can differ for each Witch I did not include things like 'Cast circle' or 'Preform the Iru'. A bit of advice, try to have all the supplies you need before preforming spell work. We're all human and we all make mistakes but running around your house looking for things will distract from your focus and thus take energy away from the spell. The order of this spell is done for a reason. I wouldn't put the figures together just to pull them apart at a later date and then reconnect them. This is conflicting ritualized actions and is basically like shaking an etch a sketch. That beautiful drawing you made (energy you raised) is now gone.  You may also want to add a taglock to the heart talisman while forming it. However as a taglock was intermingled with the wax figure already this is optional. For more info on magic and witchcraft read the intro to 5000 spells but keep in mind these things that need to be corrected. 1) Firstly heka is not the Egyptian word for the energy that permeates all living things. It's authoritive speech. Or speaking with power (willpower). Because the Egyptians believed that words held power by speaking with clear intentions and a correct set of words they could change their world. This is our equivalent to casting spells. Although heka can be applied to anything including training your dog or giving a report in class. 2) Illes says that all energy is benevolent when its not. It's neutral. Later on pg 7 she says just that. It's a bit contradictory but a forgivable mistake. She goes on to state that all magical people that have a substantial amount of Magical energy are always charismatic and those that lack this energy are not. Thats a huge blanket statement and just not true. We all are human and have a range of emotions on a daily basis. No one is more magical than the next because we are all comprised of the same living energy. There certainly can be a gap of knowledge in harnessing this energy but that doesn't make one more magical. Just more experienced. Now having said that, yes, there are those that are born with the natural talent for picking up on this energy and using it but it is up to that person to hone their skills or ignore it. This also doesn't make them more magical than one who studied hard to be able to detect and use this same energy. 3) She goes a bit fluffy when she says there is a general rule with magic that spells will come back 3, 6, or 9 fold. This may be accepted by most Wiccans but certainly not all of the pagan community. At least that's my opinion.  For more info on connecting with elemental energies I suggest Scott Cunningham's book Earth, Air, Fire, Water. 

[colonel-killa-bee]

If a portal to any game world opened up in your room, what game would you go to? (Once inside its no longer a game, it's real life and you can't get back to our world)

Elder Scrolls easily, it’s a perilous place, but you can find places of peace and there’s so much potential to become something greater than what you are.

I’d specifically become my OC from our rp, and after the second civil war, retire in the town he and his stormcloak admiral wife made, Kyne’s Watch, make lots of children and live comfortably in their clan hall, huddled safe in the warmth of their cooking fires amidst the snowstorms of Northern Skyrim, eating krill and shrimp stew with wasabi in my own tavern, sipping on my custom mead, Baldurbrau :D With juniper berries.

THAT would be heaven for me.