#pagans and the land

[broomsick]

Never let anybody ridicule your beliefs. It’s human to find divinity in the mundane. It’s human to turn to the divine for answers. It’s not a matter of intelligence, like some would like to think. It’s a matter of human nature and instinct.

So leave some honey out for the fae, find omens in the patterns of the clouds, or hang wind chimes outside like your grandma used to do. Don’t let anybody call you anything other than human.

[buriedpentacles]

How to Work with Nature Spirits

Warning: Long Post under the Cut!!

Before getting into this, I want to preface that this is heavily based on my experiences and UPG. This is intended to be a helpful guide for anyone not sure on where to start but my Number 1 piece of advice will always be: Just go for it. Your experiences will be different from mine and that's a good thing! Be respectable and figure out what works best for you. With that in mind, let's get into it.

First, let's define 'nature spirits'. Nature spirits may conjure a number of associations and concepts depending on your culture, religion or practice! For the purpose of this post, 'Nature Spirits does not refer to any nature-associated deities or entities such as The Fae, Dryads/Naiads/Oceanids/etc, Elves etc - while many of these practices could be applied, each of these entities has specific cultural and religious etiquette attached that I'm not going to get into!

In this post, Nature Spirits are the spirits of all natural things, following the animistic view that everything has spirit. Plants, animals, rocks, metal, landscapes, etc. This is an incredibly broad definition, that can be narrowed or adapted however you see fit, nature is not an easily defined box. You can create your own categories or definitions, if that makes it easier to understand. For example, I may categorise certain spirits by a dominant element, or biome, or breadth, but these categories will always only ever be guidelines. (Note: at some point I want to make a post about different nature spirits along with some personal experiences. Will link here!)

Which brings us to the next point: accept that nature is not neat, and neither are the spirits. There is a level of overlap between different spirits that cannot be easily discerned - there is no clear, easily drawn line between the spirit of The Forest and the spirit of the Trees. The Spirit of that One Particular Crow is not entirely separated from the Spirit of Crow, but they are also not the same. The Spirit of the Stream will flow into the Spirit of The Ocean and you cannot pull them apart, yet you can still work with one but not the other. It is all a tightly interwoven web of spirit, it mirrors the balance and entwinement of the complex ecosystems all around us. Spirits and energies can shift and change with each meeting because of the changing seasons, the time of day, the influence of the landscape around it, or just because. Some spirits can be particularly variable, and it's important to recognise this! When working with nature spirits you must be open minded and adaptable, meet them as they are.

So how do you actually work with them?

This can largely depend on your goal, so I'll break this into two categories; A one time or "casual" relationship, or building a long-term relationship. I have both of these types of relationships - it would be impossible for me to have a long-term relationship with each individual spirit, but sometimes I want to ask them for help. My long term relationships are with Nature itself, and a handful of plant/animal/land spirits, the rest of my practice is made up of much shorter-term relationships that are made much easier by my long-term relationship with Nature. Again, figure out what works for you!

Working with Nature Spirits Once/Casually

Maybe you have a specific spell or petition that you think a nature spirit would be PERFECT to help you with. Or you want to add an extra bit of oomph to your spellwork by working with the spirit(s) of your ingredients. Or maybe, you just want to give (nature) spirit work a go. Whatever the reason, sometimes we just want a short-term relationship with a spirit. This can also be a helpful approach if you want to take something from nature* (i.e. a tree branch to be your wand, some flowers as spellworking ingredients, etc) and want to ensure it's permitted and you respect the spirit.

The best way to approach this, from my experience, is to be honest with the spirit, and respectful. Some Nature Spirits have no interest in helping someone they don't have a relationship with, and some spirits don't want to help period. Leave an offering for the spirit (expanded upon in the Offerings section further in the post), call upon them and ask them if they would be open to what you need. It really can be as simple as:

"Spirit of Oak, I ask you humbly if you would aid in my enchantment. I give you this offering and ask if I may take one of your many branches. I ask that you may allow your magic and wisdom to stay with it and empower it to be my wand. Thank you."

You may get in an answer through divination such as tarot or runes, through your clairsenses, or you can ask the spirit to provide a sign. If they say no, respect that. Thank them and leave. If you aren't willing to hear no, you should not be working with spirits.

If they say yes, but give certain requirements - i.e. "Yes, but only so much. Yes, but I want an offering of xyz in return. Etc" respect that and consider if you're willing to oblige. If not, thank them and leave. Spirits do have preferences and requests, and sometimes they change over time! I.e. in Summer, Oak may be happy for you to take one of his branches, but in Winter, when he and his wards (Oak, in my experience, is a very protective and familial spirit, often charging himself with protection of the land he lives on) are struggling, he may only allow you to take it if you agree to leave some extra bowls of water as an offering.

This doesn't just have to be a one-off, even for short-term relationships. If you are asking for quite a lot or something significant, you should leave multiple offerings over time before asking for permission - especially if the spirit you're working with might be a bit less welcoming.

*If taking something from nature, always ensure you are taking no more than you need and, if applicable, leave more than enough for that resource to survive (unless it is invasive to your area). Respecting the mundane balance of nature is the most important thing. Also, check any laws in your area regarding collecting feathers, certain plants, bones etc!!

Building a Long-Term Relationship

If you want to build a longer relationship with Nature Spirits, or connect more deeply with nature as a whole, there's a few 'steps' I would recommend:

Research and learn about your local area! What plants are you most likely to find? What animals and trees? How do the seasons change and impact the land? What patterns can you find? Do they align with your personal experiences? Join local Birdwatching or foraging groups, pick up localised wildlife books, take online courses! Learn about the world around you!

Get outside and experience it! Get a nature journal to record what you notice - when do you notice the bees coming back after Winter? What are the first plants to sprout in Spring? When do the first Autumnal leaves fall? What animals do you see most? What trees? Sit outside with no intent other than to *feel*. Sit in the forest and let your energy merge with everything around you; feel how the tree roots stretch beneath the soil, and intermingles with stretching mycelium, feel the flap of insects wings and the wind on your skin. Feel the energy of the spirits around you. Like when trying to befriend a crow or stray cat, you must give them time to adjust to your presence.

Leave offerings on a regular basis. This can be done on your altar at home, but often the most effective offerings are ones that aid the physical side of the spirits of well!

Talk to them (without necessarily expecting a response). Say good morning to the magpies on your way to work, tell the trees about your day. Even if you are trying to build a relationship with one specific spirit, it never hurts to connect to nature and its other spirits - sort of like being polite to the in-laws. All of nature is connected, if you're trying to befriend Lavender but throw litter out the car window, it's gonna be much harder to forge a connection.

Ask the spirit if they want a working relationship with you! And respect their answer if they say no. If they say yes, ask them how you've been doing so far - is there something you've been doing that they don't like? Or that they wish you would do more? Do they have any preferences? Requests? Some spirits don't like to communicate through tarot, others have specific times of day they prefer to talk. Some of this can be discerned through research (i.e. nocturnal animal spirits might prefer nighttime communication) but much of it can only be learned by *asking the spirit*.

Keep it up. This is it. This is what a relationship with spirits is: consistent communication and respect. What you choose to do with this relationship, and how it evolves and changes is entirely up to you! Nature is not a religion, these spirits are not a part of a specific tradition or culture (though you are more than welcome to incorporate your own culture/traditions/religions into your relationship with them) and so there are no pre-set prayers, offerings, rituals etc; it is up to you to build a unique and personalised relationship with them!

If you ever want to end it, be respectful and polite. Thank the spirit for everything, provide them a final offering and say goodbye.

Offerings for Nature Spirits

Here are some suggestions of offerings for Nature Spirits, but they are just suggestions and recommendations from my own experiences; come up with your own and figure it out *with* the spirit!! I've divided them into physical and non-physical offerings:

Water (a classic, hard to go wrong)

Wildlife Safe food (this will require research and will be very dependant on your area. HOWEVER, it should not be done regularly, and ideally should be in your garden rather than a public or "wild" area - bird feeders, feeding hedgehogs etc Feeding wildlife can cause more harm than help a lot of the time).

Coins, tobacco, crystals etc (some 'traditional' spirit offerings in many cultures. These are best for any indoor altars rather than outside.

Picking up Litter or other acts of service (an amazing offering, often highly appreciated)

Removing Invasive Species!

Physical touch (NOT for animals or potentially dangerous plants. Do your research. This may be a hand in the river, a hug to the tree, bare feet on the soil.)

Time (a simple, yet much appreciated offering)

A poem, artwork, prayer

Donating to their conservation/aid

Other parts of nature (laying flowers at the foot of the tree, berries for the crow spirit, dressing a fox skull in leaves)

In my experience, acts of service or creation are often much more appreciated than physical offerings! Art in their name, cleaning the local stream of litter, calling your PM to pressure more conservation policies etc are far better than leaving a - potentially disruptive and harmful - piece of food.

What NOT to Do?

This is also UPG based, but there are some things I would really NOT recommend.

Not doing your research. You wouldn't jump into a relationship with a deity without learning anything about them, why do the same for nature spirits? Just because they don't have specific religious lore surrounding them, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn. Pick up a field guide or book on local folklore.

Leaving human food outside. You baked a tasty brownie and want to share it with the Fly Agaric spirit you're building a relationship with? Great - leave it as an offering but TAKE IT BACK HOME WITH YOU. Let the spirit take the energy from it it wants/needs, and then remove it. Do not leave human food outside. If you INSIST on leaving a form of food offering, it MUST be safe for the local wildlife.

Littering. Doing a spell with Birch? Cool. Make sure you don't leave anything behind. Ideally, use compostable or wildlife safe ingredients (i.e. beeswax candles, toilet paper tubes instead of spell jars etc)

Graffiti/Carvings on trees/rocks etc. Sigils and art can be a great tool/offering but PLEASE don't graffiti or carve into trees/rocks/natural things. It does damage them. Write a with your finger in sand or on your palm or recreate it with branches instead.

Taking more than you need. Don't collect every shell you see on a beach, don't pick up every skull or bone your find in a forest, don't pick every mushroom or herb in a patch. Take what you need, ask permission, leave more than you take.

DO NOT GO INTO FORAGING/BONE COLLECTING/HIKING/LITTER PICKING WITHOUT PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. Know the laws in your area. Know the trails and paths. Have a map if the area if large enough. Know what plants are safe to touch, if you're not sure - DON'T TOUCH IT. Know what is safe to forage, ideally have an expert to confirm, if you are not 10000% certain, LEAVE IT (and I mean 100000% certain. Not 99%). Wear proper hiking boots, be aware of the weather and any risks in the area. Keep up with weather warnings. Know if there's any traps in the woods. Going litter picking? Make sure you're aware of any local vaccination attempts, as the devices used to help vaccinate wild animals may look like rubbish. Be sensible, be SAFE.

General Tips and Advice

Use common sense and critical thinking.

Notice how I kept saying "local" in this post? That's because it's ideal for a nature-based practice to be localised to your surrounding area! I live in the UK, so whats the point in me trying to build a relationship with spirit of Bald Eagle? It has no roots in my land, nor in my heritage or craft. It is much easier to connect to a nature spirit that you can actually, physically visit, or that has a deep connection to your culture/religion/heritage than one that you thought "seemed cool".

Take it slow, and take it easy. There are no strict rules besides don't be a jerk. The best expert on any particular spirit is that spirit!

However, its important to be safe. Know how to protect yourself and how to banish. Don't call on any spirit you can't get rid of. Not all nature spirits are friendly.

Nature spirits are also not a monolith. They overlap, they blur and twist together but working with Bramble is an entirely different experience to working with Lavender. Be prepared. You can typically get an idea of a spirit's personality through research - it peeks through in the science and ecology, as well as the folklore.

Practice energy work! Nature spirits, in my experience, love to communicate through energy. Sit with yourself for a while, learn what thoughts are yours, what sensations are your own, so that you can differentiate from others. Get used to the feeling of nature and its spirits - they will guide you and help you, they will teach you knowledge you cannot imagine.

You're allowed to say no, and so are they.

Do not be deterred by your circumstances. You live in a city? There's still nature spirits there, a lot of them. (Will link my post about Urban Nature Spirit Work here when posted). Struggle to get outside regularly? Get a Houseplant (will link houseplant post too) watch nature documentaries, find a way to connect to nature and it will find a way to connect to you.

Remember that YOU are a part nature. You are not an onlooker, you are not an outsider, YOU are a part of the ecosystem, apart of natural history and the complex beauty of evolution and change. YOU are an animal and you are so much more similar to the foxes and bears and flies and butterflies than you think.

I hope this post has been helpful to some! Please feel free to add any of your own points/experiences or ask questions/suggest future posts!!

Praise Mother Nature 💚🌿🪲

[breelandwalker]

Book Rec - Land Healing by Dana O'Driscoll

For anyone looking to cultivate a deeper relationship with their local land spirits or to engage in more active stewardship of their local biome, I'd like to recommend Land Healing by Dana O'Driscoll.

A follow-up to her other fabulous book, Sacred Actions, Land Healing is a comprehensive guide to land healing for neopagans and earth-based spiritual practitioners who have a desire to regenerate and heal human-caused damage throughout our world. The book presents tools and information to take up the path of the land healer with care, reverence, and respect for all beings. This book also puts tools in your hands to be an active force of good and learn how to actively regenerate the land, preserve life, and create sanctuaries for life–in your backyard, in your community, and beyond.

Dana O’Driscoll has been an animist, and bioregional druid for 20 years and currently serves as the Grand Archdruid in the Ancient Order of Druids in America.  She is also a druid-grade member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and is OBOD’s 2018 Mount Hameus Scholar.  Dana took up the path of land healing because of the deep need in her home region of Western Pennsylvania, which is challenged by fracking, acid mine drainage into streams, logging, and mountaintop removal. Dana sees land healing as her core personal spiritual path, and has done both individual work in her home region as well as spearheading larger-scale land healing efforts at druid events and through the Ancient Order of Druids in America. Dana is a certified permaculture designer and permaculture teacher who teaches sustainable living and wild food foraging.  She lives on a 5-acre homestead with her partner and a host of feathered and furred friends.

You can find out more about her practices and her publications by visiting The Druid's Garden and you can also hear more on this recent episode of Hex Positive, where Dana talks about her newest book and the inspiration behind it.

[ecosensual]

[fliegenengel]

Will you try to reach me even if you can't?

[sarafangirlart]

as northen african the black medusa trend in retelling has always botherd me and i couldn't exactly explain why

this article has put all my thoughts in words

Oh interesting what article is that?

[sitting-1n-silence]

Laying the foundation ~House spirits 1~

Choosing to build a home, temple, or business somewhere takes thought and consideration. World wide people have devised practices around this, spiritual and otherwise. In some cases part of building practices might account for the learning, appeasing, clearing, and/or working with spirits that may already reside there.

Finding where to settle:

The Balkan region has many names for place -bound spirits (stiia, stihio, stuha, stoikeion) which could be understand as forgotten dead, fiery snakes, or house spirits. In Russian and Ukrainian lore there is the domovoy (domovoyk, domovoi) a house spirit associated with ancestral spirits, and the house addar/snake who resides behind the stove and brings blessings. There's the Greek Lares, the UK's brownies, and the German kobolds and dracs. Throughout Europe people have been naming these land spirits as well as practices for dealing with them.

Lots of thought was put into finding places to build a home, consideration was especially given to the dead or spirits already occupying a space. Making sure not to build where the dead are laid, and sometimes asking guidance or permissions from ancestors. Ukrainian mountaineers taught this, as well as to never build houses at crossroads or places pathways crossed, or build atop the old ruins of a heating stove (as this means there is already a spirit occupying this place). There was also an avoidance of building on a plot of a land with lots of tree stumps, with a focus on if the stumps were red after being cut, suggesting they were bleeding.

Certain spaces remained untouched and left sacred to spirits. Certain groves, mountains, or rivers were set aside to the spirits of the gods of these places. Special groves where a tall oak grew, rivers where spirits are said to bathe, or caves in the sides of mountains where trolls or dwarves were said to live. These places remain unbuilt on for a while out of respect for the beings already occupying them. Priests moving through the area encountered forests so sacred in rural Lithuania that you could not enter or touch certain woods with iron (tools for cutting). If someone did the penalty was death. The fear of place spirits was very present.

Some good omens to build in the Baltic region are where you find black ant hills, where a cow has loved to lay, and where the future house-owner dreams of a domestic animal. A new moon was also a good omen for construction. Romans would often favor the side of roads for building homes, as money and people flowed through here. Places away from others such as the edged of fields were avoided due to being away from the hum of life. The Romans also avoided building at crossroads or over cemeteries.

A few ways were utilized to find a spot to build. Sometimes the materials used in the building were used to divine a location, such as the case with the church of Siuxt (Kirkland, Russia) where a rock placed to begin building rolled down a hill in the night, so they continued building where the stone landed. The stone had been placed close to another property, and it seems the spirit already residing there didn't want company. Other times an animal would be allowed to wander until exhaustion an a building was built there, or a log was tossed into a river and where it stopped they built. Sometimes the throwing of logs or floor boards into water from a prior home was done in honor of a pagan god, letting their new home be decided by the divine.

When spirits occupied a place:

Sometimes a place is already occupied by spirits, so people have devised ways of laying claim to these spaces. This has been done similarly to using a piece of wood of from an old home, except with a coffin in the case of Kveldulf heading to Iceland. He was dying and asked that his coffin be tossed into the sea to show his son where to build there home. This was a way for his spirit in death to claim and become and rooted ancestor there for his future descendants. Other times a large staff/stick is driven into the ground and the land is declared to be where a son will build their home.

Fire was also a common element for claiming land from spirits, as it's solar properties was believed to drive away chthonic land spirits. In folklore it turns dwavres to stone, and stopped elven islands from sinking underwater. Norwegian king Harald Fairhair helped codified rites called "eldvigning" or "consecrations by fire", but there is reason to believe it predates him. In one example a fire is kindled and spread from sunrise to sunset, and the land in which the individual encircles with fire becomes theirs. A flaming arrow was another option, being shot over the land that is being claimed.

Circumambulation was also a common tactic and oldest forms for laying claim to space. As the act of encircling something is both protective (creating a barrier) and a declaration of sacredness of what is being protected inside. This holiness could be due to the presence of a god, saint or holy relic, spirit or dead relative. Circumambulation was combined with the use of fire and bells to excise claimed land and remove any unwanted spirits. Moving in a circle making noise to tare down protections can also be seen in the bible's story of Joshua, where the Israelite move in a circle around Jericho to tare down it's walls. Similar methods were used by witches in North Berwick England where they walked counter clockwise around a church to unlock it's door and preform their devlish rites in a once holy place.

In Thailand we see similar elements emerge. When a house-builder wishes to build a home he will approach an expert who is an architect, builder, and ritual specialist who is usually a former monk. This expert will decided when to begin building on an auspicious day (between harvest and the next first ploughing). The ritual expert is also responsible preforming various exorcisms of the materials and land, as well as for taking into account the nagas (serpent spirits who reside underground) so the posts being put into the earth can be laid parallel to them prior. Gunpowder is burned and the poles are washed with water to frighten away evil spirits.

House spirits in these contexts were called "sao phaya" to refer to the spirit of a single household, and "cao thi" for the spirit of a small community or ancestral shrine. Other names such as "phi" (which to my understanding means "ghost") also appear.

Beginning construction:

Now that you've made claim to the place you want to build it's time to begin the work of construction. Which often takes consideration of the land spirits and giving scarifies to them so they won't stand in the way of construction. These rituals scarifies and acts being understood as a type of contract with the spirits occupying this place. Throughout history the types of scarifies have changed. Going from young humans, to goats, oxen, dogs, and roosters. These bodies being found below building or inside the walls of homes, churches, and monasteries. These animals eventually replacing humans. Interestingly, these same animals used as sacrifices were also the common forms utilized by these guardian land spirits. Snakes were common forms too, and were believed to be a good omen to find a snake living in the walls of your home. Ancestors were also used as masks by these beings, which relates back to the burying of people or our dead below the home.

Specific trees or stones were also used as the place of these sacrifices. Forming a compact with the surrounding spirits, who revive them in place of the spirits of home. Scarifies in these cases could take the form of leftover food or gruel. These stones and trees were to be left undisturbed, or ill fortunes could befall the family.

The Carpathians used to lay loaves of bread and salt under the four corners of their future homes, as this was supposed to bring wealth. Bread and salt being important parts of inviting a domovoyk into a new dwelling. Again a pact is presented to the spirit, food and substance in return for blessings.

Other rituals in Polissia involve the holding of a feast when the foundation of a building is laid. During this feast guests were expected to not step on the doorstep of the new home, as this was sacred place for the spirit who protects the house which had to brought over. Another held superposition was not to whistle during this period of construction, as this could scare off the spirits here.

Other foundational rites in the Balkans include giving an offering to the future spirit that will live here through the foundation stone when it's laid. If a sacrificial animal is used it becomes the form of the guarding spirit of this home. On occasion someone sick or near death was used for this purpose. In some cases a person's shadow was measured with cotton, and that length of cotton was included in the foundation or walls of the home as a sacrifice. Believing that the individual who's shadow was measured would die soon.

Once the foundation is laid and the posts are set the rest of the building is swiftly put up and filled. From this moment on families will work to keep their house spirits happy thorough the observance of taboos and rituals. To keep good fortune and life flowing into the home.

Summary:

-Land that is already occupied by a spirit is hard to build on.

-Certain omens can signify good land for building.

-When a spirit does occupy a space there are ways of laying claim. Such as through fire, circumambulation, or pacting with them.

-Sacrifice and death helps establish a connection with a place.

-Spirits of the dead and place emerge through characteristics of the house spirit

Sources:

Demons and Spirits of the Land, by Claude Lecouteux

The tradition of household spirits, by Claude Lecouteux

Pagans in the Early Modern Baltic, Edited and translated from Latin by Francis Young

Architectural and political space in Thailand, by Andrew Turton

Stoikheion, stuha, zduhac: Guarding spirits, weather magicians and talisman magic on the Balkans, by Eva Pocs

[violetmoondaughter]

Spring festivals among ancient European peoples were often associated with funeral festivals because, according to popular belief, they coincided with the period of manifestation of the dead and the infernal powers.

It was precisely during these contacts between the afterlife and the earthly world that the seasonal festivals took place, in which the powers of the underworld, dispensers of the harvest, yielded the gifts of the earth in exchange for the sacrifice of the first fruits. According to the ancient cults, in fact, all wealth derived from the perennial source of renewal that was the realm of the dead, and it originated from the unceasing supply of the new forces released by each death.

The relationship between fertility festivals and contact with the otherworld can be seen in three ancient ceremonies:

To Dionysus were dedicated the Anthesteria, the “Flower Festivals,” which were held in the spring, in the month of Anthesterion (February-March) to celebrate new wine, but also the flourishing of vegetation.

The ceremonies lasted three days. On the first day the jars of wine from the previous year deposited at the shrine of Dionysus Limnaios (“of the marshes”) were opened. The marshes represented not only a place far from urban settlement, but also unconsolidated land, thus suitable for exchange between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

The inebriation caused by wine and the abandonment of social hierarchies were the hallmarks of the festival and the imminent return of the dead. It was believed that death-spirits called Keres were entertained, freely roaming the city until they were expelled after the festival.

A procession took place carrying a simulacrum of Dionysus on a ship-shaped chariot, followed by celebrants wearing Satyr costumes and playing flutes. Also riding on the chariot was the queen, basilinna, who embodied Dionysus' bride Ariadne. The procession was directed to the residence of the archon-king called basileus where the hierogamy, the sacred union of the god with the queen, took place, which was attended only by a group of priestesses. The sacred union ensured fertility for the whole community.

The second day was related to drinking competitions in special jars called choes. At the end of the day there was a return to the shrine in the marshes, where a goat, on which wine had been sprinkled, was sacrificed to Dionysus.

The third day was marked by joyous celebrations, dancing, singing and masquerades. At the foot of the Acropolis, singing contests were held by masked figures called ithyphalloi. They carried in procession a wooden image of an erect phallus, representing Dionysus in his role as a deity of fertility and generative power.

The last phase of the festival was devoted to ceremonies addressed to the world of the dead. Cereals and honey were offered to the dead, which had to be consumed before nightfall, when finished the feast invited the dead to leave for good, with the formula “Get out of the house, O Keres, the Anthesteria are over.” The relationship between those who inhabited the underworld and spring rebirth, between the living and the dead, is linked to the fertility principle that belongs to them.

Due to the delay of the seasons in northern latitudes, the renewal festivals among the Celts and Germans retained the same character while shifting to early May.

Celebrated on May Day, Beltane was an agrarian festival, marking the beginning of summer and located midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. This holiday was also considered one of the times of the year when the possibilities for communication between the visible and invisible worlds opened and when the dead could communicate with the living.

Sacred wells were visited on this occasion, where people left offerings, coins or strips of cloth, and sacred fires were lit for the purpose of blessing animals and fields.

The festival also implied a reference to the fertility of women and included, in England, the election of a May Queen, who was ritually married to a May King, whose union was propitiatory of fertility. To the same symbolism belongs the Maypole, a tree cut in the woods and planted in the central village square, decorated with flowers and ribbons, around which dances were woven.

On this day it was thought that goblins, fairies and witches roamed freely, as well as the dead who could meet the living. This was also a time when malevolent beings could act, taking advantage of it to strike livestock, make them sick or die.

[priestessdandelion]

At 7am this morning I had the amazing privilege of watching a doe give birth to two babies underneath the willow in my own backyard! 🥰✨ Truly an amazing experience to witness the beauty of this aspect of the cycle of life on Earth.

~

Deer are a symbol of the forest and often associated with abundance and good luck. Deer have a peaceful serenity and swiftness that represents the balance of all life on Earth. To witness the birth of deer babies is symbolic of being on the right path and in many cultures is seen as a blessing to the individual witnessing.

~

The day before I had been researching forest farming as apart of my future plans to own a farm on the land I own. I don’t want to remove any trees on the property so I’m learning how to farm the land in a decolonized way, in harmony with the environment. After witnessing this birth I think the spirits of the land approve of this plan.

~

After I saw these births I went back to sleep for a while and had a dream where my backyard was filled with dozens of deer. They were even somehow within the enclosed garden I have out back. The message I felt was to break down these barriers and farm/garden within the land itself, instead of placing fences around my plants they should be apart of the environment!

[appalachiasferaldaughter]

Hail, Spirit of the Mountain, Hail, Landvættir!

Hail to you, Spirit of the Mountain lands, Although I am from Appalachia, you welcome me as your own kin and Daughter.

Hail to you, Landvættir: the Great Deer Herds, The Guardians of these mountains and woods, Keepers of the Ancient Wisdom and tales.

May I recognize your presence all times, May I always listen when you speak up, May you be blessed in all your endeavors.

Hail, Spirit of the Mountain, Hail, Landvættir!

[broomsick]

Low energy land spirit work

Please note that I would recommend properly greeting land spirits before talking to them, or making offerings to them. If you're intrested in reading about my thoughts and experiences with land spirits, give this previous post a look!

Open the window and let the outside air in. If your window is equipped with a screen against bugs, you can place a drink at the window for a few hours to serve as an offering

Taking a walk around the block, spotting the nearby trees, gardens, flowerbeds, rock formations...

Journal about your personal relationship with local natural spots, indigenous plants, wildlife...

Become interested in local birds! Birds are among the most common types of wildlife to be observed in urban areas, which makes it all the more relevant to do so. Setting up birdhouses also makes for a great offering!

Limit the amount of processed foods in your diet

Read up on plant identification in your area

Engage in artistic activities in order to depict nature! It might seem silly, but it's a good visualization exercise, and any time spent meditating upon the land spirits may be considered devotional. Drawing, painting, writing... no matter your activity of choice!

Reflect on what local issues might affect them, especially concerning environmental protection

Leave a bowl of clear water outside as an offering

Do your part to respect nature: composting, recycling, saving water and the like make perfect devotionals

Talk to them regularly, if only once a week. Spend a moment outside to tell them of your appreciation for their presence and protection

Use natural elements to decorate the house: get flowers when available, pick up the acorns or fallen leaves that strike your fancy...

[buriedpentacles]

hi, I saw your post about nature spirits and I was wondering about how to use runes to communicate with nature spirits. for example, how might one be able to discern what kind of offering a tree would like using the runes? thanks in advance :)))

Ooo love this question!!

I'm going to assume you know how to use runes generally, BUT in case you (or other people reading this) don't, here's the breakdown:

When people refer to runes, they typically mean Norse runes - i.e. stones/crystals/wood blocks/whatever with the Elder Futhark (though some people use other futharks) engraved/written on them. They're used as a form of divination, where each rune has a specific meaning that is interpreted within the context of the casting (i.e. is it upright or reverse? What other runes is it near? Did it fall close or far to you? etc)

Runes do not have to be a Norse Alphabet, their are multiple other runic systems but this is the most popular (I think). I myself have a rune set I made a while back, and really enjoy using them!

So, how to use them with nature spirits?

You'd use them the same way you'd use any divinatory system!! Divination is pretty personal, while certain runes may have historical definitions, you will develop your own associations and understandings of them!

With nature spirits, I find that it's important to bear in mind THEIR associations as well as your own. For example, for you the rune Isa (ice) may mean stillness, introspection, reflection etc but if you're working with a bird that migrates for winter, it may refer to movement or change!

How would you discern specific requests, such as offerings via runes?

This, again, requires a bit of personalisation and effort on your side! Over time and as you build your relationship with nature spirits, you'll get a feel for what certain runes may indicate and you'll also build up your intuition!

However, some things that might help you break you down:

What element might the rune be associated with? Kennaz may be fire, Ansuz might be air. This is up to you to understand, and it may not always be a simple categorisation, that's okay!

Does the rune indicate something physical (like Uruz), or does it seem to represent a more non-physical offering (like Ansuz)

When you see the rune, does your intuition pull anything to mind? When you see Fehu, do you think of coins? When you see Berkana do you get an image of a birch branch crown?

Don't worry about getting it wrong! Over time you'll figure it out! :)

Hope this helped - please feel free to ask any more questions or clarifications!!

[vacantwoodsenthusiast]

I reworked a set of prayer beads into a necklace for a land spirit. The inspiration came to me at 4am this morning and haunted me until I made it, which feels right for a New Moon Rite.

[rathhar-witchcraft]

Everything feels like honey

[pissmoon]

No, I dont think its a funny joke when some aloof ironic cool christian girlies go 'eww cringe jesus bible' whenever someone brings up a tiniest bit of interest in paganism or occultism. I am not saying these communities dont have annoying people in them. But given christianitys history with witchburnings and colonialism in the americas and attempts to wipe out any pagan religion wherever they went being justified with dehumanizing whoever they considered 'pagans' or (supposedly) involved in witchcraft its pretty damn crass and bad taste. You dont get to decide which beliefs are 'demonic' or 'evil' and they are not automatically demonic or evil because some christian said so - I dont accept it and I dont have damn spanish inquisition threatening to torture me to pretend i do

[hexpositive]

Hex Positive, Ep. 048 - Land Healing with Dana O'Driscoll

Now available on the Nerd & Tie Podcast Network and your favorite podcatcher!

Multi-talented author, artist, permaculturist, and head of the AODA Dana O’Driscoll drops by the virtual studio to discuss her newest book, “Land Healing: Physical, Metaphysical, and Ritual Practices for Healing the Earth.” Among the topics discussed are processes and procedures for connecting with the land spirits where you live, what’s in a crane bag, and how we can practice good stewardship and become responsible ancestors.

Check out her other works – 

Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year Through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices The Plant Spirit Oracle The Druids Garden blog The Druids Garden etsy shop

Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop on Shopify and check out this month’s featured items. Make sure you also visit the Redbubble page for even more cool merch!

Check my ⁠⁠Wordpress⁠⁠ for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on TikTok, Instagram, and WordPress, or as @breelandwalker on tumblr. For more information on how to support the show and get access to early releases and extra content, visit my ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠.

Proud member of the ⁠⁠Nerd and Tie Podcast Network⁠⁠.

See you in October!

Upcoming Events:

Styx & Stones on Facebook Follow for upcoming moon markets!

Cottage Witch Market Sunday, July 28 2024, 12pm-6pm Diversity Richmond 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond VA Hosted by River City Witch Markets

Free Spirit Gathering August 6-11, 2024 Camp Ramblewood, Darlington MD Free Spirit Gathering Website⁠ ⁠Use my referral link to sign up!⁠ ⁠Free Spirit Gathering Policies⁠  (PLEASE READ IF PLANNING TO ATTEND)

Norse Witch Market Sunday, August 18 2024, 12pm-5pm Diversity Richmond 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond VA Hosted by River City Witch Markets

Pumpkin Witch Market Sunday, Sept 22 2024, 12pm-5pm Diversity Richmond 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond VA Hosted by River City Witch Markets

CritWitchCon 2024 September 27-29, 2024 Online Gathering via Zoom “Perception / Perspective Check” Hosted by Critical Thinking Witch Collective

MUSIC CREDITS

Intro & Outro – “Spellbound” & “Miri’s Magic Dance” Host-Read Ads – “Danse Macabre – Violin Hook” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/