#pennyroyal green

[actualwizardbillykaplan]

Jonathan Redmond is on my list of Historical Romance Heroes I am in love with

[readtilyoudie]

What do you do with love when you need to keep it to yourself? When nothing could ever come of it beyond a moment in time, when you could never say it aloud? When you feel like you might implode from it?

You turn it into gratitude, she decided, and send it outward and upward in a prayer. And you kiss the person you love between the eyes.

The Perils of Pleasure (Pennyroyal Green, #1) by Julie Anne Long

[overflowingshelf]

Review: It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long

It Happened One Midnight Julie Anne Long Publisher: Avon Publication Date: June 25, 2013 Series or Standalone: Pennyroyal Green #8 Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph Rating: MY REVIEW CW: Child abuse; sexual assault; sexual harassment; physical abuse; abandoment; pregnancy/child birth; death of a parent (off page) I could feel a reading slump coming, so I turned to…

[tiredwitchplant]

Everything You Need to Know About Herbs: Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

*Poisonous *Medical *Masculine

Folk Names: European Pennyroyal, Lurk-In-The-Ditch, Mosquito Plant, Organ Broth, Organs, Organ Tea, Piliolerian, Pudding Grass, Run-By-The-Ground, Squaw Mint, Tickweed

Planet: Mars, Venus

Element: Fire

Deity: Demeter

Abilities: Protection, Amplification, Revealing Secrets, Peace and Strength

Why Poisonous?: The oil from pennyroyals contains pulegone, a colorless oily liquid that as a pleasant odor that is found in pennyroyals, peppermint and camphor. It causes failure to the kidneys and liver, which results in bleeding, seizures, multiple organ failure and death. Many women have died trying to use pennyroyal oil in order to induce an abortion.

Do not consume the oil.

Characteristics: It has a powerful aromatic scent and is a perennial plant, growing to 16 inches. It has oval, toothed leaves with spirals of lilac flowers. It thrives in damp areas and blooms its flowers in the summer.

History: Native to Europe and western Asia. In 23-79 CE Roman natural historian, Pliny, wrote that the pennyroyal was a better medicinal herb than roses and purified bad water. It is called pennyroyal because it was good for the extermination of puliol royals, a type of flea. It was said it was used in witchcraft in order to cause people to see double and a protection plant in Sicily to protect from the evil eye. In Wales, it was gathered on St. John’s Eve for the benefit of “a person who has lost consciousness in the consequence of an illness.” (In other words patients in comas).

Growing Pennyroyals:

Are they easy to grow? Yes

Rating: Beginner Friendly

Seeds Accessible: No

How to Grow

Video Reference

Where to Buy Seeds

Magical Usage:

Can be used to boost magical energy for spell work

When placed on a picture of yourself or another person, can repel evil or bring good health

Placed in one’s shoes can prevent weariness during travel and strength your body

Kept in the home will prevent lover’s quarrels

Can be carried when you travel abroad boats to prevent sea sickness

Medical Usage

Is a good digestive tonic for intestinal worms, relieve gas and stomach aches

In tea form, it can help with chills, colds, bronchitis and asthma. Can also help with blood sugar and inducing menstruation

Can be used externally to treat itchiness and formication, the feeling of ants crawling on your body, and rheumatic conditions such as gout.

Sources

[pigeonplaysgod]

so once again rather than actually progressing my legacy, i've decided to go off the rails and make an apartment from a future gen that's 4 Generations Away

(based on this build!)

[greenwitchcrafts]

October 2023 witch guide

Full moon: October 28th

New moon: October 14th

Sabbats: Samhain

October Hunter's Moon

Known as: Blood moon, drying rice moon, falling leaf moon, freezing moon, migrating moon, moon of the changing seasons, shedding moon, ten colds moon, winterfelleth & windermanoth

Element: Air

Zodiac: Libra & Scorpio

Nature spirits: Frost faeries & Plant faeries

Deities: Apollo, Astarte, Belili, Cernunnos, Demeter, Hathor, Herne, Horned God, Ishtar, Kore, Lakshmi & Mercury

Animals: Elephant, jackal, ram, scorpion & stag

Birds: Crow, heron & robin

Trees: Acacia, apple, cypress & yew

Herbs/Plants: Angelica, apple blossom, burdock, catnip, pennyroyal, sweet Annie, thyme & Uva ursi

Flowers: Calendula, cosmos & marigold

Scents: Apple blossom, cherry & strawberry

Stones: Amethyst, beryl, obsidian, opal, tourmaline & turquoise

Colors: Black, dark blue, Dark greens & purples

Energy: Artistic works, balance, creativity, harmony, inner cleansing, justice, karma, legal matters, mental stimulation, partnerships, reincarnation & uncovering mysteries or secrets

It is believed that this name originates from the fact that it was a signal for hunters to prepare for the upcoming cold winter by going hunting. This is because animals were beginning to fatten up in preparation for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals.

The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. 

Samhain

Also known as: All Hallow's Eve,  Ancestor Night, Feast of Apples, Feast of Sam-fuim, Feast of Souls, Feast of the Dead, Geimhreadh, Hallowmass, Martinmass, Old Hallowmas, Pagan New Year, Samana, Samhuinn, Samonios, Shadowfest & Third Harvest

Season: Fall

Symbols: Apples, bats, besom(brooms), black cats, cauldrons, ghosts, gourds, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, scarecrows & witches

Colors: Black, gold, orange, silver & white

Oils/incense: Basil, cloves, copal, frankincense, gum mastic, heather, heliotrope, mint, myrrh & nutmeg

Animals: Bat, boar, cat cattle & dogs

Stones: Amber, anatase, black calcite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, brass, carnelian, clear quartz diamond, garnet, gold, granite, hematite, iron, jet, marble, pearl, pyrite, ruby, sandstone, sardonyx, smokey quartz, steel & tektite

Foods: Apples, ale, beef, cider, corm, fruits, garlic, gourds, grains, hazelnuts, herbal teas, mushroom, nettle, nuts, pears, pomegranates, pork, poultry, pumpkin pie, sunflower seeds, thistle, turnips & wine (mulled)

Herbs/plants: Acorn, Allspice, catnip, corn, dittany of Crete, hazel, mandrake, mugwort, mullien, oak leaves, pine, rosemary, sage, straw, tarragon, thistle, wormwood & yellow cedar

Flowers: Calendula, chrysanthemum, deadly nightshade, rue & fumitory

Goddesses: Al-lat, Baba Yaga, Badb, Banba, Bast, Bebhionn, Bronach, Brunhilde, Cailleach, Carlin, Cassandra, Cerridwen, Copper Woman, Crobh Dearg, Devanyani, Dolya, Edda, Elli, Eris, Erishkigal, Fortuna, Frau Holde, Hecate, Hel, Ishtar, Kali, Macha Mania, Morrigan, Nemesis, Nephthys, Nicneven & Rhiannon

Gods: Arawan, Baron Samede, Belenus, Coyote, Cronus, Dagda, Dis, Hades, Loki, Nefertum, Odin, Osiris, Pluto, Woden & Xocatl

Issues Intentions & Powers: Crossroads, darkness, death, divination, honoring ancestors, introspection, the otherworld/underworld, release, visions & wisdom (of the crone)

Spellwork: Divination, fire magick, night magick, shape-shifting, spirit calling & water magick

Related festivals:

• Day of the Dead- (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed & is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. Although related to the simultaneous Christian remembrances for Hallowtide, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

• All Saints Day- is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honor of all the saints & martyrs of the Church, whether they are known or unknown

Activities:

• Dedicate an altar to loved ones who have passed

• Boil a simmer pot to cleanse your space

• Have a silent dinner

• Light a candle for your loved ones & yourself

• Decorate your house and/or altar

• Release negative energy & cleanse your with a ritual bath

• Pull tarot cards to see what may be in store for you ahead

• Cleanse, clean & de-clutter your space

• Leave offerings to the Fae

• Journal & reflect on your accomplishments, challenges & everything you did this year

•Go on a nature walk

• Learn a new form of divination

• Have a bonfire with your friends and/or family

• Carve pumpkins

• Express yourself creatively through art, music, ect

• Visit a cemetery & help clean off areas that need it or to visit a family member/ ancestor & leave an offering

• Hold a seance

• Bake spooky treats & bread as offerings

• Refresh your protection magicks, sigils & rituals

Samhain is a Gaelic festival on 1 November marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year. Celebrations begin on the evening of 31 October, since the Celtic day began and ended at sunset.

This fire festival is celebrated on October 31st & is considered the Pagan New Year. It is the first Sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, a cross-quarter festival & the third (final) harvest festival of the mundane year. This is the time when the veil between the worlds of the living & those who have passed is the thinnest, which allows greater communication between the two

Some believe this is the time of the Goddess's mourning of the death of the God until his rebirth at Yule. The Goddess's sadness can be seen in the shortening, darkening days & the arrival of cold weather

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's 2023 magical almanac: practical magic for everyday living

Wikipedia

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

[starryharps]

wildflowers

pairing: rhaegar targaryen/ reader

summary: they fuck in a forest, what more do you want

word count: 1,509

tags: smut. fluff

read on ao3 | masterlist

The brook’s tattering breaks your mid-afternoon daze, with the sunlight chiding your vision as you sit quietly under the impossibly huge tree.

Rhaegar is picking flowers nearby, his harp resting against the bark of another tree. Beautiful thing, it is, to watch him strum those strings, how nimble his fingers look as they dance across the harp, how it plucks and pulls, and-

Gods. Your ears flush red.

What a sinful thought.

You bring your knees together, resting your head over the heavy robes.

For another day.

You hear Rhaegar’s boots become louder and louder, padding gently across the grass before he sits next to you.

Wildflowers. He bought wildflowers.

“Quite a collection,” you remarked.

He hummed, holding some of them in his hands. White, yellow, green, all beautiful and dainty small things.

“Do you know, you can make tea from them.”  he starts, “read it in a maester’s scrolls.”

“You can make tea from almost any flower or leaf if you dry and roast them enough.”

He gazes at you, unimpressed.

“Smartass.”

You chuckled, “logic.”

The prince watches you pick the pennyroyals up.

“Intriguing, you found these here.” You remark.

“Figured you’d appreciate the selection, for you keep collecting flowers.” Referring to your apothecary.

“Oh, so it is not for making flower crowns?”

“I do not know how to make them.”

“Why not?”

Confusion colors him, “What do you mean why not?”

“You’re bookish to a fault, thought you’d know how to make flower crowns to charm ladies.”

“I do not read such books.”

“Explain me tales of the wench and the sailor on your shelf then?”

He sputters, looking away.

“That was a gift.”

“Certain. Boys and their collection of literary erotica they swear to the seven they have never read, but forget to take out the glaring red bookmark.”

He calls out your name, indigant.

“This is unladylike.”

“I thought we dropped court formalities when we entered these forests.”

“This conversation has turned indecent.” Rhaegar quickly picks up the harp, playing it, you notice the heat on his cheeks and smirk.

He pretends to not notice you crawl slightly towards him, playing his harp.

“What crown prince would ever be caught reading naughty tales of a wench covered in flowers,”

Rhaegar’s hand shakes, and the harp’s tune wavers. You reach his shoulder and slightly move the long hair behind his ear as you whisper.

“as she gets deflowered by a dashing Essosi sailor-“

His breath hitches.

“How unbecoming of a noble to read such a debauched work.”

“Y-you.”

His indigo eyes are so beautiful as they lace in fear and arousal.

“Tell me, which one did you imagine yourself as? The sailor?” You hook your finger on the collar of his tunic.

Rhaegar shakes quietly, his harp sounding like a cacophony of nerves. You admire the small braids in his hair. He’s inlaid them with ruby pins.

“Or perhaps, the wench?” You whisper, putting his harp away.

He starts, your name, leaving his lips as he sighs.

You crawl on top of him, straddling his lap, smiling sweetly.

“Hmm?”

You don’t wait for him to reply, tilting your head to meet your lips against his plush ones.

Rhaegar is on fire. you are certain, His blood heats up at your touch as you sense him descend further and further into the kiss. He’s so open, desperate, and wanting. His red and black robes bristle and rustle against the grass as he moans out and squirms. You press down further as his hands find your waist.

He’s a sight, red flushed against his pale skin, indigo eyes staring at you, mesmerized, and glossy-lipped. The forest behind him. From this angle, he looks every bit of a wench from the novels you have seen him read in his chambers in privacy.

You rock your hips, and he groans. The fabric creates a barrier that somehow intensifies the pleasure rather than inhibiting it.

“You even moan like one.” You open button down his tunic and toss out his robes. The sunlight kissing his pale skin, you watch the flush travel to his lithe chest.

Hands travel down his naked body, your digits toying with his nipples. They look so supple, hard, and slightly puffed. A wicked idea takes over you.

“How does it feel?” gently squeezing his nipple.

Rhaegar throws his head back. “Tickles.”

“Ah,t.” He groans as you rub circles gently with both of your hands on each nipple.

He bucks his hips up.

“Ah…”

“Sensitive?’

He moans.

“Want me to continue?”

He stutters out a barely coherent, please.

You take him in your mouth. The foreign feel of his soft, round nipples gives you pleasure as you suckle them, quietly flicking.

Rhaegar has stilled, only gasps of his breath reverberate in the forest.

You stay attacking his chest, languid as your tongue latches on him, messy and mean in its sucking. Payback for what he does to you.

His hand reaches your back, digging into your hips as he mewls loudly, unable to stop as you rock your hips against his while playing with his chest.

“Please, please.” His repeats your name like a prayer. Bucking his hips up like an animal in heat.

“If you had a cunt and a womb, I promise you, you would’ve never walked a day without it being swollen.” Rhaegar nods, fervent.

“N-never, I would-“

“Do you wish it?” Your movements become quicker, the squelching noises sending pleasure down your spine.

“I do, gods, I would carry, I would-“

“How many?”

“As many- until I”

“Until your feet hurt and you stay debauched, swollen, and needy for me, every night?”

You see tears prick rhaegar’s eyes, he’s close.

“I’d never let you touch the moon tea. Ever.”

“N-never.”  He groans as you halt your movement.

“Off.” You command, referencing his breeches.

He complies quickly, sitting up to kiss you as his cock springs out.

You smirk at the length, the rosy color making it look almost endearing.

“Might wear robes of this color tomorrow.”

Despite his arousal, rhaegar manages to smile.

“I’d be most pleased to see it.”

Touching his chin, “filthy.” You remark.

“Let me touch you.”

“Not today.”

Rhaegar frowns.

“Why?”

“Today I wish to ride.”

He gasps as you toss him down to the grass. His naked body, covered his bruises, shivering slightly at the contact.

“Then so be it.” He whispers to no one.

You quickly rid yourself of your small clothes, making sure you remain nude as well, and straddle him, sinking down and groaning, both of you turning blank at the pleasure that overtakes.

“Fucking hell.”

“Move....” Rhaegar has his hand over his eyes, his other hand between his lips, he’s red like a cherry, and the sun makes the sweat on his body shimmer like gold as he shakes and quivers with every move you make on top of him.

You grab both of his hands and place it next to his head, lacing your fingers together as you tilt towards him, your breasts swollen and stopping just by his lips.

“Suck.” You instruct, and descend your breast into his mouth. Eyes rolling back at the heat that engulfs your nipple, your movements turning animalistic.

Heaven was so hot it felt like the flames of hell. As if the fourteen flames have bloomed within you. The heat of the sun, his mouth, his cock, your cunt. The sweet music of your moans intermixing, it was too much, too fucking much.

Your knees buckled after a few moments and Rhaegar sat up immediately, holding you and kissing you mercilessly as you rode him in his lap, almost growling and tearing into his hair, ruffling it up and scratching his back with your other hand at the feeling of his hands all over you, pressing down at your belly.

With a loud moan and a whimper, the two of you collided and met your high, stilling amidst your kiss as you felt each other release in each other, quietly mumbling each other’s names.

You felt him drip down your legs. Soaking in the pleasure, you open your eyes to see him and gasp at the beauty that is Rhaegar Targaryen. His eyes were blown wide open, pretty white lashes and red face, messy hair, and his pouty lips, begging to kiss you more and more.

The two of you just looked at each other, and then, a chuckle left you at the same time.

“We are animals.” He starts as he lies down, with you climbing on his chest.

“Indeed. Two pretty animals mating in the wild.” You begin putting flowers in his hair. daffodils, forget-me-nots, heliotropes, and tulips.

He hums.

“No one else I’d rather mate with.”

“Not even your harp?”

He laughs.

“The poor thing’s probably traumatized by now, the things we do, the filth we speak.” He glances at the harp resting quietly below the tree, long forgotten.

“Rhae?”

“Hmm?”

“Pick up some tansy when we leave, I need to brew the tea.”

He blushes furiously, nodding as the breeze picks up.

[uwmspeccoll]

Marbled Monday

This lovely sandy or striated-rock-like marbling is part of the binding of the book Culs de Lampe by the Gehenna Press, a fine arts press founded by American artist and graphic designer Leonard Baskin (1922-2000) in 1942. This book was published by the press in 1968. The paper is Nideggen and Fabriano blue and white and master printer Harold McGrath (1922-2000), who also printed for Barry Moser's Pennyroyal Press, was the printer.

The book consists of a series of culs-de-lampe, a subset of tailpieces that take a particular shape reminiscent of the bottom of a lamp (hence the name). These designs are often used at the bottom of pages or ends of sections or chapters of a book. Those seen here are printed in black, blue, green, and red and range in date from 1564-1680.

The marbled paper is a large nonpareil pattern. You can still see the underlying zig-zag or gel-git pattern that is the foundation of the nonpareil pattern (and most combed patterns). The colors are earthy browns and greys and remind me of sand or a cross-section of sedimentary rock. The binding was done by Gray Parrot, who has also bound editions for the likes of Dard Hunter's Mountain House Press and Henry Morris' Bird & Bull Press.

View more Marbled Monday posts.

View more posts related to the Gehenna Press.

-- Alice, Special Collections Department Manager

[hon3yra1nbowz]

Ike Pennyroyal Ref

(TW for ORGAN THEFT and i think BODY MODIFICATION? It will be colored red.)

Name: Ike Pennyroyal

Gender: Male (He/him)

Age: 22

Nationality: German

Sexuality: Homoromantic Asexual

Headcanon Voice: TBA

Affiliation(s): Toppats

Likes: Coconut (his pet vulture), birds (especially large birds), Galen, stuffed animals, mint chocolate, ice cream, caring for others

Dislikes: Bright lights, mangoes, losing his sunglasses

Etymology: The name "Ike" means "laughter and joy", and Pennyroyal is the name of a plant in the mint family that has been used to make medicine throughout history.

Bio: "He is considered to be one of the best and one of the worst doctors in the Toppat Clan simultaneously. Most of the bad reviews come from the people he gave giraffe hearts to."

Appearance: Ike is a stick figure with long, flat hair with bangs covering his right eye. Since he is albino, his hair is white and his eyes are silvery. His shoes are different colors, his left shoe is dark brown and his right shoe is mint green. He wears a white top hat with a red cross on the front and a pair of dark brown, round sunglasses on his forehead.

Personality: Ike Pennyroyal is… something.

He cares a great deal about the clan and is always enthusiastic to nurse his fellow clan members back to health, however, he's not the best at showing it, and his blunt comments and morbid impulses that usually involve stealing bad organs and replacing them with healthy, albeit usually not human ones, do not help.

He is often found with his best friend, Galen, a fellow Toppat doctor who often has to act as his impulse control, lest somebody be given alligator kidneys like Mr. Macbeth was that one time, and his pet vulture, Coconut, which he feeds the stolen organs to, after all, they're diseased and dead, so what good are they?

Extra: *Due to their lack of melanin, Ike's eyes are more sensitive to light, which is why he always keeps sunglasses on hand in case something is too bright for him.

[agentmarvel]

Hey! Saw your writing challenge through Cali’s repost and wanted to humbly request Farah with a theme of fluff or smut (you choose!) and the themes as: folklore, bones, and the incorporation of the Victorian flower language.

If you decide to do mine, thank you for your time! If not, no worries. Your writing is still lovely :)

auri, i am so sorry this took me so long to finish! i've written and re-written this probably a dozen times trying to do such a great request justice, and i hope you like it!

farah karim x fem!reader

cw: none

mdni - 18+; minors and ageless blogs will be blocked

At the edge of the forest sits a house. Its cracked and broken shutters hang at odd angles, banging against the wooden siding when the wind blows just right. The gaps in the porch turn the breeze into a shrieking whistle, wailing a warning to stay away. Vines of ivy crawl up the supports, gripping the beams like the phantom hands of nature. A long, winding trail leads from the backside into the trees - so deep into the woods that one would be unlikely to ever return, if the rumors are true. And if that all wasn’t alarming enough to demand a sane mind steer clear, the windchimes made of bones dangling from the eaves should surely do the trick.

The children of the village fear your beautiful home. Some believe you a succubus; odd considering no male has ever entered your abode. Some believe you a child-eater, a soul-snatcher, an evil entity that feeds on the locals and foreigners alike. Some believe that you’re a witch.

That may be true, to some extent. You don’t fly around on a broom or dance naked beneath the full moon, hailing Lucifer for your might and power. Nothing of the sort, really. While your array of talents is vast, you don’t believe in doing harm unduly. That’s not to say you haven’t dipped your toes in the dark arts, but it’s a rarity. Still, they assume the worst of you. Your kind is a source of dread in these parts, sewing unease and unrest into the fabric of society.

It’s this what keeps the townsfolk away from you - all but one, it would seem.

A beautiful woman, young, with dark, curious eyes. She lingers when she walks past your property, observing the pennyroyal and tansy lining the path to your door. Her delicate fingers trace the blooms of the snapdragons with wonderment. You can see the smile on her face from the window as she inhales deeply. The lush of your carefully cultivated garden ensnares her day after day, if only for a few brief moments, but it becomes your favorite part of the early afternoons.

Farah, you think, is her name. You haven’t had much interaction with her since her family moved to the village, mostly fleeting glances or the occasional brush that comes with navigating the narrow pathways of the market, but she fascinates you in a way you can’t quite describe. The feeling that stirs within your chest at the mere thought of her is foreign.

She chances a glance towards your home, something no one else would be bold enough to do, and immediately spots you hovering near an upper window, your steaming mug of tea cradled by your fingers. Softly, she waves. You hesitate only a moment before returning the gesture. Her full lips curl into a delicate smile, placated by a response in kind. She reaches for the basket almost forgotten on the ground beside her and pulls out a singular spring of hyacinth and a green carnation, making a grand display of placing the short stems through a pair of slats on your fence gate.

Your heart begins to race, thumping in your chest like the hooves of a thousand wild horses stampeding. Surely, she knows what that means? 

Astounded and enthralled, you watch her pick up her basket again, brazenly bashful as she looks up once more with doe eyes. Her teeth worry her lower lip. You can tell she’s nervous, the offering coming with an alarming amount of risk. Would you keep her secret, would you tell? What would happen to you if someone found out? What would happen to her? This sort of expression is forbidden between two young women. They’d hang the pair of you at even the implication this occurred. You worry not, though; not another soul would dare come this close, a secret to share just between the two of you.

She waits, watching. Silently, she’s asking if you understand. Instead of answering with a simple nod, you point, directing her attention to the sudden bloom of camellias at her feet. Pink and white, a dual acknowledgement. She picks a few, slipping them into her basket before she leaves you with a wink and a hand over her heart. Her form disappears back into the trees from whence she came, and she’s gone…

You’re certain you’ll see her again tomorrow, so you sit, quill in hand, inkwell at the ready, and write a note. Heart swelling in your chest, you keep it short and sweet, asking her to meet you in the clearing at midnight. You aren’t unaware of the risks that come with this. If she rejects the request and takes the note, she could show it to anyone - half the town’s already itching to see you swing from the gallows. If she’s sentimental, she may keep the note; if found, you’ll find yourselves inextricably bound by the noose. 

Fear has no place in love, however, so you gently blow the ink dry before cautiously rolling the parchment and tying it with a twine bow. For extra heed, you blow on the frayed threads as well. She’ll only have enough time to read it before it takes flame and the ashes are carried away on the breeze. Risk begets danger, and you’ll mitigate it where you can.

The note is left with her green carnation.

You suddenly can’t wait until tomorrow.

[mermaidsirennikita]

hi! i recently watched brandy's cinderella and fell in love with it. been craving something with it's vibe to read - could you please rec some books (histrom or otherwise)?

Ooooh what a charming movie!

Automatically, my thought is India Holton books, because she writes magic and adventure and sweet flirting and self-aware humor so well. I would start with her Dangerous Damsels series, beginning with The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and going from there. You have defiant heroines, you have pluck, you DO have sex on the page, though it's more in the 6/10 range on my heat scale. These are books I would genuinely call delightful.

If you're open to queer romances, I would also recommend Alexis Hall's Mortal Follies and Confounding Oaths. They're both set in a magical fairy tale world (with some Austen and Shakespeare mixing) and their books are honestly hilarious but also heartfelt. Mortal Follies is my favorite of the two, it's an f/f romance where the heroines (one of which is a very Elizabeth Bennet type and the other is a mysterious, hot lady duke) meet at a ball when the Lizzie type has been hexed and her dress is unraveling. This one is very low heat, and Confounding Oaths (which is m/m and about a gentleman whose sister ends up with an evil fairy godmother, which prompts him to ask a hot soldier for help) is very much closed door. But they're super lovely.

On a less magical but just as funny and irreverent side, Alexis's Something Fabulous series may also be a good option! All the books are queer (the third and last? is out this December) and include many hijinx, found family things, and romantic longing. Anachronistic and very unapologetic about it. Fully open door.

On a historical end, what about Julie Anne Long's Palace of Rogues series? Long is always very funny, but I find this series a bit lighter than her Pennyroyal Green books (EXCEPT for You Were Made to Be Mine, which is a good book but has a very dark backstory for the heroine). There's a lot of humor, a big cast of quirky characters, lots of sniping and flirting between the heroes and heroines. My FAVORITE is After Dark with the Duke, but the ones that have more of the vibes you're looking for are probably How to Tame a Wild Rogue and My Season of Scandal. Not without some edge (and they're a 6/10 open door, generally, with After Dark with the Duke being a little hotter than the others imo) but overall very sweet and playful.

To that end, there's always Tessa Dare! She does dabble with darkness, but her books are super funny and on the higher end of the heat scale for tradpub historical romance (of their day). Very sparkly and romantic. The leads do tend to have their issues, but it's all very sweet, and again, funny. I think When a Scot Ties the Knot could be a good way to try her out if you haven't, and maybe A Week to Be Wicked? They're on the lighter end and super fun.

[readtilyoudie]

“Wait…Might I…might I ashk a question of ye, guv?” The request from the man against the wall was wistful.

Colin’s eyes darted to Madeleine, who looked poised to bolt. “Very well.”

“Ye’ll need to come closher.” The man crooked a languid, filthy finger. Once, twice.

Colin glanced back at Madeleine, and he gained an impression of snapping livid dark eyes, fair skin, and very pink cheeks. Impatience, it might have said beneath her image on a woodcut.

Colin leaned over. “Yes, sir?”

That filthy hand came up to entreatingly grip his shirt. “Tell me…” His friend wondered mistily. “Yer doxie…wash she…wash she…good?”

“Was she good?” Colin was all stern indignation. He paused eloquently. “Good God, man. I don’t pay her to be good.”

It took a moment for this to soak through the gin.

And then the man released Colin’s collar to slap his thigh and he gave a great shout of phleghmy laughter. His breath was like the vapors of hell, and Colin reared back, but he couldn’t help but laugh, too. God, it felt good to laugh at something ridiculous. 

The Perils of Pleasure (Pennyroyal Green, #1) by Julie Anne Long

[overflowingshelf]

Review: A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

My slow read through of the Pennyroyal Green continues with A Notorious Countess Confesses! I was unsure how I felt about this book immediately ever reading it, but the more I think about it, the more I enjoyed this story. See why:

A Notorious Countess Confesses Julie Anne Long Publisher: Avon Books Publication Date: October 30, 2012 Series or Standalone: Pennyroyal Green #7 Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph Rating: MY REVIEW CW: Domestic abuse; physical abuse; death; sexism; alcholism; reference to rape; sexual harassment; death of a child Much like Evie, this book worms its way into your…

[tiredwitchplant]

The Library MEGA POST!

Hwello. This is a mega post of every information we have so far and where links to new information will be added. This is so chu can get to the information quickly and it will be more organized in this space.

Herbs

Wormwood

Mandrake

Lavender

Clary Sage

Belladonna

Yarrow

Pennyroyal

Patchouli

Culinary Herbs

Garlic

Basil

Dill

Rosemary

Thyme

Bay Leaf

Cinnamon

Ginger

Veggies and Fruits

Russet Potatoes

Apples

Pumpkins

Cranberries

Crystals

Black Obsidian

Amethyst

Tiger's Eye

Lapis Lazuli

Peridot

Bloodstone

Carnelian

White Moonstone

Chrysoprase

Miscellaneous

How to Use Rosemary

How to Use Basil

How to Use Lavender

How to Use Mandrake

Water and Plants

How to Celebrate Samhain!

Sources

Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

Complete Language of Herbs by S. Theresa Dietz

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs Scott Cunningham

The Herbal Alchemist Handbook by Karen Harrison

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock

The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Herb Magic by Patti Wigington

Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier

The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

Dictionary of Plant Lore by Donald Watts

The Magick of Food by Gwion Raven

The Complete Language of Food by S. Theresa Dietz

Nature Guide, Rocks and Minerals - DK Publishing

Guide to Crystal Grids- Transform Your Life Using the Power of Crystal Layouts - Judy Hall

Crystals- A complete guide to crystals and color healing - Jennie Harding

The Crystal Witch - Leanna Greenaway

The Crystal Bible - Judy Hall

The Zenned Out Guide to Understanding Crystals - Cassie Uhl

The Crystal Workshop - Azalea Lee

Crystals for Witches - Rituals Spells and More - Eliza Mabelle

More will be added as information is added to the little library. Remember you can support this library by tipping and maybe a pateron in the future.

Thank chu. Bye byes~

[crystaletters]

Talking about Floriography.

• What is floriography?

This is what we also popularly call "flower language". Floriography is a technique for giving meaning to flowers of different varieties, including their colors and the number of flowers in a bouquet, for example. The meanings are unique and specific depending on which flower we are talking about.

• A little bit of the origins.

Let's start with the Victorian era, which so many sources say was the time when floriography began to gain notoriety. Functioning as a secret language between people, the beginning varies between Great Britain and the United States. The flowers were given as a type of code with a message that should be conveyed, and over time, a true dictionary was created. Perhaps the first cultures were Asia, Europe and Africa, continents where this practice continues today.

An illustration of this is when someone wanted to get a relationship and there was a way to respond with the bouquet. If an arrangement was directed and held above the heart area by the recipient, it meant that person matched the romantic interest. But, if a bouquet was held down, then it was a signal to make another attempt on another day or forget about it. The left and right sides were also answers! If a "yes" was to be said, the bouquet was given by the right hand, in the case of a "no", it was given with the left hand.

From Ancient Greece until the XIX century, people sent messages in secret through flowers because they could not be so open about various issues. There are also sources that claim that the custom of floriography began to be cultivated in Turkey around the XVlll century, then becoming popular throughout Europe and America. To speak of its deepest roots, they are rooted in ancient Persia.

• Common meanings during the Victorian era.

1 - Sweet peas symbolize gratitude and if they were given together with Zinnias, it meant eternal friendship for the person giving the gift.

2 - Just a red rose showed that the giver secretly admired or loved him.

3 - If the person who received the red rose reciprocated with a yellow carnation flower, it meant disdain and clear disinterest.

4 - Buttercups represented childishness, immaturity. It sounded like a teasing response.

5 - Sunflowers symbolize pride and happiness due to their yellow petals and size considered "exaggerated".

6 - A bouquet of pennyroyal or rue had a negative meaning, they were seen as a sign of declaring war on something, a goodbye or a threat.

7 - In the case of basil, they were a symbol of hatred for that person.

8 - Azaleas were used to convey a message of concern to the recipient, an appeal to take care of themselves.

• Symbolism through flower colors.

❀˖ white flowers: Innocence, humility, peace and purity of intentions are some of the meanings, but it depends on the culture. In Asia, they symbolize death and mourning - but white flowers are common at funerals in many places.

❀˖ red flowers: It has been a natural consensus for some time that red represents love, passion, desire and with flowers it is not very opposite, but they also mean courage, power and respect. They also symbolize deep personal connections.

❀˖ pink flowers: In the West, the most famous symbols of rose flowers are femininity, fun and romantic interest in someone. Within Japan it represents good health, in China it is luck and in Thailand it is a demonstration of confidence.

❀˖ yellow flowers: Flowers representing joy, energy, predisposition, vitality, relaxation and friendship.

❀˖ blue flowers: Its message is one of loyalty, serenity, trust, affection, harmony and wisdom. On a negative side (this depends on the individual context and situation) they represent coldness and indifference.

❀˖ purple flowers: It symbolizes elegance, sophistication, relaxation and royalty. They were flowers widely used among nobles in the Victorian era.

❀˖ green flowers: Hope, health, prosperity, money, success and luck.

• Flower names and their meanings.

𓍢ִ🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘

Violets: They represent modesty, loyalty and elegance. Purple is also a color associated with mystery, spirituality and magic, so violets are on this path.

Red rose: It means the height of love, passion, lust, desire, the representation of flesh and blood. Courage, leadership and respect.

White carnation: They mean peace, purity and sincerity.

Daisies: It is a flower related to joviality, innocence, sensitivity, kindness and affection.

White lily: It is attributed to genuine love for someone and calmness. Yellow lily: It could be a sign that one of those people in the friendship wants romance, to make the bond something else. Blue lily: It means security, tranquility, stability, durability and lightness. Pink/red lily: Sweetness, love, sensuality, vanity. Lilac or purple lily: They represent marriage, maternal instinct and positive feelings. Orange lily: Deciphers the feeling of attractiveness, attraction to someone, admiration and personal renewal.

Orchid: Orchids can generally mean seduction, authority, desire. In Ancient Greece, due to the Greek word "órkhis" which translates "in the form of testicles", it was a flower attributed to virility and in the Middle Ages it was given as an aphrodisiac.

Azalea: It symbolizes grace, joy, perseverance, delicacy, generosity and temperance.

Pink Hydrangea: It conveys sincere feelings, affection and love. Blue Hydrangea: It is related to the feeling of humility for repenting, which is why it serves as an apology. It also symbolizes spiritual harmony. White Hydrangea: Youth, jovial personality. Purple Hydrangea: Personal and spiritual elevation, abundance, strength.

Sunflower: It means enthusiasm, determination, happiness, warmth, vitality and health. Very significant when given to someone who is unwell because of its symbolism.

Freesia: They mean consideration for a relationship and trust. Normally, it is a flower linked to friendship.

Dahlia: Dahlias represent kindness, recognition, creativity. Among the Japanese, the white Dahlia is a symbol of commitment, hope and unity.

Poppy flower: In the best-known traditions, poppies are associated with memory and rest after death, with eternal peace. This is due to the connection to opium and sedative effects. But it is also linked to dreams, resurrection and oblivion. Detachment.

Narcissus flower: It is a flower highly related to the story of Narcissus from Greek mythology. Narcissus had extreme vanity and venerated himself, falling in love with his reflection in a lake, which he admired until his death. What awakens this connection is that Narcissus flowers are usually born on the banks of rivers and lakes, being a flower with its axis downwards as if it were really looking at itself. So, the Narcissus flower represents ego, pride and frivolous love.

Peonies: Beauty, passion, exuberance and rebirth.

Astromelia: It symbolizes lasting friendship, understanding, commitment, empathy and respect. It represents strong bonds.

Red Tulip: They symbolize intense love, perfect and irresistible love. Purple Tulip: It means pacification, calm and luxury. Yellow Tulip: Abundance, prosperity, desire for good things in someone else's life. White Tulip: It represents forgiveness.

Chrysanthemum: It represents power of speech, importance, strength, loyalty, optimism and longevity. In Asia, the flower has a commemorative date on 09/09 and is one of the oldest festivals. The reason is because the Chrysanthemum symbolizes the authority and strength of emperors.

Amaryllis: It symbolizes enterprise, pride, artistic sense, achievement and hard work. But it is also associated with loss, sadness and anguish.

Anthurium: It means good luck, fortune, hospitality, physical and mental well-being.

Hibiscus: It represents vigor, virtue and is strongly related to the figure of the Hindu goddess Kali, representing the strength of life and feminine strength. It also means independence.

Begonia: Fertility, delicacy, cordiality. One of the first species adopted to ward off negative energies.

Bromeliad: It symbolizes environmental and individual protection, it also symbolizes the love for nature.

Calendula: It is a flower with the symbolism of "illuminate". Be it ideas, feelings, environments, vibrations or personal achievements. Represents creativity and intellectual clarity.

Camellia: Beauty in different aspects, respect for differences and fidelity.

Clivia: Innovation, fresh start, noble character.

Cyclamen: It represents true faith in something, rooted thoughts and deep feelings. It symbolizes strength and potential related to the spirit and within a spiritual concept, it is a symbol of the universe of spirits/deities/entities.

Gardenia: It symbolizes the secret, the enigma, the secret love for someone and love itself.

Iris: Associated with wisdom, intuition, renewal and divination.

Lotus: Fertility, sexuality, sensuality, birth, rebirth, evolution, strong spirituality.

Magnolia: Empathetic notion and love of nature, care for the earth and hope.

Myosotis: Its symbol is of remembrance, true and desperate love. This is also because his name can mean "don't forget me".

Nymphaea: It is a representation of persistence and determination despite problems and daily challenges. That's why it's related to self-esteem and sends the message of believing in yourself, in your abilities.

Petunia: It is associated with changes, transformation and mental clarity. Also spiritual awakening.

Primula: Youth, support, objectivity, balance and health.

Kisses! ‧❀༉‧₊˚

[greenwitchcrafts]

March 2024 witch guide

Full moon: March 25th

New moon: March 10th

Sabbats: Ostara-March 19th

March Worm Moon

Known as: Crow Moon, Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Hrethmonath, Lenting moon, Lentzinmanoth, Moon of Snowblind, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon, Sore Eyes Moon, Storm Moon, Sugar Moon & Wind Strong Moon

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces & Aries

Nature spirits: Air & water spirits & Mer-people

Deities: Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Cybele, Isis, Luna & Minerva

Animals: Boar, cougar & hedgehog

Birds: Sea crow & sea eagle

Trees: Alder, dogwood & honeysuckle

Herbs: Apple blossom, broom, high John root, Irish moss, pennyroyal, wood betony & yellow dock

Flowers: Daffodil, jonquil & violet

Scents: Apple blossom & honeysuckle

Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jasper, opal &topaz

Colors: Pale-green, red, violet, yellow & white

Energy:  Balance, beginnings, dream work, energy breaking into the open, exploring, fertility, inner development, karma, prosperity, spirituality, success & truth seeking

For many years, it was thought that the name "Worm Moon" referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring.

However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.

March’s full Moon often plays a role in religion, specifically in Christianity, this Moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it is the last full Moon of the winter season (i.e., if it occurs before the spring equinox) or as the Paschal Full Moon if it is the first full Moon of spring (i.e., if it occurs after the spring equinox).

Ostara

Known as: Alban Eiler, Lady Day & Spring/Vernal equinox

Season: Spring

Symbols: 8-spoked wheel, butterflies, chicks, decorated baskets, eggs, feathers, jellybeans, lambs, rabbits, seeds, shamrocks, spring flowers & sunwheels

Colors: Green, indigo, light blue, pastels, pink, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: African violet, florals, ginger, jasmine, lotus, magnolia, rose, sage & strawberry

Animals: Cormorant, hare, hawk, rabbit, sheep, sparrow & swallow

Mythical: Dragon & Unicorn

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, red jasper & rose quartz

Food: Dairy foods, eggs(hard boiled), fruits, honey, honey cakes, leafy greens, vegetables, pine nuts, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, sprouts & waffles

Herbs/Plants: Acorn, cinquefoil, dogwood, ginger, Irish moss, olive, strawberry & woodruff

Flowers: Celandine, crocus, daffodil, dandelion, Easter lily,  jasmine gorse, honeysuckle, hyssop, iris, jonquil, linden, narcissus, peony, snowdrop, tansy & violet

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Ariadne, Artemis, Athena, Coatlicue, Cybele,Demeter, Diana, Eos, Eostre, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Idunn, Iris, Ishtar, Juno, Minerva, Persephone, Venus & Vesta

Gods: Adonis, Attis, Celi, Cernunnos, Coel, Dagda, Dalon ap Landu, Dumuzi, Green Man, Lord of the Greenwood, Mithras, Odin, Osiris, Ovis & Pan

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, balance, beauty, fertility, growth, life, love & rebirth/renewal

Spellwork: Air magick, fertility, new beginnings & water magick

Activities:

• Go on a hike/walk & look for signs of spring

• Add Ostara symbols to decorate your altar space

• Plant vegetable &/or flower seedlings

• Decorate eggs with bright colors

• Set your intentions for the weeks/months ahead

• Start a new class or hobby

• Create eggshell candles

• Make plans & new routines for the future

• Participate in rituals & ceremonies that connect you with energy & the life force of nature

• Have a feast with your friends &/family with sprouts & leafy greens

• Bake hot cross buns or lavender/lemon flavored treats

• Clean & de-clutter your home

• Try a re-birthing/ renewing ritual

• Bring fresh flowers or plants into into the home

• Host a spring & floral themed tea party

• Make egg based food dishes & desserts

This holiday marks the Spring Equinox, which happens before March 19-22. It is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane)  during which light & darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings & of life emerging further from the grips of winter.

There is much debate regarding the origins of Ostara due to the lack of primary sources about this sabbat. One theory is the name of Ostara came from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Another theory is that Eostre is more of a localized goddess in Kent County, England. Despite the questions of her origins, Eostre is associated with modern-day Pagan traditions of Ostara.

There is no evidence that the ancient Greeks or Romans celebrated Ostara, although they did celebrate their own spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Floralia & the Greek festival of Anthesteria. It was a time to honor the returning sun, fertility & rebirth.

Related festivals:

• Nowruz- March 19th

Nowruz marks the first day of spring & renewal of nature. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. It is also celebrated as the beginning of the new year by people all around the world for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East & other regions.

It promotes values of peace & solidarity between generations & within families as well as reconciliation & neighbourliness. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect & the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. 

Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire & water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects & more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples & countries that celebrate the festival.

• Holi- March 25th

Holi is a popular & significant Hindu festival celebrated as the The festival of colors, Love &Spring. It commemorates eternal and divine love of the deities Radha & Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebratess the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi originated & is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions of Asia & parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring in India, the end of winter & the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night & a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling on the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.

• Easter- March 31st

also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival & cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, & penance.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world & include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations & exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross & the decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb) among many others. The Easter lily is a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day & for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter & are observed by both Christians & some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing, the Easter Bunny & egg hunting.

Other Celebrations:

• Festival of Luna- March 31st

Is a feast day honoring the Goddess Luna who is seen as the divine embodiment of the Moon.

The Temple of Luna was a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Luna, the moon goddess. Its dedication was celebrated on March 31st, thus the celebration.

According to Tacitus, it was built by king Servius Tullius. However, the first confirmed reference to a temple to Luna dates to 182 BC & refers to one of its doors being knocked off its posts by a miraculous blast of air & shot into the back of the Temple of Ceres. That account probably places the temple at the north end of the hill, just above porta Trigemina. The temple was struck by lightning around the time of the death of Cinna, as was the temple of Ceres. After the destruction of Corinth, Lucius Mummius Achaicus dedicated some of his spoils from the city to this temple. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD & not rebuilt.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living