#plant spirit work

[lailoken]

We recently visited Old Man Willow to promitiate the spirit of the tree and asked that we gain his favor.

Less than ten minutes after leaving, we discovered a huge patch of Fly Agaric that included some of the biggest toadstools I've ever seen. The pictures here don't do them justice one bit (the second and fourth pictures included here, particularly, were bigger than my head).

Old Man Willow be praised!

[valiant-portabella-pirkko]

One of the many things I’m surprised Anet has never released: a ‘Sylvan’ set of themed mount skins like the Inquest Exosuit, Branded, and Shiverpeaks ones, but plant-themed so they can resemble the sylvari, nightmare court, or mordrem depending on what dyes you use.

[roaenexists]

every morning i sit at my alter and drink a cup of coffee and offer a cup of coffee. every morning i enjoy the candlelight and the company of entities beyond our senses. and every fucking morning sacred space is interrupted by my insistent need to poop.

[andromedasdomain]

[thebxghag]

when you’re the half sister of the King of the Britons and also a newly created chaos spirit

[grimoire101]

As a beginner how do you find out who is calling to you if you don't have any books yet?

Honestly, the best thing to do is research but if you don't have books, you can definitely always just search online, I'd say to look for things that correlate with what you've either been feeling or have been called to... if certain symbols and whatnot pop up you can then search to see which deities (or whatever) are associated with them...then I'd say once you get a little bit more familiar, you'll notice you may feel called to someone/thing specific...from there I would say do either a tarot reading or some sort of divinatory working to Confirm that this would be who you should work with...

I hope that makes sense lol 🗝🔮🪽✨️🌙🪶

[good-beansdraws]

In which Shimazaki shows up to Minegishi's apartment after his WD disappearance with nothing but a suitcase and an "I live here now." The following seasons bring way more changes than just the weather.

[path-of-grass-and-leaves]

Creating a Backyard Land Spirit Profile

Working with land spirits can help connect you with your local ecosystem, and for some practitioners is a crucial aspect of bioregional magic. Some folks, like myself, consider themselves to be initiated by one or more land spirits.

When I use the term land spirits, I am referring to a few different things. First are the collective spirits of various plants, animals, and insects present in a specific bioregion. An example of collective, in this context, means that if I'm petitioning help from the spirit of violets, I am working with the spirit of all violets present in that area rather than a singe flower that grows in my yard.

The next is the land guardian, which in my practice is a more powerful spirit with claim over a specific territory, like a forest, river, or neighborhood.

Sometimes these two concepts are separate and sometimes they're interchangeable. It all depends on personal practice, culture, local folklore, etc.

One thing that has been extremely beneficial to my practice has been creating a backyard land spirit profile. This method has been useful for spirit work and "green" magic, but more importantly, it's helped me immerse myself in my local ecosystem and I get to meet a lot of cool animals and plants.

Here is an over-simplfied example of my backyard land profile:

Ecosystem: Central Interior and Appalachian: Mixed woodlands, close to possible floodplains

Soil Type: Clay in garden bed, Loamy near/beneath shrubs, Sandy in sunny areas of the lawn

Flora:

Cultivated- Paradise Apple, Highbush Blueberry, Rose of Sharon, Dog Rose, Black-Eyed Susan, Sundial Lupine

Native - Bloodroot, Wild Strawberry, Common Violet, Wrinkle-Leaf Goldenrod, Blue Wood-Aster, Horseweed, Fireweed, Deer-Tongue Witchgrass, Common Milkweed

Invasive - Round-Leaved Bittersweet, Yellow Toadflax, Creeping Bellflower, Common Mugwort

Naturalized - Dandelion, Broad-Leaf Plantain, Deadly Nightshade

Notes - Various mosses, unidentified mushrooms growing on lawn and lichens found on some trees/shrubs.

Fauna:

Mammals - Raccoon, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Grey Squirrel, Chipmunk, Feral Cats, Deer mouse, House Mouse

Birds - Cardinals, Chickadees, Catbirds, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Crow

Reptiles and Amphibians - N/A

Fish - N/A

Invertebrates - Dotted Wolf Spider, Leopard Slug, Tiger Bee Fly, Monarch Caterpillars, Peach Root Weevile, Narrow-Winged Mantis, Fireflies

Ecoregion and Soil Type

The first thing I did was determine what type of ecosystem my yard used to be. In an urban/suburban area this was a bit challenging.

I started by identifying a few wild plants and finding out where they usually grow. Most of them seemed to prefer shady woodlands and rich soil. There were also a couple of pioneer species present in the sunnier and more disturbed areas of the yard.

Next, I took a look at surrounding wild areas. We are close to a mountain and a large river. There are woodlands near and within the city made up of mostly hardwood and conifer trees. I knew from memory that certain areas close to my home are likely floodlands.

After that, I found a bioregion map of my country which showed that my state fell under the category of Central Interior and Appalachian. I searched this region on landscope.org and was able to determine my specific ecoregion (not shared here for privacy reasons).

From there I started making educated guesses. I determined that my backyard was likely a mixed hardwood and conifer woodland sitting very close to what might have been a floodplain.

For my soil type, I took samples from different areas of my yard and used an online guide to determine what kind of soil I had. Most of it was sandy or loamy, but my flower beds seemed to have some clay.

Using all this information, I had a general idea of what kind of plants and wildlife would be present without human intervention. It also helped with deciding which native plants to start growing.

Plants

Throughout the year, I went out to the yard with a wildlife field guide and a couple identification apps and identified every plant and insect I found. I grouped the plants into four categories: native, invasive, naturalized, and cultivated. This isn't shown in the example, but I also grouped them by season and the time of year they appear.

Naturalized refers to plants that have integrated themselves into the environment without inflicting damage to the local ecosystem.

You'll notice that under the cultivated section I included a few native plants. This is because those plants were introduced by me and would not be present without my intervention and I wanted to make that distinction.

The importance of native and naturalized plants is obvious, but what about cultivated and invasive? Keeping a profile of invasive plants helped me keep a record of which noxious weeds I need to remove. From an ecological perspective, their removal is crucial to the survival of my native plants and garden crops. From a spiritual perspective, this can be an offering or act of service to the local land spirits. Some of these plants, like Common Mugwort, are both valuable for workings and fine to harvest in large quantities since they are invasive.

Cultivated plants are also important. Many of these plants, like my Blueberries, Apples, and Rose of Sharon, were here before me. The importance of plants introduced by humans is greater than you'd think. First, they are usually crops and flowering plants and provide food for both humans and the local wildlife. Secondly, I live in an urban area, and my land spirits are likely very closely associated with people.

I researched all of my plants and took note of growth patterns, toxicity, medicinal uses, ediblity, native region/habitat, ecological significance/impact, etc. Then I moved onto folklore and symbolism and started working with the spirits of a few plants, performing divination, leaving offerings, harvesting them and including them in rituals and spellwork. I did this in groups to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Please note that you should always properly identify plants and be aware of potential toxicity before harvesting, especially if you plan on burning or consuming said plant. Also steer clear of protected or threatened plants and keep harvest to a minimum even for abundant native species.

Wildlife

My next project was writing down every species of animal and insect that I had encountered in my yard. I grouped them into several categories: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. In real life my invertebrates section is separated into several subcategories (orb weavers, beetles, etc.).

Next, I used basically the same system I did for plants, researching their native range, preferred habitat, behavior, diet, ecological importance. Then I started looking into folklore.

Finally, I started integrating them into my practice and working with their collective spirits. This involved using animal symbolism in rituals, leaving offerings, and performing a lot of divination.

Remember to never interact with or directly feed wildlife. If I'm making offerings outdoors it is usually fresh water, scattered birdseed, and acts of service like creating habitats and growing plants that a specific species enjoys. If scattering birdseed, do so in the morning to keep too many animals, like raccoons, from entering your yard at night.

Side note: Keep a record of what appears in your yard each year! For example one year we had several chipmunks and one year I saw none. One year we had no fireflies and the next our backyard was covered in them.

Tying It All Together

Once I had my backyard profile completed, I started working with the collective spirits of select species. I have an offering schedule, perform communication, and petition these spirits regularly in spellwork. I use certain plants that I harvest for offerings and use for tinctures, infusions, cooking, and crafts. I use symbols of local animals in crafts and spellwork.

After working with the "smaller" spirits, you can start seeking out specific land guardians by using a combination of divination and research of local history and folklore.

On a mundane level, I am now able to cultivate an appropriate ecosystem for the local wildlife and start projects to support it. Examples of this are pollinator gardens, stick and brush piles for fireflies and small animals, growing seed-rich and fruiting plants for birds and mammals, winter shelters and TNR plans for feral cats, and more.

I also like to take notes on plants and wildlife that I encounter in my general area that don't usually make it into my backyard. For example there have been coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and black bears spotted in my neighborhood.

I want to stress that I live in a semi-urban and relatively populated neighborhood and I have a small yard. The brief example of of my land profile doesn't cover even a fraction of the wildlife I have encountered in my backyard. There is so much life in urban and suburban areas in need of our support.

[witchofwolfwood]

Sometimes you get home from an emotionally exhausting day at eleven pm, want nothing more than to grab the closest cat, get in your bed and have a good long cry... And then you remember when gathering materials yesterday you promised a tree spirit you'd give them an offering and have a chat today so you think longingly about your cuddle cat and cry session and drag yourself outside.

[emeraldislewitch]

trying my hand at growing some of the golden rod i harvested with my brother yesterday. we’ll see how that goes. green thumbed i am not.

i harvested some chamberbitters and yellow wood sorrel today. i’m going to need to get my jars out of storage if i keep harvesting all the native plants. i’m trying not to buy herbs online bc it’s not always sustainable (for me and my wallet as well as the earth).

i’ve been pressing plants in books and my golden rod (harvested, not my new buddy) is currently hanging from some twine i tied to a sandal in my over the door shoe rack. we make do.

i’m wondering if i should catalogue the plants i collect and the research on them here before i put it all in my big, fancy, ridiculous journal so 1) i don’t make mistakes in the pretty book, 2) i have a reference on me when it’s physically impossibly to tote the tome around, and 3) maybe it can help some strangers online.

i don’t know, i think it’s a good idea though. executive function has been great since starting the new meds so odds are high i actually do this.

[lailoken]

When working with an arboreal spirit (Old Man Willow, the Juniper Mistress, the Elder Mother) or really any spirit for that matter, how do you determine the gender of the spirit? Is it something directly communicated? Do you address them based on instinct about their gender or is it folklore from how they were addressed in the past that prompts it? Is this how the spirit communicates itself to you specifically? Meaning could another practitioner interact with the exact same spirit and perceive it as female, even though you experience it as male, and vice versa? I love reading your posts about tree spirits but they’ve prompted this curiosity.

In my experience, spirits do not experience gender in the way humans do. I answered a question about that here in more depth, but I essentially believe that numinous entities tend to "take on" gender presentation when interacting with humans, in the process of making themselves observable to us. I think this largely has to do with human beliefs and expectations creating a kind of "psychic impression" that affects the manifestation of a spirit. This doesn't mean a spirit will always present in a particular way, but I think that the longer a numinous Wight has been regarded and propitiated under a certain guise, the more defined and consistent that "psychic impression" becomes.

I think that using existing lore is a good rule of thumb where this sort of thing is involved—such as the lore of the Elder Mother or the Juniper Mistress—but aside from that, I mostly rely on dreams and intuitions. I often don't experience any sort of inclination about gender when working with spirits, one way or another, but when I do (such as with Old Man Willow or Lady Whitethorn,) it almost always comes out of my mouth before I've even had time to think about it, but then feels instinctively right and true.

[kazumi404]

Right now, is my favorite commission

[ome-magical-ramblings]

O Daimon of Sodom's Apple I call thee...

I admit that my blog is all over the place, but I thought it was interesting to try and work with Sodom's Apple/Calotropis procera Daimon or the spirit of the plant itself. Surprisingly working with it turned out pretty "spooky". I admit that this post is short, but I thought it was interesting to see the effect of calling a spirit that's not the usual grimoire spirit or a spirit of tradition, but one of the land itself. It's a poisonous plant, and that probably affected it's temperament and it gave a very "evil" aura to it, an evil but subtle one which explain that it is a poisonous plant. I would say that it is even more evil than a demon! When asking for a sign, the place quietened and sounds of goblin-like creature were heard in the distance, very eerily the plant started swaying/waving from side to side but the breeze was too weak to affect other plant/weed around it surprisingly!! I didn't interrogate it further and maybe in the future I will work with it more, but it was pretty interesting working with a local spirit and seeing how they act/respond to being called!

[sunflowersanddaydreamsingreen]

I have a friend coming down to the lake today who has agreed to let me experiment on them with tea blend flavors. I wanted to try out fennel, a flavor profile outside my comfort zone. So this morning I brewed a couple herbs to test out fennel in a blend. The blend was just fennel and rosemary for flavor, and my ever-present blue butterfly pea for color. It was so good. I didn’t crush the fennel seeds this time, so the flavor was present, but not overwhelming. The rosemary paired perfectly with it. This really motivates me to try other licorice-esque flavor profiles. I’m really excited to see how my friend likes it.

Fennel

From The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison:

Scientific name: foeniculum vulgare

Other name: fenkel

Element: Water

Planets: Mercury, Moon

Parts used: seed, leaf, essential oil

“Like white Sandalwood, fennel enjoys the dual ruleership of Mercury and the Moon. It aids in obtaining psychic impressions (Moon) and interpreting those impressions accurately (Mercury). Fennel is also used in protection rites – strew the whole seeds in each room, burn in an Incense blend, or make an Infusion with the seeds and wash the walls and floor. Burning fennel in Incense or anointing the Third Eye also clears the mind and aids in memory. Fennel seeds are tossed at a wedding couple like rice for health and abundance in the relationship.”

From Entering Hekate’s Garden by Cyndi Brannon (repeat information omitted)

Genius: foeniculum

Classification: Vegetable

Spiritual properties: Communication, courage, healing of the mind, sexuality

Physiological properties: armomative, digestive, pesticide

Magickal properties: breaking curses and bad luck, clarity, communication, courage, dealing with authority and govt, prevention, psychic witchcraft, visions

Elemental correspondences: Air [note that the previous entry listed water]

Archetype: Rixipyle (Breaker of Chains)

World: Upper

Zodiac: Aquarius, Gemini

Color: blue

Stone: blue agate

Animal: magpie

Indications: Generally safe in small doses, but not for use during pregnancy. Take caution with children and pets.

**Select Notes**

“ An ancient member of Hekate‘s garden, this licorice-flavored plant was consumed for courage, protection, and strength, and for victory in competitions by the ancients. Fennel is a breaker of chains meaning that it has the power to remove blockages, especially for all forms of communication.

“Fennel is sometimes used in love philters, to encourage sending off the right signals regarding romance and sex, giving it a reputation as a sexual stimulant. It’s applications extend to all manner of communication problems, from breaking curses to removing barriers for successful engagement with authority figures and government, rendering it in apothecary necessity.”

Formulations:

* The seeds are very easy to work with. Release their properties by lightly grinding them in a mortar with a pestal. To enhance communication, grind clockwise; to remove barriers, reverse the direction.

* Five is the number most associated with fennel. Release its property by using multiples of five when grinding and use seeds and multiples of the same number.

* Fennel is excellent as part of a tonic, although continued daily use beyond six weeks is not recommended. To make a tonic, add 1/2 tsp to a cup of boiled water. Let the mixture steep for 15 minutes, as fennel is a bit slow to release. Use on its own or mix into your daily tonic.

* Carry fennel seeds in a glass vile. They’re excellent for digestion and for on-the-go witchery. Slip a few seeds in where needed. Chew the seeds to ease digestion and to speak the truth. Five will do the trick.

* Fennel is strongly associated with Mercury. Adding this planetary symbol to any working will increase its potency.

Pharmakeia:

“Fennel is a very specific botanical that is eager to help with a variety of situations involving breaking barriers to communication. It is excellent for breaking down resistance. Drink a tonic and watch your procrastination dissolve.

“Fennel at the threshold ensures that only the truth is spoken within. Add it to your home wards—those protective barriers placed at the entrances or around the perimeter…”

Rosemary

From The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison:

Scientific name: Rosemarinus officinalis

Other name: elf leaf

Element: Air

Planet: sun

Parts used: leaf, essential oil

“ The reviving scent of rosemary stimulates the memory and thought process. Its scent when burned or added to any herbal preparation adds an energy of protection and purification to a space. The oil applied directly to rashes and skin blemishes clears the area, and when inhaled, its aroma aides the memory and brain functions. Sprinkling rosemary leaves over a grave brings comfort to the dead and memories for the ones left behind. Rosemary placed in the bath before bedtime wards away nightmares, and when carried in an Herbal Amulet, it gives confidence and courage.”

From Entering Hekate’s Garden by Cyndi Brannon (repeat information omitted)

Genus: salvia rosmarinus, formerly rosemerinus officinalis

Classification: herb

Spiritual properties: Cleansing of the spirit, contentment, invigoration, recollection, restoration

Physiological properties: rub sore muscles and joints with rosemary oil, rub on temples to ease headache, drink a tonic to improve sleep and ease nightmares. Since it is so beneficial, it makes an excellent ingredient in a daily infusion. Balances the menstrual cycle and eases symptoms.

Magickal properties: awareness, banishing, cleansing, comfort, confidence, contentment, focus, loving spirits, memories, renewal, youth

Part used: leaves

Planetary correspondences: Sun

Elemental correspondences: Fire [note: previous entry indicated air]

Archetype: Ergatis (Energizer)

World: Middle

Zodiac: Virgo

Color: Pink

Stone: pink quartz

Animal: toad

Indications: generally safe for all. Large quantities may cause stomach upset.

**Select Notes**

“Rosemary is a kitchen herb with potent magical properties. It was used by Hekate‘s ancient whitches to ward off evil, improve memory, and for invigoration. The traditional lore is that, where Rosemary grows, the woman of the home will be in charge and well. It is not surprising that some husbands ripped the plant from the ground to prevent this from happening. Nowadays, we women can rule the home as much as witches with Rosemary as one of our familiar spirits.

“Rosemary is strongly associated with the sea, given its natural habitat along the shores of the Mediterranean, making this a suitable offering to Hekate Einalia, in her role as a goddess of the sea. Rosemary brings clarity to emotions, tempering the saltiness and depths of the deep blue. It is a warming plant that restores our inner fire without causing an inferno. It is suitable for loving remembrance of the departed, but note that Rosemary is not a botanical used alone for summoning the departed or spirits. Add Sage and Mugwart to a bundle for these workings.”

Formulations:

* Rosemary is an essential in a witch’s apothecary, for it stands alone as the supreme bringer of loving purification and protection. It’s like Hekate’s arms, enveloping you in fierce love.

* oils, tinctures, infusions, and waters can all be made with rosemary.

* Rosemary poultices placed on a sad heart will help it mend.

Pharmakeia:

“ To ensure an untroubled home, free of stress and conducive to health for the occupants, grow rosemary by your main entrance. It’s one of my ultimate witch tips. Rosemary grows well without our involvement. Make sure the plant is big enough to be comfortable. Since this proud member of Hekate’s garden is so hearty, my Rosemary is a bellweather for our home. If the plant shows signs of distress, I investigate to see who isn’t doing well or if there’s a problem with the house or land. A bath infused with rosemary lets you soak in protection and contentment.”

 Both of these books are fantastic and indispensable references in my witchy library. Entering Hekate’s garden provides workings with each plant entry. My notes have been truncated to allow for space. I highly suggest investigating both books on your own.



[aonorunic]

The Claiming - An Original Work for Monster March

Summary: Sheen knows her time is short, knows that if she wants to save her home she must undergo a sacred rite to obtain the power she needs. As a druid, Sheen also knows exactly what that rite entails. She can only hope that a spirit powerful enough to help her answers her call.

Characters: Sheen (Druid)/Forest Spirit

Rating: Explicit

Contains: Sex Magic, Druids, Monster Fucking

AO3

Notes: The only entry I think I’ll be able to finish for Monster March. I’ve had Sheen in my head for awhile, and am really glad I finally got to write a bit for her backstory. I know I usually do more fandom stuff, but I hope you guys enjoy this slice of original work.

Sheen felt no fear as she crossed that familiar threshold between dirt and moss. The trees had always acted as a barrier between the world she was born into and the one to which she felt drawn. For as long as she could remember the mothers of the village told stories of things that lurked in the forest, ready to snatch disobedient children into the dark boughs never to be seen again. Yet as those old swaying limbs wrapped around her, Sheen felt more a homecoming than a capture.

Her bare feet picked a trail she had walked a thousand times, eyes and ears alert. Here she was both predator and prey. As comfortable as she was, she knew better than to let her guard down; especially today of all days when she would walk further into the forest than she had ever gone before.

A sharp breath sucked between her teeth when her foot met the chill of a stream. Winter was past, the blossoms of spring dotting the land, but the last of its chill held on, its stranglehold loosened one finger at a time. Sheen took a moment to bend down, cupping the water between her hands and taking a slow sip, allowing that chill to travel through her. The stream moved too quickly for her to see her reflection, nothing more than a blur of her dusk kissed skin and loose ravenwing hair tucked behind her pointed ears. The sharp edges of her elven features were indistinct in the water, the gaze of her grey eyes hidden. She stood, shaking off her momentary pause and pulling the bear pelt closer around her shoulders. There was a task needing done. She had come this far, studied all these years. She would not be denied now.

Further and further into the forest she went, pausing only once more as the ancient trees blocked out all sunlight. This was the barrier she had made for herself, the line she knew she could not cross before she was ready to trade with powers far older than she could comprehend. Today she would do so, else the forest truly would consume her.

Sheen took a deep breath, reaching out to place a hand upon the trunk of a tree. The bark felt familiar beneath her fingers, the knots and tangles mapped out in her mind from the years of reaching this point. But she had always turned back. Not today. 

All it took was a single step.

She paused as she crossed the invisible line she had created for herself, but nothing happened. No terrifying creature came to eat her, no force of nature knocked her off her feet. The steps after felt easier, despite that each took her closer to what may very well be her doom.

And then she reached it, the clearing her mother had once told her of before she had disappeared from Sheen’s life. Even without her mother’s tale Sheen would know she had come to the right place. Branches wove together overhead, reaching the impossibly long distance to their fellows upon the other side of the clearing to create a canopy that blanketed out the sky. Thick moss coated the trunks of every tree, the heavy scent of both decay and growth clouding around her. Grass, thick and soft beneath her feet, grew in a spiral pattern until it shortened and disappeared in the center of the clearing, leaving only a bare patch of dirt. 

Sheen’s eyes swept over the open space, her instincts screaming at her to run. Here she was only prey. With one final deep breath she steeled her nerves, allowing the bear pelt to drop from her shoulders. The rest of her clothes followed, Sheen taking the time to fold them into a neat pile. Perhaps the action was fruitless, nothing more than a stalling tactic, but they were the last moments that were solely hers. 

Completely bare, Sheen faced her goal, the wind stilling with the first step she took beyond the perceived safety of the trees. Their eyes were upon her. She had felt them since the moment she had stepped into the woods, as if they had sensed her intention for coming today, but now there was no cover in which to hide. 

She would not be cowed. She refused. Sheen took each slow step, forcing her limbs not to shiver, to not show the predator her fear, until she stood center within the barren circle. With the same deliberate movements, Sheen knelt and stared straight ahead.

The woods whispered around her, a half second off beat. The crickets chirped in time with one another, a hesitation to the notes that crawled across her skin. Wind strained through the branches, as if scared to carry out its duties. 

A power unlike anything she had felt before crept closer with each step. All the inconsistencies, the reverence of the forest bending toward it, heralded its coming. Sheen struggled for breath as this new darkness came upon her, drawing upon the calm she had felt when first stepping into the forest.

Within that breath power draped around her, wooden fingers settling on her shoulder. Sheen forced herself to gaze forward, knowing if she were to satiate her curiosity it would spell her end. She thought perhaps one of the great animal spirits would answer her, or perhaps one of the more fickle plant sprites. But this was neither. Sheen knew what had answered her beyond any doubt. There was only one being who could command the whole forest like this.

The spirit of the forest themself had come to claim her.

“Long has it been since a druid last sat in this circle and dared to seek our approval.” The voice was the roll of thunder, the trickle of the brook, rolling hills and blooming flower, all rolled into one. Sheen’s fingers curled into fists pressed flat against her legs. Nails bit into skin, the pain a focus to distract from the trembles that wished to run free throughout her bones. 

“She is a hunter,” another voice answered from the edge of the clearing. Sheen caught yellow eyes glaring at her from amongst the trees. Bear, her mind whispered. Given the placement of those eyes the great spirit was easily twice the size of any bear she had come across before.

“An invader,” another voice whispered, hooked thorns raking over Sheen. The trees around her twisted with the words, a trick of the wind to anyone else, but she recognized the truth of the dryad that had joined them.

“Well,” the first voice breathed against her ear, the low rumble stealing the breath from Sheen’s lungs, “what makes you worthy, little druid?”

Sheen took a deep breath, eyes falling closed. This was her trail, everything she had worked for since she first set foot within these woods. She need only claim it. 

Eyes opening, fists unclenched, Sheen stared forward. The fingers against her shoulder remained, the spirit’s patience as unbending as the oak. 

“I have spent my life under your boughs. Though I may be young as a seedling compared to you, these woods have been home and teacher for that short time. I have learned to hunt, yes, from the great bears and wolves sheltered within. I have learned to grow from each tree and flower encountered upon my path. I refute the title of invader. Were you to see me as such you would have chased me away long before now.”

Sheen paused, listening to the growls of grumbles of the woods around her. Always her place was within the forest. For the first time she felt trepidation, the fear it would all turn against her. 

There was a breeze, nothing more, but the chattering died down in its wake. The spirit behind her leaned closer, wood ghosting against her back. Sheen knew they were the cause, an order she could scarcely perceive nor be concerned with. No, she had received her own order to follow, that simple movement beckoning her onward.

“I offer no less than the life you have watched play out before you.”

She bowed her head, allowing the silence to wash over her. Nothing stirred, the forest deathly quiet in answer to her offer.

The moon wheeled above them, Sheen watching the light travel across the clearing. The forest was old, they would move at their own pace and there was nothing Sheen could do to speed the process.

When the spirit finally spoke again their voice sounded of roots ripping from the soft dirt. “And what would you do with my power were it granted to you?”

There it was, the reason Sheen had decided she could not put off her request any longer. “I would be your intermediary,” she answered. No longer did she wish to tremble before the power surrounding her. She could feel it now, the acceptance she first felt when she had first stepped into the woods as a starry eyed child. 

“We need no intermediary!” Bear growled, his voice shaking the trees around him.

“You would dare speak for us?” Dryad hissed, shaking her boughs in rage.

“You claimed me long ago,” Sheen answered their outburst, her words directed to the forest spirit. “Did I misinterpret? Was this not meant to be my home? If it is, let me help you save it now. None of you can leave, but I can. And with your power I can find the source of the darkness creeping at the edges of our home.”

Hiss and growl faded away. Every being seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the forest spirit’s answer. Sheen doubted that anyone had the audacity to ask the spirit a question before. Perhaps in doing so Sheen had betrayed too much of her mortality. 

Or perhaps she had proven she was exactly what they needed.

“You are correct,” the spirit finally answered. “I did welcome you and your starry eyed wonder those seasons ago. Even then I felt the love already building within you for our home.”

Our home.

She had not known how desperately she had wanted to hear that acknowledged.

“A claiming could destroy you,” the spirit warned, offering one last chance for her to turn away. 

Sheen could not help the smirk that tugged at her lips. The forest was not that generous. They would not have offered her the chance to turn away had they not already known her answer. She kept her reverent pose, unmoved in her determination.

The world faded away at the spirit’s pleased grumble. Sheen knew they were still there, would watch this claiming, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was the force of nature around her.

Wooden fingers creaked, closing around Sheen’s sides. She was urged forward onto her hands and knees, breath catching as the spirit spread her legs. She finally let herself tremble as the hands that were more branch than anything else slid down her sides. Heat rushed into her cheeks as need and desire filled her, Sheen embarrassed by just how quickly she reacted. 

The spirit thrust into her without preamble. Sheen gasped at the intrusion, body rigid as her fingers curled into the dirt beneath her. She had learned long ago that nature was not kind and had not expected any preamble to this claiming. 

The spirit slowly pulled from her, Sheen more prepared when they thrust back into her again. She forced herself to keep her breath steady, body slowly adjusting with each movement. 

Even in this the forest would not be hurried, and Sheen was glad for it. Her body began to crave, that desire rising to the forefront once more as she grew used to the feel of her stretching around them. She rocked in rhythm with the spirit, the branches of their body closing around her. And despite all that, the appendage within her was large and hot. The warmth of it chased away the chill in the night air, leaving Sheen drowning in the claiming. 

All too soon Sheen felt waves crashing over her, a riptide current threatening to pull her under. Too soon, she knew, much too soon. She could feel power swelling, could feel the brush of it against her skin, but it had yet to settle. 

Too soon. 

The riptide pulled her under, Sheen gasping and shaking as pleasure rushed through her body. She could feel the disappointment even as she struggled back through a haze of contentment. She would not fail here at the end. 

She would not be satiated by failure.

Sheen was left empty, fingers crawling at the dirt as she fought off the clouds that wished to claim her mind. She could hear the forest around her, knew she was prey once more if she did not act fast. If she could not move then everything she loved would be swallowed in darkness. 

No!

There was a pain in her throat, leaving Sheen uncertain if the word had ripped its way from her throat or simply screamed its echo in her mind. Either way it did not matter. 

Dirt clung to her, rocks scrapped against her, power pressed her down. Sheen struggled against it all, managing to prop one arm under herself. 

Just as she felt the void screaming up to meet her, Sheen did something no mortal had ever done before.

She flipped herself over, back smacking against the packed earth of the ritual circle, and stared up at the spirit of the forest.

Their head was a deer skull, dark pools within empty sockets staring down into her. Antlers twisted upward to frame the stars, taller than Sheen herself. Woods of every tree that grew within the forest twisted together to make their form. Between the branches Sheen could see small flower buds. A curtain of moss fell over their shoulders to create a cloak. For now they stood upon two legs, but Sheen could easily imagine them dropping onto all fours and being no less graceful. Between the growth Sheen spotted the still erect cock that a few moments ago had been within her. It was a dark green with sap dripping from its bulbous head, vines twisted together to form the massive length. Sheen was honestly quite surprised it had even fit within her. 

“Not yet,” Sheen spat between parched lips. She forced her arms up, reaching out inviting to the spirit. “I am not done yet.” 

The power they had already pooled within her tore at her, unchecking and wanting to destroy her. She needed them to settle the storm within her before it ripped her apart.

The forest whispered, their subjects surprised at her audacity, but Sheen heard an undercurrent of emotions she could not quite place, be it pride or pleasure. It was just for her and the spirit to which she had offered everything. 

They bent down over her, once more shutting out the rest of the forest. Sheen’s legs fell to the side, somehow not surprised when the spirit’s large bulk fit perfectly within her offered space. Her arms wrapped around moss covered shoulders, pulling her lover closer. The skull loomed above her, and Sheen once more gave into her mortal instincts. She kissed the lipless face, hand raising up to cup the bone cheek. Amusement ran through her but not from her. Her body clenched around them as their cock entered her once more, the strange emotions, ancient and undefined, of the forest shared with her.

Those same slow thrusts came again, Sheen’s hips rising up to meet them. She gasped as the flow of power stirred once more. The tearing sensation stopped, replaced with the whisper of ancient secrets that wound their way through her soul. Her body burned where they touched her, branches containing the heat of wildfires as they marked her skin. Wooden fingers ghosted down her spine, Sheen’s back arched under the touch, bringing her chest in contact with the spirit’s. They surrounded her, Sheen offering everything to them as the spirit moved within her, amusement licking along her senses. She could almost swear the spirit was laughing at her, but she did not care. In that moment she knew her essence was tangled forever with that of the being that had welcomed her home. 

Sheen gasped as the spirit pulled her to them, body curling as they thrust deeper into her. She was lost in the tangled limbs that encompassed her. They had created a space for her devoid of all predators, where no danger would dare touch her. They thrust into her, once more that tortuously slow pace that had Sheen curling and begging for more. 

It felt different this time, a tease rather than a test. The spirit would undo her yet again, but they went at her pace. They meant to make this journey with her. She could not stop her hands from reaching out, cupping the smoothness of their skull. They moved with her when Sheen urged them closer, bringing their forehead to rest against hers. Her breath mingled with the air surrounding the spirit, the sweet scent of wild flowers steadying her heart. She knew this scent, knew the exact clearing in which they grew. With the spirit's next thrust, Sheen could swear she felt every petal and blade of grass that grew within that clearing.

The spirit nuzzled against her, more curious than affectionate. They measure her gasps, feelings of acceptance and amusement the easiest for Sheen to understand. But her partner's emotions were as ancient as the boughs themselves. Sheen could only begin to wrap her fingers around the enormity of what the spirit shared with her. 

Another thrust, thankfully faster this time, as the spirit slammed itself deep within her. One of Sheen's hands dropped to the ground, fingers clawing at the dirt. She felt , digging deep down into fertile soil, spreading out for miles and miles.

The spirit hummed their pleasure, pleasure derived from her, and in its wake Sheen heard birdsong. Nightingale and sparrow, owl and falcon, robin and jay, all sang within her as they went about their routines. 

Sheen's hips rolled up, meeting the next thrust, wooden limbs scraping the insides of her thighs. The hand still upon the spirit curled around the back of their neck, trees bending toward them as Sheen's senses connected with them. She heard the sigh from Dryad, that whispered hiss full of a strained acceptance. There were words, but all were driven away in the wake of the spirit's claim. 

Limbs came down to cup her backside, lifting Sheen to meet the next thrust powerful enough to knock the air from her lungs. Bear grumbled as Sheen forced air back into her lungs, his strength flowing into her and making Sheen acutely aware of each silent step from the creatures that roamed under bough and bush. 

There was something there, something beyond her ability to explain. The closest her mind could conjure was pride, but she knew the limitations of her language could not fully define what she felt pouring into her from the spirit. With each thrust another aspect of the forest connected to her. Sheen held onto the spirit, her focus and anchor, knowing to lose herself now was to lose everything. 

The thrusts came faster, Sheen's fingers digging into soft moss as she forced herself to hold on. It built upon itself until Sheen could feel herself begin to slip. She ground her teeth, body trembling as the spirit drove her closer and closer back to that edge. It was too much, a cacophony drowning her, power nipping at every nerve in her body. 

Her scream ripped through her, a release of desire and power that left the forest silent in its wake. Warmth engulfed her, the sun shimmering through leaves at the height of summer. It was the completion she had needed, the spirit's power finally settling over her in their acceptance.

Through hazy eyes Sheen managed to stare up into the dark pools of the spirit's gaze. They were patient, waiting the long moments it took Sheen to catch her breath, the air all the sweeter in her lungs after the claiming's success. Eventually Sheen managed to move her shaky legs, allowing them to drop away from the spirit's center. She had not realized just how much she had wrapped herself around them. 

The spirit moved back, their warmth slipping free from Sheen. She trembled as their cock softened and slipped from her, the heat of their seed lingering against her thighs. The spirit offered Sheen a hand, and as she accepted the touch of those branches her mind vaguely wondered at the difference. She could have sworn her hand had been smaller compared to theirs. 

Sheen found herself pulled to her feet, and knew immediately the discrepancy lay with her and not the spirit.  Her head easily came to the spirit's chest now. Leaning upon her partner, Sheen managed to stare down upon her body, seeing the tangled marks that criss crossed her skin, left behind in the wake of the spirit's touch. 

Her head felt much too heavy when she managed to lift it once more. Sheen had to resist the urge to reach up, something that felt rather undignified with the whole of the woods looking upon her, and instead had to settle for staring at her shadow cast long against the grass by the dying moonlight. Elongated antlers topped the shadow, a smaller but no less impressive set to the spirit that stood beside her. 

Breath in. Breath out. Sheen forced herself to simply focus on the air in her lungs as she was presented to the forest. A rumble went through them, an acknowledgement of the connection she now shared with them. She had no idea how long they stood there, the spirit patient as they always were, but Sheen was grateful she managed to keep her footing through it all. 

Only when the echoes of power began to fade away, the marks and antlers shimmering from existence, the spirit now all the taller to her, did they finally let her kneel once more within the circle. 

Moss had grown in the wake of the spirit's spilled seed. Sheen let herself drop, knowing she had nothing to fear. When she woke her journey to protect all she loved would begin anew, her chances all the better with the spirit's blessings at her fingertips. 

As she drifted off, cloaked in the comfort of the forest's strength still singing in her soul, Sheen could swear she felt the touch of gentle branches brushing her hair back. 

[theinfinitedivides]

my f*cking God he's done it again!!!!!!