#upg

[spidertrick]

My Loki statue arrived broken.

My Loki rings arrived not fitting together.

I kept one ring and gave them the other two.

I put them inside the statue.

It feels even more meaningful now.

I was still debating whether or not to glue the statue back together.

So I talked to Loki and he liked both options.

To be loved just as is, in a broken state?

Or to be tenderly and carefully put back together?

So an idea came to me.

I will fill him up with little presents and notes and once he is full of my love, only then I will glue him back together.

And just like that I understood the message.

Do not rush into healing.

Do it with love and do it with care.

Do not move on too fast.

Do not yet mend a heart that is still hollow.

[lavender--milk]

To me, Apollon's presence feels like a tingly, airy warmth in my chest, near the top of my lungs. If I were to visualize it, it would be a ball of light, all whites and yellows and oranges like flame. Bright, but gentle.

It doesn't happen every day. But sometimes, when I'm offering him the garlic-stuffed-olives he loves, or when I'm taking the time to read his stories, or when I'm working on his journal, I'll just get this rush of airy warmth in my chest, and I'll know that he's there, and that I'm doing just fine.

[queenofswords]

working with norse deities

óðinn: "don't worry, i'll get it done. just don't ask me how."

frigg: "secrets are worth gold. yours are diamond. share with discretion."

loki: "i'll break your bone so it'll heal right this time."

sigyn: "would you rather be right or be loved?"

angrboða: "you are the only god you have to live with."

freyja: "go loud. we'll deal with the consequences."

freyr: "...we gotta? okay. baby, hold my beer."

njǫrðr: "can i interest you in some chill the fuck out in this trying time?"

hel: "i'll hold you through it—and you still have to do this."

fenrir: "...can we bite them? we could, in fact, bite them."

jǫrmungandr: "this too shall pass."

gullveig: "fuck around. find out. remember."

þórr: "not everything is a nail, but a screw still bows to a hammer."

sif: "everything is a little more possible with a belly full of warm food."

skaði: "there is always an opportune moment. find it."

[lokavisi]

Y'all, Thor is so great. If you need just a solid buddy, he's your guy. We just shot the shit for a while tonight, and it was just lovely. He really gives a shit about us, about humanity. (I mean, protecting us is kinda his Thing™️, after all.) Having spent a little more time with him, I see why he and Loki share so many stories with one another. Neither of them is dumb or weak, but their respective strength and cunning pair really nicely when you wanna get up to some shit. Even if your partner in crime has a slightly different agenda than your own. Add Odin into the mix and you've truly got a sitcom on your hands. Earlier this week I was talking with Thor and Loki together, and Odin just showed up like, "Who the fuck was gonna tell me y'all were hanging out?" What a kooky fucking bunch. I love these dorks. 10/10, would hang out again. ❤️

[crossroads-moth]

Loki understands rage about injustices. They understand the grief that comes, too. They understand that the Chaos that comes before the healing hurts. They know. They understand.

They will sit with you while you grieve. They will hold you while you heal.

[hestiashearthfire]

I am of the opinion that all the gods and goddesses will sit and have a warm drink with you if you invite them. (I was going to say “have tea,” but I imagine coffee works just as well.)

[trickortrick]

Me: Loki, why did you take your mother’s name?

Loki: Let’s see, Loki Laufeyjarson sounds smoother than Loki Farbautison. Eh?

Maaaybe I just wanted to be controversial and mock a tradition I don’t like.

Oh, maybe I loved my mother dearly.

Or maybe, you are not the only child who was abandoned, when they needed their father the most.

Most possibly? A mix of everything above, like all the good answers tend to be.

[broomsick]

Herbalism and personal gnosis regarding Freyr

Herbs I've come to associate with him, and which I now incorporate in my practice surrounding him

I hope you all are having a good winter season! I pray that those who experience seasonal depression at this time may soon find solace in the return of the sun. As for me, I'm quite excited to plant my garden again, and begin the cycle anew! Although, it is still far from the right time. It's still around -10 to -20 degrees Celsius here at this time of year, and the windows are still halfway barricaded with snow. And yet I feel the King of Kings' presence nonetheless! For this reason, I've gathered up a few quick pieces of UPG related to herbs and Freyr.

Pine! Not a herb, I know, but I simply couldn't leave it unmentioned. It is a strong and solid tree, but one which inspires tranquility and peace of mind. In my area, it grows high on mountains! Seeing it gently sway in the wind brings Freyr to mind. In fact, one of the first devotional items I owned was a bundle of pine-scented incense sticks, which I used in his worship.

Fern! This plant was pointed out to me by Freyr, or so I believe, as one that he held in high regard. It is so ancient that it predates seeds in the natural world, and its lore overlaps a lot with Freyr’s general domain: it’s said to help with acquiring wealth and luck, and its often used by modern witches to summon rain! For this reason, I often incorporate it in rituals to ask Freyr to help my garden grow.

Flowers, all of them! I love to decorate for May Eve using flowers. Crafting flower wreathes, going wildflower picking and making bouquets and garlands are personal favorites. These crafts are more often than not done in honor of Freyr and Freyja, the Lord and Lady of spring.

Rosemary! Much like pine, its particular gentle smell has always reminded me of him. Its a herb I personally associate with protection and safety, as well as spiritual matters in general. When I use it in rituals, it feels like I’m acknowledging Freyr’s protection.

Moss! In the wild, it's proof of a rich, healthy soil, and of clean air. To me, it's the very symbol of the beauty that the earth has to offer. There are so many different varieties of moss, and its very individuals are as diverse as humans themselves. Moss reflects the many gifts of Freyr, all in one go!

[mamaangiwine]

Thinking about this great post by @windvexer-

From my own experience, If you're wondering how much of your practice you should share with others, I would say it sometimes depends on what kind of practicioner you are.

For instance, you may be a solitary practicioner who feels called (and sometimes expected) to keep your methods close to your chest- dried in black ink on thick paper, and tucked away in books meant for your eyes alone.

Or, among your "community" (your friends, your family, and yes, sometimes even online) you may have a more involved role. You may be The Calendar Keeper. The Star Watcher. The Story Teller. In other words, you may have been called to hold a kind of "spiritual office" and, therefore, its part of your practice to share a bit more. In these kinds of paths one has chosen to convey the whispers of spirits to others for the community's well being. To show their practice so as to ignite the feeling of something more within those around them; which may, in turn, bring wonder, solace, or contemplation.

Undoubtedly there are still things that should be kept private, sacred, and personal- but,within these kinds of practices, the threshold may be greater. There is an understanding with one's spirits and gods, as well as a kind of protection.

After all, betraying one's trust in others, and faith in humanity, is bound to come with its own small curses.

[dionysianfreak]

my drawing of Dionysos in a traditional Hindu style. I've felt quite inspired by how the Hindu Deities are represented, especially the diversity in symbolism between each worshiper. I can't remember if I posted this on tumblr or not, but here it is now.

I'm unsure if I'll ever color it. for now, i love it as it is. enjoy, and happy Dionysia !

symbolism, left to right :

a snake coiled around Their arm. the snake is sometimes considered sacred to Dionysos. it holds onto Them similarly to the snake of Asklepios, representing the healing of both body and mind

the thrysos gripped in their hand. the thrysos is a widely recognized, unique symbol of Dionysos. it represents my personal relationship with Them as I have a thrysos tattooed on my left arm.

Their hand extended in Gyan Mudra. this Mudra is often associated with wisdom or sharpening the mind. it represents the knowledge and peace of mind Dionysos grants us

a bundle of grapes cradled in their palm. wine grapes are very sacred to Dionysos, representing fruitfulness and being a little "fruity". it also encompasses Their connection with agriculture and the earth.

a pitcher of wine endlessly pouring. i can't do a symbolism-heavy drawing without including wine. it represents abundance and divine intoxication, the gift of alcohol that They have given humanity.

a shallow cup that does not spill a single drop. this represents the deliverance of prosperity, the lack of wastefulness, and shows that They reward the worthy and strike down the bigoted.

They sit peacefully with us, a God who is close and personal with Their followers.

there is a sun on Their forehead because i associate Them with the warmth and radiance of sunlight

top surgery scars show Them to be the God of transsexuals and a welcomer of all who live outside any "norm". a God who discriminates against no one.

[betty-bourgeoisie]

I find the response I've gotten sense I started working with Thor to be very interesting.

Like I know I'm not a stereotypical Thor worshiper. I'm small and feminine. I used to be a kindergarten teacher and I still have the energy of one. I wear floral dresses and host tea parties in my off time. That just isn't what anyone thinks of when they think of a Thor worshipping Norse Pagan, I don't care how open minded you are.

But I'm still a bit surprised by the incredulity and occasional laughter I've been met with sense I started working with him, because to me Thor can be a very soft deity.

Like, thunder doesn't have to be loud and scary, it can also be a comforting rumble in the distance while you lay cozy in bed. Lightning isn't always powerful and violent, sometimes it's intricate and lace like in the way it travels. Agriculture is difficult and time consuming but it's also the work we must do to care for our communities.

I mean Thor is associated with goats for fuck sake, have you ever cared for a goat kid? They are sweet, sweet little creatures.

Like I know very well that I don't exhibit a lot of masculine strength, and I guess that's what he's best know for, but I just feel like boiling him down to a strong man really takes away from the complexity of the things he represents

[beatingdrumspouringwine]

UPG (possibly?)

Would love to know if anyone else associates Dionysos with moths :) I very much do associate Him with moths, especially very large ones. The size has more to do with the bigger moths having eyespots, and in the article Riding the Phallus For Dionysus, the author Eric Csapo points out that eyespots are sacred to Him.

Also, moths are creatures of the night, there's a strong theme of rebirth with them (as any cocoon/chrysalis-weaving creature), they're colorful, they're gay icons in their own rights, and there seems to be a very Dionysiac element to the whole "live for about a week, look pretty, have sex, die" thing.

Anyways as I said at the start: would love to know Thoughts about this. I know I've never found more moth wings than the first summer I worshiped Dionysos, the highlight of which was a full set of almost completely intact luna moth wings :)

[lavender--milk]

please forgive the low quality Here is my interpretation of Apollo 💛💛💛💛 I am really happy with how it turned out :>

[lucifersmockingbird]

Lucifer's loving aspect isn't talked about enough.

(UPG below)

I associate him a lot with pink, white and golden. And with beauty, self-love, love in general. Maybe his Infernal aspects are more famous or some people think that this loving Lucifer cannot coexist with the King Lucifer, gatekeeper of the abyss. But he does. He's a multifaceted deity.

He's got more in common with Venus than Pluto.

I picture him as a very feminine/androgynous god. He's got such a beautiful masculinity.

Yes, I can testify that his anger is fucking terrifying but even then, getting on that side of him is HARD. He's a negotiator, a pacifist before a warrior. His intelligence is one of his greatest virtues. Now, that doesn't mean he can't be violent or even cruel, I've seen that part of him, but that's not the point.

The point is that Love is one of his more prominent domains and devotees of him should know that they can seek that kind of aid within him. He teaches you how to love and how to coexist with the world through love. Love is so complex, it comes in many ways. It doesn't have to be romantic, sometimes love is watching birds drinking the flowers' wine.

And, sometimes, defying life itself in order to live freely.

Lucifer is love.

[ianitos]

(this is upg/spg)

the epithets & aspects of luciferus 💫🕯️👁️

aspects

light bringer ≻ the forerunner of Sol, he who brings the morning and evening. god of light and sun transitions.

enlightener ≻ due to his light bearing, he is known as the enlightener of knowledge and wisdom. who aids those who seek to gain knowledge.

witch father ≻ within Italian mythos/folklore, he fathers the goddess Aradia in some depictions of the folklore. and can be linked due to ties to light, as such (and ties to the sun -> ties to Sol -> ties to Helios - who is known as the "witch father" loosely).

guide of the dead ≻ torch bearer and lover of humanity, who serves as a guide for the dead to get to the gates of the underworld, similar to Mercurius.

epithets

"the Wise"

"Celestial Light"

"Cloaked in Rays"

"Wings of Velvet"

"the Liberator"

"Torchbearer"

"Bearer of Love"

"Lover of Humanity"

"Horned Poet"

"Humanity’s Watcher"

"of the Dead"

"of the Underworld"

"Who Guides the Dead"

"Sacred Marriage"

"Leader of Stars"

"the Grand Scholar"

"Guardian of Air"

"the Enlightened One"

"Guardian of the Lost"

"Prince of Promises"

[lokavisi]

So about two nights ago, I had a really solid conversation with Loki. A friend got some cues from him through their pendulum, we were both very confused, and then my wife (who barely gives a shit about the Guy lol) interprets this message so pristinely. It was like getting slapped upside the head when she gave her explanation. So I started free writing to continue the conversation more directly with Loki. There were a few big points made in this conversation.

First, he expressed frustration that, in spite of working with him for 4 years now, I still don't seem to "get" him. Like I keep coming to him to vent about some bullshit that's winding me up, he offers a suggestion to help me unwind, and then I brush it off or forget or just straight up ignore it. So he was like, "I've been telling you the same shit for 4 years now... It feels like you're just fundamentally ignoring all the parts of me that make me, ME." So...naturally I felt really fucking stupid and shitty.

Then he very lovingly affirmed that "this isn't me being facetious or angry or trying to put you down. I'm frustrated and irritated, yes, but surely you do realize by now that I fucking love you and you're stuck with me." This meant a lot to me more so than it might for others because my ADHD comes with mad rejection sensitivity dysphoria. Any time anyone says something that indicates some level of upset at me, my brain catastrophizes and breaks down because "clearly" it means they hate me. (This is basically never the case.) This leads me to the primary nugget of wisdom that came from this conversation.

I realized this whole time (once my wife interpreted the initial message) I was hearing him more clearly than I had in a long time. It was nearly as if a physical person sat next to me speaking. As the conversation was wrapping up, I made a note of this and asked, "Why do I feel l hear you clearest when you're frustrated with me?" We've had plenty of similar conversations, and when I look back at past moments when I simply couldn't deny the messages were coming from outside myself, he usually had some level of frustration with me. But to answer my question, he said:

"Because that's all you wanna hear. That's all you think you deserve. Even when you seek love or comfort and I provide, you don't always fully receive it. I try to be funny to cheer you up and you won't have it, just calling me stupid. You are terrible at receiving input that doesn't put you down or reinforce any negative thoughts you believe about yourself. So stop it. Seriously. Fucking stop believing bad shit about yourself."

He went on to talk about the rune readings I did for a bunch you on here (thanks again for the practice❤️), and how I should be pumping myself up from all the positive feedback I got from it. And we exchanged some jokes and "I love you"'s before calling it a night.

As per usual, I share my story in a giant block of text to remind everyone of what Loki reminded me: to not just take in the messaging that supports a negative view of yourself. Allow yourself to believe that you are the gods' gift to humanity. (I just heard him say, "Seriously. I do it all the time. It works wonders for your self-esteem." 😂❤️) Maybe that verbage doesn't have the greatest connotations, but the point is to think more highly of yourself. Believe in the power and confidence that you possess. Even if it doesn't feel like you have either of these things, fake it til you make it - until you realize they've been here this whole time.

I'm on this struggle bus, too, y'all. We're gonna find ourselves together. Hail Loki ❤️