theriomantic

[theriomantic]

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here and I’ve got messages to catch up on (what else is new), but in the meantime, Happy John Brown Day, folks. Raise a little hell today. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGaNZprnM-d/?igshid=1i9452lat9if3

[theriomantic]

Toadstones, AKA bufonite, a very important stone in #witchcraft. Believed to detect poison or malefic world by heating up and sweating, these magical stones were believed to be derived from the head of a toad and are often employed in toad magic. Toadstones are actually the teeth of certain types of prehistoric coral-feeding fish, such as drumfish and lepidotes, but have a very long pedigree of #magical uses. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #toad #bufo #bufonite #theriomancy #folkmagic #animalmagic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8ypt3HIZQ/?igshid=74ceclpf6cye

[theriomantic]

Panthera onca, for #cincodemayo. Partial metatarsal, and associated synsacrum and partial phalange. Sometimes when bones fossilize, different colors can occur in the bones depending on the mineralization. The two associated bones ended up with an interesting purple cast from the soil they were sitting in. The jaguar is a very important animal in the spirituality, folklore and mythology of Mexico. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #conjure #witchcraft #theriomancy #fossil #jaguar #bone #paleontology #witch #pantheraonca #bonereading https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0a0vJn5em/?igshid=uly043287lvp

[theriomantic]

Just finished this agatized dinosaur bone, coprolite and meteorite bracelet. This one already has a home, but it gives you an example of some of my work. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #witch #talisman #amulet #talismanicjewelry #animism #bonestopick https://www.instagram.com/p/B_z68BPnStf/?igshid=lye9qt3bxsnf

[theriomantic]

Remnants of an innocent assassin. Those who are familiar with science writer Bjorn Kurten will understand the reference. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #sacredscavenging #animism #witchcraft #bonereading #fossil #bone #paleontology #cat #feline #bigcat #sabretooth #sabretoothcat #smilodonfatalis #smilodon https://www.instagram.com/p/B_yQ6SbHIHO/?igshid=14uzbbh8o39mh

[theriomantic]

Remnants of a Lost World: fossilized partial metatarsal (distal end) of Panthera onca, the jaguar. Bones hold powerful magic, regardless of how old they are—and I’ve found them to be rather like a fine wine where that goes. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #fossil #jaguar #pantheraonca #panther #pleistocene #iceage #paleontology #cat #feline https://www.instagram.com/p/B_uySuaHbTT/?igshid=15qfm30i3sffk

[theriomantic]

With the aide of some helpful familiars, putting the finishing touches on some amulets. most joyous and blessed Hexennacht to all. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #magic #hexennacht #beltaine #animism #amulet #talisman https://www.instagram.com/p/B_oD7GLH24p/?igshid=yreah0f9ezc

[theriomantic]

Carnelian-replaced coral from the Carboniferous Period (Pennsylvanian, to be precise). Rarely does an organic substance fossilize into gemstone-grade material, and especially with living structure intact. Pictured are two small rough pieces and two cabochons. These would make for powerful talismans. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #mountainwitch #gemstone #fossil #carnelian #coral #paleontology #amulet #talisman #sacredscavenging #lithomancy #gem https://www.instagram.com/p/B_h6UM3nTMI/?igshid=4vbpz2auyas

[theriomantic]

Big Cat metapodial comparison. From left to right: Sabre-Toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis), Lion/Liger, Cave Lion. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #bones #fossil #feline #lion #smilodon #sabretoothcat #osteology #comparison #animism #magic #theriomancy #necromancy https://www.instagram.com/p/B_gK0YdH53D/?igshid=8a4u7j8hpoac

[theriomantic]

No Lithomancy Daily Draw today, courtesy of my throbbing head. To make it up to y’all, here are the left metapodial bones of a Smilodon (S. fatalis) and European Cave Lion (P. spelea). The lion bone is absolutely MASSIVE and came from an adult male. A whole paw would have dwarfed a dinner plate. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #palo #paleontology #cavelion #smilodon #sabretoothcat #cat #fossil #feline #pleistocene #animism #sacredscavenging #vultureculture #magic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fk3KWHV_e/?igshid=6y10ffjd6sdj

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: Goldstone and Jet. Since we already went over goldstone yesterday I’ll discuss jet first and then what they mean together. Jet actually has very similar properties to amber. Both are considered “mineraloids” due to their organic origin, both of which lies in prehistoric forests and trees. Jet is formed when peat or bog wood undergo millions of years of heat and pressure, hardening it into a dark, easily carved substance. The jet sphere here comes from Siberia and dates to the late Jurassic. Jet has been traditionally used as a mourning gemstone and has deep, very early usage amongst Paleolithic peoples as jewelry pieces and fetishes. Jet has many associations regarding death and spiritual change and pieces of jet carefully owned and kept were believed to bond with the soul of its owner. Jet together with goldstone remind us to pause and take a closer look at matters of the spirit today, and to find the beauty in the simple things. Goldstone and Jet are both as day and night. One is young and manmade and the other old and organic. Both represent a need for balance. They are also a warning to be cautious around deceptive spirits who may not have the best intentions towards you. Do turn towards those you work with and whom you trust to help guide you around falsehood today, especially as it pertains to spiritual matters. Goldstone soaks up the light and reflects it back, while jet will take in your body heat to warm itself. Be shrewd also about what you project and what you receive today, and your own intentions when giving or receiving. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #lithomancy #divination #sortilege #rootwork #hoodoo #spiritwork #magic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XeGeBnHv3/?igshid=1hz7aqpzz3vsy

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: Standard Goldstone. We already reviewed Blue Goldstone, and the natural history of both is the same with the exception being that standard goldstone is formed by utilizing colloidal copper to give it its aventurecence. Goldstone reminds us that all that glitters isn’t gold, but it also reminds us to appreciate the things that life has to give us even if they aren’t rare, precious or expensive. That car you use to get to and from work may not be an expensive luxury model, but you’ve made many memories in it. A treasured piece of heirloom jewelry or item of sentimental value may not be made of gold but its value would far exceed the price of it. Goldstone also reminds us to not allow ourselves to be tricked or fooled by things (or even people) that seem to glitter or shine. Oftentimes a little research will find that they are merely putting on airs or otherwise not as you expected. Gratitude, but also caution, win the day today. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #divination #lithomancy #sortilege #bonereading #hoodoo #rootwork #folkmagic #magic #folkmagic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_U1vtcnM_T/?igshid=16m8k3f73ln6s

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: Shungite. Hoo boy today’s one is doozy. Shungite is a funky substance, being technically not a rock but a biogenic mineraloid composed of mostly carbon and trace amounts of fullerines and, like the stromatolites in my set, has a very ancient pedigree. It was named for the Shunga Village in Karelia, Russia. It has been in Russian folk medicine since at least the 18th century and traditionally used for its purifying abilities on water and antibacterial qualities, and has also been used as an insulator in the ‘70s. Since the pandemic struck our nations and communities, many of us may have been struck with feelings of anger and helplessness. Anger at the greed of politicians, helpless in the face of a force beyond our control. One thing that is paramount and often ignored in the midst of all this is self care. Do one self care maintenance-thing for yourself today. Take a shower, or take your trash out or clean one small area in your house. And when you go out, be more mindful of protecting yourself and your loved ones by taking all the necessary cautions to protect and insulate yourself and your loved ones. Sometimes one small action or one deliberate action done with mindfulness can go a long way in terms of self care and protection. And of course, take some extra time to thank and tend to your protective spirits and ancestors today as well. They have reach that you don’t have, and are better positioned to protect you from some of the things you may otherwise not have control over. And finally, as carbon is the stuff of life as well as the protector of life, spare a quiet moment for those who’ve passed on during this time. They may be troubled and disoriented, and could use a kind face and gentle word to help them transition. #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #divinersofinstagram #witchcraft #conjure #divination #rootwork #hoodoo #sortilege #folkmagic #bonereading #lithomancy #seer https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SR7MNnXm3/?igshid=1m3ymexlyjuqn

[theriomantic]

In mind and in prayer. Meditating over her mysteries in a deep way. Bracelet is goat leather, carnelian scarab (Ancient Egypt, Late Period), silver amulet with carved black cat bone beads. Amulet literally showed up over a decade ago, found in a box. Been with me ever since. This worn little bracelet thing is an odd hybrid, a soothing object in these uncertain times. Deep in thought and deep in prayer. #sekhmet #polytheism #netjer #ancientegypt #egypt #kemet #witchesofinstagram #conjurersofinstagram #covid19 #magic #devotional https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Gd1z_H1DP/?igshid=1jv5ljtzuqu5w

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: Helenite. Helenite is an interesting substance with a violent history, having been artificially cast from the fused ash and rock dust from the 1980 Mount St Helens eruption. The green color comes from elements of aluminum, iron, copper, silica and chromium, and was first discovered by workers from the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company while they were salvaging pieces of equipment after the eruption using blowtorches. I will sometimes use this piece as a tiny crystal ball for scrying. Helenite represents violence but it also represents new beginnings. My father used to talk about some members of the family having a type of inherited luck in that they’d “fall into shit and come out smelling like roses”. Helenite pulls beauty from destruction, but it also comes with a price. That timber company had to lose it all to discover it in the first place. If you are able to make something beautiful from a bad situation hold it close, value it, and don’t take it for granted. It still came at a great price. Those stimulus checks that are dropping, remember even those come with a cost. Exercise caution and shrewdness, but be thankful for the windfalls and opportunities that spring up in the face of disaster or loss. Everything may come with a cost, but that does not mean every bad situation has to be hopeless. Work with what you have, your efforts may yet come out of the ash shimmering like fine glass. #conjurersofinstagram #witchesofinstagram #lithomancy #bonereading #divination #sortilege #seer #conjure #hoodoo #witchcraft #magic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_FWIzCHuVl/?igshid=1pqdwmvh050cm

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: The Double Your Fun edition. I knew this would happen eventually as we go through my bag, so now we’re entering into the realm of double pulls. The first one pulled was malachite, followed by the last one pulled that hasn’t been showcased or let itself speak, Lapis Lazuli. Since we’ve already discussed malachite, I’ll jump right to lapis and what these two mean together. Lapis is also a stone with a very ancient pedigree, Afghanistan being its primary source of export. It was used in amulet making and for the accessories of the royal family in Ancient Egypt; the hair of the Netjer was believed to be spun from lapis. Later it was used to tile the ceilings of mosques, as lapis was believed to represent the starry vault of Heaven (this also originally practiced by Egyptians as well). Later, during the Renaissance in Europe, lapis was especially reserved to paint the robes of the Virgin Mary when ground to produce the pigment ultramarine (meaning “over the sea”, further linking these three to the oceans and the heavens). These two pieces, when pulled together, speak strongly of life (blue-green was the first color of life in Cyanobacteria that colonized our young planet to synthesize oxygen), both have a long pedigree in spiritual and artistic use, both have been used as pigments. Especially both when pulled together scream the presence of female ancestors and women’s wisdom. Honor the women in your life today. Especially the elderly. Listen to their wisdom. If you follow any Catholic traditions, meditating over the rosary wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Set aside for the day whatever preconceived notions of masculinity and machismo you may have, and remember a child’s first and greatest god is named “mother” (or however this translates in languages other than English). #conjurersofinstagram #witchesofinstagram #lithomancy #divination #sortilege #bonereading #conjure #hoodoo #witchcraft #magic #seer https://www.instagram.com/p/B_C18GoHEOv/?igshid=rmoa6p5z27eg

[theriomantic]

Lithomancy Daily Draw: Petrified Tree Fern Wood. This is an interesting one. Paleoosmunda (Osmundacaulis) is a tree fern from the Jurassic of Queensland, Australia. Tree ferns like these are a particularly ancient race that did not survive past the Mesozoic, but its descendants evolved to live on in our gardens and forests. Ferns are very adaptive and hardy. They’ve survived the greatest mass extinction known on the planet, during the end of the Permian, a period known as the Great Dying, where over 95% of the planet’s biota was wiped out due to climate change from active volcanism. Paleontologist and geologists, when tracking mass extinctions in the fossil record, will look for fern spores, as they are indicators both of the extinction itself as well as nature trying to regain its foothold. They are the first to come to life after forest fires, and provide valuable sustenance to catastrophe survivors. These tree ferns have a lot to teach us about survival and support. We are in the midst of climate change and a global pandemic. Our political systems are crumbling from corruption and greed in many parts of the world. It’s easy to despair and lose hope. But now is the time for us to become like the ferns. You have heard the saying “Look for the helpers”. The helpers are the ferns, who can blossom in the worst situations and provide nourishment (to the body of soul) to others. Today is the day to focus on our support systems. Who are they? Thank them today. Find some means to show your appreciation to those who rise up in the ash and lay the groundwork so that others may survive and thrive. Often, like the fern, these people are stepped on and unappreciated—our store clerks, factory workers and food service workers. The fossil tree fern sphere can also be an omen, as one of major change and upheaval, or even utter destruction. Remember though, that ash fertilizes, that there always will be those who unfurl themselves in the wake of disaster. Who are they? Thank someone today. #conjurersofinstagram #witchesofinstagram #divination #lithomancy #witchcraft #conjure #sortilege #hoodoo #rootwork https://www.instagram.com/p/B_AUrF8nldE/?igshid=1dvq2cjhzgea2