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A Deeper Look at the Ogham: Part 5

McManus says the etymology of the word is unclear, but that it definitely refers to both letters generally and “a letter” specifically. The secondary meaning of Nin refers to part of a weavers loom; Meroney suggests it may mean a forked branch and McManus agrees that “fork” is another meaning for the word.

~Erynn Rowan Laurie

Nin brings us to the end of our first aicmí, aicmí Beith (this is the letter ‘family’ of Beith-Lus-Fearn-Sail-Nin). Nin holds a bit of a unique place in the Ogham, as McManus mentions, it is both a fid in its own right as well as a representation of the Ogham as a whole. Etymologically it does pose a bit of a challenge having possible meanings which seem, to a modern English speaker, to be wildly unrelated. Nin has, as I’ve said, an etymological connection to the idea of letters, it is linked to a weavers’ tool which is called a weavers’ fork, tapestry fork, weavers’ beater, or tapestry beater, and lastly there is some evidence that Nin may be related to the Welsh word nen meaning roof/lofteness/heaven and can be traced back to the IE root *nebh+os meaning clouds/mist. As I’ve said to the modern English speaker these concepts seem to have little or nothing in common but hopefully by the end of this post it will become clear how the people of the Insular Celtic areas saw all of these things contained within Nin.

We’ll begin by looking at the connection that Nin holds with weaving as this seems to be its main function. Weaving has had a long and rich tradition among all parts of the human race and in many, including the Insular Celtic, it plays a large part in mythology when it comes to fate. Well the surviving evidence we have from the mythology is not as clear cut as it is in some other mythos, such as the Scandinavian Norns, we can still find traces of the almost universal concept of weaving being intertwined with fate, but they do exist. Medb’s seer in Rain Bó Cúailnge, Feidalm, who famously said the words “I see crimson” when she used her secondsight to look ahead to the coming battle, carried a weavers’ rod which mark her as a seer. The weaving rod binded offered a physical display of her ability to weave the fates of others through her talents, in much the same way as the tool would mark a Völva of Scandinavia. The role of the weaver being linked to fate also shows up in a slightly unexpected way, though the spider. While it is not a large logical jump to understand how spiders might play into this concept, you may need to rethink how you view spiders to understand the Insular Celtics approach to what we typically see as tiny creepy crawly monsters. Mythologically, spiders were viewed with great kindness and respect, likely due to their connection to fate, anyone who killed a spider was considered very loath person and spiders were used in folk tradition for things like knowing how much snow would be received that year and what new article of clothing one would receive soon.

Going back to ERL’s book, she relates the ‘color’ neacht with Nin. Neacht means clear/pure and comes from the IE root nigmeaning to wash. Once we understand neacht’s roots we can see that it fits conceptually quite nicely with nebos, which if you remember means clouds/mist. It gives us the idea of cleansing water, of cleanliness and purity which is just reinforced when we learn one of Núadha’s titles. Núadha the 96th king of Ireland whos decendents held the thrown until Cathair Mór was also known as Núadha Neacht  (Núasdha the pure or Núasdha of snow). The most famous story related to him is of course the Esnada Tige Buchet (“The melody of the House of Buchet”) in which Cathair Mór’s sons misuse the hospitality of his daughter’s foster family, impoverishing the foster family so badly that they must hide in a hut in the woods so as not to have their hospitality further abused.  Once Cathair Mór is dethroned the new king reinstates the foster family to their previous wealth and place of honor. The moral of this tale being not to misuse your kin, in Cathair Mór’s case allow your kin to misuse each other, or your community will quickly unravel.  So while neacht does not quite strike me as a ‘color’ in the traditional sense I completely support ERL’s connecting it with Nin, from both a etymological and mythological place.

Now if we take all of these major concepts that the Nin represents be it the alphabet as a whole, weaving/fate, or purity, cooperation and connection we can draw some strong conclusions. Nin is a bringing together, a connecting. Nin is the community which weaves themselves tighter together through kinship, skills, language, honest dealings and integrity. Nin is the whole. Nin is also the way in which we treat our connections. If we treat them with honor and honesty then they will do the same for us, we will protect and defend each other, we will be a tightly woven cloth which holds firm. If we misuse them, lie to them, disregard them then there will be space between us and we will quickly unravel and be useless. 

Nin aesthetic 

Sources:

-Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom by Erynn Rowan Laurie

-Indo-European Linguistics by Micheal Meier-Brügger

-A Social History of Ancient Ireland by Patrick Joyce

-The Folk-Lore of North-East Scotland by Walter Gregor

-The Annals of Ireland translated by Owen Connellan

-Táin Bó Cúailnge translated by Joseph Dunn

Photo

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Types of Witchcraft and Wicca

This lists the most common types of witches, but there are many more.

Alexandrian (Wicca) - This tradition was begun in the 1960s by Alex Sanders. Alex Sanders lived in England. He used what are known to be slightly changed Gardnarian traditions and calls himself the “King” of Witches. Covens involve both men and women.

British Traditional (Wicca)- This is, according to Silver RavenWolf a “mix of Celtic and Gardnarian beliefs.” Covens involve both men and women. One can study a course and receive a degree in British Traditional Witchcraft.

Celtic Wicca - Celtic Wicca focuses mainly on Celtic and Druidic gods and goddesses (along with a few other Anglo-Saxon pantheon). The rituals are formed after Gardnerian traditions with a stronger emphasis on nature. Celtic Wicca also puts much emphasis on working with elementals and nature spirits such as fairies and gnomes. Gods and Goddesses are usually called “The Ancient Ones.”

Caledonii - This was once know as the Hecatine Tradition. Traditional Scottish Witchcraft.

Ceremonial Witchcraft - This tradition is very exacting in its ritual. All rituals are usually followed by the book, to the letter and with much ceremony. Little emphasis is put on nature. This tradition may incorporate some Egyptian magic. Quabbalistic magic is often used in ceremonial witchcraft.

Dianic - Dianic can incorporate nearly any magical traditions, but emphasis is placed on the Goddess only with little or no mention of the God. Known as the “feminist” types of witchcraft.

Druidic - Neo-Druids are polytheistic worshipers of Mother Earth. Very little is known today about ancient Druidism and there are many gaps in the writings that have been found. Modern Druids practice their religion in areas where nature has been preserved - usually wooded areas. Druidic ritual often employs sacrifices to the Mother Goddess. These sacrifices often include grain, sometimes meat. These ritual sacrifices are often accompanied by a verse not unlike the following: “Earth Mother, giver of life we return to you a measure of the bounty you have provided may you be enriched and your wild things be preserved.”

Eclectic (Natural)- An eclectic witch mixes many different traditions together to suit their tastes and will not follow any one particular tradition. Whatever seems to work best for them is what is used, regardless of which magical practice it comes from. This is one of the most popular types of witches found today.

Gardnerian (Wicca) - Gardnerian witchcraft was begun in England and is Wiccan in nature. It was formed by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. Gerald Gardner was the first to publicize witchcraft in an effort to preserve the “old ways.”

Hereditary Witch (Natural or Wiccan) - A hereditary witch is a witch who is born into a witch family and brought up learning about witchcraft. Many witches claim to be hereditary witches when in fact, they are not. You must be brought up in a family of witches to be a hereditary witch.

Kitchen Witch (Natural) - A kitchen witch is one who practices magic having to deal with the home and practical life. Kitchen witches use many spells involving cooking, herbs, and creating magic through crafts. A kitchen witch is very much like a hedge witch. Kitchen Witches practice by home and hearth, mainly dealing with practical sides of the religion, magick, the elements and the earth.

Pictish - Pictish witchcraft is nature-based with little emphasis on religion, Gods, or Goddesses. It is much like Celtic witchcraft, only the traditions are Scottish. Pictish witches perform solitary and rarely, if ever work in groups or covens.

Pow-Wow - Here is a term rarely heard when referring to witchcraft. This tradition is based on old German magic. Today, it is considered a system of faith healing and can be applied to most any religion.

Seax-Wicca - This tradition was begun in 1973 by Raymond Buckland. Buckland and works on Saxon principles of religion and magic.

Shaman (Natural) - It is arguable as to whether shamanism is or is not witchcraft. It is included here because shamanism is a form of Paganism. Shamanism puts no emphasis on religion or on pantheon. Shamans work completely with nature: rocks, trees, animals, rivers, etc. Shamans know the Earth and their bodies and minds well and train many long years to become adept at astral travel and healing.

Solitary (Natural or Wiccan) - Solitary witches can be practitioners of nearly any magical system. A solitary works alone and does not join a group or coven. Often, solitaries choose to mix different systems, much like an eclectic witch. Solitaries can also form their own religious beliefs as they are not bound by the rules of a coven.

Strega - This type of witchcraft is said to have been started by a woman named Aradia in Italy in 1353. Aradia is known in some traditions as the “Goddess of Witches.”

Teutonic - A Nordic tradition of witchcraft that includes beliefs and practices from many cultures including Swedish, Dutch, and Icelandic.

Wicca - Probably the most popular form of witchcraft. Wicca is highly religious in nature and has a good balance between religion/ceremonial magic and nature. Wiccans believe in a God and Goddess who are equal in all things, although some may lean more toward the Dianic form of Wicca, worshipping only the Goddess or lowering the God to an “assistant” status. Wiccans commonly form covens and rarely work alone.

Satanic Witch:  Satanism can refer to a number of belief systems, from the worship of the Christian Devil, to occult/ritual magic and the “Left Hand Path” or the modern Satanism belief system of Anton LaVey. It is often associated in the public mind with demonology (the systematic study of, or belief in, demons and other malevolent beings), with black magic (a form of sorcery that draws on malevolent powers, or used for dark purposes or malevolent acts that deliberately cause harm in some way) and with the Black Mass (a parody of the religious service of the Catholic Church, with its ritual profanation of the Host and lurid sexual practices, sometimes used in the past as a symbolic opposition of the Christian, but not used in the current day by Satanists).

Theistic Satanism (or Traditional Satanism) is the belief that Satan is an actual deity or force worthy of reverence or worship. Theistic Satanists may consider their forebears to include figures such as La Voisin and Eliphas Lévi. Some view Satan as a human-like entity, some accept the ancient Roman image of Lucifer, and some imagine him as the image of the Greek god Pan. 

Different Types of Witches 

Augury Witch - Similar to a shaman in practice, the augury witch will help to direct those on a spiritual quest by interpreting the signs and symbols the traveler encounters.  The term derives from the official Roman augurs, whose function was not to foretell the future but to discover whether or not the gods approved of a proposed course of action by interpreting signs or omen such as the appearance of animals sacred to the gods. It is important to note that augury witches are not “fortune tellers”, as their gifts are of prophecy and not divination. In the context of prophecy, in his Scottish play Shakespeare’s witches appear as augury witches.

Ceremonial Witch -  One who combines both the practices of witchcraft and ceremonial magic. They may use a combination of disciplines drawn from the Old Ways, but will often employ more scientific precisions such as sacred mathematics and quantum mysticism as well.  They will also call upon an eclectic blend of spiritual entities, leaning towards archetypal figures representative of the energies they wish to manifest. They are more spiritually centered than most ceremonial magicians, using an Earth-centered path with focus on the Divine within.

Eclectic Witch - An individual approach in which the witch picks and chooses from many different traditions and creates a personalized form of witchcraft that meets their individual needs and abilities. They do not follow a particular religion or tradition, but study and learn from many different systems and use what works best for them.

Faery Witch - An eclectic witch who seeks to commune with faery folk and nature spirits in their magick workings. They have no organization or tradition and it has developed of its own accord through common practice. (Not to be confused with the ‘Feri Movement’

Green Witch - A practitioner of of witchcraft whose focus is on the use of natural items and places. The goal of the Green Witch is upon achieving magic through communion with Mother Nature and using Her energies.

Hedge Witch - Hedgecraft is a path that is somewhat shamanic in nature, as they are practitioners of an Earth-based spirituality. These are the ones who engage in spirit flight and journey into the Otherworld. They can, in this capacity, be very powerful midwives and healers. A bird of one kind or another is usually associated with the Hedge Witch, most commonly the raven and the goose. The term “hedge” signified the boundary of the village and represents the boundary that exists between this world and the spiritual realm.

Hereditary Witch - Also known as a Family Tradition Witch, it is someone who has been taught “The Old Ways ” as a tradition passed down through the generations of their family.

Kitchen (Cottage)Witch - A practitioner of witchcraft who uses the tools at hand to work their spells and create their rituals and who deals with the practical sides of religion, magick and the Elements of the Earth. Some who hear the term “Kitchen Witch” may think it is a magickal art confined only to the kitchen or cooking, but it is much more. It is about the finding of the sacred in everyday tasks, no matter how mundane they may appear to be. An increasingly popular type of witchcraft, it is about working with the energies of nature to make the hearth and home a secure and sacred place.

Solitary Witch (Solitaire) - This is one who practices alone, without a coven and without following any particular tradition. Sometimes they are among that class of natural witches whose skills have been developed in previous lifetimes. There is a legend among witches that after practicing for several lifetimes, the knowledge of “The Craft” is awakened upon passing puberty.

Wild Witch - (Usually Hereditary witches and will work on their own (solitaire) or in family groups, similar to, but not as strict in guidelines, as a Coven. They are healers, using things of the Earth to do their healing; including crystals, herbs, oils and potions. They do not usually worship any deities, but worship the Earth and the Moon. 

Wild Witches are not Wiccan, in fact Wild Witchery is much much older than Wicca. But since the days of old, Wild Witches have worked within villages to heal illnesses of the body and mind and perform midwifery.  They do not believe In harming anyone or anything.  Most Wild Witches will share their homes not only with pets, but also wildlife and native animals. They tend to live in the country as even modern day Wild Witches cannot bear the noise and bustle of cities and find it spiritually and psychically draining.

Most Wild Witches use natural tools for divination, such as water and crystals, rather than Tarot Cards or other modern tools. They believe in and share their homes with Fey of all kinds. Knowledge is usually passed down within families (generally to the first female of each generation, although in some families, the knowledge is passed down to all females). Most, if not all Wild Witches will be naturally psychically gifted, and the gifts are usually inherited only by the females in the family. 

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“Yet, no matter how deeply I go down into myself, my God is dark, and like a webbing made of a hundred roots that drink in silence.“ ― Rainer Maria Rilke 

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The Tagalog Pantheon (Part I/2) 

“The Tagalog pantheon consisted of many gods and goddesses adhering to various elements of nature and activities. They believed that the earth, sky, sea, and all living things were created by one god who was referred to by two names, Bathala Maykapal & Molyari/Malyari, “the creator and preserver of all things”. Under him were a number of different deities that served him and were directly prayed to by the ancient Tagalog, each with their own different responsibilities. There was Haik, the god of the sea, who they performed sacrifices of banquets and food asking him to protect voyagers out to sea from storms, granting them good weather and favorable winds. Then there was the goddess Idiyanale, the goddess of agriculture, who overlooked all activities of raising crops and animals. Aman Sinaya was the god who invented the art of fishing and was called upon by fishermen when casting their nets or preparing their fishhooks. The sisters Hanan, the goddess of the morning, and Tala, the goddess of the stars and the bright star, Venus. Laho, the naga deity who devoured the moon and sun, causing solar and lunar eclipses. People would scare Laho away by playing loud music and banging pots and gongs to free the sun and moon from the god. Mankukuktod was the god who protected coconut palms and was given offerings by tuba (a coconut alcoholic drink) tappers who wanted to climb up the tree to get the coconuts or else risk falling from the trunk of the tree. Then there was the god of hunters, Aman Ikabli, who the Tagalogs worshiped to help provide game such as deer and wild boars. Offerings of food were given to the god of the forests and fields, Uwinan Sana, who the Tagalogs prayed to when they passed through his domains, asking his permission to walk through and to not cause them harm as they do. These anito were only a handful of the old gods and goddesses the ancestors of the Tagalogs once worshiped and revered. The second half of the Tagalog pantheon will be in part two.”

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Finished him! Now, by request, here’s the pattern. Let me know if you have any questions. Note: I am not responsible for missing valuables that may or may not end up in your niffler’s pouch.

Materials: LB Collection Baby Alpaca in Silver Gray Heather, yellow fingering weight yarn, safety eyes (optional), stuffing, and size 3 dpns

Keep reading

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Herbal Tea Magic 🍃✨

there are plenty of ways to work to work a little magic into your day without doing a full on ritual, and your daily (hourly?) tea is one of them! here’s just a couple of suggestions with herbal correspondences.

mint -  for exorcism, healing, love, lust, protection, and wealth

peppermint -  for healing, love, psychic abilities, and purification.

spearmint -  for healing and love.

ginger -  for beauty, love, power, success, and wealth.

fennel -  for healing, protection, and purification.

licorice -  for fidelity, love, and lust.

cinnamon -  for divination, fortune, healing, power, prosperity, protection, psychic abilities, spirituality, wealth, and wisdom.

nettle - for exorcism, healing, lust, and protection.

vanilla -  for happiness, love, and lust.

anise - for, lust, protection, sleep, blessings, youth. 

lemon balm -  for healing, compassion, endings, fertility, happiness, healing, love, mental, psychic, success,and youth.

rosemary -  for exorcism, healing, love, lust, protection, and purification.

sage -  for protection, cleansing, and wisdom.

thyme -  for courage, healing, love, psychic abilities, and purification.

there are various blends or herbals teas, as well as with fruits and flowers, though often herbs can be steeped by themselves. what is known as chai tea, is traditional black tea mixed with cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. 

floral tea magic ✨  fruit tea magic ✨  general tea magic

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Witchcrafts for the Sea Witch

Because there’s more than one way to stay connected to your craft.

Seashell Runes

Seashell Spoons

Sea Witch Bath Recipe

Seaglass Windchime

Shell Gardens

Shell Candles

Ocean Candles

Driftwood Wands

Ocean Wreath

Crystal Seashells

Sea Chimes

Mermaid Shell Bathbombs

Mermaid Shampoo Bars

Seashell Hair Pins

Ocean in a Bottle

Ocean Sachet

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Gonna infuse this with some honey for my sore throat...

Fall Allergies ~ An Herbal Approach

Fall Allergies ~ An Herbal Approach

Seasonal allergies can really get you down, and over-the-counter meds can knock you out. Try these natural herbal remedies to soothe pollen induced headaches, scratchy throats, chapped skin, and more.

As allergy sufferers, we’re acutely aware of seasonal changes in air quality. Earth’s reawakening in spring brings us welcome warmth, but it also delivers not-so-welcome tree pollen. Summer’s riot…

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Mmmmm I'm gonna use this as a soul warming stew base...

Fire Cider Is Like Liquid Summer Warmth For The Darkness Of Winter

Fire Cider Is Like Liquid Summer Warmth For The Darkness Of Winter

With fall upon us, we all feel the pull to visit our local farmers and collect the bounty of the fields! One way to preserve some of our most powerful immune-enhancing foods is too steep them in raw apple cider vinegar. The health benefits of raw apple cider vinegar are many. From live enzymes and bacteria to a wealth of B-vitamins, what more could you ask for in a little immune enhancement?

We…

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This just cracks me up everytime I see it. 😊

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Does anyone have a good resource (preferably online) for the myth of Airmed’s cloak? I have children in my life who need it and an herbalist boyfriend who could use some more mythology in his profession.

Please share a link?

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I once stepped on a fairy ring, squashing the Shrooms... I left offerings for weeks after until the next full moon before I felt safe enough to have forgiveness

Irish people; The faeries aren’t real

Irish people; No fucking way will I go in that faerie ring

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That is not a daughter freyja would be proud of

Frejyas-daughter and shieldmaiden-of-dixie are both Nationalists who are "heathens", just a heads up.

both verified

freyjas-daughter’s first post (on checking at this moment) is a comic of a nazi putting… pretty much everybody else into a gas chamber and pushing the button.

shieldmaiden-of-dixie took a bit more scrolling (but not much) since there were a bunch of anon hate asks - which is a dick move, guys, and really not worth it - but the first I found with quick skimming was a post about a “mixed race” who had been “cut off” from traditions and was whining about it. 

–mod gwwh

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We are not married but...

Legally, my boyfriend and I are not married. We aren't even technically engaged, but in my mind, he is my husband. In my heart, in my soul, I love him with the strength of a thousand suns, and our relationship is more than that of a courtship. He is my husband, I am his wife, and in the eyes of the gods we are so. This I firmly believe. Just had to get that off my chest

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Because most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, NASA conducted a Clean Air Study to determine which common houseplants are the best for filtering harmful toxins like ammonia and formaldehyde from the air.  

**Please note: Several of these plants are known to be toxic to cats, dogs and other pets. If you are a pet owner, please do check the toxicity of plants before introducing them to your home.**

Source Source 2