runningw-thewolves

[runningw-thewolves]

Herbs & Correspondences A-F

This is going to be a looonnnnnggg post, I have gotten all the herbs I can find/remember the correspondences of herbs in alphabetical order, so I might actually break it down into sections and link them on each post at the top.

Acorn - Good luck, personal power, protection and wisdom. Dried acorns are a natural amulet for youthfulness. Associated with Litha. Element water. 

Agrimony - Shielding and hex-breaking, aids sleep, brings luck towards you and is powerful in spell reversal.  Element Air. 

Alder - Helps you to face up to things you are avoiding, divination, teaching especially anything arty and weather magic. Element Fire. 

Alfalfa - Money, prosperity and a happy home, also anti-hunger. Generosity and luck.  Element Earth. 

Allspice - Draws money and business success.  Aids compassion, luck and healing. Element Fire.   

Angelica - Also called Archangel. It is a very powerful protection herb, healing, creates harmony and courage and helps in exorcisms.  Aids vision. Element Air. 

Apple - Garden magic, love, healing and wisdom, also vanity, marriage and beauty. Associated Mabon & Samhain. Element water. 

Ash - Spells relating to the sea, protection, and luck. Make your Yule log from ash and burn to bring prosperity. Yggdrasil was an Ash tree.  Element water. 

Basil - Also called witch's herb. Use in spells for Love, exorcism, wealth, sympathy, and protection. Associated with Imbolc. Aids astral projection. Element Fire. 

Bay Leaf - Protection, success, purification, strength, wisdom and healing, also increases psychic powers. Element Fire. 

Beech - Happiness, inspiration and divination. Represents the Green Man.  Element Air. 

Belladonna - Also Called: Deadly Nightshade. Toxic. Use for forgetting past loves. Protection, beauty and original flying ointments. Adds energy to rituals.   Element Water. 

Benzoin - Purification, prosperity, and helps to soothe tension by dispelling anger and lessening irritability, de stressing, helps depression, concentration and astral projection. Element Air.  

Bergamot - Money, prosperity and sleep.  Protects from both evil and illness. Good luck and wealth. Increases magical power.  Element Fire.  

Birch - Protection, exorcism and purification. Dispels lightning, infertility, and the evil eye. Associated with Yule. Element Water.  

Black Pepper - Banishing negativity, exorcism, and offers protection and help with inner strength.  Element Fire  

Blackthorn - Exorcisms, warding off negative spirits and general protection.  Associated with Samhain. Element Earth.  

Bladderwrack - Protection, sea and wind spells, attracts money, psychic powers, and customers to your business. Element Water. 

Blessed Thistle - or Holy Thistle. Purification, protection against negativity and evil, hex breaking and aids vitality.  Carry on you for strength and protection. Element Earth. 

Blueberry - Protection of children, keeps evil out, and strengthens the aura.  Associated with the Great Spirit. Element Water. 

Borage Flower - Self Courage, peace, calm, self-love and strength. Element Air. 

Burdock - Also called Beggar’s buttons. Used for cleansing magic and warding off negativity. Protection, healing and persistence spells.  Element Water.  

Calendula - Also called Marigold. It attracts success and justice in legal matters. Increases psychic/spiritual powers and aid prophetic dreams. Dispels negativity.  Element Fire.   

Cardamom - Lust, love, and fidelity. Sweetens the personality   Use in handfasting's. Element Water.  

Carnation - Protection, strength, healing, enhancing magical powers, and achieving balance.   Element Fire.  

Catnip - Also called Nepeta. Use when working with animals.  Draws love, luck and happiness, also used in beauty magic.  Associated with Bast. Element Water. 

Cedarwood - Luck, strength and power.  It helps increase money and protection. Also healing.    Associated with Mabon. Element Earth. 

Cedar Berries - Also Called: Juniper Berries.  Protective, cleansing and repels negativity very well. Used in healing rites.  Element Fire.  

Celandine - Cures depression, treats piles, improves circulation. Brings about Joy and happiness. Solar Magic.  Element Fire. 

Chamomile - Love, sleep, protection and purification, also reduce stress.  Use for meditation work and to attract money. Solar Magic. Element Water. 

Chervil - Helps healing, flatulence and superstition.  It is considered the herb for bringing in new life.  Element Water.  

Chickweed - Also called Witches Grass. Use in moon spells. Also good for animal magic, relationships, love and fertility. Element Water.  

Chili - Fidelity, love and passion.  Also hex breaking. Element Fire.  

Cinnamon - Also called Sweet Wood. Use for Solar magic.  Meditation and astral projection. Increases spirituality, success, healing, protection, power, luck, strength, and prosperity. Element Fire.  

Clover, Red - Also called Trefoil. used in any spells relating to marriage, love, lust and fidelity. Success is linked to money.  Element Air.  

Clove - Use to protect, banish negative forces, and divination.  It also helps with any teeth spells. Aids money and draws love.  Element Fire.  

Coltsfoot - Aids wealth.  Works with peace, tranquility, prosperity, and love. Associated with Brighid. Element Water. 

Comfrey - Also called Slippery Root.  Supports magic healing and safe travel. Use for money, endurance and stability spells. Element Water. 

Coriander - Love, lust and health.  Used as an aphrodisiac and to heal migraines. Brings peace & protection to the home. Element Fire.   

Cornflower - Used primarily as an Ink for your Book of Shadows. It is the patron herb of herbalists. Use in rituals to give honor to the mother of all nature, also connected to Rainbow and Crystal children.  Element Earth. 

Cumin - Fidelity, protection, and exorcism.  Also used in love spells and food which can also promote fidelity.  Element Earth   

Cypress - Associated with death and mourning; stimulates healing and helps overcome the pain of loss.  Other properties include self-esteem, protection, love and banishing nightmares. Element Earth. 

Damiana - Lust, sex magic and attracting love. It is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Use for astral projection and spirit quests.  Element Fire. 

Dandelion Leaf - Used to summon spirits, make wishes on, healing, purification and defeating negativity.  Element Air.  

Dandelion Root - Magical uses include divination, wishes and calling spirits. It also enhances dreams and works well in astral projection. Element Air. 

Dock Root- (Yellow). Used to release baggage no longer needed. Also, fertility, healing and money magic. Clears blockages and cuts bindings.  Solar Magic. Element Air. 

Echinacea - Adds a boost to clairvoyant and psychic abilities. Adds powerful strength to spells used in money drawing magic, fertility and abundance and provides the user with protective power. Element Earth. 

Elder Tree - Sleep, releasing enchantments, protection against negativity, banishing. 

Elderflower & Berry - Peace, protection, and healing, plus aids in exorcisms.  Element Water.  

Elm - Energizes the mind and balances the heart. Aids love spells and offer protection from lightning. Element Water. 

Evening Primrose - Ideal for moon magic. Also use in love charms and to attract fae.  Element Water.  

Eyebright - Increases mental power, psychic ability and inner vision.  Element Air.  

Fennel Seed - Helps with meditation.  Healing, purifying and protection.  Also linked with new motherhood and offers inner strength. Element Air.  

Feverfew - Aids poor health.  Protection against accidents when travelling and protection when working with spirit.  Carry on you for inner strength. Element Water. 

Flax Seed - Also called Linseed. Used for money spells and healing rituals. It helps with beautiful spells and offers protection.  Element Fire. 

Fleawort - Healing, Cleansing, strength and power. The Goddess' herbs. Element Earth. 

Frankincense Resin - Use in solar magic. Associated with Beltane, Lammas, and Yule. Use in rituals and magic associated with self-control, spirituality and protection.  Also regulates emotions and helps depression. Element Earth  

Fumitory - Associated with the underworld and used at Samhain. Linked to spells for monetary gain, consecration and protection. Element Earth.  

[runningw-thewolves]

List of Random Crap I Associate with Loki

Sequel to the random crap I associate with Sigyn

- Horror Movies, especially those in the slasher genre (Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, Friday the 13th, Child’s Play, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, American Psycho, Psycho etc)

- On that note; Ice Nine Kills Songs (including “Stabbing in the Dark”, “Rainy Day”, “Enjoy Your Slay”, “IT Is The End”, “Farewell II Flesh”, “A Grave Mistake”, “The American Nightmare” etc)

- Random bursts of chaos when with friends (e.g. that one time I started a “penis war” with my mate Jaco)

- Every single time Billy says “Hello. I want to play a game.”

- Gomez Addams (if Sigyn is Morticia, then logical conclusion is Loki is Gomez.)

- That Scene thing of “I’m the randomest XD Rawr! Tacos!”

- Cards Against Humanity (I’ve long been considering writing a fanfic of the family playing CAH cause it’s such a funny image to me)

- Talking for 90 hours about my special interests (e.g. Sonic, Saw, Ice Nine Kills, Stray Kids)

- Those K-Pop compilations of the idols forgetting they are idols and being chaotic little shits <3

- Jumping genres in music at break neck speed

- Long story but; I have a horror movie themed oracle set and it has a card for IT called “The Trickster”. It’s basically “You are being tricked” and then when reversed “Are you really being tricked, or are you just being told that you are?” THAT. That specific card. Loki. ‘Nough said.

- Being so happy I start stimming

- Memes. Just… Memes. Do I need to say anymore?

- That fucking “Heavy is Dead” Video. Peak Loki humour.

- TV shows that are random for the sake of it (e.g. Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, Regular Show)

- “Eh, fuck it.” Yes. Just that phrase. Any time you say “Fuck it”.

#loki pagan #loki #norse paganism #norse pagan #paganism #norse heathen #heathenry #pagan #lokean #lokeans #norse heathenry

[runningw-thewolves]

𝒮𝒾𝑔𝓎𝓃, 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘭.

#yoooooo <3 this is absolutely sick!

[runningw-thewolves]

🌸 Subtle Sigyn Worship 🐺

Drink water; make sure you're hydrated

Take care of yourself physically and emotionally

Give yourself the same love that you show to others

Keep your space clean; take care of your home

Make your space your own; make your space somewhere you feel comfortable in

Do household chores

Have a wolf stuffed animal

Have imagery of wolves, overflowing cups, or breaking chains around

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Take a self-care bath

Drink a calming tea or warm drink; add honey if you can

Eat a comfort meal, especially one from childhood

Support children-focused organizations; Make-A-Wish foundation and Save The Children are great charity organizations

Donate toys, kids' clothes, and the like

Donate to/support local food banks

Volunteer at a homeless or animal shelter

Ground yourself within nature; meditate in nature

Be kind to children; play with them if offered

Prioritize your well-being

Engage frequently with self-care and self-love

Keep a self-care/self-love journal

Give a kind gesture to a loved one; cook them a meal, give them a gift, take them out somewhere nice, etc.

At the end of the day, pour one cup of water into an empty bowl or cup

Cook a warm meal for someone in need

Bake pastries for yourself or your loved ones

Engage with childhood media that you loved

Revisit old childhood toys; maybe purchase a toy you always wanted as a kid

Practice forgiveness, especially towards yourself

Spend time with loved ones, especially any kids in your life

-

I may add more later on! For now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Sigyn. I hope you enjoyed this, and take care! 🩷

Link to my Subtle Worship Master list

[runningw-thewolves]

🐍 Subtle Jormungandr Worship 🌍

Own a map or world globe; can even be a world from a game or something, if you want

Support environmental or ocean preservation organizations

Clean up any local bodies of water or beaches

Clean up your local neighborhood or just pick up litter in general

Have a snake stuffed animal; I think he'd enjoy any animal, though, since he encircles the earth, especially sea animals

Have snake, globe, or ocean imagery around

Have a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Keep a picture of him in your wallet

Wear jewelry that reminds you of him

If you own a reptile, take care of/play with them

Start a personal routine of some kind; skin care, body care, before bedtime, morning, etc.

Be gentle with yourself; learn to forgive your past mistakes

Make a list of your personal strengths and all the difficult situations you got through; take a moment to recognize and honor your strength

Embrace change; take new risks, and try new hobbies/skills

Engage with childhood media/toys; honor the child within you

Volunteer at animal shelters

Start a garden; tend to plants

Explore nature (safely!!!); visit a nature preserve or go on a nature walk/hike

Engage with peaceful activities and things that help you ground, such as drawing, painting, or crocheting

Sit outside in nature for a while; meditate there; find peace within your natural surroundings

Collect cool rocks, crystals, or gemstones

Study your local flora and fauna

Help to rid your area of invasive plants (safely!!!)

Watch nature and ocean documentaries

Practice mindfulness; ground yourself often

Take care of yourself physically

Practice lots of self-care; be kind to your body

Cook yourself a meal, especially comfort food

Drink something soothing, especially herbal tea

Eat any vegetables, herbs, or fruits you've grown or that a local farmer has grown

Fall asleep/meditate to the sounds of the ocean

Go swimming or dip your feet in a body of water; ocean, lake, river, etc.

Leave a glass of salt water on your windowsill; pour it out at the end of every day (do so safely; some plants react badly to salt water)

Take care of your space; make sure your space is one that you feel comfortable in

Take time to yourself everyday to decompress; be comfortable within your own presence

Practice setting healthy boundaries with others; some boundaries need not be spoken

-

I may add to this later on! For the time being, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Jormungandr. I hope this helps someone, and take care! 💚

Link to my Subtle Worship Master list

[runningw-thewolves]

THIS THIS THIS

☀️Deities☀️

I see so many people criticizing others over their relationships, or lack thereof, with their deities, so here are some reminders:

Not having deities is okay.

Having just a devotional relationship with your deities is okay.

Having a working relationship with your deities is okay.

Playing games with your deities is okay.

Harmless jokes with your deities are okay.

Doing fun things with your deities is okay.

Doing devotional offerings for your deities is okay.

Giving physical offerings to your deities is okay.

Not being able to do certain offerings for deities is okay.

Having an altar for your deities is okay, no matter the size.

Not having an altar for your deities is okay.

Laughing with your deities is okay.

Crying with your deities is okay.

Having genuine conversations with your deities is okay.

Being unable to hear/see deities is okay.

Being able to hear/see deities is okay.

Not being able to communicate through divination is okay.

Using divination as a key element in communication is okay.

Not calling on deities during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities to help during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities for help in general is okay.

This is your relationship with your deities in your practice. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. 🫶

It's 2am, please forgive me if there are any mistakes!

[runningw-thewolves]

🔥 Subtle Loki Worship 🐎

Sitting around a bonfire or campfire, especially with loved ones

Being kind to children; playing with them if offered

Supporting organizations focused on marginalized groups; spreading the word, donating, volunteering, etc.

Supporting organizations focused on children and children's safety

Volunteering at a homeless shelter or an animal shelter

Teaching yourself that it's ok to ask for help, even if you don't receive it at first

Seeking out a community you can join; this will help with creating a support system as well; LGBTQ+ support groups, gamer groups, fandom groups, etc.

Having horse, snake, raven, or wolf imagery around; having skull imagery is also cool, but may not be acceptable in all households

Engaging with your childhood media or toys

Having literally any stuffed animals

Keeping a list of jokes and quotes that make you laugh

Supporting animal conservation efforts

Learning to accept yourself for who you are; embracing unique aspects of your identity, especially those that are looked down upon by others

Showing support for marginalized groups, such as being an LGBTQ+ ally or purchasing from POC small business owners

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses; finding healthy ways to acknowledge them both

Learning new ways of coping with emotional turmoil, including mental illness related situations

Listening to scary stories

Having a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Collecting lost or interesting objects (so long as it's not reclaimed first lol)

Being a little mischievous/silly with loved ones

Finding little ways to express yourself if you can't do so openly (e.g. wearing a bracelet with the colors of your gender identity, wearing shoelaces with pride flag colors that aren't easily recognizable, etc.)

Being kind to yourself when you're having a difficult time

Learning to forgive yourself for past mistakes you've made

Sleeping with comfy blankets

Drinking hot chocolate

Eating candies and sweets or spicy foods

-

May add more later! So far, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Loki. Hope this helps, and take care, y'all!

[runningw-thewolves]

Arborists Advise: How to Identify Your Trees

How to ID your trees by looking at bark, leaves, needles, scales… and apps

Are you struggling to identify your trees in your back garden? Not sure what you have, how big it will grow, when you should prune it and how to take care of a tree? Well the first thing you need to know is how to identify it!

There are over 23,000 different types of trees in the world, from towering Sequoias to tiny bonsai trees; and 7,500 different types of these trees are found in Ireland. All trees have clues and features that can help with identification. You just need to know what to look out for. This quick guide will give you a few basic hints and tips on tree recognition.

Read below to find out all the basic principles of how to ID your trees! If you still need advice from professional and experienced arborists - tree surgeons, feel free to contact us.

Tree Morphology

Woody plant identification is based on morphology. This is the size, shape and appearance of your tree. Some trees are easily recognisable from afar: Compare the distinctive heavily-spread crown of an Oak, to the light narrow shape of a silver birch, for example, very different!

The morphology of a tree can be affected by its location. Trees in woodland can’t spread out, so they often have narrower crowns compared to trees in parks with lots of space around them.

Leaves of a tree

Leaf type, shape, appearance, texture and colour are all key characteristics when identifying trees. They are also often the most obvious feature, particularly in spring and summer.

The leaves of broadleaved trees fall into two basic types - simple and compound. Recognising the difference between a simple leaf ad a compound leaf is the first step of identification.  A leaf is determined by the presence of a bud where it attaches to a stem.  

A Simple Leaf

A ‘simple’ leaf, is what you would commonly recognise a leaf to be. It is just a single leaf that is only made up of one part. It is not subdivided into leaflets (1 blade, needle etc). It is always attached to a twig by its stem or the petiole. The margins, or edges, of the simple leaf can be smooth, jagged, lobed, or parted. Lobed leaves will have gaps between lobes but will never reach the midrib.

Common trees with Simple Leaves

Sycamore

Hawthorn

Maple

Birch

Oak

A Compound Leaf

In contrast to a single leaf, a compound leaf has two or more leaflets, which are attached to the middle vein and have their own stalks. It is sometimes confusing to know whether you’re looking at a leaf or a leaflet. In these situations, locate lateral buds along the twig or branch. All leaves, whether simple or compound, will have a bud node at the place of petiole attachment to the twig. Compound leaves have a bud node at the base of each stem or petiole but no bud node at the base of each leaflet on midribs and the rachis of the compound leaf.  

Compound leaf formations can either be ‘palmate’ or ‘pinnate’.

Pinnate are feather-shaped where leaflets are attached in pairs along the central vein.

Palmate are palm-shaped, like the outstretched fingers of a hand.

Getting confused ?  Look at the images (in the original post) to better understand the different arrangements!

Common trees with palmate leaves

Horse chestnut

Maple (Acer sp.)

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Common trees with pinnate leaves

Rowan

Ash

Elder

Hickory

Walnut

Identifying some tree species requires recognising relatively minor leaf, bud or twig characteristics. For example, the type of leaf margin, the shape of the leaf base or leaf apex, the presence of hairs on the upper or lower leaf surfaces, or even the colour of the twigs.

Look at the image below to see the different leaf margins. You will recognise some leaves, such as the Oak leaf, which is lobed and the Beech tree has serrated margins etc.

One little trick arborists like to use in identification, is to narrow down the genus of the tree, based on whether the tree has an ‘opposite’, ‘whorled’ or ‘alternate’ leaf and bud arrangement.

Evergreen trees all look the same! Not for a professional arborist.

If the foliage on the tree is needles or scales then you are probably looking at a conifer. A conifer is a cone-bearing tree. The needles and scales of conifers are also considered types of leaves.

Common Conifers include:

Pine

Fir

Cypress

Larch

Spruce families.

Needles & Scales

Most conifer trees have needles or scales present all year that can be used for identification. One of the few exceptions is European larch which loses its needles in winter. Pines, Spruces, Firs, Cedars and Larches have needles. They can be different shapes, sizes and be arranged differently on twigs. Pines have needles, usually borne in clusters of two, three or five. Spruces and Firs produce their needles singularly. Spruce starts with an ’S’, making it easier to remember that their needles are short, sharp, single and square.

The needles of firs detach from the stem, leaving a circular ‘pad’, whereas Spruce needles leave a tiny stalk. Other conifers may have awl-like or scale-like foliage. Flattened needles could mean your tree is a Yew or whorls of three needles may be indicative of juniper. Larch needles are arranged in clusters. Species of the cypress family have scales. These are flattened and shield-shaped that overlap on the twigs.

Palms are grasses not trees!

Palms are classified as monocots, and as such are related to grasses. The variety within palms is remarkable. There are thousands of species, different one being native to each different continent (except Antarctica). Despite being related to grasses, Palms can be identified in similar ways to trees. Their leaves - known as fronds, are compound and either in pinnate or palmate formation.

Most of the common species are single stem (instead of multi-stemmed). Some are shrubby, others are vine-like. There are species that can grow over 200ft (65m) tall! Coconut palms produce the largest seeds of any plant, and they float allowing them to travel from island to island.

Most palm species are native to tropical or sub-tropical rainforests, but some do survive here in Ireland! The loop through wild country in the Ring of Kerry area, around the Iveragh Peninsula, have palm trees. Areas like Glengarriff, who luxuriate in the warm waters of the gulf stream, have wonderful displays of palms for example!

Bark

In the winter time , when leaves aren’t present on deciduous trees, then bark can be a great  aid to identifying trees. Take a closer look at the appearance, texture, markings and colour of the bark. What colour is it? Bark isn’t just brown, it can be grey, white or green! It develops over time as the tree ages, becoming more interesting, gnarled, and fissured as the tree gets older. Does your tree’s bark have a pattern of ridges or depressions, peeling flakes or is it fissured, smooth or shiny?

There are some brilliant apps for bark identification, so you can download one of these if easier. Good identification apps are listed at the bottom of this  page.  

The difference between young Oak bark and ancient Oak bark

Tree identification: Use all your senses!

Tree identification is sometimes based on more than visual senses. Smell, and even taste, may be useful to determine unique characteristics of twigs, leaves, flowers or fruit. Tropical arborists often have to consider the colour the sap, or other obscure characteristics to distinguish similar looking species.

All though using leaves as your identity giver is the easiest option; it is important to use all available information to identify your tree. If you think your leaf looks like an Oak leaf, but you really aren’t sure, then take a step back and look at the tree’s form. An Oak tree, to use this example, will have a spreading habit and may have Spanish moss growing on it.

Using Books, Keys & Tech

Many trees and shrub reference books use identification keys. This is the premise that most tree identification apps work off too. These are used to systematically obtain the identification of the plant, by analysing the shape, texture, arrangement of leaves, bud characteristics and twig shapes (i.e the morphology of the tree).

A few notes of caution about relying on keys:

A certain level of expertise and understanding of the terms used in keys is necessary (all explained above!)

Owing to seasonal differences in plant colour and morphology, the plant may not match its written characteristics annotated in the book, or uploaded onto app software. Sometimes tree identification requires a more… holistic approach.

Some apps and books only have generic trees listed, rather than trees specific and native to your location; and thus may not recognise them. Nevertheless, it is always helpful, and quite fun to use books and apps for a go-to reference point.

Good apps for Tree identification

Woodland Trust - British Trees ID app

Leafsnap - Plant identification app

Plantnet - Plant identification app

How can an arborist help?

Arborists are excellent at identifying trees as they have been trained to have the fundamental, and essential, knowledge of woody plant anatomy.  Although arborists usually concentrate on leaves and overall form when identifying trees and shrubs; botanical identification is often based more on the reproductive characteristics - i.e the flowers and the fruit.

A good arborist has learnt to identify trees using many characteristics- obvious ones that you can see too, if you take a good look at your trees. These include bark, buds, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit and even scent! Spotting key characteristics enables an arborist to identify trees in any season- even when deciduous trees are all stripped back and bare in the winter time.

We hope this blog will aid in your understanding of tree terminology. If you feel totally out of your depth then do not hesitate to contact us, as we have trained arborists who will happily help you out!

[runningw-thewolves]

Hey there. Normalize unconventional divination or worship. Just because it's not in a book or an article does not invalidate what helps you.

Is your relationship with your deity different from other practitioners? Who cares. It's your personal journey. This isn't an organized religion, you have the ability to pace yourself, think outside the box and learn what works for you as an individual.

[runningw-thewolves]

Hot take but you can’t learn about paganism without also learning about white supremacy and how it uses pagan religions to push hate group agendas all over the world today. If you don’t learn about the connections between the two and how it operates, your ignorance enables white supremacists to keep on doing it and using it to recruit others. People in our community who do nothing and stay silent are literally a part of the problem, there is no opting out whatsoever. Divorcing the two makes the issue repeat itself over and over and over again.

It’s not hard to include this in your research and stay aware. It’s the bare minimum.

[runningw-thewolves]

Enchanting things with touch -

A lot of witchcraft seems to be focused on visualisation as a means of imbuing things with magic, energy work seems almost entirely written to suit those who can visualise images.  I am extremely tactile, I am a touchy feely person with busy hands so I decided to share how I “enchant” items.

Enchantment in my book means to take an object and make it magical, whether it be a charm, a ward, an agent of the spell itself.

Kissing things - your lips are far more sensitive than your fingers, they are also very close to your nose so you can incorporate smell into this, too. Take the item, and bring it too your lips gently, place a plush firm kiss whilst focusing on planting your into into the item.

Stroking or brushing - I have heard people try knot magic by braiding their hair, my hair is too short for this, but you could start by brushing your hair. Really smoothing it out, deeply brushing hair or even fur is a great way to transfer magic from your mind to the hands to the object, brushing is very therupeutic and could almost be a trance inducing activity. When I had hair I could sit on, it was a wonderful sensory experience to hand brush it after a wash. 

You could also feel the surface of your item by smoothing it with you hands, really get to know the texture, let the magic explore the grain of the wood, the crevices in the stone or the cool touch of the metal.

Crumbling something - You could do this with breadcrumbs for kitchen magic or a bath bomb for bath magic (I wouldn’t crumble a bath bomb imo but I have heard some people prefer to do that.) Guide your intent to your hands and let it over whelm the object in your palms.

Stepping on something - This could be very destructive and great for curses.

Walking around it - Walking around an object features a lot in folk lore, perhaps you could use it to slowly build up intent and magical energy within you? 

Throwing or juggling - Juggling is a great skill to learn and I can well and truly say kinetic energy is magical very powerful, throwing and catching something in the air until your satisfied is a fantastic way of enchantment, the weight as you catch it in your hand and watching it fly in the air is just fantastic.

Rubbing it to give it body heat - This is very physical, you can feel the warmth you’ve transferred to this object and its very responsive as well.

[runningw-thewolves]

link to pdf 

[runningw-thewolves]

I just uploaded my sixth design (Loki) so just to remind ya'll; if you've been looking for Emo Pagan designs on shirts I've got you covered (cause I have wanted this for years!) As you can see, I primarily have a focus on the Norse Gods as I am Norse Pagan myself, however I have done Persephone and plan to do more Greek and non-Norse Gods!

All six of the designs are on shirts that go up to 5XL (male cut) and 3XL (women cut) - for reference, I am a 4XL in the UK and 5XL (male cut) is a bit big on me. (Something I care about being a plus size gal.)

#norse paganism #norse pagan #heathenry #norse heathen #loki #loki pagan #fenrir pagan #fenrir #paganism #jormungandr #jormungandr pagan #norse mythology #hel #hel pagan #persephone #greek gods #greek mythology #persephone pagan #freyja #heathen #norse gods #freyja pagan #hellenic gods #hellenic deities #hellenic pagan #rawring 20s #rawr xd #rawring twenties #rawr x3 #rawr :3

[runningw-thewolves]

Jormungandr_2020- aga_ulan

Here's my interpretation of Jormungandr son of Loki.

#jormungandr #jormungandr pagan

[runningw-thewolves]

Stray Kids X Fenrir Post (LONG POST)

(Cause why the Hell not?)

Today I found out that 1) someone made a Fenrir based tattoo sleeve design for Bang Chan and 2) not only has Bang Chan seen it, he has stated he might possibly get it. Now, I am a STAY, a Norse Pagan and a follower of Fenrir. I think you can figure out what my brain was doing processing all this.

(Also; THERE HAS BEEN HINTS TO NORSE MYTHOLOGY IN STRAY KIDS MUSIC VIDEOS!? STAY, do a wolf some assistance and pinpoint me to the videos and moments cause I NEED MY STRAY KIDS NORSE/VIKING CONTENT. Anyways...)

I am very Autistic when it comes to several of my favourite things coming together and creating a *chef's kiss* moment. This is no exception. It's why INK are my favourite band (metal, Emo and horror together? YES PLEASE) and now I have Stray Kids, Norse mythology AND LITERALLY MY FUCKING RELIGION? Holy fuck! *insert brain melt moment from Indiana Jones here*

So, I figured; let's talk about some of Stray Kids past works and Fenrir at the same time. Yep, a Stray Kids Fenrir themed playlist in the format of a Tumblr post by someone with Autism currently losing their damn mind.

Before we begin, let's get everyone acquainted who may be unfamiliar.

The Binding of Fenrir

'The Binding of Fenrir' is arguably the most famous tale involving Fenrir. Fenrir is the eldest child to Loki and Angrboda, his younger siblings being the Midgard Serpent, Jormungandr (who has beef with Thor, to keep it brief) and the future death Goddess, ruler and caretaker of the dead and arguably an important figure in Baldur's tragedy, Hel (or Hela).

Why was Odin interested in Fenrir? For one simple reason; he had been told a prophecy where a large and powerful wolf would kill him. I should point out this part of Odin and Fenrir's story is a very medieval trope of the paranoid king and his son destined to kill him. This case is no different; the downfall of the king is because of his own paranoia. Everything he does to try and prevent his downfall only solidifies it into existence. It's a common belief among many of us Heathens that Fenrir might have never considered going after Odin if Odin had just left Fenrir alone the whole time. Hell, there was the distinct possibility that Fenrir could've likely been an ally to Odin and the Aesir if it weren't for their fear and paranoia.

So, how does Fenrir get bound? Odin and a few others ride to the Iron Wood, the home of the Jotunn and Chieftess of the Chieftains of the Iron Wood, Angrboda, and forcefully take her children from her. Jormungandr strikes and either Odin or Thor (heavily debated) throws Jormungandr into the oceans of Midgard. Hel is immediately exiled from Asgard and sent to what is often dubbed 'Helheim'. Fenrir was kept in Asgard, primarily to keep an eye on him. He was scorned and mocked and treated with fear by the Gods, and no one dare approach him to feed him. Aside from one God; Tyr, the God of Justice. (Also a God of War himself but ssh.) Tyr befriended the young wolf and fed him.

Naturally, Fenrir grew. And very quickly. He soon domineered over the buildings of Asgard and the Gods grew paranoid of his strength and size. It was then decided for him to be bound. They tried on three separate occasions, telling Fenrir it was a game. The first time was some normal, ordinary chains. Fenrir broke those with a single movement of his paw. The second was a reinforced chain. These were a little tougher but they too were shattered. The Gods then got in contact with the Dwarves to create for them a special chain, named Gleipnir. This chain was presented to Fenrir, and its appearance - similar to that of a ribbon or thread - immediately made Fenrir suspicious. He only agreed to have himself bound if one person were to lose their hand should they go back on their word. Tyr was the one who offered (this is a HUGE deal, as Tyr is basically associated with business transactions, oaths and the likes. Loki even goes on to call this out in the poem 'Lokasenna' (Loki's Flyting)). Naturally, Fenrir is bound, he can't break free, Tyr loses an arm. Fenrir snaps at the laughing Gods' ankles and Odin shoves a sword through Fenrir's jaws. Fenrir will only be freed by the violent thrashing of his brother come Ragnarok, to which Fenrir will kill Odin. Some sources also say Fenrir eats the sun and moon, however this is a tricky subject as that act is often attested to two other wolves. There's plenty of theories but for this post, they are irrelevant.

Stray Kids Everywhere All Around The World

Stray Kids first became known by a survival TV show in late 2017. At the time, there was nine members. (For the sake of avoiding drama and cause the matter is done, I will be talking about Woojin but sticking to the facts. Everything from the drama was false (which I learned the hard way and am still trying to learn from); do not attempt to bring up the controversy in reblogs or replies or I will block you.) The members included (in order, starting with team leader then oldest to youngest); Bang Chan, Kim Woojin, Lee Minho, Seo Changbin, Hwang Hyunjin, Han Jisung, Lee Felix, Kim Seungmin, and Yang Jeongin. The group would debut in 2018 with the track "District 9". Upon debut, most of the members would continue using their names except for the following; Minho (would debut as Lee Know), Jisung (would debut as Han) and Jeongin (would debut as I.N.). Kim Woojin left the group in late 2019 around the time of the "Double Knot"/"Levanter" promotions. (Hence forth, Woojin is irrelevant. This is where we shall leave any mention of Woojin hence forth.

Stray Kids would go on to become a pretty big deal, even winning the competition TV show 'Kingdom' (let's not go over the whole MAMA bullshit, that would take a whole tray of paracetamol to get through), leading to the band being noticed by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. In the past year, several of the members have appeared or modeled for various designer brands (ignoring the politics of this for now; good on them for their success however).

Bang Chan and Fenrir's Connection

As was mentioned in the TikTok I linked earlier, Bang Chan is the member of the group who was a trainee for the longest amount of time. Chan had been training under JYP Entertainment for seven years by the time of the pre-debut TV show. Chan has mentioned several times in the past the anger and sadness he felt, connecting with other trainees only for them to leave (either from being fired, changing career paths or debuting before him - this was especially noted to be the case with groups TWICE and GOT7, where Chan is friends with members of the groups and even shared a dorm room with members of GOT7). It's not hard to imagine the amount of pressure Chan was under to debut on the survival show. Or the amount of pressure he put on himself and the rest of Stray Kids. This amount of pressure would rear its head when members Lee Know and Felix were eliminated (but would be brought back later and debut with the group). A clip from Felix's elimination gives a glimpse into how hard Chan was on himself.

I will not speculate Chan's thoughts or feelings, but if you dig into it, you can come to some conclusions quickly based on the surrounding context and what we know about Chan and Felix's friendship post-debut.

Fenrir is bound and thus cannot be free to show his true strength and power, held back by the Gods for fear of what or who he could be. In essence, some could argue that this is what made Fenrir stronger and the wolf we know today but that comes with the ridiculous amount of pain and torture the wolf felt. Sure, he became stronger, but at what cost? I would say this is the same question to consider when talking about Chan and Fenrir. Sure, Chan is a wise and strong leader now, but what was the cost? He's made it clear that at one point before debut (and other members have backed this up), he actively avoided connecting with people cause of how many friendships he watched crumble for one reason or another. There's even a clip from a livestream where Chan was noticeably angry with staff and you can see the visible fear and awkwardness from the other members. Again, will not speculate on what any of it could mean, but it does point to something Fenrir and Chan may also have in common. When they are angry, they are

PISSED.

However, it's also important to keep in mind the sort of things Fenrir teaches and encourages from a Norse Pagan/Heathen perspective, so...

Fenrir in Norse Spirituality

A common name attributed to Fenrir is "breaker of chains". When we're talking about what this means from a spiritual standpoint, it means to free yourself from your past, free yourself from expectations or demands of others that holds you down and to let go and live free. For many, this can meaning learning how to cope with mental illness and trauma, learning how to manage (not control) one's anger, how to fuel emotions into actions and remain within the present and not think about the past or the future.

I've also heard many people describe Fenrir as a special kind of 'military boot camp' strict. This is the best way I can describe it; imagine, if you will, that you are a house. Fenrir is the property surveyor (the person who checks houses for faults). Fenrir will go around and tell you everything that isn't sturdy, that has cracks or other faults. Not out of malice, but because if you don't fix this, all it takes is one bad day and your self-worth comes crashing to the ground. Fenrir will even go out of his way to test these parts of yourself, again not out of malice but to make sure you can withstand it. Going back to the house metaphor; imagine Fenrir pointed out your foundations were made with weak cement, so you redo the foundations. Fenrir isn't convinced until he can push into it or stand on it and find it can withstand the weight. (This doesn't go into how our emotions fluctuate daily, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.)

Fenrir is also oftentimes seen as an example of justified rage. The rage of youth being mocked by their elders for simply being young. The rage Black people feel when another officer shoots yet another unarmed Black person. The rage LGBTQIA+ people feel when one of their own is killed or assaulted for simply being in love or expressing who they are. The rage women feel when men try to take advantage of or gaslight them into accepting lower. The rage of Indigenous people watching as their lands get bombed, farmed, and in general colonized and ripped of all its worth until nothing remains.

With all these factors in mind, let's finally get to the meet of this. The Stray Kids songs one (like myself) can associate with Fenrir. I will include lyrics, and you're more than welcome to reply or reblog with songs I may have missed. So, without further ado; let's get cracking! (Please note I will be using OT8 songs primarily for this post, again to avoid drama or anyone dogpiling about the controversy.)

'Placebo' (3RACHA original; 2017, Stray Kids original; 2018, re-recorded; 2021.)

"The positive belief that will even heal my wounds Keep going, the Placebo that works on me Honestly, there’s no need to be negative Trust myself, throw away those extra thoughts"

'Placebo' is a song essentially about relying on yourself to get through your challenges, while acknowledging what is currently making you feel weak. The fear and worry about wondering if you will actually make it, but telling yourself you can despite your worries, being your own friends in your darkest moments. Felix's verse I think is almost entirely applicable to Fenrir (Felix even says "drop these rusty chains" - remember, Fenrir was first bound by chains before Gleipnir.)

"Miroh" (original; 2019, re-recorded; 2020)

"Poison, trap, toadstool you can set them up I'll survive in the end, whatever it takes I know your traps, you set them up And I stomp on them tougher There's only one answer, you just have to open it"

"Miroh" (Korean word for 'maze') is an EDM-style song about persevering through the challenges you face, head held high, trusting your instincts and knowing that one way or another you have prepared for this moment and you will make it out the other side. The chorus starts with a line explaining that the narrator (Stray Kids) decided to go into the city (the challenges) themselves and know what is coming, are ready for it and know they can make it through the trial. The song also uses various animal sound effects, including a tiger's roar in the chorus, a hawk's caw and a bird-filled jungle soundscape. (Fenrir is often reported to be associated with swamps and mountains, so the inclusion of wild animal noises fits perfectly here.)

'Red Lights' (2021)

"No matter how hard I try to escape, there's no answer Until I fall asleep in the sun, even deeper I really wanna know, yeah I've already lost control"

This song is performed by Bang Chan and Hyunjin, and according to Genius the song "about compulsion and confusion of ego and about obsession about doing something". One would think, with the sexy sound and concept of the track, it would imply something of a sexy nature. However, it can also be about anything that someone can grow obsessed with. Another person, a feeling, an action, a moment, etc. The line "Tell me you hate me" makes me think of Fenrir talking to Tyr. The music video for the track also heavily features Chan and Hyunjin in chains, so one could also argue the obsession to be the desire to escape from their chains.

"MANIAC" (2022)

"The real self has been released (Yup, yup) Barely holding on (Yup, yup) After blinking once, back Again, back to cosplaying as what society Defines normal to be pow"

'MANIAC' is a song with a visible influence from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' as it explores one's individual uniqueness, the expectations of society (which can delve into toxic perfectionism/happiness, conformity etc) and how we as a people have hidden our inner 'maniac' to fit in with the world. Even when in Asgard, surrounded by the Aesir and Vanir, Fenrir was always gonna be Fenrir. Just by his mere nature, he was deemed an outcast for being a larger and stronger wolf than they had encountered before, something that within itself isn't a crime. Fenrir would likely always be looked down upon if he showed discomfort, anger or any sort of negative emotion. In this song, Stray Kids basically asks the listener to open up their true self, live their authentic selves and enjoy the life they've been given, essentially; "shed the chains society has forced upon you."

"BEWARE" (original; 2018, re-recorded; 2020)

"My current state, the way I talk, my actions I know I shouldn't be like this But everything goes the opposite way I want you to understand me I don't know what will happen Again today, I'm barking"

Remember when I talked about Fenrir and justifiable rage and I brought up youth being angry with elders being condescending with them? This song is my 'case and point'. Going back to what I mentioned in 'MANIAC', no matter what Fenrir did the Aesir were likely not going to view him in a positive light. Ask any person who has tried to get on the good side of someone who couldn't care for them and you'll often find descriptions of growing tire, frustration and rage. Sometimes, we are going to encounter this in life - whether it be a boss who treats us poorly, a colleague/acquaintance/friend gossiping or lying about us behind our back, a family member who has expectations for you that you can't reach no matter what you try etc. Fenrir is no stranger to this; he experienced it firsthand living amongst the Aesir. That rage one feels in these moments is a healthy rage, a voice, which you will find is either being encouraged by Fenrir or is Fenrir himself, screaming at you "This isn't right, I shouldn't be treated like this!"

"SCARS" (2021)

"I'll never cry because I know that it'll never change I'll stay standing and endure it in an unknown place There will be many times I'll almost fall, but Alone, I reach out my hand, alone, I stand back up"

Sometimes, when we face hurdles in our lives we will feel sadness, sorrow or despair. If there's one thing I want to end this made tangent about, it's this; you will face challenges and it's OK to not be happy about it. It's alright to cry, to scream and wail and sob, to shed tears, feel fear, embarrassment, etc. It's alright if you need to punch a pillow or cry yourself to sleep. Remember; Chan probably did the same. For seven years. Fenrir probably did too, stuck within his personal Hell. But if there's one thing you should take from both of them, it's that you are stronger than you think you are. You can survive, you will survive. You will see the light on the other side one day; all it requires is fighting through the pain, even if that means crying from the hurt. We don't leave this life unscathed; we all will die with countless scars, both physical and mental. Be kind to yourself, know you are worthy of being alive right now, and you have the strength to push onwards. Carry the strength of Fenrir - and the strength of Bang Chan and Stray Kids - with you and remember you aren't alone fighting against the chains you've found yourself bound in.

(TLDR; an Autistic Norse Pagan loses were mind when were discovers a Fenrir tattoo design for Chan, goes on a long Stray Kids and Fenrir rant.)

#stray kids #bang chan #lee know #changbin #han jisung #yang jeongin #lee felix #lee yongkok #felix lee #christopher bang #skz #skz stay #seungmin #hyunjin #jeongin #norse mythology #norse pagan #pagan #paganism #norse heathen #norse heathenry #norse paganism #fenrir #fenrir pagan #fenrir heathen #long post #music #tangents #kpop #k-pop

[runningw-thewolves]

Warding Oil

I don’t know about you guys but a big part of my warding involves painting a sigil on the doors and window sills of my house. Moon water works but occasionally I need something stronger. Today I came up with this oil recipe and figured I would share it.

Lavender

Eggshells

Black salt

Sage infused oil (don’t worry I grew the sage myself)

Cleanse your space and prepare your sigil. I like to use one specifically for warding and layer it with one for sealing. Grind up the salt and lavender together then add the eggshells and grind as well. Add the oil and mix well. Paint your sigils and enjoy! I saved my leftover oil in a jar for the next time I feel the need to ward.

[runningw-thewolves]

Black salt / witches' salt

WARNING: do NOT mix it up with the edible black salt for kitchen use. They are both called “black salt” but one is salt with activated charcoal or salt from a volcanic area that can be used in cooking, the other is a mix of salt, ashes, and other non-edible things used as a protection or banishing spell. I personally use it as a halfway between warding/protection and banishing as I add things usually associated with banishing.

I tried to search up the origin of the “witches’ salt” but I didn’t find anything solid (but also I made only a couple of quick searches on google because I was crunching time as I did this either before/after work or sometimes during slow moments at work) so, my best guess would be that its origin might be derived from the use of salt in many folkloric traditions as a protection or to purify, mixed a bit with a concept similar to the "witches' bottle", but I digress.

Disclaimer again: I wrote most of this during work time and edited it afterwards so I can't guarantee the form and grammar used.

I first made black salt after a couple of quick searches for protection and banishing spells that could help me in my practice, as I first started I was a bit of an idiot (to quote Set) and didn't keep anything to protect myself around when doing divination and other things.

With time I noticed that it's a good all-around protection and also, with a couple of tweaks, could be perfect to also banish in a "bounce back to sender" way.

There are different recipes on the Internet and among witchy communities but they mostly differ for some ingredients added (or not added) and I believe all would work… but surely, IMHO, if you tailor them to your needs it would be more effective.

This is what I made for myself, and I'll also include the "return to sender" version.

Tools you’ll need:

a jar with a lid to store it

mortar & pestle (not mandatory: I don’t have one so I use a tiny ceramic casserole and one of those wooden pestles for cocktails bc that’s what I had at home… use whatever could do the job)

a candle in the colour you associate with protection and warding

Ingredients:

salt (duh-)

ashes (either incense ashes, firepit ashes/charcoal, soot or you could also use activated charcoal)

eggshells powder

black pepper

rosemary

bay leaves

sage (kitchen kind is perfect!)

whatever herb you associate with protection

Process:

Honestly, you should do this however it feels right for you. You could cast a circle, call the elements or whatever. I don’t do that because it’s not part of my practice. You don’t even need to cleanse or anything if you don’t feel it’s necessary: it’ll work anyway.

Light the candle (ofc if you think it’s needed) and put the ingredients in the mortar, a little bit at a time, to grind them a bit and most importantly mix all of them. Focus on your intention, if you feel you need to recite something to enchant it then do it. Mix all the ingredients, I usually start with salt, add eggshell powder, all the other ingredients and then another bit of salt at the end to “close” everything.

If you want to give it a little “boost” you could write on a bay leaf “I am protected” or the like and then burn it (do it in a fireproof container! bay leaves are nasty burners and like to pop a lot!) to “activate” it and mix it to the rest of the ingredients.

When everything is all mixed, then you can pour it into the jar and close it. It’s up to you if you want to seal the lid with some wax or not. I do not do it because if I decide to redo it I can open it and clean the jar more easily before preparing the new black salt.

Again, it’s up to you if you want to charge it under the moonlight/sunlight or in some other way: do what you feel that's right to do.

And that’s it! Congrats you made black salt that will protect your space!

For the return-to-sender version:

add more pepper

slap also some paprika or better some chilli pepper powder

also put there some garlic

you can add other ingredients you associate with banishing

add a bay leaf (or also a piece of paper) with the intention written on it like “the harm/malicious intent is returned to who cast it” or whatever you feel right

complete!