#bioregional animism

[grimnirs-child]

cannot recommend enough just walking around your neighbourhood, noticing the plants, trees, birds, creepy-crawlies, mammals, rocks, watercourses, etc that are around you. looking them up and learning about them, how they behave, their seasonal rhythms and changes. learning about their presence in folklore and mythology and culture.

these are your neighbours. if you take a few minutes to learn about them, if you make the small effort to notice them, be mindful of them on a regular basis, honour them and respect them - this is animism. this is re-enchantment.

we all live alongside and in community with a myriad of spirits. it is truly so beautiful and life-affirming and sacred to appreciate that and the unique character of your neighbour-spirits.

#animism #polytheism #spirit work #bioregional animism #some of my most beloved neighbours are the fox #the silver birch #the rowan #the cyclamen #the jackdaw and magpie #the green parakeet #the wren #the blackbird

[magicaguajiro]

Swamp Witch Travels: Finding Sacred Space

Myakka River and Paynes Creek State Parks

As I dive deeper into my practice of bioregional animism, I look to parks for sacred space and places to connect with spirits of all kinds. In Florida we live in cities divided by nature preserves and swamps, and we are also incredibly blessed to have an amazing State Parks system. These parks offer us peaks into ecology and history of the Land that reveal to us some of Its Mysteries. Here are a few things I’ve learned as a Folk Witch.

Make an offering when entering. For ancestral reasons, I use tobacco. Use what you're guided to. Introduce yourself, your intentions, etc. Also, pick up trash and be respectful. Don't wander in places you don't know, or take things you don't have knowledge on. It’s usually best to practice Leave No Trace but when have Witches been known to follow rules… Do as ye will. But always ask and give something in return.

There are different spirits!

Trees, plants, rivers, hills and even entire forests and parks can have their own spirits. At parks like Myakka and Payne’s Creek, there are platforms you can climb for an aerial view of the park. This is a great place to connect with the Genus Loci of a place! (For more on Genus Loci, I recommend Folk Witchcraft by Roger J Horne) Some spirits will want to talk to you, some won’t. Respect their choices and don’t expect anyone to talk for free.

Protection is Key!

Protection is important for witches and animists. Many spirits and natural places are dangerous, for example some Rivers are known for drowning and can be seen as having a harsh and dangerous spirit. When protecting myself day to day I wear spiritual jewelry from my Cuban traditions. Shark and gator teeth serve as great protection from water spirits and in general. My spiral shell ring is protective and I often use it in ritual. Bodies of water are also great places to bless things and hold rituals of cleansing and power! Not only spiritual protection, but physical protection is needed as well. In these swamps, we have gators, sharks, panthers, bobcats, bears, snakes, PEOPLE and even more things that would gladly expedite your role in the food chain. I’m not saying be afraid of animals, rather have respect and recognize you are in their domain. Carry bear spray, don’t wander too far off known trails, and be careful of other people.

I once heard a saying, the Swamp knows everything about death, and doesn’t consider it a tragedy.

Enjoy the Scenery, and Learn!

Take it all in and take your time! If you need to escape heat and mosquitos check out the visitor centers and gift shops! I justify spending a bit too much here on considering it an offering to the Land. Try talking to the people who work here or making friends! This is a great way to learn Folklore and secret places to explore.

On Remembering Ancestors of the Land

In working with the Land, you must honor the Ancestors of the Land. These are the spirits of all the people who lived on the Land before you. For me, this begins with my Ancestors and the other Indigenous groups of the area. In Florida, the tribes who remain today are the Seminole and Mikasuki. We should look to Indigenous tribes for wisdom on how to approach and respect the Land, but that doesn’t mean read online about it and go appropriate it. It means go and actually talk to real life people. You can and certainly should also honor other people, including any folk saints or historical figures who may serve as tutelary spirits or otherwise.

And always remember to say Fuck the Colonizers!

Happy Witching Friends, May the Dry Season bring us all Renewal!

#witchcraft #florida #bruja #brujeria #witch #bioregional animism #florida witch #santeria #swamp witch #traditional witchcraft #espiritismo #taino #taino spirituality #atabey #folk magic #folkloric witch #folk witchcraft #folk witch

[inbetweening]

The Grapevine

I no longer feel that it is my place to try to manage invasive species, given that humans are an invasive species, at least not with the stretch of land I'm on right now. When I volunteer to restore habitats, that's a different situation.

I cleared out a bunch of grape vine and The vibes were horrible. I had to make an apology to the woods. In addition, the grapevine is quite a spirit. It reminds me of Bacchus, and the way that it grows on the border of the wild and human areas is quite evocative, and it is like a gateway guardian into further mysteries, so I don't want to piss it off. Plus, all the leaves it sheds helps enrich the very very sandy soil.

I want to work with the land and be integrated into it and not impose myself upon it. I introduced myself to whatever invisible beings are around and I'm spending my time carefully observing the way things are interconnected, and set up some tiny little altar spaces.

There's a cool growth of ferns growing out of the base of the space in between A living palm tree, and a dead one.

When I moved, I came to the realization that I cannot act the same in every location and what was appropriate at my previous apartment may not fly with the spirits here. The overall impression I have gotten so far is that things are a bit more thorny here re the relationship between the land and people, and there are many ghosts. Today I found some Moss.

There are also a lot of railroads., and they have a collective spirit/ God. I'll be going to the local museum and hopefully can find some library books on local history!

Also, cool staff and wand of grapevine, this time harvested with care and announcing my intentions, and being shown the right ones to take.

#bioregional animism #plant magic #plant witchcraft #original post #traditional witchcraft #witchcraft #spirit work #fairy faith #green mysteries #green magic #hoodoo #folk magic

[fur-teeth-bones-earth]

Working With the Wind

Things to do with a particularly windy day:

Pay attention to the direction of the wind. In some traditions, this carries further significance. This may either be a set of rules based on the cardinal directions or, as in my practice, based on local landscape. Winds coming down from the mountains are different than those blowing in from the prairies.

Do mundane research on wind. How is it formed? What causes it? How does it interact with plants and animals? When is it windiest where you live? How does this information affect your craft?

Capture the wind and save it for later. In folklore, sailors would tie favorable winds into knots and untie them later out at sea. It also works great in summertime when you just want a nice breeze.

Banish something in the wind. Take whatever you don’t want in your life and let the winds carry it far, far away. Let blessings and other work travel on the wind, they can also reach great distances with the help of the wind.

Connect with deities, especially those associated with storms, nature, and the element of air. Leave out an offering for wind spirits. Celebrate them the same way you might celebrate the spirits of the first snow or spirits of summertime.

In winter, winds are sometimes connected to the Wild Hunt and similar lore involving mass amounts of spirits riding in on the wind. Or perhaps you follow a tradition that holds that spirits are less likely to appear in the wind due to their nonphysical nature.

Lastly, if you need protection from a windstorm, try placing a knife in the earth with the blade facing into the wind. This is said to cut up a storm and prevent it from bringing harm.

Sources & Further Reading:

- The Crooked Path by Kelden

- Spirits Through Respiratory Passages, Eldar Heide

- GKOS

#spruce dregs on #wind #folk magic #bioregional animism #witchcraft

[profetizamos]

Recent altar for Manannán mac Lir and Bríd. Feat. an oyster full of wine, oyster, whelk, surf clam, anomia, moon snail, shark eye snail, and ensis shells, unknown vertebra, sand dollar, and a skate egg case.

#my altar #syncretic gaelpol #bioregional animism #my post

[aerislunam]

AQUILEGIA

I am compelled to call her “Queen of the Garden”

I knew there was Columbine in this wildflower seed mix, but this variety was quite the surprise.

She is called “Pink Petticoat” and the essence reminds me so much of Aphrodite.

🌸🌺🌸🌺🌸🌺🌸

Edit…

I just something about it being associated with Persephone.

Persephone “bothers” me, as well… 🥲 Welp. More reading to do…

To be continued… Having pasting issues on here again. 😒

#bioregional animism #plant allies #wortlore #aphrodite is the best #aphrodite #columbine #pink petticoat columbine #Persephone #persephone deity

[lailoken]

Mother Death has paid us a visit again, with one of our old hens passing away in the night. Accordingly, we took her body out into the forest, where we laid her to rest in the embrace of a Nurse Stump and showered her with Bleeding Heart Flowers—a bioregional plant we have found quite useful as a Ghost Corn for the spirits of the dead.

#hen #death #chthonic rituals #ghost corn #bleeding hearts #bioregional paganism #tw: dead animal #bone mother

[grimnirs-child]

New post on my longform blog about Doggerland, the lost land that now lies beneath the North Sea, and where I situate the realm of the Dead in my personal, localised practice. I talk about why I've been fascinated by Doggerland and the ancient Ancestors who lived there, and the impact it has on my heathenry.

Hail to gentle Helle, and hail to the Ancestors!

#heathenry #polytheism #ancestor veneration #bioregional animism #paganism #devotional polytheism #personal

[magicaguajiro]

Caribbean Folk Saints and Mighty Dead: A Precursor

We all have family members who take on an almost Mythic quality after they pass on. They may have been a character in life, or a perhaps a spiritual practitioner. Maybe they were known for their generosity, or lack of it, or their strength or brilliance. Nonetheless, it is someone who, even in death, still makes an impact. In personal practices, we may work with these ancestors for guidance and healing, but what happens when their influence spreads past your family, into the local community or even entire country? This and many other strange circumstances often explain the origin and powers of Folk Saints and Elevated Dead. I will be going into the various Folk Saints and Deified Ancestors of the Caribbean, (including Florida), but before I can do that I need to explain where these spirits come from, and why they are so potent in our everyday lives.

What are Folk Saints and Mighty Dead?

Folk Saints and Mighty Dead are spirits of dead people who were either elevated in life, or became elevated after death. Their elevation often is then connected to their ability to grant various petitions made to them. Some of the Folk Saints I will be talking about were used to disguise other figures who were outlawed by the Colonial government at the time, while others are various figures of marginalized communities who gained sorcerous or otherworldly reputations after death.

Cuba and Florida are Lands of diaspora and syncretism. Many different traditions abound and each tradition has multiple lineages, so the classification of spirits differs depending on the worldview of the person explaining. Some practitioners work within a framework of Catholicism, some use elements and some flat-out reject Catholicism completely for decolonization purposes. For this reason, I have differentiated Folk Saints from the Mighty Dead.

Folk Saints will include those spirits who are worked with in a Catholic context, but are usually not canonized or not at first. On the other hand, the Mighty Dead will include spirits who are venerated amongst Indigenous and African traditions in Cuba as well as the surrounding areas, as to not group them under a title created by Colonizers. If you are Cuban or Caribbean, these Folk Saints and Mighty Dead offer power at a closer degree because they are more proximal to your Spirit Court, and may even already have bonds with them.

It is important to note, spirits like Orisha and Cemí have very specific protocols, manners and taboos when approaching them, so this is best done with the help of a priest, such as Oloricha or Babalawo, or a Taíno Behike. These are not energies you simply feel drawn to and work with. Orisha and Cemi are in some cases Deified Ancestors and others Personified Forces of Nature, among other things. This varies from the Ancestors and Spirits I will be discussing in this series.

Benefits of Working with The Mighty Dead

Folk Saints and Ancestors give us a closer connection to the divine through their proximity to the Divine and their individual virtues and personalities. As with all spirit relationships, you will get out what you put in.

Folk Saints who are related to the Land you live on, such as Uncle Monday or Bessie Graham for us Floridians, can help to deepen your connection with the local community. They can help you to further your relationship with the Earth and introduce you to other Land spirits.

Spirits related to your Ancestry can help to work through generational issues. Some ancestral spirits, like José Martí or Guamá for us Cubans, are related to ideas of War, Rebellion, and overcoming oppression. These spirits can be worked with for the same pursuits of defeating oppressors in the modern day. Each spirit has a story and is multi-faceted, so it really depends on what your connection is to the Spirit and what you are capable of offering them.

How to Work with Deified Dead

Working with these spirits is individual to each spirit, based on what their heritage is, as well as their personal tastes. When starting out, it’s best to keep things simple. Instead of going and creating an entire altar dedicated to a spirit, begin by praying about it at your Bóveda or ancestral altar. Here, you may find that a spirit is not compatible with your current situation, or doesn’t want to work with you ever! Should the omens be good, however, and you may begin establishing a connection to that spirit Research and talking to other devotees can give you great insight into what a relationship with that Spirit can look like.

My formula for reaching out to these spirits is always different, but I follow basic principles. I always begin with a representation of the spirit, a small offering and a candle. The representation can be anything, from a statue to a printed picture or even just their name on some paper. The offering is in most cases water until the spirit makes other wants known to me, but when a spirit doesn’t take water I offer food or tobacco instead. The candle is something I was taught helps to enhance spirit communication, carrying messages between the worlds. It is helpful to research about whoever you are attempting to communicate with, and if possible you should speak to other practitioners who work with the same Spirit. Often times, this is someone-you-know’s father or grandmother. From here, you should sit with whatever entity you are contacting, allowing yourself to experience a personal relationship with them. I will share individual experiences of what each spirit has been like in practice for me, or people I know, but for beginning this is a good basic way to start out.

I look forward to sharing more about these incredible figures who influence my favorite corner of the world to this day.

Paz y Progreso 🕯️

#witchcraft #florida #bioregional animism #bruja #brujeria #florida witch #santeria #swamp witch #witch #traditional witchcraft #cubanfolkmagic #cuban #cuba #taino spirituality #taino #folk magic #folk witch #espiritismo #atr #folkloric witch #animism

[inbetweening]

Tiny baby frog mummy

Now in a jar on my altar

#original post #vulture culture #traditional witchcraft #witchcraft #fairy faith #bioregional animism #animist

[coyote-fawn]

.

#a witch author whose work i love just liked one of my instagram posts 😭 #i know this is probably bordering on parasocial something #but honestly it just made my day #her ideas about bioregional animism and american witchcraft thru a multiracial lens are so good #it’s just a pic of a few wasps im pinning #nothing special #im just AAAA and can’t talk about it anywhere else

[brightgnosis]

The "Domestic Magics" and What It Means (To Me) To Be A Hearthkeeper

I’m a full time «NonTrad» Homemaker due to unfortunate health circumstance, turned accepted and celebrated life profession.

Religiously, spiritually, and magically, the Home itself is considered a sacred space to me (the third most sacred- following the Temple in all its forms, then the Garden). And since I cannot actually have children myself, I personally view the community as a substitute, and therefore as an extension of my Hearth. Community building and education, and related activities, are therefore likewise considered further extensions of these practices by proxy.

I heavily practice the traditional magical arts of Cottagecraft, Hearthcraft, Kitchencraft, and Greencraft as they're understood within the Traditional NeoWiccan religion and framework as a result; I use the parallel phrases 'Domestic Witchcraft' and 'Domestic Magics' as an umbrella to refer to a wide variety of individual subsets of Witchcraft and their related spells and rituals within my practice.

'Domestic' is defined thus:

(General) Pertaining to the home, household, household affairs, or family.

(Of A person) Devoted to home life, family life, or household affairs.

'Domestic Witchcraft' is therefore any collection of spells or rituals which have a foundation in (or around)- or an effect on- the home, as well as one’s family and guests.

Within NeoPaganism these individual practices of Cottagecraft, Hearthcraft, Kitchencraft, and Greencraft are unfortunately incorrectly conflated into one system at times. Typically under the moniker of “Cottagecraft” (or sometimes "Hearthcraft" or "Hedge Witch") as a catch-all. Personally, however, I dislike this penchant greatly as I feel each category is itself a unique specialization.

There may be overlap between each group due to the nature of sharing the same domestic focus. But they are still distinct areas of magic and focus, each. Specializing in one does not assume specialization in the others by proxy. I define each of the 'Domestic Magics' individually as follows, for this reason:

➻ Cottagecraft: A denomnative form of Domestic Witchcraft which is focused around the (general) interior of the Home and its Household inhabitants. This may include activities and spells with a heavy influence on crafting and DIY, home protection, familial harmony, household finances, budget Witchcraft, and similar things.

➻ Kitchencraft: A denomnative form of Domestic Witchcraft which is focused in and around the Kitchen itself, as a separate entity from the home as a whole. This may include activities and spells with a heavy influence on cooking, baking, food, and similar things- especially for harmony, healing, etc; does not focus strictly to the household, but can also focus on one's community.

➻ Hearthcraft: A denomnative form of Domestic Witchcraft which is focused on the Hearth or Fireplace, as a separate entity from the home as a whole. This may include spells and activities with a heavy influence on fire, warmth, comfort, protection, and similar things- but in a manner different than Cottagecraft. Especially through the use of fiber-based arts and crafts (such as sewing, knitting, or embroidery [sic]), and Ancestor and Spiritwork; like Kitchencraft, it does not focus strictly to the household, but can also focus on one's community.

➻ Greencraft: A denomnative form of Domestic Witchcraft which is focused in and around the Yard or general (immediate) exterior of the Home. This may include spells and activities with a heavy influence on crystals and plants, Herbalism (magical, spiritual, medicinal, or otherwise), gardening and / or landscaping (magical, spiritual, medicinal, or otherwise), connection with Plant Spirit Allies and Land Spirits, general connection with Earth Energies, ecoregional and bioregional studies, and similar things- but does not include animals.

If I really need a catch-all term for simplicity’s sake, then I call them the “Domestic Magics” as a way to retain their individual definitions while still using a generalized, all encompassing term which is relevant to their shared realm of material focus. And I call myself a "Hearthkeeper", personally, as a practitioner with a heavy primary emphasis on all such forms of Domestic Magics (rather than someone who only practices one or two).

This account is run by a Dual Faith «(Converting) Masorti Jew + Traditional NeoWiccan» & «Ancestral Folk Magic Practitioner» with 20+ years of experience as a practicing Pagan and Witch. If that bothers you, don't interact.

#Personal #A Direct Look At My Practice #2023 #Religion & Magic #Homemaker #Homemaking #Housewife #NonTrad Housewife #NonTrad Homemaker #NonTrad Homemaking

[wareagleofthemountain]

Thanks for tagging me @elithilanor (I tag you back!)

Blorbo ask game!

Pick your favorite blorbo and answer the questions below, then pass it on. Just a little fun and games here and/or can be used for character building:

Prince Nuada (cause I haven’t written about him in a while)

What is your blorbo's:

1. Favorite season?

Winter. He just strikes me as an elf who likes the cold and the rain. He did live under New York City for decades, in all conditions, so he must not have minded the chill.

2. Favorite food?

Oo! This one took me a minute. He works up quite an appetite with all the training he does, so I’m sure he appreciates a nice home cooked meal at the end of the day. Like a thick stew with meat, veggies, potatoes, and biscuits on the side.

3. Favorite plant or herb?

The golden flowers that grew in Bethmora, which he greatly misses when his kingdom is overtaken by men.

4. Favorite person/being?

His troll companion Mr. Wink of course! Though he has a soft spot for all magical beings.

5. Favorite place?

Forests.

6. Favorite animal?

Haha! I was talking about this with a fellow fan a while ago, and we both agreed he’s a dog person.

7. Favorite drink?

Apple cider (don’t ask, it just happened lol)

8. Favorite hobby/activity?

Nuada seeks mastery over his passions and thus practices them until he’s got them down. Two major skills come to mind: sword play and tinkering with elven technology. At birth he was gifted an innate prowess in battle and honed those skills as he grew.

9. Do they like to read? If so, favorite genre?

Oh yes! He’s a huge literature buff, particularly history and old English romance novels.

10. Do they like to dance?

Yelp! All the ladies of his father’s court would beg him to spare them a dance at parties. He’s very graceful and light on his feet.

11. What is their favorite room in the house?

The library.

12. Favorite place to travel to?

Hmm. I’d say the troll market since a lot of his friends have stalls there and he never fails to find something interesting.

13. Who is their best friend?

He and his sister Nuala used to be super close when they were younger, but grew apart when Nuada became bent on revenge.

14. Favorite bioregion?

Anywhere away from humans lol.

15. Choose one for them: wine, beer, cider, hard liquor, or none?

No pressure tags: @coopsgirl @scarlettsaboredbitch @lady-of-imladris

#Nuada #Prince Nuada #Hellboy 2 #Ask Game

[aerislunam]

A large maple tree at the pond’s edge, visible roots crawling out from it at every direction, the sun shown through the leaves revealing a perfect spot for offerings, if one should think it pertinent.

#bioregional animism #plant allies #wortlore #tree wisdom #tree spirits #tree magic #plant magick #natural magick #sun energy #nature magic