#so we can learn more about the raven-maids and the swan-mays

[elissastillstands]

DEATH-OMENS BELOVED - Toby Daye Fancasts [6/9]

Before she became a Fetch, May was a night-haunt, one of the dark secrets of Faerie. Jazz was a Raven-maid. In a war, she would go on the battlefield when the killing was over and the scavenging began. Their relationship was a love story about missed sleep, compromises, and working around differences. (Adapted from A Rose-Red Chain, Seanan McGuire)

Featuring Melanie Scrofano as May Daye and Tiya Sircar as Jasmine Patel. With images from Wynonna Earp, Good Sam, and Once Upon a Time; all other photographs from Unsplash.

#october daye #toby daye #litedit #seanan mcguire #may daye #jasmine patel #melanie scrofano #tiya sircar #okay quick note: TUK is probs one of my top 5 books but imagine if jazz had a larger role in it #so we can learn more about the raven-maids and the swan-mays #and also more about their magic which inspires toby at the end #(maybe nolan + cassandra also do something with the swan-mays? idk. i trust SM to carry through with that setup in the next couple of books) #anyways may and jazz make me go heart eyes #toby fancasts

[ancientgreekwitch]

Divination and Omens

Divination is a means in which we can see the future. Omens signify an event which will happen in the future.

Oionoskopika

Oionoskopika is a practice of seeing the future by observing birds

Observing

When observing birds, face North. Find a hill with a clear view in which birds can be seen when coming from any direction.

If a bird appears from the right, the dawn and the sun, it is favorable. If it appears from the left, towards the darkness, it is unfavorable.

If the bird raises its left wing and dissapears, even if appearing from the right, it is unfavorable. If the bird raises its right wing, however, even if appearing from the left, it is favorable.

Birds

Not all birds foretell the future. Only those which are prophetic do. Those that are prophetic are: eagles, falcons, ravens, storks, krex, owls, cranes, nightingales, swallows, hoopoes and swans.

Although, if one has a strong feeling that another bird is prophetic, and/or if they’re acting in a certain and strange way, this may be prophetic as well.

Prophecies

Prophecying from birds is similar to tarot or crystal ball divination. One must learn to use their intuition to decipher the signs. For example, an eagle devouring a pregnant rabbit is a sign of victory, as the eagle is victorious over its prey, but also eventual retribution, as the bunny is pregnant.

Birds Speaking

Some say that if your ears are cleaned by a snake, you can understand the words that birds speak.

Cosmological Omens

Cosmological omens are omens through natural phenomena. Some have specific meanings that are unchanging. Some of these are:

Eclipses - unfavorable

Thunderstorms - destruction

Thunder/lighting from a clear sky - favorable

Earthquake - the sea (Posideon) is upset

Thunder on the right - favorable

Others depend on context and must be interpreted using trained intuition. These are: rain, lightning, thunder, meteoroids, rainbows, and violent winds. Of course, other natural phenomena can be signs as well, and these phenomena could mean nothing, though that is more uncommon.

Hydromanteia

Hydromanteia is the divination based on observing the surface of water. This is most often performed in a spring, well, or a bowl of water.

Spring Divination

To perform divination on behalf of a sick person, attach a mirror to a thin cord and lower it just enough to touch the water with its rim. Then, ask the harvest (Demeter) whether the person will recover or not, and after burning incense, look into the mirror, and this will reveal the patient either alive or dead. If alive, they will live. If dead, they will die.

Well Divination

Suspend a large mirror over a shallow well. If one descends into the well, they should hear everything said on earth, whereas in the mirror they will see every city and country as if they were standing over it.

Lekanomanteia

Lekanomanteia was the most popular form of water-based divination in Ancient Greece. This is because it can be done the most simply. Pour water into a clay, earthen, copper, or bronze bowl, ask a question, then gaze into the water. Observe the shapes and reflections, and from that derive your answer.

Other Forms

Hieroskopia

Hieroskopia is a form of divination based on observing animal entrails. If the entrails are malformed or abnormal, the outcome will be unfavorable. If they are normal, it will be favorable. I will not be writing about Hieroskopia in detail for two reasons: in my personal practice, I do not perform Hieroskopia. And, most people do not have access to the materials necessary to perform it. Thus, I presume most will not want to know about it in detail. If any do wish for more detail, simply ask.

Oneiromanteia

Oneiromanteia is divination based on dreams. This is often a form of divination that is not induced, but rather comes to an individual uninvited. A dream is, more often than not, simply just a dream, but, sometimes, one will get a feeling, and the dream will come to pass. Should one wish to induce a dream omen, abstain from eating cheese and goat’s meat. This will not ensure a dream omen, but it will make them come easier and clearer.

Catoptromancy

Catoptromancy is a form of divination characterized by gazing into a mirror. Ancient geek mirrors were simply highly polished pieces of bronze that were oiled. As such, this is what should be used for catoptromancy, and any other Ancient Greek magical practices using mirrors. The reflections are observed and interpreted through intuition.

Animals and Plants

Some animals other than birds are also divinitory in nature. Serpents may be observed for omens. Dogs behaviors may be as well. For example, those who are pious are welcomed with wagging tails. Those who come from the ‘bed of debauchery’ are chased off. But, if someone’s hands are evil, the dogs will bite and savage them.

Oak and laurel trees may also reveal the future. Sit beneath and listen to the leaves rustle. Hear the birds. Clarity will come to you.

Hearing by Chance

Some things heard by chance may reveal the future. A sneeze on the right may be a good omen, whereas on the left it is a bad one. Though, this is only if one has an instinctual feeling it is an omen, or if it would not make sense that a person would be sneezing. For example, if it is autumn, and someone is making a speech about why one should support going into a new war, and a sneeze is heard on the left directly after the speaker finishes, this signifies that this war will not turn out well if it should occcur.

Sometimes, too, hearing a fragment of another’s conversation is an omen. For example, if one has just begun a war and hears a maid say “we’ll be ravaged”, that is a sign the war will end poorly for their side. These, too, must have an instinctual feeling that they are omens, and not simply happenstance.

There are two other major forms of divination, similar in their structure to runes, called Astragaloi and alphabet divination. These have an abundance information, too much to fit into this post, and thus will have their own.

Warning: Wells can be dangerous! Snakes can be dangerous! If you ever try this, do so with caution and common sense.

#witchcraft #witchblr #ancient greek magic #Catoptromancy #divination #omens #Oneiromanteia #Lekanomanteia #Hydromanteia #Oionoskopika