thatawkwardwitch

[thatawkwardwitch]

Our Lady of Lourdes, Health of the sick;

Pray for us 🙏🩵

[thatawkwardwitch]

sometimes doing tasks in honour of the gods helps you get through the day and thats ok. take your meds just for apollo. shower just because you know hestia would want you to. it doesnt need to be big

[thatawkwardwitch]

Essential oils toxic to cats

Cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils, and even small amounts can be toxic to them.

Here is a list of essential oils that are generally considered toxic to cats:

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca oil)

Pennyroyal Oil

Wintergreen Oil

Pine Oil

Clove Oil

Eucalyptus Oil

Citrus Oil (Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit)

Cinnamon Oil

Thyme Oil

Peppermint Oil

Oregano Oil

Ylang Ylang Oil

Bergamot Oil

Sweet Birch Oil

Garlic Oil

Garlic Extract

Onion Oil

Onion Extract

Nutmeg Oil

Chamomile Oil

Anise Oil

Juniper Oil

Mustard Oil

Citronella Oil

Pine Needle Oil

Bay Leaf Oil

Cassia Oil

Cajeput Oil

Lemon Grass Oil

Geranium Oil

Remember, this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other essential oils that could be harmful to cats. It's crucial to keep these oils and any other potentially toxic substances out of reach of your feline companions.

If you suspect your cat has been exposed to an essential oil or is displaying any unusual symptoms, it's important to contact a veterinarian immediately.

[thatawkwardwitch]

Sometimes I approach my shrines and just sort of stand there. Like, I don't pray, make offerings, or anything. I'll just stand there and look at it. Or sit next to it.

For a while, this made me feel strange and a little guilty, even. But now I look to how I do similarly with my parents. I'll just go and sit quietly with them, or go lean on them. Just take comfort in their presence.

The Gods ARE our divine parents, after all.

[thatawkwardwitch]

☀️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!

[thatawkwardwitch]

This is just a reminder that your altars are personal to you! What you associate with your deities can be based on history or purely on your own experiences & interpretations!

I got these two calico critters from some blind bags & decided I could associate the robin hood character with Hermes and the little flower mouse with Aphrodite, so they reside on their altars now! :) <3

[thatawkwardwitch]

𝕴𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

Hi!

Welcome to my blog! I go by Nyala, and I'm an eclectic/hedge witch! I'm 20 years old at this time, and from Europe! I work full-time, so I don't have as much time for my craft as I'd like, but things are getting better when I move to my own place - which is soon.

Besides that, when I'm not busy with my craft - I enjoy writing, drawing and reading - being a sucker for a corny romance story. I also have a sweet lil' bunny, who is my precious little thing!

I dabbled in witchcraft when I was a younger girl, but I got back into it about a month ago (Very much thankful for a new friend I've met that brought it back to me!). It's definitely given me the opportunity to re-learn and find my craft, taking into account the mistakes I had made in the past.

The biggest part of my craft is found in divination, ocean and plant based Magick. But, I don't stick to one select thing.

I'm currently not in a coven, nor do I have a mentor to teach me these things - thus I'll make mistakes, learning from those and doing research on my own. I'd absolutely love to have either of those, however!

Don't be afraid to shoot me a DM if you have any questions, or would just like to simply make friends! I'm also always open to debating/receiving constructive criticism on the blogposts I make. I'd never want to spread misinformation, so I'm more than happy to change things up if they're wrong! My Inbox is also always open for anything, so don't hesitate to get into contact with me!

This blog will also contain spiritual things that I encounter in my personal life, personal things that have something to do with my craft or anything of the sorts. It's my blog and I can post as many silly things as I wish!!

Thank you for your attention, have a blessed day!

[thatawkwardwitch]

Working with Air

Welcome to the third part of my elemental series! Today we will explore some aspects of working with air like offerings, devotional activities, common lessons, aspects, and more! With all that said lets get started!

To preface: I am a devotee to water itself, I am a west witch practioner which means I work within the domain of water, the past, divination, and psyche! I also am a general elemental practioner and have experience working with all of the elements and their aspects!

What is working with air like?

While looking at verified gnosis and cultural nuance some things remain familiar, things like air being both stagnant and rushing, life giving, and more! It is a major backbone (Much like all the elements are for each other) in the way that all organisms that preform aerobic respiration (Air breathing) need oxygen, air, and a form of atmosphere including water based animals. Air does not have a concept of gender (same with all the elements), however you can always ask as a bonding opportunity or follow a cultural addition that may apply pronouns to an element.

In general, air is primordial, but it is considered one of the youngest of the elements mainly because magma, water, and a form of earth had existed before O2, and an actual atmosphere. With that in mind, the air ended up facilitating a lot of growth here on earth, and from there air has many aspects! Air has tempest, dead air, atmosphere, wind, and breath! There are plenty of types of air spirits like syliphs, Sylphons, Spirulites, and more.

Some people work with wind, air anomaly's like tornados and wind storms, and breathwork. Wind and breath teaches more gentle and peaceful lessons about how to take a step back and take a moment for yourself. Someone who works with tempest might receive more lessons relating to coming into your own power and growing a backbone. Each aspect will have different lessons and personality traits, but each of them still follow the same lessons of balance between motion and pause, and even speaking.

In your relationship you may be called to breath work, using feathers, and more that we will be discussing a bit later, however air is will see us like any other animal, and is more apprehensive to engage in a conversation so practioners may have to call out to it first. UPG: Air is really rushing and sometimes can be overwhelming, and we have had many wonderful conversations relating to hard work, taking things as they come, and not falling into unhealthy stagnation. Air has not been very direct and tends to come as needed into my space and isnt an omnipresent force! In general I have needed to call on it first for information or advice, it is also quite stoic and serious when needed but also upbeat and kind when needed.

Finally, air does have some birth connotations, but they are directly indicative of the relationships it has with other elements. Air cannot do its job in a vacuum like space until some level of atmosphere is established. However 'air' can mean different things to different people, and in a way taking a first breath is life!

What are common offerings?

People tend to keep an altar to air near doorways, windows, and living rooms because of the rush of energy as people walk through doors, the energy of change from windows, and more! historically a lot of air honoring comes from within like being outdoors, having windows open, and doing breath work in a special place because of the motion you can feel from the air.

In air practices there are heavy emphasis on working and action! this comes from most of air needing to be moved to be felt, as often times we dont notice when we are breathing or walking through the precious gas. Moving air like with breath, feathers, and fans can be really helpful.

Some common practices include meditation and breath work, energy motion, dance, song, using feathers, fans, and incense scrying are all really common aspects of work! Another aspect is action, doing divination with clouds, the sky, and smoke is helpful, and then another thing is storm chasing, tracking the weather, and observing the atmosphere can also be really good forms of connection.

What are some correspondences?

Crystals - Amethyst, Angel Aura Quartz, Angelite, Celestite, Clear Quartz, Danburite, Flourite, Green Adventurine, Howlite, Kyanite, Labradorite, Rainbow obsidian

Herbs - Poplar, cottonwood, moss, Aspen, Marjoram, Cilantro, Lavender, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Anise, Oregano, Peppermint, Fennel, Asparagus, Celery, Cattail, Hazel, Almond, Bay, Borage, Frankincense

Colors - green, yellow, white

Energy Centers - heart and sacral

Zodiacs - Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius

Tools - Feathers, fans, incense, and books

Scents - fresh, clean, lively

Resources

[thatawkwardwitch]

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 🕯️

[thatawkwardwitch]

I feel like when people get into deity work, deity worship or anything deity related we all kinda think that we NEED to communicate with them, we NEED to do tarot cards with them, we NEED to reach out and actively work with them. But I feel like that's not it. Yes, you can communicate with them if you and them want to. Yes, you can do tarot cards with them. Yes, you can actively work with them, but you don't HAVE to. I think you can also just light their candle, give them an offering and just spend 20 minutes or however long you want listening to music with them and just chatting to them about whatever is on your mind and they won't mind it. Because you are putting in the effort and your time to be with them even if it's not doing any of the things you see a lot of pagans and witches do on tiktok.

[thatawkwardwitch]

🌲green witch’s tree magick

🍃ash (tree of life) + intuition, wisdom, healing, dream magic, communication + leaves placed under pillows may bring prophetic dreams + suitable for crafting wands, staves, and other items

🍃 birch (lady of the woods) + growth, renewal, protection, purification + often chosen as a maypole or burned in beltane bonfires + brooms used to sweep away past year’s negativity during yule 

🍃cypress (tree of death) + healing, comfort, protection, longevity + often worn or carried at funerals to ease grief of loss + chips may be sprinkled over graves to ease spirits of the dead

🍃elder (pipe tree) + healing, psychic powers, protection, fae magic + wind instruments crafted from its wood sing melodies loved by spirits + flowers and berries crafted into tinctures and creams for various ailments

🍃hawthorn (may blossom) + fae communication, love, health, prosperity + considered a gateway to the fae realm in celtic lore + teas brewed from leaves and flowers to soothe anxiety

🍃oak (king of the grove) + protection, health, strength, stability + acorns placed in windows or carried ward against lightning and harm + teas brewed with bark to treat mild digestive and respiratory issues

🍃pine (the sweetest of woods) + grounding, purification, fertility, overcoming guilt + cones may be carried in one’s pockets to aid with conception + needles may be burned or scattered around an area for cleansing

🍃rowan (mountain ash) + protection, psychic abilities + plant near graves and homes to ward against haunting and evil  + berries often used for crafting wines, ales, ciders, and jams 

🍃willow (tree of enchantment) + intuition, divination, protection, dream magic + infusions used to cleanse divining materials or drank before sleep + planted near graves to soothe departed souls

🍃yew (tree of resurrection) + psychic abilities, visions, spirit work + bark crafted into funeral wreaths or burned to commune with spirits + most parts are highly poisonous if ingested, use with caution

[thatawkwardwitch]

🍇 Subtle Dionysus Worship 🥂

Drinking grape juice

Eating food that you love, especially comfort foods

Hosting or attending parties

Hanging out with loved ones

Celebrating your accomplishments, big or small

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

Putting on grape-scented or fruit-scented perfumes/colognes

Wearing jewelry that reminds you of him

Seeking community; LGBTQ+ support groups, gamer groups, fandom groups, etc.

Having a bull, leopard, goat, or cat stuffed animal

Decorating parts of your room with real or fake ivy vines

Growing a plant, especially ivy or vined plants

Wearing showy or lavish outfits; wearing outfits that make you feel good about yourself

Taking care of your mental health; finding new and healthy ways to cope with issues

Keeping a mental health journal

Keeping a picture of him in your wallet

Having leopard, bull, or big cat imagery around

Taking a hike/walk in a local forest or nature preserve

Taking a walk at night, especially on a new or full moon (only if safe in your area, please)

Dancing, especially to songs that make you feel wild, free, and expressive

Listening to energizing or expressive music

Watching/reading musicals or plays

Performing in a musical or play (including backstage and tech)

Taking your medications; setting reminders for them

Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally

Learning to accept both the "dark" and "light" parts of yourself

Being kind to those outcast by society, especially the homeless and addicts

Volunteering at a homeless shelter

Engaging in activities that bring you joy, especially those that are looked down upon

Finding ways to be rebellious, especially towards authority (don't do this if it risks your own safety)

Expressing yourself in little ways if unable to be open about it (wearing a bracelet that represents your gender identity, shoelaces that are pride flag colored, etc.)

Embracing all the unique things that make you who you are

-

May add more later! This is my list of discreet ways to worship Dionysus. I hope it helps, and take care! 💜

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[thatawkwardwitch]

I wrote up these prayers for some prayer beads! These are the twelve olympians + Hestia, and some gods that I personally wanted to honor as well. Feel free to pick 'n' choose and modify these how you want, but I thought that I'd would share thems as a community resource, regardless! ^-^

Prayers with the "hails" and gods' names in greek letters (and transliterated) under the cut!

🌜☀️🌛🌜☀️🌛🌜☀️🌛🌜☀️🌛🌜☀️🌛🌜☀️🌛

Hail Zeus and Hera, King and Queen of the heavens and the Theoi.

Hail Zeus, Father of the sky, bringer of rain and storm, protector of friendship and averter of evil.

Hail Hera, Overseer and protector of marriage and women.

Hail Poseidon, Lord of the seas.

Hail Hades, King of the underworld, overseer of the dead, giver of wealth.

Hail Persephone, Queen of the underworld, exacter of justice, Lady of spring and nature.

Hail Aphrodite, Lady of love, mother of desire, passion, beauty, bringer of pleasure.

Hail Ares, Lord of battle, bolsterer of courage, representation or slaughter and bloodshed.

Hail Dionysus, Creator of wine, savior from and inflicter of madness, bringer of ecstacy.

Hail Hermes, Luck bringer, friendliest to man, patron of language and writing.

Hail Hephaestus, Skilled craftsman, patron of artisans.

Hail Athena, Wise strategist, skilled in handicrafts, leader to victory.

Hail Artemis, kind and welcoming Lady, swift of foot and skilled in bowhunting.

Hail Apollo, Lord of oracles, healer and inflicter of illness, leader of the Muses.

Hail Demeter, Lady of the food on our tables and the earth beneath our feet, who loved her daughter so much she made the earth baren in her grief.

Hail Hekate, Lady of the crossroads and ghosts, to whom is offered on the new moon.

Hail Aristaeus, Lord of the rural arts, he who was taught many skills by his family, the Theoi. Gentle, patient god.

Hail Hestia, Lady of the hearth and home, and of the family that tends to those.

Hail Theoi. May you guide me all the days of my life.

Χαιρε Ζευς, (Khaire Zeus) Father of the sky, bringer of rain and storm, protector of friendship and averter of evil.

✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫✨💫

Χαιρετε Ζευς και `Ηρη, (Khairete Zeus kai Hera) King and Queen of the heavens and the Θεοι. (Theoi)

Χαιρε `Ηρη, (Khaire Hera) Overseer and protector of marriage and women.

Χαιρε Ποσειδων, (Khaire Poseidon) Lord of the seas.

Χαιρε `Αιδης, (Khaire Haides) King of the underworld, overseer of the dead, giver of wealth.

Χαιρε Περσεφονη, (Khaire Persephone) Queen of the underworld, exacter of justice, Lady of spring and nature.

Χαιρε Άφροδιτη, (Khaire Aphrodite) Lady of love, mother of desire, passion, beauty, bringer of pleasure.

Χαιρε Άρης, (Khaire Ares) Lord of battle, bolsterer of courage, representation or slaughter and bloodshed.

Χαιρε Διονυσος, (Khaire Dionysos) Creator of wine, savior from and inflicter of madness, bringer of ecstacy.

Χαιρε `Ηρμης, (Khaire Hermes) Luck bringer, friendliest to man, patron of language and writing.

Χαιρε `Ηφαιστος, (Khaire Hephaistos) Skilled craftsman, patron of artisans.

Χαιρε Άθηνα, (Khaire Athena) Wise strategist, skilled in handicrafts, leader to victory.

Χαιρε Άρτεμις, (Khaire Artemis) kind and welcoming Lady, swift of foot and skilled in bowhunting.

Χαιρε Άπολλων, (Khaire Apollon) Lord of oracles, healer and inflicter of illness, leader of the Μουσαι. (Muses)

Χαιρε Δημητηρ, (Khaire Demeter) Lady of the food on our tables and the earth beneath our feet, who loved her daughter so much she made the earth baren in her grief.

Χαιρε `Εκατη, (Khaire Hekate) Lady of the crossroads and ghosts, to whom is offered on the new moon.

Χαιρε Άρισταιος, (Khaire Aristaios) Lord of the rural arts, he who was taught many skills by his family, the Θεοι (Theoi). Gentle, patient god.

Χαιρε `Εστια, (Khaire Hestia) Lady of the hearth and home, and of the family that tends to those.

Χαιρετε Θεοι (Khairete Theoi). May you guide me all the days of my life.

[thatawkwardwitch]

Easter/Spring Equinox dolly.

[thatawkwardwitch]

‘Aphrodite Being Pulled by Doves’ - Unknown Artist

[thatawkwardwitch]

We had Easter Dinner tonight due to other obligations tomorrow. Leg of Lamb with Red Wine Gravy from Porters Seasonal Celebrations Cookbook gifted to me a couple years ago now by @graveyarddirt .

[thatawkwardwitch]

Happy Easter!