#land spirits
Celebrity Tarot
I will do a 1 card reading from my Starman Tarot deck for any celebrity you want to know something about. I read through Spirit, which might be different from other readers.
I will tell you not only what I see in the card, but any words or phrases I hear, whatever vision is conjured, what emotions are evoked and what they tell me about the situation and person(s) in it.
Send me an ask about the celebrity you want to know about! Anyone past or present!
Prayer for Treating
I call to the Spirits of the Land,
You who hold the Long Bargain,
Who stood in this space, connected,
To weave hearth, home, and heath together.
As I have worked this land at your leave,
And you have kept it safe,
I honor the bond we have built
To maintain this space and relationship.
As we continue this connection
Deep into the years that come,
Know that I still come to the edge
My hands full of gifts and joy.
Take these, my offerings,
Draw them under the mushroom cap
And know they are yours to retain.
May our alliances forever flourish.
And so I leave you this fine milk,
A side of honey and of treasure,
And ask that you keep us in your grace,
And help us understand your needs.
[Image description: Mushrooms in macro, by Rev. Michael J Dangler]
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A discussion on offerings –
Growing up, I had a number of rituals associated with food. There was teatime and the ritual of it, there was Ovaltine or Horlicks when I could not sleep, there was proper masala chai pulled by my mother when she was annoyed, but the thing I was most picky about was strawberry milk. While most kids my age were all about that chocolate milk, I was all about strawberry, and I was picky.There was no strawberry nesquick in my house, oh no. It had to be Hershey’s, and it had to be mixed up separately and hen poured into my special Felix the Cat plastic cup with the handle that was also a straw (which I still have if anyone wants pictures for proof) that I thought was terriblyfancy. Da brought chocolate syrup home once when they did not have strawberry. It petrified in the fridge from lack of use.
Now, I know some of you may be looking at this strangely, wondering why in the world this traditional witchcraft blog that has posted spells with deer hearts and pig stomachs and the shark week that shall not be spoken of is talking about strawberry milk. Here’s the answer:
One of the most common questions I get over and over (and over and over) again is people asking me what offerings they should offer their ancestors, their local land spirits, the Witch Father, or the fair folk. The thing is, I can’t tell you. It would be easier if I could, I know, but think about this for a moment, really think about it.
How am I supposed to know what your Italian Nonna would like to eat? I can’t. I can guess, but it’ll probably be wrong. If someone looked at the stories of my diabetic great-grandfather, they’d assume he’d probably want roast, but his family knows (embarrassingly) that he loved chocolate cake to the point where he would eat it secretly and then give himself more insulin to compensate. The thing is, we’re the only people who need to know that. A practical father probably won’t be attracted by a 29 Bourdeaux in a cut crystal wineglass that cost more than his best suit. He’’ probably be happier with his morning coffee in that stupid mug he used every day.
Likewise, me, a witch from rural Pennsylvania, is not going to able able to give you advice on how to please land spirits from a highly industrialized area, a desert, or anywhere I haven’t actually lived. I can make guesses, but just like the ancestor example above, that can be entirely wrong.
Now, with some things, like the Witch-Father and the Fair Folk, I can be of slightly more help, but only because there is more established folklore from which to draw. However, even then, it might not be what those beings want from you. Witches can get wrapped up in the pomp of offering and ritual, I have been very known to do so myself, however, we mustn’t forget that there are many types of offerings, and that Service is a very big one. It is better to go out searching for resources and scraping together ideas on your own, than to ask someone else. While it isn’t all about “A for Effort,” the work and time and meaning you put in those attempts, even if you do it wrong, matters. That doesn’t mean that you won’t get it wrong, that mistakes don’t matter, or that spirits won’t get stroppy with you, but that chocolate syrup petrified in the fridge because my Da tried, and that mattered, when I was done being sad over my lack of pink goodness.
And hey, if nothing else, at least now when I keel over and join the cindered dead, all you lot will know how to get my attention.
Throughout history and our legends, Witches and Wizards were the crazy men and women that lived on the outskirts of the village. Their craft was wild and strange to those that lived in the village, but, nonetheless, people would seek after their wisdom of the land, the plants, the local spirits, and for wisdom or guidance in their path. These men and women, often bachelors, would know the ins and outs of the region and often went walking alone.
Today, our villages are less rustic and more like local towns, and suburbs. But one can still be a Local Witch, and develop special connections with the land you call home.
Become a Local Witch:
- Learn Local Lore
Folktales, legends, and even tall tales develop the culture of a town or area. Learn these. Retell them over summer campfires, and over drinks with friends. People will start to LOVE your stories.- Start Frequenting locally owned shops and stores
Develop connections and relationships with the owners and those that work there every day. Learn their names, and introduce yourself after visiting more often. Supporting locally owned shops helps small business owners and provides nourishment to your community. This is putting down roots, and develops your connection with the people that shape your town.- Find a Local Bookstore
This is an extension of 1 and 2. Locally owned bookstores always have a Local Writers, Local Plants, and Local History sections. Ask inside where these sections are, and start devouring these books. Not only will you be supporting a local shop, but you have a direct source of helpful information. Oftentimes, employees and owners also know a lot of Lore. Talk to them about what you’re interested in learning. They probably have some hidden gems of information.- Learn about your Indigenous Plants
Start researching and learning about the flora that grows locally, learn their lore, their uses, and magical or folklore associations. If Natives from your area used these plants, find out how. Learn where these plants grow and research local foraging. If you’ve never foraged, see if you can find a local group that can serve as helpful guides to stay safe. Never ingest anything unless you are SURE.- Start a local Plant Grimoire
Keep dried presses of flowers and plants in it, draw and diagram to help you remember what they look like.- Learn about the indigenous animals
Research their folklore and mythology. Start finding out what they eat, and what their habitats are. (Safely) Do your part to help foster their growth and health. This could be making insect houses to help local endangered pollinators, or leaving out special birdseed for endangered bird species in the area. (Safely) Start interacting with the non-aggressive species and leave them treats. This is great for birds, deer, rabbits, moles, chipmunks, hedgehogs, etc- Join local Conservation Projects
Getting directly involved in wildlife conservation strengthens our spiritual and natural ties to the land we call our home. Taking personal responsibility and interest in it’s stewardship is honoring the spirits of the land, and the Gods.- Use Google Maps while exploring parks, or protected open spaces to drop pins and places where you find animal habitats or useful plants for foraging.
That’s all for now. More will come later I’m sure. Now go be the best local Witch or Druid you can be!
- Buy produce from a local produce stand/farmers market if you can instead of a large chain grocery store. (Where I live, Winco grocery store also tries to locally source their produce)
- Find a community garden in your area. Learn from seasoned gardeners about local plants, soil, and get to spend wholesome time with your neighbors!
- Join your local library. Like the bookstore, but free! Some also have events to get to know people in your community.
- Explore local walking paths or hiking trails. My town is littered with walking paths that I use as nature trails and helps with my grounding. Also gives you a chance to scope out local plants.
for those of us in North America, esp for us settlers, we need to include finding out who’s land you’re on.
Know who the land belongs to. Make reparations and give back to them if you can. If you own your land, consider looking into a Land Back agreement/program with the Native Nation that it belongs to.
And then, if you’re able to, and if the community invites settlers to learn, learn from them directly about the local lore.
Campfire stories, legends and myths and the like are all well and good, and really do play a formative roll in a place’s history. But they’re often tinged with collonialism. So find out your local place’s history from the people to whom it belongs.
