Dark Crane Pagan Memes

Beltane is upon us and we are greeted with the reminder of the Earth’s enduring powers of renewal. It is a season of love and connection.

Often considered a part of the practice of witchcraft, the creation of magical potions has been around for centuries.

Since ancient times, certain people who often live on the edges of society have been paying keen attention to the plants, herbs, seeds and other parts of nature which might be combined to create a substance for healing.

Of course, potions haven’t always been used for healing. For those with more nefarious plans, stories of potions can bring about negative consequences such as illness, or even death.

To see potions at work in fiction, all a person has to do is reach into common fairy tales to consider magical spells and potions that have been used!

For instance, a shrinking potion such as the one in "Alice in Wonderland". Or producing a keen sense of youth and vitality, such as in the musical fairy tale mashup, "Into the Woods".

Whatever the motivation, whether for good or evil, mixing up potions comes with a history that has often been criticized and feared.

The celebration of Brew a Potion Day looks at the lighter side of creating and brewing these interesting, unique and sometimes even magical concoctions. Even something as simple as tea, coffee or soup!

The Egyptians believed that Heka was the primordial force present at the creation of the world, that it could be summoned up during the observance of religious ritual, and that its chief function was the preservation of the natural world order. While Ma'at was the "Law" or the "Balance" of the universe, Heka was the Power that allowed that law to be enacted.

Ancient texts (specifically the Instructions of King Merikare) state that the Creator gave Heka to humans as a "weapon to ward off the blow of events."

Today the sun is in Capricorn and the moon in Cancer, blending structure with emotional intuition. It is a good time for healing, drawing on the stability of Capricorn and the nurturing essence of Cancer.

A blue flame healing spell in magic involves using the color blue (symbolizing peace, healing, communication) and fire (energy, transformation) for spiritual or emotional repair, often with a blue candle, herbs like lavender, and an incantation to release pain and invite calm.

It is New Years Eve and this blessing is designed to be spoken right at the threshold - either at midnight or during the first quiet moments of New Year’s Day. It focuses on the transition from the dark of winter to the growing light.

You can adapt the blessing to a more personal focus if you prefer, such as protection for your home or luck and abundance in your career or just keep in mind your intentions as you recite it.

It is that time of year when everyone is posting "New Year, New Me", but to really achieve that, sometimes we have to let go of a negative relationship, bad habits, a person, situation, or emotion which is draining, and no longer serves us. A Cord Cutting ritual can help.

Sometimes we connect energetically with things, addictions, and people. This ritual can help you to disconnect and sever the ties that are holding you back. This can help to banish fear, and release attachment and resentment so you can move on with your life, unshackled.

This ritual should be done with no malice to anyone. Your intention here should never be harm, only to sever ties.

The Romans readily adopted the Celtic goddess Epona, and she was the only Celtic deity actually worshipped in Rome itself. Her veneration was widespread throughout the empire between the first and third centuries CE. She was incorporated into the Imperial cult by being invoked on behalf of the Emperor, as Epona Augusta or Epona Regina. She was the protector of horses and donkeys, and under Rome became the patron goddess of the cavalry, especially the Imperial Horse. Small images of Epona have been found in Roman sites of stables and barns over a wide geographical area, suggesting that her worship took place in stables. On her feast day, grooms decorated her shrine in the stable and draft animals like horses, mules and oxen were given the day off.

She is always shown riding on a horse, or seated with horses around her or with foals eating out of her lap and as a goddess of fertility with a patera, cornucopia and ears of grain.

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of Saturn, associated with agriculture and the early successes of culture. It was originally celebrated on December 17, but later the festivities were extended to December 23. This festival marked the end of agricultural work, and everyone sought rest and celebrations in connection with the completion of the harvest.

Public festivities began with a sacrifice in front of the Temple of Saturn in the Forum, followed by a religious feast attended by senators and horsemen dressed in special attire. The streets were filled with crowds. Everywhere, shouts of "Io Saturnalia" could be heard. Joy prevailed everywhere, candles were burned, and "Queen of Saturnalia" and "King of Saturnalia" were chosen. People exchanged gifts, including cerei (wax candles) and sigillaria (figurines made of terracotta or dough).

During Saturnalia, public business was suspended, students were exempt from classes, and criminals were not to be punished. Slaves were granted special privileges: they were relieved from regular work, allowed to wear the pilleus (a cap symbolizing freedom), permitted to dine at the master's table dressed in the master's clothes, and even received services from their masters. They enjoyed equal rights with their masters, in honor of the universal equality that was believed to have existed during Saturn's reign.

Celebrated on December 5th, Krampusnacht is the dark counterpart to St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. While St. Nicholas rewards good children with presents, Krampus punishes the naughty ones.

Krampusnacht often involves parades and processions, known as Krampuslauf (Krampus run), where people dressed as Krampus run through the streets, often carrying switches or chains.

An Athame or Athame, is a ceremonial blade, generally with a black handle. It is the main magical tool among several used in ceremonial magic traditions, and by other neopagans and witchcraft traditions. A black-handled knife called an "arthame" appears in certain versions of the Key of Solomon, a grimoire dating to the Renaissance, and one of the sources for modern Wicca.

The Athame stands as one of the four elemental tools in modern occultism, traditionally representing fire for witches, and air for ceremonial magicians. It is mentioned in the writings of Gerald Gardner in the 1950s, who claimed the athame was the most important ritual tool, with many uses, but was not to be used for actual physical cutting. Some rituals or traditions will substitute a sword for the athame.

The Boline or Bolline, is a white-handled ritual knife, mainly for the cutting of herbs and inscribing candles. In some traditions, the Boline is sickle-shaped, as it was described in the Key of Solomon, and is used primarily for harvesting of herbs. The traditional knife however is more multipurpose and easier to use.