#belinus

One of the most memorable passages for me in Book III of HRB is this one above. Basically…

Two brothers called Belinus and Brennius fight over the kingdom of Britain. Brennius gets exiled, but he manages to return with an army, courtesy of his French allies. Their mother Tonwenna hasn’t seen Brennius in ages, so the moment she sees him, she goes to hug him and embrace him. Then, she bares her breasts and practically lectures him, as well as pleas that he and his brother stop fighting. Somehow, this works.

(Salix alba) Safe to interact with.

Folk Names: Osier, Pussy Willow, Saille, Salicyn Willow, Saugh Tree, Tree of Enchantment, White Willow, Witches' Aspirin, Withe, Withy Gender: Feminine Planet: Moon Element: Water Deities: Artemis, Ceres, Hecate, Persephone, Hera, Mercury, Belili, Belinus Powers: Love, Love Divination, Protection, Healing

Ritual Uses: Burial mounds in Britain which are sited near marshes and lakes were often lined with willows, probably for symbolic associations with death.

Magical Uses: Willow leaves are carried or used in mixtures to attract love, and the wood is used to fashion magical wands dedicated to Moon Magic. If you wish to know if you will be married in the new year, on New Year's Eve throw your shoe or boot into a willow tree. If it doesn't catch and stay in the branches the first time, you have eight more tries. If you succeed in trapping your shoe in the tree you will be wed within twelve months—but you'll also have to shake or climb the tree to retrieve your shoe. All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a willow tree ("knock on wood") to avert evil. The leaves, bark and wood of the willow are also utilized in healing spells. If you wish to conjure spirits, mix crushed willow bark with sandalwood and burn at the waning Moon outdoors. Magical brooms, especially Witch's brooms, are traditionally bound with a willow branch.

thank you!!! also sorry for the late reply i completely forgot to answer this and they’re a bit shit because i’m tired af but anyway

Classical: If you were an Olympian god, what would you be known for?

getting lost and never knowing where i am

Neoclassicism: If something came back into fashion, what do you hope it would be?

fashion-wise: big 80s goth hair tbh. think robert smith. i’m not even kidding

other than and another though not entirely different sort of goth; it’d be cool if we could bring back gothic revival architecture (so like gothic revival revival)

Surrealism: Why does the porcupine think it’s a duck?

??? it’s probably a furry or something

Contemporary: What did you do today?