Moodboard: Trances

In written chinese, the character 魔 (mó) can mean : Demon, Devil, Fiend, wicked force, magic.

It is made of two components : - 麻 Hemp, Cannabis and - 鬼 Evil spirit So, a Demon is literally an « Evil spirit of the cannabis ».

The enigmatic sorceress Morgana or Morgan Le Fey

In the Triads, the sorceress Morgana is described as the daughter of Avallack, wife of Urian of Reghed, and mother of Owain. The legends about her almost certainly originate from the Celtic-Welsh mythology connected to the goddess Modron. Given her origins, it's no surprise that Morgana is associated with certain fairies in Breton folklore known as mari-morgans, as well as fairies, water spirits, and other magical beings.

The earliest known reference to her is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini (1150), where she is portrayed as the most beautiful of nine sisters. Her notable attributes include the ability to fly and change physical appearance, but what truly makes her fascinating are her healing powers. In later literature, Morgan Le Fey becomes a powerful sorceress of the dark arts, rather than the benevolent goddess of the original mythology. This shift reflects the changing perspectives of societies on the same literary motif, turning Morgana into a character rich with often contradictory meanings.

Thomas Malory, who also explored the mythological origins of Avalon and the wizard Merlin, adapted Morgana from the legends into an established sorceress and the older half-sister of King Arthur. Many centuries later, the Victorian era added the traits of a manipulative character to her story, which have persisted to this day.

What I find personally intriguing about Morgana is the paradox of the good that can destroy and the evil that can be beautiful. As a witch, all of Morgana's folklore makes me think of the Poison Path, a left-hand path in magical herbalism. Although I am not aware of specific plants Morgana might have used, it is possible that, like in other mythologies, each of these nine sisters represented a specific plant, embodying vegetal spirits or daimons.

This is my speculation, but not too far-fetched: the association of Morgana with entheogens and fairies. In the Welsh regions where she is placed, there are endemic plants such as the yellow Welsh poppy, certain lobelias, ferns, and mushrooms with psychoactive properties.

While she is somewhat inspired by older mythologies, giving her a pagan hue, it is clear that her character belongs to medieval magical folklore, composed in fully Christian centuries.

( Painting titled Morgan Le Fey by Anthony Frederick Sandys)

I use substances for entheogenic practices and I have a rule for safer substance usage I live by that so far has worked out great for me

It's called the forest rule:) it means if you can find the substance naturally in the forest, it's an option.

✅Wine/mead (You can find fermented fruit in the wild, so in moderation its ok)

✅Weed (It grows in the wild and isnt harmful)

✅Magic Mushrooms (Those are also just out there, although this one requires alittle more selection, at some varieties can make you sick)

✅Dmt (naturally occuring in plant life, and to a certain degree in the human body. (It's also theorized to be naturally produced in our bodies in larger amounts during birth, death and dreaming however this part is debated)

✅LSA (basically lsd's cousin. naturally occuring in morning glory seeds, and has virtually the same effects slightly watered down for a shorter period, and is noted to be somewhat of a sedative. (Some organizations still consider this chemical dangerous due to its unresearched effects, similar to LSD)

Ect.

But

❌Cocaine? That requires human processes, it's not found naturally in the form it's used in. It's very Bad for you

❌Meth? Also made in a lab, not in the forest, stay farrrr away. It's very Bad for you

❌Ecstasy? Also fake, not found in the forest, Avoid. It's very bad for you

❌ Distilled alcohol? This one is probably the least dangerous of this side of the list, but distilled alcohol is still bad for you, and runs a much higher risk of abuse, and I personally would avoid.

❌LSD? LSD is a semi-synthetic chemical, theoretically sometimes safe, but with how it's made and sold it is very very dangerous because it's often mixed with other things. Generally avoid

Ect.

You get the idea

Obviously there are exceptions, like some mushrooms need to be avoided, and wine requires moderation, but there is a disproportionate difference in the risk between the forest ones and man made ones. using this rule of thumb along with common sense has worked great for me:)

👇

⚠️ any of these things including weed or alcohol can trigger a psychotic episode if you have pre-existing psychotic conditions like schizophrenia. If you have schizophrenia or a family history is schizophrenia the safest bet is to avoid all of these substances, substance use with a family history of schizophrenia can greatly increase your chance of developing it. even if you haven't exhibited symptoms prior, it can trigger latent issues*

⚠️ I am not promoting or condoning using substances that are banned in your area, even if they're banned for dumb reasons