Oswald

I’ve been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard

Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.

Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.

Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.

Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.

SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.

SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.

Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.

Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of “how to draw” videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can’t make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.

Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.

Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.

Artemis is not at all as intimidating as people might make her out to be. You can simply approach her, introduce yourself to her, and begin worshipping her. If you feel drawn to her, then chances are, she'll be interested in you.

Her reputation for being ruthless might stem from the fact that she represents nature, and nature sure isn't always kind! She's a wild goddess who knows what she wants and sets clear boundaries for what she will put up with. Feminism is important to her. Don't be surprised if she expects the same of you.

Artemis may be an unwed goddess, but that doesn't make her a man hater. She loves her male devotees as much as her female ones. What she can't stand are patriarchy, sexism, and men who don't respect women. So if you're male, as long as you're not a misogynist, she will welcome you as a devotee.

This should go without saying, but Artemis welcomes worshippers of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, nationalities, ages, genders, sexualities, identities. As long as you're not a bigot, she'll welcome you.

You can just talk to her. Those of us who are long time worshippers might know her better and have an easier time, but she's not difficult to communicate with. It doesn't have to begin with fancy incense and candle rituals or deep meditations and dream work. Just pray to her and speak to her. Keep in mind that receiving responses from gods is different for everyone. Just because you don't figure out immediately the best way to "hear" her in the beginning, doesn't mean she's ignoring you.

Pay attention to nature and wildlife around you. Signs from her become easier to pick up once you know what to look for. Deer who come close and make eye contacts with you, wind rustling in the trees and blowing branches in your direction, leaves that fall around you, a fox running in the same direction as you're going, a friendly neighborhood cat stopping by to say hello.

You don't have to turn vegetarian or vegan! Artemis is the goddess of the hunt. She's the patroness of hunters, and a huntress herself. She has no problem with people hunting wild game to feed their families. She does, however, have a problem with people hunting animals for sport and killing animals for fun.

She will absolutely love it, if you pick up an athletic activity such as running, archery, or horseback riding. But it's not a requirement!

Offerings to her can simply consist of what you feel are associated with her. If you have something that catches her eyes, she might request it from you. I personally like to offer her selections from my favorite snacks. I also think she likes white wine, sparkling wine, honey (especially since I'm a beekeeper), oatmeal, eggs, fresh fruits, and little things from the wild, like acorns, pinecones, and wild flowers. I personally love giving her flowers, incense, and jewelry as offerings.

She may not have sired children of her own, but she's very motherly and she adores children. If you have children, introduce them to her, and she will be happy to bless them and watch over them. She's very maternal and has no problem with adopting children. She can certainly be your mother goddess.

Be respectful to her family. This is important. She will definitely appreciate it, if you show your appreciations for her parents and her siblings.

Tomorrow (May 25 2020), the U.S. will celebrate Memorial Day, which many consider to be the "official" start of summer.

Summer is my absolute favorite time of year, but things have been so unpredictable and unstable both in my personal life and in the global community over the past few months.

And while the world is beginning to come out of total lockdown, there's still a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about the future. To be perfectly honest, I'm desperate for the world to get back to normal, and I'm struggling to accept that there is no going back. The world as we knew it before the pandemic no longer exists.

Which is a really troubling thought for everyone, let alone a young adult with pre-exisitng anxiety disorders rapidly approaching a major life event (earning my bachelor's degree and entering the "real" world) while feeling completely unprepared to do so.

Universal anxieties aside, I compiled a quick list of devotions I'm working into my daily routine. Most of these are simple/subtle, as I'm banished to the broom closet while I stay with my parents. Summer is the season of Apollo, the sun, growth- and I want to do my best given the circumstances.

Incorporating music into daily tasks- simple enough. I am always listening to music, but lately I'm trying to expand my genre interests, singing, and practicing my ukulele more.

Dancing- this goes along with music, but it has a distinct significance to me. I love all forms of exercise, but dancing is my favorite. I feel better about my body, I feel more optimisic about the day's challenges, and I feel more connected to Apollo if I devote my dancing to him.

Gardening/Libations- Since Apollo's domain is the sun, I associate all things green and growing with him as well. I have a ton of plant babies, and checking on them gives me a good excuse to spend time outside in the sunshine and it feels good to help a little life grow. Gardening is also a good way to offer libations, or an offering of liquid to the Gods. I have a libation jar on my window sill, but I can also make libations while caring for my plants. Since Apollo is associated with birds, I maintain a birdfeeder and bird bath for my local winged friends.

Journaling- I think every witch should make journaling a part of their daily practice, but I want to incorporate a devotion ritual into my existing habit. My plan is to light a candle I've already dedicated to him while I write, and end my journal entry with a word of graditude to Apollo and the day's blessings.

Art- Traditionally, Apollo is associated with poetry, but I use all forms of art (writing, drawing, painting, sewing) as a means of devotion. The important thing I have to remember is that I want to create art for the purposes of enjoying and expressing- not for a technically perfect outcome. The technical skill comes through practice, and enjoying the process of creating because it makes me happy.

Glitter- this one might be considered silly, but I associate all things sparkly with Apollo. Wearing jewelry dedicated to him, or gold eyeshadow or glitter makeup is another form of showing my appreciation.

Honoring Artemis- While I am not a devotee of Artemis, I think it's important to acknowledge and make occasional offerings to her, since she's Apollo's twin sister. I hold great respect for all the Theoi, and I make sure that I'm acknowledging the power and importance Artemis has on her own, not just because she's Apollo's sister.

Quiet- this is by far the simplest, but it's something that is underestimated. I can spend 1 minute just silently acknowledging Apollo's presence. Sometimes I'll express graditude, other times I'm stuck and I need his guidance. I love doing big, complicated rituals, and expressing my faith in that way- but these little moments mean just as much.

So those are just a few of the things I'm working into my daily routine to maintain my practice and work through these difficult times. I'd love to hear how other Hellenic worshippers practice, even if you're not devoted to Apollo! It's always nice to learn, especially since I'm new to the Hellenic aspect of my path.

"Apollon (Apollo) is the Olympian God of prophecy and oracles, music, song and poetry, archery, healing, plague and disease, and the protection of the young."

Large Altars:

Sun water

Wine diluted with pure water

Milk

Olive oil

Herbal teas

Honey and honey cakes

Orange or lemon pastries

Lamb or goat meat

Fruits

Cheeses

Wheat

Breads

Golden objects such as gold bowls, gold wine cups, flakes of gold, etc.

Bows and arrows, real, toys, or art

Images or art of the sun

All musical instruments, especially stringed instruments

Wolf and/or dolphin imagery

Any images of birds, especially crows and swans

Yellow, gold, and white candles

Incense such as frankincense or myrrh

Small/Hidden Altars:

Chocolates with orange or lemon flavors

Laurel wreaths

Gems such as amber, sunstone, and yellow sapphires

Laurel tree branches or leaves

Lily of the valley

Sunflowers

Aloe vera

Anise

Bandaids

Poetry you've written

Music you've written

Art you've drawn

Photos you've taken

Concert tickets

Golden jewelry or jewelry of the sun or arrows

LGBT+ flags

Divination items (tarot cards, pendulums, etc.)

Wolf and/or dolphin art, toys, or photos

All bird feathers, but especially swan and crow feathers

Devotional Acts:

Donate to medical charities

Support up-and-coming/indie artists and musicians

Sing to Him

Play musical instruments for Him

Hold dance parties

Make a playlist for Him and listen to it daily

Read poetry to Him

Take care of your mental health and remember to take your medicine, if you have any

Try archery

Try different types of divination

Try and wake up early and watch the sun rise

Go for a walk and feel the warmth from the sun

Let more sunlight into your home/room

Learn a musical instrument or how to sing

Learn simple medical care, like CPR

Learn about His history, His mother's history, and His sister's history

Learn about His lovers

Attend pride

Support LGBT+ rights

Wear yellow or orange clothing

Honor Leto and Artemis

Pray to Him and speak to Him often, things to consider praying for are guidance, healing/good health, inspiration, a prophecy or truth

Sources:

Official artwork from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson

https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Apollon.html

https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-apollo

i woke up and decided to give everyone and myself sugar overdose today

Rest in peace, Jellie. I’m glad she’ll live on in every minecraft world ❤️