I grew up in what I call a cast iron family. All the pans were cast iron, we had a few enamel pots for pasta, and one beat up copper bottomed pan for boxed mac and cheese. My mom cooked most days and when she didn’t, it was mac and cheese or pasta because we weren’t allowed to cook with her pans unless she was there.
Cast iron has some mixed reviews, some (me), swear by it and some, think it’s difficult and impossible to cook with…and they’re right to a degree (get it, degree, cooking, farenheit, celcius…sorry), if you don’t know how to care for cast iron, it’s a hassle and a mess. That’s what this post is for though!
Seasoning
Seasoning is the term used to treat and clean cast iron. Even when you buy a new “pre-seasoned” pan, you’re going to want to season it yourself. A major benefit of cooking with cast iron is that it retains flavor, and makes its own seasoning for your food…like magic!
Step 1: Clean your pan with HOT water and a scouring brush, rough side of a sponge, or steel wool. Nothing else…just water and something rough.
Step 2: Dry it completely with paper towels, and then place it on a lit stovetop burner for a minute or so to make sure it’s completely dry.
Step 3: While the pan is warm, probably 10-20 minutes after you remove from stove, (because it retains heat like no one’s business, and I don’t want you to burn yourself) pour some oil* into the pan and spread it around, completely coating the inside. Wipe off excess.
Step 4: Place in the oven set to 200º F, Upside Down for 2 hours
BOOM! Your pan is seasoned and ready to cook with.
*But Barber, what kind of oil? That’s mostly up to you, but canola is the classic standard (vegetable oil) but I use olive oil or canola, depending on what I used last. You can use any vegetable oil you want, whether that’s grapeseed, sunflower or flax seed, but there’s no reason to go crazy and buy a “Cast Iron Care Oil” because that’s literally just a marked up bottle of canola…No Lies.
NEVER USE SOAP WHEN CLEANING YOUR CAST IRON,and here’s why…
Soap is great for clothes, and your body, and even your car, but not for Cast Iron. Cast iron is a porous metal, so when you put something in, it absorbs. When you cook with it regularly, and oil it regularly, it creates its own nonstick surface! It’ll absorb the taste of herbs and spices you cook with regularly, and everything gets a mild flavor boost from whatever you cooked in it previously. When you use soap, it removes that surface and flavor; soap can absorb and flavor your food, and no one wants soapy fritatas.
Now, the seasoning steps above are used when you get a new pan, or need to re-season a rusted pan. It’ll restore it like new. But what about cleaning after cooking something tastey?
Cleaning and Upkeep
Step 1: While the pan is still warm, take rock salt and/or a non-metal brush (like the one above that I use) and go crazy scrubbing it.**
Step 2: Rinse with warm water, and dry with a paper towel (I say paper towel, because it’ll actually raise up some iron, and turn your towel black…better use a disposable towel, or risk staining your nice linens) after that, feel free to put on the stove top for a minute to make sure it’s all dry
Step 3: Coat with a little oil, wipe up excess, and store in your oven or broiler.
Special notes: The heat, salt you use to scrub, and iron itself all equal one great big anti-bacterial surface, so no worries about not using soap and feeling like you’ll get salmonella. Because it’s a porous surface, air drying is a no-no. It’ll lead to rust, and then you’ll have to scrub it off and completely re-season it (refer to first seasoning process).
**When you scrub with salt, it starts picking up iron particles and oil. It’ll start turning black and you can keep it in a jar until you’ve got a good amount, bake it on a sheet to dry it, and there you have classic Black Salt! For more banishing oomph, I scald pepper in a fry pan, and add incense ash to the mix.
Like many pagans in Europe, the Slavic pagans and polytheists residing in Croatia shared a powerful connection with nature: they believed in many gods, guardians and spirits that served as patrons of the forests, meadows, suns, moons and the earth itself. They believed that each living entity, be it plant or animal, contained a soul. It was from this respect of the natural world that one of the oldest documented traditions, from the 10th century, was born: the Cult of the Trees.
In some regions, Slavic pagans believed that certain trees held a connection to the deities and spirits present in their local folk lore. Temples and statues were built using corresponding trees; however, some trees were strictly for worship and were not to be harvested. In some cases, temples were simply wooded areas filled with the trees associated with a particular deity.
Folk worshiped these trees: they prayed to them, made sacrifices to them, held important meetings under them and even confessed their sins to them. Some even performed rituals in which they would adorn the trees with flowers, red cloth and fruit. A few smaller villages in Croatia and parts of Dalmatia continue to have a Sacred Tree which serves as the patron of the village – their protector against storms, floods and droughts. It is believed that if an individual steals a piece of the Sacred Tree that their family would suffer devastating illness and even death.
Many folk still believe that the trees serve as symbols of the universe, fertility and wisdom – that the spirits share their wisdom with us if we choose to listen. Some folk in the Southern Slavic regions believe that the souls of the deceased could seek refuge and reside within the trees. In some regions, folk believed that the trees were symbolic of our own mortality and that the changing of the seasons were a metaphor for our own human experiences:
Rebirth/Birth: In Spring the trees would give birth to new buds and, eventually, new leaves, blossoms and branches.
Adolescence: In Summer the leaves and branches are reaching full size. Blossoms are slowly developing into fruit and nuts.
Adulthood: In Autumn the leaves have turned colour and the fruit and nuts have matured and are ready to be collected.
Death: In Winter the leaves are beginning to fall until the tree remains barren.
In the rural areas of Croatia, these beliefs are commonplace in villages with generations of elders. These communities have a few cult trees that serve specific purposes, with a firm logical structure regarding their positioning in relation to architectural pieces (homes, churches, markets). The reasons are rooted in old mythology and vary from community to community.
Below are a few trees that were significant in the Croatian tribe I was raised in. I do not speak for any other Slavic magic practitioners as their associations vary from region to region and are influenced by the land and their beliefs.
Welcome to the wild world of deity worship! You’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect or perhaps you’re not really sure where to begin. Don’t worry – most of us have been there. We’ll help guide you through the process!
Explore your options
First and foremost: do your research and make informed decisions.
Read stories from multiple pantheons: embrace anything and everything, especially topics of interest to you. Speak to other devotees and see what they have to say about their deities, worship practices, and the pantheon as a whole. Read up on origin stories and mythology related to your own worldview, practices and interests. If something really resonates with you, keep going with your research and feel free to reach out.
A lot of people start with a pantheon they’re familiar with, or one they know they have ties to in their ancestry (exclusive of initiation-based and closed cultures). For example, if you know where your family is from (i.e. Ireland), you could begin with the Irish Celtic pantheon.
If there’s a deity that you’re curious about, feel free to reach out to them and ask if they’d be willing to work with you. If the deity declines, respect that. If they accept, establish what kind of relationship you’d like to have with them. Similarly, if a deity reaches out to you and you do not wish to work with them, decline their offer respectfully.
There are cultures that are initiation-based and closed to outsiders – and you cannot be a part of them unless you go through the proper channels to be initiated, are reclaiming recent ancestry with the guidance of someone within the culture, or, in the case of many closed cultures, are already a member of them. If a member of that culture says that it’s closed, respect that and move on. Please do not argue with them.
How to Research
There are many methods of research available to you folks – especially with the internet! Here are some ideas for sources:
Books. Books are really, really great resources but please do research on the author first. There are far too many authors that publish and push forward misinformation as fact, encourage cultural appropriation, and feed the general ignorant public a bunch of watered-down bullshit because it’s easier to digest. (e.g. hyper-Christianized versions of folk tales, deities)
Media. Technology is an extraordinary tool – use it to your advantage! There are phenomenal open source organizations that supply copyright-expired texts and publications, such as Project Gutenberg and Sacred-Texts. Check out documentaries, encyclopaedias, historical documents and more!
Some folks frequent tumblr and it can be a great place to start. But please do follow-up with any information and check sources. The last thing you want is to believe something to be factual information when it isn’t.
Common Misconceptions
It’s okay to try out a few different pantheons and deities before making a decision. Sometimes we think one pantheon or deity fits with us and then we realize later on that there isn’t really a connection there. That’s okay! Resume your research and try again.
Please ignore the gatekeepers that imply that legitimate worshipers receive a divine message. Some people get them, some people don’t. They’re not a requirement for your practice.
Also, feel free to use a method of divination to help narrow down your search for a pantheon if you feel overwhelmed. If you practice meditation, prayer or rituals, feel free to ask for a sign. Some folks have dreams lead them to their practice. It’s your journey – so do what feels right.
If you think a deity from an initiation-based or closed culture is reaching out to you (and you’re not a member of that culture), respectfully decline or find someone within that culture and have them assist you. Quite frankly, closed cultures require a special connection to the culture itself – if you don’t have that, you can’t address the entities within it.
Working with deities
Establishing a relationship
Each individual’s relationship with a deity is unique. Some practitioners believe that all higher-beings should be treated with the utmost respect. Some people have a much more easy-going friendship dynamic with the deities they work with. Do what works for you.
When starting out with a deity, it’s important to establish what kind of relationship you want – establish your boundaries. Are you the type of person who wants to have a regimented schedule of when to give offerings, or are you more of the laidback “here’s a piece of cake, my friend” type? Talk about what you’re hoping to get out of the relationship and discuss what your shared interests are and how you can learn from one another. Talk about your fears, too. Be honest with them and yourself. Deities are pretty reasonable folks and respect communication.
It’s also totally cool to work with deities from multiple pantheons – don’t be afraid to branch out and talk to a few different ones once you’re comfortable with it!
Bonding with Deities
Each individual bonds with their deities in unique ways, so feel free to explore a variety of different options. Also, be aware that you do not have to adhere to the documented sources in terms of worship and associations. If Dionysus told you that he likes maroon lipstick and jamming out to Time Warp, that’s cool – it works for you! It falls under Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG). It’s completely valid.
Here are some examples of bonding with your deities:
Read up on their origin stories, study psalms and hymns, discover stories and poetry and take notes on it all.
Leave small offerings, such as crystals, natural energies (rain, storm, sun, moon, etc.), food or beverages.
Make a devotional item for them (e.g. knit a scarf for The Morrigan).
Leave things at their altar that made you think of them.
Make a playlist of songs for them and play it whenever you’re thinking of them. Sing along to the songs, feel the energy of them, and dedicate it all to the deity of choice.
Have a devotional journal specifically for them and store all of the things you’ve learned about them within it.
Meditate and talk with them. Ask them about their day. Tell them about yours.
Do things in their honour. Working out? Pick your favourite war deity to dedicate your sweat and training to. Cooking dinner? Deities of house, home, fire and the like would appreciate that action. Even singing your favourite song could be a dedication to a deity of music.
Dos and Don’ts
Do:
Be respectful when approaching a deity for the first time, especially if you do not have an established relationship with them.
Spend quality time with your deities.
Celebrate your triumphs and successes with them.
Ask for guidance from time to time, if necessary.
Don’t:
Reach out to initiation-based and closed culture deities unless you’re a member of them. No, past lives in that culture do not count. If you’re not currently a member and have not gone through the proper procedures to become a member, then you need to either properly pursue that path (initiation-based) or back off (closed cultures).
Further, most closed culture deities and higher beings are not accessible to those that do not have a direct blood or spiritual connection with them (i.e. Indigenous).
Use deities as your personal fortune tellers.
Assume that whatever the deity “specializes” in is all they can/want to talk about.
Things to Remember
Not everyone views deities the same way.
Not everyone worships their deities.
Many folks don’t view deities as perfect or omniscient.
Not everyone has the same opinion or relationship with a deity.
Not everyone views their deities as parents or family members.
Some folks may have negative experiences with certain deities and that is okay. Don’t let it affect your relationship with your deities but also do not interfere with theirs.
Some people are married to a deity (godspousing). Please do not disrespect things that you do not understand – instead, ask questions if you are curious!
Not everyone believes that deities are 100% honest or into fulfilling your needs and wants. Some of them lie. Some of them have their own end-goal. Some of them will screw you over.
People are allowed to avoid certain deities if they want to.
Not all deities like humans. In fact, some of them fucking hate them.
Don’t project your views of deities onto other people and do not condemn them for disagreeing with you either.
Deities that have pop culture counterparts are not the same as their pop culture counterparts. Just because you saw Thor in a movie does not mean that’s how he actually acts or holds those opinions.
An important aside
It’s perfectly fine to learn about and educate yourself on initiation-based and closed cultures, especially if you’re getting the information from reputable sources and members of that culture. You can even participate in their customs if a member of that culture personally invites you or grants you the permission to do so. You can appreciate cultures by learning about and respecting them.
It’s another thing entirely when you claim them as your own. In many instances, the reality is that there is very little legitimate documentation on initiation-based and closed cultures simply because people often misinterpret it and spread that information like wildfire. I’ve seen it first-hand with my own closed culture tribe. Claiming to be doing closed practices and/or working with closed deities is not only often impossible (because of the lack of spiritual or blood link) but is very hurtful to actual members of those tribes.
I (everett-the-mage) can’t speak for anyone else, of course, but whenever I try to correct or speak out against those who are appropriating my culture, I’m spoken over by non-members who think they know what the truth is. And while I understand that they have good intentions, it’s still very discouraging and hurtful – especially when folks are spreading false information.
I guess, in the end, if you’re genuinely interested in learning about an initiation-based or closed culture, I ask that you please approach an actual member of that culture and explain your intentions. More often than not, we’re happy to teach you about our customs. We just don’t want bullshit spread to the masses.
A Chinese-Cuban Babalawo in the film Mulata (1954).
In Cuba, the Chinese who arrived as indentured servants mixed socially with Africans and their descendants and some became initiated into Afro-Diasporic religions. There was also a significant adoption of Chinese cultural and religious objects, not the least of which being Chinese porcelain pots, into Lukumi – including syncretism between several Chinese deities and the Orisha. Today there are still Chinese-Cuban Babalawos practicing in Havana’s Chinatown.
Because a good half or so of crystal witch posts make me go “ooooh boy”:
“Opalite” is just fancy glass.
“Goldstone” and its differently-colored varieties are also just fancy glass (though with a rather fun history stretching back hundreds of years, to the point where ‘aventurine’ is named after the manufactured sparkly glass via its Italian name. I saw a 19th century table made out of that stuff once; it looked like the table version of old bowling alley carpets).
“Rainbow” or “Aura” or whatever quartz and amethysts are chemically treated – can’t remember the specifics, but they get coated with something.
Most agate slices and pretty much all agate-looking bright blue and pink tumbled stones are dyed.
Most citrine you can buy for a reasonable price is treated amethyst.
Most turquoise is treated howlite.
Blue tiger eye does exist (also known as Hawk’s Eye), but almost always includes yellow stripes and/or is very slightly grey-ish or otherwise not a totally dark and saturated blue; Not saying they don’t exist, but I’d be wary of cheap, extremely blue, extremely mono-colored stones.
Red tiger eye is always heat-treated, but not generally dyed AFAIK, because you can get ridiculously good colors just by applying some heat. Apparently, applying certain acids gets you a reddish-purple hue.
A LOT of jade is fake in some way. “New jade” in particular is actually serpentine, though there’s apparently a really interesting and not entirely mean-spirited story behind that one.
None of that is intrinsically bad, (heck, red tiger eye is one of my favorites, as is serpentine, and goldstone is really pretty) but a lot of shops are deliberately incredibly misleading about that stuff, and that is Not Okay. So, know what you’re buying, learn your stuff about your pretty rocks, and don’t let assholes screw you over with fancy words.
/EDIT: Also, this list is not exhaustive; if you’ve got stuff to say about other fake and commonly faked stones or general additional information, do feel free to add to this while reblogging!
Natural Citrine looks like Completely faded yellow to brown-yellow quartz points with few cracks or striations running through (think a non cloudy clear quartz point with a different colour. If its white anywhere on it, it’s treated quartz or amethyst heated to become/look like citrine)
bare with me here I’m gonna ramble about Christmas trees.
Well, the first piece of evidence comes from the writings of Adam of Bremen. According to his work, there was once a grand temple specifically for Freyr, Thor, and Odin. In front of it was an evergreen. The significance of this tree was that it was always green, in snow or spring. Freyr as a god of growth and life was seen in evergreens.
In a cold climate like Germany and Scandinavia, all the other trees would be totally dead by late October-November, but Evergreens would still be lively. The ancient people believed that this was a sign that these trees were holy. Depending on where you were, it was a sign of Baldr. In other places, it was Freyr.
It is worth noting that Baldr & Freyr share a lot of the same symbols: sunlight, pine, gold, peace etc etc.
Freyr’s festival was at or around Christmastime, over the course of several days. The practices of decorating evergreen trees for Yule was fairly common in Europe for various deities: Baldr, Freyr, and others. The Bible even talks about the pagans and trees:
Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. Faces of heathen idols are then carved into the trees.” (King James Version).
His statement’s backed up by a lot of accounts of the Anglo-Saxons and Nordic people worshiping specific types of trees. Pine, in particular, was believed to be a defense against evil. Some modern Asatruar put pine sprigs into water as a purification/holy water type ritual.
There’s a ton of little passages I’ve read over the years that call Freyr the pine torch, but hell if I can find them now. Specifically, when it came to rune books, Freyr was often associated with the positive aspects of Kennaz.
At last, a page for Freyr! As was the case for Thor, there are actually quite a few Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders) that contain fascinating chapters involving Freyr, especially Gísla saga Súrssonar, Víga-Glúms saga, and Ögmundar þáttur dytts! I highly recommend checking out those sources in particular, if you have already read the Eddas and are able to get a hold of a copy of each text (check here, if you’d like).
Verið vel, vinir! (Be well, friends!) – Fjorn the Skald
-our sacred texts include more than just the 5 books of the “old testament”
-we don’t call it the old testament and please don’t call it that unless you’re referring to the christian use of it, when talking about the jewish torah use the term “hebrew scriptures”
-torah = the 5 first books (genesis exodus leviticus deuteronomy numbers) + the prophets and the writings (song of songs, psalms, etc)
-there is also Talmud (mishnah and gemara) which is where conversations by rabbis about how Jewish law should work were recorded (mishna) and further commented / debated on (gemara), and the law codes that later simplified and revised the talmud for better practical use (the shulchan aruch and mishne torah), sages’ commentaries on these law texts, and centuries of responsa to them. these texts are where you will find a lot of the rituals, observances, and rules that Jews follow (so for example the kosher laws, when we say what blessings, how we celebrate holidays, etc). so no, we do not participate in “old” testament ritual sacrifice and looking directly in there for how Jews live is a rather fruitless attempt.
-sometimes the word “torah” can refer to talmud as well, it can refer to any study of holy texts.
-responses and interpretations of Jewish law and scriptures goes on to this day
-Midrash is another type of important jewish texts which are basically poetic or interperative writings about the things in the torah/talmud/etc, comparable to parables, written by various jewish scholars to think through Jewish thought, history, religion, etc. not seen as binding legal texts but rather ways of thinking through torah/judaism. there are ancient published midrashim as well as modern ones.
-Basically understand that Jewish textual tradition goes far beyond what you know of the Hebrew scriptures and “Jewish practice is just Christianity without the New Testament” is terribly inaccurate.
-The idea that “Jews just do ancient barbaric Old Testament rituals” is ages old antisemitic slander.
non Jewish people are ok to reblog this because it is so often misunderstood
There would be things that might look oddly familiar. Fear not, these are mostly references to author’s favorite fictional universes.
Basic principles
Technomancy is another way of using magical energy. Unlike Alchemy, Technomancy’s main purpose is to operate mechanisms, machines and computers via a stream of said energy, establishing a connection between the Technomancer’s mind and a machine. Given that he/she understands how the machine works, it can be used from a distance, and without directly manipulating it.
Early Technomancy and the Cult of Machine Spirit
Because of the cult of Mata Nui’s declined popularity, for over fifty thousand years a Cult of Machine Spirit became prominent among the Technomancers. Technomancy itself originated in the southern districts of Metru Nui, the first Technomancers being Ko-Matoran and Toa of Ice. Because of their highly religious and conservative ways, the Ko-Matoran believed that Technomancy was a gift from the Great Spirit. They spread the belief that the Great Spirit is in everything, even in machines. To this end, Technomancers have invented a wide variety of rituals and accessories – mostly seals and engravings – to improve their spiritual link with Mata Nui.
Perhaps surprisingly, their efforts were successful, and confirmed the Technomancers’ belief that the Machine Spirit watches over and understands them. In fact, all the seals, runes and similar objects are imbued with a strong energy imprint of the Technomancer that created them. This creates a strong bond between the machine and its master, which is why the effectiveness of Technomancy increases dramatically through the use of seals.
Such “intuitive” Technomancy became the foundation for further development not only of the Machine Spirit cult, but of all other Technomantic abilities too. Thanks to the Technomancers, it is possible to create and implant a wide variety of augmentations such as artificial limbs and technical interfaces.
teakepp 