Native Land

Prisoners in our own homes.

Prompt #6

It’s almost Halloween! It’s mischief night! Draw your otp or brotp egging/ tping a house!

Bonus: They actually get caught

Halloween, Oíche Shamhna, Lá Samhna, Neo-Pagan Samhain, Día de Muertos, La Calabiuza, and my birthday. An actual 13th blue moon to close out the Witch's Year on the Neo-Pagan New Year that is Samhain?! I'm not Wiccan but I can't wait to see what that magic brings regardless. An eclipse coming as well. Woo! Action packed next few days! The Ancestors and Mighty Dead have been very strong and active this Dead Season. La Santísima and Her Husband Mictlantecuhtli really out here ready to shower in miracles. Can't wait to see what the future brings! May one book close and another more blessed narrative begin. A new story, new chapter open up.

Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, 1922

Repeat after me: I am healing.

“The King of the Cats”: a British folk tale

One winter’s evening the sexton’s wife was sitting by the fireside with her big black cat, Old Tom, on the other side, both half asleep and waiting for the master to come home. They waited and they waited, but still he didn’t come, till at last he came rushing in, calling out, ‘Who’s Tommy Tildrum?’ in such a wild way that both his wife and his cat stared at him to know what was the matter.

‘Why, what’s the matter?’ said his wife, 'and why do you want to know who Tommy Tildrum is?’

'Oh, I’ve had such an adventure. I was digging away at old Mr Fordyce’s grave when I suppose I must have dropped asleep, and only woke up by hearing a cat's Miaou.’

'Miaou!' said Old Tom in answer.

'Yes, just like that! So I looked over the edge of the grave, and what do you think I saw?’

'Now, how can I tell?’ said the sexton’s wife.

'Why, nine black cats all like our friend Tom here, all with a white spot on their chestesses. And what do you think they were carrying? Why, a small coffin covered with a black velvet pall, and on the pall was a small coronet all of gold, and at every third step they took they cried all together, Miaou – ’

'Miaou!' said Old Tom again.

'Yes, just like that!’ said the sexton; 'and as they came nearer and nearer to me I could see them more distinctly; because their eyes shone out with a sort of green light. Well, they all came towards me, eight of them carrying the coffin, and the biggest cat of all walking in front for all the world like – but look at our Tom, how he’s looking at me. You’d think he knew all I was saying.’

'Go on, go on,’ said his wife; 'never mind Old Tom.’

'Well, as I was a-saying, they came towards me slowly and solemnly, and at every third step crying all together, Miaou –’

'Miaou!' said Old Tom again.

'Yes, just like that, till they came and stood right opposite Mr Fordyce’s grave, where I was, when they all stood still and looked straight at me. I did feel queer, that I did! But look at Old Tom; he’s looking at me just like they did.’

'Go on, go on,’ said his wife; 'never mind Old Tom.’

'Where was I? Oh, they stood still looking at me, when the one that wasn’t carrying the coffin came forward and, staring straight at me, said to me – yes, I tell 'ee, said to me, with a squeaky voice, “Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toidrum’s dead,” and that’s why I asked you if you knew who Tom Tildrum was, for how can I tell Tom Tildrum Tim Toldrum’s dead if I don’t know who Tom Tildrum is?’

'Look at Old Tom, look at Old Tom!’ screamed his wife.

And well he might look, for Tom was swelling and Tom was staring, and at last Tom shrieked out, 'What – old Tom dead! then I’m the King o’ the Cats!’ and rushed up the chimney and was nevermore seen.

Cat Sidhe

Nothing like waking up to the sunny chill of November. A blessed All Saints Day.

To be able to interact with gods and spirits, or anything of the spiritual, you need to cultivate a bit of, perhaps, child-like wonder and awe for the world.

You need to reorganize your perception of the material world that so everything around you is indwelled with spirit force, and animate consciousness. You did this as a child (it is natural to us!), but then you were taught physiological reasons for animate phenomena.

Those physiological explanations do not discount the spiritual - indeed, they are the RESULT of spiritual animism. Does not the mind, our consciousness, think first before we lift the hand to write or paint or love?

Why should the material world be any different?

Cultivate your wonder and awe. Reorganize your perceptions of the world.