Plague-of-pomegranates - 🧿𓆩☽❀☾𓆪🧿

2024 The Lunar Calendar

Using a lunar calendar involves tracking and utilizing the phases of the moon for various purposes. Here's how you can use a lunar calendar:

Understanding the Moon Phases: Familiarize yourself with the eight primary phases of the moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

Setting Intentions and Goals: Each moon phase represents a different energy. New Moon is ideal for setting intentions, while Full Moon is a time for culmination and realization.

Manifestation and Planning: Plan important events, projects, or rituals aligned with the corresponding moon phase. For example, start new projects during the Waxing Crescent for growth or release unwanted habits during the Waning Moon.

Spiritual and Personal Practices: Use specific moon phases for spiritual practices like meditation, reflection, and manifestation. Many people find rituals such as charging crystals or performing moon-related ceremonies more potent during certain phases.

Gardening and Nature-Based Activities: Use the moon phases for gardening by planting seeds during the Waxing Moon for optimal growth and pruning during the Waning Moon.

Emotional Awareness: Pay attention to how the moon phases affect your emotions, energy levels, and sleep patterns. Understanding these patterns can help align activities with your natural rhythms.

Maintaining a Lunar Calendar: Keep track of the moon phases using a lunar calendar. Mark important dates and phases to assist with planning and intention-setting.

Remember, while the lunar calendar can offer guidance, personal experiences and interpretations of the moon's phases vary. Experiment with different practices to see what resonates best with you and brings you closer to your goals.

WITCHY BREADED COCONUT CHICKEN TENDERS

(For Protection)

Is there really anything better in this world than tea, plants, crystals, and chicken tenders?

This is kind of the adult version of the chicken tenders I grew up on as a kid. It's my go-to on nights I get home late, and don't have the time to plan out a lavish meal lol.

Anyways hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

A little over a pound of chicken tenderloins

1/2 cup shredded coconut - Protection, Purify

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup flour

1 tbsp paprika - Energy

1 tbsp garlic powder - Warding, Protection, Healing

1 tsp onion powder - Absorb Negative Energies

1 tsp chili powder - Warding, Protection

Salt and Pepper - Banish Negative Energy

2 eggs + 1 tsp water

To Serve:

A Salad of mixed dark leafy greens

A dipping sauce of your choice

Directions:

Combine Panko bread crumbs and shredded coconut onto a plate. On another plate, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and salt and pepper.

Beat your 2 eggs, add water, and leave out in a bowl of some kind. Salt and pepper your chicken tenderloins. First, take the chicken tenderloins one by one and dip them into the flour mixture. Then the egg mixture, and lastly, dipping them into the coconut bread crumbs. Put onto some sort of baking sheet.

You can either bake, air fry, or fry these. I recommend frying or air frying!

Frying: In a deep pan add about 1 inch deep of oil. When oil is hot, fry for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cooked.

Air Fryer: Cook at 400 F in the air fryer for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until cooked.

Baking: Bake at 375 F for 20-30 minutes, or until cooked. They should be a nice crispy brown color.

Serve to overtop a nice plate of leafy greens, and use either a dressing or a sauce for dipping.

Enjoy!

Ancient Greek Religion & Hellenic Polytheism: A Reading Guide

I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long while, and talking to my friend @olympianbutch today gave me the push I needed to do so. When I was starting out as a Hellenic Polytheist years ago, this is the kind of resource I needed. So I hope you all enjoy and find this helpful!

Introductory Reading:

Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Athenian Popular Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Greek Religion by Jan N. Bremmer

On Greek Religion by Robert Parker

Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS

Comprehensive Guides:

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

Companion to Greek Religion edited by Daniel Ogden

Understanding Greek Religion by Jennifer Larson

Rethinking Greek Religion by Julia Klindt

The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow and Julia Klindt

Polytheism and Society by Robert Parker

The Gods and Theology:

Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson

Theologies of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow, Julia Klindt, and Robin Osborne

Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion by Ellie Mackin Roberts

Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World (Routledge Series)

Offerings and Sacrifice:

Personal Experience and Materiality in Greek Religion by K.A. Rask

Singing for the Gods by Barbara Kowalzig

Smoke Signals for the Gods by F.S. Maiden

Sharing with the Gods by Theodora Suk Fong Jim

Primary Sources:

Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod

The Homeric Hymns

The Orphic Hymns

Sources for the Study of Greek Religion by David Rice and John Stambaugh

Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. Warrior

Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Emily Kearns

FEEL BETTER CHICKEN SOUP

Today I woke up and felt a little ill. So I decided to make myself some good old feel-better chicken soup.

Being mixed, I've always grown up with two different versions of chicken noodle soup, so eventually when I grew up I just combined the two! Hispanic chicken soup usually uses tomatoes sazón, adobo, chicken thigh, lemon, and rice, but American chicken soup usually uses noodles, chicken breast, plain broth, salt, pepper, and celery.

So here's one way to twist the two together.

This recipe is pretty easy to make when you don't have a lot of energy because there is about an hour and a half of cooking where you can just sit down and relax while doing it.

3-4 Chicken Thighs or Legs (I prefer bone-in because it has more flavor and is more tender.)

3 tbsp Garlic honey (works well if fermented, it's fun and easy to make your own!) - Healing, Protection, Purification

One Goya Sazon Packet

1 Bay Leaf - Protection, Healing, Purification

1/2 Cup Baby Carrots (You could just chop up a regular carrot too lol)

1 yellow Onion

2 tsp grated Ginger - Cleansing, Energy, Healing

Half a bag of egg noodles (You could also use rice) - Longevity

4 cups chicken broth

2 green onions

Chicken Seasoning:

4 cloves garlic  - Protection, Healing

1/8 cup chopped parsley - Protection, Strength

1/2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp adobo seasoning

1 tbsp thyme - Healing, Abundance, Health, Prosperity

2 tsp basil flakes - Abundance, Prosperity 

1 tsp red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper - Banish Negative Energy

Juice of half a lemon - For Healing

Hot Scallion Oil:

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp green onion

DIRECTIONS:

Blend the chicken seasonings listed above in a blender or in a mortar and pestle. Whichever you prefer. Rub on chicken and fry in a pot with oil until each side is browned. About 4 minutes on each side.

Add in yellow onion, ginger, and garlic honey, and cook until soft. Add in carrots and chicken stock. Add in Bay leaf and goya season packet. Cook for about an hour.

Add in green onions, and taste if the soup needs more seasoning. If it does, season to taste. Simmer for another 20 minutes.

When the chicken is tender enough to where it is falling off the bone, remove the chicken from the bone and discard the bones and bay leaf.

Add in egg noodles and cook for 7-9 minutes with the lid on, until the noodles are cooked.

Heat up 2 tbsp of oil until very hot. Add in green onion and cook for a little under a minute.

Laddel soup into a bowl and top with a spoonful of scallions and scallion oil.

Enjoy!

Editors Note: I'll never understand how people take such aesthetic photos of food loll.

Magic For The Disabled

A few things that I do when I’m at my lowest. Made specifically for disabled people, but anyone can do these! See this post for low energy witchcraft ideas not directly related to disabilities.

Enchant your blanket for a good night’s rest

Enchant your coffee/juice/water/NyQuil/whatever you’re drinking to aid in recovery

Enchant food to aid in recovery

Place sigils around to aid in recovery, memory, etc.

Keep relaxing herbs/stones/etc. around

Cast a sleep aid spell (I have a bag with lavender and amethyst hanging on a bedpost)

Cast a recovery spell (I have another bag with a variety of protection and rest herbs and crystals)

Enchant fidgets or objects used to stim to calm you and to never break

Use energy magic instead of physical spells.

Use art/writing/etc. magic! Draw sigils, deities, write spells, recipes, shopping lists, etc.

Stir and infuse good energy/banishing into teas or coffees.

Keep some supplies nearby (i.e. tea lights, a lighter, grimoire, oils, etc.).

Use showers, washing of face/hands, etc. for cleansing.

Brush out the bad energy when brushing your hair.

Ward health aids or mobility aids against breaking and bless them to work quickly and well.

Use apps or websites for sigils, spells, etc. (VirtualCandleSpell for digital candle spells, Craiyon for sigils).

Keep room sprays near you and bless them to serve a certain purpose.

Make emoji/song spells! Use corresponding emojis and charge them with intent. Use corresponding songs, put them on a playlist, charge them, and listen to it whenever you want to cast it.

Use makeup/skincare as glamours.

Use sunscreen as protection!

Use wax warmers and melts instead of candles.

Use oils in diffusers instead of candles or incense.

Enchant anything you use daily.

Herbs and Flowers Magic Properties(tbc)

Rosemary - memory, anxiety, sleep, cleansing, purifying, learning, healing, love, lust, protection, wisdom, mental power

Turmeric - healing, strength, vitality, purification, abundance, joy, prosperity

allspice - healing, energy, love, luck

pepper - courage, protection

sage - health, immortality, longevity, protection against negativity, protection, purification, wisdom, wishes, anxiety

bay - divination, good fortune, healing, anxiety, money, prosperity, peace, protection, happiness, purification, love, tranquility

oregano - peace, love

parsley - protection, power, strength, lust, purification, prosperity

garlic - protection against evil eye

cinnamon - aphrodisiac, passion, love, luck, prosperity, success, spiritual vibrations, energy, purification, healing, protection

cayenne - healing, removing blockages, protection, strength, motivation, courage

clover - fidelity, protection, love, money, success, animal protection, luck

pine - health, healing

nutmeg - money, prosperity, good luck, protection, psychic abilities, happiness, love, health

cloves - healing, love, friendship, cleansing, protection, abundance

thyme - health, courage, eliminates nightmares, attracts loyalty, affection, psychic abilities

ginger - energy, speeding things up, love, prosperity, success, power, healing

mint - avoid jealousy, dreams, protecting, prosperity, joy, fertility, purification, love, success, lust, travel, money, luck

chamomile - love, healing, stress-relief, calming, sleep

lavender - purification, concentration, love, healing, sleep, dreams

jasmine - divination, innovation, attraction, dreams, love, beauty

mugwort - psychic powers, protection, lust, fertility, prophetic dreams, divination, relaxing, tranquility, banishing, consecration

peach blossoms - luck, prosperity, romance, love, passion, affection, harmony, peace, health, longevity

peony - protection from hexes, luck, prosperity, business success, attracts fairies

rose - divine love, self-love, friendship, healing, domestic happiness, lasting relationships, closeness with nature, divination, tranquility, harmony, psychic ability, spirituality, protection, luck

lemon grass - openness, communication, clear mind, love, luck, libido, psychic abilities, calming

chrysanthemum - longevity, mental clarity, optimism, protection, solving mysteries, soothing grief

pink Himalayan salt - purification, grounding, abundance, prosperity, self-love, cleaning, growth, protection, peace, calming

palo santo - cleansing, positivity, good fortune, creativity, love

sweet orange - optimism, charisma, confidence, restoring aura, attracting love, fertility, abundance

bergamot - protection, purification, calming

ylang ylang - sexual attraction, persuasiveness, peace, love, anxiety and depression relief, fairy magic

geranium - prosperity, happiness, healthy pregnancy and fertility

eucalyptus - purifying, cleansing, good health, protection, negativity

sandalwood - calming, anxiety, purification, protection, healing

anise - peace, tranquility, awakening of psychic awareness, luck, spiritual connection, psychic and magic power

jojoba - healing, protection, purification, grounding, meditation, love

frankincense - cleansing, energy, uplifting, inner peace, balance

peppermint - mental clarity, prophetic visions, success, prosperity,

cedarwood - love, growth, longevity, psychic powers, healing, money

tea tree - cleansing, protection, uplifting, energy, memory, love

vanilla - sex, calming, good luck, love, empowerment, happiness, growth

catnip - beauty, happiness, attraction, love, friendship

PSA: Aphrodite isn't just romantic love, the ancient Greeks had 7 words for love!

eros: your typical love, romance, sex, all that. typically what Aphrodite is known for.

philautia: self-love (which is SO SO important!)

storge: parental love, the bond that parents and children have with each other.

ludus: playful love - banter, teasing, flirting as a joke with your friends.

pragma: longstanding love, that is built upon trust and respect for one another. can be any type of relationship.

xenia: hospitality, a love and care for strangers and the people around you.

agape: true, unconditional love. the love everyone should aim to feel for others and to let others feel for them.

Lady Aphrodite is all of this! She tends to like hearing about relationships (in my experience), and She's always willing to lend some advice!

Ill be entirely honest, I'm confused by those that know that the new temple of Zeus and Pan was opened by a violent antisemite ultra-nationalist and are somehow saying things like "they're terrible but at least we have a temple and hopefully more will open!"

We do not have a temple.

WE do not have a temple.

Those of us that aren't Greek do not have a temple.

This is not a "win."

And to hold these values while building a temple for Zeus, the god of foreigners, you're ridiculous, and you're lame.

Zeus is not in that temple, he worships in an empty box.

🕊𝙰𝙿𝙷𝚁𝙾𝙳𝙸𝚃𝙴 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺 𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚁𝚈 #𝟸🕊

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Red is a gorgeous color, isn’t it? 

Well in magick, it actually has quite powerful meanings that can connected to Aphrodite.

Red correspondence ~ passion, love, courage, strength, beauty, energy, assertiveness, determination.

*Recipe makes a two layer cake*

I am really proud of this red velvet recipe, it’s so good!

Magickal properties of the cake based on its ingredients: self-love, confidence, beauty, passion, courage, strength.

Where do I get my sources?: I have been practicing for 4 years now, so I pretty much can look at an ingredient, and know what it’s magickal properties are, even though before I post, I always fact check things. I have read a lot of books and articles on it. Here are some of my favorites…

learnreligons.com

witchipedia.com

plentifulearth.com

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen

𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞:

½ cup melted butter 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup buttered flavored shortening 3 cups cake flour  3 tbsp cream cheese 1 tsp baking soda 2 tbsp cocoa powder Pinch of salt 4 large eggs, room temperature and separated 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 tsp distilled white vinegar A couple drops red food coloring 1 cup buttermilk

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:

¾ cup unsalted butter ¾ of a 8 oz brick cream cheese 5 ½ cups powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract

𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Preheat you oven to 350 F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream your shortening, melted butter, cream cheese, and sugar together. Beat in your egg yolks. Mix in your vanilla, vinegar, and buttermilk. Now fold in your dry ingredients gently for a light and fluffy cake. 

Beat your egg whites on high speed until they become stiff peaks. Fold into your batter gently until just combined. Add in red food coloring until you reach your desired color, and mix until even.

Light a candle if you wish and fill the batter with your intentions.

Butter and flour two cake tins and pour the batter evenly into both of them. Pop them into the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until you stick a toothpick in the center of the cake, and it comes out clean, making sure not to overcook the cake.

After 1 hour of cooling, remove the cakes from the pans, so they can fully cool correctly.

For the frosting, cream your butter, sugar, and cream cheese on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes. Mix in your vanilla extract and beat for another minute. If the frosting is too thick for your liking, add in a tablespoon of heavy cream or half and half.

Assemble the cake to your liking! Offer a piece to Aphrodite and enjoy!!!