Activated Charcoal- cleansing, purification, grief, health (banishing serious illness)
Allspice- determination, money, luck, healing
Almond- fertility, Goddess energy, beauty, self-love, prosperity, addiction, abundance
Anise- protection, warding against evil, preventing nightmares, psychic ability, happiness
Basil- money, beauty, protection, love, warding
Bay Leaf- money, motivation, protection, psychic powers, wish fulfillment, success, purification
Black Pepper- banishing, protection, exorcism, healing (from a serious illness/banishing said illness)
Brewer’s Yeast- motherhood, femininity, warding against illness
Cashew- money, creativity
Cardamom- lust/libido, love, fidelity
Cayenne Pepper- catalyst, lust/ libido, confidence
Celery- fertility, psychic powers, healing (especially of the bladder, kidneys, and urinary tract), weight loss
Chamomile- sleep, stress relief, love, beauty, friendship, meditation, luck, libido (mostly women)
Chia Seed- protection, health
Chili Powder- protection, hex breaking, love, fidelity
Chives- protection, weight loss
Chlorella- purification, cleansing, health
Cilantro- money, protection, peace
Cinnamon- catalyst, spirituality, beauty, love, lust, romance, healing, strength, protection, psychic ability
Clove- catalyst, beauty, love, protection (especially for children)
Cocoa Powder- beauty, health, love, self-love, grounding, romance, sex, powder, enhances hot herbs
Coconut- strength, love, beauty, protection
Coffee- grounding, protection, spirituality, energy (if caffeinated), dispelling negativity
Coriander- love, health, protection, easing pain of a broken heart,
Cumin- energy, protection, exorcism, protection from theft, love, fidelity, masculine energy
Dandelion- communicating with the dead, health, weight loss, wish fulfillment, divination, luck
Dill- money, prosperity, luck, lust, protection (especially the home)
Dulse- lust, harmony, sea magick
Fennel- health (especially digestion), protection, money, banishing, strength, vitality, libido
Fenugreek- health (women’s issues), friendship, happiness, calming, feminine energy, libido, money
Flax Seed- fertility, health, protection (especially from sickness), divination, money
Garlic- health, banishing, protection, purification, warding, willpower,
Ginger- catalyst, energy, adventure, health, confidence, lust/libido, prosperity, success, protection
Hemp- fertility, intuition, motivation, peace, harmony, stress relief
Hibiscus- health, love, beauty, heart
Holy Basil- opens heart to love, stress relief, healing, balance, grounding
Jalapeno- energy, catalyst, money, abundance
Kelp- health, money, weight loss, sea magick
Lavender- stress relief, sleep, anti-anxiety, meditation, love, depression, peace, harmony
Lemon- health, beauty, love, lust, cleansing, purification, sun magick, removing negativity,
Lemon grass- psychic cleansing, opening the Third Eye, focus, mental clarity
Licorice- love, lust, fidelity, communicating with the dead, health (digestive system)
Lime- purification, protection, harmony, calmness, tranquility, strengthening love
Maca- fertility, vitality, energy, balance, love
Maple- love, friendship, luck, happiness, wealth
Marjoram- beauty, luck, wealth, grief, cleansing, purification, warding, strengthening love, protection
Mint, Pepper- health, protection, ward off migraines, wealth, bringing about change, love, abundance
Mint, Spear- health, protection, happiness, wealth, communicating with spirits
Miso- health, prosperity, communicating with the dead, friendship
Mustard- courage, faith, endurance, success, luck, happiness
Nettle- grouding, health (especially allergies), banishing negativity, cleansing
Nori- health, harmony
Nutmeg- beauty, prosperity, money, luck, hex breaking, mental acuity
Nutritional Yeast- health, happiness, love, addiction
Oat- fertility, health, earth magick, sacred to Brighid
Onion- protection, health, banishing, warding, bad habits, prosperity
Orange- energy, emotional healing, beauty, health, love, friendship
Oregano- health, beauty, joy, energy, strength
Paprika- catalyst, energy, hexing (I don’t hex, but you do you)
Paprika, smoked- power, see Paprika
Parsley- money, luck, success, health, weight loss
Pecan- employment and career, success, security,
Red Pepper- catalyst, love, lust, confidence
Rice- rain, fertility, money, protection
Rose- beauty, love, honoring the dead, friendship, happiness, healing
Rosemary- mental clarity, focus, memory, health, love, lust, purification
Saffron- happiness, mental health, love, lust, psychic ability, addiction, weight loss
Sage- cleansing, purification, grief, wisdom, spirituality, mental clarity, protection, grounding
Salt- cleansing, purification, grounding, protection, banishing, earth magick
Sesame Seed- money, lust, passion
Soy- spirituality, psychic ability, fertility, intuition, grounding
Spirulina- health, wealth, energy
Sugar- beauty, sweeten attitudes, love, sex, drawing spells
Tamarind- love, health, happiness, family, protection (from illness)
Tea, black- energy, strength, courage, confidence
Tea, green- energy, health, weight loss, beauty, confidence
Tea, white- beauty, harmony, peace, health, tranquility
Thyme- money, protection, luck, grief, honoring the dead, grounding, glamours, confidence, loyalty
Turmeric- health (especially dealing with serious illness), happiness,
Vanilla- beauty, love, friendship, passion
Vinegar- protection, warding, weight loss, hexing, banishing illness
Walnut- connection with the divine, spirituality, mental strength, divination
Watercress- health, sex, lunar magick
💎Sodalite - Communication, self-expression, truth
🔮Clear quartz - Awareness, amplifying energy, clarity
💎Rose quartz - Unconditional love, emotional healing, compassion
🔮Aventurine - Prosperity, well-being, good luck
💎Red jasper - Strength, honesty, stability
🔮Snowflake obsidian - Spiritual Protection, transmutation, acceptance
💎Citrine - Brightness, positive energy, clearing
🔮Amazonite - Confidence, self love, creative expression
💎Tiger’s eye - Willpower, warrior’s spirit, self-motivation
🔮Black tourmaline - Protection, banishing, security
💎Carnelian - Passion, sexual energy, creativity
🔮Hematite - Courage, inner strength, grounding
💎Malachite - Wealth, beauty, individuality
🔮Dalmatian jasper - Loyalty, family bonds, connection with animals
💎Angelite - Divine love, gentleness, healing
🔮Lepidolite - Emotional balance, stress relief, spiritual growth
💎Lapis lazuli - Psychic vision, celestial energy, nobility
🔮Serpentine - Hidden mysteries, observation, instinct
💎Black onyx - Blocking negativity, patience, determination
🔮Howlite - Calming, compromise, sleep
💎Blue goldstone - Inspiration, optimism, dreaming
🔮Rhodonite - Forgiveness, relationships, overcoming
💎Fluorite - Renewal, harmony, energizing
🔮Pyrite - Shielding, success, money magick
💎Sunstone - Leadership, generosity, blessings
🔮Blue aventurine - Hope, clear speech, empathy
💎Selenite - Purification, peace, enlightenment
🔮Prehnite - Psychic awareness, self care, discernment
💎Moss agate - Contentment, connection with nature, abundance
🔮Red goldstone - Happiness, ingenuity, boldness
💎Garnet - Self-esteem, victory, eternal love
🔮Moonstone - Intuition, sensuality, safe travel
💎Leopardskin jasper - Adaptability, shamanic journeys, animal magick
🔮Apatite - Energetic clearing, psychic attunement, authenticity
💎Blue calcite - Serenity, restoration, releasing stress
🔮Ruby fuchite - Integration, friendship, trust
💎Mahogany obsidian - Earth energy, personal power, integrity
🔮Labradorite - Awakening joy, interdimensional travel, innovation
💎Unakite - Attraction, resolving conflict,healing the past
Honey
Honey is a natural substance created by bees within their hives. The hive consists of primarily female bees, which will leave the hive to collect nectar from flowers and then return to transform this nectar into sugary honey for later consumption.
Humans have been collecting honey since 8000 BC, and it has been utilized by nearly every culture across the globe for food, healing, and spiritual purposes.
Honey is universally considered a talisman of prosperity, beauty, health, and sweetness, and it can be utilized in all of these types of witchcraft.
Prosperity
Honey is a representation of abundance: its primary use in nature is as a stored source of food to be used in times of hardship, both for bees and for humans. It is also created from the nectar of flowers, imbuing it with the energies of the Sun and springtime. As such, it can be added to spells for wealth, abundance, fertility, or prosperity in order to amplify the effects and create surplus in your life.
Beauty
Sympathetic Magick states that an object’s physical qualities are reminiscent of its spiritual properties. Honey is golden, pleasing to the eye, and sweet. On its own or added to face masks, it can cleanse, nourish, and moisturize the skin. It can also be added to beauty or glamour spells in order to add a sweet glow to your energy.
Healing
Honey has been used to treat wounds since the time of the Ancient Egyptians. Its viscosity and moisture creates a moist seal around a wound. It also contains natural antibacterial properties, providing a stable and sterile environment for wounds to heal in. Metaphysically, honey can be added to protection spells or wards in order to create an environment of positivity and sterility, and can also be added to healing spells in order to strengthen the recovery process.
Sweetness
Honey is appealing to humans and animals because, above all else, it is sweet. One of honey’s most ancient uses - utilized in magical practices ranging from Egyptian to Greek to Voudoo - is to add ‘sweetness’ to a spell.
It can be added to glamour magick to make the illusion more easily accepted. It can be added to curses in order to make the energy seem harmless when entering the target’s life. It can be added to money spells or job spells in order to ‘sweeten the deal’. It can be added to love or sex spells in order to sweeten a relationship or conjure an appealing partner. In general, it can be added to any spell to make the effects more pleasant and inviting.
Offering
Honey’s final use is especially helpful to witches who work with nature spirits, fairies, the Dead, or deities. Honey contains a very pleasing, warm, Sun-type energy, and therefore it is extremely enticing to spirits. Since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, honey has been used as an offering that symbolizes the utmost love, care, and respect.
Honey can be drizzled onto a candle and burned. It can be drizzled into a body of water or directly onto the earth. Most commonly, it can be drizzled into an offering bowl (or on top of an offering meal) and left outside, in a graveyard, or on an altar. Because it is excellent at preserving itself, offerings of honey can be left somewhere for prolonged periods of time without worry of it spoiling, which is extremely helpful to forgetful witches (like me) or witches with long-term altars.
So, all in all, honey is maybe one of the most underrated magical ingredients, and I hope this post got some of you hip to honey magick.
Happy Witching 🕉
“Nobody else seems to belong in those empty spaces that you left behind in me”
—
Libra
Alfalfa Leaf: home protection; money draw; prosperity; security.
Bergamont: money draw; success.
Black Cohosh: relaxation; turn worries aside.
Boneset: call upon devas; divination; protection; ward negativity.
Burdock Root: protection; purification; ward negativity.
Chamomile: calmness; meditation; prosperity; purification.
Chickweed: Crone Wisdom; divination; honesty; love; trust.
Comfrey: health; money draw; safety.
Damiana Leaf: attraction; divination; love.
Dandelion Root: divination; Fairies; good luck; honor/invoke devas; psychic power.
Echinacea: body’s self-defense; empowerment; invoke healing devas.
Elder Flower: Fairie blessing; honor/invoke the Goddess; healing; prosperity; rest.
Eyebright: mental sharpness; psychic awareness.
Fennel: healing; honor/invoke Horned God; protection; purification.
Fenugreek Seed: attract money; skill in verbal communication.
Feverfew: health; protection; purification; ward sickness.
Goldenseal: healing; honor/invoke the God; joy; prosperity; success.
Hops: comfort; good health; relaxation; well-being.
Hyssop: purification; ward negativity.
Irish Moss: invoke Fairies; luck; money draw; protection.
Lemon Balm: health; love; success.
Linden (Tila): love; luck; Otherworld; protection; rest.
Mint: Devas; money; protection; prosperity.
Mugwort: Hecate; divination; inspiration.
Mullein: between the worlds travel; courage; divination; health; protection.
Nettle: healing; love; protection; ward negativity.
Orange Peel: divination; love; luck.
Parsley: purification; protection.
Raspberry Leaf: Fairie blessings; health; love; protection.
Rose Hips: divination; consecration; Elves; protection; ward negativity.
Skullcap: healing (esp. headaches); hidden knowledge; Lord of Shadows; protection; wisdom.
Slippery Elm Bark: clear communication; persuasive speech; protection from envy, gossip, and slander.
Uva Ursa: divination; honor/invoke Artemis; purification; psychic awareness.
Valerian Root: Crone magics; love; protection; purification; psychic awareness.
White Oak Bark: fertility; honor/invoke the Green Man; health; protection.
Wild Cherry Bark: creativity; divination; love.
Willow Bark: health; mental acuity; reduce headache pain.
From Ann Moura’s “Grimoire for the Green Witch”
Hey loves, I don’t want to make this post suuuper long so imagine me blowing a welcome kiss to all of you and let’s get started…
The generic practice of reading fire is called pyromancy.
We can break a candle reading session down to 3 main parts:
Observation (flame watching)
Gathering & understanding (decoding fire’s messages)
Final question & Goodbye (ask if there’s anything else you should know before leaving, thank and salute fire/salamanders)
During the observation phase, watch for:
Length of the flame 1-2 min to know WHEN-the timing = PAST
Shape of the flame 2-3 min to know WHAT-the actual matter = PRESENT
Direction & behavior of the flame 3-4 min to know HOW-the true nature of it = hints at the FUTURE (see where the fire is pointing to know what type of matter it is; concentrate on the opposite direction telling you how to counteract to solve or banish whatever it might be; it also indicates what elemental energy is strongly supporting/protecting you in taking action as well as in related spellwork)
Presence/Absence of Smoke 2-3 min to understand the SOURCE of your awareness
*Keep a compass handy!
Salamanders/fire will try to communicate with you as soon as you light the fire/candle so pay attention from the very beginning. Fire energy is impulsive, blunt, active, carefree and wild. This type of divination detects negativity like WOW because it easily speaks the brutally honest truth regardless of how you feel or what’s happening. It brings up issues that we refuse to deal with. Again, it’s pure blunt energy. Because of its wild nature, fire will also charge us with optimism and explosive determination to overcome problems and bad news: typically after pyromancy we feel motivated and “ready to go”.
Long-extra long: something has been bothering you for a very long time now (trust your intuition, probably for years) which you never actively faced; you’ve been quiet for too long; unsolved problems from the past are challenging your patience; relevant stuff that had to be cleared much earlier
Medium: Something that has been lurking in the back of your mind for 1-3 months, a plan or an idea that could change/shake your life but is not currently a priority to you; it might be something you heard from another person or a vague thought
Short: something intense that happened within the last couple days, a very recent thing is bothering you and has almost caught you by surprise; unexpected news from day to day, a new sudden event that physically or emotionally shook you
Double: Two things that were generated consequentially or have a common link, two entities/people united by a common theme
Super-thin line: Something you felt or suspected but never had proof of evidence about, a subtle suspicion, a doubt, an insinuation; a sneaky or secretive individual
Regular: Something/someone that you accept and is part of your routine, your own mindset, something very close and not disturbing; a solid milestone in your daily life
Round: One thing in particular that constantly “fills you up”, makes you feel complete, full, exploding or either extremely delighted; a person who represses/suppresses you, someone ghosting you on purpose just to humble you or to make you feel lesser
Steady: things are happening in the background, far from the “public eye” and without you even realizing; you - and people around you- are calm, clueless, peaceful and the surroundings seem safe; good vibes are in the air but definitely keep your eyes open and intuition awake
Shaky, wiggly: things are visibly happening before your eyes, making you confused, uneasy or giving you mood swings; anxiety; you are able to feel bad vibes around you: take control of the situation and protect yourself Weak, petite & almost extinguished: matter/person X is now annihilating you before the eyes of everybody, but still no one defends you; seek help in others, protect yourself and take action to win this ripe, suffered battle
EAST: AIR - communication, mindset, mental/spoken/written things, logical reasoning, ideas, plans, spring, morning, sunrise, masculine… WEST: WATER - emotions, unconscious, gut feelings, passivity, illogical reasoning, intangibility, blue, flow, moisture, fall, sunset, feminine… SOUTH: FIRE - action, guidance, strength, activity, blood, warmth, creativity, masculine, red, impulse, summer, noon… NORTH: EARTH - stability, firmness, art, finance, grounding, material things, tangibility, stillness, death, birth, winter, midnight, green… (+ ALL YOUR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE about the elements and how they can be interpreted, what meanings they have in our lives and their specific correspondences)
Absence: you are the source of awareness: your body and soul have sent you signals about matter X and you had an inner awakening which led you to this reading
Presence: someone else enlightened you with their words and made you fully aware of matter X; something popped up as an obvious proof that you weren’t expecting to find: this has awakened your inquisitive mind and led it to this reading.
Hopefully you’ll get inspired by this post and learn something useful to spice up your divination practice:) I thank you so much for reading, xox msmoonfire
Lush uses a lot of herbs that are imbued with magical qualities. Enjoy this masterpost on all their current bath bombs (not including jelly bombs or shaped bath bombs) and what properties they have to keep you feeling your witchiest:
Guardian of the Forest
Cypress Oil - This oil helps to strengthen the connection between the witch and the afterlife. It can help those who are grieving after the passing of a loved one and can also strengthen a witch’s connection to spirits. It is a good oil to use when grounding or trying to concentrate.
Lime Oil - It not only strengthens the skin but also promotes youthfulness and tranquility. Lime is said to purify and cleanse one’s physical energy. It brightens and rejuvenates the soul as well as the physical being.
Rosewood Oil - Those wishing to form closer bonds with Mars, Venus, or the Moon would be wise to utilize rosewood. While it is known for sensuality and sexuality, rosewood also promotes the spirit and fire elements and can represent maturity and femininity.
Oakmoss Absolute - Oakmoss is used when the caster is in need of money, luck, or all-around good fortune. It can help the caster form a stronger bond to Jupiter or the earth element.
Intergalactic
Peppermint Oil - Peppermint can be used to cleanse the soul of bad energies. It is revitalizing and brings positivity to the life of the caster. It can help to maintain good health, mentally and physically. Use when showing interest in Pluto or Hecate.
Vetivert Oil - A potent aphrodisiac, vetivert is used mainly in the breaking of hexes and curses. Can also be used for protective purposes.
Cedarwood Oil - Cedarwood should be used when honoring male deities or Sun god(s). It is associated with longevity, protection, love, wisdom, and prosperity.
Cheer Up Buttercup
Lime Oil - It not only strengthens the skin but also promotes youthfulness and tranquility. Lime is said to purify and cleanse one’s physical energy. It brightens and rejuvenates the soul as well as the physical being.
Lemon Myrtle Oil - Lemon is known for balancing chakras and purification. It can steer you away from negative thoughts and habits. Myrtle can be used when honoring Venus, Minerva, and Mars. It brings fertility and luck.
Neroli Oil - The same as Orange Blossom Oil. Wear for sensuality and attention from lovers. Said to bring about marriage proposals.
Sex Bomb
Clary Sage Oil - This oil should be used when a witch is in need of a clear head or wishes to divinate. It is said to be eye-opening and can lead to vivid lucid dreaming. The scent can be uplifting and euphoric.
Jasmine Absolute - Can be used when trying to form a bond with Diana or Vishnu. Also frequently used in Moon magic. Jasmine brings love and attraction.
Ylang Ylang Oil - Promotes attraction, love, lust, sensuality, and sexuality. It is primarily used when the caster is searching for a partner but can also be used in Faerie magic.
Twilight
Lavender Oil - Calming but also sensual. Lavender aids in sleep but also promotes sensuality and is used in purifying and healing rituals.
Tonka Absolute - Tonka beans bring wealth and courage. The caster may choose to use Tonka absolute in rituals involving Venus or Jupiter.
Ylang Ylang Oil - Promotes attraction, love, lust, sensuality, and sexuality. It is primarily used when the caster is searching for a partner but can also be used in Faerie magic.
The Experimenter
Vetivert Oil - A potent aphrodisiac, vetivert is used mainly in the breaking of hexes and curses. Can also be used for protective purposes.
Tonka Absolute - Tonka beans bring wealth and courage. The caster may choose to use Tonka absolute in rituals involving Venus or Jupiter.
Vanilla Absolute - Lust, sensuality, and warmth are associated with Vanilla. It can be used to gain material objects but also in love potions, whether platonic or sexual.
Butterball
Ylang Ylang Oil - Promotes attraction, love, lust, sensuality, and sexuality. It is primarily used when the caster is searching for a partner but can also be used in Faerie magic.
Big Blue
Arame Seaweed - I could not find many sources on its magical properties, but seaweed can be used by Sea Witches in order to bond with the ocean and its creatures or as an offering.
Sea Salt - Salt absorbs negative and bad energies and can be used to protect the witch from harmful spirits or curses.
Lemon Oil - Lemon is known for balancing chakras and purification. It can steer you away from negative thoughts and habits.
Lavender Oil - Calming but also sensual. Lavender aids in sleep but also promotes sensuality and is used in purifying and healing rituals.
Dragon’s Egg
Lemon Oil - Lemon is known for balancing chakras and purification. It can steer you away from negative thoughts and habits.
Bergamot Oil - Bergamot is most often used when the caster is seeking success or financial luck.
Jasmine Absolute - Can be used when trying to form a bond with Diana or Vishnu. Also frequently used in Moon magic. Jasmine brings love and attraction.
Gardenia Extract - An oil that brings the wearer protection, love, and harmony.
Avobath
Lemongrass Oil - Used mostly in psychic rituals. Can aid and enhance psychic powers. Also common among rituals that involve Faerie magic. Will bring the caster spiritual confidence.
Bergamot Oil - Bergamot is most often used when the caster is seeking success or financial luck.
Rosewood Oil - Those wishing to form closer bonds with Mars, Venus, or the Moon would be wise to utilize rosewood. While it is known for sensuality and sexuality, rosewood also promotes the spirit and fire elements and can represent maturity and femininity.
Sakura
Mimosa Absolute - Often used to enhance prophetic ability or in healing rituals. Can bring a witch visions, self-confidence, and spirituality.
Lemon Oil - Lemon is known for balancing chakras and purification. It can steer you away from negative thoughts and habits.
Orange Blossom Absolute - Wear for sensuality and attention from lovers. Said to bring about marriage proposals.
Jasmine Absolute - Can be used when trying to form a bond with Diana or Vishnu. Also frequently used in Moon magic. Jasmine brings love and attraction.
Gardenia Extract - An oil that brings the wearer protection, love, and harmony.
Fizzbanger
Petitgrain Oil - Stimulates self-love and is strongly imbued with protective qualities. Use in spells or rituals for protection.
Cinnamon Leaf Oil - Use when attempting to meditate. It can be used for personal protection or in fire element rituals.
Ylang Ylang Oil - Promotes attraction, love, lust, sensuality, and sexuality. It is primarily used when the caster is searching for a partner but can also be used in Faerie magic.
Oakmoss Extract - Oakmoss is used when the caster is in need of money, luck, or all-around good fortune. It can help the caster form a stronger bond to Jupiter or the earth element.
Metamorphosis
Black Pepper Oil - Increases self-confidence and belief in personal values/independence. Prevents willful ignorance. Improves the wearer’s courage. Can be used in protection spells or elemental magic.
Cinnamon Leaf Oil - Use when attempting to meditate. It can be used for personal protection or in fire element rituals.
Myrrh Resinoid - Often seen as a highly religious oil, can be used in many religious rituals. Courage and protective spells. Used when attempting to connect with Isis and Re.
Pink
Vanilla Absolute - Lust, sensuality, and warmth are associated with Vanilla. It can be used to gain material objects but also in love potions, whether platonic or sexual.
Lavender Absolute - Calming but also sensual. Lavender aids in sleep but also promotes sensuality and is used in purifying and healing rituals.
Tonka Absolute - Tonka beans bring wealth and courage. The caster may choose to use Tonka absolute in rituals involving Venus or Jupiter.
Neroli Oil - The same as Orange Blossom Oil. Wear for sensuality and attention from lovers. Said to bring about marriage proposals.
Over and Over
Lime Oil - It not only strengthens the skin but also promotes youthfulness and tranquility. Lime is said to purify and cleanse one’s physical energy. It brightens and rejuvenates the soul as well as the physical being.
Fennel Oil - Keeps evil at bay, used for strong protection spells.
Cypress Oil - This oil helps to strengthen the connection between the witch and the afterlife. It can help those who are grieving after the passing of a loved one and can also strengthen a witch’s connection to spirits. It is a good oil to use when grounding or trying to concentrate.
Orris Oil - Used when conducting Moon Magic, especially when the caster wishes to reveal the meaning behind dreams. Can also be used in divination.
Cementing their status as the most terrifying of all the birds, a new study has found that ravens are able to imagine being spied upon – a level of abstraction that was previously thought to be unique to humans.
The ability to think abstractly about other minds is singled out by many as a uniquely human trait. Now, a study from the Universities of Houston and Vienna have found that ravens are able to adapt their behaviour by attributing their perceptions to others.
The study, published in Nature Communications, found that if a nearby peephole was open, ravens guarded pockets of food against discovery in response to the sound of other birds – even if they didn’t see another bird. This was not replicated when the peephole was closed, despite hearing the same auditory clues.
According to the study’s authors, the discovery “shed[s] a new light on Theory of Mind” – the ability to attribute mental states to others. A number of studies have found that animals are able to understand what others see – but only when they can see the head or eyes, which provide gaze cues. This suggests that these animals are responding only to surface cues, and are not experiencing the same abstraction as humans.
The ability to hide food is extremely important to ravens, and they behave completely differently when they feel they are being watched – hiding food more quickly, for example, and are less likely to return to a hiding place for fear of revealing the location to a competitor.
The study replicated this behaviour. Two rooms were connected by windows and peepholes, both of which could be opened and closed. The ravens were trained to look through the peepholes to observe human experimenters making stashes of food. Finally, both windows were covered while a single peephole remained open – and, though no bird was present, the ravens still hid the food as if they were being watched.
“We showed that ravens can generalise from their own experience using the peephole as a pilferer, and predict that audible competitors could potentially see their caches through the peephole,” the authors wrote. “Consequently, we argue that they represent ‘seeing’ in a way that cannot be reduced to the tracking of gaze cues.”
Although ravens may not seem similar to humans, the two species do have something in common – their social lives. Like humans, ravens go through distinct social phases, from fluid interaction with other birds as adolescents to stable breeding pairs in adults. “There is a time when who is in the pack, who’s a friend, who’s an enemy can change very rapidly,” said Cameron Buckner, lead author of the research. “There are not many other species that demonstrate as much social flexibility. “Ravens cooperate well. They can compete well. They maintain long-term, monogamous relationships. It makes them a good place to look for social cognition, because similar social pressures might have driven the evolution of similarly advanced cognitive capacities in very different species”.
It’s not the only thing ravens can do – they’ve also been found to mimic human speech, complete complex logic puzzles and show empathy for fellow birds, which Buckner says could “change our perception of human uniqueness”. “Finding that Theory of Mind is present in birds would require us to give up a popular story as to what makes humans special,” he said. “Completing this evolutionary and developmental picture will bring us much closer to figuring out what’s really unique about the human mind”.
Your moon sign and 4th house sign is often a good reference point for what you need to feel emotionally involved whilst having sex and also your emotional expression during.
Your sun sign and 5th house sign is a good reference point for what you need in order to be physically aroused in a more primal way.
Your mars sign and rising sign is a good reference point for what you need in order to preform sexually and or how you preform in a sexual setting.
Your mercury sign and 3rd house sign is a good reference point for how you intiate sexual banter and or how you pillow talk and like to be spoken to in order to be put into a sexual mood.
Your venus sign and 7th house sign is a good reference for hot spots, and sensual turn ons for you as well as where and how you pleasure others and prefer to be pleasured in order to feel loved or have a climax(gentle)
Your Pluto sign and 8th house sign is a good reference for how and what you need in order to feel transformation through sex, and also what causes your most intense orgasams. This is also a factor into what and how you have sex once you’ve committed to another person completely(note these are rarely activated)
Your Jupiter and 9th house sign is a good indicator of where you lack limits or boundaries sexually and where you might struggle with excess when it comes to sex! Ex: Virgo might show you have a hard time not including sex in the daily routine and may even grow to demanding of it once you start doing. Ex. Aries might show you can grow to large of an appetite for sex that your partner cannot keep up and so on. Ex Scorpio might mean that you have a over the top energy towards sex that can gradually undermine your sexual partner.
Your Uranus and your 11th house sign is a good reference for your experimental tendencies and hidden kinks, it’s what you’re willing to try but also what you might be the most detached in when it comes to sex. This is often going to show an opposite or watered down version of that signs expression unless it’s Aquarius or Capricorn. So for ex. Leo here might mean you like to experiment with praise and worship sex but might also be detached about the whole ordeal since you’re only “experimenting with the idea” if you have Capricorn you might experiment with domination themes but might have a more laid back approach to it than a normal cap mars or cap moon ect would.
Your Neptune and your 12th house sign are a good refence point for your UNCONCIOUS sexual behavior. This is what you see in your wet dreams or sexual dreams and often is sexual behavior you naturally already have ingrained or pre-programmed to act out. This in most cases is a starting point for your sexual nature and often is your “real” sexual nature that overruns all else especially when you are at an elevated state of mind. This is how you have sex under the influence, this is emotional sex, sad sex or even sex that you have with someone whom awakens your 12th house.
Saturn and your 10th house sign are sexual hangups, this is what limits you from experiencing sex to the fullest! It’s the 10th house of the public so this can often relate Barriers from achieving climax or sexual unity. For ex. Having Pisces here might mean emotional blockage can be an issue to climax. Sagittarius can mean flightiness or the fear of committing to the sexual act itself can be scary(due to the intimacy) or even religious blockage can play a role. Aries can show that the “self” or “issues with the way one views themselves” can block sexual climax.
Your moon and the house it sits in can give insight to where you prefer to have sex and also the type of sexual partner that you feel the most comfortable with on an emotional level. This is what you deeply desire to feel safe and secure while having sex and what brings out your more nurturing side! Those who don’t meet this requirements normally aren’t really having “sex” with you.
Your sun and the house it sits in can give insight as to when and where you’ll feel most aroused and what normally you are aroused by in others.
Your mars and the house it sits in can give insight as to what you need in order to stay stimulated sexually and also your secondary sexual personality(how you go about having sex once the initial moments are done)
Your mercury and the house it sits in can give you insight as to what you go about seducing your bedroom partner as well as how you yourself actively try to keep the bedroom energy. Mercury in the 9th might try to keep their partner happy or laughing to provoke intimacy, mercury in the 2nd might try to keep things sensual and charming by sweet talking.
Your venus and the house it sits in can give deeper insight as to how and where you prefer to be touched and in what fashion. Venus in the 12th May prefer gentle touching or very tender intimacy. Venus in the 8th May prefer intense intimacy and or smothering durning sex. It’s also in a bigger sense what it needed in order to orgasm(once again as mentioned in a gentle way)
Pluto and the house it sits in quite literally is your G-spot. It’s how you “really have sex” and In a sense it’s house can show the requirements for you to enjoy sex to its fullest extent. Regardless it’s how you have sex when you’re in love, head over heels. Normally Pluto’s house is very important and can give insight on what someone needs in order to have their most POWERFUL orgasms on an individual level with or without a partner. Ex Pluto in the 9th May need or prefer deep penetration or multiple rounds of intercourse in one setting in order to truly achieve their greates orgasms. Pluto in the 5th May need passion and a romantic element and so on.
Jupiter and the house it sits in can be where you achieve your “spiritual awakening” through sex. It’s the morning after in a sense. So Jupiter’s house mainly describes that initial bliss you feel after a good sexual encounter and that relaxed and often stress free feeling the next day. Having it in the 1st can mean it reinvigorates your sense of self and makes you more confident and proud. Jupiter in the 10th can mean it keeps you level headed in the work place and allows you to preform even better.
Uranus and the house it sits in can be where you are “unable” to detach from sex. Supringly Uranus and the 11th house on their own speak more so as where you may detach easily but the house placement of Uranus shows where sexually that may not be so easy. Uranus in the 12th can find it hard not to disconnect their emotions and psyche. Uranus in the 8th can find it difficult not to invite their baggage or intensity into the mix.
Neptune and the house it Sits in can be how you act sexually at your most vulnerable moments. This is the sex you had when you first lost your virginity, this can be the way you have sex when you’re meeting someone new or even when you’re extremely emotionally stimulated. This is often sex with an emotional layer backing it.
Saturn and the house it sits in can be how you “physically” touch or fondle another during sex! It’s a more earthy aspect to it so often it can describe how you yourself go about achieving intimacy through touch or use of the more physical aspects of relating to another. Think of the houses as body parts in this case.
some iconic dialogue that sounds like its from the great canon of literature but are actually from memes
I will face God and walk backwards into Hell
“I’ll do whatever you want” “then perish”
I have been through hell and come out singing
feel free to add more!
She/Her - Aquarius Sun - Gemini Moon - Capricorn Asc. - Green Witch -
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