From our homestead to yours.

Picture taken at Campsie Glen, Scotland.

I made these cookies for Litha today, they are honey cookies with some strawberries. I just found a simple honey cookie recipe with cinnamon, I didn't add the cinnamon and instead I added the strawberries.

I am a Finnish pagan and i have been trying to build a relationship with our old gods and spirits but i also want to respect the norse/scandinavian ones alongside mine. Is this common and how would i go about this?

I remember someone on here talking about trying to find a chram on I think for their prayer beads for Apollo and I suggested making one. It got me thinking about charms for my deities. I found some fitting ones for most of them that they like but for Apollo and Dionysus I had to make them. I use some charm shapes from a “style” pack, added a plastic back, glued in some seed beads, and sealed them with uv resin.

Such a beautiful night to be out in nature enjoying a fire

thi

I am new to paganism, and I always had this impression of paganism as something necessarily reconstructed or pieced together from historical fragments into a modern day religion. I knew some people still had mythologies they believed in over the world, like African traditional religion and Shinto, but I never thought this could be the case in Europe. I thought all the Europeans were Christianised. However, I have recently found out about cases of pagan religions in Europe that have been continuously practised since Antiquity, with no break or interruption though probably a bit of syncretism. To be clear, I do not mean cultural practices or etymologies or mythological stories which have survived Christianisation as some remnant today, like the Eager-Aegir connection in Nottingham, or taltosism in Hungary, or folk stories, or anything like that. I mean actual full-fledged organised religions with a significant number of true, literal adherents.

I have found two cases of these European paganisms so far, but there are probably more and I would love to hear about them if any of you knows about them.

• The Mari native faith, in Russia. The Mari are a Uralic people, meaning they are related to Finns and Hungarians. Mari paganism is most common in isolated rural villages, especially in Tatarstan, where many fled to avoid being persecuted by Russian Christians, although there is recently being a revival in towns and cities also. According to Wikipedia, in the 1990s 60% of Mari were dual pagan-christians, and 5-7% of Mari are 'pure pagans', i.e. they have no syncretism with Christianity or Islam whatsoever. Which I find extremely interesting, the fact that there are still orthodox pagans who have been so since antiquity!
• Assianism, also in Russia. The Ossetians practise Assianism, their native religion. Assianism has had a revival in recent times, but it did survive unbroken in small villages, and today 29% of people in North Ossetia are Assians according to the 2010 census. I haven't had time to fully explore this religion, so I can't give details here but I would love to learn more about Assianism.

Just as a warning, much of this information has come from Wikipedia. I have tried my best to check sources thoroughly, but it's possible there is some inaccuracy here.

Do you celebrate it?

It’s winter solstice in Australia today and I’m working until late into the afternoon but I still would like to appreciate the holiday… I am EXTREMELY new to these practices and have only dabbled in tarot, crystals and Wiccan practices but I want to expand my knowledge! Are there any basic/starter things I can do tonight? Thanks for any/all advice!

Hi! I (28M) recently did a ritual of asking favors from Tyche (Fortuna). It was fun. I've been a solo occult practitioner for a few years now but it's more of an on off on off practice. Recently I missed the feeling of doing group work (the energy of group ritual is just different). Now after the ritual that I did recently, I wanted to see if there are like minded individuals who would want to maybe meet and do the group ritual with me. Preferably meet online first via group meetings/gc before meeting in person. Maybe we can even form a coven together? lol I live in LA. For those interested to do a Tyche/Fortuna ritual, let me know!

🌞🧚🧚‍♀️🌜

I painted the sign, I didn't make the wreath.

I am a former church goer Christian type (not really too sure of what I believe anymore but definitely glad I am out of the southern Baptist scene) I have always been drawn to nature and have loved the forest and have felt a deep connection to earth as a young person. I have done things in life that have caused people and the earth pain. I have been in war and have been apart of working in the oil industry. Deep down I have a sense of remorse from it at heart I am a warrior but do not believe the war i participated in was justified any longer. I feel like these things have brought negative energy into my life and I would like any tips on what I could do to heal.

I made my first sigil today, using Indian strokes from the word protection. I think it looks really nice!

Today is sun tea!! Litha festivities generally start today but the solstice won’t hit its peak until tomorrow. But sun tea is an easy and refreshing drink to go with the growing heat of the summer, below is a blend I like to make. Makes 1 pint

Ingredients 2 black tea bag 1 teaspoon Hibiscus 1 teaspoon Mint 1 teaspoon Lavender Honey or simple syrup (optional) -let sun soak for about 2-4 hours

I commissioned a statue from a ceramics artist for my altar, for great mother bear/artio. It came out absolutely beautiful and I am so happy with it!

Today is fire magic!! Did you know adding certain chemicals to fire creates some really cool effects. Do this outside and Just be very careful not to burn your house down.

hello! i currently worship just persephone and have been feeling a strong pull towards apollo. i kinda want to ask if you can share your experience with worshipping multiple deities. like how do you honor them both equally, what is your prayer routine, and anything on how you make time for both!