I have so much respect for Sigyn. She’s got this earthy, warm strength
radiating from her. Just thinking about her makes me feel stronger. I don’t
often work with her but I still feel protected by presence. I can’t understand
why so many scholars are trying to reduce her to an obedient wife that stays at
Loki’s side out of blind loyalty. That’s some proper patriarchal bullshit right
there. Do these people not realize how much strength it takes to stay at
someone’s side when everyone else has deserted them? Being married to Loki
doesn’t mean that she’s obligated to stick with him no matter what. News flash
but even a mortal Viking woman could have divorced her husband in that
situation and we’re talking about a literal Goddess here. She stayed because
she loves her husband and will not abandon him no matter what he gets himself
into. She is strong enough to comfort him at his darkest hour. She is loyal
because she is true to herself and not because that’s what people expect her to
do. Yes, loyalty is a virtue that one values in a spouse but you wouldn’t want
to marry someone who will only stay with you because that’s what married people
do, right? And you bet your ass that Loki didn’t get married to a blindly
obedient woman. That’s not how he roles. Sigyn is radiating quiet strength, the
willingness to stand up for your loved ones. She is the Goddess of loyalty, the
Goddess of persistence, of not choosing the easy way out, of sticking to your
values, of protecting those that need it most. She is strong and I love her.
This was a PSA thanks for reading.
I like that witchy vibe when you just feel it in your bones
and you kinda feel sexy
and confident
and you feel like you can do anything
because you are a witch
and you are one with everything around you
and you know things are gonna be great
you just know it in your bones…
i am, as a rule, skeptical of internet witchcraft, BUT i have been beginning to preform one spell, both on the internet and in real life: when i encounter mention of certain people, i either type “piss” or write “piss” next to their name, or even just think “piss.” i aim to create a deep association between these people and piss. i am currently doing this for ronald reagan, mike pence, and elon musk. at its very least, this makes me feel better, and at its very most, it will creates a cosmic association between these terrible men and Piss, inviting more piss into their lives. this is not a substitute for activism or education, its just a fun little extra. thank you for reading.
Just a reminder: Heathenry does have a term for smoke-cleansing.
Recaning. To recan. (Or reocan, in Old West Saxon.) This is cleansing via smoke, whether through incense or a bundle of herbs put together for a particular type of cleansing. Juniper and mugwort are both favorites for this.
In case you’re wondering how to pronounce it, it sounds like reekening. The word “reeks” is actually derived from it, signifying a potent smell.
For Old Norse fans, this seems to be related to the work reykr. In case you were wondering, Reykjavik in Iceland translates to “Smoky Bay”.
*dances around the entire pagan community waving this post like a fucking banner* THANK YOU.
Just a little addendum: Mugwort can be dangerous due to mildly psychoactive properties in the herb. Use with caution and avail yourself of the following list of free-use alternatives:
- Basil (any kind, noting that Sweet Basil smells the best)
- Sage (any type, but keep in mind that White Sage is becoming endangered)
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Cedar Tips or Shavings
- Thyme (especially Lemon)
In Norwegian it is traditionally called “røyking” (verb: “å røyke”), and juniper is the herb to go to. There are also certain combination of herbs that are used (3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 21 are the amounts of different herbs and incenses used). Some are homemade (called “smoke bundles” – and made similarly to American Native smudge sticks), others used to be bought at the apothecary’s (these were usually more like the grainy powders you can buy today). When you use the method against something specific you “smoke for” such and such. You can “smoke for trolls”, for instance, and – indeed – one specific and very popular mix from the apothecary’s was actually called “Troll incense” and contained 13 ingredients (incense = “røkelse”).
When mugwort is used in mixtures for smoking we use the dried root.
Addendum: That’s juniper as in Juniperus communis!
I forgot to address @breelandwalker’s little addendum properly:
Every herb or resin or what have you is used for very specific purposes. The plants you suggest have their uses – even for smoking – but some of them are anything but alternatives to juniper and mugwort!
When you smoke to cleanse, that’s what you want – smoke! And you want it to sting and smell! That’s smell like in stink; there is a reason why the modern English verb reek is cognate to the Old Norse verb reykja and the “New Norse” verb røyke (smoke). It’s supposed to make your eyes burn and your nose run. And it’s supposed to make noises!
If you think about it, when you use smoke to cleanse, you’re not freshening up your habitat to make it smell nice; you’re kicking troll arse. If you don’t find it unpleasant, you can bet your own arse the trolls won’t either. You can pull out the basil and the lavender to sweeten the air afterwards, as long as you’re aware they don’t have any tradition in heathen Northern Europe.
You’re also supposed to yell and shout and poke that burning juniper branch or bundle in all directions and tell the trolls off, that you burn out their eyes, that you put their children on fire!
You can smoke for nasty humans as well, and you can name them too, “You thieving neighbour Such and Such, who stole my tomatoes right off my plant by the fence! I put your unborn babies on fire, you thieving bastard! Shame on you, and shame on your descendants, stealing my family’s food! Take this and this and this!” Stab! Stab! Stab!
And, when you’re finished, you open doors and windows to let the smoke out along with the trolls, and you will sleep peacefully like a baby all night.
This ritual is to be performed three times in a row for full effect; either two Thursdays and one Sunday, or one Thursday and two Sundays.
And, to OP, why would you invent a new fake quasi-Germanic word for something you already have excellent words for in your native – and entirely Germanic – language? Besides, recan is already a word for something totally different.
I think my Craft could be gayer
Today’s Tarot of Bones daily draw is the Ace of Cups, reversed. Yesterday’s Four of Pentacles urged you to save your money; today, the Ace of Cups emphasizes saving your social energy. Maybe you need to be focusing on things like work, or perhaps you’re just socially over-extended. Either way, now’s the time to learn to say “no” when people ask you for your time, especially for social occasions. You won’t have to become a hermit, I promise; just focus more on yourself and your home for a while.
You can order the Tarot of Bones deck and book, or purchase a Tarot of Bones reading, at http://www.thetarotofbones.com/shop/ – and yes, even if you don’t have a Paypal account you CAN use the Paypal option to pay with a debit or credit card!
may the bridges I burn light the way 