SororLotus

gazing skywards

estrach’s photography

by Jorey Hurley

Artem Ogurtsov

Tonight, June 23rd, is St. John’s Eve, or as it is known in many parts of Ireland, Bonfire Night. It was traditionally marked by the construction of bonfires throughout the countryside. These were lit at sundown and were the focal point of communal festivities. People gathered to dance and sing, while young men proved their bravery by leaping through the flames.

The night was also rich in folklore, much of it concerned with fertility. Prayers and rhymes were recited to ensure a plentiful harvest. Indeed, the fire itself was thought to have magical powers. Burning weeds in its flames would prevent arable fields from becoming overgrown, while scattering its ashes would guarantee the land’s fertility. Similarly parading through the fields with lighted branches from the bonfire would protect the crops from disease and pestilence. It was also deemed particularly lucky to bring the ashes home to light the kitchen hearth.

Although most of these customs are no longer practised, lighting St. John’s bonfires still takes places in many parts of Ireland (especially the west). It is hardly a coincidence that these fires are lit so close to the Summer Solstice and it suggests that the custom may have ancient roots.

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Witchy tea

these are my first attempts at transmutation circles ahh. it’s taken quite some time just to assemble my own personal alchemical dictionary of symbols, so i haven’t really put any effort into learning alchemical runes and creating an alphabet, but my hand writing might be juuuust shitty enough to work anyway lol

but because these are practice circles i don’t suppose there’s any harm in explaining them :P

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