Beyond The Wand

Is this a thing in mythology or what?

You’d have to be pretty blind not to notice that Loki and Prometheus have a lot in common.

Both belong to the “elder god” (for lack of a better term) race - Loki’s a jotun, Prometheus is a titan.
Both take part in the creation of humanity.
Both are associated with fire - Loki appears to be a fire jotun, Prometheus steals fire to give to humanity.
Both are tricksters who steal stuff.
Both end up chained to a rock as punishment for a crime against the gods.
Both are tormented by an animal.

I mean now, whoa nelly. That’s a lot of similarities. So what I’m wondering is, is the fire-loving trickster thief criminal guy an archetype or something? Are there more characters who fit this same pattern?

Edit: I don’t just mean the trickster/thief archetype - I’m talking about characters who fit most, if not all of the above items I listed.

May 26

Wewt, new Secular Witch survey. :’D

SecularWitch’s tumblog is here.

1. Kink in Sex Magic.

If it works for you, do it.

2. White Washing Ethnic Spiritualities and religions (Native Americans, Greco-Romans, etc)

Duuuuude, don’t do it. It’s not that hard!

3. People who use the word Gypsy.

Many of them are simply unaware that it’s a slur. Other people find out it’s a slur, but insist on using it anyway. Every time this happens, I sort of stare in despair and eventually facepalm.

4. Dabblers.

Not everyone is interested in being a full-on, full-time whatever. Digging on “dabblers” is kind of like chewing out people who like comic book movies for not reading all of the comic books as well.

5. Using Spells and/or Forms of Magic to get an advantage (Making straight As, getting a job, using it to one up on a competition)

There are many ways of getting advantages; I believe trying magic is as valid as trying anything else.

6. God Spouses

Remind me of Snapewives.

7. Three Fold Rule/Law and People who say you have to follow it.

Oh, bugger off.

8. Familiars.

Are not your pet cat or dog.

9. Worshipping Pop Culture Icons [Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Elvis, David Beckham, etc] as God(s).

Does it work for you? If so, more power to you.

10. Psychic Vampires.

Avoid.

11. Aliens.

I do not believe Earth has been visited by genuine extraterrestrial life. Everything people claim is “proof” of aliens isn’t.

12. Necronomicon as a ‘real’ spell book.

Does it work for you? More power to you.

13. Self-initiated Wiccans.

Are religious appropriators.

14. Love Spells

Depends on what kind. Are you trying to manipulate someone’s mind? Not good. Are you trying to attract someone you might like? That’s different.

15. Blood Rites.

I don’t particularly like killing animals just for magic, but if it’s your own blood or the blood of a willing participant or of something you plan to eat later, I don’t mind so much.

BONUS RANT

Having Sex With the Devil.

Well, he is a horny beast isn’t he?

May 25

Just got the urge to post this. This song is utter perfection.

May 24

High-res

temperedtemper:

This is faked, though. You can see the cursor and the lines from Microsoft Word spellcheck.

Hmm, you’re right. I didn’t see the line up there at first, and at first I thought the underline was just for emphasis or something. (I don’t have Microsoft Word. :P)

Well, shucky-darn anyway!

(Source: homosexualfrustration)

(Photo reblogged from temperedtemper)

Eating organic food might make you a jerk!

A lot of people are slamming this article, but I’d have to say the scientists are spot-on. I’ve seen too many people let the fact that they’re eating organic, or vegan, or doing some other “good” deed completely inflate their ego.

Nothing wrong with eating organic or whatever, but we do need to make sure we check our egos when we think we’re doing something good.

Guys, I don’t know if this is a problem…

Meditating is cool and all, but most people agree that you’re supposed to be doing some kind of deep breathing with it. Here’s the thing - when I get into some kind of trance of any kind, I barely breathe at all. Is this all right?

crowdog66 asked: SecularWitchs' name here on Tumblr is asksecularwitch. :)

Thanks! :D

The first pagan survey I ever wanted to answer. :’D

This was apparently created by SecularWitch… whoever that is. (I can’t find any links to her blog - does anyone have it?) Anyway, it’s the first pagan survey I ever really wanted to answer. :D

Edit: SecularWitch’s tumblog is here.

1. THE DEPICTION OF WITCHES IN THE MEDIA OR OTHER FORMS OF EXPRESSION AS EVIL, UGLY WOMEN

I don’t really care for it for a number of reasons. One of them is paganphobia, obviously, but another is that they potentially make children irrationally afraid of old and/or unattractive women.

2. VEGANISM AND WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE PART OF A WITCHCRAFT OR PAGAN LIFESTYLE

It should only be part of your pagan lifestyle if your gods/religion demands it. Otherwise, be vegan all you like, but don’t pretend it’s intrinsic to being a pagan or witch because it’s not nor has it ever been. And don’t worship hunting gods or gods who didn’t think twice about killing an animal for food, then insist that the gods would want everyone to be vegan.

3. ANIMAL SACRIFICES

I don’t really care for it unless the people are going to eat the animal afterward. Gods don’t actually need animal sacrifice, so I think those that demand whole animals all to themselves are kind of greedy. But if you want to follow them… well, that’s your choice and I won’t stop you.

4. PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST USING ANYTHING BUT WHITE MAGIC

Pacifism is all right as a personal lifestyle choice, but it doesn’t work out for everyone all the time. Deal with it. (That said, I am far more approving of spells to actually address a problem at hand than those intended simply to cause pain and misery to those who have wronged you.)

5. THE SPELLING OF MAGIC (MAJICK, MAIJIZZ?)

M-A-G-I-C works for me.

6. MEDITATION AS A FIX ALL FOR EVERYTHING

Dunno, haven’t tried using it to fix everything. I doubt it would, though. I mean, I doubt I can meditate my broken can-opener back together…

7. NECROMANCY AND WHETHER ITS OKAY TO FORCE THE DEAD TO COME BACK INTO THE REALM OF THE LIVING TO DIVINE FROM THEM.

Is it all right with the dead person in question? Then okay, I’m all right with it.

8. GRAVEYARDS

Wastes of water. Full of dead people with far different belief systems than mine. Moving on.

9. THE DEPICTIONS OF DEITIES IN WORKS OF FICTION/THE MEDIA

Mixed feelings. I really don’t like how chthonic and trickster deities are handed the villain ball all the time.

10. PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER THAN 35, WHO CALL THEMSELVES YOUR ELDERS IN WITCHCRAFT AND DEMAND THAT YOU GIVE THEM RESPECT

I’ve had it up to my eyeballs with “adults” who act like spoiled-rotten 12-year-olds, then go around claiming they’re entitled to my respect because their number is bigger than mine. Get some maturity in your noggin as well as on your face, and then I’ll respect you.

11. Z BUDAPEST AND HER COMMENTS ABOUT TRANS* PEOPLE

Z… just… shut up and go away. You’re only making things worse for yourself.

12. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AND PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEM TO BE BAD

Repressing “negative” emotions seems to be more of a New Age thing… and honestly, I can say that these people aren’t doing themselves or anyone else any favors. What’s more, it also seems to be a control tactic to keep people from questioning what the leader says, or feeling rightfully hurt, angry, or betrayed because of the leader’s shenanigans.

13. PEOPLE ON TUMBLR WHO THINK THAT THE AMOUNT OF FOLLOWERS THAT THEY HAVE IS DIRECTLY PROPOTIONAL TO HOW CORRECT THEY ARE

Argumentum ad Popularum is a logical fallacy.

14. PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT SATANISTS ARE ACTUALLY CHRISTIANS IN REVERSE

The Malleus Malificarumwas not an accurate document, yo.

15. PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT THEIR GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT ANCESTOR WAS A WITCH, AND THEREFORE THAT THEY ARE MORE LEGITIMATE THAN ANYONE ELSE

These people need to understand how this sort of thing works! First, if your great-x-grandmumsicle was a witch, then you are Not So Special because there are hundreds, if not thousands of people who are just as descended from her as you are! Secondly, our ancestors never stopped practicing what we call witchcraft today (even when they were devout Christians), so everyone has some witch ancestors.

BONUS RANT QUESTION: WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU THAT YOU’RE NOT A REAL WITCH/PAGAN/OCCULTIST.

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this.