Author: TheLiminalMarket

Cemeteries and other places of the dead often have one. A head spirit of the grounds who keeps an eye on things and keeps tabs on spirits and living visitors alike. I’m lucky that my local graveyard has a murder of them, or to clarify, a family of crows.

As my family and I walk, bird watch, and tidy up trash, our greetings and farewells seem to have sufficed in that, the spirits we sense around us keep their distance, follow close behind, or like watching from the center hilltop. No specific Gatekeeper in sight. The crows who have made a tree on the center hilltop home, however, frequently travel the grounds and the surrounding streets. They fly throughout the neighbourhood chatting to each other and having aerial battles with a family of hawks a few times a year. They have even brought us gifts of marbles near our offering stone. Their presence is a joy and a cherished reminder of seasonal cycles.

To the usual backdrop of birdsong and squawking crow solos at the cemetery, I looked down at my feet one afternoon to find the image of our Guardian, chiselled in the pavement. I thought of the crows ever keeping watch overhead, the gifts they have given, and the home they keep. I simply outlined our friend to see them more clearly, to work with them as the Gatekeeper symbol for the cemetery we love so much, and to utilize their imagery as an offering to that space. A Crow Groundskeeper surveying the hollowed earth within its walls. A face for the space. I can work with that.

This is one of the steps in my Cemetery Essence project where I deepen my work as a death witch and my relationships with local land spirits. This is what the land held in store for us. If you look in the graveyards in which you tread, what spirits or symbols can you see?

Autumn days are slipping ever closer to winter here. I can tell I’m naturally making the shifts toward hibernation as I lean into days of mass organizing when the energy lends itself. Through the last week I’ve been tidying and came across a stack of pictures yet to be stored in the portfolio under my desk. So, in the spirit of new beginnings, I wanted to share some artwork, lessons, and poetry dedicated to plant allies I’ve worked with this last year. I hope to have a short haiku collection collated within a few months, so here’s a preview of that!

Rebirth

A dead rose wakes, dozy
A fresh stem from splintered stalks
Old is new again.

Rose is a special one for me as it’s the first plant I connected with on my plant path. When we moved into our home, rose bushes of various states surrounded the front of our house. I have tended to and nursed a few rose bushes back from withered stalks with the help of my plant-loving partner. Pruning them to help them, giving them banana peels to eat, and bringing stalks back from the dead have taught me monumental lessons in cycles, shedding, and how having thorns is vital in being the best blossom you can be. I add their gorgeous petals to baths for self-love and enjoying the luxury in stillness.

---

Childhood

Cat tails are kindred
If I listen hard enough
They speak as I walk.

Cat tails are an ancestor-based plant to me. In childhood they surrounded where I grew up and were a must in bouquets for my Grandma that I picked with Poppa at the cricks edge. It wasn’t until this year in my studies that I learned that most Cat tails are an invasive species but, when maintained, purify the soils in which they live. My ancestors may be from other lands, but I was born here and while I live here, I can try to be a force of good in life and respect the land I dwell on. Listening to and tending to the land spirits and house spirits is sacred and important. This lesson I attribute to the Cat tail.

---

Self-Heal

Prunella lies low
tasking those who wish to meet
to be down to Earth.

Prunella Vulgaris or self-heal has been a physical ally this year on multiple levels. As it grows almost anywhere pesticides aren’t, our lawn sprouts in their purple splashes from Spring to Autumn. My family and I began picking them for tea this year and it helps with many things (hence the name self-heal) but I use it mainly for its benefits in the gut. This plant is beautiful and abounds in helpful energy if you are willing to forage. Going out to my yard and picking herbs to help my stomach was a very grounding and meditative, magical process. This aided in balancing my treatment and taking back self- confidence in my own health care.

Winter Pathwork 2023

And there you have it, messages from a year of a death witch working in the soil. As for Winter, I plan on diving into some deep projects to last me through the snow. For the second year in a row, I’m connecting with the season of winter and death in my pathworking alongside lighter projects on the side to keep myself centered. The death work will revolve around winter walks to a local cemetery to culminate in a final project sometime next year, whereas the lighter projects are some painting ideas and a storybook in very slow development. Magically, I’m focusing on grounding practices and ancestor work themes with other deities recently stepping out of the shadows and onto my path to aid in that discovery.

New steps into the frigid darkness to guide oneself back to the fire.

What does Winter whisper to you?
Do you hear it calling?

These past couple of months have been quiet here, huh?

If you’ve read my previous posts from earlier this year, you’ll know that the word I’m working with for this year is Flow. So, for the first 6 months I’ve been surrendering to the flow, engaging with my chaos deities, and moving with whatever comes. With being the key word there.

And then life happened. Death happened. Health issues happened. And even more surrendering was required.

Moving into the second half of the year, my work with Flow is shifting. I’m reestablishing a daily spiritual practice that makes me feel the most balanced or in Flow with myself. Some of these practices include fire elemental work for the season and another magic research project – reading and analyzing The Coffin Texts.

I’m still working on art, poetry, and some other goods like jewelry, sigils, and homemade paper. I plan on sharing more of that work here, but I discuss all of that more frequently on my Patreon, if you’re interested in creative updates.

In short, I’m slowing down and working to deepen my witchcraft even further. This year has been so very full, and I need to lean into my practice to find more equilibrium.

And to that effect, here is my latest Fire art creation – Frith. This sun figure is a central deity in the mythos of the Watership Down universe. I have loved this film since I was a kid for the amazing story and the brief meeting of Frith. When it comes to solar deities, there aren’t many that I particularly connect with, but I always liked Frith. This sun seemed quite fair in its judgements. And at that age, around 6 I’d say, I was used to hearing about one god in the sky and he seemed fairly upset at humans with all the floods and brimstone and whatnot. While I have studied more fire and solar deities up to this point, I wanted to start with the first one who taught me that gods, especially fiery sky ones, could seem compassionate and just.

I’m tending my inner flame this summer. What does this season ask of you?

In our really shit poltical climate, I thought now would be the perfect time to introduce Heimerdinger’s drag persona – Heimerdonna. She chose this look based off of her most beloved Queen, Biqtch Puddin. While this League of Legends inventor works hard during the day as he builds his machines, Heirmerdonna works even harder at night to look this good. Her full act is still in development.

Heimer is my main League champion and I love the dorky little yordle. So here is some fan art right from the heart. We’re LGBTQIA+ friendly here, don’t ya forget it. ♥

My favorite season has finally arrived; harvest time, turning inward time, spooky time, ah yes, the Autumn shift. Fall is truly my happy place and this year I have taken the falling mandate quite literally. If I could sum it up, I’d say it was a trip and a face plant into the new season this turn of the wheel. It happens. And when it does, I simply hold on and try to keep my arms and legs in the ride at all times. Personal health issues, family health matters, and a couple other upheavals hit my household but, ultimately, came to a resolution. I’m tired but grateful.

In my home, we connect this season with the Earth element so we’re fully in the dirt, winterizing our vegetable and flower gardens and getting prepared for the harsh cold that’s on the way. While I’m really comfy in this hearth mode, stocking the pantry, and giving love back to the land, I know by mid-October that ancestor work is due. This varies year by year but always culminates to a day of celebration, connection, and honoring of our Beloved Dead on Halloween (Samhain.) The Earth element challenge presented at this time of year asks me to hone in my focus and get back to my roots in a literal and family tree sense, accompanied by grounding rituals, and a final shedding before the darker months.

And then it’s inner work time. A final shedding before winter sets in as the leaves are still falling. Typically, I do a deep dive shadow work retreat of sorts and try to journal, meditate, and heal the issues I’ve been struggling with while it’s still nice enough to take walks and enjoy the Earth.

That’s the path I walk this season. The air is crisp and smells like dirt and leaves. I gasp at how beautiful the trees are as they are changing. Soon we’ll gather acorns, paint them, and display them in a jar. I feel rooted and connected. I feel home.

How does Autumn speak to you? 

The following is a fun project that I have been wanting to do for a while; I present to you my Major Arcana Tarot playlist! I thoroughly enjoyed making this in-between some of my bigger writing projects and I think it’s finally ready to share with you all. I want to preface the playlist with this – this track list is subjective and describes certain card aspects but not necessarily the full meaning of the card in its completion. I may go into a deep dive about each song but for now, this is my Major Arcana connection playlist. I hope you enjoy it!

Check the playlist here

We are currently living in a world where Facebook is being more readily believed than field experts, where facts are mutable when one, simply, just doesn’t like them, and where we are inundated with hatred, racism, and violence from every possible angle. Even if there is joy here, the world feels bleak, overwhelmed, and fucking tired. There are so many issues that need addressing on so many fronts, but this is certainly not the first time the Earth has felt this way. Cast a weary eye through history and you will find it inescapably sprinkled there. It was in this way that I found Cassandra, screaming, and aching for the perpetual spiral of bleakness and suffering of those around her. This essay is going to be a deep dive into two sources concerning this mythic character. Cassandra was an Apolloian Priestess and Prophetess of Troy who, although accurate in her predictions, was cursed to never be believed by an enraged Apollo. Given what I had already read about her, and personally existing in 2022, I found some very real parallels in her story to what we are currently facing and very wise advice from the doomed Seer that, I believe, could help us all in some way. This is a collation of two sources to illustrate that end but do not sum up what each offer in their unique entirety. 

The first section, Analysis of Antiquity, is based on the source, Cassandra and the Poetics of Prophecy in Greek and Latin Literature by Emily Pillinger. This piece is a linguistical and literary analysis of Cassandra in mythic tales varying from speech translation trouble fueling the disbelief of the Prophet, the individual authors choice of her portrayal and what that reveals about them, and how Cassandra’s plight still connects with audiences today.

The second section, The Archetype Answers, is a quote list sourced from the novel portion of, Cassandra a Novel and Four Essays by Christa Wolf. This text is a phenomenal retelling of Cassandra’s story through a modern lens. The tale also acts as a bridge for contemporary audiences to witness Cassandra’s strength and suffering in a whole new way, by walking alongside her for the totality of the epic’s duration. I highly recommend both publications.

Below, are techniques the cursed Prophetess utilized to survive and cope in her corrupted world followed by quotes from the modern Priestess herself. Maybe, she has wisdom that can guide us still.

Analysis of Antiquity – What Cassandra can Teach Us

To begin, we look to a conscious practice the Seer employs to preserve herself and her time, silence. “Cassandra’s efforts to communicate information about the future are rooted in a human desire to avert those future events, but knowing that her message will be misunderstood regardless, she also recognizes the value in not articulating it at all.” (pg. 16) While it is important to speak and act out against injustice, loudly, it is also important to use discretion about when that energy can be used most productively. Arguing with those who are committed to misunderstanding or arguing with you rather than participating in an actual discussion, in my opinion, falls under the silence category. In this ongoing battle, make sure you pick the battles worthy of you and your energy in that moment because you can’t fight everything, all the time. Constant silence sides with oppression, but selective silence is preservation for the long term.

Following on from preservation, Cassandra “punningly defies one of the proverbial instructions given to visitors to the Pythia – ‘nothing in excess’, whilst she embraces another, ‘know yourself.” (pg.66) All while her peers ignore her predictions or try to convince her of their preferred truths, Cassandra tries her best to remain steadfast in her prophecies. Self-care, searching for accurate resources for information to also know for yourself (or trying to learn how to properly source accurate information), and boundaries are all, in essence, practices in knowing that can fall under the ‘know yourself’ umbrella during these tumultuous times but there are countless more. Being in touch with yourself to maintain your health and developing a fact checking method to be able to discern everything being thrown at you is simply, a suggested starting place.

Continuing with a studying motif we move to Cassandra’s next tool, history. “She has an ability to draw connections between historical and future events and between different literary works that embrace that wider span of time.” (pg 103 -104) Now while we can’t all be Seers with time travelling memory recall, we have something close and that’s history. But not all “history” is truly accurate, so reliable sourcing is an incredible skill to build up here, beginning with who is retelling this history? What sources do they use and cite? How are they an authority on the subject? And even deeper still, what are their motivations for telling this story? Verify what you read, do not swallow what you read.

And the final point for today, empathy. “Cassandra becomes the inspiration for a more profound, extensive, and above all human kind of understanding. This understanding is based on sympathy for another’s suffering, respect for another’s perspective and energetic engagement with another’s creativity, no matter how alien it appears.” (pg. 239) All too often, the true stories of injustice are swallowed up by how much hearing this knowledge upsets the delicate balance of ignorance for others. When someone takes the time to express how a situation directly affected them, the very least that can be given in return, is the uninterrupted time to speak and respect for their truth, even if it makes you uncomfortable. It also means shutting up and not speaking for or over others. Cassandra wasn’t listened to or believed when it mattered most, but what would have been different if she had been? It is not possible to speak for every experience, so make sure to sit back and be humble when called upon to pass the mic and welcome in the experience and expertise of others. Remember, it’s okay to not know everything.

The Archetype Answers – Quotes of Camaraderie

Shooting the Messenger
“Know that we would rather punish the one who names the deed than the one who commits it.” (pg.15)

Refusing to Turn a Blind Eye
“I will continue a witness even if there is no longer one single human being left to demand my testimony.” (pg. 22)

Making Facts Matter Again
“I still believed that a little will to truth, a little courage, could erase the whole misunderstanding. To call what was true, true and what was untrue, false; That was asking so little (I thought) and would have served our cause better than any lie or half-truth.” (pg. 85)

False Victimhood Weaponized, Sound Familiar?
“The stronger current was the king’s party, to which I, his daughter, did not belong. Instead, it was composed of younger men who went around in groups, expressed their views loudly when they met, continually felt they were under attack, believed they had to defend themselves against reproaches which had never been voiced, and found officious men – bards and scribes – who supplied them phrases for their punctilious affectations.” (pg. 94)

For those Never at Fault
“They act in haste and foolishly. Believe the incredible. Do what they do not want to do, and mourn their victims with self-pity.” (pg.104)

There is Immense Global Suffering right now, And we need to Share that in order to Heal
“This was the second breath of relief, although relief is too strong a word for it. There is a kind of pain that stops hurting because it is everything. Air. Earth. Water. Each bite of food. Each breath you draw, every movement. No, it is indescribable. I never spoke about it. No one asked me about it.” (pg. 130)

Choose your Battles
“Now I understood what the god had ordained: ‘You will speak the truth, but no one will believe you.’ Here stood the No One who had to believe me; but he could not because he believed nothing. A No One incapable of belief.” (pg. 136)

Conclusion

I first sought out Cassandra for solace and in search of a way of coping through navigating truth in this age of disbelief. I felt who better to ask than the reliable and accursed Seer? How could she survive the torment of her world and extreme gaslighting for so long? I felt powerless fighting a constant battle with ever shifting rules, but unlike Cassandra, I know I’m not alone. Emily Pillinger, our author from the first section, succinctly sums up this feeling, highlighting the collective chance to unite in this struggle. “(T)o describe their freshly shared experience of the prophet’s paradoxical combination of understanding and disempowerment: Cassandra nunc sumus – ‘Now we are Cassandra.” (pg. 225) While these times feel scary and sometimes, I feel lost and disempowered in all of this, I know others feel it too. We are in this together, we are Cassandra, and there are too many of us who care about this dumpster fire we are living in to go unnoticed forever. As long as we fight the good fight, share the truth, share our experiences, and take care of ourselves, there is true power in being a “Cassandra”, a brave being who refuses to stay silent and submissive in the face of a hateful and seething ignorance. She wasn’t believed but, even in all of her madness, she was good, and, above all, she was right.


Sources:

Pillinger, Emily J. Cassandra and the Poetics of Prophecy in Greek and Latin Literature. Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York,, Ny, Cambridge University Press, 2019.

Wolf, Christa, and Jan Von Heurck. Cassandra a Novel and Four Essays. New York Farrar, Straus And Giroux, 1984.


Further Reading:
Evaluating Sources Where to Begin and General Guidelines – Purdue Online Writing Lab

The following sigils have been created to combat the war on reproductive and abortion rights. They can be downloaded, shared, or printed and used in protest or ritual context for free, I simply ask for creation credit upon sharing or public utilization (linking back to my site.) This is, simply, a first step. The work doesn’t end here. Contribute however you can, it all helps. 

I’m now a Staff writer for the occult site and discussion forum, 13society! Check out my first article there which is an exploration of Pain Magic in Modern Paganism and sign up to the forum for even more esoteric discussions!

I will still be posting my personal practice blogs here and will be sending out further 13Society article announcements in my newsletter. Make sure to sign up to that if you want to stay up to date!