☀️ Aine’s Backstory: (pronounced Aw-nyah ) Aine is often associated with the sun, as her name means “brightness” or “splendor.” Celtic legends say that Aine was the daughter of Eogabail, who was a member of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann. In folklore, she was also recognized as the wife of the sea god Manannan Mac Lir – a deity who was very important for Celtic warriors. In ancient Irish myths and legends, Aine is described as a Faery Queen, a goddess of the earth and nature, and a lady of the lake. It was believed she brought luck and good magic to her worshippers. Some identify her as a brighter side of the famous goddess Morrigan. Aine is also known as the goddess who taught humans the meaning of love. She had many human men as lovers and bore many Faerie-Human children. There are several Irish families today that claim to be descended from her. In early tales she is associated with the semi-mythological King of Munster, Ailill Aulom, who is said to have raped her, an assault ending in Áine biting off his ear, hence the name Aulom “one-eared”. By Old Irish law, only an “unblemished” person can rule; by maiming him this way, Áine rendered him unfit to be king. As an embodiment of sovereignty, she can both grant and remove a man’s power to rule. The descendants of Aulom, the Eóganachta, claim Áine as an ancestor. In other tales Aine is the wife of Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, known popularly as “Iarl Gearóid”. Rather than having a consensual marriage, he rapes her (thought to be based on the story of Ailill Aulom), and she exacts her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him or both. The FitzGeralds thus claim an association with Aine; despite the Norman origins of the clan, the FitzGeralds would become known for being “More Irish than the Irish themselves.” The feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor.
☀️ Important Possesions/Symbols: Aine is associated with the sun and it is often said she may take the shape of a red mare when she pleases. She is also associated with animals and agriculture.
☀️ Connection to Modern Witchcraft: Aine is looked to as a Goddess of love, fertility, abundance, and sovereignty. Colors associated with her include orange, green, yellow, and red. Crystals associated with Aine are moonstone, sunstone, pearl, gold, silver, garnet, quartz. Her elements are Earth and Fire. Incense associated with Aine include lavender and orchid. Her planet is the sun. Offerings may include produce (especially home grown), milk, cream, or baked goods.
(also the photo used is NOT a depiction of Aine. I could not find one that was free for my usage. This photo is close to what she is depicted as though!)
a word of advice: open your windows. wash your sheets. exfoliate your legs. read a paperback. make your bed. moisturize every inch of your body. go to sleep with soft skin and sheets that smell like the wind and a mind full of words worth dreaming about
PEARS – Let’s usher in fall with pears. ALL the pears! I bought them all and wrote about them here to save you the brain hurt of figuring out which is which. http://www.liveeatlearn.com/pears/
A reminder that turning in assignments for partial credit is better than not turning them in at all. It is. Even if you think you’ve done a bad job and are ashamed of your work, or it’s way overdue, you take whatever you can get. Partial credit dramatically improves your grade over a zero, and I’m always astounded by how often even the smartest kids don’t really comprehend that. 60% is worlds better than 0%. Even 10% is going to help you. Letter grades are misleading and are not created equal. “F"s are mathematically valuable. Turn that late assignment in.
This goes for so many things in life tbh.
Can’t pay the full amount you owe on a bill? Pay as much as you can each month. Most places just wanna know you’re making a good faith effort. You can usually even call and ask for a smaller minimum monthly payment plan until you catch up, so that maybe you won’t be getting late fees added on to your balance. It’s worth calling to see.
Third time you’ve had to reschedule that doctor’s appointment? Oh well. Your doc probably just wants to make sure you make it in to their office at all. Keep trying.
Half-assing is always better than no-assing folks. I know lots of us are anxiety-ridden perfectionists and it feels like if we can’t do everything exactly right on the first try we just shouldn’t bother. But that’s not true.
My mom likes to say “anything worth doing is worth doing poorly” to emphasize that it’s okay to enjoy doing things even if you’re not good at them. The point is doing them. Make that shitty art project that makes you happy. Learn that new skill even if you suck at it at first. Make it to under half of the events of that club or organization you want to be a part of but can’t fully commit to. It’s okay. You don’t have to do it perfectly to do it at all.
Fehu: domestic cattle, wealth | possessions won
or earned, earned income, luck / abundance, financial strength in the
present or near future / sign of hope and plenty, success and
happiness / social success / energy, foresight, fertility,
creation/destruction | reversedor merkstave: loss of
personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to
keep / indicates some sort of failure / greed, burnout, atrophy,
discord / cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery,
bondage
Uruz: auroch, a wild ox | physical strength and
speed, untamed potential / time of great energy and health / freedom,
energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom / sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better) / sexual desire,
masculine potency / the shaping of power and pattern, formulation of
the self | reversed or merkstave: weakness, obsession,
misdirected force, domination by others / sickness, inconsistency,
ignorance / lust, brutality, rashness, callousness,
violence
Thurisaz: thorn or a Giant | reactive force,
directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual
will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst / tendency toward
change / catharsis, purging, cleansing fire / male sexuality,
fertilization | reversed or merkstave: danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal,
dullness / evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies / a bad man or
woman
Ansuz: the As, ancestral god, i.e. Odin | a revealing message or insight, communication / signals, inspiration,
enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming / blessings, the taking of advice / good health, harmony, truth, wisdom | reversed or merkstave: misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation
by others, boredom / vanity and grandiloquence
Raidho: wagon or chariot | travel, both in
physical terms and those of lifestyle direction | a journey, vacation,
relocation, evolution, change of place or setting / seeing a larger
perspective / seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon
it / personal rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life | reversed or merkstave: crisis, rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality / disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly a
death
Kenaz: beacon or torch | vision, revelation,
knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability / vital fire of
life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration / power
to create your own reality, the power of light / open to new strength,
energy, and power now / passion, sexual love | reversed or merkstave: disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity / nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope
Gebo: gift | gifts, both in the sense of
sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance / all matters in
relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships
and partnerships | merkstave: greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice / obligation, toll, privation, bribery
Wunjo: joy | joy,
comfort, pleasure / fellowship, harmony, prosperity / ecstasy, glory,
spiritual reward, but also the possibility of going “over the top” / if restrained, the meaning is general success and recognition of
worth |reversed or merkstave: stultification, sorrow, strife,
alienation / delirium, intoxication, possession by higher forces,
impractical enthusiasm / raging frenzy, berzerker
Hagalaz: hail | wrath of nature, destructive,
uncontrolled forces, especially the weather, or within the
unconscious / tempering, testing, trial / controlled crisis, leading to
completion, inner harmony | merkstave: natural disaster, catastrophe / stagnation, loss of power / pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness,
crisis
Nauthiz: need | delays, restriction / resistance
leading to strength, innovation, need-fire (self-reliance) / distress,
confusion, conflict, and the power of will to overcome them / endurance, survival, determination / time to exercise patience / recognition of one’s fate / major self-initiated change / face your
fears | reversed or merkstave: constraint of freedom,
distress, toil, drudgery, laxity / necessity, extremity, want,
deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger
Isa: ice | a challenge or frustration / psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances / standstill, or a time to turn inward and wait for what is to come, or
to seek clarity / reinforces runes around it | merkstave: ego-mania,
dullness, blindness, dissipation / treachery, illusion, deceit,
betrayal, guile, stealth, ambush, plots
Jera:
a year, a good harvest / the results
of earlier efforts are realized / time of peace and happiness,
fruitful season / can break through stagnancy / hopes and
expectations of peace and prosperity / the promise of success earned / life cycle, cyclical pattern of the universe / everything changes, in
its own time | merkstave: sudden setback, reversals / a major change, repetition,
bad timing, poverty, conflict
Eihwaz: yew tree | strength, reliability,
dependability, trustworthiness / enlightenment, endurance / defense,
protection / the driving force to acquire, providing motivation and a
sense of purpose / indicates that you have set your sights on a
reasonable target and can achieve your goals / an honest man who can
be relied upon | reversed or merkstave: confusion, destruction,
dissatisfaction, weakness
Perthro: lot cup, vagina | uncertain meaning, a
secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities.
Initiation, knowledge of one’s destiny, knowledge of future matters,
determining the future or your path / pertaining to things feminine,
feminine mysteries including female fertility etc. / good lot,
fellowship and joy / evolutionary change | reversed or merkstave: addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise
Algiz: elk, protection | protection, a
shield / the protective urge to shelter oneself or others / defense,
warding off of evil, shield, guardian / connection with the gods,
awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies
appropriately / follow your instincts / keep hold of success or
maintain a position won or earned | reversed: or merkstave: hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link / taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels
Sowilo: the sun | success, goals achieved, honor / the life-force, health / a time when power will be available to you
for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success / contact between the higher self and the unconscious / holeness,
power, elemental force, sword of flame, cleansing fire | merkstave: false goals, bad counsel, false success, gullibility, loss of goals / destruction, retribution, justice, casting down of vanity / wrath of
god
Tiwaz:
Tyr, the sky god | honour, justice,
leadership and authority / analysis, rationality / knowing where one’s
true strengths lie / willingness to self-sacrifice / victory and
success in any competition or in legal matters | reversed or merkstave: one’s energy and creative flow are blocked/ mental
paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance / strife, war, conflict, failure in competition / dwindling passion,
difficulties in communication, and possibly separation
Berkano: Berchta, the birch-goddess | birth,
general fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth,
liberation / regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise
of new beginnings, new growth / arousal of desire / a love affair or
new birth / the prospering of an enterprise or venture | reversed or merkstave: family problems and or domestic troubles / anxiety about someone close to you / carelessness, abandon, loss of
control / blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility,
stagnation
Ehwaz: horse, two horses | transportation / may
represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle / movement and
change for the better / gradual development and steady progress are
indicated / harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty / an ideal marriage or
partnership / confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes
around it | reversed or merkstave: not really a negative
rune / a change is perhaps craved / feeling restless or confined in a
situation / reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal
Mannaz: man, mankind | the Self; the individual
or the human race / your attitude toward others and their attitudes
towards you / friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence,
forethought, create, skill, ability / divine structure, intelligence,
awareness / expect to receive some sort of aid or cooperation now | reversed or merkstave: depression, mortality, blindness,
self-delusion / cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness,
calculation / expect no help now
Laguz: water, or a leek | flow, water, sea, a
fertility source, the healing power of renewal / life energy and
organic growth / imagination and psychic matters / dreams, fantasies,
mysteries, the unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld / success
in travel or acquisition, but with the possibility of loss | reversed or merkstave: an indication of a period of confusion in your
life / you may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements / lack of
creativity and feelings of being in a rut / fear, circular motion,
avoidance, withering / madness, obsession, despair, perversity,
sickness, suicide
Ingwaz: Ing, the earth god | male fertility,
gestation, internal growth / common virtues, common sense, simple
strengths, family love, caring, human warmth, the home / rest stage, a
time of relief, of no anxiety / a time when all loose strings are tied
and you are free to move in a new direction / listen to yourself | merkstave: impotence, movement without change / poduction, toil,
labour, work
Dagaz: day or dawn. | breakthrough, awakening,
awareness / daylight clarity as opposed to nighttime uncertainty /
time to plan or embark upon an enterprise / the power of change
directed by your own will, transformation / hope and happiness, the ideal / security and certainty / growth and release / balance point, the place
where opposites meet | merkstave: a completion, ending, limit, coming full
circle / blindness, hopelessness
Othala: ancestral property | inherited property
or possessions, a house, a home / what is truly important to one / group order, group prosperity / lLand of birth, spiritual heritage,
experience and fundamental values / aid in spiritual and physical
journeys / source of safety, increase and abundance | reversed
or merkstave: lack of customary order, totalitarianism, slavery,
poverty, homelessness / bad karma, prejudice, clannishness,
provincialism / what a man is bound to
SugarFreePeach 