Drawing Practice 1: The Raven made from dots

This is an ink dot work raven picture that I spent almost 18 hours working on (including short breaks for my hand). It is based on a tattoo I saw on Pinterest (the link was bad so I can't credit the original artist but their work is truly amazing!). I am extremely proud of how it turned out. I am trying to draw more often since I am still jobless to stay productive. I am willing to take commissions to help fund me getting out of my abusive home and with my fiance. I draw a lot of different things and most of my drawings on here are just quick sketches since it has been years since I have done more than just sketch work. But I can do small watercolor pictures or color pencil drawings. Usually I use ink pens and color pencils for drawing characters for people.

Invocation to Frey (Freyr)

Disclaimer: So before I get to the invocation, I should say that I combed the web as I prepared to write these so if a line or two remind you of someone else's, I probably read it as inspiration. This (and my others) are rough drafts. This one is not overly personal (written specifically for me to use) but others are. Feel free to use them, but if you post them on the web, please link back to me.

Hail Lord of the Fields,

the warrior without a weapon,

you who make the grain sprout forth,

and you who falls at harvest;

Every year of your life, death, and rebirth,

just as the earth mirrors you.

Give me a love bound with commitment,

a love bound to the land.

As one must toil for the harvest,

teach me that love is worth working for.

Bless my life with

a land to call my own,

a love to warm me,

through the harshest winter,

and faith in the coming spring

and the bountiful harvest

after a season of work.

Frey,

Witness This!

Invocation to Odin

Disclaimer: So before I get to the invocation, I should say that I combed the web as I prepared to write these so if a line or two remind you of someone else's, I probably read it as inspiration. This (and my others) are rough drafts. This one is not overly personal (written specifically for me to use) but others are. Feel free to use them, but if you post them on the web, please link back to me.

Hail All-Father,

Wise Warrior,

One-Eyed Wanderer,

Come share my food and fire.

Tell me your stories of wisdom,

the secrets your missing eye sees.

Let me feel the love of both book and blade,

 experience fury and joy, 

and heed the tales of my elders.

You who chooses half of the slain, 

look upon my deeds

and when my time comes

Let my end be worthy of song.

Let me understand sacrifice,

remember well, 

and journey far,

Odin 

Witness This!

Tarot: The Magician I

We move to the second card of the major arcana. This card is associated with wisdom and I love the imagery of a winged cat. If I was to make my own deck, however I would like to make this card "The Artisan". As the Magician is a person who knows their craft, not necessarily magical. This card's background is one of my favorites because of all the details.

My Meaning:
This card symbolizes working towards a goal and bettering yourself through a pursuit of wisdom. With this card you are inspired to apply skill and initiative to accomplish all your goals.  This card honors the wisdom of someone who knows what they do, and works with creativity by utilising the skills, tools and resources that are available to you. This fits the cat (and my idea for The Artisan) because of their secret wisdom and creativity to use their resources to get what they want.

Reversed:
Just as a cat can use their creativity and resourcefulness to manipulate, the reverse of this card warns of greed and manipulation that can happen with the skills. This means your true potential is not realized because you are using your skills to take advantage of others, not better yourself. Similarly, the Magician reversed can suggest that you have a particular skill or talent that could help your growth but you are not yet using this skill.

In fact this card recently came up in one of my spreads for myself so I am having to look within to find that skill I may be overlooking. When researching this card one line of an example stuck out for me:

"For example, you may be studying the Tarot and reading for friends and family but what you do not realise is that you have a real talent for reading Tarot and could be reading professionally for a much wider audience. If you were to expand your Tarot reading, you may find that it also has benefits for your own spiritual journey." 

Tarot: The Fool 0

The Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana. It represents the beginning of a story that is told through the Major Arcana. In my deck the card features an Amphisbaena, a 2-headed poisonous snake with feathered wings from Greek mythology. While this is not one of my favorite cards in this deck art-wise, the actual card meaning is one that comes up frequently in my life as I am trying to find my path.

Booklet Meaning: Expect the Unexpected. New beginnings or journeys into unknown areas. A leap of faith is required. Decisions must be made. If this card represents a person, she/he will be very unconventional, or may be a wanderer without goals.

This meaning is choppy and left me unsatisfied. And also doesn't fit the poisonous snake that they chose for the artwork. So I spent some time going over my connection with this card, and what others have written on it. While I can't add much without seeing it into a spread, I wanted it as a reference to myself.

My Meaning:

The fool symbolizes the beginning of a journey, and the youthful joy and naivete that comes with it.  This can mean a new job, a new house, or a new love, or the beginning a search for them. This card represents the querent almost always, however if it is the first card in the spread it can mean that the querent is not asking the right question or they are struggling with choosing a path.

Reversed:

When reversed the fool represents damaging indecisiveness. With the Amphisbaena the two heads must work as one so any indecisiveness between them would lead them to going no where. This could point to a conflict between the head and the heart or just stuck between two choices. It can also be a warning to not "play the fool", a warning to be careful to not be naive or foolish in your journeys.

Invocation to Freya

This is probably one of my most personal invocations since I have a cat, but you could leave that part out if you wish to use it and don't have a cat.

Hail Queen of the Valkyries,

Chooser of half of the slain,

Teacher of Odin,

teach me the ways of seidr,

so that I may teach others,

and protect those I love.

Remind me of the burning passion of love,

and let my love never extinguish,

nor my passion for life.

Bless my life with wisdom,

honor in all that I do,

and the strength to pursue my love,

even to the ends of the earth.

Protect my cats,

my dear companions,

past, present, and future,

as one of your own;

and may they pull your chariot

after their time on earth is over.

Freya,

Witness This!

Invocation to Brigid

So this is my invocation to the Celtic Goddess Brigid. She is my fiance's goddess so I honor her too. As before, these are rough drafts, I may edit them at any time. I also take inspiration from around the web, but I try my best to avoid any copying.

Hail to the sacred flame,

the protector during childbirth,

the patron of craftsmen.

Let me sit by your hearth,

you of pure heart,

beloved of the people.

Tell me the secrets of the herbs

drying throughout your home.

Protect my future offspring

at their time of birth,

firey midwife to the earth.

Inspire my crafts

to shine with beauty

and hard work.

Inspire me to find my calling,

and grant me 

your wisdom,

vision,

and mirth.

Brigid,

Witness This!

Invocation to Braggi

So before I get to the invocation, I should say that I combed the web as I prepared to write these so if a line or two remind you of someone else's, I probably read it as inspiration. This (and my others) are rough drafts. This one is not overly personal (written specifically for me to use) but others are. Feel free to use them, but if you post them on the web, please link back to me. As for why I am calling upon Braggi, as the bard of Valhalla, he is a wordsmith, so who better to help me write my blog?

Hail Rune-Tongued Bard,

Keeper of Songs and Stories,

Teller of Tales,

Skald of Valhalla.

Inspire my words;

Grant me your clever wit,

your silver tongue,

and your confidence to share my tale.

Teach me the wisdom of the ages,

and the answers to life's oldest riddles.

Remind me of the the past,

the triumphs and failures,

woven in your songs,

so that one day

I may tell them to the next generation

who need your wisdom.

Braggi,

Witness This!