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Samhain - Blog Posts
Early excitement for Samhain.
where: ancestor's lanterns release, samhain festival, hogsmeade when: evening with: open
Morcant really hoped the departed people didn't have access to it beyond the veil. If they did, he was fucked. His heartfelt message to his grandfather, Cantakerous Nott, was along the lines of: "Dear grandfather, thank you for being an even worse paternal figure than my father. No wonder he is a raving lunatic, having you as his father. You are the one who sullies the noble and ancient name of the Nott family. I hope you rot in hell for the entire eternity. Fuck you. A big middle finger, your grandson."
He sighed in relief when the lantern was flying too high to be caugh, and hoped no one saw it. He was about to leave, when he stumbled on someone.
"Oh, pardon me. Sorry, are you okay? I hope I didn't damage your lantern." He asked politely, knowing the ceremony could be a hard time for some people.
Morcant was, after all, a Nott. A snobby, arrogant, stuck-up nose pureblood. He was self-aware of that, and he wasn't about to lie to himself and say he didn't have a reason to be. He was all of that, simply because it was owed to him and his legacy.
That said, all he felt was contempt and disgust. It took all of him to act like a gentleman, supress what he really felt and try to have fun. His entire life, Morcant always believed that you get more flies with honey, than vinegar. It wasn't like him to express what he truly felt, even if all he wanted to do now was bitch about it.
"Well, a single corridor in the Nott Manor has more cursed artifacts than this. Come on, Lucius. We both know that we came here for a comedy exhibit, especially if some stupid kid tries to rob it." He sighed, imagining the scene. "That would be a good laugh, wouldn't it?"
𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚂: open | 𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽: zonko's, cursed artifact exhibition
a slender finger slides along the sleek marble of the countertops before him, already coated with a thin layer of dust for special affects. lucius could tell, even to the naked eye, that the so called cursed artifacts scattered around the joke shop were also jokes. pieces of plastic disguised as actual artifacts hidden around the wizarding world. ❝ they have to know they aren't fooling anyone, ❞ lucius says aloud to no one in particular. ❝ although it would be quite the event if someone were to try robbing this place for a piece of junk. ❞
Odin had a great time at playing catch with the baby dragons and the baby thestral today. Morcant couldn't help but feel like a proud dad watching his antisocial son making friends, except his son had the spirit of an eighty year-old grumpy grandfather.
"They are cute, but I guess it's an acquired taste." Morcant's laugh was soft, silence settling in for a few moments. He liked Narcissa, her steadiness somehow made him few at peace. It was like someone created a bubble in space-continuum where his duties and worries disappeared. "He had a great time today, work has been demanding. There's a lot of unstable magical energy these days, he's talented at keeping my aura balanced, but it takes a lot out of him. I'm glad he had fun today. The dragons are fantastic, though. Congratulations."
open ! where : thestral night flight .
narcissa had been waiting by the side of the line with the thestrals that were grazing in the grass, she smiled down at the little babies grabbing the treats that she seemed to always carry on hand for the baby dragons. grabbing them out of their pocket they reached a hand out for the baby thestral to take thumb rubbing it's forehead. "honestly, they're very cute creatures." she says looking up, "if you can't see them there's a baby right here." she didn't know if she actually wanted to go on the ride, but this was a far enough place away from her mother and father who were undoubtedly searching for her.
"Well, Hogwarts is a game of survival, each day is just a shot in the dark." Morcant rolled his eyes, bitterly thinking about the utter lack of order in that dump. "I hear there's centaurs around here, as well. I would really love to know more about their society and government structure. Do you think they have a democracy, or that is it more an anarchy? Anyway, I think they probably keep the acromantulas in check, their fangs would make fantastic weapons. At least that's what I would do if I was a centaur." He babbled, not really excited about the whole prospect of the ride. "I'm not entirely sure about the ride. Disfigurement by acromantulas doesn't fit my aesthetic for today."
open ! where : haunted hayride .
"now riddle me this, all throughout the year we are literally forbidden to go into the forbidden forest and now we're just taking hayrides driven by creatures we can't see where the forest is probably full of more creatures we can't see! i know there's acromantulas in there! i've seen them in our textbook! it can't be safe — let's hitch a ride." the second she said it, mary was hopping on the cart with their hand out to help the other person in, if they dared.
It was a silly little thing, really. Odin, his black kneazle, had a morbid curiosity towards thestrals. Morcant's familiar tended to be a stern and proud creature, but the omen of death brought out a completely different side to him. The kneazle could see and feel magical aura, so he was invaluable during Unspeakable missions, and he rarely allowed himself to behave like a... Well, cat.
Even if he truly wasn't one, and merely thinking about Odin as a cat would offend his familiar, but thank Salazar he didn't know Legilimency yet. It was just a matter of time, though, Morcant was sure. Kneazles would still rule the world, Voldemort wouldn't stand a chance against them. Just look at their paws.
"Well, not really. I'm just here to indulge the child. It's not like I can say no to him. Odin has a morbid curiosity towards thestrals, maybe it's because he sees magical aura. Thestrals are truly unique creatures. Well, are you? Getting a ride?"
𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 | 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑭𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
The first time Frank had seen one, he was just shy of his sixteenth birthday and had wandered toward the carriages—he had almost gotten into one when he stilled completely. The black leathery horse-like creature peered at him, looking at him as if he had done it countless times—it wasn't the kind of beauty that Frank had been privy to, not until he lost his father.
Even tonight, lanterns lit the pathway as people gathered around - the thestrals were just as beautiful and in a way, the grief was just as raw, even after all these years, but it didn't consume him like it once did. feeling a presence next to him, "are you going for a ride?" a small smile stretching his lips as he looked over.
"Mrs. Parkinson, it's great to meet you. The festival looks much better now that you're here." Morcant smiled courteously to Bryony, as if they didn't grow up in the same social circles their whole lives.
There was a playful undertone underneath all the politeness, of course. It was interesting to see his childhood friend as a married woman. But, then, that was probably his fault for not having settled down yet.
"I don't believe I'm the best person to have an opinion on tapestries, since the only tapestry I truly remember is the Nott's family tree tapestry. But I do enjoy the Yuletide spirit, it's my favorite." Morcant said, settling comfortably beside her.
Who: Bryony & Open Where: Samhain Festival, Market Stalls
Bryony had thought long and hard how her re-entrance back into society post-wedding would go, and it hadn't been this damned festival. They were supposed to attend a gala last weekend for one of the many charities she helped out with, but of course, she had been sick and they couldn't attend. And now her husband goes and tells her at the last minute that he would join her later, that something had come up. She was not pleased but she was unwilling to sit at home for another weekend. So here she was, hoping he would come and find her before it was too late.
"The holiday may be over tomorrow, but the season will go on for a while. It wouldn't be particularly tacky to keep this up, would it?" Bryony mused to the person beside her, showing them the tapestry that she had been looking at.
Morcant didn't consider himself someone particularly cruel, especially considering some of the people he knew. However, he did have a little bit of a... Twisted sense of humor. How could one blame him, honestly, when the opportunity presented itself right in front of him?
"Well, that's unfortunate. I do believe kneazles eat toads, and Odin has a very peculiar palate." Morcant replied, raising the corner of his lips into a discrete smile. Odin was his familiar, a loyal and stern black kneazle that was trained to accompany him during missions. The beast in question eyed him with an impatient look, as if he was saying 'Are you serious? I have a better taste than that'.
Of course, the Diggory didn't have to know that...
where: samhain festival, hogsmeade when: evening with: open
"I don't suppose you've seen a loose toad hopping around here, have you?" Atticus asks with a sigh, straightening up from the stall he'd been peering under, "One of the choir girls has lost hers, and she's quite upset. He's about so-big, particularly lumpy, answers to the name Kenneth?"
He's such a pretty little princess. Bemstar is gonna love it.
Pumpkin Spice and Brown Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds for Samhain
Samhain is, among other things, the witches new year. We look back on the previous year, let go of what no longer serves us, let go of the phases in our lives/versions of ourselves that have reached their death, and look forward to/plan for what is to come. That's why I decided to make some roasted pumpkin seeds for the New Year aspect of Samhain!
Seeds carry so much potential. Potential for life, rebirth, and abundance. Seeds, to me, represent the natural cycles that we must connect with and live by. Seeds contain the life of next year's abundant spiritual harvest. And all of this potential is well protected inside the seed shell, waiting to sprout. These were made with seasonally corresponding spices that align with my intent.
On Samhain, I'll cast my intent on the seeds I eat, as I invision my goals for the coming year 🌙
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You'll need:
🎃 1 cup of pumpkin seeds- potential, prosperity, abundance, protection, manifestation and attraction of wishes, rebirth.
🎃 3 tablespoons of butter- fulfillment, emotional richness, happiness, nurturing energy.
🎃 2 tablespoons of brown sugar- sweetness in life, love, happiness.
🎃 Ground Cinnamon- protection, spiritual focus, psychic awareness, love, prosperity, money, health.
🎃 Nutmeg- prosperity, money, health, psychic awareness, love, happiness.
🎃 Ground Ginger- health, balance, grounding, love, money, success, clarity.
🎃 Allspice- health, luck, abundance, prosperity, money.
🎃 Salt- protection and purification.
🎃 Black Pepper- banish negativity, protection.
The spices don't have measurements because they're all to-taste :) add plenty!
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1. I washed the seeds after gutting the pumpkin and let them dry for a day. If you decide not to do that, make sure you wash off any pumpkin gunk and pat the seeds dry well.
2. Preheat the oven at 350°F. Cleanse your space as you choose.
3. Melt the butter, and add to it the sugar, salt, and spices. Keep in mind the magical properties of these ingredients as you add them, and how those properties will serve your intent for the year to come. Stir counterclockwise as you invision all that you'll be releasing from the past year, imagine it dissipating. Take a deep breath. Then stir clockwise as you focus on attracting all that you want for the coming year.
4. Pour the spiced melted butter over your seeds in a bowl. Mix the seeds to make sure they all get coated.
5. Place the seeds on a baking sheet or a nonstick baking pan, you want enough space for the seeds to be spaced out from each other. Doesn't have to be perfect, just make sure they're not all clumped together.
6. If you had let the seeds dry out, they will be done in about 10-15 minutes. Stir them every 5 minutes. If you didn't let them dry out, they'll be done in about 25 minutes, and still stir them every 5-10 minutes or so. They'll be done when they look caramelized and are slightly crispy.
I think the veil thinning is part of the reasons I’ve been feeling spiritually burntout as of lately. Its probably too much for me since I’ve just begun and its straining. I’ve been getting the hot and cold spiritual flashes. Hopefully after Samhain I’ll be good