Dahlia

The heart of Dahlia
was a palace and a garden
her dreams of him
swollen by rain
as storms brewed in the sky
horses fled
a plague swept
across the land
many dead.

Dahlia was a princess
daughter of a king
Alone and fragmented
her heart twisted by tears
dark trees
ravens by the towers
graves upturned by wind
brave men long gone.

Dahlia wanted to kill
the ones who broke her
and release herself from turmoil
and despite that
she carried her gold-handled knife.
In a gown of white silk
cold and shivering
she, Dahlia, wept and felt
unnerved by her untrained skills.

Fire burned on the hill
and her dream came true.
She put down her knife and drew
deep breaths so as not
to feel afraid.
Now she would not kill
herself
or
her pain.
The man of her wants came
and lifted her away
carrying her to
somewhere clear and full.

Dahlia wanted to know
why all the suffering
what was it for?
Her lover said:
"To build your strength."
In all women are the stones
and metals of anger and rage
but intelligence and bravery
found first in pain
whether it be
childbirth or loss.
Sometimes joy makes it glow.
As always, that is a gift.

(This was a poem I wrote last year.)

Othala

Call of the breeze.
Horses flee.
The sky shouts huge,
thunder new.
Come into view,
an army spread,
fierce and dark
boiling red!!!

Fury swords,
Backs of metal
helmets horned
.. some..
not manufactured!
Made by the hand,
By young and old men.
Gold and silver, running belt
shouting men... wearing pelts.

Dead are burning
smoke riding high
black collumns plough the sky.
The dragons and woodcraft,
gleaming rich,
cooking barley and animal meat.
Hungry, starving, chewing raw
some like it that way
and falling seasonal days.

Night is near,
dreadful start,
look to the West...
watchout for the stars.
They make masters
and lords they do,
taking plenty in rivers
sleep is over for you.

He pulled my hair.
He bit my neck,
the angry lover
of the big broad chest!
You've never seen
so much mean...
vicious warrior men
around the princesses
Vikings came
tearing strength.
I am a Saxon woman,
at their mercy, yes.

My home, my family, my land...
blood, graves, war and children ground,
Its where I belong,
where I belong..
where I die.
In the fire,
follow my dead husband,
at his pyre funeral.
A warrior's sight.
A warriors sigh.
The ravens fly...
They fly.

by
Ragna.

I originally called this "Othala" to talk about land and what it means really. I wrote this a year ago after recovering a severe illness, after having been through a tough period and also when I was at my most vulnerable. I'd been wrong about things. This poem was inspired by little except expression so it's anger or fear.

The wild scent

Wolves have a very sensitive sense of smell. So in folklore tradition, werewolves are said to have a delicate nose and they can smell things more acutely in their transformations than when they are in human form. They despise garlic and they adore the night. There isn't much information about what werewolves do like, only what they don't like. Therianthropy is not the same as the werewolf myth. One of the things female therianthropes love is chocolate, as well as flowers and fragrant things including insense.

To make the woman therianthrope's den into a boudior, it's vital to have fragrant flowers during night. There are flowers that give off perfumes at night time and others that bloom. Nicotiana, Cestrum Nocturnum, Dama de Nocha, Iris and even some species of roses. Bring in night blooming flowers into the room, beside an open window and in a vase filled with fresh water to keep the night with a touch of magic: Moonflowers, Angel's Trumpet, Night Scented Stock and orchid. White flowers tend to shine when it becomes dark. Incense can be used as one of the best to use at night is vanilla. 

Some types of flowers and plants are offensive, such as garlic. There is some history behind it as well as myth. In ancient times garllic was fed upon to increase physical strength and health. It acts also as an insect repellant. Garlic is an old medicinal ingrediant and it reduces cholesterol. Regardless of these benefits, some people just hate garlic with a passion and they avoid touching it. Garlic also wards against evil monsters. Wolfsbane (Aconitum) is a poison that also repels and destroys werewolves. It has links with magic and the occult but the plant is quite dangerous for many.

It's not realy considered when werewolves (particularly females) are self consious about perfume and insense. The therianthrope can like anything from fashionable body sprays to scented candles. As the nose is delicate, let's consider the gentle and sweet aromas that a werewolf can love.

Roses are the most popular scented flower. White roses or "Alba" shine luminous in the evening and they glimmer at night. They look perfect for the garden for nocturnal individuals.  This rose represents purity and innocence. Snow White with the paleness of snow is the symbol of girlish and maidenly innocence and vulnerability. Brides wear white. Virgins are associated with white. It is true that not only is Snow-White as white as snow in the fairytale but her hair is ebony, she has a double in "Snow White and Rose Red". This fairytale features her with blonde hair and she has a dark haired sister called Rose Red. Red roses are linked with love and passion. The scent of a red rose is vibrant and the white rose smells fainter.  

There are far more flowers with perfumed scents that are good for the garden and the lycanthropic! Lavender is one that I have in my garden. Have a look at this page that is informative: The Essential Werewolf's Garden

It might be worth mentioning that the poisonous Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) was used as a cosmetic throughout the centuries but this plant should be avoided. 


"In Norse Mythology, Ithunn was the goddess of the early spring. She was the guardian of the golden apples which the gods would eat to make them youthful again when they felt themselves growing old.

Golden apples and tender apple blossoms touched by sweet honeyed nectar and the faint dew of osmanthus, lilac, and jasmine."

Apple trees blossom in Spring and apple blossoms are white as well as finely scented. It attracts bees when these blossoms are full of honeyed nectar. They should be visible at night also when they blossom. 

Perfume in myths and legends
Wolfbane
Garlic
Snow White and Rose Red
Atropa Belladonna
Night blooming flowers

Dark side of farming

It's a worldwide reported issue that wolves attack livestock. This problem has been going on for centuries since humans became farmers and kept animals. It hurt families and smaller communities when their livestock were killed. Wolves have been lurking near farms and during the absense of people, this is when animals are killed. Wolves have been looked upon as a menace to farmers. The answer has always been to kill wolves on sight but larger communities sought to make drastic measures by destroying any visible wolves as far as possible. Certain wolves disappeared in many locations. The native wolves of Britain and Ireland have been wiped out. Why do wolves attack livestock? It's a simple enough answer, because wolves that don't find enough prey in the wilderness turn hungry so they resort to killing farm animals for food. Humans need food also and have to protect their livestock. Unfortunately the timeless problem of wolves attacking farm animals coincided with horror stories about wolves and werewolves that demonised the wolf. Yet, strangely despite this problem, wolves have been revered as a divine animal in many cultures especially in ancient myths and legends.

It isn't just the wolf. Many other carnivorous wild animals attack livestock. Diseases infect livestock also and in some cases making them a biohazard to all. To protect humans and other animals, all those sick livestock (including non-infected animals of the same breed) have had to be slaughtered. Horror stories and urban legends tend to show during a period of serious livestock disease. An outbreak of illnesses among humans came from them eating infected meat. Apart from wild predators now, another concern is livestock diseases posing a serious threat to to the health of people, other animals and the environment.

Some are worried about eating GM (genetically modified) food and having pesticides in farming. Many are preferring to get their food that comes from organic farms but apparantly they are not perfect. Some say that organic products are dirty and cannot feed everyone. I've noticed that organic food is expensive and not everyone can afford it either.

Humans rely on crops and livestock, vineyards, fresh water wells and fire. Without it we go hungry and cold. Fire burns away any bacteria in meats when cooked properly. Cold pantries, freezers and refrigerators chill food to keep them fresh. Without those we would be struggling like our ancestors again, relying on basics OR going hungry. If we had no farms, then humans would find themselves on the verge of starvation until we learn about hunting and gathering. Human beings (not all of them) feel they are somewhat seperate form nature and the animals. This is not true. Humans are a part of nature and also humans are an animal species.

Surrounding farms is land, much of which is unknown beneath the soil. The farmer deals with the surface. Deep below the ground there could be anything or nothing except soil and rocks. Some farms might be over ancient burial mounds or covered over grounds where ancient battles took place. I know of several farms that are located exactly where manor houses, castles, monestaries, temples and paths used to be. Some farms, including their farm land, is situated on sacred sites, some that are not quite discovered or known. Now we have the farm land phenomena of strange and unsual crop circles.

To the human psyche, farming is a sanctuary and also a place of superstition and the unknown, as well as production of fear. People are afraid of wild animals and the wilderness. People can't live with the wild anymore, only a few individuals choose to or some people in other parts of the globe live as hunter-gatherers. It's human nature to be a hunter gatherer, IMO and it was out of desperation (perhaps during the Ice Age) to spread farming and domestication.           

Links and information:

Grey wolf and info on wolves
Werewolves 
Werewolf Page
Info on livestock animal health and infections
Animal Diseases for Dummies
The Tracing Paper
Negative Effects of Organic
Crop cirlces
Pesticides
GM food