Sources - Tumblr Posts
A beginners guide to media literacy, comprehensive reading, and how not to be a jerk. Please reblog to help spread the knowledge.

favorite language learning resources
duolingo- a lot of language learners have issues with it but it’s good to get a base on the language and they’re always adding new languages!
memrise- good for vocabulary and memorizing, they have a wide list of languages
babbel- really effective if you want to learn how to communicate with people or get around, costs money for the full version but they have sales all the time
hellotalk- language exchange app, i’ve had really good experiences with this app, the only downside is that you have to pay to select more than one language you want to learn
tandem- similar to hellotalk, i like it slightly less but it allows you to choose as many languages as you want!
forvo- you can listen to native speakers pronounce things! it’s amazing!
ipachart- interactive chart with the international phonetic alphabet
wordreference- online dictionary for french, spanish, german, italian, portuguese, dutch, swedish, russian, polish, romanian, czech, greek, turkish, chinese, japanese, korean, and arabic
bab.la- another online dictionary with 24 languages
linguee- really great for learning phrases and seeing words in context
omniglot- encyclopedia of writing systems and languages, really great for learning new writing systems & also basic phrases! also has links to other resources!
the great language game- game for testing listening comprehension to several dozen languages!
ba ba dum- fun vocabulary game
easy languages- youtube channel featuring native speakers speaking a variety of languages but mostly spanish, french, and german
wikitongues- youtube channel attempting to document every language in the world
languagepod101- offers podcasts and youtube videos in a wide variety of languages
verbix- verb conjugating website with a wide variety of languages
quizlet- flashcard website that’s great for compiling vocab lists
lingq- i’ve only used it a little but it seems helpful especially for beginners!
tunein- allows you to listen to radio in a variety of languages
wikipedia- they have thousands to millions of articles in various languages so it’s a great place to test your reading skills, and in addition you can read articles about the language you’re learning and get a grasp on the language’s structure and sound system
lyricstraining- allows you to learn languages using song lyrics, really helpful for comprehension
lang-8- you can post things and have native speakers correct them, and correct things from other people!
feel free to add!
Sites I use:
GLITTER: | OnlineImageEditor: glitter text (multi-line), glitter edits, gif resizing | BlogGif: glitter text (multi-line) | Picasion: glitter text (three lines) | CommentsHaven: glitter text (one line) | GlitterTextOnline: glitter text (one line) |
BLINKIES: | Blinkies.Cafe: active, frequently updated generator |
OTHER: | GlowTxt: glowing text | FlamingText: text logos | PictureToPeople: text logos & textures | Textanim: text w animated patterns |
check my website review tag for a sense of the above sites
I used to use AFullCup & CommentsLive MyBlinkie for blinkies, and GlitterPhoto for glitter text & edits, but the sites no longer work.
~~~
support me: kofi • throne • wishtender • v3nmo: Grubcore • Bonfire (shirts)
DIVINA OBSCURA: a personal Hellenic library

Disclaimer: this post is a perpetual WIP, serving as an archive of all the books I've read on topics of Hellenic polytheism, mythology, ancient Greek history, and similar topics.
This is by no means a list of recommendations (in fact, there are some titles on this list I wouldn't recommend), but feel free to treat it that way if you're looking for suggestions!
Other reading masterlists:
ARCANA OBSCURA: a personal occult library
CLASSICS
The Odyssey, Homer
MYTHOLOGY
Mythos, Stephen Fry
Mythology, Edith Hamilton
Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth, Natalie Haynes
HELLENIC RELIGION
Ancient Greek Religion, Jon D. Mikalson
Ancient Greek Divination, Sarah Iles Johnston
GREEK HISTORY
Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens, Robin Waterfield
MODERN WORSHIP
Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, Labrys
Hellenismos: Practicing Greek Polytheism Today, Tony Mierzwicki
In Praise of Olympus: Prayers to the Greek Gods, Hearthstone
A Year of Pagan Prayer, Barbara Nolan
Secrets of Greek Mysticism, George Lizos
THEURGY
The Practical Art of Divine Magic, Patrick Dunn
For the Love of the Gods, Brandy Williams
HEKATE
Keeping Her Keys, Cyndi Brannen
Entering Hekate's Garden, Cyndi Brannen
Entering Hekate's Cave, Cyndi Brannen
Hekate Liminal Rites, Sorita d'Este



Witchcraft Books by Bree NicGarran
Grovedaugher Witchery: Practical Spellcraft
For the witch whose town is devoid of occult shops and covens, learning the craft can be a daunting task indeed. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for a budding practitioner to make a start.
Stroll down the forest path with Bree NicGarran, co-author of “The Sisters Grimmoire” and “The Witches’ Cupboard,” and discover the surprising ways you can practice your craft with commonplace items from the supermarket and the craft store. Build a travel kit for on-the-go magic. Create your own spells from scratch with a step-by-step guide. Learn how to make your own witch webs and magical powders. Uncover the secrets of walnut charms and witchballs and much, much more. Every page carries tricks of the trade and homegrown charms from the files of the Grovedaughter herself.
From besoms to banishings to a bit of good advice, Grovedaughter Witchery is the ideal book for any witch with an inclination toward a practical, no-frills approach to witchcraft.
Amazon / CreateSpace
The Sisters Grimmoire: Spells & Charms For Your Happily Ever After
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, Who’s the cleverest witch of them all?
With the spells in this book, it just might be you!
Inspired by the well-known works of The Brothers Grimm, this volume boasts over sixty original spells lovingly crafted from favorite fairy tales, along with helpful spellcrafting instructions and several indices to aid you in your journey. All of this is wrapped up with useful chapter forewords discussing the various themes within the tales, some insight into the creative process, and a bit of discussion on ethics and the usage of magic.
Whether you’re ready to yell “All Heads Off But Mine,” looking to turn your luck around with some Buried Coins, or just wanting to show the world What Big Teeth you have, there is sure to be a spell within these pages that is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
After all, who couldn’t use a bit of Happily Ever After?
Amazon / CreateSpace
Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils
From the author of Grovedaughter Witchery comes a volume of potions and powders for all occasions, suitable to enhance the craft of any practitioner.
Old standards like Banishing Powder and Blessing Oil meet new classics like Dream Dust and Stargazer Wishing Oil. Need to rid your house of a troublesome spirit? Try a sprinkle of Ghost-Be-Gone Powder. Looking for a way to get your zest back after spellwork? Brim With Vim Vitality Oil might be just the thing. Over 200 original formulae await you within these pages, along with helpful hints, safety tips, and detailed instructions for creating your own magical powders and oils.
Collected for the first time in a single volume, these recipes are the product of twelve years of experience and much experimentation. While magic is never a guarantor of success, the potions within these pages just might give your spells the edge you need.
Amazon / CreateSpace
Note: If purchasing my books from Amazon, please be sure to purchase directly from Amazon and not from unverified third party sellers. For the surest guarantee that the author will receive payment, purchase these books from their CreateSpace Direct listings. I am an independent author and royalties put bread on my table.
Thank you for your support! :)



I promised to share the sources that inspired my Oswald Cobblepot nail art, so here they are. The step-by-step penguin nails came from here: http://confettiavenue.com/penguin-nail-art/
(The tutorial there says to use a ‘dotting tool’, but I just brushed polish onto the end of a toothpick. To do the stripes and the stem of the umbrella, I brushed up the side of the toothpick.)
The purple umbrella nails were both from pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453808099932669718/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453808099932638801
(Also, in case you missed my original post with my Oswald nails, here it is: https://alfhildr-the-word-weaver.tumblr.com/post/180302544865/so-i-did-some-oswald-cobblepot-inspired-nail-art )
Sources
From the New York Public Library
Vignette pour L'éclipse, sonnet d'Auguste Vacquerie.
Total eclipse of the sun: Observed July 29, 1878, at Creston, Wyoming Territory
Unidentified Model in advertisement for Lucky Strike cigarettes
From the Smithsonian Museum
Great Silas at Night

Et Obscuratus Est Ad by @achillbreezeandbreakingwaves
I'm posting for the first time in a couple years (yikes) because I was Inspired™ by a comment in @santapau's* discord server.
Image source links will go into the reblog!
*creator of the fantastic The Secret Knots webcomic, seriously check it out.
I have never seen any of said evidence, could you possibly direct me to a proven source? Preferably a study? Thank you
trying to prove a point to 95% of the world
reblog this if its ok for men to wear:
make up
dresses
nailpolish
hair extentions
perfume
jewelry
dye their hair
dress like femals
be feminine
do anything feminine












I was getting pretty fed up with links and generators with very general and overused weapons and superpowers and what have you for characters so:
Here is a page for premodern weapons, broken down into a ton of subcategories, with the weapon’s region of origin.
Here is a page of medieval weapons.
Here is a page of just about every conceived superpower.
Here is a page for legendary creatures and their regions of origin.
Here are some gemstones.
Here is a bunch of Greek legends, including monsters, gods, nymphs, heroes, and so on.
Here is a website with a ton of (legally attained, don’t worry) information about the black market.
Here is a website with information about forensic science and cases of death. Discretion advised.
Here is every religion in the world.
Here is every language in the world.
Here are methods of torture. Discretion advised.
Here are descriptions of the various methods used for the death penalty. Discretion advised.
Here are poisonous plants.
Here are plants in general.
Feel free to add more to this!
as the #1 von steuben fan, can you reccomend me some good sources on his life? (would be great if they acknowledged his sexuality but im pretty desperate at this point)
love ya <3
AYYYY OKAY
First of all I'm so honored
So here's some book recommendations first:
Washington's Gay General
Okay, I admit, at first I wasn't sure about this, but it was actually pretty accurate. It did miss out some details that disappointed me, but overall an actually good source, so I recommend! (About 1-2 hour read)
The drillmaster of Valley Forge
This is a 352 page biography by Paul Lockhart. It's pretty standard and DOES mention his sexuality, think the style of John Laurens' biography if it wasn't written by a southern conservative. So yeah, I recommend! (About a day or two, if you have enough time.)
Du Ponceau's autobiography
Look, I KNOW everyone is talking about this. I KNOW everyone is hyping this up, but try it. Just- I- try it. Its mostly pretty boy trying to find out how America works, but Von Steuben is nonetheless prominent.
AND YUH!
EDIT: I AM BACKK!!!!
I also recommend "General Von Steuben" by John Palmer! It's actually great, but it does, unfortunately, dismiss his sexuality. This is, however, by far the best biography I've found so far.
(I'm also thinking of submitting some short little biography to some website or whatever, if you want more than lemme know, I am SO HONOURED to help. If you want more concise sources besides books, OF COURSE. I AM HERE TO HELP OMFG I LOVE YALL♥️♥️🌎)