Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among the rolling hills, there lived a little magic maiden named Lily. She was no ordinary girl, for she possessed the gift of magic. From a young age, she had the ability to make flowers bloom with a simple touch and could talk to animals with ease. Lily's days were filled with endless adventures and wonders. She would spend her time exploring the enchanted forest that lay on the outskirts of the village. The forest was a magical place where the trees whispered secrets, and the animals danced in harmony.
Magic for Artists Part 3: Runes, Sigils & More
Welcome back to my Magic for Artists series. If you haven’t read the previous two posts, you should probably do that (I’ll wait here). First there was an intro post, Magic for Artists Part One, that discussed why I think it’s valuable for artists to think about magic and how it can be used as a tool to access our subconscious & our inspiration. After that head to Tarot (and other Decks) for Artists, where I broke down all the things you need to know and should consider if you’re interested in making a Tarot deck—and why your art might be better suited to make a non-tarot deck instead.
Now we’re going to tackle another section of magical thinking, which is how to use symbols to make things happen.
The forest was a magical place where the trees whispered secrets, and the animals danced in harmony. Many villagers would seek Lily's help when they were in need. Whether it was an ailing cow or a lost object, she would use her magic to bring comfort and joy.
Runes
First we have Runes. Runes are symbolic letters or languages that can sometimes be read as language, but are also signifiers of larger concepts. Runes originated in the Germanic tribes of Europe and spread to Scandinavia around the 1st century AD, although there seems to be a connection to the Etruscan alphabet. The most famous set of Runes are Viking Runes. The legend goes that Odin, the leader of the Norse gods, staked himself to a tree for 9 days in exchange for knowledge, which he then passed onto his people. So there’s always been a magical aspect to the Viking Runes. They are the basis of the Futhark Alphabet, which was used for epic poetry and ballads. Runes are often carved on stones or pieces of wood, and used as a divination tool like Tarot cards or Oracle Cards. Each Rune has a meaning, and you can “throw” a handful of runes and see which come up and how they interact. Or you can pick one at a time. Just like we discussed in the Tarot article, the symbols are just things for your subconscious mind to spark over and find patterns in, which the conscious mind can then interpret and use for inspiration.
Anything can be used as a Rune. Some people use Egyptian Hieroglyphs instead of Viking Runes for the same purposes. You can also make up your own Runes, or use letters from existing alphabets. Whatever sparks your subconscious and feels the most interesting is a potential system for you to use.
The villagers admired her for her kind-hearted nature and her willingness to lend a helping hand. As Lily grew older, her magic grew stronger. She could now conjure spells to create protective shields and healing potions. With her newfound abilities, she became the village's guardian, protecting them from any harm that may befall them. But with great power came great responsibility. Lily understood the weight of her magical abilities and vowed to use them for good. She would spend hours in the library, studying ancient spell books and learning from the wise elders of the village. Although Lily was skilled in magic, she never let it go to her head. She remained humble and always remembered to be grateful for her gift. She would often spend her evenings in the village square, performing magic tricks to entertain the children and put a smile on their faces. Word of Lily's remarkable talents spread, and soon, people from neighboring villages would come seeking her help. They would travel for miles just to ask for her guidance or witness her magic. Lily's fame grew, but she never let it distract her from her true purpose – to spread love and kindness through her magic. As the years passed, Lily's magic continued to flourish. She became known as the "Little Magic Maiden" and was revered by all who knew her. Her legacy lived on even after she was gone, as the villagers continued to tell stories of her incredible adventures and the miracles she performed. To this day, the village where Lily once lived remains a place of magic and wonder. People visit hoping to catch a glimpse of the enchantment that once surrounded the Little Magic Maiden. Her spirit lives on in the hearts of those who believe in the power of kindness and the magic that lies within us all..
Reviews for "Embracing Your Inner Little Magic Maiden: Finding Confidence in Yourself"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Little magic maiden" to be a disappointing read. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. Additionally, the writing style was rather dull and failed to captivate my attention. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
- John - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Little magic maiden" based on the positive reviews I had read, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, making it a rather mundane read. I also found the dialogue to be forced and unrealistic. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not consider reading anything else by this author.
- Emma - 1 star - "Little magic maiden" was a complete waste of time for me. The storyline was uninteresting and the characters were extremely cliché. The writing style was also quite poor, with awkward sentence structures and grammatical errors throughout. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Save yourself the boredom and skip this one.
- Thomas - 2 stars - I was let down by "Little magic maiden." The plot was slow-paced and lacked excitement, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and feel there are much better fantasy novels out there to invest your time in.
- Laura - 1 star - Unfortunately, "Little magic maiden" fell short for me. The story felt disjointed and rushed, leaving many loose ends unresolved. The fantasy elements were poorly executed, lacking a sense of magic and wonder. The writing style was also lackluster, failing to create any emotional connection with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it.