"Nilvester and the Magic Pebble" is a charming children's book written and illustrated by William Steig. It tells the story of a young donkey named Nilvester, who stumbles upon a magic pebble that grants wishes. In the beginning of the story, Nilvester discovers the magic pebble while taking a walk one day. Excited by its powers, he wishes for various things such as a green thumb, delicious food, and even the ability to fly. However, when he wishes to become a rock to try and prevent a lion from eating him, the magic pebble accidentally turns him into an actual rock. The transformation leaves Nilvester stuck and unable to move or communicate with others.

Your Witch Character and their Worship Choice (or lack thereof)

Even though Witches get their powers from a mysterious patron, how many of you still have your witch worship a deity as well? Especially if that deity is not said patron.

Basically, what are your Witch's religious beliefs?

Even though Witches get their powers from a mysterious patron, how many of you still have your witch worship a deity as well? Especially if that deity is not said patron.

Basically, what are your Witch's religious beliefs?

I could see a patron and the Witch worshipping the same god.

Through a series of early RP events, my Witch character started her career as a worshipper of Calistria. In order to respond to the Vengeance portion of Calistria's influence, my DM and I crafted a Patron set from whom my character receives her powers:

Vengeance: 2nd—inflict light wounds, 4th—feast of ashes, 6th—pain strike, 8th—fear, 10th—suffocation, 12th—flesh to stone, 14th—harm, 16th—destruction, 18th—wail of the banshee

My current PFS witch is a Cheliax aligned male Ulfen that worships Aroden. I am waiting until Paizo releases more fluff for the Ulfen (or Shoanti) before I determine the nature of his Elements patron.

Male Viking witches . because Baba Yaga needs some competition.

I could see a patron and the Witch worshipping the same god.

I can see an even larger case of the patron claiming that they worship the same god.

I mean, you've got the not-yet witch praying to Calistria for revenge against her former lover. Enter some entity that claims to be working for Calistria, and that it was sent by Calistria in answer to her prayers, and they just need to set up relations so the woman can become a witch, get a familiar, and learn a few hexes so she can go about that revenge business herself.

It's up to the GM whether the patron actually does work for Calistria, but if regular people in the physical world can lie about who they are and what they serve--if anything aside from themselves--there should be nothing stopping mysterious entities from doing the same thing, apart from the regular risks inherent in saying you're an agent of the Goddess of Revenge when you're actually not. That said, if Calistria doesn't have time or interest in smiting every two-bit charlatan or fake love philter seller, she probably won't get around to auditing a bunch of nebulous spirits who chat with women who like cats.

Of course, one expects that your average witch's patron isn't going to give a straight answer to most questions. Let it tell the witch "I heard your prayers." If asked "Are you Calistria?" have it answer "I answer to many names. That one will do as well as any."

It's not like your average which is going to conducting a lengthy interview process with prospective patrons.

By the same token, even if the patron is actually evil, it shouldn't start hissing like some Chick Tract pantomime devil "You foolish girl! You're supposed to serve Asmodeus, for he is our true master and yours as well!" I mean, what happens to "mysterious"?

Who's to say the deity and the patron aren't one and the same? I could see deities using witches as a more subtle way to advance their agenda.

I can see an even larger case of the patron claiming that they worship the same god.

I like this even better! ;)

My Chelish(is that right?) witch Angela had no deity for a long time. Just recently she accompanied some fellow pathfinders into a dungeon to stop some followers of Zyphus. She was so impressed by this deity that she decided to convert. She leveled up afterwards and I decided it was only fitting that she take the misfortune hex. Her patron is agility though, which looked interesting so I took it, but nothing to do with accidents. So she has an agile patron and a god of accidents. Any suggestions?

My Chelish(is that right?) witch Angela had no deity for a long time. Just recently she accompanied some fellow pathfinders into a dungeon to stop some followers of Zyphus. She was so impressed by this deity that she decided to convert. She leveled up afterwards and I decided it was only fitting that she take the misfortune hex. Her patron is agility though, which looked interesting so I took it, but nothing to do with accidents. So she has an agile patron and a god of accidents. Any suggestions?

Actually, that's kind of interesting, as the witch is agile enough to avoid misfortunes herself.

Haha. I had not thought of it like that KnighterrantJr. So rocks fall by "accident" and everyone dies, except for my witch who just happened to have her jump spell cast on her and leaps to safety. This is going to get interesting.

I could see a patron and the Witch worshipping the same god.

I can see an even larger case of the patron claiming that they worship the same god.

I mean, you've got the not-yet witch praying to Calistria for revenge against her former lover. Enter some entity that claims to be working for Calistria, and that it was sent by Calistria in answer to her prayers, and they just need to set up relations so the woman can become a witch, get a familiar, and learn a few hexes so she can go about that revenge business herself.

It's up to the GM whether the patron actually does work for Calistria, but if regular people in the physical world can lie about who they are and what they serve--if anything aside from themselves--there should be nothing stopping mysterious entities from doing the same thing, apart from the regular risks inherent in saying you're an agent of the Goddess of Revenge when you're actually not. That said, if Calistria doesn't have time or interest in smiting every two-bit charlatan or fake love philter seller, she probably won't get around to auditing a bunch of nebulous spirits who chat with women who like cats.

Of course, one expects that your average witch's patron isn't going to give a straight answer to most questions. Let it tell the witch "I heard your prayers." If asked "Are you Calistria?" have it answer "I answer to many names. That one will do as well as any."

It's not like your average which is going to conducting a lengthy interview process with prospective patrons.

By the same token, even if the patron is actually evil, it shouldn't start hissing like some Chick Tract pantomime devil "You foolish girl! You're supposed to serve Asmodeus, for he is our true master and yours as well!" I mean, what happens to "mysterious"?

I love this! Great stuff, Kevin.

Which Golarion deities would support and encourage a Witch-Hunter Inquisitor among their faithful?

I'm putting together a Witch Hunter Inquisitor with the Black Powder Inquisition for an Adventure Path campaign, but I'm not quite sure which gods would be particularly interested in counting a zealous opponent of 'black magic and foul sorcery' (defined much more broadly than is the norm around Golarion. ) within their ranks? Even better if it's a deity for whom Black Powder makes sense as well, though I suspect I can justify that under any faith with some biographical gymnastics. Edit: I guess I wasn't sufficiently clear; what throws me is trying to design a character who is inherently suspicious and distrustful of the arcane in broad strokes, while still being tied to the worship of one of the deities in a world which is so thoroughly magical. None of them really scream out as being particularly good places for 'militant suspicion' in quite the same way as, say. the Faerunian Triad could. I'm looking for a deity where it'd be perfectly normal for a devout follower to vaguely acknowledge that there might somewhere in the world, be a wizard who isn't evil. but doubts it. What faith would a character like this most likely find themselves enmeshed in?

• pathfinder-1e
• religions-and-deities
• golarion

\$\begingroup\$ That's still not very clear. So are you looking for a good god? Or any god that's against arcane magic? What location (there's a lot of Asian gods that won't make a lot of sense in Varisia)? What AP? There's a lord of Abaddon that has gunpowder in his portfolio, is that on target? Please help us help you by giving more context. Including empyreal lords and loa and whatnot there's hundreds of extant Golarion deities. \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ Part of the problem is that I'm not entirely sure. :P Waiting on the DM to make up his mind between Reign of Winter, Iron Gods, and Wrath of the Righteous. As for alignment, I'm comfortable working with any non-evil generally. \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ What would your character do if another character in the party is a sorcerer? Being against arcane magic in any form (which is how I read your question) is reasonable, so long as everyone else you'll be playing with is on board with it. \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ Not trust him until he earns it; it's really no different from the paladin being in a party with a thief -- a delicate, but by no means intractable situation. \$\endgroup\$

How to Choose a Patron Deity

Choosing a patron deity can be a big deal: it’s like choosing your witchy mentor, you go-to god/goddess, shaping your spiritual life for years to come. Your patron can be a powerful source of spiritual insight and development.

I’ve been asked a LOT about this over the years, and I remember my own frenzied worries about finding a Patron Deity back in my baby witchcraft days.

So if it’s a path you are drawn to, here is pretty much everything I know on finding and connecting with your Patron Deity.

What is a Patron Deity?

A Patron Deity is your Main Deity. You go-to Goddess. Your Main Man. The one who guides you. The one who will weave your path with you. The one who is always a big player in your spiritual practice.

They are your Cosmic Teacher.

They are a powerful link with the energy of the Divine.

I find that my Patron Deity nudges and shifts my life around so that I can learn Her lessons and learn Her skills. They have a certain say when it comes to your spiritual progress and what you learn along the way.

As you work with a Patron, the energy of their archetype rubs off on you: a devotee of Venus will find probably herself encountering themes of sensuality and the arts in her life, a devotee of Brigid will probably end up as a healer of some kind.

To an extent, you take on the energy of that Deity, and while you work with them you will be challenged to learn their skills.

Most people end up with a kind of deity or archetype they like to work with, usually correlating with their current life’s passion or calling. It’s just kind of natural.

If you are a homebody and a devout home-maker, it makes sense that someone like Hestia would be the sort of Goddess you’d get on with – and it makes sense that a fighty run-for-glory deity like Mars might not be your spiritual bestie.

Once you have a patron deity, it doesn’t mean you are in a monogamous relationship for life. Other deities will still come in and out of your life, depending on what they have got to teach you.

Sometimes you will have more than one Patron Deity, and that’s totally fine!

Do I need a Patron Deity?

Nope, you don’t need one.

I find that Patron Deities appeal most to people who interact with the Gods on a personal basis: by that I mean they are fascinated by the many different personalities and expressions of the Divine through mythological gods, and connect strongly with the Divine through Their individual facets and stories.

It’s just a way of looking at divinity that works for some people.

Can I work with a Deity without them being my Patron Deity?

Of course! I work with Venus all the time, but I wouldn’t say She was my Patron Goddess. You don’t have to make that commitment to work with a Deity, you can still have an awesome working relationship outside of Patron Goddess-ness.

How do I find my Patron Deity?

Finding your Patron is great fun, because it’s like dating. You get to know a whole bunch of different Gods, so then over time not only do you know what you like and need, but you can be looking for that special feeling of connection. That powerful resonance.

So we start with research. Which pantheons are you into? Who calls to you? Who are you fascinated by?

It’s time to have fun and start learning and researching about lots of different gods and goddesses. Read up about Gods and Goddesses you were always interested in and drawn to.

What IS the deal with Hanuman? Is there more to Freya than sex and jewelry?

Start flirting with the ones who catch your eye. Read their mythologies. Look up artwork of them on Pinterest. Maybe join a course to learn about them, or read a book and do some ritual for them.

You could get one of those books with loads of different rituals to different goddesses or gods and see who you vibe with – Michelle Sky does some cute ones in her Goddess Alive! series, and there is a great illustrated mythology book by Kris Waldherr called The Book of Goddesses which is GORGEOUS.

Basically, your hunt for a Patron is a wonderful excuse to pop to the library or spend some time getting books off Amazon, which is awesome cos us pagans LOVE reading and buying books!

Over time, you will meet Gods and Goddesses you are really into: you can try connecting with them, doing ritual with them, feeling them out and seeing if there is a long tern connection there.

How will I know when I have found my Patron?

It depends. You will probably just feel it. You might be magnetically pulled to one Deity, or just get crazy excited when you see or read about them, or get chills when you think of them.

You might just decide it. You might read about a God and just decide – Yes. That’s the one for me. You might just have a favourite Goddess and decide, Her please.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be all burning bushes and sacred signs from the heavens. Don’t think you have to wait for some super magical showy sign to “prove” you are making the correct choice and that you are “right”. Trust yourself.

In fact, I get really excited about the power of Choice.

Choice is the true power of the witch: knowing oneself, making decisions for oneself, not giving away our strength and power to something outside of us.

We don’t passively hand away our responsibility and power to Fate or Destiny, waiting for something else to decide our future for us. Nope.

Can you make a wrong decision?

I don’t know about that. If your heart is open and earnest, if you are walking into a relationship with a deity centred on love rather than what you can get out of it, I think you are good.

(Again, it’s the same as human relationships. Going out with someone cos you like them is good. Going out with someone cos they have a nice car and a beach house is…. less good.)

Who is your Patron Deity, Demi?

My Patron, my girl, is Morgan le Fey, and it’s been that way for over a decade.

My life seems to be full of challenges so I can step into who She wants me to be. I found her in a book when I was 17 and naively dedicated to her a very short while later, asking for her to be my Patron, and since then my life has been all about learning Her ways: tapping into my intuition, truth, witchiness, stepping up and working as a Priestess.

I love Her to bits. She feels like home to me. She is the thread that runs through my spiritual practice, tying it all together, pushing me to try certain courses and have certain experiences.

However, in the last year and a bit I have been working a lot with the energies of the Love Goddesses – Aphrodite, Rhiannon and Venus – and I feel there is a strong important truth there too.

In my practice, every now and again I do deep work with Yemanja and Oshun. It’s not like it’s just one Goddess for life and that’s it: you are not betraying your Patron by talking to other goddesses every now and again!

And also, I tend to work with Goddesses a lot more than I work with Gods, but despite my chronic lack of God Knowledge in this article Patron Deities can be Gods or Goddesses.

What do I do when I have found my Patron?

Tell them they are great and start including them in your life! It’s time to connect with them. and build a relationship with them.

How do I connect with my Patron Deity?

How do you connect deeply with anything? You love them.

You offer them your devotion, your passion and commitment: take time to hang out with them, think of them in your day to day life, chat to them in the mornings, leave them offerings, play their favourite songs, read books about them… you bring their energy into your life.

Relationships are not a one way street. You don’t get the good stuff without putting in a little effort, without paying attention, without showing up. You gotta work for it.

Good news is though, it won’t feel like work. If you have chosen a patron deity who you are head over heels for and super excited about, meditating with them, leaving them offerings, drawing little pictures and playing music that reminds you of them or whatever it is you are up to is going to be so much fun! You are going to want to do it!

Here we are getting back to the love thing. If you love your deity, you are going to have the best time connecting with them and you are going to want to do it lots.

How do I love a Deity?

Mainly, you just pay them attention. Here are some ideas.

• – Talk to them. Pray to them. Tell them what’s going on.
• – Tell them how great they are and why you like them so much. All deities like tha
• – Leave them offerings every day
• – Play music you think they would like or that reminds you of them
• – Cultivate an altar for your Deity
• – Create a Pinterest Board for them
• – Meditate with them
• – Draw pictures of them
• – Write poems for them
• – Connect with their energy daily
• – Consecrate an activity to them

Of course, each individual deity has their own activities that they are master of, so of course you can do those too!

If Artemis is your patron, nature walks could be a part of your devotion to Her – maybe you could have a go at archery too.

If Venus is your patron, you could honour Her by eating dinner by candlelight, savouring every bite.

If Yemanja is your patron, you could honour Her by taking sea salt baths and donating to Ocean Conservation charities.

If Hecate is your patron, you could leave her offerings at the cross roads, or start learning the Tarot in Her honour.

Use your imagination! There is so much fun to be had here!

What if I choose my Deity but no magical freaky stuff happens?

When I dedicated to my Patron, I was disappointed and I thought it hadn’t worked because I was expecting some magical super flashy sign to show up like: I dunno, books with the words “Morgan le Fey” would fall on me in bookshops, or I would have an inpromptu vision in the supermarket, or I would hear voices.

Thing is, back then I wasn’t the kind of person that heard voices or had visions or got attacked by books, so I was expecting rather a lot!

When this Hollywood-style confirmation didn’t come through, I assumed that Morgan le Fey wasn’t so keen on me, and I decided that it hadn’t worked and she wasn’t my patron. I was bummed, and then didn’t think about it much for a couple of years…

…until later, when I developed my intuition and my Magical Synchronicity-Seeing Eyes, and began to notice books calling my name in bookshops, began to have really clear meditative experiences with Her, and hearing Her clear centred voice when I asked for advice.

And then I noticed all the other little magical synchronicities that had happened in the past that I just had not paid attention to.

If you are expecting a dramatic supernatural occurrence, but have not spent time noticing the ways in which spirit talks to you or developing your intuition or (so importantly) learnt to trust your intuition, how are you going to notice a magical sign?

It’s like anything else. You can’t expect to see beautiful birds in your garden if you never take the time to look outside your window!

How strong are your magical spidey senses? Can you be still enough to hear the subtle whispers of the divine, or are you always running at a mile a minute?

Magic is subtle. It’s not generally flashy: we have to train our eyes to look out for it, to notice magical coincidences and not just sweep them under the rug.

So if you have never noticed a lot of magical synchronicity in your life, or are not the visions-and-big-coincidences sort, don’t expect after devoting to the Morrigan to wake up with a flock of ravens on your front lawn after having a powerful, prophetic dream about Her.

What do I do now I have a Patron Deity?

You work with them. You call on them for support, wisdom and guidance.

You invite them to your rituals and spellcastings. You let them become your strength, your mainline to the Divine. You let them touch your life and transform you in the ways they wish.

I hope this guide was helpful to you! If you have any further questions, or would like to share your own experiences of finding a Patron Detity, ask in the Comments below or pop on over to my Facebook group, The Mermaid Sisterhood, and let’s chat about it!

IN CONCLUSION

If this essay resonates with you, please join our WITCH email list by using the forms on this website so we can stay in touch.

The transformation leaves Nilvester stuck and unable to move or communicate with others. His parents, desperate to find him, search far and wide but are unable to locate their missing son. Nilvester's parents are heartbroken and the entire community joins in the search efforts, painting signs and organizing a search party.

About the Author:

Demi Fox is a modern day Morgan le Fey, a mermaid Priestess, a theatrical goddess and a Venusian pleasure seeker. By day she runs Rockstar Priestess, a website dedicated to badass women’s spirituality and Avalonian goodness, and works as one of the UK’s premier professional mermaids: by night she lights up stages across the lands as a magnetic dancer and award-winning burlesque seductress. She runs courses like Morgan le Fey Mystery School, a lunar initiation to the enchantress Morgan le Fey, and Be More Mermaid, her archetypal mermaid course, and bewitching retreats and rituals in the UK. Join her Mermaid Coven on Facebook, or sign up to her Email List for sexy presents and delicious love letters.

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Months go by, and Nilvester remains trapped as a rock. Eventually, a curious boy named Sylvester (who also happens to be one of Nilvester's cousins) stumbles upon the magic pebble and discovers the truth about Nilvester's fate. With a clever idea, Sylvester makes a wish to have Nilvester back, and the magic pebble grants his wish. Upon turning back into his donkey form, Nilvester is overjoyed and reunites with his family and friends. The community celebrates the miraculous return of Nilvester, and Sylvester is hailed as a hero for his quick thinking and bravery. The story ends with Nilvester and his loved ones realizing the importance of family and cherishing the simple joys of life. "Nilvester and the Magic Pebble" is a heartwarming tale that teaches children about the value of love, family, and the power of hope. It reminds readers that when faced with challenges, it is important to stay positive and embrace the support and love from those around us. The beautiful illustrations and engaging storyline make this book a timeless classic that is enjoyed by both children and adults alike..

Reviews for "The magical rules and limitations surrounding the use of the pebble"

1. Mary Smith - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "Nilvester and the magic pebble" to be completely unoriginal and lacking in creativity. The storyline was predictable and the characters were flat and uninteresting. The illustrations were also lackluster and did not add anything to the overall reading experience. I was really disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

2. John Johnson - 2 out of 5 stars - While "Nilvester and the magic pebble" had a promising premise, I felt that it fell short in its execution. The writing style was repetitive and the pacing was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Additionally, the message of the book felt forced and heavy-handed, lacking subtlety. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not consider it a standout in the genre.

3. Sarah Thompson - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "Nilvester and the magic pebble" to be confusing and hard to follow. The plot seemed disjointed and the transitions between scenes were abrupt. The characters were difficult to connect with and their motivations were unclear. Overall, I did not enjoy reading this book and would not recommend it to others.

4. Mark Davis - 2 out of 5 stars - "Nilvester and the magic pebble" had potential, but it failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The resolution of the story felt too convenient and unrealistic. I would have liked to see more depth and complexity in the characters and their interactions. Overall, this book fell short for me and I wouldn't recommend it.

5. Emily Wilson - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "Nilvester and the magic pebble" to be incredibly boring and unengaging. The plot was predictable and the characters were one-dimensional. The writing lacked creativity and failed to capture my attention. The illustrations were also lackluster and did not add anything to the story. Overall, I would not recommend this book.

The magic pebble's role in transforming Nilvester's ordinary life