The Virgin Mary is one of the most important figures in Catholic religion. Though it did not start out this way, Mary was not meant to be as important as she was but as the Church spread they found that it was hard to pry away the goddesses that people adored so much. While occasionally Jesus or a male Saint would do it was often not enough so the Church began to employ many female saints and none more so than The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. A myriad of Madonnas, Mary's, Marias, and Our Lady of X spawned across not just Europe but everywhere the church went. As Mary was placed over the top her imagery also resembled that of the gods she covered up. A bright sun to cover up a sun god, Mary Undoer of Knots to cover up Zisa, Maria Schnee for Holle, a fairy tale goddess becomes a fairy tale Mary in our Ladys Child, Devana is hidden as Our Lady of Thunder Candle, and so on. Even to this day as the visage of Mary has been contorted to appear more like our deities, many Marian visions could be our gods.-TLK

Prison as we think of it in the modern day is an invention of the Church. It was created so that people can repent and "come to christ". In Northern Europe before the modern prison system, we had various forms of punishment if need be including Weregild, Duels, Thralldom (Not equivalent to slavery that's another post though), Exile, Outlaw status, or execution. While this may seem more harsh it is in fact far less harsh and there were often many variations and work arounds. But any lengthy prison sentence in the modern day is essentially just a slow motion death sentence. People just want them "Out of the way" and in reality depending on the crime execution, weregild, and/or exile is more than sufficient. While we argue that Prison is for rehabilitation, this is certainly not the case especially in western Europe and America, where this old recruitment tool of the church is now being used by Islam. In the end prison is far more a political tool of the ruling class and has nothing to do with justice.-TLK

Throughout Europe there are many gods of Wind. In the Greek tradition the Anemoi or 8 gods of the winds often bringing changes in weather such as Boreas bringing cold winds and Zephyr bringing fructifying winds. In Scandinavia Njordr is the god of wind, trade, and wealth, releasing the winds from his bag. While in the Slavic lands Stribog calls the winds with his horn and it is said his children make up the winds and will often be the ones change out the goddesses Vesna and Morena. Like Njordr he is also associated with wealth and called "The Giver of Riches". Across much of European lore the Wild Hunt brings storms and rides the winds. Gods such as Wode a giant fertility god, and spirits such as Grimhounds come on the wind delivering gifts and fertility. In many of the tales involving the wind gods they invoke change of situation or the world around them. Whether that be through seasonal change or through the betterment of situation. One could say that the Winds of Change obey these many gods of wind.-TLK

Simona Kossak

Simona Kossak was a Polish biologist, and animal advocate. She was said to have lived in a house in the forest with a lynx that slept in her bed and a pet crow named Korasek that would often terrorize and steal from people. Taking card keys, money, permits, and attacking people walking or riding bikes. Her interactions and care for animals would lead to many of them being loyal friends with her. One such animal was Żabka a rather large female boar Simona had raised since she was a day old, and that walked beside her and guarded her not unlike a dog. Even asking for pets and rubs. She also had a herd or "Pack" of deer that she cared for and would follow her around. She was a staunch advocate of animals and fought to defend the Lynxes and Wolves of Poland's oldest forests. This odd life style led many to call her a witch. Though perhaps in the oldest terms of the word they were not far off, as there is something magical about the way in which she lived.