Tessera

Morpheus Ravenna

@morpheusravenna.bsky.social

Part time werewolf, full time screeching banshee. Artist, ritual tattooist, author, Celtic polytheist. Queer, genderfluid, feminist, antifascist & antiracist. Huchiun/Oakland. LAND BACK. sí / hir #art #tattoo #author https://bio.site/banshee

1633 Posts1177 Follower 643 Folgt

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 3d ago

Imperialism story: 1st c. CE, a Celtic (Catuvellauni) chieftain named probably Karadeg (Recorded as Caratacus) resisted the Romans for almost a decade, was ultimately defeated was dragged to Rome where he said: "You who have got such possessions & so many of them, still covet our poor huts?"

Flint Dibble @flintdibble.bsky.social · 5d ago

Everyone's comparing Nolan's Odyssey to Homer, but I think there's much more richness The ancient Greeks adapted the Odyssey into ART While these images might appear static to us, I want to walk through how an ancient Greek saw art: AS DYNAMIC STORYTELLING like our films 1/13

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley @pressley.house.gov · 6d ago

Odyssey this. Odyssey that. We Odyssey ICE abolished.

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 6d ago

This is SO FKN COOL

T. Thorn Coyle they/them@thorncoyle.bsky.social · 6d ago

“The object appeared before my eyes as if through a fog,” Wiśniewski says. “My vision blurred. I looked again and thought, ‘I can’t believe it.’” That is some real magical folklore stuff right there. Nerds rule. www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a...

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 6d ago

Thank you @thorncoyle.bsky.social for these kind words about INK & BLADE. Production news: I just saw a sneak preview of the book's visual design & it's looking gorgeous. I can't wait for y'all to get it! Coming Jan 2027 - pre-order now from @llewellynbooks.bsky.social or wherever you buy books.

“Ink and Blade is a fascinating study of the history of tattooing and its relationship to culture, personal identity, initiation, and ritual. This work offers an intelligent exploration of an art form which celebrates the human body, rooted in the earth, and dancing with realms both seen and unseen.”
- T. Thorn Coyle, author of Stars of Power

Book cover with ornamental filigree in wine and peach colors against black.
Text reads:
Ink & Blade: The History & Sacred Rites of Tattoo Art, Morpheus Ravenna

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 6d ago

Fantastic essay: How Art Invented Humanity #artsky aeon.co/essays/human...

What I mean here is that art did not serve to express a humanity that already existed. Rather, it acted as the mirror we needed to catch sight of our own image in the flux of nature. The question of when humans invented art leads us to imagine early humans much like ourselves, deciding one day to express themselves through symbols and figures. The assumption hidden in the question is that they already had minds like ours and simply chose, out of all the things they might have done on a frigid day in the Ice Age, to pick up ochre and make animal pictures. But the evidence, it seems to me, points the other way: it was the practice of making images, repeated over hundreds of generations, that occasioned the emergence of those minds we take for granted. We are putting the cart before the horse when we understand ourselves as the source of sense and meaning. In reality, we are participants in something that exceeds us, and the aesthetic, poetic dimension of great art reconnects us with that excess as a matter of course.

Jared Pechaček @vandroidhelsing.bsky.social · last wk.

Medusa but her hair is an anaconda

Medusa with a single anaconda for hair. She wears a grey chiton and stubbornly strides to the left, dragging the heavy snake, which trails sullenly along behind

Medusa with a single anaconda for hair. It is completely coiled around her, leaving only her angry yellow eyes visible, and a single hand lifted to flip off the world

Medusa with a single anaconda for hair. She wears a grey towel and is scrubbing the snake. A bar of soap sits in a small puddle off to the left

Medusa with a single anaconda for hair. She sits, drumming her fingers impatiently, while in the background the anaconda digests some large prey

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last wk.

These gorgeously produced fantasy novels from @thorncoyle.bsky.social are on Kickstarter now! Go get some! www.kickstarter.com/projects/tho...

The Rhymer Of Ash Grove: Contemporary Fantasy Deluxe Omnibus

Enter a world where Elfland meets the human realm, fantasy dances with folklore, and magic is in the water...

kickstarter.com

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last wk.

Worth re-sharing this great resource - it’s a compilation of articles, links, resources on the harms and problems with AI, in a shareable document, organized by impact area, with xtra tabs for scholarly stuff, accessible stuff, and action items. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Questioning AI Resource List

Excellent summary of major problems with companies’ focus on AI written by expert in machine learning: https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/i-will-fucking-piledrive-you-if-you-mention-ai-again/ The AI Re...

docs.google.com

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last wk.

New open scholarly book on sacred tattooing both historical & contemporary. Tattooing practices of Jewish, Egyptian, Greek, Iranian, Andean, Mesoamerican, Finnish cultures. Lots of great stuff here. Open access = free to download the whole book! www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edi...

Exploring Sacred Ink | Tattooing, Identity, and Belonging | Alinda Dam

Interrogating a rich array of archaeological, textual, and visual sources, Exploring Sacred Ink reveals how tattooing and sacredness are intertwined, from the

taylorfrancis.com

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last wk.

A lovely endorsement for INK & BLADE from friend, fellow tattoo artist & medievalist @stevielichous.bsky.social of Tattoo Boogaloo. INK & BLADE will be out January 2027, and you can pre-order now from @llewellynbooks.bsky.social or wherever you order books! #tattoo #witchsky #pagansky #booksky

“Morpheus’ work offers a fascinating look at the history of tattooing and ritual across cultures of the ancient world. It blends rich historical detail with meaningful insights into the traditions behind body art and fantastic tips on how to bring ritual into modern practice. Engaging, well-researched, and thoughtfully written, it’s an excellent read for anyone interested in the history of tattooing or curious about creating a sacred experience in modern times.”
- Stevie Varin, tattoo artist and medievalist

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 2w ago

My weirdest accomplishment is successfully talking the USFWS into giving me back a witchcraft artifact made from prohibited avian bones after Border Patrol seized it at the Canadian border, even tho I had no legal standing to own it or get it back. +

Gail Simone@gailsimone.bsky.social · 2w ago

Okay, my QUESTION OF THE DAY is… What is your weirdest actual accomplishment? Not the biggest necessarily…but the weirdest?

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 2w ago

Thank you to my dear friend and colleague River Devora for this lovely endorsement. INK & BLADE will be in print January 2027 - available now for pre-order from @llewellynbooks.bsky.social or wherever you order books! #tattoo #witchsky #pagansky #books

“Part academic text, part ritual manual, Ravenna's deep reverence and respect for the subject matter shines through every page. I have never read a book quite like this before amd I found it fascinating. This is a must-read for anyone interested in tattoo history or in ritual and magic.”
- River Devora, co-founder, House of Apples

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 2w ago

LOL

Gingerspiced@gingerspiced.bsky.social · 3w ago

Pete Hegseth: "We need our warriors to embrace the Spartan mindset" U.S. Military: *suffers crushing defeat to the Persians*

Johnnie Jae @johnniejae.bsky.social · 3w ago

For anyone asking how to help: Donate to True North Aid to assist Remote Indigenous Wildfire Evacuees - truenorthaid.ca/donate/ & Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Response: Donations an7gc.ca/donate/

Donate - True North Aid | Canadian Charity Supporting Indigenous Communities

Donate to True North Aid's general fund and support Indigenous-led and community initiatves in remote communities.

truenorthaid.ca

Jack Grimes @jackapedia.design · 3w ago

Furious that Chris Nolan would disregard historical accuracy in adapting The Odyssey by making a "movie" with "cameras" instead of memorizing the entire story and then going on a nationwide tour to sing it to us while tripping on ergotized barley

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 3w ago

I'm so honored by this endorsement from Nataša Ilinčić @natasailincic.bsky.social. It's always amazing to have your work praised by someone you admire! Thanks Nataša 💙 INK & BLADE is available now for pre-order from @llewellynbooks.bsky.social. #tattoo #witchsky #pagansky

"Ravenna sets an ambitious scope, and executes it masterfully. Ink and Blade delves into the ancient art of tattooing, enriching carefully researched academic knowledge with lived expertise and wisdom. The result is a deeply human book that doesn’t shy away from complex topics such as dynamics of power, identity, sacredness, and body sovereignty. Ink and Blade will have a treasured place on my bookshelf, and book purists will have to forgive the numerous marginalia and underlined text that will mark (how fitting) my copy."
- Nataša Ilinčić, illustrator, author, & anthropologist

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 3w ago

I just backed this Irish mythology RPG on Kickstarter! It looks awesome. @bibdu.bsky.social www.kickstarter.com/projects/rat...

Bibdu - Irish Mythology RPG

Hand-painted RPG set in Ancient Ireland where you unravel myths and legends through open world exploration and strategic card battles.

kickstarter.com

Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · 4w ago

NEW Best known as the mythological capital of Ulster, Navan Fort was one of the five ancient capitals of Ireland. New research finds the landscape's significance stretches all the way back to the Bronze Age, indicating it was a major prehistoric centre. #AntiquityThread 1/12 🧵 🏺 #Archaeology

Aerial view of a green landscape, annotated with the locations of three Bronze Age features no longer visible (Haughey's Fort, The King's Stables & Tray Bog).

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 4w ago

FFS. Heads up.

WIRED@wired.com · 4w ago

As part of Meta’s Muse Image model rollout, Instagram users with public accounts need to opt out to block AI generations of their content. www.wired.com/story/meta-n...

frank: print witch @mxfrankduffy.bsky.social · last mo.

ICYMI I have a new skull / crow / mugwort print available in my shop, for the skull / crow / mugwort fans out there. This one's called "birth" shop.frankduffy.co.uk/product/skul... #art #skull #crow #herbalism

a little square linoprint of a mugwort leaf emerging from a cracked human skull. Two crows either side.

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last mo.

I’ve been seeing tattoo clients come in with these too. They present an AI generated visual concept of their tattoo idea and then expect me to just trace or redraw it so it doesn’t look like AI. I try to be polite about this but as an artist it does not feel good to be approached this way.

Yorgos Cotronis@cotronis.bsky.social · last mo.

A nightmare scenario I didn't quite expect: I get clients that say they already have the "art" ready (AI generated), they just want it re-done by a human. So they want to essentially "wash" the AI generated trash so they don't get any flack for it.

That Immigrant Witch 🏳️‍🌈🇹🇷🇻🇪@elhoimleafar.bsky.social · last mo.

Direct Relief. I really don’t have too many words right now, if you are able to donate anything, even $5 to help the people in #Venezuela after the twin earthquakes, here below is the link. You can also share this post to help raise more donations. Thanks ❤️‍🩹 👉🏼 www.directrelief.org/2026/06/vene...

That Immigrant Witch 🏳️‍🌈🇹🇷🇻🇪@elhoimleafar.bsky.social · last mo.

Hey beautiful people ♥️🇻🇪 My country was hit yesterday by two catastrophic earthquakes, one after another, without time to recover. If anyone knows about any good organizations like *Direct Relief* receiving donations to help people in #Venezuela after that. Please let me know. Thank YOU ❤️‍🩹🇻🇪

Coru Cathubodua Priesthood @corupriesthood.bsky.social · last mo.

New blog post addressing the question of discernment regarding omens. 🖤🐦‍⬛ corupriesthood.com/mpg/omens #TheMorrigan #IrishPolytheism #IrishPaganism

Image description: a top-down view of a desk scattered with parchment, pen, candles, and other vaguely pagan-ish paraphernalia. Text says, "Personal practice blog post. How do I know whether or not something is a sign or omen from the Morrigan?" with the URL of corupriesthood.com/mpg/omens. End image description.

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last mo.

Delighted with these magical new author photos, crafted by the brilliant Trevor Tarin. Thank you so much for your skill and artistry in capturing the best of me.

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · last mo.

This looks so fun!

Úna-Minh's ✨ Open to Work ✨@unaminh.bsky.social · last mo.

Foraging, Irish folklore, and so much more to come. Today, a new build for the @goodfolkcafe.bsky.social demo has been published. Check it out! not-here-not-there.itch.io/goodfolkcafe #ireland #irish #gamedev

Morpheus Ravenna @morpheusravenna.bsky.social · 2mo ago

This game is SO COOL I’m addicted

Matthew@mapoochoo.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Met put its entire collection online for free so I made a game out of it! 10 artifacts a day, and you guess where and when each one's from. Anthropeum.com if anyone wants to give it a shot and leave feedback :) #history #archeology #arthistory #museums

Dr. Damien P. Williams has to go the way his blood beats @wolven.blacksky.app · 2mo ago

Dave Eggers, on NPR's Wildcard with Rachel Martin: www.npr.org/2026/06/11/n...

"This is the first time in history when a whole generation is being told or tempted to have a machine write for them to express themselves. But I say like you are one of one unprecedented in the history of human evolution. There's only one of you. …There's never been you in Ever, and there never will be another one of you. So to give your voice to a machine, to say 'speak for me, I'm going to be silent and I'm going to tell a machine to express myself or to tell my narrative,' is such a crime against yourself.

"It's so dystopian, beyond anything I could do in a dystopian novel— and I did a lot; I never saw this coming— would be an entire generation tempted and too many of them acquiescing to the the silencing of their own voice in favor of a bland unthinking machine to voice their souls.

"But if you can tell them, 'even your roughest drafts, even your most disjointed seeming thoughts are going to be valid; and your voice is essential; the human chorus is incomplete without your voice; and I'm going to listen to whatever you say, even the rough drafts, whatever; I want those; I want to see it all," then we can make sure that that they're heard and that they feel like there are humans out there that want to hear that voice and not the machine processed voice.

"…Good lord, we're at a really scary time, you know, but every adult has to be that person. Every teacher, every parent has to be the one saying, 'Do not do this.' Your voice is the only thing that you have naturally. It's the one thing that nobody can replace. So let's hear your truth. Even if it's raw, even if it's unpolished, even if it doesn't come in the five paragraph essay or whatever. Like, let's let's have it straight from you."

Anato Finnstark @anatofinnstark.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Witcher