Donn

in a sense, my whole experience with the irish pantheon was a path that led me to donn. when I first encountered him I was working with manannan mac lir, who had told me it was time for him to pass me on to someone who would be better for my path, and I was heartbroken. I had really enjoyed my time working with him, but I understood that if he was sure then it was time to move on.

I remember having a strong vision in which manannan mac lir took me by boat far into the sea, where the waters started to turn gray and the sky turned cloudy and dark. I was dropped off an island, dark and misty, surrounded by scraggly trees and the opening to what appeared to be a large, deep cave. here stood a man dressed in black, gaunt and with silver hair and beard, but with very lively dark eyes. he told me his name was donn, and that he wanted to work with me as my patron.

my relationship with donn is very different than with artemis. he is not nurturing, nor is he necessarily kind - being an underworld god he is generally very busy, and is often very blunt. he doesn't sugarcoat anything, and can be very harsh with his lessons. however, he is a strong guardian and provides very sage advice about the world around me, and about confronting, respecting, and harnessing death in every aspect of my path.

my osteomancy set, my true black tarot deck, and my practice with my spirit family are all dedicated to him. he silently watches over every aspect of my work as a death witch, but when he wants to interfere his presence is very strongly felt. he, too, has been watching over me since I was a child, as I interacted with the dead and experienced pieces of it over and over.

I feel honored to work with him as my patron. he's been an essential piece to understanding my place as a death witch and advancing my spirit work skills, and he is a strong protector in that aspect, making sure I retain my confidence and don't risk my health or stretch myself too thin. he may not be friendly or nurturing, but I can feel his pride every time I further my craft, and that alone gives me a lot of strength. he remains a rock in my death work, and I am forever grateful for his presence.