#(rather than any deep introspection on root causes)

[sensualnoiree]

astro notes: daily transits & horoscopes 10/20

Sunday brings stormy relationship dynamics as the Libra Sun makes a tricky quincunx to Neptune, creating confusion and misalignment between personal needs and the expectations of others. This aspect could lead to misunderstandings or unrealistic assumptions within partnerships. Later in the evening, the Sun’s sesquiquadrate with Saturn forces us to confront hard truths about unhealthy relational patterns, such as codependency or avoidance of responsibility. Conversations might turn serious around late morning when the Gemini Moon squares Saturn, creating a mood of introspection and emotional restraint. However, there is a glimmer of optimism late at night as the Moon approaches a conjunction with expansive Jupiter, which can bring a sense of hope and renewed perspective just after midnight.

Rising Sign Delineations:

Aries Rising Sunday’s Sun-Neptune quincunx falls in your 7th house of partnerships, making it difficult to align your desires with those of your significant other. You might feel like you're walking on eggshells, trying to figure out what your partner truly wants, yet misjudging their intentions. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate later asks you to reevaluate any unhealthy patterns in your relationships—whether you're giving too much or not holding yourself accountable enough. A serious conversation around the Moon-Saturn square could arise in your 3rd house of communication. Luckily, the approaching Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 9th house will provide a mental shift, offering a sense of hope and clarity.

Taurus Rising The Sun in your 6th house of daily routines quincunx Neptune in your 11th house suggests that balancing personal needs with the expectations of friends or colleagues may be challenging today. It’s easy to over-commit to a cause or take on more work than you can realistically manage. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate will force you to confront areas where you may be sacrificing too much in your work-life balance. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 2nd house of finances may bring up concerns about your financial stability, but the Moon’s approach to Jupiter in your 8th house hints at a breakthrough regarding shared resources or investments.

Gemini Rising With the Sun in your 5th house of creativity and pleasure quincunx Neptune in your 10th house of career, you may find it difficult to balance your personal desires for fun and fulfillment with the demands of your public life or professional image. You might feel torn between pursuing your passions and meeting the expectations of those in authority. Later, the Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate will ask you to assess any co-dependent patterns in your romantic or creative pursuits. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your sign could make you feel emotionally restricted, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 7th house of relationships later on will bring a sense of optimism and expansion within partnerships.

Cancer Rising The Sun-Neptune quincunx activates your 4th house of home and family, making it hard to balance your personal needs with the expectations of loved ones. You may find yourself caught between wanting to retreat and feeling obligated to care for others. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your 8th house of deep connections will force you to take a hard look at any emotional entanglements that are rooted in dependency rather than mutual respect. A conversation about boundaries might arise when the Moon in your 12th house squares Saturn, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction later on in your 6th house of daily routines could bring a much-needed positive shift in your work-life balance.

Leo Rising The Sun in your 3rd house of communication quincunx Neptune in your 8th house of intimacy suggests that there may be confusion or miscommunication when it comes to deep, emotional conversations today. You may feel unclear about someone’s true intentions or find it hard to express your own needs. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate pushes you to face co-dependent patterns within your relationships, especially regarding how you handle emotional vulnerability. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 11th house of friendships might bring some tension in social dynamics, but the approaching Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 5th house of pleasure and creativity will restore your sense of joy and freedom.

Virgo Rising The Sun-Neptune quincunx occurs in your 2nd house of values and finances, highlighting a potential disconnect between what you want and what someone else expects from you. You may feel unclear about shared financial matters or struggle with insecurity around your worth. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate later on will push you to evaluate any co-dependent behaviors within partnerships that are impacting your financial security. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 10th house of career could bring some professional tension or emotional heaviness. However, the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 4th house of home late tonight offers a comforting sense of optimism and emotional expansion within your family life.

Libra Rising With the Sun in your sign quincunx Neptune in your 6th house of daily work and health, you might find it hard to balance your personal needs with the demands of your routine. You could feel pulled in different directions as you try to fulfill expectations, potentially leading to burnout. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate asks you to take a hard look at the ways you may be overextending yourself in relationships. A serious conversation or emotional restriction may arise around the Moon-Saturn square in your 9th house of beliefs, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 3rd house of communication later on will bring a positive shift in your mental outlook.

Scorpio Rising The Sun in your 12th house of introspection quincunx Neptune in your 5th house of creativity may create confusion around personal desires, making it difficult to express yourself fully. You may feel disconnected from your creative flow or uncertain about how to pursue your passions. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your 4th house of home and family pushes you to evaluate any unhealthy relational patterns, especially with close family members. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 8th house of intimacy could bring up emotional blocks, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 2nd house of values will help restore confidence and optimism.

Sagittarius Rising The Sun in your 11th house of friendships quincunx Neptune in your 4th house of home may lead to confusion or misunderstandings within your social circles, especially if expectations are unclear. You may feel torn between group activities and your responsibilities at home. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your 3rd house of communication forces you to face any co-dependent communication patterns, especially with siblings or close friends. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 7th house of partnerships might bring some relational tension, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your sign later on brings a boost of optimism and a renewed sense of faith in yourself.

Capricorn Rising With the Sun in your 10th house of career quincunx Neptune in your 3rd house of communication, you may feel unclear about how to express your professional goals or navigate conversations with authority figures. Miscommunication is likely, and it could be hard to balance your personal ambitions with others’ expectations. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your 2nd house of finances pushes you to evaluate any co-dependent behaviors that are impacting your sense of self-worth or financial security. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 6th house of work may bring some tension in your daily routine, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 12th house will offer a sense of inner peace and emotional clarity.

Aquarius Rising The Sun in your 9th house of higher learning quincunx Neptune in your 2nd house of values suggests that there may be a disconnect between your personal beliefs and the material resources required to pursue them. You might feel uncertain about how to balance your ideals with practical concerns. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your sign pushes you to confront any co-dependent behaviors in relationships, particularly those that affect your independence. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 5th house of creativity could bring some emotional restriction, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 11th house later on will help restore optimism within your social circles.

Pisces Rising With the Sun in your 8th house of intimacy quincunx Neptune in your sign, there’s a potential for misunderstandings or unrealistic expectations within deep emotional connections. You might feel unsure about where you stand in a relationship or struggle with vulnerability. The Sun-Saturn sesquiquadrate in your 12th house asks you to confront any co-dependent behaviors that are rooted in avoidance or emotional detachment. The Moon’s square to Saturn in your 4th house of home may bring up tension in your domestic life, but the Moon-Jupiter conjunction in your 10th house will offer a renewed sense of optimism and growth in your career path.

follow for more astro insights like this and head on over to @quenysefields or my etsy --> sensualnoiree to grab my new astrology guidebook on reading your own natal chart :)

[crystalandreiki]

How to Work with Moldavite for Emotional Release

Moldavite, a powerful and rare tektite, is often referred to as the “stone of transformation.” Its high vibrational energy makes it a popular tool for emotional release, deep healing, and spiritual growth. If you’re struggling with emotional blockages or looking for a way to release past pain, working with Moldavite can be a transformative experience.

In this blog, we'll explore how to use Moldavite to facilitate emotional release, helping you move forward with a lighter, more open heart.

Understanding Moldavite’s Energy

Moldavite formed over 15 million years ago when a meteorite collided with the Earth, resulting in the creation of this unique green glass-like stone. Its celestial origins are believed to connect the user with higher realms, encouraging rapid spiritual growth, emotional healing, and transformation.

One of Moldavite's key benefits is its ability to bring deeply buried emotions to the surface, allowing you to confront, process, and release them. While this can sometimes feel intense, the resulting sense of freedom and emotional clarity makes it a powerful stone for anyone on a healing journey.

How Moldavite Aids in Emotional Release

1. Breaking Down Emotional Barriers

Moldavite’s energy is known for its ability to break down emotional walls that may have been built over years of hardship, trauma, or unresolved pain. If you’ve been holding onto emotions that no longer serve you, Moldavite can help bring these to the surface, allowing you to confront and release them.

For example, if you’ve been carrying around old wounds from a past relationship or childhood trauma, Moldavite helps you process these emotions more fully, creating space for healing and emotional freedom.

2. Activating the Heart Chakra

Moldavite is particularly effective at opening and activating the heart chakra, the energy center responsible for love, compassion, and emotional well-being. When the heart chakra is blocked, it can prevent you from fully experiencing love or releasing emotional pain. Moldavite’s high vibration works to cleanse and energize the heart chakra, facilitating the release of emotional blockages.

By working with Moldavite, you may feel a deep sense of emotional relief as old wounds are brought to light and finally released, allowing you to embrace love and compassion more fully.

3. Encouraging Introspection

Moldavite encourages deep introspection, making it easier to identify the root causes of your emotional challenges. Whether you're dealing with feelings of grief, anger, or fear, Moldavite helps bring awareness to these emotions so that you can address them with clarity.

This introspective quality makes Moldavite an ideal stone for those looking to dig deep into their emotional past and begin the healing process.

How to Work with Moldavite for Emotional Release

While Moldavite is incredibly powerful, its energy can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to working with high-vibration crystals. Below are some practical ways to incorporate Moldavite into your emotional release practices:

1. Meditation for Emotional Healing

One of the most effective ways to work with Moldavite for emotional release is through meditation. Start by holding Moldavite in your hand or placing it on your heart chakra during meditation. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, allowing Moldavite’s energy to flow through you.

During this practice, you may begin to feel old emotions surfacing. Rather than resisting these feelings, allow them to rise up. Breathe through any discomfort and visualize yourself releasing these emotions, letting them go with love and compassion.

Over time, this meditative practice can help clear emotional blockages and bring about a profound sense of relief.

2. Journaling with Moldavite

Journaling is another effective tool for emotional release, especially when paired with Moldavite. Hold the stone in your hand or keep it nearby while you write about your emotions. Let the energy of Moldavite guide you as you reflect on past experiences, unresolved pain, or current emotional challenges.

As you write, be honest and open with yourself. Don’t worry about grammar or structure—just let the words flow. Moldavite can help bring subconscious emotions to the surface, allowing you to gain deeper insights into your emotional state and find the clarity you need to move forward.

3. Wear Moldavite as Jewelry

Wearing Moldavite as jewelry allows its energy to stay close to your heart throughout the day. This can help you process emotions as they arise and prevent you from feeling emotionally stagnant. A Moldavite pendant, ring, or bracelet can serve as a constant reminder to stay open to healing and release emotional pain.

Many people find that wearing Moldavite helps them remain more in tune with their emotions, making it easier to address any feelings that come up, rather than suppressing them.

4. Sleep with Moldavite Under Your Pillow

Sleeping with Moldavite under your pillow can help facilitate emotional release during your dreams. Many people report experiencing vivid, emotionally charged dreams when they sleep with Moldavite nearby. These dreams may reveal deep emotional truths or unresolved issues that need to be addressed.

While sleeping with Moldavite may feel intense at first, it can be a powerful way to unlock suppressed emotions and release them. Keep a journal by your bed so that you can write down any insights or emotions that come up during your dreams.

5. Pair Moldavite with Grounding Crystals

Because Moldavite’s energy can be intense, it’s helpful to pair it with grounding crystals such as Black Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, or Hematite. These stones help anchor Moldavite’s energy, making it easier to process the emotions that arise without feeling overwhelmed.

Holding a grounding stone in one hand while holding Moldavite in the other can create a balanced energy flow, ensuring that you remain centered and grounded throughout your emotional release work.

What to Expect When Working with Moldavite

It’s important to note that Moldavite’s energy can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to working with high-vibration stones. You may experience strong emotional reactions or sudden shifts in your mood as old emotions are brought to the surface.

While this can feel intense, it’s part of the healing process. Moldavite works quickly to bring about emotional release, so be prepared for emotions to rise up unexpectedly. Trust the process and know that the discomfort is temporary, leading to deeper healing and transformation.

Self-Care After Emotional Release

After working with Moldavite for emotional release, it’s important to practice self-care. Emotions can feel raw after a session, so take time to rest, reflect, and nourish your body and soul. Engage in activities that make you feel grounded and supported, such as spending time in nature, practicing gentle yoga, or taking a relaxing bath.

Moldavite is a powerful stone for those seeking emotional release and transformation. Its high vibrational energy helps bring deeply buried emotions to the surface, making it an essential tool for emotional healing and growth. Whether you use it in meditation, wear it as jewelry, or pair it with grounding crystals, Moldavite can support you in letting go of emotional pain and embracing a more open, healed heart.

By working with Moldavite, you’ll gain greater clarity, emotional freedom, and a deeper connection to your higher self. While the process may feel intense at times, the result is profound healing and a renewed sense of inner peace. Give us a ring on 07753 309 423 or drop us an email at info@crystalsandreiki.co.uk. For your convenience, our contact form is also available for any questions or requests. We're dedicated to providing you with the support and information you need to make your experience with us truly enriching.

[drheidikling]

Healing the Mind- Exploring Holistic Approaches in Therapy

In the realm of mental health, a profound shift has occurred over recent years, gradually steering towards a more comprehensive and holistic approach to healing the mind. Traditional therapy methods, while valuable, often focus solely on addressing symptoms rather than delving into the core of mental health issues. However, a rising tide of alternative and holistic approaches has emerged, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in the healing process.

At the heart of holistic therapy lies a powerful axiom: mental health is interwoven with our physical and emotional states. Practitioners like Dr. Heidi Kling therapist with a strong background in this field, acknowledge that the emotional traumas we've yet to resolve can make themselves known through physical symptoms, causing disruptions in our overall well-being and even leading to chronic health conditions. This understanding leads holistic therapists to adopt an integrated approach, bringing together various therapeutic practices and modalities to comprehensively address the intricate tapestry of the human experience. By considering the complexities of physical, emotional, and mental health as interconnected, they work towards healing that is all-encompassing, addressing not only the symptoms but also the root causes of distress.

Mindfulness and meditation stand as pillars in the realm of holistic therapy, offering profound benefits for mental health. The practice of mindfulness cultivates an awareness of the present moment, enabling individuals to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment. Studies have showcased its effectiveness in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, fostering a sense of inner peace and emotional balance. Integrating mindfulness into therapy sessions empowers individuals to navigate their inner landscape more effectively, fostering resilience and self-awareness.

Beyond traditional talk therapy, holistic approaches often incorporate somatic experiencing and body-centered therapies. These modalities acknowledge the intrinsic connection between the body and mind, understanding that physical sensations and emotions are deeply intertwined. Somatic therapies guide individuals to explore bodily sensations, allowing them to process and release pent-up emotions stored within the body. By tapping into these sensations, clients can address unresolved trauma and cultivate a deeper understanding of their emotional experiences.

The therapeutic power of art cannot be overstated and its role in holistic therapy is often instrumental. As a mode of creative expression - be it through painting, sculpting, or any other artistic medium - art therapy offers individuals a unique platform to communicate and process often complex and deep-seated emotions which might otherwise prove too challenging to articulate linguistically or verbally. By engaging with art, individuals are granted an unfiltered pathway to tap into their subconscious, uncovering concealed or suppressed emotions and facilitating a process of self-discovery, catharsis, and healing. The act of creating art fosters a deep introspection, enabling individuals to explore the intricacies of their inner world and, in so doing, cultivates a strengthened connection with one's self. This aspect of self-understanding and self-expression is integral to the healing process, and therapists such as Heidi Kling therapist see these creative outlets as critical tools in the broader therapeutic landscape. From this perspective, art therapy does not only offer a means of 'escape' but rather serves as a powerful instrument for self-realization and self-growth.

Nature-based therapies have also gained recognition for their profound impact on mental well-being. Ecotherapy, for instance, encourages individuals to immerse themselves in nature, harnessing the healing power of the natural world. Spending time outdoors, whether through forest bathing, gardening, or wilderness therapy, has been shown to reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and foster a greater sense of connection with the environment and oneself.

Therapists with a holistic approach, such as Dr. Heidi Kling therapist, understand the crucial role that nutrition and lifestyle play in mental health treatments. A wealth of research points to the significant impact that a balanced, nutrient-dense diet can have on an individual's mood and cognitive functions. Eating foods rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help regulate neurotransmitters and reduce inflammation in the brain, both of which are known to influence mental health. Beyond diet, other lifestyle factors such as regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques like meditation or yoga are also key components in maintaining and improving mental health. A truly holistic approach, therefore, does not solely focus on the emotional and psychological aspects of a person's well-being. It also encourages them to nurture and take care of their physical body through beneficial dietary habits and lifestyle changes, recognizing that these can be just as instrumental in creating mental and emotional balance.

In the realm of holistic mental health, energy-based therapies hold a prominent place. Practices such as Reiki, acupuncture, and energy healing work on the premise that imbalances in the body's energy systems can contribute to mental and emotional distress. These modalities aim to restore harmony and balance within the body, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of well-being.

The amalgamation of holistic methodologies with conventional therapeutic practices heralds a promising trajectory for mental health care. By adopting a comprehensive perspective of healing, one that embraces the mind, body, and spirit, individuals gain access to an extensive array of tools and resources to bolster their mental well-being. Therapists like Heidi Kling, with their vast experience and adept understanding of this field, facilitate this holistic approach to mental health care. They empower individuals to be active participants in their healing journey by fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and their needs. This promotes enduring transformation and growth, enabling individuals to live fuller, healthier lives. Furthermore, this integrated approach, as practiced by therapists such as Heidi Kling therapist, nurtures a therapeutic environment that addresses not just the symptoms but the root causes of distress. In doing so, it ensures a more profound and sustained healing process. Looking ahead, it is clear that the role of holistic therapy in mental health care is set to expand, and therapists like Heidi Kling therapist will continue to be at the forefront of this transformative approach.

[sanskardhan]

Discovering Jainism: A Path to Peace and Enlightenment

Subtitle: Unveiling the Teachings and Philosophy of Jainism for a Harmonious Life

Introduction:

Welcome to the fascinating world of Jainism, a spiritual tradition that has been guiding millions of individuals towards inner peace, compassion, and enlightenment for over two millennia. In this article, we will delve into the core principles, practices, and beliefs of Jainism, offering you a glimpse into this ancient and profound philosophy.

What is Jainism?

Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that emphasizes non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), non-stealing (asteya), non-possession (aparigraha), and celibacy (brahmacharya). It was founded by Lord Mahavira, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, around the 6th century BCE. Jainism promotes self-discipline, ethical living, and a deep sense of respect for all forms of life.

Core Principles:

Ahimsa (Non-violence): Ahimsa lies at the heart of Jainism. It involves refraining from causing harm to any living being, both in action and thought. Jains strive to cultivate a mindset of compassion and avoid violence in all aspects of life.

Satya (Truth): Jainism teaches the importance of truthfulness in all aspects of life. Practicing truth leads to moral purity and strengthens one's spiritual journey.

Asteya (Non-stealing): Jainism encourages individuals to refrain from taking what is not rightfully theirs. It promotes the virtue of honesty, integrity, and respect for others' possessions.

Aparigraha (Non-possession): Aparigraha emphasizes the idea of minimalism and detachment from material possessions. Jains believe that excessive attachment to material wealth hinders spiritual progress and leads to unnecessary suffering.

Brahmacharya (Celibacy): Brahmacharya promotes self-control, particularly in the context of sexual conduct. It encourages individuals to channel their energy towards spiritual growth rather than being consumed by physical desires.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q1: Are Jains vegetarian?

A: Yes, vegetarianism is a fundamental aspect of Jainism. Jains follow a strict vegetarian diet as they believe in minimizing harm to living beings. They avoid consuming meat, fish, eggs, and even certain root vegetables that involve uprooting the whole plant.

Q2: What are the main symbols of Jainism?

A: The main symbols of Jainism are the Ahimsa hand, the Swastika, and the Jain Prateek Chihna (emblem). The Ahimsa hand symbolizes non-violence, while the Swastika represents the four states of existence (heavenly beings, human beings, hellish beings, and animals). The Jain Prateek Chihna consists of symbols representing the qualities of liberated souls.

Q3: How do Jains practice meditation?

A: Jains practice various forms of meditation to purify their mind, cultivate inner peace, and deepen their spiritual awareness. Some common meditation techniques include Samayika (equanimity meditation), Kayotsarga (relaxation meditation), and Pratikramana (introspective meditation).

Q4: What is the significance of pilgrimage in Jainism?

A: Pilgrimage holds great importance in Jainism, with several sacred sites spread across India. Jains undertake pilgrimages to seek spiritual upliftment, perform religious rituals, and pay homage to revered Jain Tirthankaras (spiritual leaders).

Q5: Can anyone become a Jain?

A: Yes, Jainism welcomes individuals from all backgrounds. Anyone who resonates with the teachings of Jainism and aspires to follow its principles can choose to adopt this path. Jainism promotes inclusivity and encourages people to live a life of virtue and compassion.

Conclusion:

Jainism offers a profound spiritual path for individuals seeking inner peace, ethical living, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. With its emphasis on non-violence, truthfulness, and non-attachment, Jainism provides a holistic framework for leading a harmonious life. By exploring the teachings and principles of Jainism, you can embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

[starnovana]

First of all, the "dabi is isfp being famous" is not something someone said out of the blue and people jump on it, a lot did analyze his personality and the biggest percentage agree on it.

And here is why : (before you read this, remember that this is a fictional character in a fictional story, it's okay to have different opinions, so relax :D read this if you're interested in why people typed him as an isfp) also, to type any character 's mbti, don't do it based on "this is how I see it and based on my own judging and feelings" but you need to look at something called functions.

And before going on into functions, let's respond to some of the points you mentioned:

"He's such an extrovert" here is why this is so wrong :

Dabi is a true example of an introvert . and here's why :

1. Preference for Solitude: Dabi tends to keep to himself and rarely engages in unnecessary social interactions. He prefers to work alone and avoids forming close bonds with others, which is typical of introverted behavior.

2. Internal Focus: He often reflects deeply on his own thoughts, emotions, and motivations, rather than seeking external validation or approval. Introverts are more introspective, and Dabi often internalizes his feelings, especially regarding his past and goals.

3. Reserved Nature: Unlike more extroverted characters who enjoy socializing, Dabi is quiet and reserved. He doesn't waste words and speaks only when necessary, showing a preference for meaningful, concise communication over small talk.

4. Energy from Solitude: Introverts recharge by being alone, and Dabi seems to draw energy from isolation rather than from the presence of others. His demeanor suggests he is more comfortable and focused when he's by himself or in smaller, less chaotic settings.

So you don't judge him being an extrovert cause he "is a drama queen" like you said , i don't think this is a characteristic that belongs to extroverts only , introverts can absolutely be "drama queens" or exhibit dramatic behavior. Being introverted doesn't mean a person lacks the ability to express strong emotions or create dramatic situations-it just means they tend to recharge by being alone and focus more on their internal world. I think this stereotype about introverts is wrong, ( especially the unhealthy ones like touya) , and they don't have to stay silent all the time, but the difference between an introvert and an extrovert is that an introvert brings energy by being with himself, while an extrovert (let's take someone like Hawks since he is the best example of an extrovert) takes energy from the environment around him (such as going out and interacting a lot with his fans for example) but at other times he seems like a quiet person even though he is extroverted, right? that's the key difference.

"He's definitely a thinking type, with how calculated he is. He has strong emotions, yes, but he's actually surprisingly good at making decisions based on feelings"

Being able to make decisions logically does not negate the fact that he is an emotional person, and being an emotional person does not negate the fact that he is able to make some logical decisions. Both exist in a person, but I will explain to you why he is more emotional than rational.

1. Emotion-Driven Motives: While Dabi does act in a calculated way, his decisions are largely driven by deep-seated emotions, particularly his anger, resentment, and desire for revenge against his family and society. These emotions, more than logic, are the foundation of his actions, showing that he's acting based on feelings rather than purely rational thought.

2. Decisions Based on Personal Values: Feelers tend to make decisions based on personal values and emotional significance. Dabi's choices are often rooted in his emotional pain and a sense of justice or retribution. His goal is to make his father suffer emotionally, which shows a preference for emotional outcomes over logical or pragmatic ones.

3. Vulnerability and Emotional Expression: Although he may seem detached, Dabi reveals intense emotions when discussing his past, particularly with his father and siblings. These moments of emotional vulnerability suggest that his feelings are deeply intertwined with his actions. His emotions fuel his calculated behavior, rather than purely logical reasoning.

4. Conflict Between Emotions and Logic: Dabi’s internal conflict often shows his emotions overpower his logical side. Even though he's capable of planning and calculating, many of his actions come from emotional impulses like revenge, a strong need for validation, or pain from past traumas. Feelers, though capable of calculation, tend to have emotions at the forefront of their decision-making process.

So while Dabi can be strategic and calculated, the core of his motivation comes from a place of emotional depth, making him more of a feeler than a thinker. I think here comes the interesting part when we take shigaraki for example here!

Dabi's Emotional Drive vs. Shigaraki's Strategic Drive: Dabi's decisions are often about personal emotional satisfaction, while Shigaraki focuses on long-term goals with clear, logical steps to achieve them. Dabi wants emotional retribution; Shigaraki seeks systemic change.

How They Handle Emotions: Dabi allows his feelings to influence his actions heavily, making him more reactive. Shigaraki, while having strong emotions, tends to suppress them in favor of calculated, goal-oriented decisions. You now can see the difference.

Now in speak for the most important thing which is functions, Dabi can be analyzed as an ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving) based on his cognitive functions. (Fi-Se-Ni-Te) Here's a breakdown of how Dabi embodies the ISFP functions:

1. Dominant Function – Introverted Feeling (Fi):

Fi is highly individualistic, valuing personal beliefs and emotions. It focuses on internal values and seeks to stay true to them.

Example: Dabi’s actions are driven by his deep, personal emotions, particularly his resentment and pain toward his father, Endeavor. His internal sense of justice and revenge guides everything he does, especially his desire to expose his father’s hypocrisy and make him suffer. This aligns with Fi, as Dabi’s motivations are intensely personal and rooted in his own moral framework.

Dabi doesn’t care much about the broader world’s values or society’s expectations; instead, he is hyper-focused on his own emotional pain and desire for revenge, characteristic of Fi's personal, individualistic focus.

2. Auxiliary Function – Extraverted Sensing (Se):

Se is focused on living in the present, taking in immediate sensory experiences, and acting quickly and decisively based on what is happening around them. 

Example: Dabi is highly reactive and often acts impulsively in battle, which showcases his strong use of Se. He relies on his flames to cause destruction in the moment, showing how he’s in tune with his surroundings and ready to act on them. His decision to attack Hawks without hesitation is an example of Se’s reactive nature.

Dabi thrives on intense, direct experiences, often engaging in combat and destruction to meet his goals. His fiery nature and ability to use his Quirk with precision and power in the heat of battle demonstrate his strong Se, as he’s very present-focused.

3. Tertiary Function – Introverted Intuition (Ni):

Ni is about future-focused thinking, seeing patterns, and developing long-term visions or goals.

Example: While Dabi isn’t a long-term planner like Shigaraki, he does have a singular goal: to bring down his father and expose the truth. His entire arc is built around this purpose, and he is often guided by this singular vision. His revelation to the world about his true identity as Toya Todoroki shows a carefully planned moment that he has been waiting for, indicating his use of Ni to see a bigger picture regarding his revenge.

Dabi's strategic reveal of his true identity to manipulate public perception and destroy Endeavor's reputation shows Ni at work—he waited for the perfect moment to make his move, understanding the impact it would have on a larger scale.

4. Inferior Function – Extraverted Thinking (Te):

Te focuses on external organization, structure, and logic, aiming for efficient results.

Example: Dabi doesn’t demonstrate strong use of Te, as he often neglects pragmatic concerns in favor of his emotional needs (driven by Fi). His plans can be reckless and emotionally charged, lacking the systematic and organized approach that Te users typically employ. He doesn’t care much for long-term strategy or logical efficiency, focusing instead on emotional satisfaction and immediate action.

His lack of Te is evident in his disregard for the League of Villains' broader plans, often prioritizing his personal vendetta over the group’s larger goals, showing that he struggles with organizing his actions toward a greater collective goal.

This makes Dabi a strong example of an ISFP, as he is deeply emotional, present-focused, and driven by personal values more than logic or broader plans.

I suggest you see the Pdb ( personally data base) this site has a lot of people with big brains will help you understand more about characters' s mbti and functions, with amazing takes)

I think both Shoto and Fuyumi Todoroki are INFJs

Dabi is def an ENTJ

And I don’t know enough about Natsuo to say what he is

I don’t know why I spent time figuring this out and idk why I’m posting it but here you go.

[ordinaryschmuck]

What I Thought About Loki (Season One)

(Sorry this is later than it should have been. I may or may not be experiencing burnout from reviewing every episode of the gayest show Disney has ever produced)

Salutations, random people on the internet. I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.

Do you want to know what's fun about the Marvel Cinematic Universe? It is now officially at the point where the writers can do whatever the hell they want.

A TV series about two Avengers getting stuck in a series of sitcoms as one of them explores their personal grief? Sure.

Another series as a guy with metal bird wings fights the inner racism of his nation to take the mantel of representing the idea of what that nation should be? Why not?

A forgettable movie about a superspy and her much more mildly entertaining pretend family working together to kill the Godfather? F**king go for it (Let that be a taste for my Black Widow review in October)!

There is no limit to what you can get with these movies and shows anymore, and I personally consider that a good thing. It allows this franchise to lean further into creative insanity, thus embracing its comic roots in the process. Take Loki, for example. It is a series about an alternate version of one of Marvel's best villains bouncing around the timeline with Owen Wilson to prevent the end of the universe. It sounds like just the right amount of wackiness that it should be too good to fail.

But that's today's question: Did it fail? To find out my own answer to that, we're gonna have to dive deep into spoilers. So be wary as you continue reading.

With that said, let's review, shall we?

WHAT I LIKED

Loki Himself: Let's get this out of the way: This isn't the same Loki we've seen grow within five movies. The Loki in this series, while similar in many ways, is still his very own character. He goes through his own redemption and developments that fleshes out Loki, all through ways that, if I'm being honest with you, is done much better in six-hour-long episodes than in past films. Loki's story was already entertaining, but he didn't really grow that much aside from being this chaotic neutral character instead of this wickedly evil supervillain. Through his series, we get to see a gradual change in his personality, witnessing him understand his true nature and "glorious purpose," to the point where he's already this completely different person after one season. Large in part because of the position he's forced into.

Some fans might say that the series is less about Loki and more about the TVA. And while I can unquestionably see their point, I still believe that the TVA is the perfect way for Loki to grow. He's a character all about causing chaos and controlling others, so forcing him to work for an organization that takes that away allows Loki time to really do some introspection. Because if his tricks don't work, and his deceptions can't fool others, then who is he? Well, through this series, we see who he truly is: A character who is alone and is intended to be nothing more than a villain whose only truly selfless act got him killed in the end. Even if he wants to better himself, he can't because that "goes against the sacred timeline." Loki is a person who is destined to fail, and he gets to see it all with his own eyes by looking at what his life was meant to be and by observing what it could have been. It's all tragic and yet another example of these shows proving how they allow underdeveloped characters in the MCU a better chance to shine. Because if Loki can give even more depth to a character who's already compelling as is, then that is a feat worth admiration.

The Score: Let's give our gratitude toward Natalie Holt, who f**king killed it with this series score. Every piece she made is nothing short of glorious. Sylvie's and the TVA's themes particularly stand out, as they perfectly capture who/what they're representing. Such as how Sylvie's is big and boisterous where the TVA's sound eerie and almost unnatural. Holt also finds genius ways to implement other scores into the series, from using familiar tracks from the Thor movies to even rescoring "Ride of the Valkyries" in a way that makes a scene even more epic than it already could have been. The MCU isn't best known for its musical scores, partly because they aim to be suitable rather than memorable. But every now and again, something as spectacular as the Loki soundtrack sprinkles through the cracks of mediocrity. Making fans all the more grateful because of it.

There’s a lot of Talking: To some, this will be considered a complaint. Most fans of the MCU come for the action, comedy, and insanely lovable characters. Not so much for the dialogue and exposition. That being said, I consider all of the talking to be one of Loki's best features. All the background information about the TVA added with the character's backstories fascinates me, making me enthusiastic about learning more. Not everyone else will be as interested in lore and world-building as others, but just because something doesn't grab you, in particular, doesn't mean it isn't appealing at all. Case in point: There's a reason why the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise has lasted as long as it has, and it's not entirely because of how "scary" it is.

There's also the fact that most of the dialogue in Loki is highly engaging. I'll admit, some scenes do drag a bit. However, every line is delivered so well that I'm more likely to hang on to every word when characters simply have honest conversations with each other. And if I can be entertained by Loki talking with Morbius about jetskis, then I know a show is doing at least something right.

It’s Funny: This shouldn't be a surprise. The MCU is well-known for its quippy humor in the direct acknowledgment that it doesn't take itself too seriously. With that said, it is clear which movies and shows are intended to be taken seriously, while others are meant to be comedies. Loki tries to be a bit of both. There are some heavy scenes that impact the characters, and probably even some fans, due to how well-acted and professionally written they can be. However, this is also a series about a Norse god traveling through time to deal with alternate versions of himself, with one of them being an alligator. I'd personally consider it a crime against storytelling to not make it funny. Thankfully, the writers aren't idiots and know to make the series fun with a few flawlessly timed and delivered jokes that never really take away from the few good grim moments that actually work.

It Kept Me Surprised: About everything I appreciate about Loki, the fact that I could never really tell what direction it was going is what I consider its absolute best feature. Every time I think I knew what was going to happen, there was always this one big twist that heavily subverted any and every one of my expectations. Such as how each time I thought I knew who the big bad was in this series, it turns out that there was an even worse threat built up in the background. The best part is that these twists aren't meant for shock value. It's always supposed to drive the story forward, and on a rewatch, you can always tell how the seeds have been planted for making each surprise work. It's good that it kept fans guessing, as being predictable and expected would probably be the worst path to take when making a series about Loki, a character who's all about trickery and deception. So bonus points for being in line with the character.

The TVA: You can complain all you want about how the show is more about the TVA than it is Loki, but you can't deny how the organization in question is a solid addition to the MCU. Initially, it was entertaining to see Loki of all characters be taken aback by how the whole process works. And it was worth a chuckle seeing Infinity Stones, the most powerful objects in the universe, get treated as paperweights. However, as the season continues and we learn about the TVA, the writers show that their intention is to try and write a message about freedom vs. control. We've seen this before in movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Captain America: Civil War, but with those films, it always felt like the writers were leaning more towards one answer instead of making it obscure over which decision is correct. This is why I enjoy the fact that Loki went on saying that there really is no right answer for this scenario. If the TVA doesn't prune variants, it could result in utter chaos and destruction that no one from any timeline can prepare themselves for. But when they do prune variants along with their timelines, it takes away all free will, forcing people to be someone they probably don't even want to be. It's a situation where there really is no middle ground. Even if you bring up how people could erase timelines more destructive than others, that still takes away free will on top of how there's no unbiased way of deciding which timelines are better or worse. And the series found a brilliant way to explain this moral: The season starts by showing how the TVA is necessary, to later point out how there are flaws and evil secrets within it, and ends things with the revelation that there are consequences without the TVA keeping the timeline in check. It's an epic showcase of fantastic ideas met with exquisite execution that I can't help but give my seal of approval to.

Miss Minutes: Not much to say. This was just a cute character, and I love that Tara Strong, one of the most popular voice actors, basically plays a role in the MCU now.

Justifying Avengers: Endgame: Smartest. Decision. This series. Made. Bar none.

Because when you establish that the main plot is about a character getting arrested for f**king over the timeline, you're immediately going to get people questioning, "Why do the Avengers get off scot-free?" So by quickly explaining how their time-traveling antics were supposed to happen, it negates every one of those complaints...or most of them. There are probably still a-holes who are poking holes in that logic, but they're not the ones writing this review, so f**k them.

Mobius: I didn't really expect Owen Wilson to do that good of a job in Loki. Primarily due to how the Cars franchise discredits him as a professional actor for...forever. With that said, Owen Wilson's Mobius might just be one of the most entertaining characters in the series. Yes, even more so than Loki himself. Mobius acts as the perfect straight man to Loki's antics, what with being so familiar with the supposed god of mischief through past variations of him. Because of that, it's always a blast seeing these two bounce off one another through Loki trying to trick a Loki expert, and said expert even deceiving Loki at times. Also, on his own, Mobius is still pretty fun. He has this sort of witty energy that's often present in Phil Coulson (Love that character too, BTW), but thanks to Owen Wilson's quirks in his acting, there's a lot more energy to Mobius than one would find in Coulson. As well as a tad bit of tragedy because of Mobius being a variant and having no clue what his life used to be. It's a lot to unpack and is impressively written, added to how it's Owen Wilson who helps make the character work as well as he did. Cars may not have done much for his career, but Loki sure as hell showed his strengths.

Ravonna Renslayer: Probably the least entertaining character, but definitely one of the most intriguing. At least to me.

Ravonna is a character who is so steadfast in her believes that she refuses to accept that she may be wrong. Without the proper writing, someone like Ravonna could tick off (ha) certain people. Personally, I believe that Ravonna is written well enough where even though I disagree with her belief, I can understand where she's coming from. She's done so much for the TVA, bringing an end to so many variants and timelines that she can't accept that it was all for nothing. In short, Ravonna represents the control side of the freedom vs. control theme that the writers are pushing. Her presence is necessary while still being an appealing character instead of a plot device. Again, at least to me.

Hunter B-15: I have no strong feelings one way or another towards B-15's personality, but I will admit that I love the expectation-subversion done with her. She has this air of someone who's like, "I'm this by-the-books badass cop, and I will only warm up to this cocky rookie after several instances of them proving themselves." That's...technically not B-15. She's the first to see Loki isn't that bad, but only because B-15 is the first in the main cast to learn the hidden vile present in the TVA. It makes her change in point of view more believable than how writers usually work a character like hers, on top of adding a new type of engaging motivation for why she fights. I may not particularly enjoy her personality, but I do love her contributions.

Loki Watching What His Life Could Have Been: This was a brilliant decision by the writers. It's basically having Loki speedrun his own character development through witnessing what he could have gone through and seeing the person he's meant to be, providing a decent explanation for why he decides to work for the TVA. And on the plus side, Tom Hiddleston did a fantastic job at portraying the right emotions the character would have through a moment like this. Such as grief, tearful mirth, and borderline shock and horror. It's a scene that no other character could go through, as no one but Loki needed a wake-up call for who he truly is. This series might heavily focus on the TVA, but scenes like this prove just who's the star of the show.

Loki Causing Mischief in Pompeii: I just really love this scene. It's so chaotic and hilarious, all heavily carried by the fact that you can tell that Tom Hiddleston is having the time of his damn life being this character. What more can I say about it.

Sylvie: The first of many surprises this season offered, and boy was she a great one.

Despite being an alternate version of Loki, I do appreciate that Sylvie's her own character and not just "Loki, but with boobs." She still has the charm and charisma, but she also comes across as more hardened and intelligent when compared to the mischievous prick we've grown to love. A large part of that is due to her backstory, which might just be the most tragic one these movies and shows have ever made. Sylvie got taken away when she was a little girl, losing everything she knew and loved, and it was all for something that the people who arrested her don't even remember. How sad is that? The fact that her life got permanently screwed over, leaving zero impact on the people responsible for it. As badass as it is to hear her say she grew up at the ends of a thousand worlds (that's an album title if I ever heard one), it really is depressing to know what she went through. It also makes her the perfect candidate to represent the freedom side of the freedom vs. control argument. Because she's absolutely going to want to fight to put an end to the people who decide how the lives of trillions should be. Those same people took everything from Sylvie, and if I were in her position, I'd probably do the same thing. Of course, we all know the consequences that come from this, and people might criticize Sylvie the same way they complain about Thor and Star Lord for screwing over the universe in Avengers: Infinity War. But here's the thing: Sylvie's goals are driven by vengeance, which can blind people from any other alternatives. Meaning her killing He Who Remains is less of a story flaw and more of a character flaw. It may be a bad decision, but that's for Season Two Sylvie to figure out. For now, I'll just appreciate the well-written and highly compelling character we got this season and eagerly wait as we see what happens next with her.

The Oneshot in Episode Three: Not as epic as the hallway scene in Daredevil, but I do find it impressive that it tries to combine real effects, fighting, and CGI in a way where it's all convincing enough.

Lady Sif Kicking Loki in the D**k: This is a scene that makes me realize why I love this series. At first, I laugh at Loki being stuck in a time loop where Lady Sif kicks him in the d**k over and over again. But a few scenes later, this setup actually works as a character moment that explains why Loki does the things he does.

This series crafted phenomenal character development through Loki getting kicked in the d**k by the most underrated badass of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's a perfect balance of comedy and drama that not every story can nail, yet Loki seemed like it did with very little effort.

Classic Loki: This variant shows the true tragedy of being Loki. The only way to survive is to live in isolation, far away from everything and everyone he loves, only to end up having his one good deed result in his death anyways. Classic Loki is definitive proof that no matter what face they have, Lokis never gets happy endings. They're destined to lose, but at least this version knows that if you're going out, you're going out big. And at least he got to go out with a mischievous laugh.

(Plus, the fact that he's wearing Loki's first costume from the comics is a pretty cute callback).

Alligator Loki: Alligator Loki is surprisingly adorable, and if you know me, you know that I can't resist cute s**t. It's not in my nature.

Loki on Loki Violence: If you thought Loki going ham in Pompeii was chaotic, that was nothing to this scene. Because watching these Lokis backstab one another, to full-on murdering each other, is a moment that is best described as pure, unadulterated chaos. And I. Loved. Every. Second of it.

The Opening Logo for the Season Finale: I'm still not that big of a fan of the opening fanfare playing for each episode, but I will admit that it was a cool feature to play vocal clips of famous quotes when the corresponding character appears. It's a great way of showing the chaos of how the "sacred timeline" works without having it to be explained further.

The Citadel: I adore the set design of the Citadel. So much history and backstory shine through the state of every room the characters walk into. You get a perfect picture of what exactly happened, but seeing how ninety percent of the place is in shambles, it's pretty evident that not everything turned out peachy keen. And as a personal note, my favorite aspect of the Citadel is the yellow cracks in the walls. It looks as though reality itself is cracking apart, which is pretty fitting when considering where the Citadel actually is.

He Who Remains: This man. I. Love. This man.

I love this man for two reasons.

A. He's a ton of fun. Credit to that goes to the performance delivered by Jonathon Majors. Not only is it apparent that Majors is having a blast, but he does a great job at conveying how He Who Remains is a strategic individual but is still very much off his rocker. These villains are always my favorite due to how much of a blast it is seeing someone with high intelligence just embracing their own insanity. If you ask me, personalities are always essential for villains. Because even when they have the generic plot to rule everything around them, you're at least going to remember who they are for how entertaining they were. Thankfully He Who Remains has that entertainment value, as it makes me really excited for his eventual return, whether it'd be strictly through Loki Season Two or perhaps future movies.

And B. He Who Remains is a fantastic foil for Loki. He Who Remains is everything Loki wishes he could have been, causing so much death, destruction, and chaos to the multiverse. The important factor is that he does it all through order and control. The one thing Loki despises, and He Who Remains uses it to his advantage. I feel like that's what makes him the perfect antagonist to Loki, thanks to him winning the game by not playing it. I would love it if He Who Remains makes further appearances in future movies and shows, especially given how he's hinted to be Kane the Conqueror, but if he's only the main antagonist in Loki, I'm still all for it. He was a great character in his short time on screen, and I can't wait to see what happens next with him.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Revealing that Loki was D.B. Cooper: A cute scene, but it's really unnecessary. It adds nothing to the plot, and I feel like if it was cut out entirely, it wouldn't have been the end of the world...Yeah. That's it.

That's my one and only complaint about this season.

Maybe some scenes drag a bit, and I guess Episode Three is kind of the weakest, but there's not really anything that this series does poorly that warrants an in-depth complaint.

Nope.

Nothing at all...

…

...

...I'm not touching that "controversy" of Loki falling for Sylvie instead of Mobius. That's a situation where there are no winners.

Only losers.

Exclusively losers.

Other than that, this season was amazing!

IN CONCLUSION

I'd give the first season of Loki a well-earned A, with a 9.5 through my usual MCU ranking system. It turns out, it really is the best type of wackiness that was just too good to fail. The characters are fun and likable, the comedy and drama worked excellently, and the expansive world-building made me really intrigued with the more we learned. It's hard to say if Season Two will keep this momentum, but that's for the future to figure out. For now, let's just sit back and enjoy the chaos.

(Now, if you don't excuse me, I have to figure out how to review Marvel's What If...)

[vanillawriterv]

Markus Deserved Better from DBH

This ended up hella long but Markus deserved better from David Cage and I’m upset about it, ok?  

Anybody who’s been involved or seen the Detroit: Become Human fandom knows that Connor is the most favorited by the voiced community, and he absolutely deserves the love he gets. He’s an intriguing character with a cute face, and the fandom has widely noted that. Kara is a widely loved character as well, just as she should be. We see so many raw emotions from Kara that make us relate and empathize with her, and she’s a strong willed person. Markus, however, isn't as widely appreciated. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are tons and tons of posts and art and writing and appreciation for him, but that pales in comparison to that of Connor or Kara. I’ve seen people blame this on “deep rooted racism” and all that lovely stuff, but there are a variety of reasons Markus doesn’t resonate with most as much as Kara or Connor, and why he deserved better from the creators. It makes the whole thing even weirder because Markus is the integral piece of the entire game. 

Connor and Kara’s plot lines are obviously very important. Connor’s conflict in finding out who he is and what he wants to be is emotional, and him being a detective is crucial to his story. Connor’s end goal is to find Jericho, which is centered mainly around Markus’ story. Kara’s conflict in deciding to do what’s best for Alice, even if what she does isn’t “morally” correct, is also extremely emotional and really makes you evaluate what you would do for the ones you love, no matter how inherently “wrong” it is. Her being an Android and trying to take care of Alice and find Jericho to get to Canada are crucial to the story, and her end goal is centered mainly around Markus’ story as well. 

Markus’ plot is the most important part of Detroit: Become Human. Without him, it would have taken another Android to finally decide to revolt, and given that he had to convince Jericho when he got there, it would have taken a decent amount of time. If Markus didn’t begin a revolution, Connor wouldn’t have ended up working towards finding Jericho because Androids would only have acted out individually with no name behind their cause, and widespread deviancy would be eradicated if someone else didn’t unite them all before they really started getting rid of deviants. Though Connor could have found deviancy without the revolution or Jericho, his character arc centers around witnessing his own people stand up for themselves and him deciding who he’s going to be. Connor without Markus would just be a detective doing cases on the very thing he’s never supposed to be and he’ll either remain a machine, or become a deviant and have to deal with that without a cause on his side. 

Kara would probably still end up looking for Jericho with Alice because of the Android that shared information with her when they were looking for a place to stay the night, but she’d be greeted with pre-Markus Jericho that doesn’t do much but hide. She probably wouldn’t have made it to Canada or even the border if this happened. 

This all means that all their stories—and plenty of other side characters’ stories—revolve around Markus, who he is, and what his existence means in the game. Now, this isn’t actually very obvious in the game. It doesn’t take deep thinking or any real situation assessment to realise exactly how crucial Markus is to the game and every character’s development, but it isn’t as clear as it should be. Markus should be the point the game revolves around because he’s why it exists—so why don’t we feel nearly as emotionally attached to him? 

Well, we don’t get to see who Markus is. We see Markus speaking for a community as a whole, not really for himself. He puts himself in a position where most of what he says is said for Androids everywhere, and not necessarily his personal thoughts or aspirations. Yes, he wants to lead this revolution, but that’s his only characteristic he was given. Markus’ only purpose all the way throughout the entire game is the revolution. Of course, if you go the right route and choose the right things, you get one(1) possible love interest, but even that route is empty and bland of actual bonding or real insight to how Markus might be thinking or feeling. The only time we get to see Markus—and the thing that resonates within the people whose favorite character is Markus—is how he got to where he was. Connor is hesitant in his path of figuring out who he is against who he’s “supposed” to be. Kara is determined to take care of a child who hasn’t had the proper care. But Markus? Markus was the character who realised that nobody was going to stand up for him and that if he wanted protection, and rights, and thoughts, and to be independent he was going to have to do it himself. He stood up for himself when nobody could or would, and the people who realised that are the people who see exactly how valuable he is to the story and how much character he has inside of him that isn’t being shown to us throughout the rest of the game. 

Connor and Kara have plenty of moments bonding with other people and expressing their thoughts or concerns. Connor has Hank, and they routinely interact in a way meant to make you connected to them both by sharing thoughts, ideas, and moments. Kara has Alice from the beginning, and it quickly develops our emotional connection to them both because they both need the other, and that is a strong, relatable emotional bond. Eventually Kara gets Luther who allows for more of Kara’s thoughts to be shown rather than just her emotions, as well as Luther’s, which give us an emotional connection to both of them. But Markus doesn’t really have those moments. Yes, he has Josh, North, and Simon, but the only talks they really had were about the revolution and Jericho’s decisions as a whole. There were so little scenes showing Markus connecting with others in a more intimate way than just recruiting them or speaking to Jericho as a whole, and they were pretty late into the game when we’d all already fallen in love with these other Characters. 

It’s poor writing to only begin connecting the player to the main piece of why the story’s happening near the end of the entire game. There was time for more, in general, from Markus. 

Plus—and this one really irks me as a music fan in general—his theme was a crime. I watched a playthrough before I ever played the game, and one of the first things I noted was the intensity of Connor’s theme. You all know it, and it is so packed with emotion that you can feel without having to know anything about the game. Nima Fakhrara, the composer of Connor’s theme, put so much of Connor’s conflict and internal struggles into that piece, and perfectly captivated the duality of human and machine within him. Listen to it if you haven’t taken the time, it’s 8 minutes and 54 seconds of an absolutely beautiful composition. Kara’s theme moves me every time as well. Philip Sheppard, the composer of Kara’s theme, also put so much emotion into hers. The push and pull of the intensity captivates Kara’s situation so well. Her theme feels much more raw than Connor’s, by the nature of her character. Also listen to that if you haven’t, 6 minutes and 55 seconds of another absolutely beautiful composition. Markus’ theme, in comparison to Kara and Connor’s, feels so empty. It’s fitting only because of the lack of emotional value they put into Markus, and feels almost like ambiance music. You can’t feel the emotions Markus has within the piece, because we see so little of who he is. Not only that, his theme is a staggering 3 minutes and 2 seconds long. And, I believe John Paesano, the composer of Markus’ theme, is not the reason behind this lack of emotion. John Paesano also composed Marvel’s Spider Man main theme, and noted that he wanted to make the theme “more emotional and introspective.” The Spider Man main theme is also as short as Markus’ but most would argue still has a lot more emotion. There is no guarantee it wasn’t just a different artist’s take, but I believe John Paesano could have easily made a much more emotional theme for a character who actually had more emotions and personality to base the theme off of. 

Markus’ lack of emotional development, his disconnect from the player because he only speaks as a whole and the game never shows him speaking for himself or his mind, and the lack of emotion in his theme compared to such emotionally driven themes makes Markus feel unimportant and much more distant from the player. 

There were so many things David Cage could have done to make Markus feel as important as he is, but he lacked so much of what the other characters were given. I understand that what he was doing as a character didn’t provide as many opportunities as Kara or Connor to really show who he is to the player, but there was room for a more emotional Markus. He’s my favorite character in the game solely because he got up and did what no one else could or would do for himself, and if I—and many others—can fall in love with a character based on their only real emotional action, can you imagine the amount of people who’d fall in love with the rest of his missing personality? 

[welanabananaworld]

Joker and the symptomatic laugh

          Never before, in the history of cinema, has a laugh been such a source of uneasiness and discomfort

      Contrary to previous portrayals of the emblematic villain of the DC comics, Batman, as a malicious, crazy and evil character, Todd Philipps chose, in this version, to make him a human first; a tormented human being struggling with life in Gotham City. 

By digging through the psyche of the soon-to-be villain, to get to the roots of the Joker’s mythology, the director manages to subvert the conventions of the superhero film sub-genre. Though subverted, the well-known manichean approach assumed in such films reveals itself here in the manner in which the main character strives to combine his ingenuous nature and the chaotic outside world. Todd Philipps relies on the evocative power of the voice to build his psychological thriller. Indeed, the character’s mental distress is expressed by a nervous laugh that works as a kind of leitmotiv throughout the film.

In Joker, Joaquim Phoenix plays the role of Arthur Fleck, a pitiful professional clown and aspiring stand-up comedian who lives with her mother in a dingy apartment.  Simple-minded and excessively naive, Arthur keeps being bullied and ridiculed wherever he goes. Wantonly beaten by strangers, mocked by his colleagues, laughed at on TV,  abandoned by social welfare services, and coming from a dysfunctional family, Arthur progressively goes mad and violent, just like Gotham city; a city plagued by political corruption, vice, poverty, filth, unemployment, extreme violence and delinquency. 

The inevitable psychological distress, that emerges from so strong a contrast and so many repeated physical assaults, does find not only its physical expression into a nervous laugh but also its symbolic expression into the joker’s vocation as a clown. As such, it comes as no surprise that the film opens with these two central and closely intertwined themes. 

The opening scene shows Arthur putting clown makeup on his face while listening to the news on the radio. Instead of showing a colorful and enchanting depiction of the circus scene and its stages, Todd Philipps immerses his public into a dimly lit and rather gloomy room that looks like an old and insalubrious lock room. The environment is plagued by outer and inner noises due to traffic congestion and the radio which keeps airing unfortunate news about the state of the city. Filth, garbage, typhoid fever, bad smell, rats, increase in heating oil prices… those are the news which help to create the stuffy atmosphere in which Arthur grows in professionally. From the start, one has the feeling to suffocate and witness something pathetic at work; a feeling amplified by Arthur making faces in front of the mirror of his dressing table. 

Arthur seems unable to smile naturally and spontaneously to such an extent that he needs to stretch his mouth with his fingers to mimic a smile; a smile made pathetic by the tears running down his face. Arthur’s factitious smile and look of despair present, at first sight, a contradiction with the character he is supposed to embody but if one takes a closer look at the symbolic of the clown in pop culture, this attitude reveals the drama that exists behind such a figure. Behind the extravagant make up and exaggerated facial mimics generally lies a darkness which can go from deep sadness to monstrosity. 

In the last decades, the clown has become an ambiguous, ambivalent and subversive figure due to the visual dichotomy between the surface (the make up, the facial mimics, the caricatures and the bright colors) and what is under the surface (the identity, the life story, the feelings). What is under the surface is, by definition, hidden from view, therefore open to imagination, and synonymous with concealment, hence the disturbing strangeness that emerges from the potential dangerousness of such a concealment. In addition to this, the mirror is also used to underline Arthur’s dual nature. By duplicating one’s image, the mirror signifies conflicting personalities and can mark a need for introspection.

              Pennywise, the evil clown in It by André Muschietti (Stephen King)

Twisty, the clown inspired by John Wayne Gacy, known as the Killer Clown, in American Horror Story by Ryan Murphy

In Joker, Arthur successively fits the different representations involved by the idea of duality, from the caring, harmless and cheerful clown to the sad, neurotic and eventually violent clown. In that respect, it is worth mentioning the direct reference between Joker and The King of Comedy by Martin Scorsese (1983), in which Robert De Niro, playing a delusional and aspiring stand-up comedian, is so desperate for recognition that he goes as far as to abduct the famous talk-show host, Jerry Langford, to appear on his television show.

Arthur’s gradual transformation is foreboded by the way he exercises his mouth in a happy and sad smile in the opening scene. By doing so, Arthur reveals a myriad of emotions. He must, as any self-respecting clown, put a smile on his face but this one bears no warmth, no spontaneity. Its rigidity and exaggeration alternatively give way to alarming, threatening and desperate grins. 

The duality expressed by the greek masks of comedy and drama displayed by Arthur is to be associated to his ever-present laugh. Right after his first assault on the street, Arthur is found sitting opposite a psychologist. The scene opens with Arthur laughing uncontrollably for a very long time. His laugh is anything but infectious and hearty. On the contrary, Arthur seems in pain while doing it. His facial features are distorted and uptight, his face tense as if he was about to cry. One can easily describe his laugh as bloodcurdling and disturbing; a laugh which is on the verge to choking him, even. 

Just like the perverted clown figure which instills more pity and fright than buffoonery, Arthur’s bursts of laughter give away a real medical condition. Whenever Arthur is ill-at-ease, confused or bullied, he starts laughing madly and does seem unable to stop it. This condition is called pseudobulbar affect (PBA), which is a type of emotional disturbance condition, due to neurological disorder or brain injury, characterized by uncontrollable and often inappropriate episodes of crying, laughing, anger or other emotional displays. The scene that most exemplifies his mental disorder and extreme vulnerability is when Arthur entertains a little boy in the bus and his mother, misjudging the situation, asks him to stop. Taken aback, Arthur explodes in laughing, unable to control himself, and shows his medical card in an effort to explain what is happening. Combined with the beautiful but tragic film score, Arthur appears utterly powerless and crushed by inner and outer misery; a mental and physical misery materializing in a nervous laugh which makes everyone uncomfortable, including him.

The therapy session provides a glimpse of the aggravating factors of the neurological disorder by capturing Arthur’s current psychological state. He is depicted as a deeply depressed and troubled man who takes many medications with no result. His persona as a sad clown is reinforced by a certain dark humour which he overuses in his notebook : « I just hope my death makes more cents than my life ». As if Arthur’s traumatic life experiences were not enough, one finds out later that his PBA and awful thinness (see his protruding bones) are actually due to serious physical abuses inflicted, when he was a child, by his unstable mother.

In the end, one can conclude that the voice, as a narrative tool, is used in this film to anticipate, announce, hint at and explain Arthur’s journey to madness. 

    Contrary to traditional superhero films in which the villain’s tragic past is quickly mentioned, Joker builds its storyline precisely upon the villain’s progressive journey as a victim. And who is more likely to become a time bomb than someone who has been a victim all his life? The origin of the joker’s malevolence is to be found precisely in his traumatic experience of life.  

The contrast between a kind and optimistic nature and the ruthlessness of a city and its inhabitants, reinforced by regular humiliations and family dramas, is enough for anyone to blow a fuse and turn to the dark side. But the Joker, considering who he is, puts a smile upon his face, finally embraces chaos - « Isn’t it beautiful? » he asks the policeman in a thrilling voice while on his way to prison» - and laughs at the irony of life, hence the ending. The piece of music, hummed by Arthur in front of the psychologist, concludes the film on a bitter note, its title underlining how unfair and unpredictable life can be: That’s life. But Frank Sinatra’s song is much more than an appropriate conclusion. By using the soundtrack as a diegetic and extra-diegetic music, Todd Philipps evokes both Arthur’s understanding of what he has been through all along and his ensuing thirst for revenge, fueled by injustice, the lack of meaning and the lack of a sense of belonging. Arthur’s smile, while humming, forebodes the joker’s rise of terror in Gotham city. Psychotherapy is over. It’s time for action! It’s time for his destiny to unfold…

That’s life… And as funny as it may seem, some people get their kicks, stompin' on a dream. But I don’t let it get me down cause this fine old world, it keeps spinning around… 

[justashadetalkative]

#(I started pondering why the closest they’ve gotten to therapy at the Spire has been learning better coping behaviors)     #(Or very focused on stuff like dealing with flashbacks and aversive reactions)      #(rather than any deep introspection on root causes & thought processes)      #(and Diamond gave me the very frustrated answer of ‘BECAUSE THEY WON’T HEAR A WORD AGAINST EACH OTHER’)

I see that today is a day for having Feelings about how half of Phosa & Linast’s maladaptive coping mechanisms are from their years of isolation and interacting with each other, not from any particular traumatic incident since they started interacting with other people (even if there’ve been plenty) :’)

[captain-of-the-historicfuture]

~hello~ !! For the meta asks!: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 25 :))

Hello!! Thank you for sending these; I was really excited to see that ask game and I was hoping somebody would send some in. It still took me a while to actually answer them though, and for that I apologise. But without further ado! Some meta answers (under the cut because they ended up being fairly long, whoops):

3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (Consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway.)

I thought of a few examples, but they could basically be grouped together under a common theme: whumpy/angsty scenes that were self-indulgent as all heck. The whole self-indulgent aspect often required the characters to be just the teeniest, tiniest bit OOC and/or necessitated rather unrealistic plot circumstances. So it was simply easier to keep such scenes as maladaptive daydreams, rather than trying to think of explanations for the character/plot issues…or exposing myself to judgement for them LOL.

Receiving permission to write/share one such scene anyway is an opportunity I can’t let slip by though. It might be because I’m writing this while running on zero (0) hours of sleep—let’s hear it for insomnia, y’all!—but I suddenly couldn’t remember any of my newer ideas under this category. However, I did recall a one-shot I had started writing a couple of months ago that sort of counts? “Sort of” because I could actually be arsed to write it since I was, ya know, writing it. Only got about six hundred words down though.

…should I share those six hundred words…?

………nahhh. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet.

But here’s the gist of it: Coulson and May (because of course it’s Philinda) were married for quite some time before the Attack on New York. But then Coulson DiedTM and then got ResurrectedTM. But gasp of horror, he had to lose his memories of his romantic relationship with May because reasons. (I actually did have some ideas for those reasons but sshhhh this is about me yeeting context and setup.)

The first half of S1 still happens as normal (except MayWard doesn’t happen because??? Vows) and it’s now post-E20 “Nothing Personal”. The morning after (or a morning soon after, whatever) the T.A.H.I.T.I. reveal! May’s mom—who doesn’t know about GH.325 and whom May fed a cover story about Coulson divorcing her or something equally as oof, IDK—shows up at the hotel and starts ripping into Coulson for breaking her daughter’s heart, then dragging her back into the field with her ex-husband (him), then accusing her of terrible things and forcing her away again.

Poor guy’s confused as heck, and so is the team, and soon enough so is Lian. The only one who understands what’s going on is May, and she’s freaking dying off to the side like why is this happening to me and eventually everybody’s like! Explain??? (Was thinking about including something from Coulson like, “Are you still keeping things from me?” Just for that extra smidge of angst, yay!)

So yeah then May gives a, like, two-sentence debriefing that elicits more questions than answers. Coulson decides to take May aside and they have a heart-to-heart. Lots of feelings and angst and hurt/comfort and at some point plenty of kissing too. Just! May hiding her feelings for Coulson’s sake but really magnified, plus some actual apologies and consideration of the grief May’s been through on Coulson’s part.

And uhh yeah that’s basically it I dunno hdsjncjshd. I warned y’all it’s OOC, plot-bendy, and very self-indulgent!

6. What character do you have the most fun writing?

I don’t think I could name a single character for this. I get different things out of taking on different voices, you know? I guess recently I’ve found myself gravitating towards more taciturn and introspective points of view, like JQ from my original novel Rosewood or M. Yisbon from my…other original novel Temple.

Generally, however, I like tackling stories from an outsider’s perspective. That’s why I so rarely write my more “substantial” (serious? demanding? for lack of better words?) projects from the PoV of my “preferred” character. This usually means writing from their love interest’s perspective, but not always. With shorter fanfic, using a more removed/unconventional/niche PoV can be really fun. Like, I once wrote a canon compliant ficlet purely(-ish) about Philinda from Tony Stark’s perspective. That isn’t always sustainable with stories that demand more character development or closer character studies, however, which is why it’s a good thing I like writing drabbles!

9. Are you more of a drabble or a longfic kind of writer? Pantser or plotter? Do you wish you were the other?

My word counts tend to run long, but I usually only write one-shots for fanfic. If I’m even inspired with a novella- or novel-length story idea for a fandom, you already know I’m in deep with them. And if I actually find the motivation to plan and execute that idea? Dangg. That’s only ever happened…twice, maybe thrice, and I’m in a lot of fandoms.

At times, I wish I could go for more of a middle ground ’cause, like, you know what I love to see? An AO3 dashboard with several completed novellas for my ship/character of choice. I mean yes, I hecking love >90k fics, but sometimes I’m in the mood for quick reads…and what am I supposed to do when I burn through all the drabbles and 2k one-shots? (Besides despair and/or reread my faves desperately.) Novellas are basically always safe for me LOL, and I’d hope to be able to give as much as I take.

Ultimately though, I think I’m okay with where I am with regards to that. I wish I could write more in general, but I’d be okay with “writing more” just meaning “writing more one-shots”, ya know? More than okay, really. I have mad respect for fic writers who have, like, a hundred or more one-shots under their belt for this one ship. The fandom ecosystem would be incomplete without them (as well as every other type of writer, but sshhh that’s the type of writer I’m closest to being right now).

I’m definitely a plotter, and I definitely prefer it that way. It’s cool having such a detailed record of my process. I like feeling like a frazzled genius on the brink of a major discovery with all of my different outlines and colour coding and many drafts and various websites.

12. Do you want your writing to be famous?

Not exactly. It might be cool if my original works were recognisable in the world, but I don’t think I’d want to be recognisable. As for fanfic, I’d low-key enjoy gaining a place in that fandom’s community as a fic writer. Like someone who gave and got fic gifts from fic writer friends, who participated in challenges and GCs, who received writing prompts on Tumblr, whose name was known for doing a certain trope/genre a bunch of times… Ya know what I mean?

Unlikely to happen when I’m so hecking hesitant to publicly (i.e., outside of AO3) claim credit for my writing, but fjnskfsjhfjs. A writer can dream, right?

15. Which is harder: titles or summaries (or tags)?

Of those three, tags are the easiest for me, for I have a reliable system for figuring out those.

Next easiest would probably be titles. For fanfiction, I like to use titles that are a quote from the source material. You should have seen all of my old Hamilton fanfic… I was really proud of some of those titles. And I don’t mean, like, whole lines—usually only two to five words. It’s a unique type of wordplay that I just love dabbling in.

And lastly, summaries. Sometimes inspiration strikes me and a snappy and intriguing synopsis just jumps out—one that I’m quietly pleased with—but most of the time I’ll spend way too long trying to think of such a synopsis and eventually just go with whatever I’d come up with so far. And live with my quiet dissatisfaction for the rest of time.

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (Plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations...?) Tell us about them!

Typically, no. If I have deleted scenes, I save and publish them separately, but that’s about it. I sometimes think of AUs for my own work and might talk about them in my author’s notes—might even talk about writing them—but I never really do anything with them.

Although…

It’s not uncommon for me to decide a plotline isn’t working for a certain story or to think of an interesting but undoable arc for a certain character, but what I’ll do is make a whole new story for those ideas. Once I’m done developing the original idea and the branched-off one, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell they grew from the same roots. Does that count?

21. What other medium do you think your story would work well as (film, webcomic, animated series, etc.)?

That depends on the story. I’ve actually written stories in other mediums—movie screenplay, musical stageplay, poetry, TV show scripts, play scripts, roleplay—but the novel does tend to be my comfort zone. Sometimes, if I have an idea that I think could work, or would even work better, as another medium, I’ll label it as such in my folder of ideas and decide not to write it as a novel.

Most of the time, my non-book projects are collaborations. I’m working with five different people on six different story ideas: two webcomics, one stage musical, one anime, and two animated TV shows. Little concrete progress has been made in any of those, mind you, but they’re still fun to discuss!

24. Would you say your writing has changed over time?

Absolutely. But I’ve been writing stories since I was five years old, so we would hope so, huh?

I wouldn’t say my writing’s changed completely, though maybe that’s just my insider’s perspective.

25. What part of writing is the most fun?

Oh gosh, I can’t believe you’d make me choose. Writing is just such a wonderful experience for me; I love just about everything to do with it. Admittedly, not all the time, but. Since that barely qualifies as an answer, however, I’ll give you this—

The endings. Not only that intense feeling of rightness when you wrap up that last sentence, but also the moments before. The adrenaline of knowing you’re almost there but you gotta push just a bit more to actually get there. And also the part right after—the real wrap-up, honestly: the revision and the editing. Heavens, I love revising and editing my work.

Which is not to say I don’t like writing it out for the first time, too—there’s nothing quite like seeing your cursor scroll to the next page, like going from a blank expanse to a Oh man, how many more lines are even going to fit on this page?, like watching that page counter tick up another number. However, there’s something cathartic about finally ironing out those problems I had to force myself to stop worrying about earlier because “just finish the first draft dangit”.

I guess that’s not really the end of the writing process, but whatever. Close enough (as fic writers are wont to say).

Another thank-you for these asks, and feel free to come back with more at any time! ;P

Send in fun meta asks for your friendly neighbourhood writer!

[deductionjournal]

Studying the Methods of Sherlock Holmes in Light of this Changing Age: The Hat of Henry Baker

We are all aware of the dazzling and astute deductions made by our dear friend, Sherlock Holmes. As a dull light forces its way through a dirt covered windowpane, we are introduced through Watson's dazzled eyes, to Holmes' mind at work in an abandoned room of Lauriston Gardens. Empty except for an imitation marble fireplace and a dead man, contorted in a depiction of his agonising last moments. Standing aside and looking upon Holmes with a mixture of respect, curiosity, and sheer dumb-foundedness, Watson witnesses as the Great Detective traces around every inch of the mildew dotted walls and dust covered floor, and is at last able to give a full description of the murderer, from his height and boot size to his overly long fingernails. But as the years have passed and technology has pushed forward, is our dear friend able to keep up? Let us explore this question together, as we delve into some of Watson and Holmes' adventures together, dissect some of the most perplexing cases that the foggy streets of London had to offer, and view under the microscope how some of his deductions hold up in this changing age, before the world went all awry.  

Now, to go through each one of his deductions and inferences would be a difficult task without filling a book, so we shall only investigate a single example from his many adventures here. 

Our example is taken from The Blue Carbuncle, whereupon one late December morning, a sharp chill has gripped the Victorian streets of London causing windowpane corners to be thick with the icy frost common on these winter days. Behind one of these windows however, a cosy fire can be found warming the lodgings of 221B Baker Street. As the fire crackles, the light warmth emanating from the fireplace illuminates a scattering of newspapers cast in flickering shadow, showing signs of being recently rifled through and then evidently discarded to no consequence. Within arm's reach of this abandoned heap of papers lays a chez lounge that offers it seems, a great deal of comfort for its occupier, who at the moment is on the cusp of explaining something in deep thought to his colleague, as the latter, sat in an armchair by the fire is looking with interest towards an old hard felt hat he had just been indicated to by his companion.

“ I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials “H. B.” were scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink.”

Here, we have been given nearly all the data needed to make the inferences that Holmes is able to make (with the minor additions brought up elsewhere in the text). While Watson is unable to determine anything he thinks as noteworthy, handing the hat back to Holmes, let’s first see if you can follow the reasoning behind each of his remarks in the following passage...  

He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him. “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that his wife has ceased to love him.”

“My dear Holmes!”

“He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect,” he continued, disregarding my remonstrance. “He is a man who leads a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid on in his house.”

How did you fair when comparing the two passages? Did you follow Holmes reasoning with any success?  Let us see what Holmes has to say for how he got to his immense conclusions and analyse each one in turn...  

“I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that this man was intellectual?”

For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. “It is a question of cubic capacity,” said he; “a man with so large a brain must have something in it.”  

This is a topic that has been under great debate ever since it reached people ears. Does the size of a person’s head or brain really act as any indication towards their intelligence? Many scientists have argued both sides of this [1,2,3,4,5] but after over a century of confusion, it seems that by the 1990’s and early 2000’s they came to an agreement via the use of MRI imaging of people’s brains [6,7]. The extensive research has determined that Holmes’ statement does hold merit, but in regards to time, was a 19th century detective right to come to this conclusion?

In this time the question of cubic capacity was only a theory, and not a well-researched one. Holmes, it can easily be believed, would have been aware of this theory and following his remarks in the series cautioning of making bricks without clay, he would, or at least should, have known that this theory could not yet be trusted. In light of this it may be that Holmes was just ahead of his game, for it is hardly the first scientific discovery that has been predicted by the great detective [8]. Alternatively, he may have added this in an attempt to just impress Watson; as there was no crime related to this hat, he may have felt the childish urge to embellish his statements, as he has been caught doing before (such as the florid face of a murderer in a Study in Scarlet)[9], in a way to impress his friend whom it can be believed has not visited for some weeks over the winter period.  

“The decline of his fortunes, then?”

“This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world.”

Fashion is a thing that is far too often overlooked. Trends come and go throughout the seasons and so for a Detective such as Holmes, it is evidently important to keep up. A modern-day comparison of this may arise with any item of clothing or accessory you can think of, for example if Holmes was to be presented with a pair of skinny jeans that are well-worn by countless washes, then it can be suggested that the owner is out of touch with modern mainstream trends, and may point to the decade they grew up in, and so on, in a way that reflects the above quote (skinny jeans became a popular trend in 2006 [10,11,12] but late 2010’s has notably seen an exchange in favour of palazzo trousers and drop-crotch trousers[13,14,15]).

One thing however that Holmes has not stated is the possibility of this item being a gift. Carrying on with the example of the skinny jeans, there raises fewer possibilities. Trousers (and obscurely sized hats), perhaps more than most items of clothing, are rarely gifted to people purely due to having to know the right size, something you can’t ask without giving away the gift, or without risk of insult, so they would have to be brought by either the wearer or someone close enough to know the size to get, such as a close family member or partner.

“Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the foresight and the moral retrogression?”

Sherlock Holmes laughed. “Here is the foresight,” said he putting his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. “They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not entirely lost his self-respect.”

“Your reasoning is certainly plausible.”

Fashion is brought up again, in a different manner, if Holmes is to make it in the modern age, he not only has to know what is fashionable, but also what counts as a fashion faux par. Although what he says holds grounds for that time [16], in this age the only hats witnessed with securers on belong to infant children in general beach vicinity, accompanied usually with a plastic shovel and spade and someone taking an adorable picture the child will grow up to regret.  

Moving on from Parisian blunders and beach pictures, Holmes states that a decrease in foresight is proof of a weakening nature, or as said earlier, moral retrograde. While there hasn’t been research giving a direct link between the two, it has been shown that illnesses such as anxiety and depression can be correlated with changes in moral upkeep [17], and such illnesses can be caused by problems rooted in drinking and gambling [18], though it should be noted these are not by any means the only causes [19], so whilst Holmes’ reasoning may have been correct with the link between foresight and morale, it was a bit of a stretch for him to claim that this was due to some influence such as drink, as I’m sure the loss of one’s fortune alone would be enough to cause such loss in morale.

“The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the best of training.”

Anyone who has had their hair cut to a short length can verify that it finds itself everywhere, so it is not surprising that it gets into the hat’s lining, within the loose hair’s closest proximity, and the adhesiveness of the lime-cream will naturally transfer from his hair to his hat, likely bringing a few strands with it, and while the type of hat mentioned may not be applicable to the general public anymore, hats such as flat caps are (at least for the time being)[20].  

It is also true that different types of dust have different properties, and so cling to fabrics differently[21], and the marks of moisture in Winter would suggest that it either had little to do with the weather (and the man therefore sweats a lot in any season), or that the hat hadn’t been rid of these marks despite treatments being available with the use of lemons or baking soda[22].

“But his wife—you said that she had ceased to love him.”

“This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's affection.”

“But he might be a bachelor.”

“Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg.”

It should be stated that the card on the bird’s leg reads “For Mrs. Henry Baker”.

This statement to Watson is more interpretation than based on any scientific evidence, however Holmes has had many cases surrounding couples in and out of love, and the attentiveness of a loving partner, and what a partner may do to regain that affection if lost, can be seen throughout many newspapers, stories, and from our very own experiences in life[23]. It is therefore not difficult to conclude that what Holmes says has some level of merit, despite lack of conclusive proof.  

“You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce that the gas is not laid on in his house?”

“One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with burning tallow—walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?”

“Well, it is very ingenious,” said I, laughing; “but since, as you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a waste of energy.”

Of course, in this age most houses are lighted with electricity rather than gas, and modern use of a candle would most likely be in creating a certain atmosphere, however candles aren’t what they used to be. Tallow was very commonly used in the making of candle wax, and was composed of animal fats, supposedly giving off a rather unpleasant odour when burned[24]. However nowadays candles are made primarily from beeswax, gel wax, paraffin wax and so on[25], making it unlikely to leave the same smear on the fabric of a hat.  

Conclusion

So, what does this all tell us then? It seems that Holmes is a bit out of touch with the times, what with fashion trends changing multiple times a decade along with ingredients of candles, and I would imagine a great deal of other things (although having lived over a century ago it isn’t much of a surprise!). It also seems that Holmes has a knack for showing off, but as Watson said, there has been no crime committed, and no harm done save the loss of a goose, so perhaps this was the reason for Holmes’ stretches of reasoning. Stretches aside, his method of analytical reasoning and scientific know-how can safely be said for the most part, to hold up to the test of time.  

But this is just one example, so can our dear friend Sherlock Holmes smoke his pipe easy? Not without further study of his other deductions, and he’s made plenty of them! His knowledge on scientific principles, as well as new theories certainly help his case, aiding in his thought process and providing good evidence for his claims, but new theories aren’t always the right theories, and while he may have been lucky in the matter of cubic capacity, he could have been talking as much sense as a hatter!  

Giving him the benefit of the doubt for his fondness of showing off to his friend, and until a further analysis of his other cases can be made, he may rest easy, curled up in his armchair by the warm fireplace, in the belief that his skill as a detective, while needing to be brushed up a little for the passing years, remains more or less intact.  

References:

[1] Egan V, Chiswick A, Santosh C, Naidu K, Rimmington JE, Best JJ. Size isn't everything: A study of brain volume, intelligence and auditory evoked potentials. Personality and Individual Differences. 1994 Sep 1;17(3):357-67.

[2] Estabrooks GH. The relation between cranial capacity, relative cranial capacity and intelligence in school children. Journal of Applied Psychology. 1928 Oct;12(5):524.

[3] Pearl R. On the correlation between intelligence and the size of the head. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. 1906 May;16(3):189-99.

[4] Andreasen NC, Flaum M, Swayze V, O'Leary DS, Alliger R, Cohen G, Ehrhardt J, Yuh WT. Intelligence and brain structure in normal individuals. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1993 Jan 1;150:130-.

[5] Wickett JC, Vernon PA, Lee DH. In vivo brain size, head perimeter, and intelligence in a sample of healthy adult females. Personality and Individual differences. 1994 Jun 1;16(6):831-8.

[6] Mathalon DH, Sullivan EV, Rawles JM, Pfefferbaum A. Correction for head size in brain-imaging measurements. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. 1993 Jun 1;50(2):121-39.

[7] McDaniel MA. Big-brained people are smarter: A meta-analysis of the relationship between in vivo brain volume and intelligence. Intelligence. 2005 Jul 1;33(4):337-46.

[8] O'Brien, James. Sherlock Holmes: Pioneer in Forensic Science. Encyclopedia Brittanica. March 31st 2014.  [cited 20th June 2019] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sherlock-Holmes-Pioneer-in-Forensic-Science-1976713

[9] Doyle, Arthur Conan. A Study in Scarlet. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

[10] Time. Skinny Jean [Internet] [cited 20th June 2019] http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2011254_2014381_2014372,00.html [Published 20th December 2006]

[11] USAToday. Skinny legs and all: Jeans get slender [Internet] [cited 20th June 2019] http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2006-04-16-skinny-jeans_x.htm [Published 16th April 2006]

[12] Wikipedia. 2000’s in Fashion[Internet][cited 20th January 2019] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_in_fashion

[13] Confetissimo. 2018 [Internet] [cited 20th June 2019] https://confettissimo.com/en/fashion-style/what-to-wear/Palazzo-summer-trousers-topical.html

[14] Wikipedia. 2010's in Fashion[Internet][cited 20th January 2019] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010s_in_fashion

[15] Independent. How the Skinny Jeans Trend Finally Died and Made Way For Body Conscious Denim [Internet] [cited 20th June 2019] https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/skinny-jeans-trend-denim-athleisure-body-conscious-khloe-kardashian-a7371451.html [Published 4th March 2017]

[16] Nunn, Joan. Fashion in Costume, 1200-2000. 2nd edition. A & C Black (Publishers) Ltd; Chicago: New Amsterdam Books, 2000.

[17] Paulus MP, Stein MB. Interoception in anxiety and depression. Brain structure and Function. 2010 Jun 1;214(5-6):451-63.

[18] Martin RJ, Usdan S, Cremeens J, Vail-Smith K. Disordered gambling and co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders among college students: An examination of problem drinking, anxiety and depression. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2014 Jun 1;30(2):321-33.

[19] Khalsa SR, McCarthy KS, Sharpless BA, Barrett MS, Barber JP. Beliefs about the causes of depression and treatment preferences. Journal of clinical psychology. 2011 Jun;67(6):539-49.

[20] Mail Online. Peaky Blinders sparks flat cap revival [Internet] [cited 27 June 2019]. Available from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3614942/Peaky-Blinders-sparks-flat-cap-trend-sales-83.html

[21] World Health Organization. Hazard prevention and control in the work environment: airborne dust. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1999.

[22] Bilgram V, Bartl M, Biel S. Getting closer to the consumer–how Nivea co-creates new products. Marketing Review St. Gallen. 2011 Feb 1;28(1):34-40.  

[23] Chang JS. Agony-resolution pathways: How women perceive American men in Cosmopolitan's agony (advice) column. The Journal of Men’s Studies. 2000 Jun;8(3):285-308.

[24] Henchman A. Tallow candles and meaty air in Bleak House. 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century. 2017 Dec 1.

[25] Unique Candle Creations. Gel Candles vs Traditional Candles [Internet] [Cited 24th June 2019] https://uniquecandlecreations.com/pages/gel-candles-vs-traditional-candles

[p0ck3tp03t]

Rampant Thoughts 16.

Envy is something I have been feeling in a high amount lately and guilt is in close pursuit. I look around at people achieving the thing that I have been dreaming of for quite some time, and can't stand the fact that I am the only to blame for not being in that position yet. Spite is eating at me even more as the realization that my existence isn't worthy of having what they have and what is worse is knowing that this desire is shallow beyond allowance.

If I were to give a name to what I want it'd probably be along the lines of attention or recognition but after careful introspection it has come to me that the object of desire is represented by the idea of validation. The knowledge that some stranger validates your existence because you brightened his day simply through doing an act that serves you more than him must feel quite fulfilling, and I speak from personal experience even if that may be on a smaller scale. One must accept what they feel as a part themselves and use that as fuel to either burn themselves aimlessly or to ignite a sense of perspective within oneself if capable of such action. This mindless pursuit stems from my inability to find reason to form an affection towards myself so in consequence I try to fill that chasm with that of others even if I am fully aware of how fleeting it may be. This is more or less a losing battle because it is futile trying to stitch and patch this cavernous space that I sense cannot be filled with nothing but self-acceptance. No matter the actions taken or the steps ahead, never do I feel satisfied with the things accomplished as they amount to nothing aside from being fickle exertions against the seemingly insurmountable walls called expectation and disappointment. Living in fear of living and having oneself as ones worst enemy, being reminded and discouraged constantly by feelings of worthlessness piled with lack of success does not amalgamate into a concoction that yields success and never will. Until these hurdles are overcome, the light sought will never be found and this includes any endeavor one wishes to pursue.

Truth be told, though denied, that which I seek might not be a path fitting for one such as myself, but nonetheless, rebellion coupled with perseverance are parts of myself that still flicker despite the amount of darkness that roams throughout my existence. I have not done enough and probably never will, and I will live a life where daydreams of finding the light will replace reality as life itself withers slowly together with everything that I am until there won't be anything left..

Quite incredible to believe that this which I seek is important enough to affect to such a degree, almost to the point of crippling my thoughts for days, causing me to overthink the situation until I would end up in a state of deep melancholy. Further introspective analysis into this has surfaced even deeper reasons as to why this represents such significance, almost instinctively. I recalled watching people who do and have done this for a very long time and the joy they have brought to people around them through their work. Everyone wants something they cannot have and it is possible that somewhere along the line I took notice of how powerful were the people whose actions managed to spark a flicker of laughter in strangers that shone their eyes upon them. Among those people, I also found myself, looking and studying their acts, gestures, personas, trying to understand everything about these strangers for which a form of affection had begun to catch root.

It didn't take long for me to imagine myself in that position, wishing to do what they did but never actually doing it because I felt it would turn into an act of plagiarizing and I would turn myself into a copy of someone else, which in turn would transform me into a breathing lie. Nothing could stop me from trying but in my head, if I wasn't them or like them, the result they had achieved would be different or even opposite from mine which meant failure or worse, rejection. So it started a battle in my head that has been going on for many years and its aftermath is yet to be settled as it branched out into many other issues that have become a component that defines everything I am.

The pursuit remains active and steps towards its capture have been taken, and though still fruitless, I refuse to concede until a sense of contentment will end the hunger. The end of the journey is nowhere in sight and considering the progress rate, expectations to succeed are low, ironically. Maybe I do not need the destination and rather the journey in order to find that which I seek so vehemently, and if that may be true, then the path below my feet might be the right one and despite all the turbulent weather that plagues the skies, there is no need to rush. The self that I am destined to be will wait, patiently, hopeful that when I get there, I will radiate with contentment. Until then though, I continue to carve endlessly until I will have shed and become an existence worthy of validation, not so much from others but mostly from myself, and I believe that only then will I have reached the true end of my journey.

                                                                                           By:PocketPoet

[cactussuckingchampion]

Forecast for June 29 - July 5

So I am up for a job writing weekly forecasts for a site and the site isnt up yet but I wrote this for it as a sample/draft type thing. I might also start doing individual sign forecasts, I'm not sure if the employer wants that yet. I just wanted to post this here and see what ya'll thought of it. Any critiques would be greatly appreciated!!! 💜💜💜

Yay! Venus isn’t in retrograde anymore! But do not worry, we still have plenty of retrogrades to go around.

Feeling a bit more sensitive and withdrawn? That is not unusual during this period due to Cancer season being in full swing as well as Mercury also being in this cardinal, watery sign. The planet of intellect, reason, rationalization, communication, and the conscious mind is in the sign of Cancer which is ruled by the Moon, a planet that operates very differently than Mercury. What happens when retrograde Mercury goes into Cancer? A more emotional reaction in our interactions.

 We may be more inclined to lean towards emotion rather than logic, which can sometimes lead to conflict especially in the home or family due to Cancer being the most maternal sign in astrology. A mercury retrograde makes it difficult to complete plans and since Cancer rules our home, be on the lookout for practical things going wrong in your home. Home renovations, buying or selling a home, and as always be careful of technology going awry. (Buy a good phone case!) 

It’s not all negative though, Cancer Mercury can help us reconnect with loved ones who we have lost touch with. Don’t be surprised if a family member who hasn’t reached out will try to mend broken fences out of the blue. Take this time to relax, breathe and take some time for introspection. Try to think of what makes you feel secure, comfortable, and emotionally at ease. What in the material world can help put your emotions at ease? We all need a comfortable place to retreat to.

Mars moved into fast paced, action loving Aries, the sign that it rules naturally, where it will stay until January 7, 2021. After the procrastinating, daydreaming nature of Mars being in Pisces it is a breath of fresh air to move into it’s home of Aries. All those fantasies you have been daydreaming during Mars in Pisces have the opportunity to become reality with Aries’ ambitious determination.

As a whole we might feel a desire to take back control of our lives, which can lead to some head butting. The Warrior’s biggest flaw is his impulsivity. Don’t confuse confidently tackling issues head on with rushing hastily into a situation due to an inflated ego. 

Due to the emotional nature of Cancer and the fiery aggression of Aries we can either go down a road to victory with our loved ones and neighbors or unnecessarily create outrage due to our emotional impulsivity. Treading lightly and with purpose is very important especially in these times. 

Cancel culture is a perfect example of people losing sight of what they were originally fighting for. What was once a fight for ridding our society of toxicity turned into shooting allegations at people and issues that were never real targets. Rushing into petty arguments will only waste time that could’ve been spent on real change in our world. Make sure to channel your energy efficiently.

Speaking of big change, Saturn has been in retrograde since May 11, 2020. Saturn rules Capricorn and co-rules Aquarius, two signs it will be jumping between this week. Saturn is a planet many fear but it is a necessary teacher. It has been dealing out karmic debts in Aquarius since March 21st. Aquarius here is trying to teach us to come together to change our society. The world literally stopped due to unprecedented circumstances which forced us to sit down and reevaluate our lives and what motivates us. We became even more dependent on our technology (Aquarius loves technology) to communicate and inform one another. Tensions rose while we all suffered from cabin fever, ultimately causing us to snap, and react dramatically when we witnessed great injustice and cruelty in our world. Our devices helped us document the injustices all around us. We joined together to fight back and rebel against the authorities who mistreated us. 

The Saturn retrograde caused us to look into our past and revisit past events that affect our present. Digging up old skeletons from way back in the closet, out of the dark and into the light to be reviewed and exposed. Ugly things that were hidden and as a society we were too scared to look into have been drudged up in order to reprimand shameful behaviors in the past.

On Thursday, July 2, Saturn will move back into Capricorn where it will push us to put in the effort of all that we started. With Saturn in Capricorn rewards are not easily reaped, hard work has to be implemented in order to gain rewards. Like a firm father, saturn in Capricorn teaches us that cutting corners will not lead to lasting results.

June 30 will bring about the conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, luck, abundance, and faith meanwhile Pluto is the planet of death, transformation, evolution and renewal. Together they can help bring about the change we have all been seeking. All that has been starting earlier in the year by the conjunction between Saturn and Pluto on January 12. What started as a very difficult shift will bring hope to many. We can all use a little hope nowadays. All the changes we are going through are necessary but with growth come growing pains and Jupiter is trying to tell us to hold on and keep going, keep pushing on, try to embrace the changes as we push through to a new cycle in life. Flexibility is a very important attribute right now. And above all, have faith that after all the hardship, rewards will be waiting on the other side. 

Finally on Sunday, July 5 we will experience a full moon in Capricorn further extending this theme of authority and control. Deep rooted feelings of not wanting to be controlled might surface. Watch out for confrontation and an abrasive attitude. Power struggles could be a theme during this time. 

Capricorn's energy is very much career and work oriented. These power struggles could end up causing conflicts with your coworkers or boss and lead to impatience with one another. Moon in Capricorn could also bring to fruition all that you have been working towards since the beginning of the moon cycle, especially in terms of work and career.

This is not just any full moon though! It is a partial full moon eclipse! What does that mean? Werewolves. Just kidding! But energies will be all over the place, so you might just feel like one. Emotional ups and downs, maybe some chaos, a couple arguments out of the blue here and there but not to worry, everything is temporary. It would be wise to practice being self aware and control your impulses. 

All in all, we have quite an exciting week ahead of us all. Self restraint and focusing your energy where it is needed seems to be the theme for the week.

[wanderingwoodswoman]

Major Arcana Cheat Sheet

The Fool: The Fool is a very powerful card in the Tarot deck, usually representing a new beginning -- and, consequently, an end to something in your old life. The Fool's position in your spread reveals which aspects of your life may be subject to change. The Fool portends important decisions ahead which may not be easy to make, and involve an element of risk for you. Approach the changes with optimism and care to gain the most positive outcome.

The Magician: The Magician generally associates with intelligent and skillful communicators. His presence in your spread indicates a level of self-confidence and drive which allows you to translate ideas into action. A practical card, the revelations it brings are best applied to the pragmatic and physical aspects of your life, rather then the ephemeral or theoretical. Your success in upcoming ventures in politics or business will likely hinge upon your own strength of will and determination.

The High Priestess: Your identification with the High Priestess suggests you possess inherent good judgment, in the form of strong intuition. She may indicate that reason should take second place to instinct. Your head must trust in the wisdom of your heart for a change. Yet, she is also an aide by nature, and her presence in certain parts of your spread could be indicative of someone close to you coming to your rescue with their own intuition. Intuition is most effective at seeing what is hidden to the senses, so the High Priestess may also come as a warning of concealed facts or influences that are, or will be, important to you.

The Empress: Traditionally associated with strong maternal influence, the presence of the Empress is excellent news if you are looking for harmony in your marriage or hoping to start a family. Any artistic endeavors you are currently associated with are also likely to be more successful, as this card often finds those exposed to strong bursts of creative or artistic energy. That creative energy may not be in the form of a painting or art project, however: This card also suggests a very strong possibility of pregnancy -- not necessarily yours, but you might be seeing a new addition to your extended family or the family of a close friend in the near future! This card is a good portent for you and those around you.

The Emperor: Counterpart to the Empress, the Emperor is signifies a powerful influence, generally male in nature. This can also include concepts in your life historically considered masculine, such as leadership and authority, self-discipline, and stability through the power of action. Its positive influences suggest you may be on a path to advancement or promotion, but it can also be neutral. Often a companion to those destined to take on greater responsibility, it may presage change or loss that necessitates you stepping forward to shoulder a greater burden than you have in the past. Whatever the impetus for the change, it indicates you may possess an uncommon inner strength that will compel you act and to lead.

The Hierophant (Pope): Depending on your own nature, the Hierophant can mean very different things. At its root, it represents doctrine, but doctrine can come in the form of teaching and guidance or rigid authority. Where it appears in your spread is also important, as it is most often indicative of your own approach to the moral, religious, and social conventions of the world. Considered wisely, it helps show the path towards fulfillment. 

The Lovers: Your first instinct will most likely be to associate this card as representing love, but, much like love, it does not possess a simple nature. Not only does love comes in many forms, but the Lovers may indicate important or difficult choices ahead in your life. This is bad, in that the choices it portends are generally mutually exclusive, paths to two very different futures, but also good, in that it also confirms that at least one of those paths will take you to a good place. As such, if you happen to find it in your spread, you should consider it carefully, but not fear it. It tells a story of difficult choices, likely painful, but that the correct decision and a positive outcome are within your grasp. 

The Chariot: You have some hard work ahead of you. It may be resolved quickly, but the Chariot is a powerful card, and the labor you are undertaking will probably trend towards long and difficult. You will quite possibly experience rough roads, long uphill slopes, dead ends, and painful setbacks. A good outcome is only assured if the card is upright, but do not let yourself lose hope: This hard road will instill in you a strength of purpose, the ability to overcome through organization and endurance, and the confidence possessed only by those who have done what they thought they could not. Harnessed correctly, few forces can stand against an individual like that. 

Strength: Strength is the rawest form of power, and you possess it in some form. It is a very happy card if you are fighting illness or recovering from injury. As might be suspected, its influence over you, and the use you put it to, can trend towards light or dark. You likely trend towards facing your problems courageously, head-on, and conquering them through perseverance and will. With this ability to overcome life's obstacles, though, comes the responsibility to control yourself, and it this card may be a warning to take command of your own actions or emotions before they damage you or the people you care about.

The Hermit: There are times in every life, when one must step back and make a careful examination of their situations and decisions. Finding the Hermit in your spread suggests this is just such a time for you. You are in need of a period of inner reflection, away from the current demands of your position. This retreat can be physical, or a search within. Only a deep and honest introspection will lead to a solution, however.

Wheel of Fortune: Symbolic of life's cycles, the Wheel of Fortune speaks to good beginnings. Most likely, you will find the events foretold to be positive, but, being aspects of luck, they may also be beyond your control and influence. Tend those things you can control with care, and learn not to agonize over the ones you cannot.

Justice: Justice is a very good card to find in your spread if you have acted with kindness and fairness towards other and, especially, if you have been a victim. It is a significant indicator of a positive resolution, although how and what sort will depend on your own experiences. If you have been unfair, abusive, or otherwise shady and immoral in your dealings, though, pay heed. For the unjust, this card is, at best, a dire warning to change your ways before retribution falls upon you, and, at worst, a simple statement that it is already too late. In neutral cases, it may simply be telling you to seek out balance in your life. 

The Hanged Man: The Hanged Man can be interpreted in two very different ways. All change is a small kind of death, as the old must die to create the new, and it may simply indicate upheaval or change in your future, perhaps beyond your control, but more likely a decision that, for good or ill, you will not be able to turn back from. The other interpretation is one of sacrifice, although whether this sacrifice is small or great may not be easily interpreted. Both interpretations imply permanence, and that you should give very careful thought to the decisions in your life. 

Death: Death is indicative of change in your future. This change can be in almost any aspect of your life, but it will almost certainly be permanent, significant, and absolute. Death suggests a complete severance between the past and the future, and it will likely be painful. Despite the sense of loss that may accompany it, Death fills an important and natural role in life, and leads eventually to acceptance. It is a necessary part of moving forward, and you will find the changes easiest if you embrace them, rather than fight them. Expect the end of a close friendship, a job, a marriage, or even a life, but do not focus too greatly on the negative.

Temperance: An optimistic card, Temperance encourages you to find balance in your life and approach problems with a calm demeanor. It recognizes that opposing forces need not be at war within you. Tread carefully in any major decisions you make, with confidence that good decisions will lead to a good resolution for you.

The Devil: The Devil is in the business of entrapment. It signifies a situation from which there is no escape, or a road leading to one. Forewarning may let you avoid the trap, or it may not. What sort of trap, and how you might avoid it, depends on where the Devil appears in your spread, and what other cards surround it. This card does not foretell doom, only the need for prudence.

The Tower: Dark and foreboding, the Tower is the embodiment of disruption and conflict. Not just change, but the abrupt and jarring movement caused by the unforeseen and traumatic events which are part of life. The Tower in your spread is always a threat, but life inevitably involves tragedy, and you must decide whether you will face it with grace.

The Star: The Star's presence signifies a period of respite and renewal for you. This renewal may be spiritual, physical, or both. It is a particularly positive sign if you or someone close is recovering from illness or injury. It is a light in the darkness, illuminating your future and your past.

The Moon: Something in your life is not what it seems. Perhaps a misunderstanding on your part, or a truth you cannot admit to yourself. It may also indicate something important being kept from you by another. This may be a source of worry or depression in your life, and the Moon is a strong indicator that you must rely on your intuition to see through the subterfuge.

The Sun: As an inherently good influence, finding the Sun is a positive development. It is suggestive of personal gain, and that personal goals and joy are within reach, if you are willing to invest the effort to actualize them. If you are embarking on a new personal venture, such as marriage or beginning a family, the Sun is of particular influence. 

Judgement: Judgment tells a story of transition, but unlike Death or the Tower, it is not sudden change, or born of luck or intuition, but change that springs from reason. It signifies plans, often long in the making, coming to fruition. If it points towards the future, it may also speak towards the nature of the change; if there is a choice that needs to be made, ruminate and let your mind guide the decision. Logic, in this case, is a better guide than intuition. Be prepared to make a major decision in your life, likely one that will shape the next chapter of your life.

The World: The World is an indicator of a major and inexorable change, of tectonic breadth. This change represents a chance for you to bring about a desirable end to the Old and a good beginning to the New. It is indicative of growing maturity, a sense of inner balance and deeper understanding. It suggests that you may be approaching a more final sense of identity, and the security in the self that comes with age. It also represents the falling away of boundaries, sometimes in the effusive sense of the spiritual, but sometimes in a purely physical sense, indicating travels or journeys in the future. 

[scripttorture]

(pt 1 of 2) So I've got a character (A) that gets snagged by this group of mercenaries/assassins in the hope of drawing out this other character (B) they've been trying to kill. B is telepathic, so the group is hoping that by torturing A he'll have to come and save her. It doesn't work, and A goes through about three days of torture (beatings, mostly) before she's rescued by another character, C.

(pt 2 of 2) C and A are from different races that are mortal enemies, but C saves A because torture is something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. Granted, he does the bare minimum to save her, but could that sort of thing be enough to shake A's firmly held beliefs about C's whole race? Secondly, how do I patch things up between A and B? I've got a lot of people being unreasonable, especially in the short term, but I'm not sure how reconciliation should go, since A is mad and B is ashamed.

Whenit comes to strongly held beliefs I don’t think there are many firmanswers.

Evidencealone generally doesn’tshake our beliefs and we have a marked tendency to pick and choosethe evidence we cite, emphasising and giving more weight to thingsthat support what we believe. We do this even when we’re aware ofthis effect. It seems to be a universally human trait.

Butevidence coupled with emotional appeals canchange people’s minds. People can also gradually change over time.

Thekey word here is ‘can’. It is possible.That doesn’t mean it happens every time.

Thingslike de-radicalisation programs domake a measurable difference in the broad sense. But they don’treach everyone they interact with.

Andthe things which trigger a change of heart are not always fastacting. They can be things that gnaw at a person over a course ofyears, gradually prompting them to shift their stance.

Essentiallyyou could choose to take this either way. You could have A’s viewof C’s people changing, either abruptly or gradually. But you couldalso have A write the incident off as an exception to the rule orotherwise dismiss it. Either response can happen in real life.

Let’sstep back from the success rates of organisations like After Hate fora moment and address this as writers.

Ifyou wantA to have a massive change of heart then however quick the change itcan’t feel like it comes out of nowhere. The readers have tounderstand the process A goes through emotionally.

Whichmeans the reason behind this has to be more than C’s actions: itneeds to be the feelings and thoughts those actions prompt in A.Otherwise the change is going to come across emotionally flat.

ShowA struggling with these thoughts and feelings, swinging betweendoubting what they were taught and what they experienced. Don’t betempted to make this change easy and don’t be afraid to show Afalling back on old, toxic patterns occasionally.

Movingon from these sorts of hateful idea isn’t easy. It means aconcerted choice every day to address your own toxicity and dedicateyourself to being a better person.

Thatsort of introspection, judgement and emotional work is always inprogress. People often slide back a little even if they’re makingprogress over all. That isn’t unusual.

AndI honestly think that this change will read better if it involvessome internal struggle. The best way to present that will vary withhow you write. If it’s from A’s point of view you can show it asis. You might be able to work it in to conversation with C.

Youmight find having B pick up on it works as well, because that thengives you a way to tie these separate sub-plots together. It mightwell be easier for A and B to argue about how A feels about C/C’speople then it is for them to address their problems with each other.

Whichleads us to A and B’s relationship.

HonestlyI think this is something you should be tailoring to the charactersbecause the ‘right’ answer is going to vary with the individualsinvolved. It might be helpful to unpack some ‘logical knowledge’vs ‘emotional assumptions’ on the part of both characters though.

Let’sstart with A.

NowA probably knowsthat rescuing her wasn’t just a question of skill or bravery. Arescue mission is a difficult and risky prospect, highly likely tofail and extremely rare in reality.

She’dknow that B would find it difficult to rescue A. If B doesn’t havean organisation backing them up then a rescue would have been almostimpossible to pull off successfully.

She’dknow that a rescue attempt could result in B being captured andtortured too. She’d know that an unsuccessful rescue attempt couldeasily lead to A herself being killed.

AdditionallyA would also be aware that torture was warping her perception of theworld. A would probably not always be awareof where She was being held or many of the details of herimprisonment.

Ifall B has to go on for a rescue mission is A’s thoughts then A mustknow that B would have had trouble finding her.

Awould also know that the more B connected with A’s mind the moreimpaired B would be. Because B would also be experiencing thedisorientation, confusion and delirium the pain of torture causes.This sort of confused thinking would leak through and create animpairment even if B couldn’t experience A’s pain.

Bwould also know, logically, all the reasons they couldn’tpractically have rescued A.

Bwould be in the unfortunate position of having a second-handexperience of A’s trauma throughout. The threat of torture is veryreal here. It’s immediate. B’s fear of that is legitimate andshouldn’t be dismissed.

Butthat logic doesn’t trump the emotional side of all this.

Andthe emotional side is that B probably feels like they let A down. Aprobably feel betrayed and hurt and abandoned. They bothprobably feel isolated from each other and like it’s harder totalk.

Neitherof these sets of feelings are logical or rational. But there’s anextent to which that doesn’t matter.

Ithink the best way to address it is directly. Which doesn’t providean easy resolution.

Thething is- most torture victims don’texpect to be rescued. They are not in a position to…. think there’sany possibility of rescue. A’s position here is unusual and thatcomes in part from her being privileged enough to know powerfulpeople. Contact with other survivors might help A realise this andprocess a little of how she feels emotionally. It might help heremotionally accept that the expectations she had of B wereunreasonable.

Havingthem talk about it, the reasons why A expected something and thereasons B couldn’t provide it is an important first step. But thisisn’t something that’s going to resolve overnight. Oneconversation, even if they do listen and understand each other, isn’tgoing to resolve everything.

OnA’s side it’s a case of rebuilding trust. I think that’s ofteneasier to write because we see so many examples of it in literature:trust lost and rebuilt. It’s something that’s best built upslowly over time with a lot of actions on B’s part rather than withsome kind of ‘Big Damn Heroes’ moment.

Agood starting point would probably be helping A with her recovery.Consistent help with the little things she’s struggling with (whichinitially may include eating, getting dressed and moving about) wouldgo a long way.

Shemight not forgive B quickly or at all. She may stop relying on B toprotect her. But care is important too. It’s possible to trustsomeone with some things, some aspects of life and not others.

Partof this depends on how deep you want their reconciliation to go. It’sperfectly possible for them to completely rebuild their relationshipso it’s just as strong as before, but it would take more work thenrebuilding something shallower.

Ithink in some ways B’s side of this emotional problem is harder. Acan meet other torture or trauma survivors and learn that theexpectation of rescue is a fantasy out of most people’s reach. Shecan gradually come to trust B again if they both communicate honestlyand B takes the time to try and care for her, to try and build thatfriendship back.

ButI get the impression B has lost their trust in themselves and that’sa lot harder to regain.

Angerruns out of steam eventually. And sick angry people still need to eator help getting out of bed.

Shamecan eat at someone for the rest of their life.  

Myhonest instinct is that if these were real people they’d both needtherapy. A lot of therapy.  And while that’s not something that wecan work in to every setting emotional support definitely is.

Bis going to have to forgive themselves for what happened. A big partof that means accepting their own powerlessness in this situation,which is a terrifying thing. It create a sort of emotional push-pulleffect, forgiving themselves means accepting something incrediblyfrightening so it’s easier to avoid those feelings and hold on toarrogance.

Itcan sometimes be easier to tell ourselves we’re cowards or badpeople then it is to accept our own limits.

EarningA’s trust again may not necessarily combat these feelings, B mightcontinue to feel unworthy of that trust.

Thereare a lot of ways to write a set up like this convincingly and well.I think you’ll get the best results by trying to tie thecharacters’ progress to both the overall story and the charactersas individuals.

They’reprobably going to go mess up a few times. They’re probably going toheal at different rates and be ready for different things atdifferent times. Try to be aware of how other things that arehappening in the narrative might effect the characters emotionally.Because the other things going on in their lives could be useful toprompt this kind of emotional growth.

WhenI’m trying to reconcile characters I often try to think about whatthe root of the problem is. It’s often not what the characters areexpressing or consciously aware of as the ‘problem’.

Inthis case I’d guess that it’s ideas of safety and security on A’spart and ideas of duty and bravery on B’s. Those ideas are thingsall of us can understand but the ways they’re expressed areparticular to your characters.

Ihope that helps. :)

Availableon Wordpress.

Disclaimer

[jewish-privilege]

In between the two world wars, the Polish Republic, newly created in 1919 from parts of the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires, included many ethnic and national minorities: German, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Slovak and Jewish. Although Poland signed the Minorities Treaty of 1919, which called for protection of the civil rights of non-Polish minorities, the reality was far different when it came to the country’s Jews, who made up 10% of the population. Rampant anti-Semitism was an integral and especially virulent part of Polish society, idée fixe, that was further fueled by a series of events in 1922.

Paul Brykcznski’s revelatory book, Primed for Violence: Murder, Antisemitism and Democratic Politics in Interwar Poland, illustrates how the election and subsequent murder of the first president of the Polish Republic, Gabriel Narutowicz, in December 1922, arose from anti-Semitism and burgeoning ethnic Polish nationalism. Drawing on primary sources, including newspaper articles, political pamphlets, parliamentary minutes and police reports, Brykcznski, shows how the “December Events,” as they came to be called, were historically viewed as minimally important, but were, in fact, broadly significant. They profoundly influenced Polish society and Poland’s political climate for years to come and largely determined the political direction of the country in the lead up to the Second World War.

...Although he enjoyed widespread support from a broad coalition of minority parties, Narutowicz was characterized as the “Jewish” candidate and, thus, the object of profound antipathy in a Poland wracked by anti-Semitism. Ethnic Poles loathed minorities as foreigners but singled out Jews for intense hatred. The majority of the electorate believed that minorities had to be kept out of politics and that any politician who acted against the interests of ethnic Poles in collusion with the minorities was guilty of treason. Jews were viewed as actors in a powerful, sinister Bolshevist conspiracy that would spell imagined defeat for the future of the Polish state.

Following Narutowicz’s ascent to the presidency, large demonstrations and riots took place in Warsaw, forcing the government to declare martial law. Nationalistic Poles regarded the president as illegitimate and felt cheated out of what they deemed was their rightful place to run the country. They called for a social boycott of Jews and proceeded to loot and vandalize Jewish businesses. Roaming groups of youths, undeterred by law enforcement, hunted for Jews and attacked on the streets anyone they imagined was Jewish.

The unrest continued through inauguration day with a massive demonstration orchestrated to prevent the new president from arriving at the swearing-in ceremony. Youths wielding clubs and firearms formed in front of the assembly hall, demanding identification from all those who tried to enter. Those who had supported Narutowicz, as well as Jewish journalists, were beaten by the mobs. Eventually, a bruised Narutowicz was sworn in as president.

...On December 16, 1922, while officiating at the opening of an annual art exhibit, Narutowicz was shot from behind by Eligiusz Niewiadomski, a painter who insisted he acted to save Poland from Jewish tyranny and domination. Niewiadomski faulted the Jews for creating and popularizing socialism, which he believed had led to the degeneration of moral values. He claimed to be motivated by the deep desire to maintain the “Polishness” of Poland. In short order, the murderer was turned into a national hero, “a man of great character,” “a noble soul.”  Following his execution on Jan. 31, 1923, Niewiadomski’s funeral procession numbered 10,000 Poles. Even today, his grave is a place of pilgrimage, and the anniversary of his death brings many admirers.

Particularly interesting, as noted by the author, was how the image of the murderer transformed in just a few days from that of a madman to a patriot. The media presented the murder as a casualty of the nation’s legitimate reaction to its sovereignty being “taken over” by Jews. In very short order, the murderer, Niewiadomski, became a symbol of Polish resistance to a perceived Jewish threat. As Narutowicz was seen by many as an illegitimate president, the violence exhibited against him was characterized as a natural consequence of his election.

Mollified by the riots and murder, most Polish political parties of the day backed away from their support of national minorities and failed to challenge the fulminant anti-Semitism and ethnic Polish nationalism. A public discourse ensued on what constituted “Polishness,” and it was generally decided that “ethnic Poles” alone had the right to rule Poland.

Prior to the election of Narutowicz, anti-Semitic libels had focused on Jews as “causing inflation,” “taking over the economic life of certain regions,” breaking up Polish unity or “being in league with the Freemasons.”  Many Poles subscribed to the meme that the removal of Jews from political and economic influence in Polish life would solve the country’s political and economic ills. The call for “national unity” became known as the “Doctrine of the Polish Majority,” which amounted to the explicit exclusion of “non-Polish” minorities and an orchestrated plan of hatred and rejection of Jewish political participation. Instead of causing introspection and reevaluation, the murder of the Jewish president brought reaffirmation of anti-Semitism and renewed commitment to ethnic Polish nationalism.

...Brykcznski makes clear in Primed for Violence that the result of the December Events, the election, resulting riots and assassination of the first Polish president, rather than bringing about a condemnation of anti-Semitism and a reformation of Polish policies to embrace minority Poles, brought doctrinal changes that formalized anti-Semitic nationalism and drove Polish politicians to champion a discriminatory political climate of ethnic Polish supremacy. In the end, defending the political rights of Jews and other minorities was viewed as a battle not worth fighting given the violence and anarchy that emanated from the deep cultural roots of anti-Semitism throughout the nation.