#But the “first drawing of the year” is a sacred tradition to me

[mintharaestermont]

the true reason behind the carnival was a simple one, something to mark the changing of the seasons from dry to wet, a last celebration before the stormland rains battered the island for months on end. it seemed like something too ordinary to offer him, though, as though the simple act of mentioning the weather would dampen the moment. she was barely listening to the music, moving without thought whilst her attention remained entirely upon amir, gaze catching on the curve of his cheekbones and the glint in his eye each time he said something with a spark of mischief in it.

"obviously there's a reason," she said, solemnly - all together too solemnly, which made it plain that nothing she was about to say was true. she paused, both for dramatic effect, and to give herself a moment to think of something worth saying. "ancient tradition, goes back to the first estermonts. see, there was this pirate from the stepstones. horrid man, terrifying. used to raid up and down the island, stealing everything that wasn't nailed down - fish, wine, women, you name it." she paused for a moment to draw her breath, unable to keep the smirk from her face. "anyway, he tried to sack greenstone during one of my ancestors' wedding feast. waited until they were all deep in their cups to attack, thought it would give him the upper hand. only us estermonts get rowdy when we're pissed. ended up chasing him back into the sea in all our wedding finery, feathers, face paint, the works. so we declared ourselves protected by the sacred power of pleasure, and every year we commemorate it by drinking, dancing, and getting loud. never had a pirate make it past the reef since. can't be a coincidence, can it?"

minty didn't know how she got through it without laughing, though she somehow managed it. her skirts were still swaying about her ankles from when he had spun her, and she scoffed after he had spoke. "ain't no kindness in that, amir," she pointed out. "this is the westerlands. they can barely two-step in time with the music. throw a proper beat at them and i'm not sure they'd survive it without a maester on standby."

she adjusted her hand in his grip, ensuring their fingers were laced together more comfortably. "can't i be both? the island and the storm?" she asked, lighter than she felt. it was a question that she'd been asking herself more often lately, and one she never quite had the answer to. the estermonts by their very existence occupied space in two different worlds, and yet she was always too much of one thing and not enough of the other. "you're a sailor, aren't you? you know that the tide knows how to rage when it feels like it." she shrugged her shoulders. "no reason i can't have the sun on my skin and thunder in my chest, is there?"

she wasn't sure, in that moment, that she was all too bothered with what was polite and proper, but any thought of demanding he take her for his sailor's swill was pushed from her mind by the simplicity of his statement - i like talking to you. there was something about the way he said it that had her grin softening at the edges, as though he'd offered her a small, private gift. it was becoming abundantly clear that there was something about amir manderly, something other than his charm and his grin and the bravado of it all. "all right, then," she agreed. "something else."

minty fell silent for a minute,because she was thinking, reaching for something that was worth offering him. she wasn't the type to find herself lost for words, but something about being told to say something else had made her mind go stupidly blank. "more used to people telling me to shut up than keep talking," she laughed, more at her own expense than anything else. for the first time since they had started talking, she felt self-conscious. "feels weird the other way round. maybe give it a try, i might think of something worth saying then."

❅

the music drifted into a different tempo, a plucked string here, a ripple of harp there, something dainty and very western in its bones, but lord amir manderly had never much cared for dancing by someone else’s rhythm. the beat was fine—light, floaty, inoffensive—but it wasn’t his. still, he adjusted his step, only just, enough to let the thread of their shared movement remain taut and unbroken as he led minthara estermont across the floor. she moved like she had a secret tucked beneath her ribs and it might escape at any moment if she laughed too hard. that, of course, only made him want to keep her laughing.

"carnival, is it?" he said, a grin already rising on his lips. “is there a reason it happens when it does back home, or d’you lot just pick a day and decide it’s time for feathers and half the island drunk before noon?” his tone was curious but light, teasing—like he was inviting her to lie to him if it made the story better. “because if there’s method to the madness, i’d love to hear it. if not—well. no shame in pleasure for pleasure’s sake.” he spun her lightly, just enough for her skirts to catch the air before he pulled her back in, close again, the press of her hand still firm in his.

“speaking of,” he chuckled, shaking his head as if already amused by his own imagining, lowering his voice so only she could hear; it was in that moment, seeing the way the candlelight reflected from her skin, he confirmed in his own mind he did find her attractive. “i’d kill to take over this music right now. give me five minutes and i’d switch it up enough to get the crackers on the edge of the floor bobbing their heads—then just when they start feelin’ themselves, switch. throw off the beat. leave ‘em lookin’ confused.” he was laughing now, not softly either, a warm sound that rumbled low in his chest as though the thought delighted him entirely too much. “it’s a kindness, really. man's just keepin’ them humble.”

minthara had said something about storms earlier, about dancing through them like it was a part of her, and that—he liked. that was the sort of talk that made him take a second look at a woman. but still, the smile playing across his face bent into something more mischievous as he leaned in slightly, voice lowered with fond amusement. “stormlander, is it? funny. ‘cause from where i’m standin’, you’re all island, minty. white sands, hot sun. the kind of girl who don’t flinch from heat, who probably learned to dance with the tide rolling in behind her.” his dark eyes glinted, like he could see it—the image of her barefoot and laughing on greenstone’s shores—and liked it enough to linger there a moment longer than was strictly polite.

his free hand, the one resting at her waist, flexed just slightly as they turned again with the music. “i’ll confess, i’ve got no rum aboard my ships these days, been cutting back,” he said, voice full of mock regret. “there’s nasty liquor for the sailors—burns goin’ down and makes ‘em forget the taste of salt—but i wouldn’t put that in your hands. tastes awful.” the look he gave her then was entirely deliberate: flirty, but not crude, warm with a kind of chivalry he’d been raised to wear like a second skin. “not that i’d expect you to get drunk with a man you just met. wouldn’t be proper.” and yet the grin that followed didn’t seem too fussed with proper at all. he swayed with her a beat longer, the rhythm easing between them like it had always been there. it was strange, how natural this all felt—how easily she kept pace with him.

his eyes dropped to her face again, studying the line of her jaw, the curve of her smirk, the spark in her eyes that said she was enjoying this just as much as he was. “so,” he said, voice softening with genuine curiosity now. “tell me something else, minthara estermont. not about carnival. not about storms. just something—anything. i like talkin’ with you.”

[seafoamaphrodite]

a beginner’s guide to…

✨ altars ✨

here are some materials you can use for an altar, whether it is for your spellwork, a deity, or any other use! altars should reflect your personality, and be a space where you feel happy and safe :D

none of these materials are required, and everything is completely customizable to your beliefs! (just practice respect and safety obviously)

🕯️ basics 🕯️

an altar cloth is a piece of fabric that covers your altar. this could be a bandana, a small blanket, or even a piece of paper!

a glass plate is a mundane but VERY versatile altar piece. it can work as an offering dish, a tray to collect wax drippings, or just a little trinket holder

candles are an easy addition to any altar. you can use any type of candle, but my favorites are taper and prayer candles. scented candles are completely fine to use as well! choose candles based on color and scent

natural materials like crystals, flowers, plants, animal bones (responsibly sourced), etc. are an incredible addition to any altar! if you have a deity altar, learn about their associations and use this to guide your choice

paper and pen/pencil will be your best friend if you write petitions, draw sigils, etc. keep them near your altar for convenience

🌱 cleansing 🌱

many people believe an area should be “cleansed” before it is used as an altar or sacred space

methods of cleansing include incense, water cleansing, sage smudging, and more

incense cleansing is often done by wafting an incense stick or cone through a space and visualizing the smoke clearing out negative energy

sandalwood, lavender, and rosemary are common incense choices for cleansing

water cleansing is something i do a lot, it can be done by sprinkling water in an area or even washing/pouring water. regular tap water is perfectly fine, but you can also incorporate moon water, sun water, rainwater, etc.

smudging with sage involves burning a bundle of sage and, similar to incense cleansing, wafting the smoke through the area. sage smudging is traditional to indigenous tribes like the Lakota and Navajo. as a result, sage smudging (especially the use of white sage) is often considered cultural appropriation when done by non-indigenous people. i am not indigenous nor do i use sage, so i am not incredibly well versed on the subject but i thought i should include it. always do research and practice respect and sensitivity 💌

🌙 takeaways 🌙

finally, your altar is YOUR space. you can include or exclude anything you want; your space doesn’t need to be “aesthetic” or make sense to others

my first altar was a cardboard box with one candle and a handful of crystals. it wasn’t expensive or fancy, but it got me into my practice

through the years, my altar has grown and changed as i have

if you want to make an altar, start with what you have! you would be surprised how powerful your resources are 🩷

[ohholydyke]

Hi! As an LGBTQ+ Christian, I'm genuinely really curious how you reconcile non-celibate homosexuality with Bible verses like Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-28? While I know alternative interpretations/translations are offered, taking into account context, I really struggle with why God would allow the more commonly accepted interpretations to be so widespread if they were wrong, so I'm super interested in your view on this (if you're okay to share?). <3

Of course! First of all let me start by acknowledging I am not a biblical scholar and am only human, so I encourage you to do your own research. Also, if any of my dating or analysis is factually wrong (like my manuscript analysis), I will be happy to address that if pointed out.

Allow me to take this step by step. This post ended up being super long so I’m going to break it up into three separate posts. Part I is Leviticus 18:22, part II will be on Romans 1:26-28 and part III will be on why I believe the widely held interpretations are so widespread if they are wrong, and why widespread theology and belief doesn’t necessarily mean correctness or truth. I’ll @ you and cross link these posts for access as I go.

Edit: Part II is now up

Part I: Leviticus 18:22

First off, external context:

The following text is from The New Catholic Bible: St Joseph Compact Size Edition (2019)

Modern critics agree that during the Babylonian Exile some priests (of the tribe of Levi) collected and made part of their final text the liturgical books that had taken shape in the course of time: a ritual for sacrifices, another for the investiture of priests, a set of norms for distinguishing clean from unclean; at some later point, they added the "Law of Holiness" (chs. 17-26). It is this body of material that makes up the Book of Leviticus. The various components are not all from the same period: some prescriptions date from the time of Moses and even earlier; in other instances the editors adapt ancient rites to their own present religious concerns. The Law of Holiness, which probably dates from the last years of the monarchy (end of the seventh century) reflects the viewpoints of the Jerusalem priesthood and stands in contrast to the viewpoints found in Deuteronomy, which was published during the same period.

All the laws systematized in Leviticus are regarded as expressing God's will. They impose on the chosen people a common religious behavior by which this people will show themselves to be the people of the Sinai covenant. The Lord has delivered his own from the land of Egypt and he now expects them to acknowledge his presence and render him the worship due to him.

Sacrifice, which takes numerous forms, is the essential act of worship. It signifies that the children of Israel hand over themselves and their possessions to him who is their supreme protector. It unites them to their God and, by winning his forgiveness, restores this union when sin has broken it. In short, through sacrifice God saves and sanctifies his people. Israel is a priestly people; the priests in their actions symbolize the worship of an entire people.

In addition to moral and liturgical precepts, Leviticus lists various, sometimes quite detailed regulations meant to decide which objects and things hinder a person from drawing near to what is sacred, even though no moral fault might be involved; it was thought that these objects had a baleful power. Like the neighboring peoples, the children of Israel had their prohibitions, but even through these taboos, which were standard in this ancient civilization, they came to know the holiness of God, which is so strongly asserted throughout this book and which came to pervade their entire existence.

Let’s do some close reading here. First of all, Leviticus as we have it was compiled and written during the Babylonian Exile, likely combining oral tradition, Jewish practice and written documents. This means that the text carries with it a long history of existing laws and reflection on customs and law/the priesthood. This isn’t to say that the text isn’t divinely inspired (a doctrine I personally affirm though you don’t have to), but because it was written through mortal men we can assume the limitations of humanity apply such as bias, cultural understanding (such as the way an American’s understanding of the date 9/11 is coded by the 2001 plane attacks as a modern day citizen), and imperfect dialectic and rhetoric skills. Once again, this doesn’t denigrate the text as much as just humbly acknowledge that as humans we are limited, and we must approach Scripture with that knowledge lest our arrogance overtake us into the sin of pride (which is similar to the issue a lot of Catholics take with Protestants defending strict sola scriptura). This means that we must approach the text with the understanding that Leviticus 18:22 was written after the law was given, traveling in the desert, the establishment of Israel as a kingdom and the Babylonian captivity and exile. That’s…a lot of time for potential interference between the law given by God and the text in our hands. It’s like playing a really long game of telephone: we’re probably really close, but there can be gaps and we should acknowledge that potential. So I can acknowledge that the verse was written by fallible men, with human limitations, quite some time and distance culturally and geographically from the original handing of the law at Sinai. Once again, this doesn’t denigrate Scripture and its worthiness, but is a necessary acknowledgement for humility and understanding within the text’s proper context.

Second of all, the above quote tells us that the laws are there to show that the Sinai people are different and set apart (more on this later). This gives us the motivation and intention of the text and the laws within them. Now, while we may certainly argue that the truths expressed in the law have worthiness in being continued (one of my favorite parts of Leviticus is the house code of Leviticus 14 which tells the priesthood how to deal with mold infections in a house and when it’s salvageable and when it needs to be destroyed/how to avoid getting sick from it with the means available to them in the desert and later on when they could actually build houses) it’s important to recognize that the law was given to the Jewish people in order to keep them alive in the desert and to separate them from Egypt and the Canaanites (Leviticus 18:3). Thus everything contained in the law is for one or both purposes, and should be evaluated in this way. The question becomes: what was the behavior being addressed in 18:22, and how did that keep them alive in the desert and/or separate them from the people around them? I’ll come back to this question later.

Notably, the point of being separated from people around them was twofold: the purpose was either to avoid being judged and looked down upon by other nations (by doing something they’d see as shameful or dishonorable) OR it was to set apart Jewish religion from other religious practices around (remember Leviticus is primarily aimed at priests and framed within a religious law (rather than secular) context). So 18:22 must be referring to behavior either condemned by other nations OR religious behavior normalized within other nations (a good comparison is the prohibitions of scarification and tattoos, as these were regularly performed by surrounding religious groups for ritual purposes. Notably, we no longer uphold such prohibitions as we are not Ancient Israel.)

As a quick side note the detail on describing houses of stone also emphasizes my above point about the text being written post Sinai and the desert exile (when they were more nomadic and largely in tent encampments).

Another aspect of note is when the quote above talks about “the various components are not all from the same period: some prescriptions date from the time of Moses and even earlier; in other instances the editors adapt ancient rites to their own present religious concerns.” This also affects our approach to the applicability of the text in our lives, and we must acknowledge that we don’t have the law dictated by God at Sinai (dated roughly 1313 BC), we have an inspired account by men written during the exile (dated roughly 425 BC to 328 BC). That’s a thousand year separation. Remember that game of telephone? So we have God’s dictated law, filtered through God’s inspired scripture a thousand years later by a divinely inspired yet still fallible and limited human being. And that’s just the original copy. The earliest manuscript of Leviticus we have, 4QExod-Lev of 4Q17, is a Dead Sea scroll that dates to 250 BC (so at least 78 years since the original), and that manuscript doesn’t even have 18:22. For that verse we have to go to 4Q23 which is dated sometime between 140 and 37 BC. So now we have our divinely dictated word of law being written by divinely inspired humans, then (since we only assert that the originals are divinely inspired, not copies or translations) being copied and translated into a not divinely inspired manuscript written approximately 1,173-1,276 years after the original law was dictated at Sinai, all by fallible humans. That’s a lot going on in our game of telephone before we even touch the question of translation, preservation, and the biblical canon.

That’s made even more complicated by the fact that 18:22 is part of the Law of Holiness, which “probably dates from the last years of the monarchy (end of the seventh century) [and] reflects the viewpoints of the Jerusalem priesthood [of the time] and stands in contrast to the viewpoints found in Deuteronomy, which was published during the same period.” Telephone game and human limitations.

Finally, for external context, we have the following part of the quote: “Leviticus lists various, sometimes quite detailed regulations meant to decide which objects and things hinder a person from drawing near to what is sacred, even though no moral fault might be involved; it was thought that these objects had a baleful power. Like the neighboring peoples, the children of Israel had their prohibitions, but even through these taboos, which were standard in this ancient civilization, they came to know the holiness of God” I want you to keep this in mind as we move into the next part of our verse analysis

Internal context:

Leviticus 18 is part of the Law of Holiness (or Holiness Code), which is unique for regarding all of Israel as holy (not just the priests or sacrifices) and mainly is the bit where God says that the Canaanites were doing certain practices and Israel needs to not do them. So we know 18:22 refers to something the Canaanites were doing, which satisfies the earlier question about the verse needing to help Israel survive in the desert and/or set them apart from other peoples. 18:3 specifies this by saying “you shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.”

Remember the earlier definition of “set apart”? Let’s come back to that. Option 1 is to avoid shame. Option 2 is to avoid religious practices to set Judaism apart. The word used in 18:22 is the infamous to’evah. Abomination. What does to’evah mean in its original context? Let’s look at other verses. In Genesis 43:32, it’s used to describe the way Egyptians believed it was a to’evah to eat bread with the Hebrews. In Genesis 46:34, it’s used to describe how Egyptians saw shepherds as to’evah. In Exodus 8:26, it talks about how the Egyptians saw certain Hebrew sacrifices as to’evah and that’s why Moses asked pharaoh to let them go out of Egypt to make sacrifices. In all these cases, option 1 (behavior detested by other nations) seems to be the best case. It’s notable that none of these things are morally bad in of themselves (the Bible itself discusses how shepherds, Egyptians and jews eating bread together, Jewish sacrifices are all fine) but instead are cultural taboos.

So let’s look at behaviors that were prohibited by surrounding nations:

First off the Hittites had laws against a father having intercourse with his son (I don’t know for sure if this means consensual or not because the term I came across is “violates” which could mean rape or it could mean defilement). It is accompanied by other anti incest laws similar to the rest of Leviticus 18. The scholar Harry Hoffner Jr notes that the Hittite law was because the partner was the man’s son, not because they were of the same sex. The following quote is by scholar Brian Gerig:

Table A, paragraph 20 deals with a physical act done, not just a rumor: “If a seignior [an Assyrian man] lay with his neighbor [another citizen], when they have prosecuted him (and) convicted him [the first citizen], they shall lie with him (and) turn him into a eunuch.”14 This describes a situation where a man has forced sex upon a local resident or business partner, who then has the option of bringing a charge against him. Noticeably, the perpetrator is punished while the victim is not; so the crime here is rape. Homosexuality itself is not condemned, nor looked upon as immoral or disordered. Anyone could visit a prostitute or lay with another male, as long as false rumors or forced sex were not involved with another Assyrian male. Still, both of these laws suggest that for a male to take the submissive woman’s role in same-sex intercourse was looked down upon as shameful and despised.

I’ll come back to the idea of a man in a submissive woman’s roles being looked down upon later. But for now, Brian Gerig continues on:

Pictorial and literary references in ancient Mesopotamia show acceptance of some forms of homosexuality, but wariness toward others. Anal intercourse was freely pictured in figurative art in the ancient cities of Uruk, Assur, Babylon, and Susa from the 3rd millennium B.C. on – and images show that it was practiced as part of religious ritual. Both Zimri-lin (king of Mari) and Hammurabi (king of Babylon) had male lovers, which the queen of Zimri-lin mentions matter-of-factly in a letter. The Almanac of Incantations contained prayers favoring on an equal basis the love of a man for a woman, of a woman for a man, and of a man for man.16 (Lesbian love is not mentioned, probably because of the low status of women in ancient times, when women were basically considered property, and adultery was considered a trespass against the husband’s property. A husband was free to fornicate, but a wife could be put to death for the same thing.17) The Summa alu, a manual used to predict the future, sought to do this in some cases on the basis of sexual acts, five of which are homosexual:

“If a man copulates with his equal from the rear, he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers.

If a man yearns to express his manhood while in prison and thus, like a male cult-prostitute, mating with men becomes his desire, he will experience evil.

If a man copulates with an assinnu [a male cult-prostitute], trouble will leave him

If a man copulates with a gerseqqu [a male courtier, or royal attendant], worry will possess him for a whole year but will then leave him.

If a man copulates with a house-born slave, a hard destiny will befall him.”18

The fact that different kinds of homoerotic pairing will occur is taken for granted. What mattered was the role and the status of a partner, especially the passive partner – and the anticipated ramifications in each case. To penetrate a male who was of equal status or a cult prostitute was thought to bring good fortune; but copulation with a royal attendant, a fellow prisoner, or a household slave was thought to probably spell trouble.19

Needless to say, none of these are about being queer as we understand that now. The closest one is the act of anal sex between men, used as a power and social dynamic: they are equals until anal penetration occurs, after which the penetrator is superior and a leader, and the nature of each case of homosexuality comes down to power dynamics and social class between men. This isn’t an act of a romantic and sexual relationship such as the gays have now. Notably, 18:22 reinforces this distinction by the addition “as one lies with a woman.” The prohibition isn’t against lying with another man, but against lying with him in a specific way. This separates 18:22 from the other verses in ch 18, in which incest is just flat out prohibited in all forms such as 18:7 (you shall not uncover the nakedness of your father or mother), onto 18:20. Similarly, 18:23 (beastiality) is a flat out prohibition rather than a specific font of an action. Only 18:22 stands out with the qualifier “as with a woman.” I would argue this is because of the above power and social dynamics of anal sex in the Ancient Near East. The woman was submissive and penetrated, for a man to receive anal penetration was for him to become a woman and thus degrade himself and be judged for it. That’s why Sodom and Gomorrah ought to be read as gang rape in an attempt to humiliate a foreigner (which is the interpretation that better aligns with Ezekiel 49-50: “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.” [Emphasis added]).

This is further emphasized by the fact that Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome both had similar views of anal sex, in which the bottom participant was seen as holding the role of a woman and/or an inferior (and thus denigrated) while the top was accepted (and in some cases seen as asserting his manliness and power in having anal intercourse as the penetrator). More on Rome’s views later.

So to summarize: to’evah suggests practices that are cultural taboos rather than inherently immoral acts. This lends itself to an interpretation of “being set apart from Canaanites” as avoiding behavior that would shame Israel in the eyes of the nations around it. Historical evidence does not suggest that queer relationships were an issue. Instead, the judged behavior was either actions that aren’t queer relationships OR an act based around power dynamics and social class hierarchy and humiliation that led to the social shame of one of the participants as “less of a man” and as an inferior. Obviously, that last one is not the case for modern queer relationships, which are not about power and social class dynamics in that way AND our society does not look down upon men who practice anal sex the same way the Ancient Near East did because we no longer have the same views of men and women and their sexual and social roles (excluding of course modern homophobia which is fueled by verse interpretations and thus out of the question here).

But let’s say I lost you with my interpretation of to’evah as social taboo. Maybe 18:22 was a matter of Israel avoiding behavior that surrounding nations allowed or celebrated religiously or socially (option 2 of being set apart). Let’s examine it again from that lens then:

Brian Gerig and many other Near East religious and cultural scholars highlight laws and cultural norms around homosexuality as taking two main forms outside of the ones already addressed above: pedastry and temple prostitution/religious erotic practices.

Pedastry is, of course, pedophilia. I think we can all agree that pedophilia is evil and also NOT WHAT QUEER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO CONSENTING ADULTS IS.

As for temple prostitution (of which Canaanite cultures did have quite a few instances of men and women who engaged in sex with worshipers as an act of religious devotion) and religious erotic practices (in which priests and priestesses engaged in erotic and sexual activities as offerings or devotion to their gods and spirits), this aligns more with the idea of “being set apart” = “not doing religious practices of surrounding nations” (remember the scarification example?). Once again, this is situationally limited (we as Christians no longer prohibit tattoos because we don’t do them religiously and are not Jewish so as to be set apart like Ancient Israel) and more importantly IS ALSO NOT WHAT MODERN QUEER RELATIONSHIPS AND SEX ARE ABOUT. A gay couple isn’t having sex as an offering to an ancient Mesopotamian deity or as a temple act with worshipers and parishioners for religious reasons (most of the time at least, idk what everyone does with their time but we’re not talking about that here).

I have one final nail in the coffin for Leviticus 18:22, and that’s about exegesis and application:

Supersessionism is bad and antisemetic. We’re not replacing Jewish people in the covenant and in being set apart from other nations by YHWH. Thus, we are not under the same category of having to be set apart from Egypt and Canaan like the Ancient Israelites were. You could argue the Holiness Code does not apply to modern day people as a result.

Part 2: Romans 1:26-28 and Part 3: Why the commonly held interpretations are widely spread if they are wrong to come shortly.

[padawan-snack-packer]

Hey snackpacker!!! I read all of your clones headcanons and they are sooooo adorable!!! Can I ask for Mando clans ones please?🥺

Hey Anon!!! Oh gosh, sure sure there you go!!!!

⚠️ TW: Not a Lore Purist, Just Vibes™ I love Mandalorians with my whole chaotic heart but I’m not a walking Chronicles of Mand’alor PDF. These headcanons are powered by ✨emotion, vibes, and space chaos✨ more than textbook canon. If something’s not lore-accurate, please don’t come at me with a vibroblade (kinky though-)—I’m just here to emotionally adopt found family and throw glitter bombs with Clan Wren. 💖

This is the Way (but also, This is the Fanon).

NOW LET'S GO-

🛠️ Clan Ordo — (Tough Love, Duct Tape Edition)

Their love language is "I fixed this for you but insulted it the whole time." Example: “Your jetpack’s garbage. I upgraded it. Don’t die.”

No one says “I love you” out loud. Instead, they hand you soup and complain about your aim.

Armor polish is sacred. If someone else polishes your armor? You’re basically married now.

Family dinners are loud, full of arguments, and end with at least one person crying—but it’s always because of pride, not pain.

They absolutely have a thousand tiny clan traditions no one remembers the origin of, like giving newborns a mini hydrospanner “for luck.”

Secretly very sentimental. They keep the worst drawings their kids ever made... inside their chestplates. Under the beskar.

🖤 Clan Fett — (The Myth, The Mess, The Legacy)

Every child raised under this clan grows up under a ridiculous amount of dramatic pressure to live up to the legacy of Jango.

There are so many family debates over whether Jango would’ve wanted to be remembered as “That Cool Bounty Hunter Dad” or “The Guy Who Accidentally Created a Galaxy’s Worth of Emotional Clones.”

They have a tradition of forging "Memory Blades" — knives with etched names of those lost. Every Fett carries one. Some carry dozens.

At feasts, they always leave an extra seat at the table. For Jango. Even now.

Their humor is DRY. Like, “We took a bounty on a Sith Lord for fun” levels of deadpan chaos.

Boba won’t admit it, but he calls old clone commanders “uncle” under his breath sometimes.

👑 Clan Kryze — (Tea, Trauma, and Terribly Controlled Emotions)

Everything is Very Formal Until It’s Suddenly a Knife Fight. “Cousin Alric insulted the tea set? Pistols at DAWN.”

The tea ceremony is a full military-grade operation. You wear armor. You pour with honor. You do not spill.

Every Kryze is passive-aggressively dramatic. They’ll say, “You always do this, mother,” right before throwing a thermal detonator at someone.

Their lullabies are weirdly sad and haunting and about the fall of ancient Mandalore and the inevitability of loss. (“Sleep, little warrior, the stars burn cold / Our home was fire, our story old…”)

Once a year, they gather in complete silence and light sky-lanterns for every family member lost to war. The sky is full.

🦴 Clan Vizsla — Drama, Duels, and Delusions of Grandeur

Has a 200-slide holo-presentation titled "Why We Should Still Rule Mandalore." No one asked for it. They show it anyway.

Will duel you over literally anything. The last one was about soup temperature.

They're the type to say “we’re not dramatic” while igniting a Darksaber and monologuing.

Family game nights are just strategic combat simulations with a scoreboard and someone always cries.

Wear so much black armor they look like they’re attending a funeral at all times. (They might be. They’re dramatic like that.)

Lowkey keep backup capes. In case their first one doesn't billow enough.

🎨 Clan Wren — (Art Is War, and So Is Family Game Night)

If you can’t graffiti while doing backflips, are you even a Wren?

Sabine may say, “I don’t do art anymore,” but Tristan absolutely still has a sketchbook full of emo poetry and helmet redesigns. (One of them says “PEW PEW EMO BOY” in Aurebesh. Sabine keeps it.)

They have a tradition where each child gets their first paint set before they get a blaster.

Weddings involve throwing glitter bombs into the air and yelling “THIS IS THE SHADE.”

They once staged an “artistic protest” by painting the clan elder’s speeder hot pink. The elder loved it.

The phrase “Wren family therapy” is code for a paintball match where the winner gets to yell at everyone else. They do it weekly.

🧬 Bonus: Little Traditions That Hurt (Just a Little)

Some clans pass down lullabies, others pass down the frequency to old comm channels. They keep them on, just in case someone out there is still listening.

Every Mandalorian learns how to dance—not because of ceremonies, but because when the wars are over, they want to remember joy.

If a Mandalorian dies without family, another clan will claim them posthumously. They will engrave their name into the wall and say it out loud during honor rites. “You were one of us. You are one of us still.”

[coquettedragoon]

could you expand a little on your writing and worldbuilding process for coquette? the way you write characters is really nice

my writing process is kind of informed by a sense of wanting every part of the thing i'm working on to be fun to work on, which sounds obvious... but well im one of those people who made webcomics excited to get to the big story payoffs 5 years down the track but didn't put any thought into what came before it and got burnt out. in the past i would've shown xios life before enlistment as a slow burn but instead i'm just opening right on it.

the overarching structure of coquette is informed by hxh... i really like how each arc of it is a drastically different setting and genre with a rotating primary cast, i don't intend for coquette to be as varied but it struck me as a really fun way of making longform work that feels consistently enjoyable to work on... ig as a brief example, the first section will focus on the zephyranthes, after this xio and co are sent to fight in sunset as part of the lilac occupation and then are left behind after the lilac force retreats (careful what you wish for ayane...) and Stuff Happens, ig what i mean is i dont want to linger on a status quo for too long.

as for the world, i mostly am drawing from legend of the galactic heroes/gundam 79 as a template. the duchy is the empire/zeon, the lilac is the FPA/earth federation, and sunset is fezzan/side six.

for the lilac in particular, i'm kind of drawing from like... how things felt being in school during the iraq war and the fervor among the students around me, i knew so many people who wanted to enlist after graduation etc and saw the army as like a winning ticket compared to the deadend town we were in, like girls wanting to join the army to get a degree as a lawyer or a pilot etc. the core of the lilac is its a society that exists to funnel people (especially like xio) into the army.

the duchy is a bit more vibes based, i just like when the baddies in scifi are anachronistic aristocrats. theres a section in the gundam origin manga about like... interpreting the zeon invasion of earth as a return to 'the sacred grounds of the soul' that carries a lot of weight. i think it sort of gave me an impression of the zeon as like... people living in the void of space and feeling spiritually/intellectually starved by it and driven mad by it, and i kind of used that as my basis for the duchy. they are obsessed with tradition and antiquity to feel like they have a sense of place in the world and aren't just drifting in space, the aesthetic sense is rooted in a sense of like.. older feeling things are more connected to earth and feel more 'human' to them. then ofc like the imperialism and arranged marriages and social stratification are all 'old' and can't be questioned so they are miserable anyway.

i guess it's all based on the thing in LOGH of how it opens on 'no human or society is immortal', and then depicts the slow collapse of the two nations founded on flimsy ideas. the lilac and the duchy are both dead end nations.

as for character writing... i think i kind of just take archetypes i like from moe anime etc and then try and dig into how their brains work living in the world of coquette. xio could be a happy little moeblob in most other worlds. ryukishis writing is probably what informs me better than anything else... i just want to try and depict what it's like to live inside these characters heads.

[gravewaax]

canada is burning

hey friends. wanted to draw attention to the unprecedented wildfire season us canucks are currently having (and especially how these have been impacting indigenous communities).

3.3 million hectares of wildland have currently burned across the country. this is 10 times the average amount of fires that we experience per year. there’s air pollution advisories all over, with conditions ranging from persistent smokey hazes to orange skies and a red sun and general hellish atmosphere. communities are burning and people are being evacuated. i’m going to go over which provinces are the most affected along with some links to resources.

*updated 11/07/2023. please link me to any updated resources or personal fundraisers and i’ll edit them in.

QUEBEC:

currently headlining because they have 160 (mostly out of control) fires and the smoke is hanging over southern ontario, where most of canada’s population lives.

the Algonquins of barriere lake have been displaced. the community has a population of 800, with a number of people living in cabins along traditional traplines. the Maniwaki Native Friendship Centre has been taking in evacuees, as well as providing meals and support. i believe they’ve closed donations for now, but keep an eye on their socials in case anything changes.

edit: mutual aid request for the Algonquins of barrier lake can be found here. physical donations can be dropped off at ramada plaza, gatineau, quebec.

edit: Odawa Native Friendship Centre is taking donations to assist evacuees.

MARITIMES- NOVA SCOTIA & NEW BRUNSWICK:

following heavy rainfall, people are beginning to return to their homes in NS. due to the location of the fires, ruptured fuel and chemical tanks may have contaminated the groundwater. if you live in NS, free well-water testing kits are beginning to be circulated. samples can be dropped off at the following locations.

the canadian red cross is taking donations to provide humanitarian aid to those displaced in NB and NS, including shelter.

edit: fundraiser for a lost home in nova scotia, having raised almost 2000 of the $8000 goal.

ALBERTA:

set a record in may for the most hectares burned in a year, sitting pretty at over 1.3 million. the previous fire season was less than 500.

the east prairie Métis have been especially affected, losing 29 homes in a community of only 300 people. while this was in early may, and they’re starting to recover, their official gofundme is here. they’re about halfway to raising $50,000, with the aim to prioritize the 14 families who lost actively lived-in homes. the high prairie friendship centre is also taking physical donations if you live in the area. edit: been made aware that there is a fantastic linktree to individual fundraisers regarding the loss of homes.

edit: fox lake was also forced to evacuate back in early may. Little Red River Cree Nation had to escape across peace river on a barge. they have a fundraiser with 30 of $50,000 raised to purchase baby supplies and household items for the affected.

the canadian red cross is taking donations for alberta as well.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES:

K’atl’odeeche First Nation and their neighbouring community hay river were displaced. as of late may, the K’atl’odeeche chief, Martel, is still trying to set up a 100 person encampment for those who were impacted by the fires. while hay river has been allowed to return, there is no timeline yet for KFN. chief Martel says that people from hay river have been ignoring the barricades set up at the reserve and she is concerned for the safety of her community. please be aware that chief Martel has asked photos of the damage not to be shared on social media, as members of her community have not yet been allowed back on the reserve to see it firsthand. sacred sites and traditional traplines have been destroyed. please be respectful.

i couldn’t find many fundraisers for the NWT, unfortunately. it appears that united way is taking monetary donations, yellowknife evacuation centre is taking giftcards, and the yellowknife salvation army is accepting physical donations.

SASKATCHEWAN:

in early may there were wildfires in northern sask that displaced the Clearwater Dene Nation. i wasn’t able to find any updates or fundraisers on the situation, but their live map indicates there are still 4 uncontained fires. you can imagine this is not good on a huge swath of flat, hot, dry land full of flammable grass.

*NEW* ONTARIO

i’ve been made aware of a fundraiser for the Anishinaabe of Grassy Narrows. last year, their one and only fire escape route was washed out by flooding. as canada experiences its worst fire season in years, it’s absolutely crucial that this road be repaired as soon as possible. they’ve currently raised about 16k of their 40k goal.

since the community banned industrial extraction (logging/mining) the ontario government has stopped maintaining the roads in the area. Grassy Narrows deserves justice and support during these hard times.

[lokavisi]

Yesterday was such a fantastic day. I love volunteering my time and energy to Pagan Pride Day. This festival is truly a gift. So many folks that walk a pagan path don't have physical places to go and commune with other pagans. This one day draws hundreds of folks to this one magical plot of land to celebrate and honor these many sacred traditions that have been pushed into the margins. (Where I'm at in the Midatlantic seems to be rather privileged in this regard. A friend shared with me that they encountered a woman who traveled all the way from Texas to attend.) It is an honor to serve and be a part of this vibrant and varied community, and foster safe spaces for people to be themselves and connected with the divine in all its many forms.

I didn't take a ton of pictures, but I wanted to share these. The first is of my friend, who is one of the head planners. He always wears a top hat for easy identification, and this year, he had it decorated for Loki! Second is an amulet I made for Apollo in a workshop ritual to the Kouroutrohpi. Third is of the pet blue tongued skank of one of the vendors. I was thrilled to get a shot of the blue tongue! And the last one is MY SELFIE WITH A CROW. It was so exciting lol

I am grateful, I am grateful, I am grateful ❤️

[whitepolaris]

Cave of the White Shaman

For thousands of years, back in the mists of prehistory, aboriginal artists painted elaborate scenes on the limestone walls of the canyon and rock-shelters of Southwest Texas. The paintings were not done for mere pleasure, but illustrated the religious beliefs and traditions of the peoples who had populated the area while Europeans were still living primitively on their own continent. There are more than 250 of these Texas sites along the lower courses of the Pecos and Devil's rivers and at their confluence with the Rio Grande. One of the densest concentrations of Archaic rock art in North America, these are considered to be among the planet's most significant ancient rock-art finds, right up there with the ones in Europe and Australia.

The cave of the White Shaman is one of the most intensely spiritual of the sites. The following is from the description of it provided by the Rock Art Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving the Pecos River art.

The white shaman [within the complex panel] is in his ascendancy, leaving behind his black counterpart, his mortal body. He is headless, but his clawed feet and hands betray his feline affinities. Feathers fringe his out-spread arms, enabling him to fly, and, hanging from his arm, is a medicine bundle that combines human bird, and animal attributes.... Above him is [a figure that] has been reduced to a skeletal condition, his exposed backbone being an artistic convention intended to convoy the rebirth from the bones, the most durable element of the body. [Other] figures include the delicate line drawing of a deer shaman, and a number of fantastic figures that people the supernatural world. The shaman is expected to encounter unearthly beings on his ethereal transits. These drawings may inform his audience about some of the fantastic apparitions that helped or hindered his voyage.

Jim Zintgraff, a member of the Rock Art Foundation, has written eloquently of the importance of preserving and studying the ancient pictographs. Here's what he has to stay about what this ancient man brings to modern man, if we have the heart to see it. (We edited Jim's words a little for space, but you'll get the idea.) The young brave said to the old Shaman, "In my vision, I died and rose above my body in flight. Soon I was passing over the village, and I could see my friends going on their day. Suddenly I realized I had been transformed into a crow, and that is why I could fly. Was I really flying?"

"Yes," answered the old shaman.

"Could my friends see me flying?"

The old shaman looked at him sternly and said, "What difference does that make?"

It is the individual experience, not what we want others to see or think that is important.

What is it that so many see a rock art of the Pecos and in the White Shaman panel in particular that draws the observer to the mystery? Regardless of our religious background, if any, there is something "sacred" left for us by the Pecos people. We are invited by the power of the vision to find out more.

Shamanism is not some bizarre pagan religion invented by Satan, but perhaps the world's first religion, and it served the Peoples of the Lower Pecos well for over ten thousand years. We know that the Pecos people lived by their beliefs; the Shaman, with the power to journey in the spirit world, often directed the entire clan to ceremony, to hunt, to sacrifice, and even to move the entire village, all based on "a trip to the spirit world." The message of the White Shaman, other pictographs, and the desert itself are ones of spiritual quest and fulfillment.

So the Shamanism of the Pecos speaks even to those of us today who are busying ourselves with the problems of the modern world, so far divorced from anything truly "sacred." Perhaps when we journey to the Pecos and take the trail of the White Shaman, we should sit at the shelter, take off our expensive hiking boots, sink our toes into Mother Earth, and listen for the spirits. Maybe if we do, the ancient echoes of Shamanism, which originated in Paleo-Europe and echo through the Pecos people, will once again connect us with things of eternal value that our modern world has forgotten.

Visitors can view some of the famous rock art by boat at Amistad National Recreation Area. Guided tours are conducted at nearby Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Val Verde County. The Rock Art Foundation also leads guided tours at their White Shaman Galloway Preserve, just west of Seminole Canyon. Contact them at www.rockart.org.

[srasdoesthings]

Girly is gonna try a december challange wahoo

SO! Every year (kinda) I have this kinda tradition to make a list of vocaloid songs to draw fanart of a fandom I'm in for! This year since I'm not as hyperfixated on one fandom, I decided it would be multifandom this year^^ Can't promise I'll be able to make everything, but I'll try to get most done and be responsible >:DD

Here's the song list with the fandom!!!

Venom - Twisted Wonderland

Sacred Spear Explosion boy - Bungou Stray Dogs

Showtime Ruler - Project Sekai

Odo - Project Sekai

Dance Orchestra - Ikemen Vampire

Dramin Chu Chu! - Bungou Stray Dogs

Monster - Twisted Wonderland

Kyuuto no Kanojo - What in Hell is Bad

DSCF - Project Sekai

SIU - Twst

Bitter Choco Decoration - Honkai Star Rail

Alien Alien - What in Hell is Bad

Crazy Clown - Bungou Stray Dogs

Annoyance - Honkai Star Rail

God-ish - Enstars

Unhappy Refrain - Bungou Stray Dogs

Love Ka? - Genshin

Wah Wah World!- Project Sekai

Love me Love me Love me- Bungou Stray Dogs

Mr. Showtime - Project Sekai

Positive Dance Time! - Genshin

Black Jack - Genshin

Doctor=Funk Beat - Genshin

There's supposed to be a Cheat Code For Happiness- Twised Wonderland

Samsa - Project Sekai

King - Project Sekai

On the Rocks - Vocaloid

Queen - Project Sekai

Romeo and Cinderella - Project Sekai

Kereshi no Jude - What in Hell is Bad?

Influencer is Dead! - Twisted Wonderland

The art quality may fluctuate cause ueuueue first sem finals coming up but I'll try^^ that's all, bye bye :DDD

[saiyukiitaliaandinternational]

Monthly Minekura Christmas edition

Day 25 “Swapped” (FREE)

Final piece of this cool and amazing monthly event that helped me to boost my self-confidence in digital painting especially when it comes to backgrounds. Since the prompt of this day is free, I decided to digitalize an old piece made in 2014 when I first started to draw Saiyuki characters for the first time. This draw is pure non-sense XD I would shit bricks if I saw a Ukoku-headed jungle crow but I wouldn't mind a jungle crow-headed Ukoku, lol. The whole subject doesn't have any particular meaning, the only notable thing is the Buddhist temple in the background which is Dafo Temple in Xinchang County, a county in the east-central part of Zhejiang province. This is the photo reference I used and I discovered that I love drawing and painting traditional Chinese architecture, plus I discovered several temples I want to visit when I plan to visit China.

The temple has a long history of more than 1600 years. Dafo Temple is constructed with five levels with several halls like the Heavenly King Hall, the Big Buddha Hall and the Scripture Hall. The Big Buddha is almost 15 meters in height, its nose alone is 1.5 meters and ears are 2.7 meters in size. There is also a grotto, several Buddha statues, a waterfall and a petrified forest. I was unsure if drawing the petrified forest instead of the temple entrance for the background but I couldn't resist to paint those vivid colours.

Fun fact: during the Cultural Revolution, locals covered the giant Buddha statues in the temple with pictures of Mao Zedong that managed to prevent the fanatic red guards from destroying the sacred statues, because they believed that all old traditions should be destroyed.

I deeply thank you locals for preserving such gem from human stupidity, thank you!

Credits:

Saiyuki Reload Blast © Kazuya Minekura, Platinum Vision, 2017-present

[astrologylife1]

DONT GET CONFUSED ‼️

This will be the SPIRITUAL & BIG PICTURE DESCRIPTION of my post regarding ASC OPP ASC.

Astrology is a spiritual tool that tells what has already happened. It is not the answer to your life and up to you to perceive the results spiritually.

Ascendant OPP Ascendant are KARMIC RELATIONSHIPS

Like the example I gave a Scorpio rising with a Taurus rising. This is my personal relationship. I am a scoripo asc and my first love I met at 15 is a Taurus rising.

When two OPPOSING ascendant form a connection it is very strong attraction, likeness, simple similarities and harmony. Meaning it isn’t hard to form the bond, there’s no playing games or with each others feelings because it’ feels meant to be.

When I was 15 I had no idea of astrology but when I met my partner I told everyone he looked like Chris brown LMAO. Like I was CONVINCED this 17 year old was Chris browns TWIN. All my girlfriends thought I was delusional, saying he looked nothing like Chris brown. But that was the first impression I had from him and who he reminded me of for whatever reason….

We ended up being together for 6 years and still very close today. When we got into a relationship on paper it seemed meant to be. People at work, family and friends would call us Mom and dad. They would say we argued like husband and wife at such young ages. So it was like we continued our relationship becuase it was SO ideal. But internally I could never say or felt that he was the one for me. Like i never saw myself marrying him even though we already lived like we were married.

This is where the KARMA comes in. When I was younger my parents had an on and off relationship. My mom was 15 and my dad was 18 met in high school. They tried to make it work for almost 10 years but never married. As a young girl I used to tell my mom they were meant for each other.

From the outside looking in my parents were BESTFRIENDS, they made it each other laugh and it was so easy. But when they fought it was DESTRUCTIVE and TOXIC and OFTEN. One minute there love birds next they hate each other in matter of hours.

Low and Behold my dad is a Leo rising and my mom Aquarius rising rising.

Opposites attracting ‼️‼️

Back to my relationship and the chris brown comment.. my ex is a Taurus rising but has NO Taurus placements he’s a Aquarius sun lol Chris brown is a TAURUS sun and moon.

As a Scorpio rising I’m always going to be attracted to Taurus energy.

The karma or lesson with this attraction is teaching you the downside and downfall to the typical ideal relationship. It draws you in and things move quick and fast but the lack of actually getting know each other is a recipe for disaster. There’s a underlying feeling of missing something in the relationship you feel but can’t figure out what it is.

The ascendant partner presents themselves like the ONE. But together you don’t agree or understand each other to feel that true love. This is why I brought up the 4th house examplesS

Scorpio rising- 4th house home is sacred but to me home will always be detached and I have to feel like an individual. I’m not attached to my family.

Taurus rising 4th - he desperately wants that traditional home and wife. No matter how bad his family acts he will never turrn his back away from his family .

-Hence one of our biggest consistent arguments was about family.

Another example 5th house

Scorpio rising- Pisces I am very spiritual and dream like when it comes to my expression, fun and romantic energy.

Taurus rising - Virgo he is very boring. Doesn’t care to explore and would rather do practical things.

The most important parts of ourselves our literally OPPOSITES. So not only did I learn that lesson in Ideal love but also understood and forgave my parents Becuase I used to believe they didn’t try hard enough. But they were only surface level compatible. The rest of their placements show why they weren’t compatible.

[starshcwer]

( baldur's gate 3 starters (part 2) | @opyre )

❝ you startled me. i…i was miles away. ❞

she'd felt this before, when she'd first seen clive after a lifetime. it had taken her what felt like both an age & an instant to recognize him but, once she had, all of the ( thankfully empty ) tankards that she'd been carrying had fallen from her hands, causing a scene she hadn't intended. she remembered little of that moment other than her sudden struggle to breathe & martha's concerned voice coming from what had felt like far away.

luckily, she was better prepared when she'd seen joshua. her hands were empty, & the sight of phoenix's dominant didn't send her into the panic that once would have taken over her. instead, she spent time studying his eyes, his face, the curve of his cheeks, & she could see the resemblance from the boy from so many years ago. she could remember standing in rosalith castle, her body leaning to look around the body of the man in front of her ( despite her mother's whisper of ❛ be still, tifa. ❜ ) so she could see as the heir to the ducal throne bestowed a sacred & ancient rite upon his upon his brother–––– his first shield. she could remember feeling pride for the traditions of her people for the first time & joining in the cheers so loudly her voice had vanished by the evening.

they had all been so happy, just for their lives to be torn asunder less than a year later.

upon seeing him again, alive & just as grown as she, tifa had hesitated. she'd kept her head down & focused on her tasks in the hideaway. speaking with clive had been a necessity, but there had been no reason to bother joshua–––– not when he certainly didn't remember her, who had been just another face in the crowd of his future subjects. no, she hadn't needed to trouble him.

until, this moment. tifa had spent extra time cleaning the tub & crown. most of the residents of the hideaway were resting when she finally finished, & she intended her walk to her bunk to be a leisurely one, but she paused at a lone figure standing by the docks. joshua, alone in the darkness, watching the blighted waters. instinct told her to keep moving, to leave him be, but she couldn't find it within her to depart for bed without checking to see if he was alright.

though she made no effort to hide her steps, he didn't seem to notice her, & she mustered up the courage to call out to him, her hand reaching up.

❛ my lord? ❜

he jumped the instant her hand brushed his shoulder, causing her to do the same. for a moment he looked ready to draw a sword that wasn't even at his side. his explanation almost made her laugh–––– startling a man with the magic inside him to become an eikon certainly hadn't been something that she'd forseen herself able to do–––– but she managed an apology instead.

❛ forgive me, that wasn't my intention. i just wanted to make sure you were alright. you looked... ❜

just as he said, as if he was miles away. as though his mind had wandered to a place his spirit & body could not follow, & she knew well the dangers of attempting. tifa left her statement unfinished.

❛ are you okay? ❜

whether or not he would share the thoughts that plagued his mind with her was a mystery but, should she be given the chance, she would gladly help him carry whatever burden was weighing him down.

[myhappylee]

Hey there, Happy Tuesday!

How's it going? I hope you had a great weekend and your week is going great!

Just wanted to share a quick life update and talk about our creative journeys. I've been trying to stay mindful, and one way I'm doing it is by journaling and creating this weekly newsletter, I hope I can maintain this. It's a bit of a challenge, but it's helping me reflect. What about you? How do you stay mindful?

My weekend started with a change of pace – journaling. It had been a while since I enjoyed this simple pleasure, a break from my usual drawing activities. The combination of journaling and a cup of coffee was pure happiness.

Come Saturday afternoon, I found myself at Wereldcafe, ready to join the Shut Up and Write group. This group has become a cherished part of my life ever since I first arrived in Belgium last year. I proudly consider myself one of its first members, and I've created meaningful friendships along the way. Our Saturdays were dedicated to one sacred hour of uninterrupted writing. For me, it was a chance to craft my social media content and, now, my Patreon and blog posts as well.

Upcoming Vlog

I'm gearing up to release a new YouTube video, showcasing a timelapse of one of my current traditional art pieces for Peachtober. In the pipeline, there's also a digital artwork feature slated for the following week. Amidst juggling client commissions and personal projects, I'm diligently organizing my content for the week.

Peachtober Progress

I'm thrilled to see the positive response on my social media as I continue daily Peachtober postings. The challenge is a blast, and while I hope to complete all the prompts, the journey itself has been a joy so far.

Anticipating Folktale Week

Even though Peachtober is still in full swing, I can't help but notice the growing excitement around Folktale Week. I'm itching to dive into this challenge later this month. Are any of you planning to join in? Or perhaps, there's another challenge you're looking forward to?

Thoughts lately

Last week, I found myself stressing over work and life. I felt I wasn't doing enough for my creative goals. I'm currently swamped with client work, which I'm grateful for, but I'm also putting too much pressure on my social media presence, and I'm not sure why. Ultimately, I'm seeking fulfillment and genuine connections. I don't know where this path will lead, but I'm curious to find out. Do you ever feel the same way?

[suckitsurveys]

When was the last time you were bitten by an animal? What kind of animal was it? A kitty cat bit me the other day. Not enough to draw blood though.

When was the last time you had sex/did something sexual? How was it? The other night. It was pretty great.

When was the last time you did something illegal? What did you do? Drove without my seat belt.

What was the last colour you dyed your hair? Blue.

Tell me about the first five photos you have on your phone or camera. My phone organizes my pictures so weirdly now I hate it. And I’m not scrolling to find the first 5 pictures.

Who was the last person you know to have something big happen to them (i.e., get engaged/married, have a baby, etc.)? Ellen bought a condo and Liz got married!

Is there anybody over the age of 40 that you think is hot? Yes.

Have you ever been punched in the face? Nope.

Do you have to watch yourself in the mirror while you brush your teeth? No.

Do you think your last ex deserves to die? No.

How’s the love life going? It’s so amazing, I’m so in love with Mark.

Do you think the last person you Facebook messaged is a virgin? See the second question for this answer.

Have you ever had someone drag his or her nails down your back? Yes.

If you’ve been hurt in a past relationship, are you more jaded this time around? Eh.

[TW: ABUSE] Have you ever been in a physically abusive relationship? No.

Have you ever felt more like you needed someone, and less like you loved that person? No.

Is there any habit, attachment, or addiction that you feel you have beaten or risen above? Uh huh.

Have you ever lived with a friend? Nah.

Have you ever only liked someone because you found out they liked you? No

Do you think people act weirder or that stranger things happen when there’s a full moon? Not particularly.

Do you think you would make a good parent someday? Nope.

In which were you happiest: elementary, middle, or high school? Elementary.

Have you ever written something on a street sign? I have not.

Life is nothing without passion. What are your passions? The people in my life.

How’s the weather lately? It’s fall and cold and blah.

You can bring back one dead pet to life. Which one? Jessie, my childhood kitty.

Is there a pillowcase on your pillow? Describe it: Yeah. It’s blue.

School: what classes are you taking at the moment? I haven’t been in school in years.

What scent is your deodorant? It has powdery and floral notes.

Are you happy with what you see when you look in the mirror? Hahahahahahhhahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Does it get super hot in the summer where you live? Yeah.

Would you ever date someone of the same sex? I wouldn’t date anyone right now because I am married and plan on staying that way, but I am bisexual.

If you HAD to be raised by another family member than you were, who? My cousin Kelly.

Do you like reptiles as pets, or do they gross you out? I wouldn’t mind one but my cats would go crazy.

Favorite type of seafood? Crab! I love mostly all seafood, but crab is my favorite.

Are you more traditional or progressive? Progressive.

How long was your longest relationship? 13 years and counting.

Did you ever honestly believe you were going to marry your highschool bf/gf? I didn’t have a high school bf.

Are you a virgin? Do you believe virginity is “sacred?” No and no.

Would you say that you have a lot of friends? I have a small handful of friends.

Are both your parents alive? Just my dad.

Were you raised by your biological parents? Yes.

Has your family ever been broken? Eh.

Do you think your parents respect your space? They always have.

Are you close with you siblings, if you have any? Sort of.

Have you ever in anger told your parent(s) that you hated them? What kid hasn’t?

What’s your favourite Thai dish? Massaman curry.

Have you ever been on a date with someone you met online? How was it? Yup. We have been together 13 and a half years now.

What sort of games do you like to play? I like all kinds of games really; card games, board games, some video games, some computer/phone games.

What was the last candy you ate? Reece’s Pieces.

Do you know anyone who is deaf? No.

Do you eat or drink as soon as you wake up, or do you wait a while? Not as soon as I get up, no.

What’s your favourite kind of Oreo? Double Stuf.

Do you play any games on your phone? If so, tell me about one. I play Skip Bo on my on my phone a lot. And sometime Happy Color, which is a color by numbers game.

Do you have more male or female coworkers? I’m literally the only female.

What’s the longest stretch of time you’ve spent completely alone? Uhhhh Not sure.

Do you have the same color eyes as your mother? Yes.

Have you ever been put to sleep for surgery? Nope.

When was the last time you went bowling? Oh it’s been a while. I wouldn’t mind going again sometime soon.

Do you personally know anyone who is transgender? Yes.

Do you have piercings anywhere except your ears? How many and where? My right nostril.

What’s your opinion on leggings as pants? They’re legit, I love leggings.

Who was the last person you were in love with for more than a year? My husband.

Do you have a secret life? Nah.

Have you ever seen the last person you kissed without a shirt? Yeah.

Do your parents know EVERYTHING about you? No.

Favorite thing to eat with peanut butter? Chocolate.

If you had to get a piercing right now, what would it be? I’d get another ear piercing.

The last time you held a baby: Sometime in the last 3 years.

Does your mom eat meat? She passed 11 years ago.

What would be your reaction if one of your parents said they were having another kid? ^

How do you feel about snails? They’re okay.

Are you physically affectionate with your friends? Sometimes.

Do you kill spiders when you see them? No, I let them be especially if they aren’t bothering me.

Would you ever adopt a child? No.

Do you like your name’s meaning? Sure, it’s simple and sweet.

Do you and your mom look like sisters? --

Are you the same height as your mom? --

What subjects do you like to read about? Idk.

Are there any (obviously fictional) villains you can’t help but love? I can’t think of anyone right now.

Can you name a villain who you could kind of side with? Eh.

What color eyes does your significant other (or crush) have? (If applicable.) Brown.

Does anything around your home need repairing? Our oven hasn’t worked in like 4 years oops hahaha. We use our toaster oven since it’s just the two of us.

[sagechan]

Ask game questions for my beloved!

3. What’s something you learned about yourself as a writer?

12. What fic was the most difficult to write? Did you finish it?

21. Share your favorite piece of dialogue

hi friend hi my beloved Major this is from so long ago but here i am at last answering these questions from what i am sure was an ask-game about fanfic writing!

3. What's something you learned about yourself as a writer?

Apparently I'm fairly good at adapting my writing to make it feel like it fits in with whatever genre/series/style it needs to! i think it was @todaddyroki who first mentioned that in one comment on AO3! like a chameleon loll

12. What fic was the most difficult to write? Did you finish it?

I think probably my zukaang fic actually, the crown ain't worth much, and no it's definitely not finished lol. it's been sitting there with only 2 chapters posted since like 2018 lol. i think it's hard to write it, and honestly hard for me to write for ATLA in general, because i've known that show for so long it's ingrained in my being. the show is the show. it is what happens. and to try to change or add to that in fanfiction seems, idk, like icarus reaching for the sun? like, how could i ever hope to make something as good lol. which isn't true! but it definitely is a block when i'm writing or even thinking about writing for ATLA haha

21. Share your favorite piece of dialogue.

[Okay i didn't go past my first page of works on AO3, but within the last couple years i wrote a single fic for LOTR: Rings of Power, and this bit between Elrond and Durin is one of my favorite moments i've written in a while]

“Am I correct in assuming it is very sacred to share such a name with another?”

Durin took a drink from the canteen, then set it on the ground beside his foot. “It is. We do not share our birthing-names with those outside our race, for we are a people close to kin and buried under mountains of age-old tradition and suspicions. My mother knew it; she gave it the moment I was born. My father does not know it, for he was not at my birth, and my Common use-name had already been given. I will not tell him it till he draws the breath before his very last. My Disa knows it; we whispered our Names to each other one night after Gerda was born, so full of love were we for our children and each other. Some of my closest friends knew it, but many have died or drifted from my hearth. Now none remain but Disa to share in such knowledge.”

Elrond arched one elegant eyebrow. “It seems a lonely life, to be named twice but known only once by those closest to you.”

“You would know me more than once then, Elf?”

“I would know you in the darkest cave, Durin,” Elrond said. “I would know you.”

thank you for the questions my dear!! <3<3<3

[greenmansgrove]

I struggle to feel qualified to do my own readings…

and I also struggle to understand my self-readings. I worry for bad news, I worry for bias, I worry for missing something. And yet, I still feel called to perform readings, particularly in the times of strife I’m experiencing now. I actually performed this reading the night of my birthday — a yearly tradition.

I mainly use John Matthew and Will Worthington’s Green Man Tree Oracle, which is just a illustrated ogham deck and even includes the Forfeda. Saturday’s reading was as follows:

Ivy / Gort - Call upon those around you.

Vine / Muin - Consider what you hold dear; learn to let go.

Elder / Ruis - Sometimes we must make sacrifices.

*sigh* When I most need the readings, they always rip me to shreds. Given my predisposition towards hyper-independence, I know that I am being called not only to draw from my community for support, but also, given the difficulties I am experiencing, think about what matters most in these times and understand that, even if I have to give up what I want most at this time, that the blessings after such a sacrifice may increase.

It doesn’t feel fair, but I know there is truth in it. It hurts to hear when I spent so many year in deep material and emotional insecurity. I was beginning to resent this reading. What happened to my “protection” and safety I thought my first ogham reading had assured me I’d had in drawing Rowan / Luis two years ago? Just when I thought I was finally reaching stability, it all falls away before me.

I thought of The Morrigan, too. Chiefmost among her signs to me has been Elder / Ruis. It is how she lets me know she is near and watching. Thrice now I have found it growing in places dear and sacred to me. But it almost never comes up in my readings. The first and only other time I have pulled Elder was in the reading I performed for myself in September, when I began my dedications to and preparations for joining The Order of the Morrigan. At that time, I understood it to be confirmation of what she wanted of me, but perhaps it was also a warning of what was to come and something for which she was trying to prepare me.

Now I pull Elder again, when I know exactly what sacrifices are being asked of me. It is not necessarily a physical sacrifice or a sacrifice to the Morrigan, but a sacrifice of something towards which I had worked hard and which I may now need to put off in favor of focusing on what matters most. I almost resent this, too.

I admit that in working with the Morrigan, I fear being tested. I loathe the idea of a god testing my faith and resolve. Perhaps others are comfortable with it, as is their prerogative, but given my own religious trauma, I feel it is a breech of trust and mutual faith, and it is a boundary I have sought to set with the Morrigan since making my dedication. Was she testing me now? Or was she punishing me? That, too, I loathed, because as much as I reflect, I struggle to think of what I could have done and how to make amends.

I required clarity. Thus, I pulled from my Oracle of the Morrigan illustrated by Morrigan Oran. I had officially dedicated this tool to the Morrigan earlier in the week during the full moon, and I was nervous about my ability to interpret the abstract symbolism, but I needed clarity from the Great Queens herself. She would want me to stretch my oracular skills.

After shuffling the deck several times with my question in mind, I pulled the “Cycles” card. I took a long, hard stare at the card and read the little booklet’s entry, which the illustrator had channeled in her creation of the artwork. At first, I was only more frustrated at the vagueness. But soon enough, at least one meaning dawned on me, and it was almost as if I could hear the Morrigan saying,

This is all part of a Cycle. There will always be bad times. Neither you nor I can prevent them all, no matter how much you pray or what sacrifices you make. It is the way of things.

Though I still worry for bias, I found this comforting. Perhaps I am not actually being tested or punished. Perhaps this is not more of the same through which I have struggled in the years prior and against which I have been bracing. Perhaps I am just in a bad spot, and I can and will pull through.

I suppose I have the skills and resources on which to pull. I want to put my faith in this reading and find the will and confidence to keep moving and accept the sacrifices I must make. I am scared to, but I know I can.