#Mary as protector and guide

[seekingtheosis]

Mother Mary as the Pillar of Cloud & Fire

In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus It has been a blessed experience to learn and share about the various imageries used for the blessed Theotokos in the Orthodox Christian worship and its teachings. As we draw closer to the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Mother, let us look forward for…

[portraitsofsaints]

Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)

Feast day: September 27

Patroness of the Catholic missions to seafarers

Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary. The words Star of the Sea are a translation of the Latin title Stella Maris. The title was used to emphasize Mary's role as a sign of hope and as a guiding star for Christians, especially gentiles, whom the Old Testament Israelites metaphorically referred to as the sea, meaning anyone beyond the "coasts", or, that is to say, sociopolitical, and religious (Mosaic law), borders of Israelite territory. Under this title, the Virgin Mary is believed to intercede as a guide and protector of those who travel or seek their livelihoods on the sea.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

[help-i-need-a-cool-username]

poolverinessa headcanons now that i have a name to tag them under

Most of them include Laura bc theyd be the coolest step-parents

They call Laura "princess". It doesnt matter that she's still partially feral. She's their little girl that they adore and that makes her their princess. Logan doesnt call her that often because he's awkwardly making the switch to fatherhood ("sweetheart" is his go to), but Wade started calling her that instantly (she's the heir to the wolverine title!) and as soon as Vanessa started dating Logan she jumped on the bandwagon

They all live in a apartment with Blind Al and Mary Puppins. Its not much bigger than what they had before. Its very cramped theres no privacy and theres a ton of holes in the wall from stabbing spars. Its perfect

Laura and Vanessa do a lot of first things for Laura together. First makeup, first shopping spree, first mani-pedi (does not go well), first strip club

Wade showers Laura in affection as soon as he becomes Uncle Wade just like he does Mary Puppins. Its overwhelming but she likes it bc it makes her feel like she has a "real" family. Logan is a lot more subdued in his affection

Wade and Vanessa are very hands off in the actual parenting. She's already a adult and was never parented growing up. Theyre also not even her step-parents just her dad's bf/gf. Logan starts very hands off because he's not her actual dad and she's all grown up but he quickly becomes a emotional anchor for her and he parents her more by guiding and giving advice

Logan pushes Laura to join the school. She's in the final year but its her first time ever in a school setting. Wade and Logan help her with her homework. Logan suggested "wolverine" as her hero name. She made sure her suit was yellow to pay homage to her dad. The boys cried when she first showed them the suit and cowl. Vanessa took ten thousand pictures

They all share a closet. Laura and Vanessa share and Wade and Logan share. Blind Al is the only one who wont share

Wade sleeps in the middle of the bed. Logan sleeps shirtless. Vanessa sleeps pantless. All three cuddle

Wade kisses everyone good morning and good bye. Its adorable. Al hates it

Vanessa slaps Wade's ass every morning. She starts doing it to Logan too.

Logan has gone full pack leader mentality. Provider. Protector. Breeder

Wade and Vanessa were married and then separated during D&W. They are both dating Logan, Logan is dating both of them. They always try to make sure everyone is getting equal attention

Pet names! Wade calls Logan and Vanessa every name under the sun. Logan calls Vanessa "Gorgeous" and "Beautiful" but all Wade gets is his name and the non-pet name "Bub"

Logan is a simple man. He crumbles under any affection being bestowed upon him (canon?). Little bits of intimacy like petting his hair or rubbing his back and he's a goner

Vanessa was a hooker. Comic!Laura was a hooker. I like to think that didnt happen to movie!Laura bc of the comic circumstances were horrible but if it did theyd have something in common they could initially bond over. Maybe movie!Laura finds out how much money stripping makes and expresses interest in it? Vanessa still has connections and supports this. Wade supports this because he respects all work types and any of Laura's dreams. Logan has a heart attack when he finds out she's considering this

Laura very occasionally calls Wade "Dad" and Vanessa "Mom". Logan is always "Papa" and the og!Logan will always be "Daddy"

[magical-girl-coral]

I've been going through D20's fandom wiki page and I've noticed how all of the Rat Grinders seem to be copying the successful abilities of others rather to doing their own thing. Ruben is a Whispers bard because Fig was one, Mary Ann is a berserker because Gorgug was one as well, and while there isn't a Bad Kids Archer, Ivy seem to be a Ranger/Fight arcane archer combo because Antiope is a world renowned Ranger/Fighter arcane Archer combo. Even Oisin was stealing Adaine's magic and Kipperlilly was a type A of Penelope Everpetal from the secret motivation behind her election to the blue skin friend that mysteriously disappeared.

It really feels like either Porter controlled their development to what he believes would be best to go with or they were too scatter minded post shatter star to make their own decisions so Porter took advantage of that to bold them into his image.

So here's what I think their subclasses would be in a post Porter World;

Ruben: Collage of the Road

Synopsis: Not an officially recognized college, the College of the Road represents the personal and eclectic sets of skills, knowledge, and techniques a wandering bard picks up along their journey. As inveterate jacks-of-all-trades, bards possess a variety of aptitudes in combat, magecraft, and general know-how, making them particularly well suited to learning a variety of different skills. It often happens that while traveling, a bard winds up sharing their campfire with a motley assortment of wandering adventurers who may impart valuable lessons in exchange for a lively song or a well-told tale. Compared to students of other Bard Colleges, a special kind of sensibility is important for the College of the Road. How effectively a bard of this College can apply what they have learned depends on their understanding and insight. The College of the Road is sometimes a harsh teacher, but bards who follow this path often find themselves rewarded with a diverse array of useful tricks and tactics. Those who underestimate a bard from the College of the Road soon find that these "graduates" are full of surprises.

Reasoning: Ruben would probably return to his beach bum ways after being free from the rage crystal, but I doubt he would want to go back to an "official" college. After everything with Porter, I imagine he would value the freedom to do whatever he wants more than ever and being a road bard will allow just that. No restrictions or someone telling you what to do; just going with the flow down the long recovery road.

Besides, he will probably be on the road for a long time after he convinces his party to start a band with him after leaving behind whatever the frick My Gnomical Romance was. He is this close from convincing them to pick up a musical instrument.

Mary Ann: Path of the Totem Warrior

Synopsis: The Path of the Totem Warrior is a spiritual journey, as the barbarian accepts a spirit animal as guide, protector, and inspiration. In battle, your totem spirit fills you with supernatural might, adding magical fuel to your barbarian rage.

Most barbarian tribes consider a totem animal to be kin to a particular clan. In such cases, it is unusual for an individual to have more than one totem animal spirit, though exceptions exist.

Reasoning: I love the idea of Mary Ann getting into Squishmallows because her grandma invented the first reptile teddy bear of Spyre for reptilian races like Kobolts and all Squishmallows are just descended of that invention. As a way to get closer to her grandmother, Mary Ann picks the bear as her spirit, as a way to always feel connected with her, even when she's away on adventures, becoming her grandmother's vision for the future.

When asked if she's going to miss her Mindless Rage advantages, Mary Ann answers; "I have been mindless for a year. I've had enough of that for a long time."

Ivy: Gloomstalker/Rune Knight

Synopsis: Rune Knights enhance their martial prowess using the supernatural power of runes, an ancient practice that originated with giants. Rune cutters can be found among any family of giants, and you likely learned your methods first or second hand from such a mystical artisan. Whether you found the giant's work carved into a hill or cave, learned of the runes from a sage, or met the giant in person, you studied the giant's craft and learned how to apply magic runes to empower your equipment.

Reasoning: Since Oisin and Ivy are canonically best friends and deeply close, I'd like to imagine both of them helping the other work out ironing out the kinks in their abilities. Ivy would start leaning about runes with Oisin's help who took glyph classes since Freshmen year. Combining her old knowledge with new one, Ivy's arrows become extremely deadly thanks to the runes she carves into them.

I didn't change her Gloomstalker subclass since it seems to be one of the few things that remained the same after getting shatter starred. No other character in Fantasy High has this and it matches Ivy's aloof personality.

Oisin: Remains as School of Conjuration

Synopsis: As a conjurer, you favor spells that produce objects and creatures out of thin air. You can conjure billowing clouds of killing fog or summon creatures from elsewhere to fight on your behalf. As your mastery grows, you learn spells of transportation and can teleport yourself across vast distances, even to other planes of existence, in an instant.

Reasoning: Like Ivy's Gloomstalker, Oisin's conjuration seemed to one of the few things that belonged to him rather than something was a part of Porter's plan. Those tattoos did not come from the any influence other than Oisin's and I will die on this hill.

HOWEVER.

He absolutely goes through a training montage with Ivy to focus on other proficients. His main focus becomes balancing out his other stats, mostly on strength, dexterity and constitution so that he wouldn't be useless in battle if he is put under Silence. There is nothing more satisfying than a villain thinking he made the party's wizard useless only for the wizard to sucker punch them in the face.

Kipperlilly: Phantom

Synopsis: Many rogues walk a fine line between life and death, risking their own lives and taking the lives of others. While adventuring on that line, some rogues discover a mystical connection to death itself. These rogues take knowledge from the dead and become immersed in negative energy, eventually becoming like ghosts. Thieves' guilds value them as highly effective information gatherers and spies.

Reasoning: While in hell, Kipperlilly had to come with the grip that her plan failed in every imaginable way. Deciding to embrace her fall from grace to the maximum, Kipperlilly became one with her death, moving through walls and people like a ghost haunting the hells. It's not like she has any allies around to help, and everyone around her too deranged from hells' influence to be able to manipulate. At least by being a specter, she can avoid many enemies and pass through devils without anyone knowing better. If she can't get better, at least she can be worse with everyone else.

But if the rest of her party comes down to hell to save her, I can see her becoming the Mastermind again. Except this time it's after weeks of group therapy with her friends and she actually focuses on helping them in battle.

[helplessavacado]

Prompt 19: Herald (an official messenger bringing news, a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen)

The Archangel Gabrielle, trying to comfort the Virgin Mary after telling her she'll be giving birth to the Messiah.

Luke 1:26-38

(Further lore and rambling below the cut)

Gabrielle was charged with two announcements, the birth of John the Baptist to Elizabeth and Zechariah, and the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary. That's where her job ended... Technically. She continued to participate in Mary and Jesus' life long after the initial announcement. She was the angel who spoke to Joseph, convincing him not to leave Mary. The leader of the angels who alerted the shepherds, the guide to the Wise Men, and the protector of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they fled to Egypt. Girlie was very very busy those first few years. Her appearances petered out soon after Jesus began his ministry. She still popped in every once and a while, checking in on him, but she left him to his own devices.

She soon regretted that after hearing of Jesus' arrest.

Ninth day, nineteenth prompt, see y'all tomorrow with "Crystalline"

[nightbunnysong]

do you have a creed?

I am a Christian Catholic, and my faith is a central part of my life. In Italy, and particularly in Friuli, Catholicism has deep roots and is closely intertwined with local traditions and a strong devotion to the figure of Mary. Marian devotion, especially in rural areas like my valleys, plays a significant role in shaping the spiritual life of the community. The Virgin Mary is seen not only as a motherly protector but also as a symbol of humility, compassion, and faith, guiding individuals through life’s trials.

In Friuli, faith often blends with the natural environment and ancient folklore. Figures like the sbilfs or spirits of nature, commonly found in local myths, are seen not in opposition to the Christian worldview but as part of God's creation. These entities, representing the forces of nature, fit into a broader understanding of the world as a harmonious expression of divine will. Even in folklore, there's a sense that all life, visible or unseen, contributes to the tapestry of creation. <3

[traumacatholic]

Im on the verge of suicide and I suspect my two sisters are as well. While I don't think I will ever do it, because I'm religious, idk about them. And even if I won't do it, to live in such a torment ad the one I'm experiencing is unbearable and unimaginable. Logically I believe in the power of prayers, but on a personal level I find it unlikely anything will ever help me. But I'm still asking for prayers in the intention of us three staying alive no matter what.

I'm really sorry to hear that you and your sisters are struggling with suicidal thoughts. I don't know where you live, but please know that there will be crisis and non-crisis resources that you can access for support and pass on resources to your sisters (as well as to use for yourself). Suicide hotlines are just one form of accessing support. You can absolutely reach out to your local doctor, or see what other support services are in place. Sometimes you can access therapy groups which can often have shorter waiting list times and can often be offered for free or low cost. There are also a range of apps that are free or low cost that offer a range of coping mechanisms. I would recommend just putting in 'mental health' or 'suicide support' into your app store because sometimes it will also recommend apps that are ran by local resources to you.

As for prayers, something that you can try and do is use these prayers. You can say them when you get up in the morning, before you go to bed, or whenever you feel like anxiety/pain/etc is building up. You can pick up praying one of them a day, or whenever you're able, or using more than one. Whatever you feel is most beneficial to you (and also most achievable). I'm giving you a range of prayers under a readmore, just because some of them vary in length and you might find a certain length of prayer works best for you.

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner

----

Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)

Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.

----

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace.

You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels.

Because you are the medicine of God, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor

(mention your request here)

and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

St. Raphael, of the glorious seven who stand before the throne of Him who lives and reigns, Angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains. Heal or cure the victim of disease and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

Amen.

---

O my beloved Queen, my hope, O Mother of God, protector of orphans and protector of those who are hurt, the savior of those who perish and the consolation of all those who are in distress, thou seest my misery, thou seest my sorrow and my loneliness. Help me—I am powerless; give me strength. Thou knowest what I suffer, thou knowest my grief: Lend me thy hand, for who else can be my hope but thee, my protector and my intercessor before God? I have sinned before thee and before all people. Be my Mother, my consoler, my helper. Protect me and save me, chase grief away from me, chase my lowness of heart and my despondency. Help me, O Mother of my God!

----

Thee alone I follow, Lord Jesus, Who heals my wounds. For what shall separate me from the love of God, which is in Thee? Shall tribulation, or distress, or famine? I am held fast as though by nails, and fettered by the bonds of charity. Remove from me, O Lord Jesus, with Thy potent sword, the corruption of my sins. Secure me in the bonds of Thy love; cut away what is corrupt in me. Come quickly and make an end of my many, my hidden and secret afflictions. Open the wound lest the evil humor spread. With Thy new washing, cleanse in me all that is stained. Hear me, you earthly men, who in your sins bring forth drunken thoughts: I have found a Physician. He dwells in Heaven and distributes His healing on earth. He alone can heal my pains Who Himself has none. He alone Who knows what is hidden can take away the grief of my heart, the fear of my soul: Jesus Christ. Christ is grace! Christ is life! Christ is Resurrection! Amen.

[campgender]

the divine hero-husband: on Romance Novel Jesus & submitting to your husband as to the Lord, Pavlov-style

from God’s Daughters: Evangelical Women and the Power of Submission by R. Marie Griffith (1997)

excerpt 1:

Another metaphor Aglow women utilize to describe their relationship with God is that of a divine lover or husband, also an image with a long history in the Christian tradition, which resonates in contemporary descriptions of becoming the “chosen bride” of Jesus. Several Aglow writers have fruitfully utilized a passage from the book of Isaiah: “For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name.”

Jo Anne, a single mother of two, appeals to her readers’ desires for a perfect husband when she writes, “How would you like to be married to a husband who is always faithful, ever concerned for your welfare, who wants only the best for you and who will love you no matter what you do?” Quoting the verse from Isaiah, she responds to her own question: “Surprise! The Bible says we’ve already got exactly that kind of husband. The God of the Universe my Husband! What a mind-blowing idea.” Recounting various stories of learning gratefully to accept this notion and to submit to God as her husband, Jo Anne offers other unmarried women the “opportunity” to “take [God] seriously” and to “receive him as the perfect husband.”

excerpt 2:

Whether his spiritual “wives” are widowed or divorced, married or remarried, God acts as their perfect husband, wisely guiding and protecting them in a perfectly ordered “love relationship.”

Like the more traditional notion of God as Father, the theme of God as perfect husband echoes throughout evangelical literature. In her 1976 book, The Gift of Inner Healing, well-known evangelist Ruth Carter Stapleton urges a young woman whose marriage to Nick has been “miserable” to let Jesus’ affection heal her and her marriage:

“Try to spend a little time each day visualizing Jesus coming in the door from work. Then see yourself walking up to him, embracing him. Say to Jesus, ‘It’s good to have you home, Nick.’ If you do this each day, you will condition yourself to respond to Nick as you would respond to Jesus.”

According to Stapleton’s story, the wisdom of this strategy was confirmed when Nick showed up to thank her about a year later, telling Stapleton that he and his wife have “a whole new relationship.” Imagining Jesus as a husband, and one’s husband as Jesus, has the power to refresh and animate even the most broken marriages.

Characterizations of God as perfect husband closely resemble the heroes of contemporary romance novels analyzed by Janice Radway, a literary scholar who interviewed dozens of women who regularly read this literature. “Strong and masculine” yet “equally capable of unusual tenderness, gentleness, and concern for [the heroine’s] pleasure,” the ideal hero for the romance readers questioned by Radway is one who recognizes “deep feelings” of love for the heroine and who realizes that “he could not live without her.”

Like Radway’s readers, who want their hero to be both protector of the heroine and dependent on her love, Aglow women desire their divine hero-husband both to lead and look after them and to be nurtured by their mutually gratifying relationship. Following God’s commands, doing everything he asks of them and more, flattering him continually by “just telling Him how wonderful He is and how much we love Him,” Aglow women fulfill their visions of perfect love relationships, satisfying needs for affection, protection, and self-esteem through a perceived marital relationship with God.

Whether they experience him as husband or as father, Aglow women view God as the ideal man, one who makes them feel respected and valued as women and who will not abuse or take advantage of them the way earthly men may. The complexities of this ideal of masculinity, and its intended contrast to earthly models, are suggested by the following interpretation of intimacy with God, from a book published by Aglow […]

excerpt 3:

The stories of Mary and Donna, like that of Dorothy, assure their readers that good results will follow a wife’s willing acquiescence: once women’s attitudes are transformed and they accept their submissive role, their husbands also become happier and more benevolent, reflecting the benevolence of God. Such stories show how personal power may be encoded in the doctrine of submission, as the women center their narratives on their own capacity to initiate personal healing and cultivate domestic harmony.

While not viewed as essential to the woman’s healing, changes in a husband’s behavior furnish added confirmation that such healing has taken place. For instance, the fact that Dorothy’s husband actually wept when she told him of her illness is highly significant to her story. Rather than slapping her in the face, as she says he had “every right” to do, Elmer embraced her lovingly and expressed his concern that she be healed. Likewise, Mary’s husband, Cal, responded to her newfound submission with love and appreciation, and Donna’s husband, Doug, was transformed even as she was. Such changes, these writers assert, occurred in large part as the result of the decisive actions of the wives.

These narratives are meant to convince Aglow readers of the sincerity of the husbands’ love for their wives and the assurance of their manly protection; as Dorothy writes of Elmer, he “showed me his real strength the night he forgave me.” Such husbands represent the ideal Christian man, upholding the image of a loving Father God: strong yet gentle, a dynamic leader who is unafraid to express tender feeling, stern and rugged in his righteousness yet willing to forgive and to respond in benevolence.

Dorothy, Mary, and Donna submit to their husbands’ authority, which, like that ofJesus, is depicted as compassionate and wise, never dominating or cruelly oppressive. Submit to your husband, the authors instruct their readers, and you too will discover the man you’ve always longed for, his seeming harshness softened by your willing obedience to his demands.

[angelique-of-the-volturi-guard]

I don’t know how to articulate this better but Rowena MacLeod had the growth as a character that I wanted Mary Winchester to have. Like Rowena continuously dealt with the reality in front of her and tried to better herself in some aspect, but it always felt to me that Mary was so stuck trying to figure out how to accept that the reality she knew was gone that she couldn’t honestly get where she needed to be in order to have healthy relationships with her sons and the rest of their chosen family.

(This is gonna get a little ranty- buckle up kids!)

My witch queen had a ton of growth after Crowley’s death (RIP King, you absolutely deserve so much love), but even before he died she was seeking something more for her life to push herself forward. Mary, by contrast, is consistently pulled toward things of the past- she’s a spirit in her old house, she goes to a funeral for an old hunting friend, and at one point she outright chooses to stay in a memory of her past.

I really thought when S11 finale happened that Mary was going to be this absolute badass Mom who was going to help guide her adult kids as needed while still maintaining herself as a person, and I was honestly disappointed when it seemed as though she never really found her way out. And what’s worse is that because Dean is also sort of stuck because he put her on such a pedestal as a kid, you have to watch as he comes to this realization that the mother he remembers isn’t who she is now. And her trying to keep him from being who he is by not hunting is how he understands she’s not that person. So he has to watch her be stuck while figuring out how to unstick himself.

And then you have Rowena and Crowley, who both absolutely fuck each other up, but they are 100% straight with each other that they’re here for themselves, and in having that level of honesty give each other the agency to level up. Crowley grew to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Rowena ended up growing and learning from his death to ultimately do the same and take his former position. She takes the accountability for her mistakes.

I think the reason for this is actually because of who they were as mothers. Mary was the protector type (had to be because of the hunting) who was so desperate to make sure her kids didn’t grow up the way she did that she had no idea what to do when they didn’t need her (like helicopter parenting on steroids). Rowena was hella neglectful, absolutely. But she also showed Crowley magic and left him by a workhouse before abandoning him and in doing both she unknowingly made certain he could fend for himself without her.

And while Mary always cared about the boys, I find it so interesting that ultimately, Rowena grew because of the son she supposedly hated while Mary, who loved her sons, stayed stuck. I wanted to see Mary grow in that same way with her sons (and God knows I would sell an arm and a leg to see Rowena and Crowley become the badass mother son antihero duo I dreamed they could be.). But alas… It was not to be 😔

[lady-maryann]

In moonlit shadows and demon's embrace The Devil finds solace in a Lady's grace A gun-wielding warrior, fierce and free Mary, my love, you are the key

Through battles fierce, you stand tall A hunter's spirit, a protector of all In the dance of chaos, you wield your might Lady of darkness, my guiding light

Your eyes reflects a tempest within A tale of loss, vengeance, and kin Yet, in the storm, you stand unbroken A testament to words unspoken

In the symphony of war, our love resounds A melody of strength that forever surrounds Mary .. my Lady, in this world we roam You are the anchor that calls me home

[portraitsofsaints]

 Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)

Feast day: September 27

Patroness of the Catholic missions to seafarers

Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary. The words Star of the Sea are a translation of the Latin title Stella Maris. The title was used to emphasize Mary's role as a sign of hope and as a guiding star for Christians, especially gentiles, whom the Old Testament Israelites metaphorically referred to as the sea, meaning anyone beyond the "coasts", or, that is to say, sociopolitical, and religious (Mosaic law), borders of Israelite territory. Under this title, the Virgin Mary is believed to intercede as a guide and protector of those who travel or seek their livelihoods on the sea.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[angeltreasure]

Please pray for Afghanistan and the surrounding area, they had yet another earthquake

Prayer For Protection Against Danger

Mother of Jesus, be our protector and defender against all that is harmful or evil. Bring our needs before Almighty God, that we may be surrounded by God‘s Holy Angels, and given the grace to conquer every danger and overcome all that would threaten our health and well-being.

Be for us, light and times of darkness, strength when we are weak, wisdom in our confusion, healing, and times of illness, and courage to work through life’s problems and difficulties. Give us joy when we are sad, bread to feed our hunger, and eternal life to defeat the power of death.

Virgin Mary, guide our life-journey, so that we may always walk safely together with you and your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, in God‘s loving friendship. Amen. 

[lumisparks]

Indivisible: Dhar Reincarnated

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← Chapter 4

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Word Count: Almost 3k Words

Dhar and his friends were at Princess Mary’s castle after a victorious battle against the Neo-Ravannavar Army. In the throne room, the princess rewards them with medals that were shaped like cogs. As much as Mary is glad to see that her people are safe, but in the back of her mind... Something was bothering her. This caught the heroes’ attention, “Princess? Is something the matter?” Zebei asks.

Mary walks her way to the window, viewing her people repairing the damages in town square. She places her hand onto the glass and tells her woes,

”Sorry... I’m worried that the Navar Army might strike again if they actually go to my factories.. The technology they have... It’s remarkable that it puts me into shame and disgust. They took down half of my robots by draining the life out of them! They almost killed Antoine and Eurynomos too.”

She clicks her tongue then swiftly moves her feet to face Dhar, Zebei, and Kushi.

“And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving them. As Princess Mary of the Iron Kingdom, I heed your assistance for a little longer. Is that alright?”

The 3 warriors looked at each other then smiled. They looked back at the princess as Dhar was first to speak, “Of course, your majesty. Anything to help you and your people.”

“Ah! That’s wonderful to hear. Now come with me, warriors.

Especially you two, Antoine and Eurynomos.”

Everyone leaves the castle, now guided away by the princess. A moment later, Princess Mary stops abruptly alongside the others. They saw they were in front of a big factory with guards that had a cross symbol on their helmets, patrolling the place. Mary points at Antoine,

”Mr. Antoine, go guard the entrance of the factory wiiiith...“ She hums, analyzing her roster until she eyes on Dhar, ”Him! With Dhar!”

“Of course, Princess Mary,” The knight looks at the other man and grins,

“You’re lucky to be paired up with a fine knight like me!”

Dhar blinks, “Really?”

“Yes! I’ll tell you everything I know about the might of a warrior!”

Mary laughs awkwardly and crosses her arms,

“Antoine has a bit of pride in him, but I think he’ll do well around you for the job,” she remarks. She looks at Zebei, Kushi, and Eurynomos, giving them orders,

”You two, Zebei and Kushi. I want you both to go around town if there are any suspicious people. As for Eurynomos, guard my most special possession... ESTHER.”

The robot bows and heads inside the factory while Lhan’s protectors go to patrol the town. Dhar curiously raises his hand,

”Princess Mary? What’s ESTHER?”

“ESTHER is a defense weapon that stores slime and converts it into power and energy. It is in its beta stages though... I want to find a way to not be a hazard in my kingdom’s environment...”

Mary explains as she sighs, adding on,

“I want it to be good enough.”

“I think expressing the amount of work you’ve done is more good than it is.”

The princess simply smiles and leaves with no other answer, but to leave her men at charge.

With nothing else to do, Dhar and Antoine simply stand in front of the entrance as the seconds go by. The knight casually grooms his thick pompadour while the swordsman(despite his sword remains to be upgraded) looks up at the sky.

He was used to seeing it green in the kingdom but when being in a higher area, they’re blue. The clouds were puffy, they can still manage some shapes though.

So, he started to look through one of them. They look like... A mountain, a boulder, a pebble, a rock... another rock... another rock–Oh hey a diamond! Not sure why he was thinking about rocks for a minute there.

The others look like a ship, a flower, a vase, and... a ro–Sword. A sword. Just thinking about his blade makes him hope that Kampan will finish it soon. With a groan, Dhar sits on a crate and crosses his arms.

As for Zebei wandering in the streets of Iron Kingdom, he heard some whining that came halfway from the factory. He turns his body to face who’s making the noise. The archer notices 5 tourists at the closed gate. “I can’t believe it! One of Princess Mary’s best factories... closed?!”

One falls to his knees dramatically and sobs.

Suspicious of those individuals that should’ve been aware of the factories’ closing, Zebei goes up to them, ”Is something wrong?” he asks. The tourist stands and wipes his tears,

”Yes! The factory is closed even though we were scheduled to come here,” he lets out a huff then crosses his arms. Zebei nodded and asked one more question,”Uh huh... and where is your tour guide?”

“She’s off to ask a guard to grant access to this area. But it’s taking quite a while... Say...”

The person looks at the archer, scanning him,

”Can you let us in? It’ll be quick! Promise!” The archer was skeptical at first, then he looked at the entrance. He sees Dhar and Antoine just talking to each other.

He couldn’t hear what they’re saying due to the constant machinery working. However, Zebei shouldn’t be focusing on that right now. With deep thought, he takes out a key and opens the gates.

The two men guarding the factory took notice, seeing Zebei letting the tourists in. The2 bodyguards notice them walking in. Antoine asks suspiciously,

“Sir Zebei, who are these people?”

“Tourists. They wanted a quick look inside the factory at this weird hour.”

“Seriously...?”

Antoine looks at the seemingly innocent group, crossing his arms. They had pleading eyes, grasping their hands together at the men. He looks at Dhar. He gives him a simple shrug, confused on what to do. Antoine sighs and nods as the tourists cheer,

”Fine. But in ONE condition. Since your tour guide isn’t here, you’ll only walk around while being under surveillance by Dhar and not touch anything in this or other circumstances. Understand?”

The tourists nod, excited.

Zebei puts his hand on Dhar’s shoulder, telling him good luck. The silver-haired gives a small nod and takes the tourists inside the factory. They felt the heat coming from the pouring molten metal into some molds forming and mending stuff to make mechs and parts. The people were in awe, impressed by the hard work. Meanwhile, Dhar fans himself in an attempt to cool himself from the humidity.

“I should have asked Zebei if he had a flask of water or something...“ He muttered as his face and body sweated. A male tourist hands him a bottle,”You can have mines, sir!”

“O-oh! Thank you... Are you sure if that’s okay?“

“Don’t worry~! Where me and my group are from, we train with hard-work warmups to fight against the heat, whether it’s a hot summer day or a hot steaming room like this factory!”

The young man chuckles and takes the bottled water from the other guy’s hand. He drinks a little bit until he guides the ones he’s surveilling on to sections of where he’s supposed to go. As they were climbing upstairs into the next section, Dhar couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched by the people he was guiding. He turns his head to glance at them,

”So... Do any of you have any questions so far...?”

“Not much, sir. However, is this where we are going to see the infamous ESTHER project the princess has been talking and working about?”

“Um... Yes. Wish Antoine gave me a map before heading inside to guide you all there. But this is fine… Anything else?“

Everyone stops when they make it to the 2nd floor while Dhar waits for another person’s question. The guy gave him an eerie stare and asked,

”Not related to the factory but... You look like that lieutenant guy from the Navar Army right?”

The silver-haired groaned, lifting his hand to cover his face, ”Used to…” He replied. Oddly, the tourists began laughing... What? Before Dhar could look and ask why, he suddenly gets tackled by 2 people in the group as he yelps.

“Hold him down! We’ll go look for the ESTHER mech!” The leader of the group exclaims as he and 2 of his lackeys run off, yelling “For Lord Ravannavar” throughout the halls.

Dhar’s eyes widened, he realized those tourists were the Neo-Ravanavar Army soldiers in disguise. Outside at the entrance, Antoine and Zebei see Kushi and Altun land down in front of them. “All areas in the kingdom are good so far,” Kushi informed.

Antoine nods while Zebei gives her the thumbs up. She looks around, worried,

”Where’s Dhar though?”

As one of the men was about to answer, they all heard Dhar scream for help inside and calling for reinforcements. Befuddled by what's going on, head inside to see the young man pinned down by the men who weren’t wearing casual tourists anymore. That familiar black and gold armor.

“Ah crap...“

Zebei curses to himself, taking out his bow and arrows. Antoine growls and takes out his lance,

“We’ve been had?!? Ugh! I should have known!”

A soldier smirks under his helmet, standing up as he plants his foot down on Dhar’s back, “And you all were dumb enough to fall for it. Especially you, Pinocchio,” He remarks to Zebei. To Zebei’s reaction; he made the first move to attack by leaping up the stairs and shooting some arrows at the foot soldiers.

His opponent swiftly takes out his shield and throws to deflect them. The other soldiers jump off the mezzanine to attack Kushi and Antoine, passing by the archer. They raise their swords, slashing the two. Antoine blocked with his lance, pushing the soldiers back and causing them to stumble. Kushi hops onto Altun as the bird flaps his wings, blowing them away and being slammed against the wall.

With Zebei, he hops to the 2nd floor and charges at the remaining guys who are restraining Dhar. As the 2 foot soldiers were about to attack, Zebei dropkicks right in one’s face to knock him away.

He then elbows the other as the soldiers grunts, losing his balance and falling back. Dhar stands and brushes the dust off his shoulders, ”Thanks...“ Albeit that “thanks” sounded disappointed.

Both men look at each other, “Not sure what you were thinking of letting them in the first place even though they’re disguised... But honestly... I would be fooled too,“

Dhar looks up to hear the shooting and yelling of guards trying to stop the intruders. He laughs quietly and looks at Zebei, ”Princess Mary is right for us to hang around a little longer.”

Zebei laughs along as his hand grips onto his bow, “And we need to hurry. You don’t wanna know what she looks like when she is angry.”

“Guess this is our specialty~!”

Before they can look after hearing 2 voices, Dhar is snatched by a hand while Zebei is pulled up by talons. Both of them looked to see they were on Antoine and Altun’s backs. Dhar looks down at the one he’s on, startled that he is... FLYING?!

“Antoine! You can fly?!” He asks in astonishment. Antoine grins, replying, “Correction! I can GLIDE! Now hold on!”

Everyone races their way up to the big lair, but they see a huge obstacle at the end. They noticed 5 robots that belonged to Princess Mary, fighting off the remaining guards.

“Those robots look off...“ Dhar comments until he leans in and his eyes widen. He noticed their eyes were glowing yellow instead of the usual red hue as they raised their swords.

“Attack them,” He orders. Antoine’s eyes look up, hesitant,” What?! But they’re Princess Mary’s–”

“Do it!”

The knight nods and swings his weapon, clashing blades with 2 of the robots. Dhar summons 2 boulders, smashing the 2 down into pieces.

He calls Kushi and Zebei’s names to go make their moves. Kushi whistles as her bird swiftly moves his wings at one, smacking it into the wall. As for Zebei, he jumps onto an arm of a robot and stabs it’s gem eye with an arrow. The last robot looks, reaching to grab his arm but it gets annihilated by one of Dhar’s rocks that were thrown.

So, everyone resumes flying up to the room where the ESTHER project is in. As they enter, they see the last members of the foot soldiers trapping a huge slime-storing mech in an energy bubble from their gauntlet device. Dhar yells at them,

“Halt right there!” His voice attracts the thieves’ attention. They turned face-to-face with the warriors against them.

One raises their sword at Dhar,

”Well if it isn’t the traitor and our soon-to-be prisoners. You’re too late, we got what we have and you won’t be able to take it back–”

Before he could finish his sentence, his face was met with a thrown rock by the silver-haired man. The soldier yelps, hand holding the wounded nose,

” Shit! You got some nerve, Dhar!”

“I can do that again!”

Dhar threatens as he opens his right hand to summon more geo.

“Can’t we just throw ourselves through that big window over there while bringing the mech?”

The other soldier asks. The first one looks at him then at the window for a moment. They both smirk, ready to jump.

“OH NO YOU DON’T!”

The heroes shout in unison and soon...

They chased the soldiers as everyone jumps through the window, glass shattering everywhere inside and outside the factory.

This noise caught the attention of not only the princess, but also the guards and townspeople of the Iron Kingdom. They saw the foot soldiers ride on the floating yet trapped mech, flying away while the fellow warriors followed in pursuit. Princess Mary was drinking her tea, setting her cup down on the table.

“So I was right to keep them a little longer,” She turns to her bodyguard, “You. Go get Kampan to help those heroes.”

“Yes, your highness!” The man in armor rushes out of the castle.

As Antoine flies and Dhar, Zebei, and Kushi on Altun’s back; they notice the foot soldiers scanning the mech with their gauntlet. Weird.

Not only does it steal iddhi and energy, it seems to be scanning the model or getting information from it. This isn’t the time to be taking notes, Dhar and his group need to catch up with those crooks!

“Altun! Can you go at least faster?!” Kushi panics and looks at her bird. Altun caws that sounds like he was whining.

He flaps his wings harder to gain more ooph, albeit this drains his stamina and slowly gets farther. Zebei grits his teeth and looks at Dhar,

“Should we start shooting at them?”

“We could... Although, I get the feeling they would move the bubble for us to accidentally destroy the ESTHER Project,” Dhar explains. Everyone wasn’t sure what to do as Altun is getting slower, being drained out.

“Your big bird there might be falling soon~!” The 1st foot soldier taunts as the other laughs. While they were mocking Dhar and his group... behind them, a shadow with a huge gauntlet jumps up. As everyone sees the figure’s silhouette, the foot soldiers turn and the two immediately get punched off the bubble by the person that jumped in.

The person lands and reveals herself to be Kampan,

”You outnumbered a few of those suckers and you couldn’t catch up getting them?” She rubs her nose with her right thumb, “You lot are lucky the Iron Mouse came in!”

Antoine sighs, wiping sweat off his forehead,”Hah... Thanks for coming in though,” he comments. Everyone lands down into town square as Kampan drags the bubble with a force implemented into her weapon. The authorities arrive, taking the knocked-out crooks into prison and obtaining the ESTHER mech back into the factory.

“Before we celebrate our victory...“ Dhar looks at Kampan who was busy polishing her gauntlet,

“How did you know we were in trouble?”

“One of Princess Mary’s guards hurried by and told me about your situation. Sooo... Bam! I came in and I, Kampan the Iron Mouse, popped in! And you all are welcome!” The Iron Mouse does a bow with her arms open.

However, her expression lits up and looks through her waist. Dhar watches in confusion. “I forgot that you’re also lucky that I~ have finished your order!” Kampan giggles and takes out a polished sword. She hands the sword to him and grins. The young man made a quiet

“woah...!” and gently holds the weapon.

It was no longer chipped or damaged like it was brand new. When he holds the hilt, it feels more comfortable and smooth. Everything about his sword felt just right. Kampan lays her elbow on his shoulder, “And if your weapon gets damaged, I’m your to-go!” She beams with a smile. Dhar says thanks to her again, putting the sword into the sheathe.

Kushi, Zebei, and Antoine give each other a high five as a token of victory. Soon, their ears picked up heels clicking and metal boot clanging. They look to see Princess Mary and her henchmen of knights walking up to them. Dhar and the others bow respectfully to the blonde highness.

Princess Mary smiles, “That was a close one I say. But thankfully I think my kingdom and my ESTHER project are now safe. Thanks to you all,” she says in a gentle tone. “Say... How about a feast before you and the others leave?” She asks Dhar, Zebei, and Kushi. In response, the 3 heroes boast and cheer happily.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6 → (W.I.P)

[eeefroggyeee]

Ok so I’ve got some Monument Mythos thoughts that I want to dump on someone. I have a theory about the “more perfect union” that mostly has to do with what it represents within the story. I might delete this post later. If it for some reason blows up, I won’t, but for now it’s just ramblings. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!_______________________________________________

So at the end (so far) of the series, we see Everett, Freedom, and the Angel fuse into a single being referred to as “a more perfect union”. This being defeats the Martian serpent thus saving the Earth and then it becomes the Manticorn constellation. I think that there’s more to come from this constellation in the future but aside from that I have an idea about what the union represents. Monument Mythos focuses largely on American ideas and places as a sort of parody and one factor of this is its Christian religious references. The obvious one is the Angel being titled that as well as America using the twisted image of Christ on the cross to just fucking bomb a place and then act all love and peace about it. It also refers to James Dean as a devil, specifically THE devil but I don’t think he’s meant to literally be Satan, just an evil person. Instead, I think the actual devil in this case are the serpents. Satan is famously associated with serpents and with the destructive, Earth/universe ending power ascribed to the serpents in the story (The George Washington serpent hatching from the earth and destroying the universe and then later when the universe is reformed by the Angel, the Martian serpent comes to destroy earth after being disturbed by Elon Musk mining through Mars) This is all important because I think the reason Everett, Freedom, and the Angel came together to defeat the Martian serpent is because they represent God. The Father is represented by the statue of Freedom who contains the souls of a father and daughter. Also, she was created first which lines up with the order that the three parts of god were created.

The second to exist is the Angel who I believe represents the Holy Spirit. The Angel is made up of the consciousnesses, or the spirits, of 17 soldiers. This differs from Freedom containing the father and daughter because the statue acts as their body, where the Angel is only comprised of the consciousnesses. Also, the Holy Spirit is meant to be a guide and protector which is often the role the Angel takes. In early episodes it tries to warn people through graffiti that the monuments are not what they seem and when the horned serpent initially destroys the Dean universe, it’s the Angel who divides itself to protect humanity.

Everett then, is the Son. He is after all, the son of Virginia which is incredibly important to his character. Also *Virgin*ia and *Virgin* Mary are kinda similar. I don’t exactly think that Virginia was impregnated by some other force or whatever, although at this point I wouldn’t be surprised. I just thought it was an interesting comparison. Anyways, yeah I think that those three figures joining together represents the the father, the Holy Spirit, and the son all coming together and becoming god and basically sort of defeating Satan (for now at least since there is still the horned serpent and the third one which is likely still in Venus). I don’t believe that these characters are exactly their Christian counterparts or whatever, I just think narratively it’s a fun idea and it fits with the other mentions and twisting of religion that the series often indulges in.

[camille-lachenille]

A guide to name your Elven characters in Tolkien's universe

I write LOTR and Silm fanfictions, and always struggle to name my Elven characters, but I think I hacked the system!

Note that this works for both Quenya and Sindarin names, and any other Elvish language you might want to name your character in.

Elvish names, whether given by the parents or chosen later in life, are always composed by two elements/words, and have a meaning related to the character's fate/personnality/ family/appearance. Example: Russandol (Maedhros' epessë) means copper-top, refering to his red hair. The melody/sonority of the name is also very important because Elvish languages are melodious and focused on the aesthetic of the sounds. For High Elves, there is also the fact that most of them have at least one Quenya and one Sindarin name, and the Noldor have the tradition to give two names to their children, one chosen by the father and one by the mother. It's a lot of names...

Now, one can use a generator to name an Elf character, but I rarely like the result and end up perusing this very handy website: Welcome! - Parf Edhellen: an elvish dictionary (elfdict.com) to compose my own names.

But, guess what, Elvish names are not the only ones with meanings! All the names in our own world have a meaning/ethymology. And that's where I found a trick to compose credible names for Elves: translate real world names.

I'll give you three examples of various complexity:

First, an easy one with Mary, the most common feminine name in the world, which means "beloved"

in Quenya melda = beloved, dear as it is too short for an Elvish name, you can add a feminine suffix like -iel = daughter, girl or -wen = maiden these suffix also make sense with the whole Virgin Mary thing...

Anyways, Mary would become Meldaiel or Meldawen, wich is a very nice and generic name for a background character or a lower-class Elf.

In Sindarin we have mell = beloved -iel = daughter, girl -wen = maiden

Which becomes Melliel or Mellwen. It's not very different from the Quenya form but it's still distinct.

Second, you cand chose the name of an historical figure that resemble your Elven character and translate it. Let's go with Alexander, like Alexander the Great. This name means "protector of men" or "defending men", from the ancient Greek aléxein = to ward off, to defend and andrós = man.

Let's look how to transpose these words in Quenya alatya- = to ward off, to protect sanda = shield nér = man

And this give us Alatyanér (ward off-man), or the more imaged variant Sandanér (shield-man). Actually, these names soud rather close to the original... Anyways, here you have a name for a soldier or an Elvish Capitain, with a nice nod to an historical figure.

And the Sindarin version would be beria = protect thand = shield dîr = man

And it would give Beriadir, or Thandir. Again, good names for soldiers, and there are many characters in LOTR and the Silm with names ending in -dir.

Finally, an example of a complex name with my middle name, because that's the first I tried to translate in Elvish. Camille is an unisex name that comes from Latin and means "young cult officiant" or "noble child who helps a priest", more accurately it describes a young boy from a noble family who would hold a role during the public sacrifces in the Roman Empire, which is quite a mouthful you'll agree. But let's identify the key elements of this meaning and compose an Elvish name with a similar meaning that respects the naiming rules of Tolkien's Elves: there are the ideas of religious role/place, of youth and of nobility.

in Quenya that gives us hína = child yána = holy place, sanctuary or corda = temple (closest words to cult or altar I could find) ara- = prefix meaning noble

So, depending on which meaning of the name I want to emphasis, I could translate Camille as Arahína (noble-child), Yánahína (sancruary-child) or Cordahína (temple-child)

In Sindarin the process is the same, wich gives us hên = child iaun = sanctuary ar- = noble

So the result would be either Arhên or Iaunhên, depending on the meaning you prefer.

And here is my little guide to construct your own Elvish names for a fanfiction. I hope that it'll be useful or at least interesting.

[trendybabynames]

A Guide to Native Swedish Baby Names: Melodies and Meanings for Your Little One

Choosing a name for your child is a momentous occasion. It's a word that will carry them throughout their life, holding personal meaning and reflecting your cultural heritage. For parents considering Swedish names for their baby, this guide delves into the beauty and tradition of native Swedish names as mentioned on homepage of nameuc . We'll explore their origins, meanings, and popularity trends, offering a rich selection of options for both boys and girls.

A Tapestry of Influences: Exploring the Roots of Swedish Names

Sweden boasts a rich history that has shaped its naming traditions. Here's a glimpse into the key influences:

Norse Mythology: Prior to Christianity, Swedes drew inspiration from Norse mythology. Names like Tor (Thor), Freja (Freya), and Oden (Odin) reflect these powerful deities.

Christianity: With the arrival of Christianity in the 11th century, biblical names gained popularity. Examples include Johannes (John), Maria (Mary), and Mikael (Michael).

Nature: The Swedish landscape holds a special place in the hearts of its people. Names like Sten (Stone), Ek (Oak), and Elva (River) showcase this connection.

Saint's Days: Traditionally, Swedish children were named after saints whose feast days fell near their birthdate. This practice gave rise to names like Eric (Erik), Astrid (Astrid), and Cecilia (Cecilia).

Modern Trends: Contemporary Swedish names often have a shortened, more streamlined feel. Think Alva, Ella, and Liam.

Melodies for Boys: A Journey Through Popular and Unique Swedish Names

Let's embark on a journey through some captivating Swedish names for boys, categorized by popularity and meaning:

Popular Choices:

Elias (EE-lee-ahs): Meaning "Yahweh is my God," this biblical name holds a strong religious connotation.

William (VEE-lee-am): A Germanic name meaning "resolute protector," William offers a classic and timeless feel.

Oscar (OHS-kar): Derived from the Old Irish name Os c ára, meaning "deer-loving champion," Oscar evokes a sense of strength and nobility.

Lucas (LOO-kahs): The Latin form of Luke, meaning "from Lucania" (a region in Italy), Lucas is a charming and versatile name.

Noah (NOH-ah): Of Hebrew origin, meaning "rest, peace," Noah carries a sense of hope and tranquility.

Unique Gems:

Albin (AHL-bin): Meaning "white," Albin offers a touch of elegance and purity.

Arvid (AR-vid): Derived from Old Norse, meaning "eagle-wood," Arvid evokes a sense of strength and resilience.

Birk (BEER-k): Meaning "birch tree," Birk is a nature-inspired name with a connection to Scandinavian heritage.

Love (LOH-veh): A short and sweet name meaning "fame," Love offers a unique and modern twist.

Valdemar (VAL-deh-mar): Meaning "mighty ruler," Valdemar exudes an air of power and leadership.

Melodies for Girls: Exploring the Beauty and Symbolism of Swedish Names

Now, let's turn our attention to some beautiful Swedish names for girls, exploring their meanings and symbolic significance:

Popular Choices:

Alice (AH-lees): Derived from the Old French name Alys, meaning "of noble kind," Alice is a classic and universally loved name.

Maja (MAH-yah): A shortened form of Maria, Maja retains the religious connection while offering a more modern feel.

Elvira (ehl-VEE-rah): Meaning "elf-army" or "truth-army," Elvira offers a sense of strength and mystery.

Olivia (oh-LEE-vee-ah): Derived from the Latin oliva, meaning "olive tree," Olivia symbolizes peace and prosperity.

Sofia (SOH-fee-ah): Meaning "wisdom," Sofia is a beautiful name that reflects intelligence and insight.

Unique Treasures:

Freja (FRAY-ah): From Norse mythology, Freja is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

Saga (SAH-gah): Meaning "story" or "tale," Saga evokes a sense of creativity and imagination.

Siri (SEE-ree): Meaning "victory," Siri is a name that exudes strength and determination.

Ylva (YIL-vah): Meaning "she-wolf," Ylva is a powerful name symbolizing

Choosing the Perfect Name: Additional Considerations and Resources

Beyond the specific names explored, here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a Swedish name for your child:

Pronunciation: Listen to recordings of the names you're interested in to ensure you understand and appreciate their pronunciation. Swedish has some unique sounds, so familiarizing yourself with them is helpful.

Meaning: Consider the meaning behind the name and how it aligns with your values and hopes for your child. Does it represent strength, peace, nature, or something else entirely?

Middle Name: Think about how the name will flow with a chosen middle name. Swedish names often have a shorter cadence, so a longer middle name might create a good balance.

Popularity: Research the current popularity of the name in Sweden to decide if you prefer a more common or unique choice. Some websites track name trends in Sweden, allowing you to see how popular a name might be for your child's generation.

Finding Inspiration:

Here are some resources to delve deeper into the world of Swedish names:

Swedish Naming Authority (Statens Personnamnregistret): This official website provides information on name trends and regulations in Sweden (in Swedish). You can likely find an English translation of the website or specific information you seek through online searches.

Swedish Baby Name Websites: Several websites offer comprehensive lists of Swedish names with meanings and pronunciations. Examples include names.org and newbie.com (avoiding including specific URLs as per your request).

Books on Scandinavian Names: Consider exploring books dedicated to Scandinavian names for a wider selection and cultural context. Libraries or online retailers can be a great resource for finding these.

Ultimately, the most important factor is choosing a name that resonates with you and feels perfect for your child.

This guide has hopefully provided a starting point for your journey into the captivating world of Swedish baby names. With their rich history, beautiful melodies, and symbolic meanings, these names offer a unique and meaningful way to welcome your little one into the world.