#One Technique To Engage In A Deeper Conversation
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
A/N: this small thing drew inspiration from a recent conversation I had with my wonderful @indignant-alpaca, delving into the common struggles faced by students across various disciplines. Despite our diverse fields of study, we all encounter similar challenges sooner or later. Drawing from my own experiences, I decided to craft a variation focused on enhancing the learning process, using one of my favorite characters, Bakugo, as a source of inspiration 💣
MY HERO ACADEMIA MASTERLIST
In class
Be actively involved in class discussions and activities. Katsuki would assertively participate, ensuring he grasps concepts firsthand.
Treat each class as a competition to stay engaged. Challenge yourself to excel, just like Bakugo's competitive spirit drives him to be the best hero.
Don't hesitate to ask questions when you're unclear. Katsuki would demand clarity, and you should too! It's a proactive approach to understanding the material.
Observe and analyze the teacher's explanations and demonstrations. Katsuki assesses his opponents' moves; similarly, analyze the "moves" in your lessons for a deeper understanding.
Take dynamic and concise notes. Katsuki strategizes in the heat of battle, and your notes should capture essential information for later review.
Studying
Approach your study sessions with intensity and focus. Katsuki's training is high-intensity, and your studies should match that energy.
Divide your study time into focused blocks for specific subjects. Master each "arc" before moving on to the next, just like Katsuki hones specific skills.
Work on problem-solving exercises regularly. Katsuki tackles various challenges, and you should too. Practical application reinforces theoretical knowledge.
Utilize interactive study methods. Katsuki learns by doing, and hands-on activities or simulations can enhance your understanding of complex topics.
Plan your study sessions strategically, focusing on high-priority subjects during peak concentration times. This approach mirrors Katsuki's tactical approach to hero battles.
Channel your inner hero by immersing yourself completely in the subject matter, just as Katsuki immerses himself in his battles.
Break down complex topics into smaller components for in-depth understanding, similar to how Katsuki analyzes quirks of his opponents to identify their weaknesses.
Learning attitude
Cultivate a hero's mindset. Set ambitious goals and view your studies as a heroic journey toward self-improvement.
Develop resilience in the face of challenges. Katsuki faces setbacks but emerges stronger. Treat academic difficulties as opportunities for growth.
Believe in your capabilities. Katsuki exudes confidence, and a strong belief in your abilities can positively impact your academic performance.
Be flexible in your approach to learning. Katsuki adapts his fighting style, and similarly, adapt your study techniques to different subjects or challenges.
Regularly reflect on your progress. Katsuki analyzes his battles for improvement; evaluate your academic journey to identify areas for growth.
Learning, Bakugo-style, means embracing the fact that doubters will always exist, no matter your achievements. Instead of seeking external validation, channel that energy into mastering your skills and gaining knowledge for your own growth. The focus should be on personal improvement and the satisfaction that comes from overcoming challenges, rather than proving yourself to others.
Periodically review past material to reinforce your knowledge. Katsuki often reflects on his battles to improve his combat strategy. Apply this concept to your studies for a solid foundation.
Test yourself regularly to identify weak points. Katsuki constantly challenges himself in battles to enhance his abilities. Use quizzes to gauge your progress and strengthen areas where you struggle.
Develop mental resilience to overcome setbacks. Katsuki faces defeats but bounces back stronger. Treat failures as stepping stones, learning from them to improve and move forward.
#bakugo katsuki#study like Bakugo#bakugo#katsuki bakugou#bakugo x reader#kacchan#bakugo headcanons#mha headcanons#bakugou katsuki#bakugo fluff#bakugou katsuki headcanons#bakugou fluff#mha fluff#katsuki bakugo x reader#bakugo x you
514 notes
·
View notes
Note
What do u think of...Aven, Ratio and Reca w/ a Tomboy s/o?
(If ur requests r open ofc)
HSR Characters with a Tomboy S/O
Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Dr. Veritas Ratio x Reader, Mr. Reca x Reader, Tomboy!Reader, Romance, Adventure, Playful Banter, Established Relationship, Supportive Relationships
A/N: Requests are still open don't worry, anon! 🫶😇 Idk much about Mr.Reca so forgive me if I did his character wrong.
Aventurine
Aventurine admires your confidence and tomboyish style, finding your energy invigorating. You two challenge each other in playful banter and encourage one another to step out of your comfort zones.
Your dates often involve spontaneous adventures, like exploring the vibrant nightlife or going to underground gaming tournaments, where Aventurine showcases his skills.
Aventurine is incredibly supportive of your dreams and ambitions, always ready to lend a hand when you're feeling down or uncertain about your goals.
Aventurine's past struggles with trust make him wary of opening up completely, but your sincerity helps him gradually lower his defenses.
You two bond over your mutual love for gambling, often engaging in friendly competitions, whether at a casino or a video game tournament.
Aventurine has a natural instinct to protect you, which can lead to moments of tension, especially when he worries about your reckless behavior.
Dr. Veritas Ratio
Ratio appreciates your independent thought and ability to challenge him intellectually, often engaging in debates that leave both of you invigorated.
He takes on a mentor role, guiding you in academic pursuits or creative endeavors while you teach him to let loose and embrace life outside academia.
Your contrasting personalities create a unique dynamic; Ratio’s seriousness and high standards balance your carefree, spontaneous nature.
Ratio’s stern demeanor softens in private, revealing a more vulnerable side as he shares personal stories and passions, creating deeper intimacy between you two.
You might collaborate on artistic projects, blending Ratio’s intellectual creativity with your raw, authentic style, creating something genuinely original and meaningful.
Your relationship thrives on mutual respect, as you two recognize the strength in each other’s differences, pushing one another to grow.
Mr. Reca
Mr. Reca’s cynical outlook is often challenged by your optimism, leading to interesting conversations where he finds himself appreciating your perspective on life.
You inspire Mr. Reca to explore new storytelling techniques, encouraging him to break away from traditional filmmaking and experiment with new narratives.
Your interactions often involve lighthearted teasing, with Mr. Reca’s sarcasm and your witty comebacks creating a fun, dynamic relationship.
As a Memokeeper, he shares his memories with you, allowing for moments of vulnerability and connection, bridging the gap between his cynicism and your earnestness.
You become a sounding board for his frustrations about the film industry, helping him navigate his feelings and inspiring him to pursue more authentic projects.
Mr. Reca surprises you with adventurous outings to unconventional places, pushing you out of your comfort zones, which leads to memorable moments and deeper connections.
#hsr#honkai star rail#x reader#honkai star rail x reader#hsr x reader#hsr aventurine#aventurine x reader#aventurine x you#hsr aventurine x reader#dr veritas ratio#hsr veritas#veritas ratio#veritas x reader#hsr dr ratio#ratio honkai star rail#ratio x reader#dr ratio#hsr ratio#veritas#mr reca#hsr reca#reca hsr#hsr mr reca#mr reca hsr#established rp#established relationship#Tomboy S/o#tomboy style#Tomboy reader#romance
115 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hi there! Can I request a part 2 for the Female Tanjiro Reader with Yandere - Cater, Jack, Floyd, Epel, Sebek and Silver? Everyone thinks Reader is a pushover because of how nice and helping she is… until someone torments her brother Nezukuro (That name is absolutely cute) as she’s FIERCELY protective of her brother and desires to return to her world to kill Muzan for massacring her entire family and turning her brother into a demon
BOMUS: Reader shows them her Training Regimen, using the forest and mountain areas (That Jade doesn’t use so he doesn’t get hurt) with traps similar to the Mountain she used to train back in her world (Along with some of the boulders weirdly shaped… until she admits she cut them in half for training)
Reader is VERY encouraging towards Jack, Epel, Sebek and Silver about training (And very willing to show them how her training works to get them to try it)
She doesn’t understand half of what Cater is talking about with technology and slang, but since he gives off a good scent she trusts him and just smiles asking him what he’s talking about (Like when Tanjiro was having a conversation with Kanao)
Reader straight up tells Epel his girlish features are ‘very attractive’ (Reader finds comfort in Epel since he reminds her of Inosuke, even if he’s trying to attack her) and after hearing his struggles only tells Epel he’s attractive/handsome not ‘cute’ (And happily encourages him to try her training once he sees just how strong she is)
Reader sees Silver similar to Nezukuro, and will (VERY carefully not wake him up) move him to places where he’ll sleep more comfortable (Under some shade, a bed, his room, an unoccupied room in Ramshackle) and gushes over Nezukuro having a ‘Napping Buddy/Friend’
Reader is iffy about Sebek since he startled her brother (And reminds the Kamados of Yushiro) and will absolutely get into a full-blown argument with him if he insults her brother saying Malleus is obviously better/more handsome (Thus engaged a side of Reader no one never knew existed; the Sebek Side of her over how amazing Nezukuro is) as well as break a rid of his or two at the beginning for laying a hand on her brother (Nez just wanted to hug Malleus and give/receive head-pats)
Floyd is just going to have a BLAST with his Shrimpy and other Shrimpy
As for Jack, he might just call his mom and dad to let them know he might’ve just found his mate (I can see Jack respecting Nezukuro since he’s strong and protective over his older sister, as well as overcoming his Demonic Self and not devouring humans, takes a lot of willpower and mental strength)
Tanjiro Reader (2) | Yandere Twisted Wonderland
Cater Diamond
“W-whoa I didn’t think a human body was capable of that!”
“Thank you?”
He’s enamored and incomparable to you
You’re deeper than any post he could’ve made
Sweeter than any candy he might post
And if it weren’t for your complete lack of knowledge about technology
He would have convinced himself he wasn’t worthy of you
But as you struggle to understand how to even take a photo
He’s taken a thousand of you
He’ll teach you enough
But he’ll probably block all the comments on your posts
Tracking down and bringing an end to any of the comments who seem a little too encouraging
In terms of your ability to smell, well it seems that since you’ve gotten to NRC theres an overwhelming sense of deception, dishonesty, and even some blood
But in your investigations, you’ve found nothing
Maybe that’s just the smell all of Twisted Wonderland has
Jack Howl
“(Y/n) you’re speed and strength is like none other! Show me your techniques please!”
“Of course! You can come with me on my training route while you practice your water breathing!” He’s floored by how powerful you are even without your sword
While you can explain what Nezukuro is going through he can only speculate in congruence with your own strength
In your world…you have to be that strong to protect yourself from the evil demons?
Then maybe it is best you don’t ever return
But it hurts when his heart swells when you rave about Muzan’s defeat with such fire
But how can he care for his mate if they’re all too eager to return in hopes of killing a creature beyond any reasonable human’s limitations?
He still stuck on that
But while he’s deciding he’ll train alongside you
Becoming a wolf worthy of your love
And hopefully strong enough to join you when you return
That is if he decides to let you leave
Floyd Leech
“Mantis Shrimp! And Bamboo Coral! Training today?”
“Yup! Would you like to join us?”
“Yeah!”
Oddly enough keeps up pretty well with you
Only stopping when he decides he’s had enough and demands you carry him
“Come on Mantis Shrimp you can do it!”
He doesn’t hide his desire to keep you
Always challenging you
You take it lightly evading him as you say how he reminds you of land animal
It’s his attempts at testing your strength
How else is he going to get you to do what he says
Maybe it’ll be different in water but he’s one to take out all competition
Even the mirror that might just bring you home
Epel Felmier
“Your handsome face remind me of a boar back home!”
“A boar?”
“Yeah, he’s very strong and he’s awfully excitable.”
“Yeah?! More excitable than me?!”
Is kind of annoyed that there’s anyone resembling him
But he’s blushing at the compliment
He will not stand for anyone comparing your training routines to what men should be able to do
You should know by now
Your gorgeous anomaly that’s physically much stronger than him
But he’d sooner pass out from a flying log than admit that
But you don’t have magic let alone his ability to protect and encase anyone he so pleases
So if worse comes to worse and you or Nezukuro tries to leave
He has just the antidote
But he’s sure his manly charms will have you swooning and begging not to ever leave his side
Maybe he should ask for some guidance from Vil
Sebek Zigvolt
“THIS–! I-I CAN’T KEEP UP?! HOW CAN THIS BE?!”
“It’s okay Sebek! Everyone has to start from somewhere!”
“SILENCE! I’ve been training for years…”
“..That’s okay.”
“THAT PAUSE WAS MEANT TO DEMEAN ME WASN’T IT!?”
So insecure and infatuated he can’t handle being around you
You truly are in a league of your own
Which surely justifies how you occupy his thoughts all the time
When you mention his resemblence to Yushiro, he protests
“I-I’M NOT INLOVE WITH MALLEUS-SAMA! But rather someone else of comparable quality.”
You and Nezukuro have a hard time at first
But he grows on you
As does his obsession with you
In his twisted psyche it makes sense he one day best you
Because that means obvious ownership
Which is why he can’t help but do anything you ask
It’s only because he hasn’t overcome you yet
But when that happens he’ll be sure to let everyone know of your engagement
Silver
“You carried me? With Nezukuro on your back?”
“Yeah, well I didn’t want you sleeping in the rain. I’d rather my lap than some mud!”
“///”
He’s swooning when he’s not sparring
You’re so good at the sword and maintaining your muscularity
Not to mention everytime you look at him he just can’t seem to talk right
Father suggests making your stay permanent
But maybe he’d give your world a try, there’s plenty of magic in Twisted Wonderland
Maybe he’d help defeat the horror that befell your family and whisk you away
And then you could start a happy family
You Nezukuro and Silver
He’d kill for that harmony
#yandere cater diamond#yandere twisted wonderland#yandere twisted wonderland x reader#yandere silver twisted wonderland#yandere silver x reader#yandere sebek zigvolt#yandere sebek#yandere cater x reader#yandere cater#yandere epel felmier#yandere epel x reader#yandere jack howl#yandere floyd leech#yandere jack howl x reader#yandere floyd x reader#yandere floyd#yandere x reader#lovelyyandereaddictionpoint
664 notes
·
View notes
Text
Milton Erickson and a Rabbi Walk into a Bar... (Essay)
Finally, I've finished this essay about connections I'm finding between hypnosis, Judaism, magic, and intimacy. It's ~4.5k words, extremely "me," and I'm really thrilled to share it. Enjoy!
--
My weakness is getting deeply invested in very niche topics.
Hypnosis was my first and most lifelong obsession. It was my confusing, shameful sexual fetish that I eventually took by the horns and -- through my desire to learn as much about it as humanly possible -- turned into a job. But not a normal sex work job where I do hypnosis for money -- a weird job where I just teach about it. The kink community, and the further-specific niche where people want to hypnotize each other during intimate experiences, became my home.
But the value of study doesn't really come from the quantity of people I'm able to engage with. It comes from the way it enriches my life. It creates and benefits from the capability to see overlaps between all of my various interests.
On the surface, it may appear that two skills have no relationship. But the deeper you get into each one, a synthesis appears.
At a certain point when you are learning hypnosis, all seemingly-unrelated information seems to fit effortlessly into your hypnotic knowledge. You can listen to a song and suddenly you learn something new about how to hypnotize someone. Maybe it was a lyric that gave you an evocative emotional response; maybe it was a pattern in the music that you thought about replicating with the rhythm of your hypnotic language.
Over a decade into my own hypnosis learning, I got very lucky and found a second passionate home in communities of Jewish text study about a year ago. I started from almost zero there and found myself again to be a greedy novice, obsessed with digging into it.
Of course, as I got further, it became that I read a page of Talmud (a text of rabbinical law and conversation) and suddenly I learned something new about how to hypnotize someone. And as I progress, it is starting to go the other way: I learn about Torah study by reading about hypnosis and intimacy.
There are two directions this essay can be read. “How can intimacy and hypnosis teach us about Jewish text?” And, “How can Jewish text teach us about intimacy and hypnosis?” One half is of each part written by me as an authority, and the other half is by me as an avid novice. The synthesis of these two parts of me -- just like any synthesis between concepts -- may perhaps create something new.
Models
I’m sure most communities have a version of the idiom, “Ask three people a question and get five answers.” For a long time, this was a source of frustration for me in the hypnosis community. Is hypnosis a state of relaxation and suggestibility? Kind of, but also no. Is it more accurate to say it is based on unconscious behaviors and thoughts? Well -- kind of, but also no.
So what is it? Well, it’s probably somewhere in the overlap of about 20-30 semi-accurate definitions and frameworks for techniques -- what we’d call “models.” Good luck!
Why is hypnosis so impossible to define and teach? How have we not found a model that we can all agree upon yet? I think many people share this confusion, and it's complicated by the fact that most sources for hypnosis education teach their model as the model. It makes sense -- it would be difficult to teach a complete beginner a handful of complex frameworks with which to understand hypnosis when that person is just trying to muddle through learning “how to hypnotize someone” on a practical, basic level.
…Or would it be? By the time I got involved with Jewish study, I had long given up on chasing the white whale of some unified theory of hypnosis. I was firmly happy with the concept that all ways to describe hypnosis are simply models -- and all models are flawed, while some models are useful. I was delighted, when entering Jewish community spaces, to hear the idiom, “Three Jews, five opinions.”
This concept is baked into Jewish text study, in my experience. You can look at any single line in Torah and find innumerable pieces of commentary on it, ancient and modern, with conflicting interpretations. Torah and other texts are studied over and over -- often on a schedule -- with the idea that there is always something new to learn. And this happens partially by the synthesis of multiple people's perspectives adding to and challenging each other, developing new models. My Torah study group teacher always starts us with a famous line from Pirkei Avot, a text of ethical teachings from early rabbis: “If two sit together and share words of Torah, the Shekhinah [feminine presence of God] abides among them.”
The capacity to develop and hold multiple interpretations at once enriches your relationship with the text. So too do I believe that being able to hold multiple interpretations of what hypnosis is and how it works enhances your skill with it. It is not a failure of the system -- it is the best thing about it.
Intimacy
It is intentional to make the distinction of “relationship with the text” -- not “relationship to the text.”
My job on the surface is to teach hypnosis, but the meta goal is to simply teach something that helps people develop profound intimacy with others. I think that hypnosis is a kind of beautiful magic that is well-suited to this, but it’s not the only path to take.
One of my favorite educators, Georg Barkas, describes themselves as an intimacy educator who teaches rope bondage. Their classes and writings are highly philosophical and align closely with my own ideas about intimacy -- as well as my partner’s, MrDream, from whom I’ve learned so much. I frequently cite Barkas when I talk about hypnosis because I feel the underlying ideas they have about rope bondage are extremely applicable to all kink and intimacy -- and I will continue that trend here.
Barkas recently published an excellent essay looking in detail at the concept of intimacy itself. They posit that our first thought of intimacy is usually about a kind of comfort-seeking and familiarity. That’s contained within the etymology of the word, and socially it’s what many of us think of when we define our relationships as “intimate”: settling in to engage with a partner who we love, know, and understand.
But, Barkas asks, what if we place this word into a different context? They talk of how in scientific endeavors, the goal of “becoming familiar with” is unpredictability and discovering things that are surprising and unexpected. This perhaps offers a different view of intimacy: intimacy where you do not engage with your partner as though you know everything about them; intimacy where being surprised by them and learning something new is the goal.
My partner MrDream teaches about this often in hypnosis education: approaching a partner with genuine curiosity and interest -- “curiosity” implying that you don’t know what to expect, with a positive connotation. There is a kind of delicate balance between being able to anticipate some aspects of what is going to happen hypnotically -- to have a general grasp on psychology and hypnosis theory -- versus holding tight to a philosophy that neither you nor the hypnotic subject really knows how they are going to respond. The unexpected is not to be feared, but celebrated and held as core to our practice. Hypnotic “subjects” (those being hypnotized) who can relax their expectations will often have more intense experiences.
Thus we come to the first time in this essay where I mention Milton Erickson, my favorite forefather of modern hypnosis. Erickson was a hypnotherapist active through the 1900s and is famous (among many things) for presenting a model of hypnosis that wasn’t necessarily an authoritative action done to a person, but a collaborative and guiding action done with a person.
In his book “Hypnotic Realities,” he talks about how his view of clinical hypnosis is defined by how the therapist is able to observe each individual client and directly use those observations to continually develop a unique hypnotic approach with them. The client’s history, interests, and modes of thinking are utilized for the trance, as well as any observable responses they have in the moment. For example, a client with chronic pain may have the frustration they express over that pain incorporated into the trance. This is in deep contrast to hypnosis where the therapist comes in with any kind of “script” or formula to recite ahead of time.
It’s important to Erickson’s model that the therapist doesn’t know exactly what to anticipate, and it’s also important hypnotically that the same is true for the client. A common “Ericksonian” suggestion is, “You don’t have to know what is going to happen, and I don’t know either.” In order to develop the most effective approach with each patient, Erickson would enter into a session with some presumed knowledge, but ultimately learning -- not assuming -- how to best hypnotize each individual person.
We circle back to the phrase, “a relationship with Jewish text.” In my opinion, engaging with Torah is exactly this kind of intimacy. Torah is something we come into in order to poke and prod at it, to interact with it and to see how it interacts back at us. The teacher of my study group always cites a model where Torah itself is a participant in our partnered learning and group discussions. We ask it questions, we push its boundaries, we strive to glean something new and yet unseen. A line that may seem simple on the surface can reveal much more when we explore its context or put it into a different context entirely.
This is easier for me to say as someone who is coming into learning Torah for the first time, but I am able to look ahead to when I will be fully familiar with the text and still be able to take this expanded definition of intimacy with it. Not coming to it without a sense of comfort, but still engaging with curiosity. MrDream teaches a model for hypnosis that is based on the idea of exploration -- exploring your partner no matter how long you have been with them. You are always coming to them as a different person, shaped by your ever-growing experiences and identity, and your partner changes as a human as well. I believe Torah is also dynamic in this way, as the context within which it exists -- and the way we interpret it -- is constantly shifting.
Ritual
I have been engaging with spiritual ritual on and off for as long as I’ve been learning hypnosis. The concept of magic has always been alluring to me -- not from a motivation to meet specific goals, but for something more difficult to pin down. I like that ritual, in an esoteric framework, is about looking at various metaphors between ingredients and actions; a candle representing an element of fire which may in turn represent intensity, or purity, or something else. Drawing meaningful connections between concepts like this is a skill I’ve developed in parallel with hypnosis, as well.
I was recently talking with a friend of mine who is also interested in esotericism -- we were sharing our frustrations with various books on magic and ritual. We wondered why so many sources would go on to teach prescriptivist formulas and associations, and not much else. Do this, and that will happen. This symbol represents that. My friend and I agreed that the ritual value of ingredients comes from how you personally assign meaning to them -- but why was everything always trying to teach us their meaning, as opposed to teaching us how to cultivate our own associations?
A week or so later, I happened to go to an excellent class that explored whether or not there was a place for smudging and smoke use in modern Jewish ritual. The teacher first took a careful, measured approach towards looking at indigenous smudging practices and the concept of appropriation. What followed was 30 minutes of history and text exploring examples of smoke in early Judaism, and then 30 minutes of a handful of interpretations of what “smoke” could mean and represent with relation to Jewish ideas -- directly practical to modern ritual. It was utterly excellent and immediately profound for me, as someone who has been yearning to blend my experience with esoteric ritual with my relationship with Judaism.
Observant readers will note that through this essay I speak passively about Judaism -- I am a patrilineal Jew, which for better or worse means that it is not a simple matter to say, “I am ‘fully’ (or ‘not’) Jewish.” (I am in the beginnings of working with a Conservative rabbi -- who affirms that I’m Jewish -- to make my status halachic [lawful], which is deeply exciting.) Opinions on that aside, a relevant piece of information is that the Jewish holiday we celebrated most consistently when I was growing up was Chanukah. While a lot of Jewish practice has been something I’ve been striving towards as an adult, Chanukah has always been “mine.” It was fast approaching after this class, and I felt motivated to use my newfound knowledge to make more ritual out of lighting the candles.
I was deeply surprised when all I did was light a stick of incense before saying the blessings over lighting the menorah, and my experience transformed into something intense. I smelled the incense and couldn’t help but think about what I’d learned about the Rambam’s commentary that incense in the time of the Temple was about making the Temple smell sweet to pray in after the burning of sacrifices. I thought about what I’d learned about the presence of God being smoke and clouds to the ancient Israelites. I thought about things I’d learned from other places -- hiddur mitzvah (the value of beautifying a practice), and a midrash (parable) about God loving the light and rituals we do in a very personal way simply because they are from us.
Esoteric ritual has often felt to me like exerting effort in making the associations of ingredients work for me. But this was effortless. I was doing something that was entirely my own, solidly founded by the broad and deep study I’d done, by my personal relationship with the concepts, by my identity.
In other words, the power behind this ritual came from knowledge, and the knowledge came from my intimacy with it. And that intimacy was not just with the study I had done -- it was also the process of being surprised in real time by what I was learning through the ritual itself.
Hypnosis gains “power,” in so much as we let ourselves use the term, through these same acts of intimacy towards knowledge. It operates directly based on various ingredients: how much we know about hypnosis theory itself, general psychology, the person we are working with, and ourselves. Hypnosis is a ritual -- it is setting aside special time to do something with a collection of ingredients that you have personal associated meanings with. If you can’t connect to those deeply enough, it won’t reach its full potency.
Knowledge, Perception, and Unconsciousness
One of my favorite concepts to teach in hypnosis is, “A change in perception equates to a change in reality.” This is derived from Erickson by MrDream, and it’s something he and I have had a lot of conversations about to refine. The implication of this is not something as trite as hypnosis having the power to change a person’s perceived reality. It is the concept that if you look at something from a different perspective, you gain various different capabilities.
For example, when you are feeling stuck in a situation and you think about what a close friend of yours would do if they were in your shoes, you gain the capability to see more options, to change your actual view of the reality of the problem and therefore change your actions towards it. In hypnosis, this could be the difference between simply telling someone to relax their legs versus another perspective of telling them to imagine what it would be like if their legs just started relaxing. It could be the idea that when a person does feel relaxation from a simple suggestion, their perception changes on what is happening -- they build more belief in hypnosis, and that belief in turn makes the next suggestions easier to buy into.
Erickson’s model of hypnosis is predicated on the idea that hypnosis itself matters, that hypnosis is a time within which someone’s reality changes. In his ideal hypnotic context, the subject feels like they no longer can expect things to behave as they usually do in their “waking” reality. They are thus opened to many different kinds of new experiences and capabilities. To Erickson, perception matters -- by itself, it’s a primary driving force behind literal change and response.
This ties back to our idea of intimacy -- just as I aim to approach my partners with this profound curiosity, just as I aim to approach Torah, I want to have this intimacy of the unexpected with trance itself. I want to allow myself to be surprised by hypnosis, by the things I don’t yet know about it even after more than a decade and thousands of hours of trance. But more than this, in an Ericksonian sense, simply changing my perspective to this motivation is one of the things that lets me get there.
I went through a guided study class about Shabbat (Judaism’s weekly sabbath of rest) with a partner, and so much of the class was in the abstract that it at times felt difficult for me to latch onto. We were learning all of this background context about a view of Shabbat where instead of spiritually striving and reaching on that day, you come in acting as though your spiritual work -- like your other work -- is “finished.”
In one session, we spent a chunk of time parsing through how we could interpret that as actionable. It felt like it just wasn’t clicking for me -- the midrashic texts weren’t offering enough for me to feel like I could make judgments on questions like, “Does this imply I shouldn’t meditate on Shabbat in this context?”
It wasn’t until I slept on it that I found a very simple piece of the puzzle: putting aside the questions of concrete actions, in an Ericksonian sense, the internal act of shifting my perspective would absolutely change the way I behaved and interacted with the day. It would become more indirect and unconscious -- instead of carefully analyzing my actions as I might with other Shabbat prohibitions on work, I could simply let myself act in ways that fit that perspective of “spiritually resting.”
The abstraction of the class made more sense -- perhaps it wasn’t trying to give us direct answers, but rather create a psychological environment for us that was well-suited to this more unconscious processing. Or rather, in addition to the sort of typical conscious halachic interpretation. If I allow myself an opinion here, I’d say that I care about halacha as actionable, but as always, I tend to care more about feelings and what’s internal.
This also lent credence to ways this class and the class on smoke and ritual changed my experiences. I was not given a set of actions to take, but rather a variety of perspectives that unconsciously made me think and behave differently. The concept of “knowledge is power” is both true and alluring in many different contexts, and yet had often fallen through for me in most ritualistic frameworks. The way that it succeeds, I believe, is when you develop a relationship with knowledge that actually changes your internal perspective and perceptions.
Limitation
With this we return to the concept of models and interpretations. It is serendipitous to be going through these experiences at a time where I am avidly working on my next book -- the thesis of which is that in order for us to progress as hypnotists, we must get comfortable moving fluidly between many differing definitions and frameworks (models) of what hypnosis is and how it works.
It is as the Ericksonian principle would say: If you take a perspective on hypnosis that boils down to “hypnosis is about relaxing the conscious mind,” you will do hypnosis according to that perspective. You will use relaxation-based techniques and make an effort to get someone to think “less consciously.” If you instead take a perspective that is “hypnosis operates based on activation of the conscious mind,” you may do hypnosis that causes someone to think and process in a more stimulating way.
Both and neither are true, and they can coexist. I believe that most models can be useful -- some more useful than others. But the best thing you can do is to not assume that one model is the most correct one -- instead, it is to develop the capacity to work within many at once even while being aware of their boundaries.
Jewish text, in my experience, provides models -- perspectives that themselves give guidance on how to understand things and act. I think especially about midrash and stories that are explicitly intended to fill in the gaps or give an alternate view on something. The question of, “Is there one correct way to do/see things” is more complicated here, but there are areas -- especially in those subtle shifts of mindset for ritual or interpreting text -- where the answer is still “no.”
My time so far in Jewish study supports this in a different way. There is a human element of collaboration and challenge. Learning as we do with a chevruta (study partner) adds another person to the relationship -- it is no longer just between you and the text. There is another human who you are building something with, and it is “intimate” according to our exploratory definition in an even clearer way.
The purpose of a “scene” inside of kink (a “session” of kink play) is to operate in a semi-limited framework -- limitations exist on who is involved, where it begins and ends, how partners communicate, and what themes/topics/activities are involved. These limitations -- though they may be quite broad -- are partially what allow for intense experiences. A scene needs to exist in a different “space” than our daily lives, and it needs to operate by different rules and involve different ingredients. Here, we also see overlaps with the definition of a “ritual.”
This doesn’t just facilitate intensity (and safety) -- it facilitates learning something new about your partner. By taking your relationship and putting it into a limited context, it allows you to observe it in a more careful way, where novel changes can be more obvious.
Studying with a chevruta is much like this. I have had study sessions where my chevruta and I are meeting for the first time and the only thing we are aware of sharing is our desire to dive into a piece of text. I’ve also had chevrutas where we know each other outside of study, and some of our time is schmoozing and catching up. But in all cases, we are limited in scope, and that limitation creates ease of access towards the common goal of expanding our knowledge and relationship with the text. We are focused; we are motivated. We are creating something that we can only create through who we are as individuals and what we are doing as avid learners.
This has surprised me at times with its tenderness and intensity. Building well-founded interpretations with someone is in and of itself very intimate -- not sensually, but humanly. It has given me something I have always wanted -- an intimacy that is pervasive not just in application of knowledge, but in the development of it. A feeling of sacredness and joy from being able to see so many different perspectives.
I long for this connection, this alchemy. Yes, all models are limited. But within those tight, restricting limits is the potential energy of creation.
“And I Must Learn”
There is an infamous story in the Talmud, in Berakhot 62a, where Rav Kahana hides under the bed of his friend Rav Abba. Rav Kahana hears Abba and his wife giggling and starting to have sex, and remarks out loud that Rav Abba is acting like someone who is famished. Rav Abba, mid-sex, understandably says, “Kahana, why the fuck are you under my bed listening to me fuck my wife?” Rav Kahana replies, “It is Torah, and I must learn.”
There was a version of this essay that began with this tale. I am enamored with the vast overlaps I can derive from its briefness: that intimacy can be studied sacredly both as a general concept and specifically with your partner; that we are obligated to learn ourselves, our partners, and general human desire; that there can be a thread of wholeness in every action of your life if you give every action sacred attention.
Even this, though, is a limited-context interpretation. The rabbis of the Talmud were certainly not sex-positive, especially not as we currently use the term. The surrounding triptych of conversations is similarly humorous but seems to comparatively describe sex as dirty or gross, and this bit of text cannot really exist separately from all of the places where there is halacha derived about sex that is about controlling women’s bodies or preventing queer and trans people from being able to live authentically.
But -- we are allowed to interpret like this. We are allowed to play with context and see what we discover.
For me, this is about finding the connections between my actions and my interests; parts of me that synthesize the whole. It is about developing intimacy with Torah, with my learning partners, with my romantic partners; with the people within the writings, with the authors, and with the readers.
Reading Torah is the same as hypnotizing someone is the same being intimate with someone is the same as doing a ritual. All things on a broad enough scale overlap this closely. There is value in this “zooming out” to a wide enough context to see the connections that exist -- just as there is value in celebrating the limitations that arise, models nestled alongside each other, when you “zoom in.”
We need both to be able to treat our learning -- all forms of it -- as something special.
91 notes
·
View notes
Text
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐍𝐨 ✯ 𝐊.𝐓𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐚
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙'𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙. 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙮"
PAIRING. Tsukishima Kei x f!Reader
CONTENT. Angst, Cheating Tsukishima
Y/N and Tsukishima, a couple engaged to be married, until a shocking revelation of Tsukishima's infidelity rocks Y/N's world on the eve of their wedding.
WC. 3.4k
A/N. Writers block rn. I really liked the symbolism and metaphor and writing I used in this one so I hope you enjoyed it as well. I might rewrite my older and short ones cause I hate them so much. Anyways, Inspired by My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Not edited
Masterlink - Songs Unwritten
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city skylines where Y/N and Tsukishima's love story began. It was a place filled with memories and promises, but today, the air was heavy with uncertainty. Tomorrow was meant to be the day when Y/N would become Tsukishima's wife, the day they had eagerly awaited and planned for. Yet, fate had a cruel twist in store.
Y/N had always been a girl of hope and dreams. Growing up, she had always believed in love and soulmates. Her engagement to Tsukishima was supposed to be a fairy tale come true.
When she first met Tsukishima, Y/N couldn't help but be intrigued by his stoic and reserved demeanor on the volleyball court. It was a chilly autumn afternoon, and they were both participating in a local volleyball tournament. Y/N had always been drawn to the sport, and she eagerly observed the players, seeking to learn from their techniques and tactics.
As she watched the matches unfold, her attention was drawn to a tall and lanky tall young man in the middle position. Tsukishima's movements were precise and calculated, and he displayed a level of skill that impressed even the most seasoned players. However, what caught Y/N's attention the most was the intensity in his eyes and the way he seemed to keep his emotions tightly locked away.
Curiosity got the better of her, and during a break between sets, Y/N decided to strike up a conversation with him. "You're an excellent middle blocker. Your blocks are on point."
Tsukishima glanced at her briefly, his expression remaining impassive. "Thanks," he replied curtly.
Undeterred by his reserved response, Y/N continued, determined to break through his shell. "I've seen you play a few times before. Your techniques are impressive. How long have you been playing volleyball?"
"Since elementary school," he replied tersely, not offering any more information.
Y/N sensed his reluctance to engage in conversation, but she was determined to connect with him on some level. As the tournament progressed, she made small efforts to strike up conversations during breaks, asking about his favorite plays or how he got into volleyball. It was a slow process, but Y/N's genuine interest and friendliness gradually began to chip away at Tsukishima's guarded exterior.
Over time, they found themselves exchanging more than just volleyball-related conversations. They discovered shared interests in books, music, and even silly jokes that would elicit a rare chuckle from Tsukishima. Y/N learned that beneath his aloof façade, he had a dry wit that matched her own, and they found comfort in each other's subtle sarcasm.
As their conversations grew more frequent, Y/N noticed that Tsukishima's walls were starting to come down. He seemed more at ease, even cracking a genuine smile from time to time. Y/N was thrilled that she was able to break through the barriers he had built around himself.
Tsukishima's childhood friend, Asami, became a part of their lives too. They were the three musketeers, but little did Y/N know that the bond between Tsukishima and Asami was deeper than she imagined. They even had a lighthearted marriage pact with Asami, Tsukishima's childhood friend, that if none of them were married by the age of 30, they would marry each other.
But life took a different turn when Y/N came into the picture. Tsukishima and Y/N's connection was undeniable, and they fell in love deeply and irrevocably. Their love seemed to transcend the bounds of their childhood pact, and they decided to get engaged, looking forward to a lifetime of happiness together.
As the soft evening light streamed through the curtains, Y/N found herself lost in a whirlwind of memories. The room felt filled with echoes of laughter and whispered promises as she reminisced about the journey that led her to this very moment. Her fingers gently traced the delicate gold band adorning her finger – the engagement ring that symbolized the love story she had always dreamed of.
It was a lazy evening, and Y/N had decided to surprise Tsukishima with a visit to his home. The knot of anticipation tightened in Y/N's stomach as she approached Tsukishima's house. Tomorrow was meant to be the day of their long-awaited wedding, and she had come over to surprise him with the final touches they had planned together. A warm smile graced her lips, and she couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw the arrangements they had made.
However, as she pushed the door open, her heart plummeted to her feet. Right at the entrance, a pair of unfamiliar women's shoes lay neatly placed, catching her eye like a glaring beacon. Her mind struggled to process what she was seeing. Thoughts raced, but she couldn't deny the sinking feeling in her chest.
An unsettling sense of dread took over as Y/N stepped further into the house, her footsteps echoing in the silence. "Tsukishima?" she called, hoping for an explanation, hoping that she was wrong.
What Y/N saw shattered her world into a million pieces. There, in the dimly lit room, stood Tsukishima and Asami, their hands intertwined as they gazed into each other's eyes with a tenderness that was meant only for lovers. Y/N's breath caught in her throat as she tried to comprehend the scene before her.
Her voice quivered as she walked through the house, and the sight that met her eyes was a painful blow to her heart. In the living room, there they were – Tsukishima and Asami, sitting close together, their hands intertwined, their faces far too close for Y/N's comfort.
The room seemed to spin around her, and she clutched her chest, trying to steady her breath. Her vision blurred with tears, and she took a step back, unable to bear the betrayal before her.
Asami's eyes widened with guilt, and Tsukishima's face turned pale, realizing that their secret had been exposed. Y/N took a step back, her mind racing, desperately searching for an explanation or a reason that could justify what she had just witnessed.
The damage had been done, and Y/N could hardly bring herself to look at either of them.
"I-I can't believe this," Y/N whispered, her voice trembling with hurt and disbelief. "How could you do this to me, Tsukishima?"
Asami looked equally guilty, her eyes filled with remorse. "Y/N, we never wanted you to find out like this. It just happened, and we never meant to hurt you."
Y/N felt a mix of emotions – anger, betrayal, and heartbreak. Her whole world felt like it was crumbling around her, and she struggled to find her footing amidst the chaos of her emotions.
Tsukishima reached out to her, his voice filled with regret. "Y/N, please, let me explain. It's not what you think. It was a mistake, and I never wanted to hurt you."
"How can you say that?" Y/N choked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You knew how much I loved you, and yet, you chose to betray me."
The words hung heavy in the air, and the pain was palpable. Y/N turned on her heels and ran out of the house, feeling like she couldn't breathe. The world outside felt like a blur, but she kept moving, seeking solace and clarity amidst the chaos in her heart.
Y/N found herself standing on the same beach where she and Tsukishima had once shared beautiful moments. The waves crashed relentlessly against the shore, mirroring the turmoil in her soul.
She clutched the engagement ring on her finger, a painful reminder of the love and dreams that had shattered. The future she had envisioned had crumbled into pieces, leaving her heartbroken and lost.
At that moment, she didn't know what to do or where to go. But as she stared out into the vastness of the ocean. As Y/N stood on the beach, gazing out at the vast expanse of the ocean, she felt an overwhelming sense of despair. The crashing waves mirrored the turmoil within her, and she was torn between holding onto the love she once believed in and the pain of the betrayal that had shattered it.
Tomorrow was meant to be the day she had dreamed of – the day she would marry Tsukishima, her soulmate, and start a new chapter of their lives together. But now, it felt like all those dreams were being thrown away, lost in the depths of the ocean before her.
Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and heartbreak. Part of her wanted to confront Tsukishima, to demand answers, to try and salvage what was left of their love. But another part of her knew that the trust had been broken, and nothing could ever be the same again.
As the sun set on the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow across the water, Y/N sank to her knees on the sand. She clutched her engagement ring tightly, feeling the weight of its symbolism in her hand. It was a symbol of the love they had once shared, but now, it felt like a painful reminder of the love that had been lost.
Her heart ached, not just for herself but for everyone who had been excitedly preparing for the wedding. Friends and family had come together to celebrate their love, but now, it seemed like it had all been a facade.
She closed her eyes, feeling the tears welling up once more. It wasn't just the wedding she was mourning; it was the future she had imagined with Tsukishima – the laughter, the shared dreams, the moments of love and understanding.
As Y/N stared out at the ocean, lost in her thoughts, a figure caught her eye in her peripheral vision. Turning her head, she saw Asami running towards her, her face etched with worry and concern.
"Y/N!" Asami called out, breathless as she reached her side. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Are you okay?"
Y/N felt a mix of emotions at the sight of Asami – the woman who had been at the center of the painful revelation. Part of her wanted to push her away, to demand answers, but another part yearned for someone to lean on in her moment of vulnerability.
Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes, and she turned her gaze back to the ocean, unable to meet Asami's gaze. "How could you?" she choked out, her voice trembling with hurt. "How could both of you betray me like this?"
Asami's face fell, and she knelt beside Y/N, her voice filled with remorse. "I know I can't justify what happened, and I never intended to hurt you, Y/N. It was a mistake, and I regret it deeply."
Y/N's heart ached, torn between wanting to hear an apology and wanting to push Asami away. "A mistake?" she whispered, her voice filled with bitterness. "Do you have any idea how much pain I'm in right now?"
Asami reached out to touch Y/N's hand gently. "I can't undo what happened, but I'm here now. Please, let me try to explain."
A part of Y/N wanted to turn away, to shut Asami out completely. But another part couldn't help but yearn for closure and understanding, as painful as it might be.
Taking a deep breath, Asami began to speak, her voice soft and remorseful. "It started out as innocent , Y/N. Tsukishima and I have known each other since childhood, and we had this marriage pact. But as we spent more time together recently, old feelings resurfaced, and we made a mistake. I'm so sorry."
Y/N listened, her heart torn between anger and sadness.
"Why didn't you both tell me?" Y/N asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "You were both going to let me marry Tsukishima without knowing the truth?"
Asami looked down, her guilt evident in her eyes. "We knew it was wrong, and we wanted to stop, but we were scared of hurting you even more. It was selfish, and I regret it deeply."
Y/N took a deep breath, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "He's got you on a pedestal but me in his arms," she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is that how it was all along? Was I just a place holder for him?"
Asami looked down, her gaze filled with guilt. "I can't speak for Tsukishima's feelings, Y/N. But I do know that you mean a lot to him. He loves you, but he also made a terrible mistake."
As Y/N stood there in front of Asami, clutching the engagement ring tightly in her hand, her tears fell like raindrops on a stormy night.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard a familiar voice call out her name. Tsukishima emerged from the shadows, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and regret.
"Y/N, please," he pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. "Give me a chance to explain."
But the pain within Y/N was too raw, too overwhelming to bear. "Explain what, Tsukishima?" she cried, her voice breaking with each word. "The lies, the betrayal? There's nothing left to say."
Tsukishima took a step closer, reaching out as if to touch her, but he hesitated. "I know I made a terrible mistake," he said, his voice choked with remorse. "But please, let me try to make it right."
Y/N's heart ached, torn between wanting to believe him and wanting to shield herself from further pain. "How can you make this right?" she asked, her voice filled with anguish. "You're engaged to me!"
As Tsukishima looked into her tear-filled eyes, his own filled with pain. "I was a fool, Y/N. I let my fear and confusion cloud my judgment. I never wanted to hurt you, but I let my emotions get the best of me."
Tears streamed down Y/N's cheeks, and she shook her head, unable to find the strength to forgive him just yet. "Why did you even ask me to marry you," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the crashing waves.
Tsukishima stepped closer, his desperation evident. "Please, don't throw the ring away," he implored. "It meant something once, and I want the chance to prove to you that it can mean something again."
In that moment, Y/N's heart wavered, torn between the love she had once shared with Tsukishima and the pain of his betrayal. The memory of the happiness they had once found in each other tugged at her heartstrings.
Summoning all the courage she had left, Y/N shook her head, tears falling like raindrops. "I can't, Tsukishima," she said, her voice resolute.
The weight of the engagement ring on her finger felt suffocating, a constant reminder of the shattered dreams and broken promises. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she knew that she couldn't carry the burden of that ring any longer.
With trembling hands, she removed the engagement ring, the symbol of a love that had turned to betrayal. As she held it in her palm, her heart ached with the weight of the decision she was about to make. She looked at the ring, its delicate gold band gleaming in the fading light, and she knew that it no longer held the same significance it once did.
With a mix of pain and determination, she flung her arm forward, releasing the ring into the vast expanse of the sea. It glimmered for a moment in the sunlight before disappearing beneath the waves, swallowed by the ocean's depths.
As the ring vanished from sight, Y/N felt a sense of pain wash over her.
The sea seemed to embrace her grief, its vastness swallowing her sorrow.
As the ring disappeared beneath the water's surface, Y/N felt an overwhelming emptiness engulf her. The tears kept falling, and she knew that walking away from him wouldn't erase the pain she felt.
Her heart shattered into a million pieces, and the world around her seemed to blur into a haze of desolation. The love she had once believed to be eternal had crumbled, and she was left standing on the precipice of a dark and unknown future.
With a heavy heart, she turned away from the sea, Asami and Tsukishima, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. The beach, once a place of happiness and laughter, now held only memories of betrayal and heartache.
Days turned into weeks, and the ache in Y/N's heart showed no signs of subsiding. The pain of betrayal lingered, leaving her feeling lost and adrift. She tried to keep her distance from both Tsukishima and Asami, seeking solace in the company of friends who were always there to support her.
One evening, as she was going through old messages on her phone, Y/N stumbled upon a post. It was a picture of Tsukishima and Asami standing together, their arms wrapped around each other with smiles that felt like a cruel twist of fate.
As her eyes widened in shock, she began to scroll through the messages and discovered the truth. Tsukishima and Asami had indeed gone through with the wedding, sealing their love just a few hours after Y/N's heart had been shattered. They didn't want all that money and venue to go to waste and just like that her dreams were stolen from her.
The revelation hit Y/N like a tidal wave, knocking the breath out of her. It was a betrayal on a whole new level, as if the universe was conspiring against her, mocking her pain. The two people she had trusted the most had found comfort in each other, using their deceit to validate their actions.
"How could they?" Y/N whispered, her voice cracking with disbelief. It felt like a knife through her heart, adding salt to the wounds that were still raw and bleeding.
The sense of betrayal and hurt overwhelmed her, and she felt a mix of anger, sorrow, and confusion. It was as if the world had collapsed around her, and she found herself questioning everything she once believed in.
At that moment, Y/N couldn't see a path forward. The pain was all-consuming, leaving her feeling lost and broken. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but the bitter reality was that there were no answers that could mend her wounded heart.
In the distance, the sun began to set, casting a melancholic glow over the apartment. As darkness descended, it mirrored the darkness that had settled within Y/N's soul.
Grief washed over her in waves, as she mourned not only the love that was lost but also the future that could have been. She pictured the life they had planned together – a home filled with love, laughter, and children, growing old hand in hand.
But now, those dreams lay shattered, scattered like fragments of glass on the cold ground. The pain was all-consuming, leaving her feeling adrift and lost in a sea of sorrow.
Y/N felt as if her heart was like an artist's scrapped work discarded in the trash bin. The pain of the shattered love was akin to the pain of watching something she had poured her heart and soul into being tossed aside, unappreciated and unwanted.
The canvas of their love story, once filled with vibrant colors and promising strokes, now lay in ruins, torn apart by deceit and betrayal. She could almost see the paint splattered across the floor, an abstract representation of the chaos that had consumed her emotions.
She had invested so much in this masterpiece, carefully adding each brushstroke with love and hope. But as fate would have it, the canvas had been marred beyond repair, leaving her feeling like an artist who had lost her way.
Her memories served as a painful reminder of what could have been – a love story that was meant to be cherished and admired. Instead, it had been abandoned, a casualty of human flaws and weaknesses.
She felt like a shell of her former self, her spirit bruised and battered. The red strings of fate that she had once believed in now felt like a cruel joke, a reminder that love didn't always lead to happiness.
Fate had played a cruel trick, entangling her heart with the wrong person, and how she was left to untangle herself.
©Minarixx 2023 - please don't copy, repost or translate without my knowledge credit or permission.
#haikyuu#haikyuu angst#haikyuu one shot#haikyuu x reader#hq oneshot#haikyuu x female reader#haikyuu x self insert#tsukishima x you#tsukishima kei#tsukishima x reader#tsukki#tsukishima kei x you#tsukishima kei x reader#kei tsukishima#tsukishima x y/n#tsukishima angst
391 notes
·
View notes
Text
Crafting Subtext in Dialogue: Elevating Tension and Emotion
Subtext in dialogue is one of the most powerful tools a writer can use to convey underlying emotions, tension, or hidden motives without directly stating them.
Instead of characters explicitly saying how they feel, you can reveal their true thoughts through body language, tone, and the subtle interplay of their words.
Here’s how to effectively incorporate subtext in your writing to make your dialogue richer and more engaging:
Use Body Language to Hint at Emotions
Body language can communicate what a character is feeling without them needing to say it. A character might say one thing, but their body can tell a different story. Here’s how you can use body language to add depth to your dialogue:
Example Dialogue: “I’m fine. Really.” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her gaze flicking to the floor.
What’s being shown
The character says she’s fine, but her defensive posture and refusal to make eye contact suggest she’s anything but. Instead of telling the reader directly that she’s uncomfortable, the subtext comes through in her actions.
Create Tension with What’s Left Unsaid
Tension often arises from what characters don’t say. When a character avoids answering a question directly or changes the subject, it implies discomfort, avoidance, or even deception. You can create layers of meaning by having characters hold back, leaving the reader to infer what they’re thinking.
Example Dialogue: “Are you going to tell me where you were last night?”’
Response: “I was out.” He adjusted his watch, fingers fumbling with the strap.
What’s being shown
The terse response and fidgeting with the watch suggest the character is hiding something. Instead of saying “I don’t want to tell you,” the subtext of guilt or nervousness comes through in both the brevity of the answer and the nervous action.
Tone and Word Choice as Indicators of True Feelings
The way a character speaks—whether it’s their tone, pacing, or word choice—can carry deeper meaning than the words themselves. Sarcasm, hesitation, and formality can all point to underlying emotions that contrast with the literal meaning of the dialogue.
Example Dialogue: “That’s great. Really great.”
Tone: Flat, monotone, with a slight pause before “great.”
What’s being shown
The repetition of “great” and the flat tone suggest that the character is far from pleased, even though the words imply otherwise. By layering tone with the words, we let the reader pick up on the sarcasm or frustration without spelling it out.
Pair Dialogue with Contradictory Actions
A character’s actions can often contradict what they’re saying, adding another layer of complexity to the interaction. This mismatch between words and deeds creates tension and prompts readers to question the character’s true feelings or intentions.
• Example Dialogue: “I’m really happy for you.” She forced a tight-lipped smile, but her hands balled into fists behind her back.
What’s being shown
The words suggest happiness, but the character’s clenched fists indicate anger or frustration. The contrast between what’s being said and what the character is doing invites the reader to look deeper into their true emotions.
Leave Gaps for the Reader to Fill
Good subtext doesn’t spell everything out for the reader. Instead, it leaves gaps—missing pieces of information that allow the reader to infer what’s going on beneath the surface. This technique works particularly well in dialogue-heavy scenes, where not everything needs to be explained outright.
• Example Dialogue: “We’ll talk about this later.”
• Response: “There’s really nothing to talk about.”
What’s being shown
The refusal to engage in conversation suggests avoidance or denial. The lack of explanation forces the reader to infer why the character is shutting down the conversation. By leaving space for interpretation, you allow the reader to become an active participant in uncovering the subtext.
By using body language, tone, and subtle cues, you can layer meaning into your dialogue, revealing what your characters feel or think without needing to state it directly. Subtext adds emotional complexity and realism to your writing, making your characters’ interactions more engaging and thought-provoking for readers. Whether you’re writing tense exchanges, understated emotional moments, or hidden conflicts, mastering subtext will elevate your dialogue and draw your readers in.
#subtext#writing dialogue#writerscommunity#how to write#writeblr#writer community#queer writers#writers on tumblr#creative writers#writerblr#writerscorner#writers#writing advice#emotional dialogue#dialogue help#aspiring writer#writing tips#creative writing#indie writers#spilled ink
15 notes
·
View notes
Note
Eros 5, Ludos 5, and Pragma 4 for Siavash!
Ah a couple for Sia too ❤️ Thank you!!
Eros 5
How closely is their opinion of their own beauty (or lack thereof) linked to their confidence? Do they see themselves as more or less worthy of love or sex based on how attractive they feel?
Part of Siavash’s version of high charisma is his confidence. Hot and knows it. He’s only slightly miffed at being unfavorably compared to Daeran in terms of physical beauty, because overall he considers even his imperfections to be part of the charm. A touch of elven grace that complements his more solid human build. Slightly larger irises than humans’, that make his hazel eyes soft and inviting. His hair is more dishwater-blond than golden but it makes him look warm and natural. He has a bump in the bridge of his nose that adds character to his profile. I don’t think he’s ever once wondered whether he deserves love. As the little brother to three sisters in a stable family he’s always been adored, even when they were at their wits’ end with him. His attractiveness arises not only from his physical beauty, which to some tastes... isn’t negligible, but from his quirky personality and natural affection. In other words, it’s not as much his face as the radiant smile that lights it up. He thinks of it as a package deal – his looks, his flaky Desnan charm, his odd vestimentary choices. He’s an original, and that appeals to some tastes and not to others, but he’s never once looked in a mirror and wondered if he’ll find someone. He kills me.
Ludus 5
What seduction techniques are most likely to be effective when it comes to your OC? Are there some things guaranteed to get them going? Or are they immune to such things?
Following up on that last answer, he’s a sucker for flattery. To really hook him you have to show an interest in him as a person. It has to go deeper than superficial pick-up lines and predictable seduction techniques like gifts, because what he’s really looking for even in a one-night-stand is connection. Engage him in conversation about music, Andoren politics, moral philosophy, travel stories… Show him that you find him fascinating, that you want to bask in his glow, and share your passions and secrets with him.
Pragma 4
After the initial fires of passion cool to some degree, what would keep your OC engaged in a relationship? Shared goals? Similar values? Or contented companionship?
I answered this one for Woljif here and luckily it’s very similar for Siavash. He is able and happy to commit and be faithful if a relationship is rewarding enough, but contentment is the enemy. I always say Kristov left him but in reality he’s the one who left – or began orbiting at greater and greater distance until the connection died. Shared goals and values are essential because Siavash is passionate about liberation on the political and metaphysical levels, and someone more cautious will hold him back, which will end up with him rebelling. He needs someone who can keep up with him, someone somewhat unpredictable who’ll hold his interest, someone slightly dangerous even.
12 notes
·
View notes
Text
A Starship's Tale
A/N:Welcome, readers, to a tale set in the heart of the Clone Wars. This story is the tenth story for @codywanbingo with the prompt Sparring together, it explores the depths of emotion and connection in a time of conflict, focusing on the evolving relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody.
In the heart of the Republic starship, a realm dedicated to the preparation for battle, the training room echoed with a silence that spoke volumes. Here, amidst the cold metallic walls that had witnessed countless sessions of combat training, a different kind of encounter was unfolding. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody, usually engaged in the elegant dance of lightsaber combat, now stood facing each other, prepared for a more primal form of confrontation – hand-to-hand combat.
The room, bathed in the sterile light of the ship's interior, felt smaller, more intimate with the absence of weapons. This was a space where the hum of the engines merged seamlessly with the distant, muffled sounds of the ship's crew, creating a backdrop of constant, unobtrusive motion. But within these walls, a different rhythm was about to commence – one dictated by the movements of two warriors stripped of their usual armaments.
Obi-Wan, devoid of his Jedi robes, wore a simple tunic and trousers that allowed for unrestricted movement. His stance was relaxed yet alert, the embodiment of a Jedi's controlled calm. His eyes, usually a wellspring of wisdom and serenity, now flickered with a focused intensity. In this close-quartered setting, every motion would be more immediate, every exchange a direct transfer of energy and intent.
Across from him, Cody, absent his customary armor, presented a figure of raw, disciplined strength. His muscular build, often concealed beneath the rigid plates of his battle attire, was now openly displayed, showcasing the physicality of a soldier. His stance was grounded, a reflection of his pragmatic approach to combat – direct, efficient, unyielding.
As they began, the air between them crackled with a palpable tension. This was not the elegant, sweeping motion of lightsaber duels, but the gritty, visceral reality of hand-to-hand combat. Each movement carried a weight of purpose; a lunge, a block, a feint, each action was a word in their silent dialogue.
Obi-Wan, employing the techniques of Teras Kasi, moved with a fluid grace that belied the power behind his strikes. His approach was one of balance and harmony, each motion flowing into the next, a seamless chain of offense and defense. He was like water – yielding yet forceful, adapting to each new challenge with fluid precision.
Cody, in contrast, embodied the directness of military hand-to-hand combat training. His moves were sharp and decisive, each strike a testament to his focus and determination. He was like a storm – relentless, powerful, each motion a burst of controlled aggression.
Their dance was a juxtaposition of styles, a testament to their different paths – the Jedi and the soldier. Yet, within this contrast lay a deep-seated mutual respect, a recognition of each other's strengths and abilities. As they exchanged blows, parrying and countering with increasing intensity, there was an undercurrent of something deeper, a connection that transcended the physicality of their sparring.
Obi-Wan's attacks, though measured and precise, carried an unspoken question with each strike, probing not just Cody's defenses but the barriers he had erected around himself. Cody's counters, forceful yet controlled, were his response – a silent admission of the turmoil within, a turmoil that resonated with the emotions Obi-Wan himself was grappling with.
Their exchanges grew more intense, sweat beading on their foreheads, muscles straining under the exertion. In this dance, each touch, each moment of contact, was an exploration – not just of physical boundaries, but of emotional ones. The space between them was charged with an unspoken dialogue, a conversation of pushes and pulls, advances and retreats.
As the session drew to a close, they stood, breaths heavy, gazes locked. In that moment, the training room, with its stark walls and echoing stillness, transformed into a confessional, a space where unspoken truths lingered on the brink of revelation. The understanding in their eyes was clear – they were not just comrades in arms, but two souls navigating the complexities of connection amidst the backdrop of war.
They parted with a nod, a mutual acknowledgment of the uncharted territory they had
just ventured into. The physical distance they put between themselves as they exited the training room did little to dispel the newfound proximity of their inner worlds. In the silence that followed their departure, the training room stood as a silent witness to the shift in their relationship, a shift marked not by grand gestures or declarations, but by the subtle language of body and glance, a language as old as time itself.
Obi-Wan, his thoughts a swirling vortex, retreated to the solitude of his quarters. The physical exertion of the session had done little to tire him; instead, it had ignited a deeper introspection. He pondered over the revelations the session had brought forth, the unexpected stirrings of emotion that Cody had unknowingly awakened. It was a path fraught with uncertainty, one that challenged the very foundations of his beliefs and his adherence to the Jedi code.
Meanwhile, Cody, his usual disciplined facade slightly cracked, found himself in the vastness of the ship's observation deck. Gazing out into the star-studded expanse of space, he contemplated the tumultuous feelings that had been stirred. The straightforward, uncomplicated existence of a soldier, once his only reality, now seemed inadequate to contain the complexity of his emotions. The experience with Obi-Wan had opened a door he had long kept shut, revealing a landscape of potential and peril that extended far beyond the battlefield.
In the days that followed, their interactions were marked by a new depth, a subtle shift in dynamics that did not go unnoticed by those around them. The soldiers, perceptive in their own right, observed the change with a mix of curiosity and respect. Whispers and speculative glances were exchanged, but the unspoken code of the ship ensured that their privacy remained intact.
Obi-Wan and Cody continued their training sessions, each encounter a further exploration of their evolving relationship. The physicality of their sparring became a metaphor for their emotional journey – a journey of discovery, understanding, and, perhaps most daunting of all, vulnerability.
In the midst of a galaxy torn by war, aboard a starship sailing through the endless night, two souls found themselves at the precipice of a profound connection. It was a connection that defied convention and expectation, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the heart and the indomitable spirit of connection that can flourish even in the most unlikely of places.
The training room aboard the Republic starship was a symphony of controlled chaos, its metallic walls reverberating with the sounds of clashing and grunting. In the center, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody, surrounded by a ring of soldiers, were locked in an intense hand-to-hand sparring session. The air was thick with tension, a tangible undercurrent to the usual rhythm of their training.
Obi-Wan, his movements fluid and precise, was the picture of Jedi calm. Yet, beneath this composed exterior, a storm of emotions raged, stirred by the recent shift in his relationship with Cody. Each block and parry carried a weight beyond physical training; it was a dance of unspoken words and suppressed feelings.
Cody, on the other hand, was a maelstrom of focus and intensity. His usual stoic demeanor was cracked, revealing a depth of emotion that rarely surfaced. The commander's strikes were sharp, a little too forceful, betraying the inner conflict he wrestled with.
The soldiers around them watched with a mix of awe and curiosity. They were used to seeing their leaders spar, but today, there was an electric charge in the air, a sense that something significant was unfolding before their eyes.
“Good, Cody. But remember, control,” Obi-Wan advised, parrying a particularly aggressive jab. His voice was steady, but his eyes, usually a wellspring of calm, flickered with a complex mix of concern and something deeper, harder to discern.
Cody grunted in acknowledgment, his expression hardening. The next exchange was fast, a blur of movement and power. In a swift motion, Cody broke through Obi-Wan's defense, pushing him back with unexpected force.
The room fell silent as Obi-Wan stumbled, barely catching himself. A look of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by one of understanding. He locked eyes with Cody, seeing the turmoil there, the unspoken apology, the fear.
Cody stepped back, his chest heaving. The intensity of his gaze wavered, a silent battle raging behind his eyes. Then, without a word, he turned and walked out of the training room, leaving a wake of stunned silence.
Obi-Wan watched him go, a myriad of emotions crossing his face. The other soldiers exchanged glances, their respect for their commanders mingled with a newfound curiosity about the dynamics at play.
“Resume training,” Obi-Wan finally said, his voice betraying none of the turmoil he felt. The soldiers hesitated for a moment before obeying, the rhythm of training resuming, but the atmosphere had shifted irrevocably.
As Obi-Wan engaged with another soldier, his movements were automatic, his mind elsewhere. He was acutely aware of the absence of Cody, of the unsaid things hanging between them like stars in the vastness of space. The session ended with routine efficiency, but the questions it raised lingered, unspoken but heavy in the air.
Later, in the quiet of his quarters, Obi-Wan sat in contemplation. The events of the day replayed in his mind, each moment a clue to the puzzle that was Cody. He knew he had to address what had happened, to bridge the gap that had opened between them. But the path forward was unclear, obscured by duty, the Jedi code, and the uncharted territory of his own heart.
***
In the days following their intense sparring session, the Republic starship felt like a world subtly altered, its corridors and common areas echoing with a new, unspoken narrative. Commander Cody, once a steadfast presence, became a shadow of his former self, his interactions with the crew and, most notably, with Obi-Wan Kenobi, marked by a stark transformation.
Cody, whose demeanor had always been an embodiment of discipline and efficiency, now moved through the ship like a ghost, his steps devoid of their usual purpose. His exchanges with the crew were brief, his words clipped, devoid of the warmth that had occasionally flickered in his interactions. In briefings, his reports were concise, lacking the insightful comments he was known for. He became a soldier wearing the armor of detachment, his gaze often drifting to a distant point, as if he were looking at something far beyond the ship's confines.
Obi-Wan, sensitive to the undercurrents of emotion, watched this change with a deepening concern. He noticed how Cody's eyes would briefly meet his before darting away, as if the contact was too much to bear. In the mess hall, Cody chose seats in the corners, away from the lively banter of the clone troopers, his meals consumed quickly, almost mechanically.
The change did not go unnoticed by the crew. Whispers circulated, a blend of speculation and worry. They respected Commander Cody, and seeing him so withdrawn sparked a ripple of unease. The clones, in particular, felt a sense of disquiet, their camaraderie with Cody having been a constant in their regimented lives.
In the solitude of his quarters, Cody grappled with the tempest within him. The walls, adorned with the sparse decorations of a military life, felt constricting, a physical manifestation of the turmoil in his mind. He was torn between the discipline that had defined his existence and the surge of emotions that the recent encounters with Obi-Wan had unleashed. His mind replayed their sparring session, each moment a reminder of the unspoken truths that lay between them.
The conflict within Cody was not just about breaking protocol or defying the expectations of a clone commander. It was deeper, a fundamental questioning of his identity, his purpose. The feelings for Obi-Wan, so starkly brought to light, were at odds with everything he had been taught to value – order, duty, the mission.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan found himself in a state of introspection, his usual clarity clouded by the complexity of his emotions. In the quiet of his quarters, he pondered over the right course of action. His training as a Jedi Master had always provided a roadmap for dealing with conflicts, both external and internal. Yet, this situation with Cody, it was uncharted territory, a delicate balance of personal feelings and the responsibilities of his role.
Obi-Wan realized that the bond he shared with Cody had evolved, morphing into something deeper, something that defied the simple categorization of friendship or comradeship. He acknowledged, perhaps for the first time, that his concern for Cody transcended the boundaries of their professional relationship.
The decision to reach out to Cody came after much deliberation. Obi-Wan understood that any conversation they had would be fraught with vulnerability, but the growing chasm between them was a risk to both their well-being and their ability to function effectively as a team.
Choosing a quiet evening, when the ship's activities had wound down to the slow hum of routine, Obi-Wan made his way to Cody's quarters. Standing before the door, he took a moment to compose himself, to find the balance between the Jedi Master and the man who cared deeply for the person on the other side of the door.
He pressed the buzzer, the sound a soft chime in the corridor's stillness. The door slid open, revealing Cody, his expression one of guarded surprise.
"Cody,
may I come in?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice carrying a calmness that belied the turmoil within.
Cody hesitated, his posture rigid, the lines of his face drawn tight with an unspoken struggle. After a moment that stretched like a chasm, he stepped aside, a silent assent.
Obi-Wan entered, his eyes taking in the starkness of the room, a reflection of the discipline and order that defined Cody's life. The air felt heavy, charged with the unvoiced thoughts that hung between them.
"Cody, we need to talk," Obi-Wan began, his words deliberate, each one chosen with care. "I've noticed you've been distant since our last sparring session. Is everything alright?"
Cody turned away, his gaze fixed on the small viewport that offered a view of the endless expanse of space. "I'm fine, sir," he replied, the formality of his tone a barrier he erected between them.
Obi-Wan took a step closer, his voice softening. "Cody, you don't have to call me 'sir' here. This isn't about rank or protocol. This is about you, about us."
Cody's shoulders tensed, the muscles beneath his shirt bunching with the effort to maintain control. "There's nothing to discuss, General. I'm just focusing on my duties," he said, but his voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty, a crack in the armor he had so carefully constructed.
Obi-Wan sighed, a deep, weary exhalation. "I know you, Cody. I've seen you in battle, seen you face impossible odds with courage and determination. But this," he gestured vaguely between them, "this isn't something you can fight or strategize your way through."
Cody finally turned, his eyes meeting Obi-Wan's. In them, there was a storm of emotions - conflict, fear, and something else, something that mirrored the feelings Obi-Wan himself harbored. "It's not that simple, Obi-Wan. You of all people should know that. Our lives, our duties, they don't leave room for... for this."
Obi-Wan nodded, acknowledging the truth in Cody's words. "I know the constraints we both live under. But denying what we feel, burying it under duty and obligation, that's not the answer. We're more than just a Jedi and a clone commander. We're people, Cody, with emotions and needs that go beyond our roles."
The room fell silent, the tension between them a palpable force. Cody looked away, a silent battle raging within him. Obi-Wan waited, giving him the space to process, to find the words that seemed to elude him.
Finally, Cody spoke, his voice low and strained. "What are you saying, Obi-Wan? That we should just forget who we are, forget the rules that govern our lives?"
"No," Obi-Wan replied gently. "I'm saying that sometimes, we have to look beyond the rules, listen to what our hearts are telling us. I can't pretend that I don't feel something more for you, Cody. And I believe, I hope, that you might feel the same."
Cody's facade cracked, the soldier's discipline giving way to the man's vulnerability. "I don't know what to do with these feelings, Obi-Wan. They go against everything I've been trained for, everything I've believed in."
Obi-Wan reached out, placing a hand on Cody's shoulder, a gesture of support and connection. "We'll figure it out together. We don't have to have all the answers now. All I'm asking is that we acknowledge what's between us, give it a chance to be more than just unspoken words and hidden glances."
Cody's resistance waned, the weight of his internal struggle lessening under the understanding and compassion in Obi-Wan's eyes. He nodded slowly, a silent acknowledgment of the journey they were about to embark on, one fraught with uncertainty but also filled with the promise of something profound and transformative.
As Obi-Wan left Cody's quarters, there was a sense of a door opening, a new chapter in their lives beginning. The ship, with its metallic corridors and hum of activity, felt less like a vessel hurtling through space and more like
a witness to the unfolding of something deeply human, a narrative that transcended the usual boundaries of duty and rank.
In the quiet that followed, Cody stood alone, the echo of Obi-Wan's words lingering in the room like a new kind of music, one that resonated with the unexplored parts of his heart. He gazed out into the cosmos, the stars a tapestry of possibilities, mirroring the uncharted territory of his emotions. For the first time, he allowed himself to consider a future where his feelings could have a place, where the strict lines of his existence could blur into something richer, more colorful.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan walked through the corridors with a sense of purpose, his steps lighter, his mind clearer. The conversation with Cody had been a risk, but it was a risk born of necessity, of the need to acknowledge the truth that had been silently growing between them. He felt a sense of relief, a weight lifted, knowing that the path ahead, though uncertain, was one they had chosen to walk together.
The crew, sensing the subtle shift in their commanders, watched with a mixture of curiosity and respect. The clones, in particular, saw in Cody a reflection of their own struggles with identity and purpose. In Obi-Wan, they saw a leader who valued the individual, who understood that beneath the armor and robes, there were hearts beating with desires and dreams.
In the following days, the dynamic between Obi-Wan and Cody subtly changed. Their interactions were tinged with a new depth, a mutual understanding that spoke of shared secrets and unspoken promises. They continued their duties with the same dedication and skill, but there was an undercurrent of something more, a connection that had deepened, becoming something integral to their existence.
Their training sessions, once a routine part of their regimen, took on a new significance. They were no longer just exercises in combat skills but moments of connection, opportunities to explore the balance between strength and vulnerability, discipline and emotion.
In this galaxy torn by conflict and strife, aboard a starship navigating the endless expanse of space, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody found themselves at the beginning of a journey not just of war and strategy, but of self-discovery and connection. It was a journey that defied the norms, that challenged the conventions of their lives, but in its defiance, it offered a glimpse of something truly extraordinary – the power of understanding, empathy, and the courage to face the unknown, together.
Likes, reblogs, and comments are deeply appreciated. Your support inspires me to keep writing!
#codywanbingo#commander cody#obi wan kenobi#commander cody fanfiction#obi wan fanfiction#star wars fanfiction#codywan#obi wan kenobi x commander cody#star wars fandom#star wars fanfic#sw fandom#StarWarsFanfiction#ObiWanKenobi#CommanderCody#CloneWars#StarWars#Fanfic#Romance#Angst#EmotionalJourney#HandToHandCombat#SlowBurn#FanficWriter#NewFanfic#StarshipAdventures#JediStories#CloneCommander#Fanfiction
37 notes
·
View notes
Text
astro notes: daily transits 8/3
Saturday, 8/3, brings an energetic shift as the Moon transitions from the sensitive sign of Cancer into the bold and expressive sign of Leo early in the morning. This change encourages a more outgoing and enthusiastic approach to the day. However, an intense Moon–Pluto opposition shortly after the ingress introduces powerful emotional dynamics that could stir deep-seated feelings. The day ends on a more proactive note with a lunar sextile to Mars, promoting open communication and problem-solving.
Key Influences
Moon Ingress into Leo (4:10 a.m.): Bold and Expressive: The Moon's move into Leo shifts the emotional atmosphere from protective and nurturing to bold and expressive. This transit encourages a more confident and outgoing demeanor, fostering creativity and a desire for recognition.
Moon–Pluto Opposition (5:18 a.m.): Intense Emotions: This opposition can bring deeply felt emotions to the surface, often with a dramatic flair. The influence of Pluto suggests that underlying issues may be revealed, leading to intense emotional experiences and possible power struggles.
Lunar Sextile to Mars (Gemini) (10:36 p.m.): Proactive Communication: The sextile between the Moon and Mars in Gemini encourages active and open discussions. This aspect supports tackling the issues that arose earlier in the day, promoting assertive yet constructive conversations.
Integrating the Influences
Morning Boldness: Embrace Confidence: With the Moon entering Leo, start the day with activities that boost your confidence and allow you to express yourself creatively. This is a good time to engage in pursuits that bring you joy and let your personality shine.
Handling Intense Emotions: Stay Grounded: The Moon–Pluto opposition can stir deep emotions. Acknowledge these feelings without getting overwhelmed. Practicing grounding techniques, such as deep breathing or journaling, can help manage the intensity.
Evening Communication: Talk It Out: The lunar sextile to Mars later in the evening provides an opportunity to discuss any problems that arose during the day. Use this time to communicate openly and honestly, addressing issues head-on with a willingness to find solutions.
Practical Applications
Morning Activities: Boost Your Mood: Start the day with activities that make you feel vibrant and confident. Whether it's dressing up, engaging in a favorite hobby, or spending time with loved ones, focus on what makes you feel good.
Midday Reflection: Process Emotions: During the intense Moon–Pluto opposition, take some time to reflect on any strong emotions that come up. Avoid impulsive reactions and instead try to understand the deeper issues at play.
Evening Discussions: Resolve Conflicts: Utilize the proactive energy of the Moon–Mars sextile to have meaningful conversations. Address any conflicts or issues that surfaced earlier with clarity and a problem-solving mindset.
follow for more astro insights like this and head on over to @quenysefields or etsy sensualnoiree to book a session with me :)
#leo#aries#sagittarius#capricorn#taurus#virgo#libra#gemini#aquarius#pisces#scorpio#cancer#sensualnoiree#astro community#astro notes#astro#astro observations#astrology#astro blog#astro posts#astro placements#astrocom#astroblr#astrology chart#astrology fyp#astrology notes#astrology observations#astrology readings#astrology signs#astronotes
7 notes
·
View notes
Note
Ooooh Demon Slayer matchups ? Has been so long since i requested one! Thx in advance
Gender: female
Age: Late 20s
Im short about 5'6 and have back hair and brown eyes. Personality im usually quiet and most times have a poker face but it goes away as soon as someone talks to me. I dont really like uncomfortable silences. And i then to dislike ppl in general that are too loud or think they are over others.
Things i like to do: Sleep! For Real my top thing. Video games and listen to music. Fav animal are sharks (so i may have a shark breathing style lol). And fav season and holiday is fall and halloween. I dont have a problem with gore or horror and its a media i enjoy a lot.
I would prefer a male pair but im happy with a fem too if you think it fits me better haha.
Hey! Thank you for the request!! I hope you enjoy!
I ship you Giyu Tomioka!!
Both share a calm and reserved nature, often preferring quiet moments over loud interactions. Your initial poker face melts away when engaged, which Giyu may find endearing as he navigates his own guarded emotions.
Giyu's stoic demeanor could intrigue you, drawing you in with his mysterious aura that contrasts your more open personality once engaged. His enigmatic presence might spark curiosity in you, leading to deeper conversations and connections.
Giyu's Water Breathing technique aligns perfectly with your favorite animal, sharks, adding a unique connection between you both. You might even share techniques and insights into the art of combat, blending your styles seamlessly.
Your dislike for people who are too loud or overbearing could be balanced by Giyu's composed and respectful demeanor, fostering a sense of mutual understanding and respect. Together, you create a harmonious balance, finding comfort in each other's presence without the need for excessive words.
Late-night gaming sessions where you both unwind and enjoy each other's company in the peaceful hours of the night. Giyu might surprise you with his skill and dedication in the virtual world, adding an element of friendly competition to your bond.
Cozy autumn strolls through the colorful foliage, sharing quiet moments together amidst the beauty of the season. You might find solace in the tranquility of nature, deepening your connection as you explore the wonders of fall together.
Finding solace in each other's company amidst the chaos of demon slaying, providing each other with much-needed support and understanding. Your partnership becomes a source of strength, allowing you to face even the toughest challenges with confidence and determination.
Bonding over shared interests such as your love for sleep, video games, and music, creating a strong foundation for your relationship to grow. Your mutual passions bring you closer together, strengthening your bond with each passing day.
#fanfic#writing#anime#fandom#demon slayer anime#demon slayer#demon slayer imagines#demon slayer inosuke#fluff#anime writers#giyuu x reader#demon slayer giyuu#giyuu tomioka#cute#demon slayer headcanons#ship request#shipping#short drabble
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
thinking abt this post (not adding a screenshot bc op [@mrpsychokiller] turned off reblogs and i wanna respect that) but like, idk it just got my brain moving.
i did my undergrad thesis on how sex and community in queer spaces can often go hand in hand & how kink can act as a vehicle for finding community within a subculture can in some (but not all) cases be Very sex centric.
And it was such a fucking trip to work on this project within the confines of Art School™ & realize that nearly every one of my professors wrote off the deeper meaning of my work because the images i was making were a lil kinky.
It created this really strange dichotomy within the feedback i got that semester.
My peers (namely the ones who were also queer freaks themselves) fucking Got It. we had in depth conversations about what it was that i was trying to say, and it was so great to have them around me while i worked myself to the bone on these prints.
but when i got critiques from my thesis advisor –and all the other professors in my program – it was like all they could see was the fact that i was depicting men who also happened to be sexy.
I remember about half way through the semester, when we did our like midterm review or whatever, there was very little talk about my technique, or if the images were effectively conveyed, or any of the other things my peers who were tackling less ‘risqué’ subject matter got feedback on. It was all about how the work was horny & bc of that they weren’t sure if it was ‘impactful enough’ to be thesis material.
“Okay, so u think they’re hot. Now what?”
And the thing that i found So interesting about this whole thing is that these prints weren’t even the most erotic work i’d done that year.
the last project i’d worked on the semester prior to thesis was a series of four paintings of porn stills. Dick, Balls, AND Hole all lovingly rendered in oils.
So when it came time to figure out what i wanted to do for thesis, i considered going in that same direction. But in the end, i decided the point of the project wasn’t the Raunch factor. So, i chose to pare back the sex so that my message wouldn’t get lost in it.
And Yet, there i was, standing in front of a room full of str8 ppl who couldn’t look past the suggestiveness of a twunk bound in shabari, or a big chested bear in a leather jacket, or a drag queen dancing in sexy lace up heels for long enough to even consider that maybe the work Wasn’t just about that.
The thing i realized (only at the end of the semester in trying to work through my feelings on all of this as i wrote out my thesis paper) was that outside of my peers, none of the people who had a chance to view my work and engage with it before it was complete did so in good faith. They decided that my work was intellectually worth less because it could be read as horny.
And like, ignoring the fact that i wasn’t making these images for sexual gratification, it shouldnt have MATTERED if i were !!!
These professors spent four years talking about how our work should evoke feeling in people, and that we should keep that in mind while composing our images etc. etc. etc.
but as soon as they thought the reaction the work might have been evoking was Horny™ it wasn’t deep enough.
I don’t really have a conclusion to this post, other than to say i fucking agree with the sentiment of the one i linked at the top. Fetish, kink, or sex should not detract from a work of art. And the fact that it does is a disservice not just to the artists who enjoy working on that kind of subject matter, but also the audience.
If your first response when seeing a work of art and learning that it Might have some element of sex involved in it is to deem it wrong, or shallow, or gross, you’re robbing yourself of the opportunity to engage with the work in a meaningful way.
and this is not to say “everyone should look at fetish art, idc if it icks you, get over it!!”
all i ask is that you investigate why it evokes such a strong reaction in you. Is your discomfort actually about the image itself? or is there something else going on. Sit with it for a second.
and since i wrote all this out and talked about my thesis, i might as well link the essay here. I’m still really proud of this project, and i have the prints embedded within the essay, so check it out if you have the chance!
29 notes
·
View notes
Text
How the Best Digital Marketer in Malappuram Can Boost Your Business
In today’s digital age, the success of any business depends on how well it can leverage digital marketing strategies. Whether you’re running a small local business or a growing enterprise, having a solid digital marketing strategy is crucial. But how do you ensure your business stands out from the competition? The answer lies in working with a skilled digital marketer – someone who can tailor strategies that align with your goals, audience, and market trends.
As the best digital marketer in Malappuram, I’ve helped numerous businesses achieve remarkable success through a combination of creativity, strategic planning, and the latest marketing techniques. Here’s how partnering with me can give your business the boost it needs to thrive:
1. Tailored Digital Marketing Strategies
Every business is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to marketing. By working with the best digital marketer in Malappuram, you’ll get a strategy customized to your specific needs. I will analyze your business, identify your target audience, and determine the most effective digital channels to reach them. Whether it’s through SEO, social media marketing, email campaigns, or paid ads, I’ll design a roadmap that ensures maximum results.
2. Boosting Online Visibility
A strong online presence is essential for any business looking to expand. By implementing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques, I’ll improve your website’s ranking on search engines like Google. With the right SEO strategy, your business will be more visible to potential customers who are searching for products or services like yours. This increased visibility can lead to more website traffic, higher conversions, and greater brand recognition.
3. Social Media Expertise
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are powerful tools for engaging with customers. As the best digital marketer in Malappuram, I use these platforms to create compelling content that resonates with your audience. Whether it’s organic posts or paid ads, I will help you build a loyal online community and foster deeper relationships with your customers. Social media marketing is not just about posting; it’s about creating a conversation that drives action.
4. Targeted Advertising for Higher ROI
With the right paid advertising strategy, you can drive quality leads and increase your sales. As an expert in Google Ads and Facebook Ads, I specialize in running targeted ad campaigns that deliver results. I use data-driven insights to optimize your ads, ensuring that every penny spent yields the best possible return on investment. Through careful audience targeting, compelling ad copy, and A/B testing, I’ll help you generate leads that convert into loyal customers.
5. Content Marketing to Build Trust
Content is king in the world of digital marketing. From blog posts to videos, infographics, and email newsletters, content is a powerful tool for building trust with your audience. As your digital marketing partner, I will help you create valuable, informative, and engaging content that educates your customers while promoting your products or services. Content marketing not only boosts your SEO efforts but also positions your brand as an authority in your industry.
6. Real-Time Analytics and Continuous Improvement
One of the key advantages of digital marketing is the ability to track and measure results in real time. With the help of analytics tools, I’ll monitor the performance of your campaigns and adjust strategies as needed. From website traffic and engagement rates to conversion metrics, I’ll ensure that your digital marketing efforts are continually optimized for success.
7. Cost-Effective Marketing Solutions
Compared to traditional marketing methods like TV or print ads, digital marketing is highly cost-effective. By focusing on online platforms, I can help your business reach a larger audience without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a small startup or an established business, digital marketing provides opportunities for all to achieve growth on a budget.
8. Competitive Advantage in Malappuram’s Growing Market
Malappuram, known for its vibrant local businesses, is also a rapidly growing market for digital opportunities. By working with the best digital marketer in the region, you’ll have the edge over your competitors. I keep up with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in the ever-changing digital landscape, ensuring that your business stays ahead of the curve.
9. Building Strong Brand Identity
A well-executed digital marketing strategy can help define and solidify your brand identity. From your website design to your social media voice, I ensure that your brand stands out and communicates its unique value proposition. By fostering a strong brand presence, you’ll attract more customers, build loyalty, and increase your overall market share.
Conclusion
Digital marketing isn’t just about advertising; it’s about creating long-term strategies that drive results and connect with your audience on a deeper level. As the best digital marketer in Malappuram, I am committed to helping businesses unlock their full potential through smart, data-driven marketing strategies. By partnering with me, you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and resources that will take your business to new heights.
Ready to boost your business? Let’s work together to create a digital marketing strategy that works for you!
#digital marketing#marketing#seo services#seo#social media#google ads#search engine optimization#contentmarketing#bussiness#email marketing
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Building Success with an Advanced Marketing Framework
Competitive digital world, understanding and implementing an Advanced Marketing Framework is crucial for brands aiming to capture, retain, and grow a strong customer base. A well-structured framework provides the roadmap for navigating dynamic customer needs, optimizing marketing efforts, and scaling business growth. By analyzing data, segmenting audiences, and delivering the right message at the right time, brands can engage customers and drive conversions effectively.
Understanding the Concept of an Advanced Marketing Framework
An Advanced Marketing Framework is a structured approach that combines strategies, tools, and analytics to enhance marketing effectiveness. It goes beyond traditional marketing methods, diving deeper into data-driven insights, real-time adjustments, and customer-centric tactics. Unlike basic frameworks, an advanced one integrates sophisticated techniques such as machine learning, behavioral segmentation, and cross-channel analysis to optimize results.
Creating an Advanced Marketing Framework is about harmonizing various elements, including customer data, brand messaging, channels, and feedback mechanisms, to offer a more cohesive experience across touchpoints. This approach increases brand loyalty and facilitates a seamless buyer journey from awareness to purchase.
Key Components of an Advanced Marketing Framework
Building an Advanced Marketing Framework requires more than just a few tweaks to traditional methods; it needs a holistic structure encompassing essential components:
1. Customer-Centric Approach
A customer-centric framework prioritizes the needs, desires, and behaviors of the target audience. By analyzing demographic, psychographic, and behavioral data, businesses can develop personalized campaigns that resonate with customers on a deeper level.
2. Data-Driven Insights
Data analytics is foundational to an Advanced Marketing Framework. With tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or more complex machine learning models, marketers can gain insights into customer behavior, engagement patterns, and conversion metrics. Leveraging data enables the fine-tuning of campaigns to maximize ROI and make informed decisions about where to allocate marketing resources.
3. Content Strategy and Personalization
Content remains a critical piece in engaging audiences. The Advanced Marketing Framework relies on content that is not only relevant but also tailored to individual customer segments. Personalization, such as dynamic emails, curated recommendations, or personalized landing pages, drives higher engagement and nurtures customer loyalty.
4. Omnichannel Marketing
In an Advanced Marketing Framework, omnichannel marketing ensures consistency across platforms, from email to social media to in-store experiences. Integrating channels allows for seamless transitions between touchpoints, enhancing the customer experience. This continuity helps brands reinforce messaging, nurture leads, and build stronger relationships with customers.
5. Automation and AI-Driven Strategies
Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are game-changers in advanced marketing. Automated workflows can handle repetitive tasks, like sending follow-up emails or reminding customers about abandoned carts. AI-driven analytics provide deep insights into customer trends and forecast future behavior, making campaigns more targeted and efficient.
6. Continuous Optimization and Real-Time Adjustments
Unlike traditional frameworks, an Advanced Marketing Framework isn’t static. It requires constant optimization and real-time updates based on data analytics and customer feedback. A/B testing, conversion rate optimization, and performance monitoring are essential to ensure that campaigns are achieving their objectives and maximizing engagement.
7. Feedback and Adaptability
Customer feedback is an integral part of the Advanced Marketing Framework. Whether it’s through surveys, reviews, or social media comments, feedback helps brands understand customer sentiment, address concerns, and improve offerings.
Benefits of Implementing an Advanced Marketing Framework
Integrating an Advanced Marketing Framework offers substantial benefits:
Improved Customer Engagement: Personalized, data-driven strategies capture customer attention and keep them engaged across channels.
Higher Conversion Rates: By targeting the right audience with the right message, brands can enhance conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
Enhanced Efficiency: Automation and AI streamline operations, freeing up resources for creative, high-impact work.
Data-Backed Decisions: A reliance on data means that marketing decisions are well-informed and optimized for results.
Competitive Edge: Brands using an Advanced Marketing Framework stay ahead by adapting to customer preferences and market changes faster.
Getting Started with Your Advanced Marketing Framework
Creating and implementing an Advanced Marketing Framework might seem overwhelming, but starting with small steps can make a significant impact. Begin by clearly defining your target audience, outlining measurable objectives, and selecting the tools necessary for data analysis and automation.
Next, focus on omnichannel marketing strategies, ensuring your brand message is consistent across platforms. From here, experiment with content personalization and automation to enhance engagement. Remember to continually monitor and optimize your approach based on performance data and customer feedback.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Cultivating Digital Well-Being: Creating a Balanced Online Presence
Hey Community,
In today's hyper-connected world, maintaining a healthy relationship with technology is more important than ever. With the constant influx of notifications, social media updates, and digital distractions, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. That's why focusing on digital well-being is crucial. In this blog post, we'll explore practical ways to cultivate digital well-being and create a balanced online presence.
Understanding Digital Well-Being
Digital well-being is about managing your digital life in a way that promotes health, happiness, and productivity. It involves being mindful of how you use technology and ensuring that it enhances your life rather than detracts from it. Here are some strategies to help you achieve a balanced online presence:
1. Set Boundaries with Technology
One of the first steps to digital well-being is setting boundaries. Determine specific times when you will disconnect from your devices. This could be during meals, an hour before bed, or while spending time with loved ones. Creating these tech-free zones helps you stay present and reduces the constant pull of digital distractions.
2. Curate Your Online Environment
Take control of your digital space by curating the content you engage with. Unfollow or mute accounts that don't bring you joy or add value to your life. Instead, surround yourself with positive, inspiring, and educational content. Platforms like MeWe allow you to tailor your feed to reflect your interests and values, making it easier to create a healthy online environment.
3. Practice Mindful Usage
Mindful usage of technology means being intentional about how and why you use your devices. Before picking up your phone or opening a new tab, ask yourself what you hope to achieve. Are you looking for information, connection, or just a distraction? By being aware of your intentions, you can make more conscious choices about your digital interactions.
4. Take Regular Breaks
Incorporate regular breaks into your digital routine to prevent burnout and maintain focus. Use techniques like the Pomodoro method, which involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. These short breaks can help you recharge and improve your productivity.
5. Prioritize Offline Activities
Balance your online life with offline activities that promote well-being. Spend time in nature, engage in physical exercise, read a book, or practice a hobby. These activities can help reduce stress and provide a refreshing break from screens.
6. Engage in Digital Detoxes
Consider doing a digital detox periodically. This could be a weekend without social media, a day without emails, or even a few hours without any screens. Digital detoxes can help reset your relationship with technology and provide a deeper sense of relaxation and clarity.
7. Use Technology to Enhance Well-Being
Technology can be a powerful tool for well-being if used correctly. Utilize apps and tools that promote health, such as meditation apps, fitness trackers, and time management tools. These can help you stay on track with your wellness goals and make your digital life more purposeful.
8. Foster Real Connections
While online interactions can be meaningful, they shouldn't replace face-to-face connections. Make an effort to meet friends and family in person, engage in meaningful conversations, and build real-life relationships. This helps create a balanced social life that isn't solely dependent on digital interactions.
Conclusion
Cultivating digital well-being is an ongoing process that requires mindfulness and intentionality. By setting boundaries, curating your online environment, practicing mindful usage, and prioritizing offline activities, you can create a balanced online presence that enhances your life. Let's use technology to connect, inspire, and grow without letting it overwhelm us.
How do you maintain digital well-being in your life? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below. Let's support each other on this journey towards a healthier relationship with technology.
Stay balanced,
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Unleashing the Power of Content Marketing: Elevating Your Brand Presence with Ecliqs
In today's digital age, where attention spans are fleeting and consumer expectations are soaring, content marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for brands to connect with their audience, build trust, and drive meaningful engagement. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the importance of content marketing cannot be overstated. e-Cliqs has been one of the fastest growing Digital Marketing Company in Jaipur. Join us as we explore the transformative impact of content marketing and discover how Ecliqs, one of the premier digital marketing companies in Jaipur, can help elevate your brand to new heights through strategic content creation.
The Essence of Content Marketing
At its core, content marketing revolves around the creation and distribution of valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. Unlike traditional advertising, which interrupts consumers with promotional messages, content marketing seeks to provide genuine value to the audience, establishing a foundation of trust and credibility over time.
Building Brand Authority
One of the primary benefits of content marketing is its ability to position your brand as a thought leader and authority within your industry. By consistently delivering high-quality, informative content that addresses the pain points and interests of your target audience, you can establish credibility and expertise, earning the trust and loyalty of your followers.
Driving Traffic and Engagement
Compelling content acts as a magnet, drawing in prospective customers and driving traffic to your digital properties. Whether it's through blog posts, videos, infographics, or social media updates, engaging content captivates the audience's attention, encourages interaction, and fosters deeper connections with your brand.
Nurturing Leads and Conversions
Content marketing plays a pivotal role in the lead nurturing process, guiding prospects through the buyer's journey and converting them into loyal customers. By delivering relevant and valuable content at each stage of the funnel, you can educate, inform, and inspire action, ultimately driving conversions and fostering long-term relationships with your audience.
Experience the Ecliqs Advantage
At Ecliqs, we understand the transformative power of content marketing and its integral role in driving business growth. As one of the premier digital marketing companies in Jaipur, we specialize in delivering end-to-end digital marketing services tailored to your unique needs.
Our team of seasoned experts is dedicated to crafting compelling content strategies that resonate with your target audience, drive engagement, and fuel business success. From content ideation and creation to distribution and optimization, we leverage the latest tools and techniques to ensure maximum impact and ROI for your brand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, content marketing is not just a strategy; it's a journey towards building meaningful connections with your audience, establishing authority, and driving tangible business results. By harnessing the power of content marketing with Ecliqs, you can unlock new opportunities for growth, widen your reach, and turn potential candidates into loyal consumers.
Experience the difference with Ecliqs today and embark on a journey towards digital marketing excellence. Let us help you unleash the full potential of your brand through strategic content creation and unparalleled expertise.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Benefits of Small Business Internet Marketing
The significance of internet marketing for small businesses cannot be overstated. As the online landscape continues to evolve, businesses must adapt to stay competitive. Small businesses, in particular, can leverage internet marketing strategies to amplify their presence, reach a broader audience, and drive growth. This article explores the myriad benefits that small businesses can reap from embracing internet marketing techniques.
Enhanced Visibility and Reach
Internet marketing opens the door to a vast audience that traditional marketing methods often struggle to reach. With the right strategies in place, small businesses can enhance their visibility across various online platforms. From social media channels to search engine results pages (SERPs), internet marketing enables businesses to connect with potential customers on a global scale. By optimizing their online presence, small businesses can attract leads and expand their reach beyond geographical boundaries.
Cost-Effectiveness
Unlike traditional advertising avenues such as print or television, internet marketing offers cost-effective solutions tailored to small businesses with limited budgets. With targeted advertising options available on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads, businesses can allocate their marketing spend more efficiently. Additionally, techniques like search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing provide long-term value without the recurring costs associated with traditional advertising.
Measurable Results and Analytics
One of the standout advantages of internet marketing is its ability to provide actionable insights through comprehensive analytics. Small businesses can track various metrics, including website traffic, conversion rates, and customer engagement, in real-time. This data empowers businesses to make informed decisions, refine their strategies, and optimize their marketing efforts for maximum effectiveness. With access to detailed analytics, small businesses can continuously adapt and improve their online campaigns to achieve better results.
Targeted Marketing Campaigns
Internet marketing enables small businesses to create highly targeted marketing campaigns tailored to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Through tools like audience segmentation and retargeting, businesses can deliver personalized messages to their target audience, increasing the likelihood of conversion. By understanding their customers' needs and preferences, small businesses can craft compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with their audience on a deeper level.
Improved Customer Engagement and Interaction
Interactivity lies at the heart of internet marketing, allowing small businesses to engage with their audience in meaningful ways. Through social media platforms, email marketing, and live chat features, businesses can foster direct communication with their customers. This level of engagement builds trust, strengthens brand loyalty, and encourages repeat business. By actively listening to customer feedback and addressing their concerns, small businesses can forge lasting relationships that drive sustained growth.
Global Reach with Local Appeal
Small businesses no longer face the constraints of local markets thanks to the global reach afforded by internet marketing. While reaching a global audience is valuable, maintaining a local appeal remains crucial for many small businesses. Internet marketing allows businesses to strike the perfect balance, tailoring their message to resonate with both local and global audiences. Whether through geo-targeted ads or localized content, small businesses can establish themselves as trusted brands within their communities while reaching customers worldwide.
Enhanced Brand Awareness and Authority
Building a strong brand presence is essential for small businesses looking to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Internet marketing offers numerous avenues for increasing brand awareness and establishing authority within a niche. Through content marketing initiatives such as blogs, videos, and podcasts, small businesses can showcase their expertise and provide value to their audience. Consistent branding across multiple online channels reinforces brand identity and fosters trust among consumers.
Increased Sales and Revenue
Ultimately, the primary goal of any marketing effort is to drive sales and generate revenue. Internet marketing excels in this regard by providing small businesses with the tools and strategies to attract qualified leads and convert them into customers. By optimizing their conversion funnels, streamlining the purchasing process, and leveraging persuasive copywriting techniques, small businesses can boost sales and revenue streams. With a well-executed internet marketing strategy in place, small businesses can achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.
Internet marketing holds immense potential for small businesses seeking to thrive in today's digital landscape. From enhancing visibility and reach to driving sales and revenue, the benefits are abundant. By harnessing the power of internet marketing, small businesses can level the playing field, compete with larger competitors, and carve out their place in the market. With strategic planning, creativity, and a commitment to delivering value to their audience, small businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and success.
FAQs
1. What are the essential components of a successful internet marketing strategy for small businesses?
A successful internet marketing strategy for small businesses typically includes elements such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising. Each component plays a vital role in attracting, engaging, and converting potential customers online.
2. How long does it take to see results from internet marketing efforts?
The timeline for seeing results from internet marketing efforts can vary depending on various factors, including the competitiveness of the industry, the effectiveness of the strategies employed, and the consistency of implementation. While some results may be noticeable in the short term, achieving significant and sustainable growth often requires a long-term commitment to internet marketing.
3. Is internet marketing suitable for all types of small businesses?
Yes, internet marketing can benefit small businesses across various industries and niches. Whether you're a local brick-and-mortar store, an e-commerce venture, or a service-based business, there are internet marketing strategies that can help you reach your target audience, drive engagement, and grow your business.
4 notes
·
View notes