#and other regions have their own Fairy and folk tales of course

[desertsportshipping]

Orre has a lot of stories. Some are tragedies. Some are love stories. Most, if not all of them, are ghost stories.

There aren't a lot of options for entertainment in Orre. It really doesn't matter whether you believe the story or not, it were entertaining to tell or listen to.

Most arise as an explanation. You have to tell your kid why they can't go into the desert at night, or why they can't go to the abandoned mines, or why they can't see their uncle anymore. Then it gets repeated, spread, and it doesn't matter why the story was originally spun in the first place: if it's a good story, it will be retold.

The people living in Phenac City often scoff at these stories and the superstitious among the rest of Orre, but in reality, they're not so different. After all, "Young Kymi ran away to hook up with a 'one true love' in Pyrite and she got killed" is essentially the same story as "Little Ryal saw a ghost mirage in the desert and chased it, eventually becoming a ghost himself." They both place the blame for a tragedy on something Other, something to be afraid of.

Of course, Agate Village has a ton of stories from before the Extinction Event: stories of a time when Pokemon ran wild, there were plants in the desert, and clean water was plentiful and available to all. But these stories don't gain much traction outside of Agate: it's a lot less painful to pretend that things were always this bad than to remember that a decade and a half ago, Orre lost everything.

These stories, this tradition, hold a special place in Wes’s heart. He was always delighted to share a story with someone who's never heard it. From scaring Rui with ghost stories in dirty hotel rooms, to telling the Kids Grid about some gang battle in the desert that turned them into vengeful sandstorms, to recounting tragedies around a campfire for Hop and Gloria: it didn’t matter to Wes whether he was making it up on the spot or recounting a story told to him, it held the same joy.

Every character dies at the end, either mysteriously or brutally. Every character ends up haunting the desert or the night somehow, out of anger or grief or loneliness. Even though every story is dark or depressing, they are also comforting, giving a tragedy a meaning, an immortality.

Leon once asked Wes, "Why do you love these sad ghost stories?"

"Because if the desert is full of ghosts, you aren't ever truly alone."

[adarkrainbow]

Most people know Joseph Jacobs for his work of collecting and putting in a literary form the traditional fairy tales of England - he is the man that made famous tales such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tattercoats, The Buried Moon, and many others.

But what people tend to not know is that he was also the author of a very particular book called “European Folk and Fairy Tales” - sometimes shortened as Europa’s Fairy Book (in reference to the Fairy Books of Andrew Lang). Remember what I said before about the folklorist vs literary theories when it came to fairy tales? Well Joseph Jacobs lived in the full “folkloric fairytale” movement, fashion and study, and one of the main beliefs of this movement was that, beyond all the local and regional variations of a fairy tale, at the root of these similarly “cousin tales” found in numerous countries and eras, for each “fairy tale type”, there was an “ancestor-tale”. A “first” tale, a “primitive” tale, an “original” tale from which all the variants were born - a common ancestor that gave birth to all the different variations that formed together a “type”. It was the theory of evolution if you want, with each individual belonging to a larger group of species all coming from a common ancestor. 

And Joseph Jacobs, working on this theory and belief, decided to create his European Folk and Fairy Tales book. After collecting as many variants and variations of some fairy tale types across as much European countries as he could, he compared them, studied them, and tried to re-create the “original tale”, the “ancestor-fairytale”, the “original Europan story”. The result of this work was his “European Folk and Fairy Tales” book, a book contaned the supposed and believed reconstructed “original” tales that formed the “primordial” group of fairytales from which the ones collected by Grimm,  Asbjørnsen and Moe, Jacobs himself and others came from. 

Of course, this being a purely folklorist work that tried to ignore as much as it could all the literary side of fairytale history (for example Jacobs removed the fairy godmother from his Cinderella reconstruction due to it being an invention of Perrault), and a work of 1916 that was created with the resources and perceptions of the time, this is not at all considered to be a true scholar work today, and it mostly fell into obscurity as an entertaining project and an interesting piece of fairytale history. But it shouldn’t be forgotten by any means, since this book reflects the beliefs and theories of the folklorists and fairy tale critics of the 1910s Western Europe, and even today on the Internet you will see several illustrations created for this specific book reused for other fairytales (I was surprised to discover that a recurring illustration of Hansel and Gretel I saw everywhere was actually created for Jacobs’ reconstruction-tale). 

So if you ever want to check Jacobs’ Europa’s Fairy Book, you’ll find in it...

... The proto-”Snow White” fairytale, simply titled Snowwhite

... The proto-”Cinderella” story, Cinder-Maids

... “Beauty and the Beast”, which as you can guess is the reconstruction of the “original Beauty and the Beast”

... Thumbkin, the supposed “ancestor” of the Tom Thumb tales.

... The Unseen Bridegroom, the artificial ancestor of all “Cupid and Psyche” type of fairytales

... Johnnie and Grizzle, a synthesis of all Europan “Hansel and Gretel” stories

... The Earl of Cattenborough, the proto-”Puss in Boots”.

And many more artificial but fascinating wonders! 

(Though don’t get me wrong - I do not use “artificial” in a pejorative way. Many fairytales we know today are “artificial” in the eyes of folklorists - all literary fairytales for example, from Perrault to Andersen, are demmed “artificial” by their literary nature ; and even the folklorists have to admit that some of their own created artificial tales, such as those born of the Grimm’s editing of the collected folktales. So, considering all that, while Jacobs’ reconstruction are certainly not THE actual proto-fairytales - if such a thing even exists - it is not because they are artificial that they are less to be considered than literary works or the edited final Grimm stories)

[salora-rainriver]

Its really funny and weird how, of all the european pagan mythologies, greek is the one white ppl know the most of by far.

Like, of course it makes sense, greco-romans were hailed as the peak of civilization by white european elites at least like, twice in history, but it’s still really wild like. We’ll know the names of every olympian and what exactly their deal is, know like 20 different random greek monsters who only appeared in like One Story,

but then u ask abt the british isles, site of a people who would eventually colonize the fucking world, and its like “uhhhhhh theres morrigan? Also some fairies. Is morrigan a fairy? I think there were some tree worshippers. Some dudes put blue paint on their body and had big shields i think?” and a book’s gonna claim there was an irish potato god and you’re going to believe them bcs you’ll be so wrapped up in the potato famine thing that you’ll forget potatos were IMPORTED FROM THE ANDES MOUNTAINS.

And then like folks will be familiar with like 4 norse gods maybe 5, know some words like asgard and ragnarok, but ask them who fenrir is and theyll be like “Is he important?”

Also if you ask them about germanic mythos they will draw a fucking blank bcs even tho the general public are familiar with at least a few germanic mythos things, we completely stripped out the germanic origins from them when we called them generic “fairy tales.” Same for france and the iberian penninsula i think. Also dont ask me which fairy tales come from where bcs i am a prime example of this, i do not fucking know, i just vaguely remember that they came from certain places and then spread from there.

Oh And absolutely FORGET about anything east of germany fucking forget about it. The slavic regions have a rich mythos and even ppl who are pretty knowledgable abt the stuff i said above won’t know shit about it, case in point, me! Go ahead! I know a bunch abt celtic stuff and norse stuff and a lill bit of german stuff, but ask me to bring up ONE slavic story! The only thing my brain is cookin up is that one about the lindwurm, and even that one i cant remember if its actually slavic!

Now Think abt how many white people claim heritage from places in europe that arent greece and italy. Think about how little those same ppl know abt their ancestor’s prechristian stories and beliefs. Im hispanic i know like one thing abt pre-christian spain and its that they had a funny word for fairies (i don’t even remember the name!), just as an example. Like isnt that fucking insane? You’d think a buncha colonizing douches competing with each other to take over the world would put a bit more effort into educating ppl abt the ancestral stories that set these guys apart from each other, but no, not really. And like dont get me wrong its not like this doesnt make sense. It does. The roman empire and later christianity overtook like all these myriad cultures years before colonialism and white supremacy was even a pipe dream, to say nothing about the internal strife that happened in the iberian peninsula and the british isles.

But at the same time, in recent years there’s been massive pushes to recover this lost culture (especially in those british isles places that arent england), and even with this effort, so much is unknown to a fuckton of people who, i repeat, claim heritage from these places. (In fact, one of those efforts probably set us back bcs it got caught up in bullshit ideology and mysticism and grabbed stuff from totally different people to support a bullshit point. Looking at you, nazis.) and it’s just kind of insane. Overall this is just a peak example to me of the hollowness and artificiality of the concept of whiteness. The master race can’t even remember their own ancestors, and ancient history had to be wiped away or made generic in order to support the notion that these people have something in common, and thus, something setting them apart from everyone else.

[grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales]

Balkan Bestiary: Zduhac

This creature is exceedingly popular in Balkans, and stories of it ( in various forms and spellings) can be found all across Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Their defining characteristic is that zduhac is a human being whose soul has ability to leave their body and ascend in sky, where they either fight malicious spirits causing storms and  elemental catastrophes, or  they themselves go out to combat and harm their rivals and neighbours. The soul is usually invisible, but it can assume form of some bug- such as moth- or even dragon.

They usually look like ordinary people, though some traditions attribute them ‘’tells’’ that can vary from being little more hairy, over having superhuman strength, to going through life in dreamy and mournful fashion. When zduhac notices trouble approaching, either by gathering of dark clouds or sensing other spirits, they will go away somewhere, or barricade themselves in their home, and not come out until storm is over and winner is decided.

There are many, many names for this creature/ type of magical ability, as it is extremely widespread, and in some cases names vary from region to region. While this can apply to many creatures, in this case it is very prominent, whether due to lore being prevalent and popular among populace, or interest of folklorists.

Zmajevit: This term means ‘’dragonlike’’ and refers to spiritual and sometimes blood conenction these people have with dragons. Aside from this, there is general use of term as epithet to describe great, courageous and strong heroes.

Alovit: This term means ‘’ala-like’’ and it’s origins are covered in this post about creatures in question.

Zduhać: The root of this word is ‘’duh’’, which is word meaning spirit.

Stihija: This word can mean unfortunate situation or calamity, but it’s original meaning seems to have been a great storm or weather catastrophe. It may be derived from Greek stihio or Albanian stuha, and above mentioned zduhac may have been derived from it.

Vjedogonja: Is bit archaic, but I believe that it means something like ‘’dhrouded in air’’ or ‘’one who pursues winds’’

Vjetrovnjak: A folk term that means something along lines of ,,the windling.’’

Oblačar: Could be translated as ‘’the cloudy one.’’

Gradobranitelj: Means quite simply ‘’defender (from) hail.’’

Vremenjak:  Could probably be translated as ‘’weatherling’.’

Vilovit: While this term in general use is archaic dialectic way of calling somebody mad, in this context it means ‘’fairylike, fey-touched’’. Those two are connected, as vilas ( fairies) sometimes have ugly habit of driving people mad.

When zduhac’s soul exits their body, it does so through trance. The body will lay down, and be still, as if zduhac is in deep sleep or nearly dead, but it will still twitch, and every wound earned in battle shall be transferred to it. Some traditions claim that if body is interfered with in any way, even something minor like turning it over, soul won’t be able to return. Some descriptions of trance resemble epilepsy seizure, and indeed legends may have been based upon it.

Zduhac’s ability to astrally project themselves, their sometimes attributed abilities of healing, prophecy and cursing cattle and crop, alongside with fact that they often fulfilled same function as folk healers and magicians ( to use english term that’s very popular, cunning folk) has led some anthropologists to believe belief in zduhaci is remnant of  prechristian shamanistic traditions, and compare them to similar people in other cultures, such as say, Italian benandenti. While this theory holds water, it is important to note that there isn’t much concrete evidence for it, and that European anthropologists are sometimes very quick to use word shamanistic improperly ( not all of them, of course, especially ones who come from cultures and regions where such living spiritual traditions still thrive, and often gets misinterpreted).

Anybody could be zduhac ( according to some claims, even animals!) but generally it is a strong man, in peak of his prowess, or a respected elder. Fact that zduhac’s enemy is traditionally feminine ala, and that they are sometimes contrasted with witches ( who traditionally attack their own closest kin and friends first), leads to some interesting ponderings.

Historically, we have many, many records of named and famous zduhaci across various regions. This is result s combination of dedicated research by folklorists, people generally knowing who is who three villages over and keeping that alive in folk memory, and fact that in certain places and times it was more or less social function of village. Some famous and beloved rulers were said to be zduhaci, but I feel safe saying this is unlikely, and probably propaganda, especially as those claims generally arose after their deaths, and were way of honouring leaders people found important and heroic.

How they are accepted by community is pretty interesting thing to me. Generally, zduhac is respected and honoured, as they fulfill extremely important function, and are guardians of their community and adore it whole heartedly. However, they can be described as strange, eccentric and uncanny, which may be partially due to fear of retaliation if one offends zduhac, but also because they can sometimes be sort of tolerated social outcasts; hermits, men who never married, thoughtful and private people, people too smart or opinionated for their close community, people with epilepsy...

Zduhac is primarily positive figure, however that too depends on your relation with them, like with people. If you anger zduhac it may retaliate, either by letting hail take down your vineyard, or sending pox upon your livestock. Also, traditionally zduhac attacks and threatens surrounding villages, particularly ones that have fed with their own, to point that some legends claim that all storms are result of rival zduhaci wrestling for dominance.

How person becomes zduhac depends on several sources:

It may be a sort of trade, the magical knowledge and practice that is passed from one to another, with several tales depicting  elderly zduhac seeking out replacement, usually a close relative like brother’s son or such. This fits with historical and folkloric records of how folk magicians and healers operated.

In certain traditions, zduhac is connected to angels and saints, and may even be counted among them, and their ability can be seen as divine blessing. Connection with sky, is of course, obvious.

In others, zduhac gains their abilities through mystical initiation performed by the Devil. It’s important to remember that this isn’t Satan of megachurch evangelism, but rural, folkloric Devil. So while powers are sinister and zduhaci can be capricious, they do serve good purpose.

It can be a natural, inborn gift. There are several explanations for how to detect newborn that will grow up to be zduhac, from birth at particular day to other notions, but most famous one and common one is baby being born with whole placenta, which is either red or white. During life zduhac will keep placenta as talisman, and needs to hide it from enemies and prying eyes.

Famously, zduhaci can be children of humans ( usually women) and dragons, which is where name zmajeviti comes from. Dragons are fond of sleeping with human women, especially royal ones, and thus their children grow up to be great heroes, brave and fierce in battle, handsome and strong, skilled warriors ( this belief of extraordinary heritage of nobility can probably be seen as distant cousin to legends of demigod descent and divine right of kings). Sometimes these men may be recognized by feathery winds they keep hidden underneath armpits.

Another connection with supernatural comes from ala, which i previously covered, and which is why they are called aloviti. Ala is traditionally enemy of zduhac, as spirit which causes storms and hail, but sometimes it is source of their powers. Ala may have been parent of zduhac ( usually fathering them), they or their parents may have been it’s victims                 ( encountered it in flesh and survived, or been possesed), or all zduhaci and alas are same beings, and whether they are evil or good depends on which village you hail from.

Zduhac may also derive their powers from the fairies, who are sometimes known to protect, associate with, or mentor humans, usually in healing arts, but they also may bless them in more spiritual manner, and zduhac’s power over natural forces may come from vila, who embody them. Zduhac in those stories may have vila for foster-mother or godmother ( or, like with dragonlike heroes, she breastfed them at young age), may be her oath sworn blood brother, done her favour or attracted her intrigue enough to make him her student. Sometimes they are said to be men who were loved by vilas- seemingly consensually, without traditional ‘’steal her veil and force her to be my spirit bride’’ story, implying that zduhac is one who had affair with vila of her own choosing, and was blessed and abandoned once she tired of her mortal lover.

[knoxbxrp273]

Why You Should Spend More Time Thinking About Winkworth Estate Agents

Cape Cornwall Golfing System

Your Newquay holidays might be most satisfying if you can go to this golf place. Enjoy on your heart's written content in its premiere area. It will probably be a worthwhile endeavor throughout your holiday seasons in Newquay because you will get to discover the fascinating fairways, cliff drops, and lush vegetation within the course way. The environment are great options to your peaceful match of golfing together with your buddies as well as other site visitors. Chill out frayed nerves and ease nervousness and stress although swinging away the ideal you'll be able to. You can make sure of the numerous Added benefits that your video game of golfing can bring, like enhanced resistance, more robust muscles, a slimmer physique, in addition to a healthier and improved immune program. In case you take a look at Newquay frequently, It's also possible to avail of memberships while in the Cape Cornwall Golf Location. The friendly golf associates would welcome you brazenly.

Bowood Park Resort Golf Training course

This magnificent golfing system is ready on 230 acres of excellent golfing http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection®ion=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/cornwall space. During your Newquay holiday seasons, check out Bowood Park Lodge Golf Study course and be revitalized by its charm and beauty. The attractive hills, verdant trees, and entire amenities are luxuries you should have in the course of your Pet-helpful holiday seasons in Newquay. Make the most of the tough golf video games up to you are able to. You can satisfy numerous businessmen and holidaymakers right here. Swinging away in its lush greeneries can be a therapeutic session. The enjoyable golfing manoeuvres executed On this golfing region are comparable to that of entire world-renowned golf classes world wide. You will end up taken care of to the picturesque check out while enjoying golf. Concentrating on your own future go will not be hard to do particularly if you might be surrounded with The attractive and serene landscape. Tee time at Bowood Park Resort Golf System is an enjoyable and inspiring action for family and friends. Golfing is an efficient work out for bodily Energetic individuals that would love amusement and healthy routines simultaneously.

The temperatures may slide from The nice and cozy summer season months nevertheless the landscapes just appears to get much more magnificent and folks warmer. Revellers head on the lively resorts of Newquay, St Ives and Looe from all round the place to rejoice while in the packed pubs, energetic golf Garage Services in St Austell , Cornwall - Wozup South West equipment Skip Hire in Saltash , Cornwall and renowned places to eat but the true spirit of Xmas can be celebrated with candlelit carol providers, kid's nativity plays and midnight mass held in the course of Cornwall.

It is now a tradition over the years that people will Select a swim on Xmas Day and you'll discover several activities at distinctive beach locations across the Cornish Coastline some charitable and a few just for fun, Even though With all the sea temperatures going from 20 levels Celsius in the summertime to 10 levels celsius from the winter months a festive drink or hot Xmas supper will definitely be welcome after even a short dip in the sea.

The majority of towns across Cornwall have their Xmas Lights but Mousehole three miles south of Penzance is perfectly worth browsing for its Christmas illuminations explained to rival any in britain, the lights are erected all around the village, over the harbour wall and out to sea. You can even have a helicopter journey from Penzance to see the illuminations from over which consist of spouting dolphins, prancing reindeer plus a Christmas pudding. The illuminations may be witnessed each and every night from mid December until finally the tip of the initial week of January with the climax becoming Tom Bawcock's Eve over the 23rd December commemorating an evening long ago when a neighborhood fisherman landed a capture which was ample to feed The entire hungry village. A neighborhood seafood dish, Star Gazy Pie is ready and brought out at midnight and a picture of your pie is often to become noticed in lights.

Trebah Gardens amongst Cornwalls most favored tourist attractions hosts many gatherings major nearly Xmas with candlelit evening walks to magical santa trails and grotto and yuletide decoration workshops. Quite a few on the Nationwide Rely on internet sites in Cornwall open within the months major around Xmas with wonderful seasonal situations at Cotehele, Lanhydrock, Trerice and Trelissick Gardens with impressive Xmas decorations, carol products and services and magical trails to comply with and Even though These are shut on Xmas Working day and Boxing day the grounds continue to be open up. An ice skating rink opens its doorways within the Eden Task from late October right up until late February with seasonal animations and many Area for spectators who need to steer clear of the bumps and bruises.

Xmas wouldn't be Xmas with no pantomime and actively playing on the Hall for Cornwall in Truro with the eleventh December 2009 right until third January 2010 is Jack as well as the Beanstalk with comedy, slapstick and tunes for each of the relatives. Within the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth within the twenty third December until the thirtieth December The Miracle Theatre Business provides The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin a fairy tale of comedy and energetic performances certain to thrill The complete relatives. Cornwallholidayplaces has a very good vacation tutorial to Cornwall that can assist you uncover precisely what is on and exactly where to go throughout the festive crack.

[scotianostra]

21st September 1832 saw the death of Sir Walter Scott.

Walter Scott is synonymous with our history as a nation, his novels are world famous, many made into TV series and films, as well as plays, he collected Scottish folk tales from an early age and his fertile mind interwoven all these stories into his own, his Waverley series of novels ran from 1814 to 1832 and included the infamous Rob Roy, as well as many other characters like Captain John Porteous, who I covered earlier in the month, Scott told his story in The Heart of Midlothian in that series. 

He met Robert Burns when he was only 15 at a house in Edinburgh, where also present were some of the greatest minds of The Scottish Enlightenment including, Adam Smith, Dugald Stewart, Adam Fergusson and James Hutton. Scott was born in Edinburgh, but the Borders Region often claim his as their own, and no wonder. A frail boy, when he was two, he suffered from polio which left him lame. Young Scott spent much of his growing up years in Sandyknowe, near Smailholm Tower, with his paternal grandparents. He was a voracious reader, reading almost everything he laid his hands on, right from history and drama to fairy tales and romance.

At age 7 he returned to Edinburgh for his formal schooling, at the Royal High School of Edinburgh. By this time, he was able to walk but with a pronounced limp. On finishing his schooling he returned to the Borders, to Kelso for six months, studying at the local grammar school. In 1783, he enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to study classics. There he befriended the aforementioned Adam Ferguson and Thomas Blacklock.

In 1786, he apprenticed at his father’s office as a Writer to the Signet. Taking up a career in law, he went back to the university to gain a formal degree in the subject. Completing his studies, he became a lawyer in Edinburgh and was called to the bar in 1792.

In 1798 he began his literary career, his early publications were, not Scots in origin, but translations of German versed ballads by Gottfried August Burger, ‘The Chase’ and ‘William and Helen.' A year later saw a return south when he was appointed Sheriff-Depute of the County of Selkirk. 

In 1800, his first original work, ‘Glenfinals’ and ‘The Eve of St John’, was published. Written in a short narrative style, the poetry brought him much public attention and appreciation. His childhood interest in border ballads finally took the form of three volume poetry collection by the name, ‘Minstrelsy Of the Scottish Border’ which was published in 1802-03. With this collection, he attempted to restore the original compositions but with a touch of romanticism. The collection also gave a glimpse of his long-standing interest in Scottish history.

These were all poetry work, and he continued in that vein for a number of years, making a name for himself with works like, Marmion, The Lady of the Lake, and The Lord of the Isles’.

In 1806, he was promoted as the clerk to the Court of Session in Edinburgh. The appointment was welcomed as it supplemented his income from his writings. 1809 saw him persuade his friend James Ballantyne to establish a publishing house in Edinburgh. However, by 1825, the firm was on the verge of bankruptcy. Most of earnings from his writing thereafter were directed at clearing the debts incurred.

After gaining a celebrity status through his collection of poetry, Scott turned his attention to prose fiction. He attempted to portray the Scottish historical events in an innovative fashion. His first novel Waverly was published anonymously in 1814. It dealt with the subject of the Scottish Rebellion of 1745. It was a runaway success, most people suspected it was Walter Scott's work but his identity was not revealed until 1827. 

You may have read that Scott has gone down in history as the man who invented the Romantic Novel, well this is due to the fact that before his Waverley masterpiece this form of writing was seen as inferior to the verse that was so popular until then. His explorations and interpretations of Scottish history increased his popularity by manifolds, he suggested that the Scottish crown jewels be sought out and was there when they were found in Edinburgh Castle, they have been on display there ever since. 

By 1830s, he suffered from frail health, a condition which worsened further. After his grand tour of Europe, he returned to Scotland in 1832. Shortly afterwards he died on September 21, 1832, at his home in Abbotsford.

Nowadays we remember Walter Scott with his magnificent monument in Princes Street Gardens, and also every day in The Bank of Scotland Banknotes, all of which bear his image, he is noted as the man who saved our currency as there were plans to start phasing out our notes, starting with the £1 and 10/ in 1826, there was outrage, and  Scott using a pseudonym wrote a series of letters to the Edinburgh Weekly Journal, the response being the government backed down and we retain our notes to this day. 

Waverley Station, Edinburgh, Heart of Midlothian football Team and several Monuments were made in his honour.  Glasgow beat Edinburgh to put up the first monument in the middle of George Square in 1837, of course it is not as grand as the one in his hometown, but a decent offering all the same. If ever in New York City look up the Statue in his honour in Central Park, a replica of the one on Edinburgh's monument, it was unveiled in 1872. A bust of Scott is in the Hall of Heroes of the National Wallace Monument at Abbey Craig, and an amazing 12 streets are named are named after Scott's books or characters in Vancouver, Canada. 

Legend has it that after his death his funeral cortege passed, what is now known as Scott's View, five miles from his home of many years Abbotsford, the horses pulling his hearse were his own, and they were so used to pulling over there so the writer could admire the lovely view, they too stopped on their way to Dryburgh Abbey, where he is interred.

[tipsycad147]

Taurus April Feast Day of St Bernadette

By shirleytwofeathers

April 16 is the feast day of Saint Bernadette, although in France it is sometimes celebrated on February 18. Saint Bernadette is best known for her visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in Lourdes, France and for the healings that have taken place at the location of the visions. St. Bernadette is the patron saint of:

Physical illness

Lourdes, France

Shepherds and shepherdesses

Poverty

Those insulted for their faith

Family

The young shepherdess who saw Our Lady in Lourdes, St. Bernadette, found solace in her suffering by turning her eyes to Our Lord. Suffering today? Pray this prayer from St. Bernadette

“O Jesus, Jesus,” she prayed, “I no longer feel my cross when I think of yours.” If you’re suffering today, pray this excerpt of one of her prayers: Let the crucifix be not only in my eyes and on my breast, but in my heart. O Jesus! Release all my affections and draw them upwards. Let my crucified heart sink forever into Thine and bury itself in the mysterious wound made by the entry of the lance.”

Saint Bernadette and The Goddess

If you think the visions of Saint Bernadette have no connection to magick and the Goddess think again – here is an alternative version to the traditional story:

On the cold morning of February 11, 1858, there was no wood in the Soubirous home, and no fire to warm them. Bernadette set out with her younger sister Toinette, and a neighbour girl, Jean Abadie, to scrounge in the forest for kindling. Maybe they would get lucky and find a rag or a bone to sell.

Heading out of town, the girls neared the foot of Massabieille, a massive, cliff-top rock formation, within view of the ancient hilltop fortress that served as the traditional landmark of the town. To reach the woods, they had to ford the river Gave at the bottom of the cliff. Bernadette’s mother had warned her not to get her feet wet, for that would surely bring on the asthma, so while the other two girls scampered across the river, Bernadette reluctantly hung back.

According to her own accounts, as she lingered near the banks of the Gave, the girls calling after her as they hurried into the woods, she heard a sound like rushing wind. The sound seemed to be coming from a dark grotto in the rock wall under Massabielle. The noon Angelus bells were ringing from the town. As Bernadette turned to investigate the source of the wind, she saw what looked like a glowing young girl, tiny, white, and smiling brightly. She appeared to be standing above the eglantine, or wild rose, that draped the niche over the entrance to the grotto.

Bernadette rubbed her eyes and looked again. This time, the tiny demoiselle nodded, as if to greet her, and opened her arms, smiling all the while. Bernadette’s initial reaction was fear, but she couldn’t run away. She said she felt like she couldn’t move, but she did manage to instinctively put her hand in her pocket and draw out her rosary for protection. She tried to make the sign of the cross, but found that she couldn’t.

In response, the shining little maiden also produced a rosary, and crossed herself in a gesture of surprising beauty and grace. This time, Bernadette found she could respond, and after crossing herself, she began to feel calmer and a little less overwhelmed. Dropping to her knees, Bernadette began to pray her rosary. The little lady fingered her beads along with her. When they had finished, the tiny thing beckoned her to come closer, but Bernadette was too overawed to move. She then vanished, all smiles and delicate grace, leaving Bernadette to rejoin her companions.

Bernadette’s descriptions of the tiny, white maiden were consistent throughout the course of her visions. The apparition, whom she called aquero, or “that thing” in the local dialect, appeared youthful and girlish. There was nothing particularly matronly or maternal about her. Bernadette repeatedly said that aquero was about the same size as herself, if not a bit smaller. Bernadette was very small for her age. Although she had recently turned fourteen, the combined ravages of illness and malnutrition kept her about the size of an average 10- or 11-year-old. According to Bernadette’s earliest descriptions, aquero looked to be about 12 years old. This is an important distinction, and one that the well-meaning supporters of Lourdes apparently prefer to ignore.

Aquero, according to Bernadette’s initial descriptions, was a jeune fille; a bien mignonette, glowing in a white dress spun of a luxurious, soft, shiny stuff. Her head was covered in a white veil of the same magic fabric, so that only a tiny bit of her hair was revealed in the front. Her eyes were bright blue, and set in a long and very white face. The whole figure shone with a gleaming, white radiance. Around her waist was a blue girdle, which folded in the front and fell almost to the hem of her robe. Her tiny feet, barely visible beneath her robe, were bare, but each was adorned with a single, golden rose. Her rosary gleamed as well, with shining white beads and links of gold.

This costume is quite significant, for in this particular area of the Pyrenees, the locals maintained a tradition of fairy lore that told of the petito damizela in white who still lingered in the forests and grottoes of the region. When Bernadette first called the apparition a petito damizela, which translates as a petite, unmarried young lady, she may have actually been referring to aquero as a Pyrenean fairy woman. These Pyrenean fairies were tiny, enchanting ladies in glowing, white robes. Charming, helpful, and better natured than most fairy folk, they were recognised by their gleaming garments and said to spend much time washing them to snowy whiteness in the fountains outside their grotto homes.

The roses on aquero’s feet were yet another aspect of local fairy lore, as was Bernadette’s reluctance to call her by any name other than “that thing.” According to the tradition, these delightful fairy women sometimes married mortal men, making good wives and housekeepers – for a time. Eventually, the husband would slip up and call his fairy wife by her name, at which point she would disappear back into the fairy world forever.

In the Basque population of the Pyrenees, we have a unique link into the mindset of our most distant ancestors. There is reason to believe the Basques have occupied the Pyrenees region from the remotest antiquity, possibly even to the time of the Cro-Magnon cave painters. The inaccessibility of their mountain fastness kept them relatively isolated from the Indo-European influences that swept the rest of the continent. Consequently, the Basques have retained a unique language and a culture that, while not entirely untainted by foreign contact, still reveals roots reaching down into our most shadowy origins.

Furthermore, the Basques, with their extensive folklore and mythology, are relative latecomers to Roman Catholicism. Religious writers of the 1400 and 1500s continue to speak of the Basques as “gentiles” or “pagans.” The widespread persistence of their ancient beliefs and practices provoked the full wrath of the Spanish Inquisition. The brutal repression of centuries of witch hunts has left its mark, and clearly, some of the tradition that remains is highly adulterated and Christianised, but we can still trace influences extending far back into the Neolithic, and perhaps beyond.

Basque beliefs are rooted in the landscape, in the rugged mountains, the waters, and the caves reaching deep into the earth. They held to that most primitive fundamentalism, the belief in the divinity of the masculine Sun and the feminine Moon. The terms Ost or Eguzki refer to the light of the sun and their god of the firmament. This masculine force, similar to Zeus or Thor, ruled the day and the world of light, but the night belonged to Ilargia, the Moon. Ilargia ruled the hidden, dark side of nature, the underworld of the dead. The Basques were forever fascinated with her mysterious phases and cycles.

However, the Basque people’s deepest and most widespread devotion, long before the arrival of Christianity in the Pyrenees, centred on their female deity, the great goddess who lived in the caves. Her name, perhaps the ultimate irony, was Mari. Devotion to Mari spanned the entire Basque territory, and any respectable hilltop boasted a shrine to Mari, and a statue as well, but the caves remained her favourite habitation.

Within the vast lore and ritual dedicated to her worship, the image of Mari emerges, complex and glorious. She moved like a fireball from mountaintop to mountaintop, trailing wild storms from the subterranean caverns in her wake. She demanded honour and charity from men, punishing those who failed to keep their word or refused to help others. Oddly enough, tradition holds that Mari must only be addressed in the familiar pronoun, putting a unique twist on Bernadette’s surprise at being addressed formally by her aquero. Mari commanded legions of fairy spirits, with varying titles in different locales: the Mairi, or Maide of the mountaintop cromlechs and stone circles, and the fey laminak, often spotted combing their hair in the caverns.

This great and very ancient goddess spawned a vast body of tales and traditions, and the rituals of her devotees in the caves of the Pyrenees kept the Spanish Inquisition busy for years. One of her most vicious persecutors was Juan de Zumarraga, who, in 1528, assisted in the biggest Basque witchhunt. Zumarraga eventually moved on to Mexico, where, as bishop, he persecuted and destroyed the native Aztec culture and religion just as vigorously as he had brutalised his Basque brethren.

One of Mari’s more popular minions is a creature known as Beigorri, a red-haired bull or calf. One of several cattle deities associated with her worship, Beigorri’s chief function is to serve as the guardian of the houses, or shrines, of Mari. Seen in that light, the tales of a magical bovine unearthing a long-lost statue of a female divinity, which then refuses to be worshipped in a Christian sanctuary but instead draws her devotees back to congregate at her wilderness origins, starts to make a certain kind of sense. Perhaps, in these unique Marian traditions, which continue to spring up so freely, even after centuries of repression, we can trace both the reemergence of the Basque Mari, and her conflation, in the aftermath of the Inquisition, into the all-encompassing image of the Christian Mary.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Visions Of The Virgin Mary

Pray More Novenas

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/category/april/page/2/

[loretranscripts]

Lore Episode 5: Under Construction (Transcript) - 4th May 2015

tw: nothing I can think of! This one’s a nice one (but ask if you think anything should be tagged)

Disclaimer: This transcript is entirely non-profit and fan-made. All credit for this content goes to Aaron Mahnke, creator of Lore podcast. It is by a fan, for fans, and meant to make the content of the podcast more accessible to all. Also, there may be mistakes, despite rigorous re-reading on my part. Feel free to point them out, but please be nice!

On the south-west corner of Iceland, just to the south of the city of Reykjavik, is a small peninsula that juts out into the cold waters of the north Atlantic. It’s known as the Álftanes peninsula, and although few people live there, the local government recently decided to connect this small stretch of land to the town of Garðabær, a suburb of Reykjavik. Last year, however, construction on the new road was brought to a halt. Standing in their way was a massive rock, 12ft high and weighing an estimated 70 tons. According to highway department employee Petur Matthiasson, the rock has presented an unusual challenge to his department’s construction project. Now, you have to understand something about Iceland. Much of the region is a vast expanse of sparse grass and large volcanic rock formations. The ground literally boils with hot water at springs and geysers, and the sky seems to be eternally grey and cloudy. So, it’s important to recognise that there are hundreds, maybe thousands of these volcanic stones along the construction route. So, what could possibly be so important about this one, particular stone? Why would the highway department go to such lengths, even covering the expense of hiring a crane, just to move the stone to a safer location? The stone, they say, is inhabited. It is, as it has been for many long centuries, home to the Huldufólk- the “hidden people”. They are the size and shape of humans and live in much the same way that we do, except, of course, they’re invisible. I’m Aaron Mahnke, and this is Lore.

In the late 1930s, another road construction project in the same area of Iceland was planned to cut straight through a hill known as Alfholl. From the beginning though, the project was met with challenges. First, the money for the project simply ran out, and when funding resumed a decade later, construction encountered even more problems. The machines that were used to cut through the hill started to break at an unusual rate. Tools were damaged and lost. In the end, the road was simply built around the hill to avoid the digging altogether. When the road was due for updating in the 1980s, the notion of demolishing the hill was, again, brought up, and this time more machinery was brought in to drill through the actual hill. After the first drill broke, another was brought in, but it too stopped working. After that the workers themselves even refused to bring any of their own tools near the hill out of fear that they would be lost or broken by the Huldufólk who guard the place. Iceland is a culture that is teaming with references to this invisible society of human-like creatures. In a recent survey, more than half the people in the country (54%, in fact) said that they believed in the existence of these creatures. But who are the Huldufólk?

According to one Icelandic folk tale, the hidden people can be traced back to Adam and Eve. According to the legend, Eve had a number of children who she hid from God. But God, being omniscient and aware of everything that happens, found them anyway. In the story, God declared that what man hides from God, God will hide from man. As a result, these children of Adam and Eve vanished from sight and have lived alongside humans ever since, hidden from our eyes. Wherever they came from, Iceland is apparently filled with them. They are described as being the same size as humans, usually clad in 19th century Icelandic clothing, which is often described as being green and simple. The people of Iceland have another term for these creatures, though. They don’t use it as often as Huldufólk, because they feel it’s not as respectful to the hidden people, but it’s a word we all know, and its history and meaning run very deep. They call them… elves.

When we think of elves, most of us imagine the little people who help Santa Claus in his workshop at the North Pole. We picture tiny people with pointed ears who wear tall, pointed hats. But that vision of elves is actually new, dating back only to Victorian Era fairy tales, when French stories of fairies were mixed and confused with more ancient tales of elves from the Celtic, Germanic and Scandinavian peoples. The oldest records of something resembling elves are from Anglo-Saxon England and medieval Iceland, though there are some records that exist from Germany as well, and the characteristics are consistent across the continents. Elves were described as human-like; that they were once divine creatures of some unknown origin, and that they were very, very dangerous. In Norse Mythology elves were mainly thought of as females who lived in the hills and mounds of stone. The Swedish elves were said to be beautiful girls who lived in the forest with their king, and Scandinavian folklore describes them as fair-haired, dressed in white, and dangerous when offended. In fact, in many folk tales elves were given the role of the disease spirits. An elf could inflict horrible skin rashes on the one who offended them, and the term was called an “elven blow”. The only way to calm and satisfy them was to actually visit their homes, often a large pile of stones or a large stone in the woods, and leave them an offering of food. Elves, you see, were dangerous.

At first, elves were simply thought of as mischievous pranksters. Anything odd that happened during a person’s day could be blamed on elves. A tangle in a person’s hair was called an elf-lock, and birth marks were referred to as elf-marks. Elves had a darker side, however. Much like their cultural counterparts in other countries such as hobs, leprechauns, hob-goblins and trolls, elves were known to be highly dangerous. A deeply common thread through all cultures is how easy it is to offend them, and how terrible the consequences might be if that happened. One such tale was that of the “changeling”. According to legend, elves would invade the home of new parents and swap out their infant child for a small elf. Now, while the human baby would be wonderfully cared for back in the home of the elves, the surrogate that was left behind – the “changeling”, it was called – would be fussy and unhappy. In Iceland, there are tales of Huldufólk who kidnapped adults, who are then taken back to the hills to work for the hidden people. In their place, the Huldufólkleave emotionless, hollow copies of the ones they take. It was said that if someone you knew underwent a severe personality change, becoming depressed or listless, it was because they had been replaced by the elves. It was also believed that elves could enter the dreams of a sleeping person and cause nightmares to happen. In fact, the German word for nightmare is alpdrücken, which literally means “elf pressure”. You see, if it was horrible, unexplainable or tragic, there was always one easy explanation that dominated medieval minds: blame it on the elves.

But what if these were more than just folktales? If so, that might explain the incredibly similar stories that exist among the native tribes of the American north-east. In 2011, a non-profit housing developer in the United States began the final stages of their plan to build a $19 million, 120 unit construction project known as “The Villages”. Everything about it looked promising. It would generate roughly $1.5 million in tax revenue for the town of Montville, Connecticut, it would create over 100 construction-related jobs, and once completed, would actually provide affordable housing for scores of local families. Now, because the “Villages” project was a non-profit endeavour, the development company applied for federal funding to offset their costs. As a requirement for the funding process, the developer was required to complete an archaeological survey of the 12.2  acre parcel of land, and that’s when they hit a snag.

The proposed building site, it turns out, encroached on Mohican tribe property. The Mohican people were an offshoot of the Pequot tribe, originating in 17thcentury Connecticut. They had deep routes in the area, and naturally parts of their historic past are still present today. Among the sensitive archaeological sites that the Mohican tribe claimed were at risk were Fort Shantok, Moshup’s Rock, and Mohican Hill. None of those historic sites are unusual in any way, but when the tribal historic preservation officer for the Mohicans presented their case to the Federal Housing and Urban Development Department, there was one complaint that stood out among the others. Creatures, they claimed, lived inside Mohican Hill. The construction project threatened their lives, and unless it was stopped, the “little people”, as they called them, would disappear, leaving the tribe unprotected from outsiders. The tribe has long believed in the existence of creatures who they call Makiawisug - the “little people”. The stone piles on top of Mohican Hill were said to have been built by them long ago, and served as protection from the outside world. These Makiawisug have remained inside the hill ever since, guarding the stones and protecting the tribe. These were powerful creatures that could protect and preserve the tribe, but if ignored or treated poorly, could also bring great harm and chaos, and so naturally the Mohican people became very good at managing their relationship with them.

One of the most prominent Mohican tribe members of the last century was a woman named Gladys Tantaquidgeon, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 106. She was a 10th generation descendant of the Mohican chief Uncas, a prominent colonial era leader, and was also a tribal medicine woman. Her role included maintaining her tribe’s knowledge of the Makiawisug, and how to interact with them. According to Tantaquidgeon, there were even four non-negotiable laws for dealing with the “little people”. First, serve and protect their leader and matriarchal deity, Granny Squannit. Second, never speak to them in the summer months, when they’re the most active. Third, never stare directly at one, or else the creature would become invisible and steal your belongings. And finally, leave them offerings from time to time. And so, to this day, the Mohican tribe continues to make offerings to these creatures and hopes that they will continue their role as protectors and guardians of the tribe. It is traditional to leave them an offering of cornmeal and berries, and sometimes even meat. Sound familiar?

The vast majority of people in the world don’t really believe in the existence of elves or hidden people living in the bones of the earth. One explanation as to why Iceland is different, though, actually has to do with the Vikings. You see, when they conquered a city, the Vikings had real life enemies to focus their hatred on. When they settled Iceland, however, no one else was there to be defeated. Perhaps the Huldufólk provided the excuse that the Vikings needed to feel like conquerors in a land with no native inhabitants. Other scholars believe that elves represent our connection to the earth of old. They are sort of a primitive environmentalism, a reminder of the way life used to be before urban sprawl and manufacturing left its mark on our world. Whatever the reason, our ancestors firmly believed in these other-worldly beings who could bless or curse them at will. Elves served as an excuse for the unexplained; as solid ground when nothing else seemed to make sense. We might laugh it off from our modern point of view today, but centuries ago, elves literally gave people an opportunity to hope, or a reason to be afraid.

And remember Petur Matthiasson, the highway department employee in Reykjavik, Iceland? He’s made it very clear to journalists that he doesn’t believe in elves, but that doesn’t stop him from telling an odd story to those who ask. Apparently, his family came from the northern side of Iceland long ago. There, in the wild north country, the family claimed to have had a protective elf who brought good fortune to them. When they moved south, the family elf remained behind. Petur recalled going on a camping trip in the north some years ago. Before he left, his father asked him, while he was there, to go and pay his respects to the elf and to thank her for the help she had given his family. Not being one to believe in the old stories, Petur claims he forgot. The next day, however, despite an overcast sky and wet drizzle, he woke up sore and blistered by what he described as something like a sunburn. In fact, he could barely stand. Did Petur experience some random, mysterious dermatological episode, or was he the victim of an elven blow from an angry family patron. Like his ancestors, the easiest explanation might just be the most otherworldly.

Lore is a biweekly podcast and was produced by me, Aaron Mahnke. The music in this episode was written by Dexter Britain – be sure to check him out on Soundcloud. Lore is now on Patreon! For as little as $1 each month, you can help Lore become a self-sufficient podcast. There are some fantastic rewards for those who do, so visit lorepodcast.com/support to learn more. And if you enjoy scary stories, I happen to write them. You can find a full list of my supernatural thrillers, available in paperback and ebook format, at aaronmahnke.com/novels. Thanks for listening.

Notes

1. This theory about Vikings needing victims seems a bit off, given that there is plenty of evidence for peaceful interactions between the Vikings and other groups. Also, the first settlers were not “Vikings” as such, who were largely displaced wonderers, but were in fact settled men of power in Norway most likely. Their motivation isn’t known, but most likely had more to do with a desire for more power and independent control, and less to do with conquering.

[thetygre]

30 Day Monster Challenge 2 - Day #10: Favorite Goblin/Orc

1.      Uruks

I wanna’ tell you a story, folks. It might sound a little familiar, but stick with me. Once upon a time, there was a farm-boy. A simple lad, who had high hopes for a life of adventure beyond the town. He wasn’t the brightest, but what he lacked in brains he made up for in bravery. One day, as you do, farm-boy was working out in the field with his family when a monster attacked. The local guard piled on to the monster, but they just couldn’t bring it down. It tore through soldier after soldier after soldier, just for the fun of it. Our farm-boy knew he would probably die, but he didn’t care. He had his chance and took it; he picked up a stick, ran at the monster, and brought it down. Our farm-boy became a hero.

That farm-boy’s name was Kravitz the Marked One. He was an orc slave working in the fields the first time he killed me. The warchief promoted him on the spot and gave him a set of armor. The second time he killed me they gave him a caragor to ride. The third time he was given command over a company of hunters. I got him on the fourth time, though, and recruited him to the Bright Lord’s army. I was going to make him Overlord of Nurn, and raise him up to sit at my right hand, a real rags-to-riches story. He helped me take the Overlord’s fortress, riding with me at the siege. But poor little Kravitz took a mortal wound there, one I couldn’t save him from. And as he lay there, dying in my arms, he looked and me and he said, “Remember this moment, Tark. Remember it for as long as you live.” And I always did.

There’s a lot of other stories I could tell you. About Ugakuga the Maddest One, who saved my life, or Kellec the Tree Killer who communicated only in screams, or Flug the Ghul Lover who would track a matron across Mordor just to protect her. Uruks are rambunctious, and violent. They fight with each other even if you get them on the same team. They’ll betray you at the drop of a hat for the smallest slight. They pick fights with warriors and monsters that can kill them in one hit just to make a point.

But when they’re your own, you love them.

2.      Greenskins

The greenskins are the puncline to the grimdark joke that is Warhammer. While they’re in both the fantasy and 40k settings, they really stand out in 40k. Warhammer fantasy still has halflings, dwarves, and typical fantasy shenanigans to pick up the slack; 40k NEEDS some comic relief. The Orks aren’t concerned about empires or Chaos or the greater good. The Orks, pure and simple, are in it for the fun. They’re work is at its finest when its fast, loud, and in flames. Put together, they can generate a kind of psychic field that makes their beliefs a reality. This power is not used to reshape the fabric of the cosmos, but to enforce much more important principles like ‘things go faster when they have flames painted on. In the grim darkness, the orks are a pie to the face filled with C4.

3.      Order of the Stick

The goblins in Order of the Stick are kind of different from how they’re commonly depicted, but not too unrecognizable. They’re a monster race, living in the wilderness, trying to eke out a living, though they’re a bit taller and smarter than standard goblins, about on par with humans. But the thing that makes them stand out is Redcloak, and Redcloak is pretty great, both as an antagonist and a character in his own right. Redcloak has made decisions, bad decisions, decisions that he could have not made but he did because he felt he had to. And it’s interesting to watch him now, filled with regret, committed to this course, and wondering what will happen next.

4.      Nyambe

Nyambe-Tanda was an African campaign setting for 3rd. Edition D&D that not a lot of people remember. They should, because it was pretty great, both at representing an underexplored area of fantasy and also for its own setting features. Somehow, it blended West African mythology and post-modern tabletop fantasy masterfully. One of the best examples is its orcs.

You’ve got your standard narrative; at the beginning of time, there were the various races, and each of the gods favored one race over the others. Originally, the gods only divulged so much to the races because they wanted to keep things fair. But the orcs were having a hard time of it, living in badlands and scrounging for food. So their god, Ogun, the god of war, decided to give them a little boost. He made them stronger, faster, tougher than other races. But Ogun wasn’t just the god of battle; he was the god of blacksmithing. So the orcs of Nyambe learned how to mine and forge metal while the other races were still wearing leaves and furs. And by the time the other races figured out bronze, the orcs had iron.

From there, things went about as well as you would expect. The orcs swarmed out, conquering the continent one region at a time. The other races barely had metal, much less iron; any resistance was like bring a stick to a gun fight. Even after Ogun withdrew his patronage from the orcs, they turned to worshipping dark gods and demons, adding sorcery to their arsenal. The orcs set up a dark empire across Nyambe-Tanda, and it took nothing less than an alliance between all the races, the dragons, and God to stop them. The dumb orcs of Nyambe today are the cursed remnants of that empire, and their demon-haunted ruins still litter the continent.

Just think about all that. Look at how much the orcs did in this setting. And they did it for themselves; not for any god or Dark Lord, but because they wanted to. The Evil Empire that the plucky last-ditch rebellion had to stop didn’t use orcs; it was MADE by them. They fundamentally shaped the setting. In Nyambe, orcs are legendary and feared. Even the few remaining half-orcs are watched closely and with fear, looking out for any sign that the old powers might return. And that’s just such a massive departure from the norms of fantasy while still staying true to certain elements; I love it.

5.      Pathfinder

Pathfinder’s goblins are clearly descended from Warhammer’s; cheerful, incorrigible pyromaniacs who enjoy arson, butchery, and singing adorable little songs about how much they hate horses. Even their designs are cute; oversized head, constant grins, beady little eyes, big flappy ears, and a shark-like nose make them look more like gangrene bats than monsters. When Pathfinder was first released, it was decided by the Paizo team that they wanted their monsters to stand apart from the standard D&D variants of monsters, remaining true to certain aspects while inventing new ones. Goblins were the first example, and are still the most beloved. They became mascots of the system, and even a playable race. So much malevolent charm has been poured into Pathfinder’s goblins that you feel almost bad for killing them. You’ll have to though, because they really don’t feel bad about killing you and then burning your house down.

6.      Eberron

Eberron orcs are another attempt to experiment with the standard formula, seeing what can be retained and what can be changed. An orc on Eberron can still be a wild berserker, but they’re more likely to stick to one of the villages they live in as a farmer. Orcs in Eberron are the oldest species on the planet, predating humans and all the other races. It gives them this kind of grouchy veteran persona that pervades the whole race, and they tend to look down on the younger peoples. Eberron orcs are also a lot more spiritual, trying to live in tune with the land and spirits. It was the orcs’ druids that saved the world from extradimensional horrors long ago, and most of them stick to that tradition. They don’t want any praise or to be raised up as heroes, though. They mostly just want the young races to listen to them when they say important things like, “Don’t poke the fabric of reality” and “Don’t trust elves” and “No, ma’am, I would not care to do that with you.”

7.      Warcraft

It was inevitable that Warcraft orcs would be on here. There’s no escaping them; by now they’re probably more popular than Tolkien orcs. They actually have a fairly complex history and lore; addicted to demon juice, tricked by an evil shaman, warring with the goat-people. Thrall is still the coolest shaman in anything ever, even if it is kind of hard not to just call him ‘orc Moses’. Even their explanation for the green skin is cool; an eternal curse for drinking demon blood in wars past. Honestly, though, I loved the orcs best in Warlords of Draenor. The Iron Horde is what elevated the orcs from ‘kind of cool’ to full-on ‘Metal’. It was a shame to see them go, but that’s just how it is.

8.      Rankin Bass

My first orcs. I watched the Rankin Bass Hobbit films when I was a kid, so these were the first time I met goblins who didn’t come out of a fairy tale. They were scary more than cool, but they also had a kind of dorky charm to them. The original Hobbit goblins with their gaping mouths and giant fangs are still a classic. They seem like perfect fairy tale monsters to me, and fit right in to the Hobbit’s original tone. Also got to love those classic goblin hits like ‘Funny Little Things’. The orcs in Return of the King had way more variety in shape, and there was even some blurring between them and the trolls, but no particular design stuck with me. You know what did stick with me? The best damn song in the entire world, that’s what.

9.      The Wolverines

Stan Nicholls’ Orcs series is more in the vein of the Black Company or the Golden Age of Berserk than it is any other kind of orc story. It follows the exploits of a mercenary band of orcs while they traipse around first one fantasy world, then more. By the second trilogy, they’re freedom fighters for orc supremacy on whatever world they can find them. All the while, they never stop being just unapologetically bastards. You get a feel for the commanders and the soldiers, while taking in that whole mercenary life pastiche. Not anything groundbreaking yet, but still a good band.

10.   Goblin Slayer

Credit where credit is due, Goblin Slayer tries its damnedest to take goblins and make them horrific, intimidating monsters. Does it succeed? Ehhhhh... I don’t want to keep saying ‘Berserk did it better’, but it really is hard not to compare the goblins to the trolls from Berserk. Still, there’s stuff to applaud here. These are some nasty goblins, even in terms of design, with jagged shark teeth and dead frog eyes. If nothing else, it’s interesting to see the kind of hierarchy usually reserved for higher-powered monsters like dragons and demons given to the ‘cannon-fodder’.

[nitewrighter]

I love your Fairy tale AU stuff but do you think we could ever get something similar for Mcsombra? I love AUs and they are my favorite pairing 💕

idk if this is a ‘fairytale AU’ as much as a ‘Sarah has been reading a lot of Pretty Deadly AU.’ 

—

   Once upon a time there was a highwayman, tall and broad of shoulder, grizzled yet handsome in countenance, though one could not exactly tell by virtue of his hat, kerchief and mask. He was a gentleman thief and smuggler, only robbing from those who deserved it, the powerful and the corrupt, and delivering goods to those in need. He was all but a folk hero of his region, songs were sung of him, and drinks were toasted to him, the swiftest rider in the land.

     Now in secret, this highwayman loved a tavern maid, herself dark of hair and sharp of wit. He loved her in secret because he knew if anyone knew of their love, they would threaten her to try and bring him in. She was clever, far cleverer than him, the Highwayman would say, but she was indentured to an innkeep who all but worked her to the bone. The highwayman was her comfort, her friend, and her one true love. She knew some of the old magic, and she bound their hearts together with a violet thread. Now, she had the sight, and she had kissed both of his eyelids so only they could see the thread, but as long as her Highwayman’s heart beat, they would always be able to find each other.

     In the wee hours of the morning the highwayman would show up at the doorway of her inn, and she would meet him happily, and he would give her the spoils of his efforts, which she would hide away under the floorboards of the inn in the hopes of one day buying out her own contract. They snarked and teased and bantered and bickered in their way, but none could mistake the warmth with which they did so. One day, they promised each other, one day they would flee far far away, and live in comfort together–never again would the tavern maid have to suffer another night of inn-patron’s leers and wandering hands, never again, would the highwayman find himself fleeing hound and musket. One day, they promised. One day.

    But one day the highwayman didn’t come. 

She waited until all the candles of the inn burnt down to puddles of wax and until dawn bled into the sky, but the highwayman didn’t come. She stepped out into the gray morning light to see a murder of crows.

“Your love will not come,” said the crows, “He was riding by night when he saw what no thief could resist. There was a carriage of gold and ebony, that jingled with the sound of coins with every turn of its wheels. Roped against the back of this carriage was a coffer. Your highwayman cut this coffer loose and rode off with it, not thinking who it belonged to.”

“Who did it belong to?” asked the tavern maid.

“Death,” cried the crows, “Your love has robbed Death, and now Death pursues him. Death will take back what is his with interest.”

The tavern maid glanced down at her chest, where a violet thread trailed out and went far far past the horizon. Her love was not dead. Not yet and not if she had anything to say about it. Then she turned on her heel and walked back into the inn. She went up to her room and pried up the floorboards, where there were several sacks of gold, and a change of clothes for the Highwayman. She pulled on his trousers, too large for her so she belted them high about her waist with her cincher. She pulled out his spare pistol that he kept under the floorboards. She pulled out all of the loot from god-knew how many robberies, bought out her contract, and bought herself a horse.

Of course Death always leads a trail. She followed dead leaves littering the ground in springtime, and the flight paths of crows, bones strewn along the side of the road, and chill winds in the air, but more than Death she followed the violet thread that trailed out of her chest. Her spell. She felt the chord taut around her heart with how far away her love was. She would find her highwayman, she swore this to herself. She rode day and night, barely eating, hardly sleeping, riding like the devil after Death and her love.

Three days and three nights she rode, until by sunrise on the fourth day, she saw a dark carriage on the horizon, laid with gold and ebony and shrinking fast into the distance. She spurred her horse on, the both of them already gleaming with sweat, faster and faster to catch up. 

Now Death is a rich man, don’t get me wrong, he gets everything in the end, but as someone who knows he will always, eventually, have his victory, he can be patient, and he can be merciful. As is the nature of Death in this case, however, he can also be cruel and toying. His carriage had been following after our Highwayman for a while now. He knew he could overtake the Highwayman any time he wanted, but he wanted to see how long the Highwayman could keep this up. This was cruel of him, and he would not deny this. What Death did not expect, however, was another rider coming up alongside his carriage. He looked at the dark-haired woman riding hard, and she turned and looked at him. She stared Death straight in the face, and didn’t blink. Death gave a glance down at the horse the tavern maid was riding, sweat flying off his haunches and foam dribbling past the ring of his bit, his eyes wild as the tavern maid spurred him on just trying to keep up with the carriage.

 Death, in his mercy, gave a nod, and her horse died beneath her. There was no suffering. The tavern maid however, was thrown from the saddle and with a grunt and a bounce came to a rolling stop on the yellow grass, groaning. The Highwayman felt a tug at his heart and, for the first time in three days and four nights of riding, looked over his shoulder.

He saw his love.

And he stopped.

Death raised a hand and the carriage of gold and ebony stopped as well. Without hesitation, the Highwayman trotted his horse over to the tavern maid on the ground and helped her to her feet. They caught each other up in so tight an embrace that both their ribs ached. Then Death himself stepped out of his carriage. Both of them held each other tight as Death strolled, the yellow grass browning beneath his feet, over to the Highwayman’s horse. He untied his coffer from the Highwayman’s saddle, then turned and faced them.

“This was not yours, boy,” said Death, tying his coffer back down to the back of his carriage.

“Well now it’s yours again,” said the Highwayman, “It’s over. No harm done.��

“Wish it were, but you don’t rob Death without any consequences, I take back what is mine with interest.”

“Well, you won’t take him,” said the tavern maid, stepping in front of the Highwayman with her hand going to the pistol on her hip.

“No, not yet. It’s not his time, but I must take something,” said Death, stepping forward and looking at the tavern maid, “I must take something that means far more to him than any coffer.”

“No,” said the Highwayman, “Please–I’ll do anything. Death needs riders, doesn’t he? He always does.”

“So he does,” said Death.

“I out-rode you for three days and three nights,” said the Highwayman.

“So you did,” said Death.

The tavern made spoke up then. “But I was a night’s ride behind you, and he had a head start,” she said.

“What are you doing?” whispered the Highwayman.

“I rode here to save you. I’m saving you,” said the tavern maid.

“A night behind you say?” said Death.

“A night behind,” said the tavern maid.

Death tilted his head, “You ride dogged as Death, girl. I could use a rider like that, and I pay very well.”

“But—” the Highwayman started.

“So you have a rider,” said the tavern maid. She stuck out her hand to Death. Death took her hand and shook it. Then Death reached forward and traced two clawed fingers on the side of the tavern maid’s head, shearing off her dark hair and leaving two long red lines in the side of her head, but she was made of stubborn stuff, she focused on the taut chord around her heart and didn’t wince.

“And so she shall ride,” said Death. He stepped back to his carriage and opened the door to it. He turned back to the Highwayman. “Your debt is paid, Highwayman.” He turned to the tavern maid. “In three days I will call for you, and you will ride with me. Fare thee well.” He stepped into his carriage and the door closed, and the carriage took off, leaving the tavern maid and the Highwayman out in the yellow grass.

Both stood in silence for a long time. 

“Why would you do that?” said the Highwayman.

“I said I was saving you,” said the tavern maid.

“But you’ve bound yourself to Death,” said the Highwayman.

“I bound myself to you, first,” said the tavern maid, spiraling the violet chord between them around her finger, “And you outrode Death for three days with what… a few minutes head start?”

The Highwayman’s eyes widened.

“How long do you think three days will buy us?” asked the tavern maid.

Three days bought them three years. They rode, they robbed, they loved, they reveled, and they lived, they lived more in three years than any normal man can live in fifty. But of course Death always takes what’s his in the end. Maybe seeing two lovers like them softened his heart and he gave them far more time than he usually would. Maybe they rode that much faster than him, but in the end, he came for the tavern maid, and in the end, she went with him.

Now Death rides in his carriage, laid with gold and ebony and jingling with coin, and his Shadow rides behind him on her pale horse. They ride together, and they take what belongs to Death. But those with the old sight, those who can see Death, see a purple chord trailing behind Death’s Shadow. This purple chord trails miles and miles back to a gray old man in a rocking chair on the front porch of a crumbling old inn. Now this old man has plenty of stories in him—stories of a daring highwayman and the woman he loved, but all these stories have the same ending.

“One day,” he says at the very end, “One day…”

[becdecorbin]

WHUH I’m super overwhelmed by the notes on the Holló Jankó video post (Mod what have you dooooone) but gosh introducing people to animation they haven’t seen before is great and Hungarian folks being chuffed that there are people out there who like animated works they’re proud of also makes me glad.

I love folk tales from all over the world, folklore and fairy tales are definitely close to my heart and I love learning about different variations on some similar themes I’ve read about before, some more universal, others tied to their culture. of course each folk tale from each region has its own cultural basis and context which I do wanna know more about to understand more. 

pfff yeah

[achrafchachi]

Vacation Ideas For Couples: 39 Awesome Places To Visit With Your Partner

1Seoul, Korea

Seoul is not only a perfect destination for the couple that’s all about city life—within city limits there are green spaces and mountains, offering hiking, outdoor sports (the couple that sweats together, stays together), and perfect picnic spots.

But back to the more urban aspects. Seoul is known for its nightlife

. And what better way to bond than over late night karaoke or getting adventurous with some delicious street food?

Best of all, Seoul can be enjoyed on the cheap, though you might want to avoid the more upscale Cheongdam-dong and Gangnam if you’re trying to save your pennies.

2Prague, Czech Republic

Prague snags a spot on the list because of its dream-like surroundings. This is a city to walk hand-in-hand with someone you love and just soak it all in: the bridges, the old churches…it’s like being in a living, breathing fairy tale (for more storybook charm, see #29).

If classical music moves you, go take in some Mozart with your girl and cap off the evening with some local beer—Prague is thought to have some of the best brews in Europe.

3Portland, Oregon (USA)

For couples looking for something a little bit more laid back and offbeat, I want to throw Portland into the mix.

The city has some great food—both high-end dining and incredible food truck options—with an emphasis on local ingredients. (And if you’re anything like me, the way to my heart is through my stomach.)

In addition to a burgeoning culinary scene, I’d recommend taking advantage of the amazing people-watching opportunities here. It’s built-in conversation all around you. Grab a cup of coffee (Portland has some of the best in the country) and browse through books and records with your new lady friend (or fellow), while keeping your eyes on the quirky folks in their natural habitat.

4Paris, France

This is a more familiar entry for those of you feeling a little skeptical about the romantic potential of Portland or Prague.

I don’t think I really need to do much by way of explaining why Paris would make a great destination for romance, but in a nutshell: small, winding streets; sidewalk cafes; good wine; candlelight.

Paris sort of sells itself here.

5Buenos Aires, Argentina

Travel down South America way to Buenos Aires, home of the tango, the forbidden dance.

In appearance, the city is rather European, but the flavor is totally South American. Buenos Aires is a passionate place—it’s sexy, bright, and always going. This is a place to give in to pleasure. There is food from all over the world (in addition to the famous, juicy Argentinian grilled steaks) and the city never sleeps.

So, eat, dance, drink—really live it up—while you’re here.

6New England, USA

Rent a car and drive around the northeastern part of the United States with your sweetie.

Save this excursion for the fall months: for whatever reason, leaves are really romantic. As can be hiking, some light antiquing, eating real maple syrup drizzled all over some freshly-made pancakes, and staying in a quaint bed & breakfast.

This is also a really good opportunity to wear flannel (see #7 on the list).

7Venice, Italy

There is something so desperately romantic about a city fated to drown…

That, and the food, the masks, the fog; the grandeur. Venice is all about fantasy and opulence. Between the prosecco and the secret passageways dotting the Gothic palaces, this mysterious city is ripe with sex appeal.

8Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is a perfect place for a spring getaway. At this time of year, the cherry blossoms frame the classic Japanese architecture and distant mountains. There is a beautiful serenity and sense of tradition in this former capital city.

If you and your SO need to hit the reset button from the stresses of work and cramped city living, peace is only a plane ride away.

Bonus: Kyoto has become a foodie destination. Both haute cuisine and classical Japanese faire shine here.

9San Sebastian, Spain

With the mountains of the Basque region in the background, this beach town in the Bay of Biscay sort of has everything. By day, you and bae can surf, play in the sand, or meander around the charming town.

When the sun goes down, things get sultry. The city has a very lively nightlife and also seems to be a magnet for Michelin stars. (Go to town on food here—from pinxtos (tapas) to fine dining, any extra pounds you two put on will be worth it.)

10Montreal, Quebec (Canada)

Set on an island in the St. Lawrence River in Québec, Canada, Montréal has become a go-to North American destination for culture—be it art, food, architecture, music, or cinema.

While you’re there, go to a museum or simply take in the street art, and be sure to go to a concert. There are about a billion music festivals that take place in the city—there’s always some type of live music to see, whatever your taste. There is something really special about experiencing new music or art with someone you’re into.

Tip: This is another great place to get your eat on: from rich French food, traditional Canadian faire (think: poutine), to pretty much every other international cuisine you can imagine, Montréal is doing it, and doing it well (extra points if you picked up on that L.L. Cool J. reference).

11Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is an eco-paradise on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, not far from its more famous sister city, Cancún. Unlike that perennial Spring Break party spot, Tulum is quieter, less crowded, less expensive, and is known for its commitment to holistic living and the environment.

Whether you choose to keep your feet planted in the white sand of the area’s beaches, enjoy a hammock nap together, dip into the water for some snorkeling, or venture into the jungle to check out ruins (or one of the late night jungle parties, complete with DJ), that’s up to you.

Whether the two of you prefer quiet and calm or something more active and social, or maybe a little bit of each, Tulum is flexible (just like the abundant yoga practitioners who flock to the area).

12Loire Valley, France

Bike rides, picnics, fresh fruit and cheese, castles, rolling hills and plush fields…that’s what we’re working with here. This region in Central France offers abundance and splendor in, well, abundance.

This is also wine country, so you can spend every day pleasantly tipsy while you get fresh air and take in the incredible scenery around you. You can even row a boat together along the river, although I’d recommend doing this before hitting the vineyards heavy—best not to drink and row.

13The Hebrides, Scotland

The general vibe of these islands off the west coast of Scotland is misty and romantic. Everything is rocky and green and full of history.

Cozy together in wool sweaters by night and, by day, pay a visit to some of the many distilleries all around these isles. The scotch, and of course the presence of your gal/beau, will help keep you warm.

14Hamilton Island, Australia

Does the fact Taylor Swift went here last winter turn you on or off?

If the latter, don’t let the pop princess sour you on this idyllic destination in the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. If the two of you live for aquatic experiences (or trying new things), Hamilton is located at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef.

So, there’s plenty of diving, snorkeling, sailing, and making out in the water to be done.

15St. Lucia (Caribbean)

Decadence and geologic wonders collide in St. Lucia, located in the Eastern Caribbean.

Surrounding the luxurious resorts where you and your new girl/guy can get treated like royalty—room service, spa treatments, complimentary bathrobes—are some pretty delightful natural marvels.

St. Lucia boasts waterfalls, rainforests, volcanic spires, reefs, hot springs, and of course, pristine beaches and crystal-clear water.

If you’re like me and enjoy a little decadence punctuating your adventure, St. Lucia is a go. Nothing is better than a massage after tackling a mountain. Or volcano, for that matter.

16Stockholm, Sweden

You know how sometimes being around really attractive, stylish people can make you feel better looking yourself? Something about how “you are the company you keep”? That’s what happens here.

Being surrounded by cool people and design seems to raise your own cool factor. Especially in those early stages of dating, looking cool is all-important. If you’re feeling in a rut, eating on the couch while binging on Netflix, get back your edge with a week wandering the streets of Stockholm.

This is a city for couples interested in fashion, food, and art. Who love architecture. Couples who enjoy looking to the past, absorbing and learning about history, but also have an eye to the future; to the latest thing.

17Joshua Tree, CA (USA)

Switching gears from the historic cobblestone walkways of Stockholm to some more rugged terrain, #12 on this list is Joshua Tree, about 2.5-3 hours outside of Los Angeles.

So named for the Dr. Seuss-esque Joshua trees that line its landscape, this desert town is home to some funky shops, but most importantly a National Park that feels like visiting another planet. It’s a really cool place to explore with someone you like (or love), all the unusual flora and fauna and the views for miles.

I have to admit I’m slightly biased here: Joshua Tree was a stop on my honeymoon. I’d recommend renting one of the artsy offerings on AirBnB, hiking all day, and then cooking at night, eating by the fire, with all the stars above.

*Need extra reason to make your way to Joshua Tree with your honey? Visiting a desert took the #5 spot on our 28 Places Every Man Should Visit in His Lifetime list. Check and check.

18Berlin, Germany

Like Stockholm, Berlin has an abundance of “It” factor. The city has become a mecca for art and design and is undeniably, and achingly, cool. I think Lonely Planet captures Berlin best, describing its combination of “glamor and grit.”

While Berlin is perhaps a little intimidating in its spot on the cutting edge of basically everything, it’s also exceedingly laid back and unfussy. Though highly stylized, nothing is too precious—things are a little rough around the edges.

There is no judgment here. It’s equal parts welcoming and unpredictable, which is totally sexy.

If late nights invigorate you and your love, and being a part of the art-world inspires you, this is the place to visit.

19Fez, Morocco

One word best captures this Moroccan city: vibrant.

Being in Fez will have all of your senses mesmerized: from the smells of the teas, foods, and spices in the markets, to the mosaic tiles, textiles, and brightly colored everything, and all the different textures of the metalwork and rich leather.

There is something so sensual about it all—distant prayers sung out into the sky, the setting sun, dim lights, rich aromas, warm nights, ancient fortress walls…

20Croatia

While the Croatian coastline is populated by its fair share of yachts, this small European jewel is a mostly affordable option for couples looking for the bright blue waters and rocky coastlines typical of the Mediterranean.

Not only is it a natural wonder—waterfalls, peaks, and canyons abound—but so rich in history. Traveling through Croatia is like a history lesson on a vast variety of past empires, an intermingling of various architecture, art, and traditions.

There is an abundance to see here, and to talk about.

21Vienna, Austria

Featured in the quintessential ‘90s romance Before Sunrise, starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, it is hard not to equate this city with falling in love.

So make like these movies stars, and spend all day and all night exploring the city on foot, with some occasional stops to quiet cafes and maybe a boisterous bar or two. Get to really know each other as you pass along the cobblestone streets.

These beautiful surroundings, modern architecture juxtaposed against historic opera houses, make a perfect backdrop for intimate conversation.

22Istanbul, Turkey

While touring the markets and historic structures that line this city should make their way on to your Istanbul to-do list, make sure not to overlook the water.

Cruise on the Bosphorous at night (or walk along it by day), sip some Turkish coffee on the riverbank, and take in the incredible views of Hagia Sophia from the water.

There is something really special and mystical about this place, how it straddles two cultures and two continents. It is a very unique experience and definitely one to share with someone you love.

23Santa Fe, NM (USA)

Santa Fe is somewhere I’ve been visiting since I was little. So, it hasn’t always been a romantic destination for me, but it’s been a much-loved one for as long as I can remember.

The New Mexican landscape is so strange and beautiful. There are pine trees and cacti, red clay rock, snow, desert…it’s so diverse and unusual in that respect, which makes it an incredible place to be outdoors.

In addition to exploring the terrain together, it is the particular smells and particular lighting that make this a romantic city. After dark, particularly in the winter, luminarias (paper lanterns) cast a warm glow across town and the smell of piñon in the air is just completely enchanting.

24Portugal

Take in as much of this country as time permits. It’s affordable, scenic, and totally charming.

Fly into Lisbon first—the city is all quaint shops, cobblestone streets, vibrant neighborhoods, and gorgeous architecture. There are even vintage trams to help get you up the city’s sometimes-steep walkways. These afford incredible views and allow you take in many historic sites and other attractions.

Outside of Lisbon, check out Sintra, Évora, and Óbidos—all three are ancient and picturesque (and a little bit more off the beaten path when it comes to tourism). Everything is lush, green, and packed with interesting culture (and stories to tell).

Extra credit: Visit Madeira and/or the Azores (both islands) off the coast. Madeira is known for its great weather and sense of fun and the Azores, for its wildlife (whale watching!) and verdant grounds (pineapple plantations!). Both areas are remote and make for really enchanting, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

25Florence, Italy

Maybe it was reading A Room With a View many years ago, but Florence is somewhere I always associate with love, adventure, and beauty.

Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and renowned for its art and architecture, one of the most breathtaking and romantic aspects of the city is how sunlight dances across its rooftops. There is something so special and so gorgeous about the light here. (You’re going to look great in all your pictures together.)

26Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Situated near Tahiti in the South Pacific, Bora Bora is basically paradise (some have joked “it’s so nice, they named it twice”).

The water is perfect and clear, the beaches a pristine white. You can stay in deceptively luxurious thatched roof bungalows perched over that aforementioned crystal water. You can swim with turtles and exotic, brightly colored fish.

This tropical island is secluded and idyllic—it’s no coincidence it’s one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world. But don’t feel like you need to pop the question before booking accommodations—unwed pairs are equally welcome.

27Southern Spain

The vibe in this southern part of Spain is so relaxed and friendly and the weather is totally perfect—rent a car and cruise around for days.

I’d make sure to stop in Granada to see the spectacular Alhambra palace, in all its Moorish splendor. There is something really romantic about climbing up there to that fortress on high and walking around underneath the vaulted ceilings, patterned in stars, weaving in and out of the delicate columns, listening to the soothing sounds of the trickling of water from the fountains.

When in Andalucía, Seville should also be a top priority. Seville is warm and bright, both in terms of the sun’s rays shining down on you, and the vibrancy of its culture and people.

Drink lots of sangria, dine on tapas, and take in some flamenco. This spirited city will put you both in a great mood. And nothing is sexier than happiness.

28The Greek Isles

Ever since a good friend of mine selected the Cyclades for her honeymoon, visions of dining out on a whitewashed terrace on the Greek Isles with my own spouse have cycled through my head.

The setting of this island is postcard-perfect. The bright white, sun-soaked buildings contrast in such a wildly perfect way with the surrounding deep blue waters and rocky mountains.

Santorini is probably the most famous and sophisticated option. It’s also the most romantic. Don’t read too much into that descriptor of sophistication, however—Santorini is made for lazy days of soaking in the sun, slow strolls, and long meals. The vibe is 100 percent pleasure and relaxation.

29Bruges, Belgium

Switching gears completely from sun-drenched island life, we have Bruges, nestled in northwest Belgium.

With an old medieval city like this, you get all the canals, old churches, and small, winding streets out of your childhood storybooks. It’s like a fairy tale, Hans Christian Anderson-style, come to life (but fast-forwarded through the sad bits, straight to the happy ending).

It’s all so dreamy. This is a city that calls for a lot of hand-holding, kissing on old stone bridges, and long, conversation-filled dinners.

Tip: This is a really popular tourist spot in the summer. We’d recommend planning your visit for the spring (daffodil season) or the winter (when it is all chilly and cozy holiday charm) instead.

30Santa Barbara, CA (USA)

I’m going to be up front again about my bias with this one. Just like Joshua Tree (#17), Santa Barbara was a stop on my honeymoon trail (which was a road trip along America’s West Coast, with me, my husband, and our dog packed into a black Mustang).

But I’m not the only one who thinks Santa Barbara is one of the most romantic places on earth. JFK and Jackie handpicked this as their own honeymoon destination, a pair famous for their great taste (if not the best marriage).

Why Santa Barbara? In addition to the ocean, palm trees, mountains, and Spanish-style architecture, there is something really serene and special about this place. Hummingbirds flitter around and bright flowers bloom almost on cue.

It’s all really luxurious, but somehow in a really welcoming, low-key way. And can be done on whatever budget you need to adhere to—from celebrity-level spending to more modest accommodations, either will afford you a really lovely stay.

31Seychelles, East Africa

The Seychelles are just off East Africa, right in the Indian Ocean. For me, I would go just to see the rare giant tortoises, but maybe you might need more convincing? Or a sexier reason for your stay than some old reptiles?

So, let me start by describing how incredible the soft, powdery sand feels in between your toes and how the water is so clear and bright it almost looks like a swimming pool. The rocks and lushness of the flora and fauna are so incredible, they seem like something painted by a Surrealist.

Pretty much everything you eat has been grown on the island or caught in the water that surrounds it. It’s all fresh and delicious. Eating with your hands, with cool, fruit juices covering your fingers, all under the warm sun…it doesn’t get much more sensual than that.

32Cinque Terre, Italy

Ah, the Italian Riveria. Without me even writing anything else, your mind has probably already wandered to thoughts of glamorous people, delicious food, plentiful wine, bright colors, sunshine, and salty sea air.

This is romance, Italian-style, perched cliffside along the Mediterranean. Fill up on freshly caught seafood, local olives, cheese, and pesto, and toast your limoncello to love.

33Hunter Valley, NSW (Australia)

About two hours away from Sydney, is a gorgeous stretch of Australian wine country. Everything is lush and green, all rolling hills dappled in sunlight.

In addition to developing some of arguably the best red wines in the country, Hunter Valley has garnered a reputation for some high-quality eats. And you can be sure that all of those culinary delights will pair quite perfectly with all that delicious wine.

One of the best things about this area, though, besides its good food and vino, is how secluded it is. Everything feels really private and intimate, like you’re an escaping real life, which is an important thing for me if I’m looking for a romantic vacation.

Oh and did I mention you can take a champagne hot-air balloon ride? I mean, come on (insert mic drop here).

34Puerto Rico (Caribbean)

I love the bright colors and sunny disposition of this Caribbean island. And that it is equal parts tropical rain forest and sandy beaches as it is full of architecture and interesting history.

Walk around Old San Juan together, learning about the city (and island’s) past, visiting the old churches and stopping to enjoy a couple of beers with the locals, all to the beat of music from the streets and storefronts.

Take things up a notch by exploring caves and spotting rainforest wildlife. Try out surfing or investigating the coral reefs. Or just be beach bums together and catch up on reading (or sleep) on the sand. Choose your own adventure here, be it stirring or sleepy.

35The Cotswolds, England

I’m a lifelong Anglophile. My dream real estate purchase is a house on the English countryside and I am pretty much a sucker for everything the BBC exports our way. I could go on. But instead, let’s focus on you and your romance.

Take your love to the Cotswolds. This area sits northwest of London, and is an expanse of charming thatched roof cottages, rolling green hills, old stone manses and churches, small shops (shoppes?), and grazing animals.

It’s quiet, peaceful, and a perfect spot for time outside—hiking, horseback riding, rambling, and cycling—and evenings indoors in front of glowing fireplaces. Sip some tea and just take it easy.

36South African Winelands

Let’s talk a little bit more about wine. On this list, we’ve visited Australian wine country, and just about every other destination I’ve recommended drinking lots of it. I sure hope you like wine.

While there is nothing sexy about red wine mouth, this region in South Africa most definitely is. The cuisine and the area’s beverages are fantastic and the scenery is totally spectacular. Everywhere you look there are fields of green dotted by grand mountains. It’s just so vast and endless and amazing.

Rent a car and drive around from winery to winery, or you can choose to cycle. There are even some lovely old trams that take you through the vineyards. If you get wined out, so to speak, there is also mountain-biking, horseback riding, golf, fly-fishing, and chocolate-eating (South Africa is doing some great things with cocoa).

Get tipsy, get active. Though maybe not in that order.

37Cartagena, Colombia

Some of you might be throwing a surprised glance my way upon seeing this city of ill repute here. But isn’t a hint of danger titillating?

In all seriousness, the walled city is actually totally safe for travelers today. Long gone are the days of Escobar (though, please feel free to relive them on Netflix with Narcos).

This city is another on the list that straddles two cultures—the European influence is apparent (more of those cobbled streets I love), but the colors and sensuality of the Caribbean and South America are also there in full force. Even the humidity is sensual there.

This city is equal parts alive/boisterous/active and quiet. So enjoy some sleepy strolls and get your taste of Cartagena’s lively social life, too.

38Andaman Islands, India

Located in the Bay of Bengal, these islands—popular honeymoon picks in India—are covered in beaches and rainforests, and surrounded by reefs packed with marine life.

The Andamans are extremely remote: if privacy is what you two want, you got it. These islands are so secluded and so precious, only about a dozen of the total 300 are open to tourists. So, this is a really special destination.

While you’re there, traverse through the jungles, give diving a try, eat exotic things, look for rare wildlife, weave in and out of the mangroves…really make the most out of your time together in paradise.

39Chiang Mai, Thailand

Last, but not least (again, there’s neither order nor hierarchy on this list) is Chiang Mai, Thailand.

First off, let me mention we’re ending on a really affordable note. Bangkok can get crowded and pricey—Chiang Mai is a refreshing alternative.

The city is calm and unpolluted (speaking equally about the traffic and the air) and easily walkable. There is some incredible classic cuisine available from street vendors that sit alongside newer restaurants and art galleries. Old meets new here in a fantastically uncomplicated, easy way.

While you’re here, take some classes together, check out new and different foods in the markets, and then be sure to explore the countryside. Just a few beats away from city life, you’ll find pulsing green jungles, waterfalls cascading down mountains, hot springs, ancient villages, temples, shrines, monks, and elephant sanctuaries.

There is so much to see, do, and try, minus the overwhelming sounds and crowds of similarly active and exciting locales.

[worthyofluv]

Side Effects of D*ck too Bomb

Many of us weren’t properly educated on sex, the purpose of it and how to responsibly and respectfully engage in it by taking into account our health and safety, our emotions, the state of the relationship and what we want to achieve from said act. In my personal experience, the area where I missed the mark the most was when it came to having a meeting of the minds with the individual I was being intimate with. In other words, my head was in one place, theirs in another. I’m a vibey person, and so I often made the mistake of making decisions based on the chemistry rather than seeing the situation for what it really was.

Allot of us never got the infamous “talk,” but instead experienced the opposite. Whether our very natural desires were repressed and never acknowledged for religious regions or personal beliefs of sex being dirty or reserved for grown folk. Or maybe our caregivers were negligent resulting in us being exploited and unprotected at a vulnerable age. Residing on either end of the spectrum can show up in the form of disconnection, impulsive behavior, and choices being made by the ego, rather than from that part of us that be knowin. That part of us that becomes diminished over time as we become distracted by the daunting tasks of adulting; our inner guide. When we don’t create the space to re-parent ourselves, cultivate our own belief systems, and get to know ourselves on an intimate level, allot of suffering can come from possessing a false narrative around sex and how we relate to it.

Growing up, I can recall moments where I’d hear things like “you better not come home with no belly.” (black parents love saying that sh*t) or being referred to as a bitch and a slut when the word got out that I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I can even recount a time when I was told that I’d only be good for laying on my back. So naturally, I experienced allot of shame, but also became quite the rebellion. (No irony there)

I was also a curvy girl all my life. So as you can imagine, there was allot of projection and shaming around my body as well. Imagine the confusion that came over me when in 6th grade, this kid approached me to tell me that his boy, J.J., wanted to let me know that he thought I was thick. I had no fuckin clue what that meant because in my world, there was something wrong with my body. I was constantly hyper sexualized in spaces where I should have been empowered, uplifted and guided. But after years of peeling back layers of shame and anger, I realized that there was no time for any of that. We were in survival mode, and we cannot be taught which was not taught to our parents. Or maybe I’ve conceptualized the whole thing in my mind as a way to cope. Either way, I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

After many years of social research, I now understand that when J.J. sent the homie over to tell me that I was thick, he was giving me a compliment and perhaps trying to use said compliment to segway into a boyfriend/girlfriend situation. That definitely went over my head. LOL

But the real reason I brought you here today is because I felt called to start a dialogue about how shame can play a role in our choices when it comes to sex. More specifically, the side effects when the D*ck is too bomb!

Let’s get into it ;)

These N***s are Actual Wizards in The Sheets

When the D*ck is too bomb, you might find yourself in a situationship for two years only for him to commit to someone else. And in an effort to reclaim what you thought was yours, you say “but I love you,” and he responds, “but I don’t love you.” (Ouch!)

D*ck too bomb might have you going back to a toxic n***a, even though you are cognitively aware that he is toxic, but you’re just hoping that he will experience a spiritual awakening and realize that you are the backwoods to his Mary Jane. Ha-ha. The joke is on you sis. He’s just not that into you. But that’s ok!

Side Note: In this context, what I mean by toxic is someone who is mentally and emotionally unavailable or someone who just isn’t into you, but rather than clearly and explicitly telling you that he doesn’t want anything too heavy, he proceeds to deal with you and your emotions in a careless manner. This is NOT for the men who are honest in their dealings with women, only for the woman to create her own agenda in an effort to get cuffed. That’s a separate conversation for a separate time. What I am describing is an individual who is unaware of himself, doesn’t give a fuck about your feelings, or someone who is manipulative. He is in it solely for his pleasure. Some might refer to what I call toxic as a fuck boy. But I digress.

Bomb D might have you responding with a sense of urgency when you get that “come thru” text, only to see a newly posted picture of him and his girl the very next day as you peruse down your Facebook timeline. (Really bro?)

You might get hoodwinked into becoming a WHOLE side chick all because the “vibe” was right. And now you gotta change your number because your goofy ass fell in love.

Great sex will have you falling for someones representative rather than who they are at the core.

Bomb D will have you ready to commit to a n***a who you haven’t taken the time to understand or even know if the two of you are truly compatible.

It’ll have you fighting baby mama’s in the middle of the street (so embarrassing) and acting a whole ass and doing things completely out of character to keep Mr. D*ck too bomb, hoping that he has a spiritual awakening and makes you his wife or whatever the fuck they do in fairy tales.

Bomb Diggity D will have you on the pill despite experiencing adverse reactions like depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and no menstrual flow, just so he can have his way with you. 

Great D*ck could potentially have you settling for crumbs when you deserve a full course meal.

D*ck too bomb will have you thinkin you wit the shits, whole time you’re just a scared little girl trying to fill a void that was created in your childhood. (Sheesh)

A word: Being crazy isn’t cute at all. It’s a waste of energy, usually towards a situation that is either out of your control, or towards something that you knew all along was occurring, but chose to remain blind. Emotional intelligence, autonomy over one’s self and the ability to use discernment is sexy.

I am not credible

I am no sexpert or relationship coach, so understand that I am only giving you my perspective from my very limited sense of perception. I have however experienced the unflattering side effects of d*ckmitization, as a result of an overwhelming amount of unworthiness and emptiness bleeding into my adolescence and adult years. My only goal here is to help someone who may not have the language to describe what they’re feeling, and to show others that we’re all fucked up in some way lol. And that when we shine a light on our flaws, they can no longer thrive in the dark crevices of our soul. I truly believe that having these difficult conversations are a fundamental part of us becoming the most authentic version of ourselves. Vulnerability actually feels kinda cool (Thanks Brene Brown)

Self-Preservation Hot Girl Style

My loves, if you find yourself in the rabbit hole of trying to seek validation and love through sexual means, than he is not the one who needs a spiritual awakening. It’s you! You are the problem, but you are also the solution. It’s time to work on you.

I encourage you to find solitude for a little while. Get acquainted with your own body. Touch yourself. Consider being celibate while you gain clarity. Seek therapy. Get in touch with your spirituality. Explore your belief systems around sex. Are you ok with casual sex? Do you need an emotional connection? Can you be friends with benefits? Or do you prefer a commitment? What are your thoughts on monogamy, cheating, marriage, kids? In what ways do you identify with your femininity or masculinity and how does that translate in the bedroom?

Make having an intimate relationship with yourself a priority so that you can navigate certain situations with more grace and less confusion. Read books, watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, talk to folks who been there done that. Invest in self-care practices like yoga, massages and dancing to cultivate that mind, body and spirit connection. Make loving yourself a ritual and understanding your nature a necessity. It is from this place of being grounded in who you are that you can make choices that align with your true values. We attract what we are. And when we have not taken the time to understand ourselves, we risk ending up in situations where we are disrespected, but really, we are only disrespecting ourselves. On the contrary, being self-aware can spare us allot of drama, because when we are in our power, it really doesn’t matter how bomb the D*ck is if it’s attached to someone who doesn’t value us or at the very least care about our well-being. We begin to observe his character to see if he’s worthy of our time and energy. And if he isn’t, that’s ok. We make a mental note that we’re not compatible, and we keep it moving. Cuz it really don’t even be that deep.

Pun intended.

-Divine

[theliqht]

fire inside music: What No One Is Talking About

How are they executing this?

These are accessing MOOCs, or Enormous Open On the internet Courses. Even though platforms happen to be offered from elite colleges like MIT and Stanford for virtually ten years, open-source courses continue to improve in amount and popularity. Now, even some local people colleges like Wake Complex School,located outside the house Raleigh, NC, provides MOOCs to a global viewers. This expanding availability indicates There is certainly now an unbelievable range of courses available to any individual having an Connection to the internet, no matter area.

Subjects MOOCs go over can vary from contemporary robotics and astronomy to Roman architecture and the American Novel Since 1945. MIT, such as, has courses centered close to Arithmetic, Engineering, Electrical power and Science, in addition to a surprising range of classes concentrating on the Humanities and Great Arts. The College of Michigan presents courses starting from "Storytelling for Social Adjust" to Python, data analytics, and device Mastering. You can also acquire Management lessons from HEC Paris by means of MOOC, rated by The Economist as possessing the 2nd strongest enterprise university alumni community in the world.

Some MOOCs are meant to be taken for understanding received, but numerous packages also provide a certification of completion by means of web pages like Coursera.org. Certificates of completion--which are unique from system credits--usually Price around $fifty. Economical help is offered for many who qualify.

Reasons to think about a MOOC

There are numerous explanation why a MOOC course might be good for you beyond time management, Even though most MOOCs let learners to work at their particular rate, which implies they easily match into most schedules, Regardless how busy. Other pros incorporate:

An opportunity to try out a major before having to pay for faculty programs. Any person hoping to decide on a occupation route, for The very first time or thanks to a midlife change of route, understands the stress of pondering "What if I am Improper about my alternative? Simply how much revenue am I going to spend just before I comprehend this is not for me?" MOOCs are a terrific way to 'dip your toes' in, so to talk, prior to the headache of managing common higher education programs and common college or university expenditures. You could Check out as a lot of classes while you have time for until finally something truly sparks your fascination.

Consider programs not obtainable regionally. There are pretty much A large number of MOOC courses obtainable on the web. Even if you live in Boston (where Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston School and Boston University are all Found) or Another similar university-dense area, you could most likely uncover a category or two through MOOC offerings not accessible to you domestically.

Master (or relearn) a language free of charge. Don't just can you take a foreign language class totally free via MOOCs, but thanks to classes taught at foreign universities, You may as well teach your ear by listening to indigenous speakers. Take a system taught during the language you need to find out and stick to together using English subtitles. The second strategy is a terrific way to fundamentally double your Discovering, but only is effective if you have already got at the very least an intermediate grasp of your language.

If learning One more language just isn't superior on your own to-do list, probably it should be: In 2017, New American Financial system documented employer desire for bilingual workers much more than doubled since 2010. This demand proceeds to improve. Greatest languages to study? Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.

Build up your resume with wanted expertise. Perhaps there's a far better career at work you recognize you can do, but your manager doesn't Consider you happen to be competent for it as you deficiency particular capabilities. MOOCs are a great way to turn out to be proficient in areas like HTML coding, Search engine optimization analytics, or regardless of what skill you need to develop into the proper human being for that position.

Follow the backlinks in this post To find out more on many MOOC programs. MOOCs can also be readily available by way of a variety of educational platforms, such as Coursera, Udemy, and edX. But MOOCs can be accessed instantly via each College, and can be found by using the following Google research limiting syntax entered into your google look for bar:

web page:edu MOOC subject

By way of example, if I enter web-site:edu MOOC robotics, I get about 7,000 success, like this Introduction to Robotics Specialization from Penn Engineering. By utilizing this syntax, you can normally bypass the clearinghouses and find what exactly You are looking for on university web sites, even classes the clearinghouses may not supply.

Content MOOCing!

"Millennials," "Generation Y," "The Peter Pan Era" - they go by many names and were being born roughly involving 1980 and 2000.These are the generation that grew up with smartphones, rear-facing cameras, World-wide-web etcetera. They had been at a tender and susceptible age when Harry Potter very first took his flying lessons on his magical broom, whenever they witnessed The nice tumble of the dual Towers of Environment Trade Centre in Ny city on 9/11. The millennials grew up during the era of cellular phones, electronic cameras, email, text-messaging, mp3 gamers, handheld online video game gadgets, WhatsApp, Facebook/Instagram, YouTube Films, web browsing and what not.

A person these kinds of millennial who knocked my socks off was this youthful Lady named Anushka, a teen in her early twenties. Her white t-shirt with "MILLENNIAL" in large, black, Daring letters just caught our brief consideration and we could not stop considering her Exclusive Talent Presentation, listed here at Nirmiti Academy. The Do it yourself (Do It You) Craft was her unique expertise. She represented a young encounter of the millennials. In addition, it absolutely was her presentation that spoke far more of her to be a millennial. She was a true go-getter when it came to existing her unique talent in a unique way. We could see her beaming with pride and contentment to showcase her special expertise to Other individuals. She was so excited that she was conversing a mile a moment. She had a lot of to mention about this and she could go on and on and hold us glued to her presentation. The millennials like Anushka and plenty of Other people are inspired to work on factors which fascination them. Simultaneously, I could also see her becoming struggling to smile and current herself Fortunately. Absent are definitely the moments for the millennials the place they experience present and luxuriate in their surroundings. They may be the generation who feel the constant will need for Digital interest which sales opportunities them to overshare their lives and moments on social websites or go inward in deep conscience to search out them selves. This leaves them unconnected with the Bodily world all-around them.

Millennials can be a very praised and self-confident era. They are really a extremely optimistic technology. They've a larger need to own lifetime encounters rather than to accumulate product prosperity, Although they do like to acquire things that can help them to delight in Individuals ordeals. Millennials are probably the most educated generation. As the selling price tag of education and learning has become so significant and continuing to climb on a yearly basis, Millennials became extremely savvy with regards to their instructional selections. As opposed to previous generations who saw instruction as a ritual and an expenditure inside their future, millennials look at training being an expenditure, Except it's going to empower them to be able to be a far better particular person. They anticipate education and learning to assist them get ready for The brand new opportunities and challenges of this age, rather than assisting them by giving actuality-dependent facts/understanding. The millennials wish to be challenged by thinking of the longer term and how they might lead to creating a much better Modern society and natural environment. They do not experience the need to develop into "textbook clever / book worms".

They are aware that points is usually conveniently discovered on the net by their own personal unbiased action. They're the technology that features and prosper on understanding at finger "simply click". In the globe of open entry to awareness, it will make little sense to rely upon the classroom like a forum with the transfer of knowledge.

Instead, The scholars Substantially prefer to learn from the tales and ordeals of Some others. These shared stories and experiences enable them to augment their very own knowledge by learning from your results and issues of Other folks. This can help them steer clear of earning the exact same blunders as their influencers. Hence, they like to speculate extra in their time and money on these plans which assistance them to build many tactics that they might include into their ideas and final decision-producing process, thus building a new talent established.

We are unable to dismiss The reality that millennials can also be a era of uncertainties and fluctuations. They can be the era who likes to keep switching their devices. They grew up with know-how wherever all the things was at their fingertips. It results in being disheartening for them to not get what they need when they want it. Almost all of the items are handed to them with a silver spoon. This would make them truly feel entitled to get what they want with no Placing in much effort.

While They may be the foremost workforce of the businesses currently, they do not believe in lifelong employment. Lifelong dedication can be a fairy tale for the millennials. They normally soar from on position to another as they are constantly in quest of some thing new and much better. These substantial anticipations turn out to be their downfall and would make them less economically secure than their mothers and fathers.

Millennials are listed here to remain! They are really young, brilliant and energetic and they ARE the longer term. They are excellent belongings which the world should harness and use. They can be the era that is certainly revolutionizing the earth. They're the budding leaders of tomorrow. They adopt technological know-how and stimulus in the identical breadth. This technology can also be a collaborative and social generation that includes a center on comprehending and setting up their expertise by numerous forms of medium to find out the responses. It really is for that educator like us to deliver an arena for engagement and discovery and also become a written content skilled and mentor. It really is for Studying System vendors like Nirmiti Academy to offer an explorative and experiential knowledge and produce out their legitimate potential in life and at work. It is this transformational journey that we at Nirmiti Academy look forward to daily to learn, unlearn and relearn with these youthful and magical generation - the Millennials!

[grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales]

Hey! I'm the anon from slavicafire's blog asking about Yugoslav witchcraft traditions. I;m a child of recent immigrants from the ex-yugo regions and I'm trying to reconnect w/ my roots. Could you give me a very basic outline of simple traditions that might be common from the region? Hvala puno (:

Hi anon! Glad to see somebody interested in our traditions, that is always amazing. I hope this helps you.

Disclaimer, I’m not professional. This is just stuff pulled out of my own amateur research and love for balkan lore. Anybody with better understanding please pitch in.

First, to reiterate what likely everybody told you, Slavic traditions are very variable and unique, depending on which country you are looking at. While there is obviously much similar things, not all Balkan countries have same lore. So I would suggest looking up where your ancestors are from, and then digging in research ( sometimes there are differences even between like, villages in same country, which makes things both beautiful and amazing and irritating and bothersome).

Second, I am sorry to say that information can be kinda hard to come across when searching for Balkan sources. As result of most countries being ‘’still in development’’, (at least when compared to West), decades of communist regime which didn’t care much for spirituality, big influence of Christian church and being kinda small in population, there isn’t lots of people interested in such things, at least not openly. There has thankfully been revival and rise of interest in last years but ah still takes lots of work to find like minded people. You should have some luck searching through Tumblr and Reddit.

Rest of info under cut, keep on read more so we wouldn’t bother people with big wall of text.

Now, I want to say ( in case you aren’t already aware, in which case excuse me and forgive for taking up your time) that if you do research in Serbian or Croatian for veštica you will most likely come upon fantasy books, fairy tales and such. More folkloric stuff will talk about things like selling your soul to Devil, eating hearts of your family, soul leaving your body to do misdeeds and similar. Rather interesting stuff, which could be used for interesting if little dark path, but less easy to put in practice and being generally very Christian story about evil monsters ( I assume you can’t leave your body in shape of moth so you would cut up your neighbors and relatives and eat their insides but hey what do I know, that might work for you). If you are interested in hearing about that though please send me ask again!

What I assume you are looking for, and is generally much more likely to be practiced ( today too in some villages) are činjarice and vračare. These words while literally meaning something like charm-doer/maker and similar, are more like village wisewomen, cunning folk and similar, people who practiced mixture of magic, medicine, old Slavic lore and Christian beliefs, midwifery and superstitions. If you ask your parents, grandparents, relatives and similar, I’m sure they would be able to tell you of encountering or at very least hearing about at least one weird old woman who claimed to be able to read your fortune, help with fertility, protect you against evil eye… If you ever meet such old woman, remember they will most likely be very insulted if you call them witch. Some wouldn’t even call their workings magical, and many are very intensively Christian.

So, some advice which I hope will be useful. Traditionally those women (and probably some men, though I didn’t hear of it happening. Probably happened but people don’t like talking about such things because people are dumb) worked alone. I assume one witch was enough for one village. This doesn’t mean that you can’t join a coven or work with friends and learn from others, simply that solitary path is open to you and that lots of those witches worked on their own, combining superstition, tips passed to them from others and their own knowledge and thoughts. There is no hard tradition to stick to, you can freely experiment, and don’t listen to people who say you need witch’s blood or some nonsense like that. You only need your will and heart and what works for you.

Then, remember those people lived in villages and most likely worked at farm, in fields, with cattle.. They likely lived together with their families ( unless they were of course widows with no nearby relatives or spinsters). Point is, they didn’t have fancy stuff, because they had to take acre of cows and dung and carrots, so you shouldn’t feel bad about not buying athames, wands, cauldrons and such if you can’t or don’t want. You can repurpose normal ordinary stuff around you in magical tools. As Granny Weatherwax would say, witch can use kitchen knife to do magic and make a bread. Some would argue it is still good to have separate tools for magic, or regularly cleanse and charge your cutlery so energy wouldn’t get too muddled, and that is good approach too. Look what works for you. Suggestions for tools: mirrors, candles, knives, threads,stones, scissors.

If you want to get ideas for how to incorporate everyday things in your practice, look up tag cottage witchcraft, or hearth witchcraft, which is based on idea of making your home practices in magic. Remember that you don’t need to define yourself as anything but witch, or even that, if you don’t want. Think of ways how your passions and talents could be used as outlet for witchcraft. Sing your spells, paint your sigils, however you want. Balkan witches let their craft go out through ordinary stuff too.

Research herb lore! Living in villages and near woods Slavic witches always worked closely with herbs.  That seems to generally be witch thing, as herbs were for long time basis of spices and medicine. Research what herbs you can get your hands on (spices and weeds are easiest I’d say) can be used for, both magically and as teas, tinctures and similar ( remember that herbs should never be used instead of actual medication, and that you don’t need to bother with them if you don’t want to). Some starting points-generally, oak is associated with Perun, strength, protection and ancestors and was heavily respected and venerated. Walnut is associated with darkness, death, misfortune and evil witches and spirits so I’d say it would for example be good for curses. Hawthorn was used as means of protection against demonic spirits and evil creatures, especially vampires.

Research correspondences! People for example believed that certain workings should be undertaken only on certain days, such as holy days of saints, or that magic was best to be done on Friday. Water has different powers depending on day and place it was taken- frozen water or melted ice is used for spells of forgetting, but generally water is used for healing and purification, though time and place and way you collect it can charge it differently. Salt is of course as always amazing for protection and cleansing. Colours are also good start- black for death darkness misfortune, red for life and protection especially against spirits, white for purity cleansing contact with dead and positive energy and so on. Some things require really weird steps. For example to protect yourself from plague you needed to pull over yourself a shirt made by several naked old woman outside during Saturday night ( which I hope you will never need, and have serious doubts for how successful it would be)… If you are in for more ritualistic path it may work for you.

Spells, often called bajalice ( I’m not sure how to translate, except it vaguely means something like murmured song, or chant  I think) were either passed down, picked from folklore, or straight up invented. They consisted of several lines and often rhymed, in fact many of them sound like nursery rhymes. Some are full of seemingly nonsenses, others call upon saints.

They also often had psychical component, a piece of paper, poppet, anything…Those were used as anchors for spell, and if you were casting for other person, closer those objects were to them spell worked better. Good luck and blessings were often in form of amulets person carried on themselves, curses often required burning object or burying it in victim’s backyard.

As with all witchcraft I’d say, sympathetic magic is one of basics. Hair, nails, blood, names, images, all those are often necesarry to work magic upon another. Be careful what is done with yours.

There is strong focus on body with Balkan witchcraft (especially hair). If you feel comfortable explore it, learn about it. Your body is wonderful and reveling in it can be very beneficial not just for magic but for your health, in flesh and mind both. Just stay away from things talking about stuff like putting menstrual blood in potions or anything unsafe. If you want to explore blood magic take care. Just cutting or pricking yourself isn’t good at all.

Look out for superstitions. Most of them contain ritualistic roots. Think and ask why they are done, and how can they be used in practice. Knock on wood for good luck or to prevent bad things, it calls out to spirits. Pinkie and index finger pointed on person is used for casting curses of evil eye variety. And so on…

You don’t have to work with dead, but as amazing zmija already mentioned, there is always something undead. Graveyard dirt is powerful. Look out for ghosts and similar creatures. If you want, try to connect to ancestors or tend to graveyards. Forty days after birth and death are when such forces are most active. Our dead are always with us, and those who have passed on often frequent and play with those who replaced them.

Treat nature well. Remember that it is full of spirits ( some of which may be similar to undead-is rusalka a water nymph or drowned girl, domovoi entirely spiritual caretaker of home or ghost of distant ancestor ). Try to connect with them, to reach out if you feel safe. Dragons, vampires, fairies ( zmey, vampies/upyrsi, vilas in english sources) were most important to Balkans, as well as creatures of wilds like snakes and wolves.

Spaces American side of tumblr would call liminal are important. Thresholds, crossroads and watermills are folklorically connected with magic a lot.

Balkan Traditional Witchcraft by Radomir Ristic  from what I heard is very good book, if little awkward to read as it is translated in English.  Journal for the Academic Study of Magic  from what I have heard has some stuff on South Slavic magic in issue 2 and parts of it are  put up online, such as  The Human Body in Southern Slavic Folk Sorcery Andrija Filipovic and Anne M. Rader.   Solvenska Mitologija ( The Slavic Mythology) by  Nenad Gajić  is great start if you want easy to understand and comprehensive list of Slavic creatures, beliefs, lore and so but I don’t know if you can find it out of Balkans. Belgrade publishing house Metaphysica also apparently has some stuff, no idea if it is good.

If you know Serbian or Croatian, I would suggest websitehttp://www.starisloveni.com/index.html, which is pagan site and also has forum (you need to be registered though).  I have also found several threads of that topic on  https://forum.krstarica.com/ and https://www.ana.rs/forum/ though they require digging, especially for good stuff. Site is also bit less modern. I have recently came upon  https://thewitchandwalnut.wordpress.com/, a Wordpress blog of Balkan witch from Canada which seems very informative. @everett-the-mage is very awesome blog with lots of content on Croatian folk magic and lovely Etsy shop and lots of recommendations for reading.

I hope this helps at least a little! Good luck with your journey!

[prosteticanimals]

Responsible for a fire inside music Budget? 12 Top Notch Ways to Spend Your Money

1 these millennial who knocked my socks off was this youthful girl named Anushka, a teenager in her early twenties. Her white t-shirt with "MILLENNIAL" in large, black, bold letters just caught our quick focus and we could not quit thinking of her Exclusive Talent Presentation, right here at Nirmiti Academy. The DIY (Get it done Your self) Craft was her distinctive talent. She represented a young encounter with the millennials. In addition, it was her presentation that spoke extra of her as a millennial. She was a true go-getter when it came to current her special expertise in a singular way. We could see her beaming with pleasure and pleasure to showcase her one of a kind talent to others. She was so psyched that she was chatting a mile a moment. She had a great deal of to say about it and she could go on and on and preserve us glued to her presentation. The millennials like Anushka and many Other folks are determined to operate on things which fascination them. At the same time, I could also see her being struggling to smile and existing herself happily. Long gone are the moments with the millennials wherever they feel current and revel in their surroundings. These are the era who truly feel the consistent will need for virtual awareness which leads them to overshare their life and times on social websites or go inward in deep conscience to find themselves. This leaves them unconnected Together with the Actual physical entire world all around them.

Millennials can be a very praised and confident generation. They are really a remarkably optimistic technology. They have a greater will need to possess life activities in lieu of to build up substance prosperity, While they are doing like to acquire things that will help them to delight in All those experiences. Millennials are probably the most educated era. Since the cost tag of instruction is currently so large and continuing to climb every year, Millennials have become quite savvy about their academic choices. Contrary to past generations who noticed schooling being a ritual and an investment decision inside their future, millennials see instruction as an cost, Unless of course it's going to empower them to be able to be a much better specific. They anticipate education and learning to aid them prepare for The brand new possibilities and problems of the age, instead of assisting them by giving actuality-based mostly info/information. The millennials want to be challenged by serious about the longer term And exactly how they will lead to creating a much better society and ecosystem. They don't come to feel the need to develop into "textbook sensible / e book worms".

They understand that points might be effortlessly identified on-line as a result of their very own impartial motion. These are the generation that boasts and prosper on understanding at finger "simply click". In the entire world of open entry to awareness, it tends to make minor perception to depend upon the classroom like a forum for the transfer of information.

As a substitute, the students A great deal choose to understand through the tales and ordeals of others. These shared tales and ordeals assistance them to reinforce their particular practical experience by Mastering from your success and problems of Some others. This aids them stay clear of building the identical errors as their influencers. For this reason, they like to speculate much more in their time and cash on such programs which assistance them to acquire several approaches that they may integrate into their feelings and choice-producing course of action, therefore developing a new ability set.

We can't overlook The point that millennials are also a generation of uncertainties and fluctuations. They're the era who likes to help keep switching their gadgets. They grew up with know-how the place every little thing was at their fingertips. It gets disheartening for them not to get what they need after they want it. Many of the points are actually handed to them on a silver spoon. This will make them sense entitled for getting what they need without Placing in A lot work.

While They're the foremost workforce of the companies currently, they do not believe in lifelong employment. Lifelong dedication is really a fairy tale with the millennials. They constantly leap from on task to a different since they are often on the lookout for a thing new and greater. These significant expectations become their downfall and will make them considerably less monetarily stable than their parents.

Millennials are in this article to stay! They're youthful, vibrant and energetic and they ARE the long run. They are wonderful property which the entire world will have to harness and use. They may be the era that's revolutionizing the whole world. They're the budding leaders of tomorrow. They undertake engineering and stimulus in precisely the same breadth. This generation is likewise a collaborative and social technology which has a concentrate on knowledge and making their expertise via numerous forms of medium to find the answers. It is for the educator like us to supply an arena for engagement and discovery in addition to be a content material professional and mentor. It really is for Studying platform suppliers like Nirmiti Academy to give an explorative and experiential working experience and bring out their accurate prospective in everyday life and at do the job. It is this transformational journey that we at Nirmiti Academy look forward to on a daily basis to learn, unlearn and relearn with these youthful and magical generation - the Millennials!

If the above mentioned title confuses you, you may be lacking out on several of the ideal opportunities the net provides. In the meantime, Others are increasing their Occupations, making ready For brand new lives as business owners, or are learning new abilities or expanding their information foundation, typically at little or no Value.

How are they carrying out this?

They are accessing MOOCs, or Large Open On line Programs. Although platforms have been readily available from elite colleges like MIT and Stanford for almost a decade, open-supply lessons go on to develop in number and popularity. Now, even some local community colleges like Wake Specialized College or university,Found exterior Raleigh, NC, features MOOCs to a world audience. This growing availability signifies You can find now an unbelievable number of programs accessible to anybody with an internet connection, no matter location.

Matters MOOCs go over can vary from contemporary robotics and astronomy to Roman architecture along with the American Novel Considering that 1945. MIT, for instance, has lessons centered about Mathematics, Engineering, Power and Science, in addition to a surprising amount of classes specializing in the Humanities and High-quality Arts. The College of Michigan gives classes ranging from "Storytelling for Social Adjust" to Python, information analytics, and equipment learning. You can also take leadership classes from HEC Paris via MOOC, rated with the Economist as owning the second strongest small business college alumni community on the planet.

Some MOOCs are designed to be taken for expertise attained, but numerous courses also provide a certificate of completion by web sites like Coursera.org. Certificates of completion--which are different from system credits--generally Price tag about $fifty. Economical aid is accessible for those who qualify.

Explanations to take into account a MOOC

There are many explanation why a MOOC class could possibly be best for your needs further than time management, although most MOOCs enable college students to work at their very own tempo, which suggests they simply match into most schedules, Regardless of how hectic. Other pros include:

An opportunity to Check out A significant ahead of paying for school classes. Any individual hoping to make a decision on a profession path, for The very first time or as a result of a midlife alter of direction, understands the stress of questioning "Let's say I'm Mistaken about my decision? Just how much cash am I heading to invest right before I comprehend this is not for me?" MOOCs are a terrific way to 'dip your toes' in, so to speak, ahead of the headache of addressing conventional university programs and standard school costs. It is possible to try out as lots of programs when you have enough time for right until a little something genuinely sparks your interest.

Take classes not readily available regionally. There are actually 1000s of MOOC classes out there online. Even when you are in Boston (where Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston Higher education and Boston University are all located) or Several other related university-dense site, you may likely locate a class or two through MOOC offerings not accessible to you locally.

Find out (or relearn) a language at no cost. Not simply can you are taking a international language training course without spending a dime by using MOOCs, but because of courses taught at overseas universities, you can also educate your ear by listening to indigenous speakers. Take a program taught during the language you would like to find out and follow together utilizing English subtitles. The second tactic is a terrific way to in essence double your Studying, but only performs if you have already got a minimum of an intermediate grasp of the language.

If Finding out Yet another language is just not substantial with your to-do record, maybe it ought to be: In 2017, New American Overall economy documented employer desire for bilingual workers in excess of doubled since 2010. This demand carries on to develop. Very best languages to check? Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.

Develop up your resume with desired abilities. Maybe there is a improved work at work you are aware of you are able to do, but your manager does not Imagine you're capable for it since you absence particular skills. MOOCs are a terrific way to grow to be proficient in spots like HTML coding, Search engine optimisation analytics, or whatsoever ability you need to become the best man or woman to the position.

Adhere to the hyperlinks in the following paragraphs for more information on many MOOC courses. MOOCs can also be accessible by way of a variety of instructional platforms, including Coursera, Udemy, and edX. But MOOCs is often accessed directly via Every single university, and are available through the use of the next Google lookup limiting syntax entered into your google research bar:

internet site:edu MOOC topic

As an example, if I enter web-site:edu MOOC robotics, I get about seven,000 final results, together with this Introduction to Robotics Specialization from Penn Engineering. By making use of this syntax, you'll be able to usually bypass the clearinghouses and obtain just what exactly you're looking for on university sites, even lessons the clearinghouses may not provide.

Joyful MOOCing!