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bailey-writes · 4 years ago

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So You Want Your OC to be Jewish

So you’re writing a story and you want to make a Jewish character—great! I’m here to help. I always want more Jewish representation but I want good Jewish representation, so this is my attempt to make a guide to making a Jewish character. What are my credentials? I’m Jewish and have been my whole life. Obligatory disclaimer that this is by no means comprehensive, I don’t know everything, all Jews are different, and this is based on my experiences as an American Jew so I have no idea, what, if any, of this applies to non-American Jews.

If there’s anything you want me to make a post going more into detail about or if there’s anything I didn’t mention but you want to know please ask me! I hope this is helpful :) Warning, this is long.

Jew PSA

If you are Jewish you can use the word Jew(s), e.g. “She’s dating a Jew.” If you are not Jewish you cannot use the word Jew(s). This is not up for debate. Non-Jews calling us Jews has a negative connotation at best. Don’t do it and don’t have your characters do it.

Basics, Plus My Random Thoughts that Didn’t Fit Anywhere Else

A confusing enduring issue is, what is Judaism? It’s a religion, but some Jews aren’t religious; is it a race? A nationality? A culture? A heritage? The only constant is that we are seen as “other.” There’s a lot of debate, which makes it confusing to be Jewish and as such it’s common for Jews to struggle with their Jewish Identity. However many people agree that Jews are an ethnoreligious group, aka Judaism is a religion and an ethnicity.

Temple/Synagogue/Shul = Jewish place of worship. Shul is usually used for Orthodox synagogues.

Keeping kosher = following Jewish dietary rules: meat and dairy can’t be eaten together and you can’t eat pork or shellfish. Fish and eggs are pareve (aka neutral) and can be eaten with meat or dairy (but again not both at the same time.) When eating meat it has to be kosher meat (e.g. kosher Jews are allowed to eat chicken, but not all chicken is kosher. I know it’s kinda confusing I’m sorry.) Kosher products in stores will have symbols on them to identify them as kosher. If someone is kosher they’ll probably have separate sets of utensils/plates/cookware/etc. for meat and dairy

Shabbat/Shabbos/Sabbath = holy day of the week, day of rest, lasts from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Depending on observance Jews might have Shabbat dinner, attend Shabbat services, or observe the day of rest in its entirety (making them shomer Shabbat)

Someone who is shomer Shabbat will refrain from any of the prohibited activities. These can easily be looked up but include: working, writing, handling money, cooking, and using technology.

Bat/Bar/B’nai Mitvzah = tradition where a Jewish boy/girl becomes a man/woman. Celebrated at 13-years-old for boys, 12- or 13-years-old for girls. Girls have Bat Mitzvahs (bat means daughter in Hebrew), boys have Bar Mitzvahs (bar means son in Hebrew) and twins or two or more people having one together have a B’nai Mitzvah. They will study for this for months and then help lead services and, depending on observance level, read from the Torah. The ceremony is often attended by family and friends and followed with a celebration of sorts (in America usually this means a brunch and/or party.)

Goy/gentile = non-Jew. These words are not slurs, they are literally just words. Plural of goy is goyim and is a Yiddish word, plural of gentile is gentiles.

Jewish holidays follow the Hebrew calendar, meaning that according to the current solar/Gregorian calendar the dates of our holidays are different each year.

Jewish law recognizes matrilineal inheritance. This means that Jewish law states your mother has to be Jewish for you to be Jewish. This is because of reasons from biblical times that I can explain if you wanna come ask, but as you can imagine is a bit outdated. While Orthodox Jews might embrace this idea and only consider someone Jewish if their mom is Jewish, many Jews are more flexible on the idea (and yes, this does cause tension between Orthodox Jews and other Jews at times.)

Judaism =/= Christianity

Some people think Judaism is just Christianity without Jesus (some people don’t even realize we don’t believe in/celebrate Jesus so newsflash, we don’t) and that’s just wrong. Yes both religions share the Old Testament, so they also share some history and beliefs, but the entire ideologies of the religions are different. In brief, they are similar in some ways but are not the same.

What seems to me to be the biggest difference is that Christianity (from what I understand) has a heavy focus on sins, more specifically repenting for/gaining forgiveness for your sins. In Christianity you are born tainted by original sin. In Judaism we believe everyone is born pure and free from sin and everyone is made in God’s image. Judaism has some concept of sin, but doesn’t focus on them and instead focuses on performing Mitzvot (plural, singular form is mitzvah. Direct translation is “commandment” but basically means good deed or act of kindness. It also relates to the commandments, so following the commandments is also performing mitzvot.) Examples of mitzvot include anything from saying a prayer or lighting Shabbat candles to helping a stranger or donating to charity (called tzedakah). One of the main tenets of Judaism is tikkun olam, which directly translates to “repair the world” and means exactly what it says on the tin. Instead of focusing on being forgiven for doing bad Judaism focuses on doing good. The only day we focus on past wrongdoings is Yom Kippur, one of our most holy holidays, discussed below.

Holidays

Rosh Hashanah – The Jewish New Year, occurs around September and lasts for two days, though Reform Jews often only celebrate the first day. Day of happiness and joy, celebrated by eating sweet things for a “sweet new year” (often apples dipped in honey) and circular challah to represent the end of one year and beginning of another. Also celebrated with services and blowing the shofar (rams horn.) Some spend the day in prayer and/or silent meditation. Possible greetings: chag sameach (happy holiday; can be said on almost any holiday), Shana Tovah, or happy new year (which is what Shana Tovah means, some people just say it in English.)

Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement. Occurs ten days after the start of Rosh Hashanah. One of if not the most solemn day for Jews, but also the most holy. The day is spent reflecting on yourself and any past wrongdoings and atoning. The day (sundown the night before to sundown the day of) is spent fasting, a physical way of atoning. We do this in hopes of being “written in the Book of Life” and starting the year with a clean slate. The shofar is blown at the end of the holiday. Most Jews will end the fast with a grand meal with family and friends. Most common greeting is “have an easy fast,” but happy new year is still appropriate.

Sukkot – Celebrates the harvest, occurs on the fifth day after Yom Kippur and lasts seven days. Celebrated by building a temporary hut outdoors called a sukkah and having meals inside it, as well as shaking palm fronds tied together (called a lulav) and holding a citrus called an etrog. Very fun and festive holiday. Possible greetings include chag sameach or Happy Sukkot.

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah – Some Jews (mostly Reform Jews and Jews living in Israel) combine both holidays into one day while some celebrate them as two separate days. Either way they occur immediately after Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret is similar but separate from Sukkot and features a prayer for rain; Sukkot is not mentioned in prayers and the lulav isn’t shaken but you do eat in the sukkah. Simchat Torah celebrates finishing reading the Torah, which we will then begin again the next day. It’s a festive holiday with dancing and fun. Some Temples will roll the entire Torah out and the children will run under it. Appropriate greeting for both would be chag sameach.

Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah are referred to as the High Holidays.

Chanukah – We all know about Chanukah, celebrating the reclaiming of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. The most represented Jewish Holiday there is. Unfortunately it’s one of the least significant holidays for us. Occurs around November or December and lasts eight days and nights. Celebrated by lighting candles in the Menorah each night with a prayer and kids usually get gifts each night. Also celebrated with spinning tops called dreidels, fried foods like doughnuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew; usually the jelly filled ones) and potato pancakes called latkes. Greetings: happy Chanukah or chag sameach.

Tu B’Shevat – Birthday of the trees, basically Jewish Arbor Day. Minor but fun holiday, sometimes celebrated by planting trees. Occurs around January or February.

Purim – Celebrates how Queen Esther of Persia defeated Haman and saved her people, the Jews. Occurs in Spring. Festive holiday traditionally celebrated by dressing in costumes, eating sweets, and giving tzedakah (it’s also technically commanded you get drunk so woohoo!) Whenever Haman’s name is mentioned you make a lot of noise, booing and using noisemakers called groggers. Greetings: happy Purim, chag Purim, or chag sameach.

Passover/Pesach – Celebrates the Jews being freed from slavery in Egypt. Occurs in Spring and lasts eight days. The first two nights (some only celebrate the first night) are celebrated with seder, a ritual meal with certain foods, practices, prayers, and readings from a book called the Haggadah and often attended by family and friends. Most famous prayer/song of the holiday is the four questions, which ask why that night is different from all other nights and is traditionally sung by the youngest child at the seder. The entire holiday is spent not eating certain foods, mostly grain or flour (the food restrictions are complicated and differ based on denomination so look it up or ask a Jew.) We eat a lot of matzah during Pesach, which is like a cracker kinda. I personally hate it but some people actually like it. Greetings: happy Passover, chag pesach, or chag sameach.

Tisha B’Av – Anniversary of the destruction of the Temple. Occurs in Summer. Very sad, solemn day. Some celebrate by fasting from sunrise to sunset. Not the most widely celebrated holiday. Some also commemorate the Holocaust (also called the Shoah) on this day as it was the destruction of a figurative temple.

Denominations

There are a bunch of denominations in Judaism, we’ll go into it briefly.

Religious denominations:

Reform/Reformed: This is the least religiously observant level. Often Reform Jews don’t keep kosher or observe Shabbat, their services on Shabbat will use instruments. Reform Jews probably attend services for the high holidays at the very least and probably had a Bat/Bar Mitzvah. Might say they consider themselves more culturally Jewish. Their Temple/Synagogue will be the most “liberal”—aka have more female/diverse Rabbis and a more diverse congregation. I’m Reform and my Temple’s lead Rabbi is a woman and we used to have a Rabbi who’s a queer single mother.

Conservative: More religiously observant and more generally traditional. Might keep kosher or observe Shabbat, but not necessarily. Services likely won’t use instruments (not supposed to play instruments on Shabbat). Most likely had a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, but girls might not read from the Torah, though this depends on the congregation. They do allow female Rabbis, but in my experience it’s less common.

Modern Orthodox: Very religiously observant but also embrace modern society. Will keep kosher and observe Shabbat. Men will wear kippot (singular=kippah) and tzitzit under their shirts. Women will cover their hair (if they’re married), most likely with a wig, and wear modest clothing (only wear skirts that are at least past their knees and long sleeves). Emphasis on continued study of Torah/Talmud. Parents will likely have jobs. Might have larger families (aka more children) but might not. Services will be segregated by gender, girls won’t read from the Torah publicly, and female Rabbis are very rare. Children will most likely attend a religious school. Will attend shul services every Shabbat and for holidays.

note: there are some people who fall somewhere between modern Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox, or between any two denominations really. as you can imagine people don’t all practice the exact same way.

Ultra-Orthodox: Very religiously observant and not necessarily modern. Will keep kosher and observe Shabbat. Men will wear kippot or other head coverings and tzitzit under their shirts, and are also often seen wearing suits. Women will cover their hair (if they’re married) with a wig or scarf and wear modest clothing (only wear skirts that are at least past their knees and long sleeves). Emphasis on continued study of Torah/Talmud. Men might have jobs but might instead focus on Jewish studies, while women most often focus on housework and child-rearing. Don’t believe in contraception (but this is kinda nuanced and depends). Will often have very large families because having children is a commandment and helps continue the Jewish people. Might be shomer negiah which means not touching members of the opposite sex aside from their spouse and some close family members. Services will be segregated by gender, girls won’t read from the Torah publicly, and there won’t be female Rabbis. Children will attend a religious school. Will attend shul services every Shabbat and for holidays.

Ethnic denominations (the different denominations do have some differences in practices and such but tbh I don’t know much about that so this is just the basics):

Ashkenazi: Jews that originate from Central/Eastern Europe. Yiddish, a combination of Hebrew and German, originated from and was spoken by Ashkenazim and while it’s a dying language it’s spoken among many Orthodox Jews and many Jews of all levels know/speak some Yiddish words and phrases. Majority of Jews worldwide are Ashkenazi.

Sephardi/Sephardic: Jews that originate from the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, and southeastern Europe. Ladino, a combination of Old Spanish and Hebrew, originated from and was spoken by Sephardim. It is also a dying language but is still spoken by some Sephardim. After Ashkenazi most of the world’s Jews are Sephardic.

Mizrahi: Jews that originate from the Middle East and North Africa.

Ethiopian Jews: Community of Jews that lived in Ethiopia for over 1,000 years, though most have immigrated to Israel by now.

Stereotypes/Tropes/Controversies/Etc.

There are so many Jewish stereotypes and shit and I ask you to please be mindful of them. Stereotypes do exist for a reason, so some people will fit stereotypes. This means your character might fit one or two; don’t make them fit all of them. Please. Stereotypes to keep in mind (and steer away from) include:

All Jews are rich.

All Jews are greedy.

All Jews are cheap/frugal.

All Jews are [insert job here]. We’ll go into this more below.

All Jews hate Christians/Muslims/etc.

All Jews are white.

First of all Ethiopian and Mizrahi Jews exist, many Sephardi are Hispanic, and today with intermarriage and everything this just isn’t true.

All Jews have the same physical features: large and/or hooked nose, beady eyes, droopy eyelids, red hair (this is an old stereotype I didn’t really know existed), curly hair.

Many Jews do have somewhat large noses and curly hair. I’m not saying you can’t give these features to your characters, but I am saying to be careful and don’t go overboard. And don’t give all of your Jewish characters these features. As a side note, it is common at least among American Jews that girls get nose jobs. Not all, but some.

Jews are secretly world elite/control the world/are lizard people/new world order/ any of this stuff.

STAY AWAY FROM. DO NOT DO THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. If you have a character that’s part lizard, do not make them Jewish. If you have a character that’s part of a secret group that controls the entire world, do not make them Jewish.

Jews have horns. If you have characters with horns please don’t make them Jewish.

Jews killed Jesus.

The blood libel. Ew. No.

The blood libel is an antisemitic accusation/idea/concept that back in the day Jews would murder Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals and sometimes even for consumption (did I mention gross?) Not only did this just not happen, but it’s actually against Jewish law to murder, sacrifice, or consume blood. Yes these accusations really happened and it became a main reason for persecution of Jews. And some people still believe this shit.

Jews caused The Plague.

The reason this conspiracy exists is because many Jews didn’t get The Plague and the goyim thought that meant it was because the Jews caused it/cursed them. The real reason Jews didn’t get it is because ritual hand-washing and good hygiene kept them from getting it. Sorry that we bathe.

Jewish mother stereotype.

Ok, listen. I know stereotypes are mostly a bad thing but I have to admit the Jewish mother stereotype is not far off. Jewish moms do tend to be chatty and a little nagging, are often very involved in their children’s lives, and they are often trying to feed everyone (although they don’t all cook, my mom hates cooking.) They also tend to be big worriers, mostly worrying about their family/loved ones. They also tend to know everyone somehow. A twenty minute trip to the grocery store can turn into an hour or two long trip because she’ll chat with all the people she runs into.

Jewish-American Princess (JAP) ((I know calling Japanese people Japs is offensive. Jews will call girls JAPs, but with a completely different meaning. If that’s still offensive I am sorry, but just know it happens.))

This is the stereotype that portrays Jewish girls/women as spoiled brats basically. They will be pampered and materialistic. Do these girls exist? Definitely. I still recommend steering away from this stereotype.

Names

Listen. Listen. There are some names that Jews just won’t have. I won’t speak in definites because there are always exceptions but you’ll rarely find a Jew named Trinity or Grace or Faith or any form of Chris/Christopher/Christina etc. Biblical names from the Old Testament? Absolutely Jews will have those names they’re actually very common.

I’m in a Jewish Sorority. My pledge class of ~70 girls had five Rebeccas and four Sarahs. Surprisingly only one Rachel though.

When it comes to last names I have two thoughts that might seem contradictory but hear me out: a) give your Jewish OC’s Jewish surnames, b) don’t give your Jewish OC’s the most Jewish surname to ever exist.

By this I mean I would much rather see a character named Sarah Cohen or Aaron Levine than Rachel Smith. Just that little bit of recognition makes a happy exclamation point appear over my head, plus it can be a good way to hint to readers that your OC is Jewish.

On the other hand, please don’t use the most stereotypical Jewish names you’ve ever heard. If you have five Jewish OCs and one of them is Isaac Goldstein then fine. If Isaac Goldstein is your only Jewish OC I might get a little peeved. There are tons of common Jewish surnames that are recognizable and easy to look up, so don’t revert to the first three that come to mind. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it yucky, for lack of a better word.

Jobs

We all know there are certain jobs that are stereotypical for Jews to have. We’re talking lawyer, dentist, doctor, banker type stuff. To an extent these stereotypes exist for a reason, many Jews go into those careers. Do not make these the only careers your Jewish OCs have. Stereotypes might have reasoning behind them but it doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful. If you have multiple Jewish OCs some of them can have these careers, but not all of them. I do know a lot of Jewish lawyers, dentists, and doctors. I also know accountants, people involved in businesses (“mom, what does Brad do?” “he’s a businessman” sometimes there just aren’t more specific words), people involved in real estate. I don’t actually know any bankers personally, and with money and stuff being one of the most common and harmful Jewish stereotypes I would suggest steering away from that.

These are common fields for Jews, but Jews can have literally any job. Please feel free to get creative. And if you have more than one Jewish OC you can think about making one of them a Rabbi, but DON’T do this if they’re the only Jewish OC. Please.

Yiddish

So I mentioned Yiddish earlier. Like I already said, it’s not a very widely used language anymore but there are some words and phrases that are still used by a lot of Jews (in America at least.) Here’s a list that is absolutely not comprehensive:

Oy vey = oh no

Shvitzing = sweating (but not just a little bit. Shvitzing is like SWEATING)

Kvetch/kvetching = whine/whining or complain/complaining

Mazel tov = congratulations; this is the same in Yiddish and Hebrew

Chutzpah = nerve or gall (e.g. “He’s got a lot of chutzpah for breaking up over text like that”)

Kismet = fate; I just learned this is Yiddish

Bubbe and Zayde = grandma and grandpa

Schelp/schlepping = drag/dragging, can also mean carry or move (e.g. “I had to schlep the bag all around town” doesn’t mean they literally dragged it)

Schmutz = dirt or something dirty (e.g. “you have schmutz on your face”)

Schmatta = literally means rag but can be used to refer to ratty blankets or clothes

Plotz = collapse (usually used in the sense of “I’m so tired I might plotz” or “she’s gonna be so excited she’s gonna plotz”)

Schmuck/shmendrick = both mean more or less the same, a jerk or obnoxious person

Shtick = gimmick, routine, or act (can be used like (“I don’t like that comedian’s shtick” or “he always makes himself the center of attention it’s his shtick”)

Spiel = long speech, story, or rant

There’s so many more so look them up and think about using them, but don’t overdo it. A Jewish person isn’t gonna use a Yiddish word in every sentence (or even every day or every few days.)

Israel

In my community at least it’s very common that by the time your college-aged that you’ll have been to Israel at least once.

Israel is a controversial topic within the Jewish community and in the world. It’s sensitive and complex. I really, really suggest not getting into it. Just don’t bring it up because no matter what you say someone will be unhappy. Just don’t do it.

Ashkenazi Disorders

Ashkenazi Jews have some sucky genes (I’m Ashkenazi so I can say this, you cannot.) These sucky genes cause certain disorders to be more prevalent for us. Children only get the disorder if both parents are carriers of the disorder, so Jews usually get genetic testing done before having children. If both parents are carriers the risk of the child getting the disorder is high, so parents might reconsider or have some indecisiveness/fear. Some of these are:

Tay-Sachs

Cystic Fibrosis

Canavan Disease

Familial Dysautonomia

Gaucher Disease

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Fanconi Anemia

Mucolipidosis IV

Niemann-Pick Disease

Torsion Dystonia

Bloom Syndrome

Ashkenazi Jews also have a high prevalence of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women and increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer in men.

Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Lactose Intolerance are also very prevalent

In a dorm of like 40 Jews, six of them had Crohn’s.

Ways to Show Your OC is Jewish

Wears Jewish jewelry, e.g. Star of David (also called Jewish Star and Magen David), Chai symbol (means life), jewelry with Sh’ma prayer, or hamsa (but beware this symbol is used outside of Judaism).

Mentions their temple, their Rabbi, having a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, going to Hebrew School, Shabbat, or a holiday coming up.

Have someone ask them a question about Judaism.

Have someone notice they have a mezuzah on their door.

Most Jews will have a mezuzah on the doorframe of the front door of their house/apartment, but they could even have one for their dorm room or whatever. It’s traditional to kiss your hand then touch the mezuzah when walking through the door, but most Jews don’t do this every time, at least not most Reform or Conservative Jews.

Have them call out antisemitism if you’re feeling spicy

The end! I hope this helped and if you have any questions my ask box is always open!

#writing advice #writing tips #writing help #jewish characters #judaism #writing resources #writeblr community #wtwcommunity #i said i would make this post literally months ago but i finally did it!

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buttsonthebeach · 5 years ago

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The Turning of the Year

@scharoux did me the honor once again of asking me to write about Rhaella, and this time I got to write about my favorite seasons EVER at the same time! Hurray for fall and fluff! Thank you as always dear friend <3

My Ko-Fi || My Commissions (Slots currently open as of 10/16/19)

Other pieces about Rhaella I have written include:

1. All Things Green and Growing

2. The Long Road Back (**this new piece takes place the closest in time to this one)

3. The Same Kind of Scar

4. World Without End

5. The Last Game Pt. 1, the Last Game Pt. 2, and the Last Game Pt. 3 (contains explicit content)

Pairing: Solas x Rhaella Lavellan

Rating: Teen for some smooches and vague sexual references

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Fall had come to Skyhold. Rhaella could see it from her balcony. They'd struggled to the castle through the last, vicious winter snows, and then they had melted away into a delicate spring, and at some point it had become summer, hotter than she had expected, muggier. It seemed like every time she left for a mission she returned to a different season, like Skyhold was a person who wore many faces, like she would never really know it. Then she managed to stay long enough - bogged down in preparations for their march to the Arbor Wilds - that she saw fall creep over the peaks and valleys surrounding it, one pinprick of color against grey slate at a time. First a flash of orange, and then red, and then the whole mountain was that riot of color she associated with her favorite season. The heat of summer was melting away and while some members of the Inquisition grumbled about it, Rhaella sought out the chill, relishing the gooseflesh it raised all over her skin.

That was how she found herself standing on the balcony, with a blanket wrapped tight around her shoulders, admiring the waves of color proceeding down the mountain into Ferelden like the folds of a woman's gown, realizing that this would be the first fall that she did not celebrate Soulsday.

It was her favorite holiday - the one she had the most cherished girlhood memories of, the time many of her best memories of her parents hailed from. There'd be the same chill in the air, the same dazzling colors, the smell of woodsmoke and the snap of dried twigs underfoot. Her mother always made the best dolls out of those dried twigs, and the clan elders would do the same, except they would use them to tell stories of the Creators by firelight, and all of them knew they would culminate in the ultimate story on Soulsday itself: the tale of Fen'Harel. The hunters would go out for long hunts on those chilly days, catching enough food for the feast to come. It was around Soulsday that Rhaella's father first let her try her own small bow, began teaching her how to anchor the arrow to the corner of her lip and to keep her elbow down.

The rest of the clan would busy themselves with gathering the gourds and squash growing in patches - skin thick and colored bright orange, pale yellow, and green, covered in strange knobs that all the children would touch and squeal over, that teenagers teased each other about because they so resembled the blemishes covering their faces, or the faces of the old. They hollowed them out, roasted and ate the meat and seeds alike, and then the most skilled among them began to carve them into scenes from their history, or the faces of gods and demons. Maybe that was the thing that had recalled those nights to her most clearly - the taste of the squash, sweet and smoky and soft. They’d had it in a soup in the great hall the night before. Maybe that was why she stood on the balcony reimagining all of these scenes, replaying them.

They would never play again in real life. Rhaella’s clan was dead now. The words still hurt to think, but that was a good thing. It was a pain she deserved. It was hero own fault, after all. She only hoped she would do better by the Inquisition.

Rhaella watched two birds wheeling in the sky - hawks perhaps - and thought of her flight from Skyhold. How she’d sought to protect the Inquisition from her failures, how she’d been so certain it was the right thing to do. How Solas had gone and brought her back. They’d shared a night alone in the Emerald Graves then, bodies pressed close, breaths coming harsh, but no barriers has been crossed. Whatever his reservations were about crossing it, she respected them. But standing there, alone on the balcony, she wished suddenly that he was there. Sidling up behind her, perhaps, having just woken up from the bed they both shared. Sliding underneath the blanket she had around her shoulders, his chest still bare, the two of them sharing each other’s warmth while they looked out over the gold-lined mountains and the brilliant trees.

Rhaella shook herself from her reverie. It wasn’t an impossible dream. They were both here in Skyhold, both in the same holding pattern of waiting for troops and trebuchets and letters from the Orlesians pledging aid. She was Inquisitor. If she declared she was taking a day to train outside the fortress with her most experienced mage, no one would question it. Or, if they did question it, they would not do so to her face. She went back into her room, the matter decided. It was her favorite time of year. She would spend it with the person she loved the most, away from all of this. She deserved that much. He would tell her so himself, silencing the little voice that tried to say otherwise, snaking like a thin trail of smoke through her mind.

“Soulsday?” Solas asked, an eyebrow quirked, when she came and found him.

“Surely you’ve heard of it.”

“Only a little. It shall be an opportunity for you to educate me further.”

“Well, I suppose the first thing I should mention is that it’s actually later in fall. After the equinox and the harvest, just as the days start to grow short. But we will likely be on the road to the Arbor Wilds by then, and all that really matters to me is that it feels like fall now. Well, and I’ve seen patches of squash and gourds further down the mountain, and they look ripe enough for our purposes. That’s important, too.”

Solas raised his eyebrows further.

“Has Dorian had it wrong all this time? Will we be dancing naked in a patch of gourds rather than surrounded by flowers?”

Rhaella laughed. “Only if you want to. I have to say that isn’t part of the Soulsday tradition.”

Solas smiled. He shifted so their bodies were closer as they both leaned against his desk. Not quite touching, but close enough to thrill.

“I look forward to learning the rest, vhenan. May I have an hour or so to wrap up what I am doing here?”

“Of course. I need to gather a few things anyway.”

Her gathering consisted of going to the kitchen and requesting two canteens filled with apple cider they’d just imported from Ferelden, plus a few actual apples besides; a bundle of cinnamon sticks; two small, sharp paring knives as well as two sturdy metal spoons; four small beeswax candles; and some of their usual trail mix to tide them over, along with cheese and peppered salami. Her last addition was two hand pies that the cook insisted she take, which she said were filled with spiced apples and currants and dried cranberries. They were an Orlesian delicacy, not something that would remind her of home at all, but they smelled divine, and Rhaella could not say no.

That done, she went to the great hall to wait for Solas. He emerged from the rotunda dressed warmly, wrapped in dark green and brown woolen clothes that she was sure would give Vivienne, Dorian, and Leliana a fright if they saw them. True, they were simple, and ragged at the edges, but there was something about those very qualities that soothed and endeared Rhaella to him. He was formidable in his armor, especially the newest set Harritt and Dagna had made for the journey to the Temple of Mythal, but this made him look more at ease. She wanted to hug him at once, breathe in the smell of wool and him.

“Inquisitor,” he said, smooth and professional, when he reached her. They were in public, after all.

“Let’s go,” she said, and they set off together down the great staircase and across the courtyard, to where their harts were saddled and ready for them.

They rode down the gray stone path that led away from Skyhold and Rhaella breathed in deep, drawing as much of the crisp air into her lungs as she could. This high up in the mountains, you could already taste the frost on your tongue. Fall would be shorter here than it was back in the Free Marches. She would need to enjoy it while she could.

There was always the chance that this would be her last fall, after all. Who knew what Corypheus had in store. There was no guarantee that she would succeed. She had already failed Clan Lavellan after all.

Rhaella clenched her left hand, though the Anchor was quiet in her palm, though Solas had told her over and over again that she should not give in to the snarling voice in her head that wanted to lay those deaths at her feet. Today would not be about those thoughts. Today would only be about the season that she had always loved, and the man she had grown to love.

“Where are we headed?” Solas asked. The difference in his voice when they were alone was subtle but it was there - the softening of it, the warmth. They weren’t Inquisitor and Fade expert here. They just were, the same way the mushrooms crowding in the underbrush on either side of the road were.

“There’s a grove I noticed on our last trip back from the Storm Coast,” Rhaella said. “There was a patch of vines that I think might have grown some fall squash now. Pumpkins, maybe.”

“Ah. I think I know the one, and I agree. It did look like that sort of vine.”

A smile tugged on the edges of Rhaella’s lips. It was one of the first things they’d bonded over, after all - their shared love of the natural world. Of course he’d noticed the same thing she had.

The grove was not far - only an ambling twenty minute ride away - but it was around a bend in the road, nestled in-between two high cliffs, so that you could not see Skyhold at all, and that made it feel a world away. It was as grand as the castle Rhaella’s forces called home, for all that it was only a grove; tall pines marked the entrance to it, defiantly green in the face of the mountain chill and the change of seasons. Interspersed between them were scarlet maple trees. She dismounted, and, not even bothering to tether Thistle breathed in the smell of damp, loamy earth, the sharp herby notes of the elfroot that had sprung up between all of it. Solas dismounted near her, and came to stand close, not quite touching.

“It is lovely here,” she said. “I was just thinking how this is as grand as Skyhold, in its own way.”

Solas smiled, though it did not quite reach his eyes.

“Our people would have agreed, in ancient times. They lived intertwined with nature in a way that I think even the Dalish do not understand. If they had built a house here, it would have been part of these very trees, this very earth, instead of simply resting within it.”

“I see,” Rhaella said, arching an eyebrow. “Shall I show you how we Dalish live within nature, then?”

Solas’s cheeks were already pinked by the cold, but she suspected some of it was shame, as he turned from her and began to tether his own mount.

“Yes, you shall.”

Their harts tethered, they went further into the grove. Solas took her hand as they walked. It was almost cold enough that she regretted not wearing gloves, but the feeling of his palm against hers, warm and calloused, was well worth it. Soon the trees parted and the patch of vines was visible, and Rhaella’s hopes were rewarded: it had yielded three perfect pumpkins, untouched by any frost, still vibrantly orange and plump.

“Oh, these are perfect,” she said as they drew close to them, running their hands over the leathery skin.

“Should I start building a cooking fire?” Solas asked.

“No. We won’t be cooking them. I brought other food for us. But a small fire for warmth would be perfect.”

Solas looked curious, but he did as he was told. Rhaella harvested the three pumpkins while he worked, cutting them free of their thick, prickly vines and setting them up neatly in a row. One was taller than the rest - exactly the sort the hahrens would choose to carve a more dramatic scene. Perhaps Mythal rising up into the form of a dragon, or Elgar’nan raining his wrath down from the skies, or Fen’Harel howling with glee, the Creators trapped in a prison above him. The other two were fatter and wider, the sort they would give to the younger craftsmen of the clan to do a simpler image - perhaps a halla with its curving horns, or the pattern of vallaslin, or the leering face of a demon.

Behind Rhaella, the fire crackled to life, filling the grove with the scent of woodsmoke. It already clung to Solas’s clothes and she breathed deep when he sat beside her, drinking it in.

“What are we to do with these, then?” Solas asked.

“We’re going to carve them and put a candle inside when we are finished. My clan used to have dozens of these carved and ready by Soulsday. They’d light up the whole camp with images from myth and legend and history, and demons and spirits besides. The idea is that Soulsday is when the Veil grows thinnest, when our ancestors can peer through and see us, and these lanterns guide them here. Even the Creators are able to look down from their prison on that day, and we want them to know that we have not forgotten their names or their stories.”

Rhaella found herself leaning in to Solas as she talked, looking up at the pale blue sky above them. His arm was around her waist, his thumb tracing idle circles there. The rest of his body was oddly tense, as though he had not fully relaxed into the embrace.

“Of course, if they can see us, and so can our ancestors, Fen’Harel can as well. So we also carve the faces of terrifying demons and put them around the perimeter of the camp, trying to ward him off. I was thinking this shorter pumpkins on the left and right would be good for one of those faces. The taller one is good for a more intricate scene, although I don’t know if I have the skill to do one justice. What do you think?”

Solas was quiet a moment, his body remaining still and tense. Then he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead, the kind that made her whole body shiver.

“Whatever you would like to do, my heart.”

“Let’s do one of each,” Rhaella said after a moment’s thought. “Something to scare away the bad things, something to attract an ancestor, and something to honor the past.”

“Very well.”

They had to break apart to have enough room to work. Rhaella spread out a blanket and they sat on opposite ends of it, their feet brushing one another’s, the pumpkins they’d selected in the space between them.

“I will work on one to frighten away your Fen’Harel,” Solas had said, taking one of the smaller pumpkins and one of the exquisitely sharp knives Rhaella had borrowed from the kitchen.

“I’ll do one to guide my parents,” Rhaella said.

It was what she did every year - what she and her father had done together in the years after her mother died. She felt bad sometimes that she usually only had the time to do one. Other families within the clan - larger ones, with siblings and cousins and aunts and uncles - could do whole groups of pumpkins so that the area surrounding their aravels blazed with light. If there was an afterlife, their ancestors would surely have no trouble finding their way home. She hoped the one small candle she lit every year was enough to guide her parents back.

She and Solas worked quietly together for a while. Rhaella got up at one point and went to her pack to retrieve their trail mix, cheese, and salami, and lay it out for both of them to enjoy. She watched Solas work out of the corner of her eye as she did so. She always loved to observe him when he was at his least guarded. She knew those moments were precious, meant only for her, that the way he dropped his guard when they were alone was one of the deepest signs of his love for her. She did not need to know why he carried his guard so high in the first place to know that.

He looked very serious as he carved, the way he did when he was painting. His eyebrows were knit close together and he chewed on his bottom lip from time to time as he regarded his canvas, treating it with no less care than he treated the walls of his rotunda, where he painted the story of her time as Inquisitor. There was a similar heaviness in his shoulders, the set of his jaw. As if he considered this as important and as permanent.

“What are you thinking?” She asked at last, passing him a canteen of cider.

He took a drink before answering.

“That the Dalish belief of what would frighten Fen’Harel is an odd one. He is the Bringer of Nightmares, and yet the face of a demon is meant to ward him off?”

“Not just one demon. The whole clan helps carve all of these. There would a ring surrounding the entire camp on Soulsday. If a clan can command the loyalty of that many demons, Fen’Harel probably should be afraid. But it’s all superstition anyway.”

Solas nodded, his lips still pursed. Rhaella tried to lean over and see what he was carving, but he pulled the pumpkin protectively closer.

“Ah - not yet. Wait until I am finished.”

“Fine,” Rhaella sighed, adding a dramatic weariness to the word. It made Solas smile, and that warmed her from head to toe.

For her part, she worked on a variation of a design she had done many times since her parents died. A wreath of prophet’s laurel, and a bow and arrow in the middle. The natural world, the plants and medicine she’d learned from her mother, and the hunting she’d learned from her father. They were gifts she still used to that day. If they could see this offering - and she hoped they did - she hoped that they knew that.

Our time together was short, she thought as she worked. But you taught me well. Maybe it’s better that you didn’t live to see these times. If you had been among the dead of Clan Lavellan -

She would not have been able to stand that. Nothing Solas could have said when he pursued her would have worked.

The day wore on as they carved, each enjoying the silence, each stealing glances at one another. They paused now and again to enjoy the food Rhaella had brought, though she saved the hand pies as a secret treat. It turned out that Solas had brought the small cooking pot he took with him on the road, so they were able to heat up the cider she’d gotten from the kitchen and enjoy it warm from the small tin cups he always carried. Rhaella put a cinnamon stick in each one, and the air was rich with the scent of that warm spice, along with the anise and clove that the chefs had used to prepare it. Solas let out a quiet exhale of enjoyment after his first sip that made Rhaella curl her toes. They so rarely got these moments. She wanted to commit every bit of it to memory.

Rhaella finished her carving first. Solas, ever the artist, insisted on going over every detail a second time before he allowed her to see his work. When at last he turned his pumpkin around so she could see, her breath caught in her throat. He’d carved the face of a Pride demon, so real, so covered in crags, that a chill passed through her. Its six eyes seemed to stare directly into her, and the sneer of its lip captured the essence that it embodied.

“Well done, vhenan,” she said finally.

Solas shrugged. “Of all the demons, it seemed the most likely to frighten Fen’Harel.”

Something was bothering him. Rhaella could sense it, even if she could not put her finger directly on it, could not identify the exact source. She walked over to him, sat behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist. It was the reverse of what she had imagined that morning on the balcony - her comforting him with the weight of her body, rather than him slipping in behind her.

“Then I am confident he will not bother us tonight,” she said. A little chill ran down her spine at her own words. The implication there, the idea that they could spend the night here in this grove, undisturbed, just the two of them and the autumn stars above, the whistle of the wind in the pine trees.

Solas said nothing in reply. He only leaned his head against hers. She turned and kissed his jaw, and then the pulsepoint just behind it, felt his sharp intake of breath, the way he always melted into her when she showed him tenderness. She kissed him on his neck, felt the gooseflesh rise on his skin. She tightened the hold of her arms around his waist and just held him, and he let her.

“You’re a much better carver than I am,” she murmured finally. “You should do the big pumpkin.”

“We shall do it together. You must instruct me in what I shall carve.”

“Well, we’ve done one for my ancestors, and one to keep the Dread Wolf at bay. We should do one to honor the Creators, for the sake of tradition.”

Solas played with his carving knife, idly twisting it this way and that. “Mythal, then?”

“That’s what I was thinking. Sometimes we’d just do their vallaslin or some other object related to them, and sometimes it would be a scene from one of their stories.”

Solas nodded, drawing the last uncarved pumpkin closer to them and studying it, turning it this way and that, probably looking for the flattest, smoothest side of that.

“I have an idea,” he said. “But you have a very important job while I work. You must tell me stories of the Soulsdays of your youth. And you must not move from where you are right now.”

Rhaella felt warm from the tips of her toes to the crown of her feet at his words. She buried her face against the back of his neck, and he chuckled, and she felt the sound vibrate through her whole body.

She did exactly as he asked, talking while he worked. Her memories were not always happy ones - certainly not after her parents died, after the isolation set in - but she found the light where she could. She left her place behind him only once, to his joking admonishment, to retrieve the apples she’d brought and cut them up so they could eat while he carved. Sometimes she went quiet and watched him. His movements were deft and sure, and though it was chilly in the grove, he paused to roll up the sleeves of his sweater, baring his forearms. She could see the muscles working there as he expertly carved away pieces of the orange skin, sometimes just exposing the membranes beneath, other times carving all the way through. He’d already cut off the top and hollowed it out, of course. They’d tossed all their seeds near the patch, and Rhaella imagined that if they came back a year from now, there’d be another patch of pumpkins, and they could carve even more. It would be their secret, their tradition.

I’d have to survive another year for that to happen.

“Are you well?” Solas asked, pausing and turning just enough to see her out of the corner of his eye. She must have stiffened, or gone quiet for too long.

“Yes. I was just thinking about the seeds we threw over there. About whether or not they’d take root by this time next year. About whether or not we’d be here together ever again.”

She regretted the words as they were leaving her mouth. They rarely, if ever, spoke of the future. Too many things were uncertain, unknown. But Solas simply set down his carving knife, put the pumpkin gently aside, and turned to her, cupping her face with his hands. He smelled sweet, like the pumpkin itself, and his hands were sticky, but Rhaella loved both of those things. They grounded her in the here, in the now, in the present moment.

“It does not matter where we are a year from now or a hundred years from now,” he said. “The spirits will remember the memories we have made here today. I swear it.”

And then he kissed her, full on the mouth, deeply, his breath shuddering out of him as he parted her lips with his own. Rhaella made a helpless, pleased little sound against his mouth, and he returned it. They were both off balance, fell quickly backwards, with little grace, but that did not matter because Solas was warm and heavy on top of her, and Rhaella never wanted to let him go.

They did pull apart eventually, both sensing that precipice that they had not crossed yet. Solas’s pupils were blown wide, his eyes dark as a winter sky, his lips pink and swollen from the intensity of their kiss.

“Another memory for the spirits?” Rhaella asked, surprised how breathy she sounded.

Solas smiled. “I think I shall ask if we can keep that one for ourselves.”

They rearranged themselves, finished the carving of the pumpkin. It was a marvelous thing - the top part covered in the intertwining branches of Mythal’s most elaborate vallaslin, with a pair of eyes beneath it - her own, Rhaella realized with a shock that curled and uncurled in the pit of her belly, a racing, excited feeling. No one had ever memorialized her like this before. Beneath that was a statue like they’d seen in their travels - a woman with wings instead of arms, and at her feet, a wolf standing guard.

“This is the most marvelous thing I have ever seen,” Rhaella murmured. She looked around, took in the waning daylight. They’d been here longer than she intended, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel guilty. She needed this. “Shall we light them?”

They arranged all three in a row, put in the beeswax candles she had brought, and lit them. They glowed at once with life, that same magic she remembered from childhood, all the more mysterious because she could not explain it with theories of the Veil or the Fade. How was it that flickering orange light took this hollowed out pumpkin and made it seem to breathe, to live again? How was it that after all of these years she could still almost believe that the glow would draw the good things home again, and keep the bad things at bay?

It was just dark enough now that fireflies had emerged in-between the trees, winking at one another like stars that had come to earth. Solas put his arm around her waist and kissed the crown of her head.

“This is a lovely tradition,” he said. “I hope -”

He did not speak his hope aloud, but Rhaella felt it there between them like a third person. Like a ghost, or a spirit. He did not have to speak it aloud. That was the magic of this night. Not the supposed thinness of the Veil, but the lights amidst the coming darkness. The way they faithfully sent each hope and memory into the cold night air in trails of smoke - the way they winked and fluttered but did not go out.

Rhaella and Solas stood there until night had truly fallen, sipping cider, enjoying the Orlesian pies, watching the fireflies and the shifting red leaves on the maple trees, surrounded by hope and light. Then they put out the candles and packed up their things and rode home under the stars, feeling lighter themselves than they had when they left that morning - feeling ready for whatever was to come.

#beach does commissions #beach writes #rhaella lavellan #scharoux #rhaella x solas #solavellan #solavellan fanfic #dragon age fanfic

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the-cinnamon-snail · 2 years ago

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Guess I have to now.

So Arbor Day is a holiday here in the Midwest. It was made here. Basically it was because no trees were growing except near the rivers but the ground was great for it due to auquifers or however you spell it. So. April time I think. February at the earliest. No clue. Spring time. You plant a tree. That's it.

So I was thinking maybe in COTC (that's the acronym, right?) That Arbor Day could be a gardener or something. It really was just a one off thought.

@the-cinnamon-snail

TELL HIM ABOUT ARBOR DAY, PAX.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT ARBOR DAY!! /gen

#nah its fine #my fault too for being awkward about talking to you again

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tipsycad147 · 5 years ago

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Taurus April Yggdrasil Day

By shirleytwofeathers

Yggdrasil Day is celebrated either on April 22 or on the last Friday in April. It is not an old Northern tradition nor an ancient pagan celebration, it is a fairly new holiday in the Neopagan tradition and an alternative to Arbor Day.

This day is a time to contemplate the place of humankind within the nine worlds, and to celebrate the blessings of nature, often shown by planting a tree. This is also a time to celebrate one’s culture, heritage, and spirituality.

Regardless of faith, Yggdrasil Day is a great opportunity for anyone to give back to nature and recognise our inter-dependency on both one another and the natural world.

Arbor Day is all about trees, and their importance here on our tiny blue world. I am not sure how many trees are planted on this day worldwide, maybe millions, but none can compare to the greatest tree that was ever planted, Yggdrasil. Arbor Day is another one of those secular celebration days that I have borrowed, and use to honour something, or someone, in our great pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.

Today for me is Yggdrasil Day. A day to honour our Great World Ash for all that it does and means to us Midgardians. If you consider it to be an actual tree, or just some cosmic force that holds the nine worlds together is a matter for a later discussion. Either way it is to us, who follow the Old Ways, the great tree of life that binds our nine world cosmology together as one cohesive structure.

Let us not forget also that we here on Midgard have another very strong connection to trees in our lore. I quote from Voluspa,

“Until three of the Aesir assembled there, strong and benevolent, came to the sea. They found on the shore two feeble trees, Ask and Embla, with no fixed fate.”

Gylfaginning finishes the story:

“And they picked these up and created men from them. The first gave them spirit and life, the second understanding and power of movement, the third, form, speech, hearing and sight. They gave them clothes and names.”

The Gods gave life to the trees, and mankind was therefore born. Voluspa gives us a wonderful description of the Great Ash Tree:

“There is an ash tree, its name is Yggdrasil. A tall tree watered from a cloudy well. Dew falls from its boughs down into the valleys. Ever green it stands beside the Norn’ s spring.”

The importance and sacredness to the Gods is shown in Gylfaginning when Gangleri asks : ” Where is the chief place, or sanctuary of the Gods? ” High One replies: ” It is by the ash tree Yggdrasil. There every day the Gods hold court. ”

The High One then goes on to give the best description of Yggdrasil.

“The Ash is the best and greatest of all trees, its branches spread out over the whole world and reach up over heaven. The tree is held in place by three mighty roots that spread far out. One is among the Aesir; the second among the Frost Ogres, where once was Ginnungagap; the third extends over Niflheim, and under that root is the well Hvergelmir. But Nidhogg gnaws at the root from below. Under the root that turns in the direction of the Frost Ogres lies the Spring of Mimir, in which is hidden wisdom and understanding. The third root of the ash tree is in the sky, and under that root is the very sacred spring called Urd. There the Gods hold their court of justice.”

The High One adds later on:

“There is a great deal to tell about it . In its branches sits an eagle, and it is very knowledgeable. Between its eyes sits a hawk called Vedrfolnir. A squirrel named Ratatosk springs up and down the Ash and conveys words of abuse between the great eagle and Nidhogg. Four harts leap about the branches of the Ash and eat the shoots. And along with Nidhogg there are so many serpents that no tongue can count them.”

Yggdrasil is the cosmic World tree, and Ash tree, that binds this world to the others, to the world of the gods, of the spirits and ancestors, it is the symbol of our union with nature. In Nordic mythology, it was an ash tree known as Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree that symbolises the centre of the world, that Odin hung for nine days and nine nights in trance, received the sacred knowledge of runes, the Elder Futhark.

Yggdrasil has always played an important role in the lives of the Northern people of Europe. We have all came from nature and we will all return to it one day, so at this day we honour the forces of nature and we will always remember how important is to protect the world we live in.

Trees are the lungs of our world just has it is Yggdrasil in the Nordic cosmology, it is the shelter that gives us peace and protection, it is the spiritual path of the Gods and of our ancestors, the way which leads to the other worlds. And so as nature gives us these gifts, in turn we must honour it, and because a gift calls for a gift, in turn we must give to nature our protection, our care and our respect. In this day you should plant a tree, you should become the protector of those who have given you shelter, fight against the evils that are corrupting our natural world.

Celebrating Yggdrasil Day:

I honour the Great World Ash Yggdrasil every year on Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, with a full ritual, and by placing a new Valknut, Thor’s Hammer, or rune stone necklace on the branches of my artificial 6 ft. white ash tree that I have sitting next to Odin’s altar in my living room. I think it is very appropriate that the Great Ash sits next to the All – Father’s altar because of his many connections to Yggdrasil. I do not celebrate Christmas so to me this wonderful 6 ft. ash tree, with all its shining jewellery hanging in the branches, evokes the same emotions of joy and wonder that I used to experience as a child on Christmas morning.

The best thing is I get to experience it 365 days a year because I never take down the tree. It honours me with its presence, and I honour it with my presents, day after day, year after year. I found the 6 ft. ash at Amazon. com for about $ 300.00. It was definitely worth the money !

This year I am going to present the Great Ash with a very special gift that I found at the Scandinavian Festival last year. It is a beautifully carved Thor’s hammer. This white Thor’s hammer is hand carved out of bone, and has beads on either side of the Hammer. It looks kind of tribal ! It will make a beautiful addition to the dozen or so necklaces already hanging in its holy branches.

Coming just a week after Jord’s Day, ( Earth Day ), it is fitting to have a day to honour Yggdrasil, and to re- seed the earth with seedling trees. Planting trees is not only a great way to honour Mother Jord, and Yggdrasil, but it is also a wonderful gift for future generations of mankind. I cannot imagine a world without trees, and there would be no nine world universe without Yggdrasil the Great Nine World Ash!

More about the Ash Tree

The Ash tree – Fraxinus Excelsior is also known as guardian tree in all of Europe. With the exception of the Mediterranean region, this tree can live till three hundred years. Its leaves appear after its flowers and this strange detail led this tree to be know as the “Venus of the woods”. Its roots penetrate deeply into the ground causing difficulty to other kinds of vegetation to grow in there. Due to the hardness of its wood, it has been widely used for the manufacture of lances and tool handles. Thus it is possible that the name of this tree in English, derives from the Anglo-Saxon word Asec, which means “Ritual Spear.”

Celtic Druids once used the wood of these trees, to make their rods and staffs.

Traditionally the yule log (At the winter solstice) is of ash tree, this is because it is one of the few woods that can burn immediately, even though it is still green, and offers an excellent and long-lasting illumination.

The Icelandic word Aske, which has similarities with Ash, means “fire with large flame.” This tree is also sacred to the gods Thor and Odin.

Sources:

Wight of the Nine Worlds

New Tales of the Norse

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

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farrahfranklin · 6 years ago

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Say Hello to my new little friend! The Pygmy Slow Loris. 🥰 . . Lorises have a tail either very short or completely absent, and their heads and eyes are round, with small ears which are almost completely hidden by fur. The forelimbs and hindlimbs of lorises are nearly equal in length. All lorises have extremely strong fingers and toes, and they are capable of maintaining a powerful grip with either hands or feet for astonishingly long periods of time. They are arboreal and nocturnal, sleeping by day in hollowed out trees, tree crevices or branches. Generally they sleep curled up in a ball, with their heads tucked up under their arms. When they move, they do so with slow deliberate hand-over-hand movements, moving along as easily under a branch as above. They are capable of moving quickly if alarmed, but they do not jump or leap. As with other lorises, this species is an arboreal feeder that prefers to forage alone. These animals are omnivorous, eating many different types of plant and animal material. Fruits and gums make up more than 50% of the diet, but insects and small prey items are a valuable food item also (making up about 30% of the diet). Lorises use their acute sense of smell to locate prey in the dark. Because they are larger and more widely distributed than the pygmy slow loris, slow lorises get their protein from a greater variety of meat sources. Apart from insects, they have been known to eat mollusks, eggs, lizards, birds, and even small mammals. While this species may look very slow, it is capable of short bursts of very rapid movement when catching prey. They lunge at insects by clinging to a branch with their hind legs, then springing forward and snatching their quarry with both hands. They may then hang upside down to eat. . . #Thailand #Bangkok #PygmySlowLoris #Lemur #FloatingMarket #Vacation #Holiday #PassportReady #JungleBae #Culture #International #Travels #Jewels #History #FarrahsTravels #Memories #Namaste #Thankful 🙏🏽 #BucketList ✔�� #PositiveLife #WeLiveToExplore 🌎 #TravelWithSparkle ✨#PhotoOfTheDay #BeautifulDestinations #LivingMyBestLife 🙌🏽 #TeamFarrah 💋 #Melanin #BlackTravelFeed www.TravelWithSparkle.com (at Bangkok, Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuU4MaJgh9_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ll87o5b2axrv

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the-brandboy · 5 years ago

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121+ Catchy Arbor Day Slogans

121+ Catchy #Arbor #Day #Slogans

Arbor Day is a day on which people individually and also people in groups are encouraged to plant trees. In fact, in many countries, the arbor day is a holiday. Although Arbor Day is usually celebrated in the season of spring, the date of its celebration varies, because the celebration of this day depends on the climate which has to be suitable for planting.

In 1594, the mayor of the Spanish…

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kansascityhappenings · 6 years ago

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Here’s what your city is doing with downed trees and limbs left behind by winter storm

FOX4 reached out to numerous cities following the weekend winter storm that left snapped trees and downed limbs littering metro neighborhoods. Here are all of the city plans we’ve been able to gather as of Tuesday afternoon, and what you can do to clear your space:

Kansas City, MO:

Three leaf and brush drop off sites – 11660 N. Main St., 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway and 10301 Raytown Rd.- will remain open through Saturday, February 2.

The city is considering whether to schedule a pickup for downed branches.

Overland Park:

Debris drop off starts Tuesday, 1/15 at two locations: The Young’s Pool parking lot, 8421 W. 77th Street, and the St. Andrews Golf Club parking lot, 11099 W. 135th Street. The sites will be open from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily through January 27.

Olathe:

The city will sweep neighborhoods to pick up tree debris. Bulk pick-ups DO NOT need to be scheduled. Please place limbs at the curb by Monday, Jan. 28. They must be 15 feet or less in length.

Independence:

The city will be opening the drop-off depot for tree limbs but dates and times will not be determined until after this weekend’s (1/18-1/20) storm.

Lenexa:

With more snow in the forecast later this week and our crews still working to clean up from this storm, we are waiting to make a decision about tree limb dropoff until the next snow storm has passed.

Leawood:

The city will assist with pick up of branches that fell during the Jan. 12 storm. Due to snow predicted this weekend, we anticipate starting pick up on Tues, Jan 22. Limbs & bundles need to be under 6 ft. in length and placed curbside.

Blue Springs:

The city is not doing any city-sponsored storm debris drop-offs or pick-ups at this time.

Kansas City, KS:

Residents can dispose of limbs and debris at the Recycling Center located at 3241 Park Dr, Kansas City, KS 66102. Winter hours are Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The Unified Government is considering adjusting this time frame due to the upcoming winter storm forecast for this weekend.

Grandview:

Debris drop off starting tomorrow 1/16 at Grandview Ballpark, 13200 Arrington Road.

Merriam:

Residents can drop-off their storm debris at the Public Works Facility (6901 Knox) from Wednesday, January 16 until Wednesday, January 23. Drop-off hours will be 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. including Saturday, Sunday and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on Monday, January 21.

Shawnee:

We’ve been taking a close look at the forecasts that are calling for more rounds of winter weather in the next week. Because of that, we WILL open the storm debris drop-off site but we are going to wait until these systems move through before deciding the dates and hours. Thank you for your patience and we will announce the dates and hours next week.

Prairie Village:

The City of Prairie Village is coordinating curbside limb pick up with Republic Services and Arbor Masters. This plan is subject to change depending on circumstances and/or weather impacts. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 15, Republic Services will pick up smaller fallen limbs on resident’s regularly scheduled trash day. Residents should tie limbs into bundles no more than four feet in length, less than 18 inches in circumference, and less than 50 pounds. Arbor Masters will collect larger limbs that exceed the size specified above beginning Monday, Jan. 21.

Fairway:

The City will start collecting brush next week. More details will be released late this week.

Roeland Park:

Public Works staff will begin collections on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 on the West side of Roe Blvd. Once the westside of Roe Blvd is complete, public works will begin east of Roe Blvd.Public works staff will be picking up tree limbs that are no bigger than 10” in diameter. Staff will note the addresses of the limbs that are larger than 10” in diameter, and we will have our tree contractor pick up those larger limbs the following week.

Liberty:

We do not have anything planned at this time. We are going to evaluate after this coming weekend’s storm.

Raymore:

Raymore residents will be able to drop off downed limbs from the recent snow storm in dumpsters at City Hall’s north parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily– including weekends– from Tuesday, Jan. 15 to Friday, Residents will be required to show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or water bill, to use the dumpsters.

Belton:

The city of Belton will provide a drop-off site at Markey Park (615 W. Markey Road) for winter storm debris and tree limbs. Please see the map for location and route.

The drop-off will be open the following days/times:

Thursday 1/17 – 10 a.m.- Noon

Friday 1/18 – 10 a.m. – Noon

Saturday 1/19 – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Thursday 1/24 – 10 a.m. – Noon

Friday 1/25 – 10 a.m. – Noon

Saturday 1/26 – 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Saturday 2/2 – 8 a.m. -3 p.m.

Please provide proof of Belton residency by providing a driver’s license or water bill. This drop-off is for storm debris & tree limbs only. No trash or general yard waste will be accepted. Maximum length of limbs is 4 feet. Maximum diameter is 6″.

We’re still awaiting responses from the following cities, we’ll update this story when we get more information:

North Kansas City, Gladstone, Raytown, Lee’s Summit.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/01/15/heres-what-your-city-is-doing-with-downed-trees-and-limbs-left-behind-by-winter-storm/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/heres-what-your-city-is-doing-with-downed-trees-and-limbs-left-behind-by-winter-storm/

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robertpatrick8 · 6 years ago

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Show me the money: A look at incentive programs

They say money talks. And it seems lawn care technicians are listening. Companies are offering commission, bonus and incentive programs to increase production rates and motivate their lawn care crews to go the extra mile.

“In today’s competitive workplace, it takes a whole lot more than just a flat hourly rate to attract someone to be part of your company,” says Benjamin Allen, COO of Lawn-America in Tulsa, Okla. “Giving them some say in their ability to earn a living for their family is a good way to attract a good group of guys and girls to your workplace. It’s a competitive advantage for us.”

An eye on quality

LawnAmerica has had a technician commission system in place since the company started in 1999, and Allen says it’s been a large part of the company’s success over the years. The $8.6-million company provides 90 percent lawn care and 10 percent add-on services to a 90 percent residential, 10 percent commercial clientele.

“From our perspective, it is a form of shared ownership in the company,” Allen says. “The challenge of paying on an hourly basis is guys tend to work a set number of hours and then they’re done—their productivity isn’t necessarily tied to anything, and they get paid the same whether they produce well or poorly. When you move into a commission-based system, there is an incentive to perform well.”

LawnAmerica has both commission and incentive systems in place. Technicians earn 5 percent commission on everything they produce each day. They also have the opportunity to earn 2.5 percent commission on any sales they make, whether it’s bringing on a new customer or selling an add-on service to an existing client.

“The program incentivizes them to produce and sell,” Allen says. “If they are good and sell the services they also perform, they can turn the 5 percent commission into 7.5 percent commission.”

The company also implements team-based incentives for each crew. Once a crew exceeds its yearly goal—this year it is $200,000 per regular walking route—the standard 5 percent production commission doubles to 10 percent for the remainder of the year. Allen says this is the incentive that drives the best performance because it helps employees finish the year strong and provides extra money for them going into the holiday season.

“If they are in what we call ‘10-percent money,’ they have excelled and exceeded their original projections,” Allen says. “Being able to pay out a bit more at the end of the year is good motivation.”

LawnAmerica’s commission programs are tied to quality goals, which Allen says is a critical component of the systems’ success. The company keeps track of things like call backs, cancellations and customer retention rates. It also tracks each technician’s net promoter score, which is a management tool that can be used to gauge the loyalty of a firm’s customer relationships. Allen says this strategy helps keep everything balanced and prevents employees from abusing the commission systems.

“If their production rate is in line and their net promoter score is good, we know we have a good performer,” he says. “All the incentives tie together to build a safety net to make sure one isn’t being touted over the other. You have to watch the checks and balances and make sure you have someone who is doing well in all the metrics, not just excelling in one and failing in others.”

A bulletproof plan

Arbor-Nomics Turf in Atlanta has had technician commission and incentive systems in place for the past 15 years. Richard Bare, the company’s CEO, says the systems are beneficial for everyone involved, as production rates increase and technicians are rewarded for their hard work. Arbor-Nomics is a $10-million company that provides 90 percent lawn care and 10 percent tree/shrub care to a 99 percent residential clientele.

“We think a lot of technicians are money motivated and want to work hard and make good dough,” Bare says. “The commission system makes our guys feel that they are in control of their own fate every day based on what they do and don’t do.”

The Arbor-Nomics system is structured so if technicians exceed their weekly goal, they receive 10 percent of the extra production. Arbor-Nomics’ techs are eligible for time and a half and also receive 5 percent off the top of any sales they make. Bare says technicians can earn between $50,000 and $80,000 per year if they “really hustle and work their route.”

“The idea is to maximize the dollars from every stop,” Bare says. “If they have 10 stops at $100 each, they might hit their daily goal by noon and may bring in another $1,000 by the end of the day.”

Bare says the commission system has to be thorough and precise in order to be successful, as any holes in the program or unclear guidelines leave room for technicians to take advantage of the system. Companies interested in developing a commission or incentive system should implement it slowly, Bare says, and be very specific about the rules.

“You have to have this stuff well-thought-out and strictly put in place so there are no questions about it,” Bare says. “Sometimes guys can figure out how to work the system to benefit them in the short term. You have to keep in mind that a commission system can be a win-win, but it can also be a source of trouble.”

Keeping it simple

Spring Touch Lawn & Pest Control in St. Peter, Minn., implemented a technician commission program about two years ago to provide tangible goals for newer employees to work toward. Nathan Newlands, vice president of franchising, says since implementing the system, each technician’s production rate has gone up an average of 30 percent. Spring Touch provides 70 percent lawn care, 20 percent pest control and 10 percent irrigation services to a 95 percent residential, 5 percent commercial clientele.

“Rather than just getting their hours in, they are getting serious amounts of work done,” Newlands says. “The numbers are realistic ones that they can hit, and everyone across the board is benefiting.”

Spring Touch identifies six different technician levels, each based on the employee’s duration with the company, daily square footage requirements and certifications and licenses they earn. If a technician produces more square footage in a month than his level requires, he can receive 50 percent of the difference between the level reached and his current level. For example, if a level-one technician, who earns $12 per hour, produces work equivalent to a level-four technician who earns $14 per hour, the level-one tech would get a $1 bonus (50 percent of the $2-per-hour difference) for every hour he worked during the previous month. Spring Touch technicians also receive flat-fee bonuses for selling add-on services, securing new clients and earning new licenses and certifications.

“We were giving them time to study for certification exams, but they still weren’t passing,” Newlands says. “Already this year since we told them they would get paid extra, many have passed on the first try.

“It used to be that you just paid them to do their jobs,” Newlands adds. “But that doesn’t really work anymore.”

Newlands says it’s a good idea to keep the incentive system as simple and straightforward as possible to keep technicians engaged. For example, the company recently switched from a seven-level commission system to a six-level system to help simplify things. Spring Touch used to offer technicians a percentage of add-on sales or new client acquisitions, but switched to flat fees after they found that percentages were too vague to be meaningful. Newlands says they used to go over each technician’s goals only at the beginning of each month, but he noticed they tended to lose track of their progress as the weeks went by. Now, an office manager meets with all technicians weekly to review their status.

“If you stay on top of it and keep reminding them where they stand, they respond well,” Newlands says. “If they are really close to earning that bonus, they try to work a bit harder to get there.”

from Gardening Resource http://landscapemanagement.net/show-me-the-money-a-look-at-incentive-programs/

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worldupdatereviews2017-blog · 8 years ago

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Kat Von D Beauty Is Giving freely Loose Totes For Earth Day

New Post has been published on https://worldupdatereviews.com/kat-von-d-beauty-is-giving-freely-loose-totes-for-earth-day/

Kat Von D Beauty Is Giving freely Loose Totes For Earth Day

In case you’re doing a little shopping this Earth Day, one brand has were given you included. Kat Von D Splendor is Giving away Unfastened tote baggage for Earth Day, and the layout is awfully state-of-the-art. Similar to the holiday, this deal won’t be around for long, however, it’s a first-rate excuse to save some of your preferred KVD Splendor merchandise and get the maximum bang in your greenback.

With regards to cosmetics organizations, KVD Splendor ranks among a number of the great On the subject of attention. Kat Von D goes out of her way to make sure by-product her emblem sells are vegan and cruelty Loose. As though that wasn’t sufficient to convince you to keep, she’s also getting inside the excursion spirit with a Free tote promo. The bag says “kiss my studded lips” with a photograph of a brilliant red Studded Kiss Lipstick on one side and the KVD Splendor logo on the alternative side.

All you need to do to get the Loose tote is spend $25 or more on the Kat Von D Beauty site. You simplest have until Apr. 23 at 2: fifty-nine p.M. ET to get in on the Free bag amusing. The sooner you store the higher, because, according to the KVD internet site, when they sell out, they are long gone for correct. Of route, a laugh as purchasing an Earth Day promo might be, not anything beats donating to companies which are operating in the direction of protecting the surroundings, so make that a concern all yr lengthy.

Earth Day Records And Some Activities Which could Make A Difference

What’s Earth Day?

Earth Day became installation via U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson on Apr, twenty-two 1970. He became fearful about the growing environmental disaster and attempted to make it a regarded and mentioned difficulty. Beginning as an environmental teach-in in Philadelphia on April sixteen lasting till April twenty-two, without an official governing frame, it grew on the grassroots degree to an international day of environmental consciousness.

At the primary Earth Day in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia site visitors included; Senator Edmund Muskie ( creator of the Smooth Air Act, 1970 ), Ralph Nader, Ian McHarg Panorama dressmaker, George Wald a Nobel prize-prevailing Harvard Biochemist, Senate Minority Chief Hugh Scott and poet Allen Ginsberg. Since then, normal folks such as you and me, stars and politicians have thrown themselves into expressing the troubles of environmentally aware movements which includes recycling, electricity efficiency and reducing and/or reusing disposable gadgets. Progressing into a worldwide effort to shop our world, Earth Day become a global agency with a ruling body to gather Sports and thoughts.

At the same time as many human beings help Earth Day, there are remarks. Some people say that Earth Day has come to designate the marginalization of environmental protection, and the celebration of itself has outlasted its usefulness, writer Alex Steffen. In a Can also 5th Washington Times editorial Arbor Day became compared with Earth Day as Arbor Day being a happy, non-political birthday party of trees, Even as Earth Day changed into a pessimistic, political ideology that portrayed humans in a terrible mild. Peter Foster from Junk Science announces that Earth Day became conceived in counter-lifestyle hysteria and has evolved as a focal point for ideological competition to an industrialized society and cites the volcanic eruption in Iceland as evidence Mom Nature does what she pleases and that consists of polluting.

Whilst you examine it, Earth Day has Some vehement adherents and vehement detractors. Either way, hey each have a factor. We’re stewards of this planet and we are able to make A few kind of big messes, however the planet can make Some large messes of its own that we haven’t any power to govern. Feeling responsible approximately how you live your lifestyles isn’t any manner to stay; that includes the way you address the surroundings. We shouldn’t sense guilty or be coerced into trying new principles to maintain our planet Clean. We have to want to do what little we are able to to attempt to depart a higher vicinity for generations to return factoring in what we haven’t any manipulate of. Figuring out the reserves of Earth Day is a non-public name.

At least bringing to the forefront notion of the toxic chemical compounds used in masses of our regular merchandise is a pleasant thing. This has created a big commercial vacuum that corporations are spending to fill. Taking the green approach to packaging and making their merchandise, businesses have jumped on the bandwagon of environmentally pleasant products. Retaining poisonous components out of our cleaning and regular merchandise will move an extended way to help the surroundings and our own family’s health.

One manner to help the planet is by way of shopping earth friendly cleaning products. One employer has been around making and selling non-harmful and biodegradable cleaners and fitness merchandise In view that earlier than Earth Day and environmental problems were based. Dr. Shaklee founded the Shaklee co. And delivered the first biodegradable utility purifier and official Earth Day by-product over 50 years back known as Primary-H.

As in line with the tempo and fashion Shaklee has evolved a cleaning machine any valet of the environment would like to have. It’s far called Get Clean and comes in a starter package that has everything you need to replace all of the noxious cleaners most families now use and out-plays eleven national brands. This kit facilitates to take away 108 pounds of waste from landfills, 248 pounds of CO2 emissions and is the equal of planting ten bushes. Oldsters using those merchandise have lately stored sufficient plastic from going into landfills to circle the globe over 19 Times.

Whether or not you believe the politics behind Earth Day, leaving our international higher than we observed it ought to be counted for something. we can be capable of determine to shop for concentrated merchandise that we add water to, to reduce the quantities of waste or reuse or recycle our trash. We’re able to use non-adverse cleaners that hold chemical compounds out of our water. Our global is changing as it has via Records, what we determine to do or not to do, will impact our destiny.

Grass Root Efforts Promote Earth Day What is Earth Day?

While you’ve got possibly heard the phrases “Earth Day”, did you realize there are observations of Earth Day? The United International locations celebrates at the equinox; loads of nations celebrate Earth Day annually on April 22nd. each activities have been birthed in 1969, with grassroots efforts, a focal point of environmental focus, and party of Earth.

activities to Main to Earth Day

Prior to 1970, conservatism become an concept held via a minority of humans. The notion that herbal resources might emerge as devastated to the point of extinction did now not enter our collective thought. Pollutants, from our homes, cars, and conduct, became a normal industry ed81d2c1d705861968d8963ac974ba36. The concept of being the arena’s steward was lumped in a mindset of ‘a hippie component’ and now not understood through mainstream The us. two previous events tilted our environmental attention: a e-book and a photograph.

In 1962, marine biologist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. The book mentioned the commonly used, toxic insecticides utilized in agriculture and day by day existence. The name cited the consequences of the devastating insecticides: a international without birds. Highly, Silent Spring have become a success. People cared, and that they wanted the records.

In 1968, the sector saw the entire Earth for the primary time. Apollo astronauts photographed the planet on their flight home from the moon. The Earth seemed beautiful with its swirls of blues and whites. The photo supplied a startling awareness: people noticed Earth as susceptible and wanting human care.

Earth Day is Born

In 1969, John McConnell promoted Earth Day as a global party of Earth’s gifts. The equinox seemed becoming time, as it turned into the mid-point of spring and autumn across the hemispheres. A peace activist, McConnell first offered his Earth Day concept to an audience on the UNESCO Convention on the surroundings. He wanted Earth Day to be a global holiday, in which the sector celebrates Earth’s wonders and gifts.

On March 21, 1970, cities across the globe celebrated Earth Day. McConnell created an Earth Day proclamation that known as upon people to do so against crises of the arena, consisting of famine, battle, and poverty. The proclamation also said that members might rejoice and worldwide Earth Day to create a single community and embody Earth’s gifts. The proclamation changed into encouraged by using 9aaf3f374c58e8c9dcdd1ebf10256fa5 people and leaders round the arena: astronaut Buzz Aldrin, anthropologist Margaret Mead, inventor-scientist Buckminister Fuller, Japanese environmental scientist, Y. Fukushima, American senators, U.N. President S.O. Adebo, and UN Secretary-Trendy Thant.

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